SPARTAN SHIELD

Dear Arcade Families,

I am happy to welcome you to the 2024-2025 school year! Below you will find important information which will help prepare you and your student for the start of the school year. Please take some time to carefully review this information with your student and please make note of the dates mentioned below.

I have a slew of exciting updates to share about our new campus! If you have driven by Arcade over the summer, you have no doubt seen the remarkable changes that have happened over the past few weeks: buildings have disappeared, seemingly overnight, and now all of our new buildings are visible from the street. The construction teams have been tirelessly working 10-hour days, 7 days a week, all summer long to ensure we are ready to welcome students and families to campus for the start of school on Thursday, August 15th.

Even though we will be ready for learning and instruction on August 15th, our campus will not yet be finished. Construction will not officially end until January of 2025. For the start of the year, for example, our parking loop will be up and running for the safe pick-up and drop-off of students, but the parking lot inside of the loop, will not be usable for a few months (a temporary parking lot off of the parking loop will be ready for schedule pick-up; see the map). While the construction process poses many challenges to an active campus, I will communicate changes to you and your students as often as necessary and as quickly as possible to ensure a seamless transition to our new facilities.

With our new build have come some other changes, as well. After hearing feedback from our community, families, and students last year, and gathering input from those groups and from staff, we have designed a new logo, which you can see on the left-hand side of this letterhead. We have also officially dropped the "fundamental" designation from our name, and so we are now officially "Arcade Middle School."

The construction of a new school became necessary because of the population growth in this area, so our new campus will also bring about changes to our school community. We expect to start the year at around 620 students, which is significantly larger than last year's student body. We have been preparing for this growth since early last spring, hiring many new teachers. As the principal of Arcade, it is of the utmost importance to me to find staff who share in our philosophy around student learning and personal growth: at Arcade, we are committed to working with, supporting, and teaching each student who comes to our campus. We understand that students come to Arcade with differing personalities, strengths, and areas for growth, and we want each student to feel valued, safe, and excited about their learning. With this in mind, it is my pleasure to share that we are welcoming nine new teachers to Arcade next year: Sara Anderson (science), Brittany Driffill (English and history). Aston Ferland (ASD), Lauren Kelly (English), Dorin Matveev (PE), Katherine Plasse (history), Mediha Shakir (science), Meagan Spencer (PE), and Michael Tat (math).

While I am happy to be introducing these staff members to you, I also must share that we still have more hiring to do. We currently have two vacant full-time teaching positions. We are working very closely with our district's Human Resources Department to try to staff these positions, but the statewide teacher shortage makes this very difficult. We have secured two long-term substitutes for these positions for the first few months of school: Lisa Thesell (ELD) and Dara Hurd-Danilson (ELD and English).

To our new families, I'd like to introduce one of our school-wide programs that help support students' transition to middle school or to a new school: PBIS, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. Arcade's PBIS program focuses on having all staff use common language and enforce "Spartan Strong" behaviors with students, the main tenets of which are being safe, kind, and responsible. We know that when our students exhibit these behaviors, they experience more positive interactions with their peers, they achieve more academically, and they build skills that will serve them both at Arcade and throughout their journeys to high school. Students will learn the "Spartan Strong" behaviors and expectations in all classes throughout the first few weeks of school.

We truly have an exciting year ahead of us! I look forward to getting to know you at our campus events throughout the year, our first of which is our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the start of Back-to-School Night on the evening of Thursday, September 19th. I value being a collaborative partner with you in your child's education, and I welcome any questions, concerns, ideas, or feedback. To that end, I send a weekly newsletter, the Spartan Shield, every Sunday evening to communicate important weekly updates with families. If your email address is up-to-date in the Parent Portal, you will receive the newsletter automatically. You can contact me at any time at lindsey.mcmanigal@sanjuan.edu or at 916-971-7300.

Sincerely,

Lindsey McManigal

Principal

Thank you for reading this important message! You can navigate to the left side of the screen to the Table of Contents to view more items for the 2024-2025 school year or scroll down to continue reading.

For the first several days of school, construction will be helping families navigate our new car/bus loop.

If you were here for WEB Orientation, we had only a temporary loop around the parking lot, but the main loop will be open for the first day of school. Even though it is much bigger, it will still take some getting used to. Please allow for extra time for pick-up and drop-off for the first several days as we navigate these changes together. We appreciate your patience!

Please review the map with your child, especially if they are walking or riding their bikes to school, so that they are aware of the crosswalks and where to enter campus safely.

