SMS Newsletter

The Sacajawea community is committed to

ensure high levels of learning for all students.

We are a compassionate community that honors grit

and celebrates growth in order to face the future

with a level head and a critical eye.

** In this Title I school, parents have the right to request certain information on the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals providing services.

Welcome to November! As I am sure we can all agree, the school year is moving quickly. We hope your child is finding their groove and settling in. This month, I would like to remind families about the importance of attendance. Being present each day in the classroom offers a range of opportunities for growth. Consistent attendance allows students to engage with teachers, participate in classroom learning, and continue to build crucial relationships with their peers. We encourage all families to make attending school a priority as they pursue their educational goals.

Thank you for being a part of the SMS school community.

Sincerely,

Ashley Henigman

SMS Principal

November

• 3rd: End of Quarter 1
• 4th - 18th: Can the Griz Food Drive
• 5th: Daylight Savings Time ends
• 6th: SMS Choir Concert, Willson Auditorium 7:00 pm
• 9th: Band Performance, BHS
• 10th: Veteran's Day Assembly, SMS Gym 8:45 am
• 14th: Parenting in a Tech World Class (Please register)
• 16th - 18th: Beauty and the Beast Jr. Performances, Willson Auditorium
• 22nd - 24th: Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL

December

• 6th: Operation Holiday requests due
• 20th - Jan 2nd: Winter Break, NO SCHOOL

Surprise! It's winter in Montana! Please remember to send your kids to school with winter gear every day: layers, coats, hats, gloves, boots, etc.

Although the temperatures are dropping, our policies are not.

Unless temperatures fall below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, students are to remain outside of the building until 8:10 am. This includes students having school breakfast.

Students are also going outside before and after lunch, as long as temperatures are above zero, and should be reminded to bring their winter gear with them to lunch, as they are discouraged from returning to lockers outside of passing periods.

THANK YOU, and stay toasty!

Tuesday, January 2nd! This is the first day back to school following Winter Break. Registration will begin on Monday, December 4th. You must have completed your DragonFly Registration, have a current physical uploaded to your DragonFly account, and have a printed copy of your payment receipt to participate. Payments for middle school athletics must be made on the District's online payment system, RevTrak: Sports Payments.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate

to contact Danny Waldo

Email - danny.waldo@bsd7.org

Phone - 406.522.4314.

Science Olympiad is a fun way to be involved at SMS! Check with your student to see if they are interested.

We will compete on April 19th at Montana State University.

Here is a slideshow that provides a brief overview of the different events.

If your child is interested in being on one of the teams, they need to complete this Google Form.

Students can also email Mrs. Belote (melissa.belote@bsd7.org) for more information.

Food will be collected in the following periods for each grade.

6th Grade- Block 1A

7th Grade- Block 3A

8th Grade- Block 4A

The food bank has suggested items that can be used for KidsPack and KidsPantry. These include kid friendly single serve foods such as mac and cheese, granola bars, fruit cups, oatmeal, and juice boxes. However, any food is welcomed. Families can also donate money ($1 = pound) and should make the checks payable to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank.

Thanks for helping out a neighbor in need!

We are in need of winter clothing items!

If you would like to donate freshly laundered and gently used coats, gloves, hats, or snow pants in men's and women's sizes, please bring them to the SMS main office. We are also in need of snow boots in men's and women's sizes 8-10.

Thank you!!

SMS Staff

Would gifts for the holidays be helpful?

Or would your family like to shop for holiday gifts for a family?

Operation Holiday is here! Operation Holiday is a local organization of Bozeman kids and moms. Their mission is to foster kindness and joy within our local community, particularly during the holiday season.

If you are interested in some assistance with gifts for your children this season, please complete the confidential form below. Please fill out one form per child:

*All gift requests are due by Wednesday, December 6th at 12:00PM*

Gifts will be wrapped and ready for pick up (by parents) at the location you choose on or after December 14th. You will be contacted with pickup instructions.

If you are interested in donating or shopping for families, please complete the form below:

Questions?

