What's Happening at SHMS

For more important dates, check our school calendar.

For more information about our Sports & Activities, visit our SHMS Athletics page.

Free covid tests are available through https://covidtests.gov/

Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home tests.

You are invited to join us for a one of a kind community night to discuss the book

The Anxious Generation, How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness

by Jonathan Haidt

Who: Community members, parents and educators in Apple Valley

What: A Discussion around topics brought up in the book “The Anxious Generation” and topics we see everyday working in the schools

Why: To help support students, families and educators in Apple Valley with the ever changing world of technology and how it affects our students

When: October 9th from 6:00-7:00 Childcare will be provided

Where: Valley Middle School of STEM 900 Garden View Drive

What is offered?

• Opportunity to be placed on either Varsity or Junior Varsity Jazz team and Varsity Kick team
• Learn and compete jazz and kick routines
• Continued skill-building, technique improvement, and dance conditioning
• Competition at conference meets, Section tournament and invitational representing RHS
• Strong, supportive team atmosphere • Fun team bonding activities
• Home Invitational
• Winter banquet

Time Commitment?

• Practice Mon-Fri from 4:30-7:00pm (Wednesdays 4:30-6:30) with some additional Saturday practices at the beginning of the season
• Mandatory attendance at all competitions (approx. 13 competitions

Tryouts: October 21st & 22nd at the RHS Aux Gym

Safety and security is a top priority at our school. Our school has secure entryways, conducts regular safety drills, and has implemented standard emergency response protocols and training for all staff. Visitors must also present a government issued ID before gaining access to our schools.

In the event of an emergency, we will announce HOLD, SECURE, LOCKDOWN, EVACUATE, or SHELTER. Our students will have drills for each scenario during the school year. In an emergency situation, we will notify families via phone, text, and email through our mass notification system. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in Infinite Campus so you receive emergency notifications.

School safety is a shared responsibility. We encourage families and students to report concerns through our anonymous tip line for secondary schools. If you have any concerns about your student, please contact our school for support.

Finally, we appreciate the partnership we have with local police and fire departments to ensure preparedness and emergency response. We will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our community.

We are seeing an uptick in illnesses lately at Scott Highlands. Encourage your student to drink plenty of water, get good sleep, wash hands often and stay home when sick.

Below is a friendly reminder of the guidelines to stay home.

Please note, there is no exclusion for COVID, your student may return as long as they don’t meet the criteria below.

CHILDREN SHOULD STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

• Fever of 100.4 or higher - can return when fever free for 20 hours without fever reducing medication.
• Strep throat - can return after 12 hours of antibiotics and fever free for 20 hours without fever reducing medication.
• Vomiting or diarrhea (without a known reason) - can return 20 hours after last episode.
• Rash (without a known reason) with behavior change or fever of 100.4 or greater.
• Excessive coughing that persists and makes it difficult to participate in school.
• Not healthy enough to participate in routine school activities.

• Illness Guidelines
• Illness Guidelines Spanish
• Illness Guidelines Somali

Thanks! Nurse Beth Gissibl

Saturday Morning Math

Math isn’t all numbers and equations. Sometimes it’s origami, games, crafts, and so much more! At Saturday Morning Math, students can visualize complex mathematical concepts and having fun while doing it. Saturday Morning Math is an enrichment program for students in grades 5-7 that takes place once per month on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus. Make math a blast year with our exciting variety of subjects.

For 5th and 6th Graders:
Voting Theory November 2nd, 2024

Explore how math affects voting and fairness

Spherical Journeys December 7th, 2024

Find out how Geometry fits in with maps and globes

Mathematical Games January 25th, 2025 Discover the math behind dots and boxes, jenga, and

more

Taxicab Geometry February 22nd, 2025
Think like a taxi cab to learn different ways to measure

the distance between two points Tessellating Patterns March 22nd, 2025 Use symmetry to creater order with patterns

For 6th and 7th Graders

Origami November 2nd, 2024

Investigate the mathematics of origami: symmetry, 3D shapes, folds, and patterns

Fractals December 7th, 2024
Learn, create, and calculate the dimesions of fractals Directions in Space January 25th, 2025

Model real world situations using vectors

Topology and Knot Theory February 22nd, 2025 Play with shapes and create new ways to see how

they fit together

Eulerian Graphs March 22nd, 2025
Use puzzles, maps, and graphs to learn Eulerian trails and circuits

Classes will take place in Folwell Hall each day from 9:30 am to 12 pm. Cost is $180 for the series of five events.

Scan the QR code to learn more and register or go to z.umn.edu/SaturdayMorningMath2425

7th and 8th grade girls basketball players AND all grades Wrestling registration is now open. Register here where information is available in multiple languages.

https://shms.district196.org/athletics. You must have your physical on file with Nurse Beth Beth.Gissibl@district196.org BEFORE you can register.