We are very excited to welcome our Spartans back!

Some important things to note as we approach the first day of school:

The school gates will open at 7:30 A.M. each morning. Once the school gates open, students will enter into the MP room. In the MP room, students will receive breakfast. Breakfast service begins at 7:40 A.M. daily. Students can eat in the MP room and then can move about the rest of campus, starting at 7:45 A.M.

ONLY students are allowed through the school gates. If a parent or guardian needs to speak with a school staff member, that person must enter through the Front Office entrance.

Here are some important details about Arcade:

Our website is accessible here: https://arcade.sanjuan.edu/

Office hours: 7:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.

Main Office Phone: 916-971-7300

Attendance Line: 916-7300, Option 1

Fax: 916-971-7821

Administration:

Principal: Lindsey McManigal

Vice Principal: Michele Lorenzo

Vice Principal: Philip Tateishi

Office Staff:

Secretary: Renae Howell

Records & Reports (and Attendance): Jennifer Augusta

ICT: Kristen Reznich

Student Support Staff:

Counselor: Andrea Myers

Counselor: Anthony Derum

Social Worker: Lillian Alhafez

Social Worker: Lonnie Webb

Whether you have an incoming 6th grader or just need a refresher on the procedures at Arcade, take a look below to get familiar with our school policies and procedures!

Early Dismissals:

If you would like to pick your student up from school early for any reason, you may:

• Send a note in the morning with your student
• Call the office prior to pick-up
• Have your student called out of class after you arrive

*ID is required to check a student out of school.

*Students can only be released to individuals listed in our system as primary or emergency contacts. Please make sure anyone approved to pick up your student is listed in the parent portal as such to avoid delays in check-out.

Please avoid early dismissals during the lunch period or within 30 minutes before the end of school.

Meal and Medication Guidelines:

• No food delivery to students on campus

• Free breakfast and lunch offered on campus during designated meal times

• No over-the-counter medication allowed on campus without a medication authorization form that has been signed by the student’s physician and given to the school nurse

There are two different lunch periods. Lunch assignments are based on your student's 4th-period teacher. Your student's lunch assignment was also printed on their schedule.

In alignment with San Juan Unified’s Strategic Plan and to support our 8-Point Commitment to Educational Justice this dress code applies to San Juan schools.

Meet Riley. Riley is a visual representation of the dress code intended to illustrate what students may wear.

YES:

Tops- Cover the front, back, and sides under the arms, covering the rib cage

Bottoms- Pants, jeans, sweatpants, shorts, skirts, dresses, leggings, fitted pants, ripped jeans

Headwear- Any headwear that does not cover the face

NO:

Hate, discrimination, illegal activity, profanity, violence, drugs or alcohol, threats

All students in transitional Kindergarten through 12th grade can ride Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) for free through the RydeFreeRT program. With RydeFreeRT, students can ride the entire SacRT transit network, including SacRT buses, light rail and SmaRT Ride on-demand microtransit service for FREE!

RydeFreeRT is available all day, any day of the week, all year during regular SacRT service hours.

To ride free, students need to show a valid RydeFreeRT card. Youth who are experiencing homelessness or taking part in foster programs are also allowed to participate in the program, regardless of current residence or school address.

RydeFreeRT cards are available at school locations, including at Arcade, or at the SacRT Customer Service Center at 1225 R Street (adjacent to the 13th Street light rail station) and Sacramento Public Libraries.

Learn more about the program at rydefreert.com.

Pick up a free SacRT card from the Arcade front office!

Emergency Contact information MUST be completed before your student may pick up their schedule.

To update and complete your student's Emergency Card information, Visit Q Parent Connection (SJUSD Parent Portal) at the website below and sign in with your parent PIN and password.

https://sis.sanjuan.edu/parentportal

*If you forgot your PIN or password, click the "Need Your Login Information?" link at the login screen and enter your email address.

1. Select the "Re-enrollment" or "Information Update" tab to update the emergency card for all students.

2. Select "Edit" to update your contact information.

3. Select "Edit" for each student to review and update their demographic, emergency contact, and health information.

4. Review the Acknowledgements Area, check the confirmation checkbox, and click on the Submit button to complete the process. You MUST click Submit in order for the information to be processed.

5. Review for completeness.

Thank you very much for helping Arcade be ready to welcome your student back on campus!