Contact Ashley Myers at

ashley.myers@bsd7.org

In Gallatin County, nearly 25% of high school students use e-cigarettes compared to the national average of 14%, and currently Montana is tied with Louisiana for the 2nd highest prevalence of e-cigarette use among high school students. These statistics are highly concerning due to the significant mental and physical health impacts associated with nicotine use among youth.

On November 8th the Gallatin City-County Health Department will be hosting a community conversation on how we as a community can address this issue. As a community member working the school system your input would be highly valuable to this conversation, and so we would like to invite you to the Bozeman Library at 6:30 PM on November 8th if you are available. Additionally, please feel free to invite other educators, school staff, administrators or parents who may be interested in this conversation as well.

A huge Thank You to the seventh & eighth-grade volunteers who set up and took down the Country Bookshelf Book Fair, and to those who supported the book fair! It was a great success with 20% of the profits coming back to the SMS Library! We will repeat the fair again next fall!

Our first ever Book Chat lunch party is HERE! Students read two books then chat with a Teacher Librarian about the books they have read. At the end of the grading period they are invited to eat their lunch in the library, share books with the group, and get a reading prize.

🕢 Library Hours 🕓

Early Birds - 7:30 - 8:00

After School - 3:30

The library will display & promote books that support

Native American Heritage Month and Veterans Day

throughout the month of November.

**As a reminder, there will be extra check out available to students over Winter Break.

Students can check out up to five books.

A helpful site from Common Sense Media:

How To Raise a Reader

Are you struggling to keep your child safe online?

Overwhelmed by all of the tech?

Finding it difficult to set limits and/or establish parental controls?

If so, consider joining Sergeant Scott McCormick and CJ/SMS Thrive Parent Liaisons, Betsy Pufahl and Ashley Mares Jones, for Parenting in a Tech World, Tuesday, November 14, 2023 from 6-8 pm at Thrive. Sergeant McCormick, in his work with Bozeman Police Department, has spent his career protecting kids. Additionally, Betsy and Ashley have more than 35 years of combined experience coaching parents--both are parents of teens. Join them for a lively discussion and get tips on how to keep your kids safe online!

Questions or can't make it?

Reach out directly to your Thrive SMS Parent Liaison

Ashley Mares Jones, SMS Thrive Parent Liaison

ashley.maresjones@bsd7.org | (406) 922-4230.

Any interested parties can follow this link to share their contact information for further details.

Sacajawea is pleased to provide a number of activities in which students can be involved outside of the classroom. Please have your student inquire with the appropriate teacher and fill out the permission slip below, prior to attending any clubs or activities.

MONDAY:

Outdoor club: Mr. Ottey 3:30 - 4:30 pm (starts after Thanksgiving)

TUESDAY:

Jazz Band: Mr. Wilcox 7:30 am, Band room

Art Club: Mr. Rooney 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C5

Computer/Tech Club: Mr. Chamberlain 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C8

Knitting Club: Mr. Scott 6th grade lunch, Room F14

7th Grade STUCO: Ms. Belote 7th grade lunch

WEDNESDAY:

Rubix Cube Club: Mrs. Ulrich 6th grade lunch (Every other Wed.)

Speech & Debate Club: Ms. Schumann 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C7

6th Grade STUCO: Mrs. Ulrich 6th grade lunch (Every other Wed.)

THURSDAY:

Select Choir: Colliver 7:20 - 8:10 am, Choir room

Robotics Club: Mr. Chamberlain 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C8

Birding Club: Ms. Lorenz 3:30 - 5:00 pm, Room F21 (last Thurs. of the month)

Knitting Club: Mr. Scott 6th grade lunch, Room F14

Yearbook Club: Mrs. Cambianica 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room F15

Speech & Debate Club: Ms. Schumann 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C7

8th Grade STUCO: Mrs. Guttormson 8th grade lunch

FRIDAY:

Jazz Band: Mr. Wilcox 7:30 am

The bell rings at 8:10 each morning after which students may enter the building. Class starts at 8:20am. Students should not enter the building before 8:10am unless they are

attending Early Birds in the library.

Early Birds is available each morning at 7:30am in the library. Students may

quietly work on homework or read a book during that time.