Season runs Monday – Friday after school October 28th to December 13th. No practices:

• Wednesday, Nov. 6 and 7, 2024-- conferences
• No School Nov. 8, 2024
• Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 - Staff Development Day
• Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024-- Staff Development Day

The yearbook is a record of moments in time for your student. Don’t miss the book that captures them all. Order today for $42

ORDERING LINK: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A03972720

What: Class-style information in Spanish, regarding all the different apps that the district asks parents to use.

Where: BHMS Lecture Room

When: 9.30.24 @ 5:30 pm, doors close at 6 pm.

Consider employment with District 196 as a substitute paraprofessional.

· Individuals can sign up for orientation through the Employment page of the district website.

· Pay starts at $16.50/hour, increases to $18.00/hour after working 30 days.

Requirements for Clerical Subbing

• High School Diploma
• Willing to work across the District at all schools of at least two levels (elementary, middle school, or high school)
• Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check (paid for by the applicant)
• Must complete a Personal Care Assistant Certificate of Training (Click here to take the PCA/CFSS test)
• Must complete a pre-employment physical (paid for by the district | Physical Form)
• Must attend a New Hire Orientation

6th Grade: Brian Buechner

(952)-423-7602

brian.buechner@district196.org

7th Grade: Sarah Blasing

(952)-423-7603

sarah.blasing@district196.org

8th Grade: Ashley Welke

(952)-423-7608

ashley.welke@district196.org

Healthy eating is so important for children. At Scott Highlands Middle School, we work hard to ensure students receive a healthy breakfast and lunch each day to support their developing brains and bodies. Research shows that children who eat regular, nutritious meals are more likely to attend school and be engaged in learning.

We are excited to partner with Every Meal to offer a free weekend meal program to all our students.

Every Meal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to fight child hunger through community and school partnerships. They strive to make a difference in children’s lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, school breaks, and summer when they can’t receive food in school. Here are some important things to know about Every Meal:

• Free for all families
• No qualifications required
• Students enrolled in the program will receive a 4-5 pound bag of nutritious, nonperishable food each week
• Every Meal does not collect information from families; privacy is protected
• Families may choose to participate in the program anytime throughout the school year
• Families may choose from a variety of different weekend food bag options

If you are interested in receiving food from Every Meal, please fill out this google form: Every Meal Electronic Enrollment

The first bags of food will be delivered in early October. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah Blasing, the 7th grade counselor, at sarah.blasing@district196.org.

Versión en español de este mensaje

Fariintan oo Soomaali ah

The sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at SHMS will be asked to complete an SHMS Middle School Needs Assessment Survey during their homeroom the week of September 30th-October 3th, 2024.

Questions on the survey are about many topics relating to young people’s lives including academic, career, college, and the social-emotional needs of students. This is useful information that helps our school staff provide programming, services and resources that best meet the needs of our students.

This survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may opt your child out of the survey by submitting your request via the link below. Students themselves may also decline in participating. They will be informed of that option by staff.

If you would like to view the survey questions, you may click on the Review Survey link below. If you do not want your child to participate in the SHMS Middle School Needs Assessment Survey, please respond using the link below to Opt-Out by Thursday, September 26th, 2024.

Link to Review Survey

Link to Opt-Out of the Survey

If you have a student who is dealing with the loss of an immediate family member (sibling, parent, grandparent, caregiver) or individual who significantly influenced your student and feel they would benefit from participating in Park Nicollet's Growing Through Grief group, we would like to offer your student this grief group opportunity.

Scott Highlands Middle School will be hosting this group again; this year it will be facilitated by Jenny Simmonds, a licensed grief therapist through Park Nicollet. Group sessions will be held during the school day and will run throughout the school year. Our hope is that this group would begin sometime in October. If you are interested in having your student participate, please email your student's school counselor with the name of your student and they will contact you to provide further information.

Community Resource Guide Dakota County - this guide includes information on health care, dental, women’s health, food, housing, special needs/disability, and other supports for families

FastTracker MN - a behavioral health search tool that allows you to filter services based on your search criteria, which can include free and sliding fee services available.

Virtual Calming Room - designed to assist in identifying different strategies for managing emotions, this webpage includes links to calming tools and other resources for youth and families

Worried about your student’s OR your own mental health?

Dakota County Crisis Response: Call 952-891-7171

National Crisis Text Line: Text SCHOOL to 741741

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

To report an absence, send an email to shms.attendance@district196.org (preferred) or call the 24 hour attendance voicemail number at 952-423-7587. Please provide the following information:

• Student’s Name (please spell the student’s first and last name)
• Grade
• Name of person reporting absence
• Reason for absence

**The direct line to Beth Gissibl, school nurse, is 952-423-7583

You can also report an absence by filling out this form: Report an Absence

We are a GREAT School because we are:

Respectful

to all people in the building

Responsible

with ourselves and our belongings

Ready to Learn

by being prepared and present in the learning environment

Website: https://shms.district196.org/
Location: Scott Highlands Middle School, Pilot Knob Road, Apple Valley, MN, USA
Phone: 9524237581
Twitter: @SHMS_Saints