SMS Weekly Update

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This week is National School Counseling Week! NSCW is a week to recognize the important role school counselors play in helping students succeed in school and plan for their future. We want to recognize our counselor Ms. McKenna Matheson! She works hard to help students with their schedules, listen when they want to talk, and connect them to resources. Thank you Ms. Matheson for all you do!

February is Black History Month! The theme for 2025, determined by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), is African Americans and Labor, focusing on the "various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people." (From the ASALH, https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/). We will highlight some of the key moments, events, and peoples, who have impacted this field.

With Valentine's Day around the corner we want to make sure families and students are aware of our policy on gifts, toys, and balloons. This is an excerpt from our Student and Family Handbook:

Toys do not belong at school. Students are to leave stuffed toys, fidget spinners, and other toys at home. Exceptions will be made for fidget spinners or other devices as specified in a student’s IEP or 504 plan. Balloons of any type are not allowed at school as they are a distraction in the classroom and may contain substances that are a health hazard. The school is not responsible for the loss or theft of these items. Gifts that pose a distraction when brought to be delivered to students at school may not be delivered to students until the end of the school day.

Students can bring cards to give friends however, please exchange gifts outside of school.

Today's Total # of students with A/A-'s: 371

Toys do not belong at school. Students are to leave stuffed toys, fidget spinners, and other toys at home. Exceptions will be made for fidget spinners or other devices as specified in a student’s IEP or 504 plan. Balloons of any type are not allowed at school as they are a distraction in the classroom and may contain substances that are a health hazard. The school is not responsible for the loss or theft of these items. Gifts that pose a distraction when brought to be delivered to students at school may not be delivered to students until the end of the school day.

February 10th

School Board Meeting 6pm

February 11th

NJHS Meeting 10:58-11:28am

February 14th

Happy Valentines Day!

February 17th

Happy Presidents Day! No School

February 18th

Non-Student Day, No School

February 21st

First Mtn. Bike Club practice after school

February 24th

School Board Meeting 6pm

February 25th

NJHS Meeting 10:58-11:28am

Music4Life is adding its 14th chapter by serving the students of families in-need who attend the Sultan School District. The Seattle-based non-profit acquires instruments from adults who no longer need them and decide that their highest and best use is to put them back into play.

Sultan Superintendent Dan Chaplik says “Music4Life is a wonderful gift in our schools, especially those with larger numbers of students who may not be able to afford a musical instrument. The program provides yet another support for students and contributes to reducing barriers to accessing music programs that serve students in school and for the rest of their lives.”

If you'd like to donate an instrument or funds to Music4Life go to https://www.music4life.org/

If you have a Sultan Middle or Highschool student who is a part of the music program and who could benefit from this program, please email: Emily.Suter@sultan.k12.wa.us

In honor of our character trait of the month, CURIOSITY, we were playing "I Wonder" every morning during the announcements. Each day of the month, we will be reading a clue about an invention or an inventor that has changed the world for the better with their curiosity. Students entered their guesses and winners were drawn on Fridays.

On Wednesdays and Fridays had "Kitty Hide and Seek" Days. 10 little cats were hidden throughout the school. If a student found a cat, they won a prize.

Students had fun being curious!!! February's Character Trait of the Month will be announced soon...

Announcing Sultan's new Mountain Bike Club!!

Sultan-Sky MTB registration is now open!! If students are interested in joining the mountain bike club, there is an interest form in their Homeroom Canvas Page. They should fill it out to let us know they are interested in joining!

Fill out the League registration at: https://ccnbikes.com/#!/events/sultan-sky-spring-2025

Practices will start on Friday, February 21st after school!! Practices will be Wednesdays and Fridays with some longer optional rides on the Weekends. Races start in April! We have some bikes and will be able to help with helmets if needed.

The Girls Basketball Swag Store is open now!

Go to:https://snocoteamsales.tuosystems.com/stores/smsgbball25

For players: at a minimum, players need to have one top item (t-shirt, sweatshirt, shooting shirt, etc). This is the same design/logo as last year so if you have gear from 2024, you don't need to buy again unless you want to.

The store will close Monday, February 3rd at 11pm. This is a relatively quick turn-around but we want to be able to get the items with most of our season left.

Wrestling and Girls Basketball are in their second week of practices. First games are next week.

Be sure you've paid the sports fees and ASB for your student to participate. Sports fees are $35 per sport and $35 for ASB for the whole year. The 4th sport your student plays is free. Pay online or at the office.

Use the link below to go to Final Forms to register for sports and sign forms.

Natural Selection

We are learning how organisms have adapted to survive and reproduce in their environment.

Fossil Record

We are learning how the fossil record provides evidence in support of the theory of evolution. Students will be comparing the anatomy of ancient organisms with their living relatives. Students will also be participating in a fossil dig and will be able to bring a real fossil home!

Techological Applications

Students will be studying how the theory of evolution applies to our lives today, informing us about Earth's climate, ecosystems, and global health. Students will read about efforts to bring back extinct animals, and the technology used to do so. To wrap up our unit, students will be watching Jurassic Park and will draw comparisons between current advances in genetic engineering as well as advancements in the study of the fossil record.

Sultan Middle School’s basic principle for school dress code is that clothing must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, abdomen, breasts, and chests (including nipples) are fully covered with opaque fabric. All items below listed in the “must wear” and “may wear” categories below must meet this principle.

At Sultan Middle School all students and staff must wear at all times:

• Top (shirt, tank, blouse, etc.)

• Bottoms (pants, sweatpants, shorts, skirt, dress, leggings, etc.)

• Shoes (more specific athletic style shoes will be necessary for PE)

At Sultan Middle School all students and staff may wear:

• Hats (must allow for face to be visible to the staff)

• Religious headwear

• Hoodie sweatshirts (wearing hood is allowed, but face and ears must be visible to staff)

• Fitted pants, including opaque leggings, yoga pants, and skinny jeans

• Ripped jeans as long as underwear and buttocks are not exposed.

• Tank tops, (including spaghetti straps, and halter tops)

• Athletic Attire

• Visible waistbands or visible straps on undergarments worn under other clothing

Students wearing inappropriate clothing will be expected to change, borrow clothing from the office, or be sent home. Repeated violation of the dress code will result in disciplinary action.

301 High Avenue

Sultan, WA 98294

Ph: 360-793-9850

Fax: 360-793-9859

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SultanMiddleSchool
Website: https://sms.sultanschools.org/