To report an absence for your student, the most efficient method is to log in to your

PowerSchool Parent Portal. On the left-hand menu, click on "Attendance Monitor,"

then "Report New Attendance."

If you need to reach the office, please call 406-522-6400.

Lisa Tesseneer and Cindy Smith work in the office.

If your student will be arriving to school late, please let the office know

and we can get them a pass to class.

There is a Lost and Found in the cafe. Please encourage your student to

check there frequently for notebooks, Chromebooks, water bottles, clothing, etc.

BREAKFAST: Breakfast is available starting at 8:10 in the cafe where they can Grab’n Go or take a few minutes to eat. We ask that students clean up after themselves and to make sure they don’t leave anything behind.

CELLPHONES: Cell phones are expected to be in student lockers/backpacks promptly at 8:18. Students may then retrieve and use cell phones at 3:25 when the bell rings. Cell phones are not to be carried during the day (unless there is a medical or language specific need that is pre-approved). ABSOLUTELY NO cellphones are allowed in locker rooms. We truly appreciate your support in regards to student cell phone use.

BACKPACKS: Backpacks need to fit inside a school locker. Students cannot carry their backpacks with them from class to class as we don’t have storage for them and it becomes a fire hazard to have them on the floors. Please encourage your child to pack lightly and use their locker to stay organized.

HATS: Hats may be worn outside only. When students enter the building the expectation is to take your hat off and keep it off while inside. We want to see everyone’s smiling faces! There may be some special days for hats, such as Fridays, so stay tuned for that information.

GYM CLOTHES: If you missed the previous order deadline, you can order again by following the link here, but your shirts won’t arrive for about a month. Your child’s HE teacher will communicate about dressing out expectations.

AFTER SCHOOL PLANS: Please make sure your child knows their after school plans in advance. Understandably, changes are sometimes made; however, we want to respect our office staff who field all of these phone calls. If you do have an emergent change in plans please feel free to call the front office in a timely manner (before 3:00) so we can get your child a message.

BUS/CAR/RIDE/WALK: SAFETY is a priority at SMS. The parking lots are a busy place upon arrival and pick up. If you are dropping off or picking up please be patient and aware of students who are walking/biking.

You may drop off and pick up in two locations: Front oval (off of South 3rd), and the North lot (off of Cambridge). Please do not park in the South lot or use that area as this is designated for our buses. Walkers and riders of all things with wheels… PLEASE use crosswalks and sidewalks. Stay safe out there Falcons!

SCHOOL NURSE: If you have a student with a medical condition or general medical needs please contact our school nurse, Jeana, at (406)-522-6412 or jeana.gaskill@bsd7.org.

If you know your student will need to be picked up early during the school day, it would be incredibly helpful if you could call the attendance office before 10:00 am to let us know. We can then write a blue pass to give to your student so they can meet you at the office at the designated time. This will eliminate the disruption and disturbance of us having to call into the classroom to have them sent to the office.

Thank you so much!

Front office staff

One of the most important aspects of your child's success is their attendance at school. We are here to support you and your child as we navigate their time at Sacajawea Middle School. We have a variety of resources to share with families, including strategies to support attendance and engagement along with personnel to work with you in support of your child’s education.

Our staff would be pleased to assist you to ensure your student has the greatest opportunity at Sacajawea Middle School. If you have concerns or questions regarding attendance please contact:

Julia Anderson (406) 522-6470 Executive Secretary

Ashley Mares-Jones (406) 922-4230 Thrive Parent Liaison

Attendance Facts

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful, and on track to graduation.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, or dealing with social conflict, along with other potentially serious difficulties.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
• Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
• Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.
• Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.

Attendance Tips

• Make school attendance a priority.
• Talk about the importance of attending school everyday and have that be the expectation.
• Maintain routines, such as finishing homework, being organized for the next day, and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.
• Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety. Please communicate with the school if this becomes a pattern.
• Have an awareness of your child's use of technology (gaming and cell phones) that could be impacting sleep, social connections, and other healthy habits.