All 7th graders must be up-to-date with ALL immunizations before school starts. Students will not receive their schedules or be allowed to start school until proof of immunization has been verified by a SJUSD Health Clerk or Jennifer Augusta in the Attendance Office. You can take a picture of your child's shot records and email them to jennifer.augusta.sanjuan.edu.

By 7th Grade, your child should have the following immunizations and doses:

• Polio (OPV or IPV) - 4 doses

(3 doses acceptable if 1 was given on or after 4th birthday)

• Diptheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP, DTP, or tdap) - 5 doses of DTap, DTP, or DT

(4 doses acceptable if one was given on or after 4th birthday)

(3 doses acceptable, if the last dose was given on or after 2nd birthday. At least 1 dose must be Tdap or DTaP /DTP given on or after 7th birthday)

• Tdap - 1 dose ( or DTP/DTaP given on or after 7th birthday)

• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMS or MMR-V) - 2 doses of MMR or any measles-containing vaccine (both doses must be given on or after 1st birthday)

• Hepatitis B (Hep B or HBV) - 3 doses

• Varicella (chickenpox, VAR, MMR-V, or VZA) - 2 doses

NEW PROCESS FOR ISSUING MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS FOR CHILDCARE AND SCHOOL IMMUNIZATION IN CALIFORNIA.

~ On January 1, 2021, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) launched the California Immunization Registry- Medical Exemption website (CAIR-ME,http://cair.chdp.ca.gov/exemptions) to request, issue, manage, and track medical exemptions from required immunizations for children in child care/preschool and school (grades K-12).

~ Medical exemptions for children can only be issued using the CAIR-ME website. MD's and DO's licensed in California can register to use CAIR-ME at any time in order to issue a medical exemption. Instructions are available on CAIR-ME along with on-screen prompts. You can also watch a webinar and review slides on how to register and use CAIR-ME.

~ Please note that documents such as written letters and lab results about immunity do not suffice for school and childcare entry. Schools and child care facilities can only accept immunization records or a medical exemption for immunizations issued through CAIR-ME.

~"History of disease" is no longer accepted for Varicella. Parents will need to either apply for a Medical Exemption in CAIR-ME or have their student receive the vaccination. There is no grandfather clause or grace period.

*Personal or religious belief exemptions are no longer an option for entry into school.

If your child is not current with their shots, please call their doctor immediately to schedule an appointment.

For questions, you may call the Arcade Office at (916)971-7300. Please visit SJUSD's Health Services website for more details, https://www.sanjuan.edu/resources/health-services/immunizations

Thank you for taking the time to read all this important information!

If you are unable to schedule an appointment with your student's physician, here are some options being offered to fulfill the requirement:

1. SJUSD has a district Immunization Clinic offering appointments to fulfill the immunization requirements. A $10 per child voluntary administrative fee is requested per appointment (cash only).

Location: San Juan Central, 3700 Garfield Avenue Carmichael, CA 95608. Room 4

Phone Number: (916) 971-7700.

Appointments are required.

To schedule an appointment, visit https://form.jotform.com/221526218391150

2. Sacramento County Immunization Assistance Program is offering appointments as well.

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please call (916) 875-7468.

Location: 4600 Broadway Sacramento, CA 95820 Suite 1500- Window 11

Clinic hours vary.

* Patients must be 18 years old or under and reside in Sacramento County. Eligible individuals: Medical, uninsured, Native American or Alaska Native.*

All families are asked to complete one school funding form per household to help our school receive funds to support your students' success. Please take some time to complete the funding form as it benefits Arcade and your student! All information provided is confidential.

Filling out the funding form is fast and easy! Navigate and log into the San Juan Parent Portal, click the "Information Update" link at the top right of the screen, and complete each section of the questionnaire. While you update your emergency contact information in the portal, you can also complete the funding form!

We appreciate the support to help fund our school!

Mark your calendars for September 19, 2024! Our first formal event on our new campus will be the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at the start of Back-to-School Night. We are filled with excitement to officially kick off the year with a special event with our community!

More details to come. We hope to see you there!

• August 15: First Day of School
• September 2: No School, Labor Day
• September 4: 6th Grade WEB Game Night, 3:00
• September 19: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, 5:00 P.M.
• September 19: Back to School Night, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M.

• Monday - Friday from 7:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.
• Attendance Phone Number: 916-971-7300, ext. 1

Email: arcadems@sanjuan.edu
Website: sanjuan.edu/arcade
Location: 3500 Edison Avenue, Sacramento, CA, USA
Phone: 916-971-7300