Please communicate with the Sacajawea Middle School front office in regards to your child's absences. If your child will not be present at school, please call our attendance hotline at 522-6410 to excuse your child.

(The following information is subject to updates.)

How do you know when to keep your child home from school? Below is a list of guidelines to help you decide. Keep in mind that sending an ill child to school limits their ability to learn and also puts other students at risk.

Please do NOT send your child to school with the following symptoms:

• Fever of more than 100 degrees within the last 24 hours (Please do not give your feverish child fever reducing medication and send them to school)
• Vomiting within the last 24 hours
• Diarrhea within the last 24 hours
• Cough that he/she cannot control
• Body aches, headaches, ear aches, severe sore throat
• Generalized rashes (over multiple parts of the body) until they have been seen and diagnosed by their health care provider as non-infectious.
• Chickenpox, until all blisters have dried up and crusted over, typically 5-7days after the first blister appears.
• Very tired or sudden lack of appetite

Please remember to help your children practice these positive health habits:

• Frequent hand washing with soap and water is the BEST way to prevent the spread of germs. Hand sanitizer is a good option as well, when used correctly.
• Get plenty of rest -- 9-12 hours of sleep each night is recommended.
• Drink a lot of healthy fluids -- water is the best! (soda doesn’t count!)
• Eat a healthy diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables.
• Do not share cups or utensils with others.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or elbow.

**If your child is placed on antibiotics by your healthcare provider, please do not have them return to school until they have been treated for at least 24 hours, or follow your health care provider’s recommendations.

Please keep in mind that the school can NOT give your child medication without a written order from a health care provider and your signature. You can get these forms from the SMS office.

Based on Parent's comfort level with their student, Middle Schoolers are allowed to keep in their backpack: 1 dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen in its original container (the travel size works well) for minor issues like headaches, cramping, or muscle soreness.

Please call the office: 522-6400 or the school nurse: 522-6412 with questions.

Who are our school counselors?

Leah Kreitinger - Assigned teams: All 8th-grade teams, share all 6th-grade teams

Meghan Powell - Assigned teams: All 7th-grade teams, share all 6th-grade teams

Brad Stein - SAFE-TI Program counselor

School Counselors at Sacajawea help all students:

• Apply academic achievement strategies

• Manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills

• Develop awareness of postsecondary options (higher education, work force, etc.)

We do this by providing:

• Classroom-based lessons

• Small group interventions to support student needs

• Short-term individual counseling with students

• Collaboration with families/teachers/administrators/community for student success

• Advocacy for students at student-focused meetings (IEPs, 504s, or family/team meetings)

• Data analysis to identify student issues, needs, and challenges

• Acting as a systems change agent to improve access, achievement, and opportunities for all students

Fly Falcons, Fly!

What is Healthy KidsPack?

A partnership between your school and the HRDC that provides free,

nutritious bags of snacks and simple meals to students to take home for the weekends.

Bags contain healthy, kid-friendly items that are easy to prepare. Items cycle each

week and include many local products.

How does the program work and why should I sign up?

Every Friday afternoon, your child will receive a KidsPack bag from

school in their backpack or locker. Participation is discreet and

confidential. With Healthy KidsPack, you can stretch

your family’s budget and save time and energy on meal prep!

Who can sign up?

Healthy KidsPack is for everyone!

Any family with children in grades K-12 can sign up.

Signing up is easy! Click on the corresponding button below to print out a sign-up form.

Fill out the bottom portion and return to the SMS front office.

You can unenroll at any time.

Did you know Sacajawea Middle School is part of the Box Tops for Education program?

It has changed to a mostly digital program. Traditional clip out Box Tops are being phased out but you can still send them to school (make sure it doesn’t say scan) to be turned in to the library.

The new process is so much easier!

1. Get the free, new and improved Box Tops mobile app on your phone.

2. Buy your groceries and ask for the receipt.

3. Take pictures of your receipt with the app within 14 days of purchase.

4. It will find any qualifying products and give 10 cents for each one to the school!

The money adds up and is used to enhance the book selection at our library.

It’s costs you nothing but 30 seconds of your time and you can help ALL the students at your child’s school. Encourage your friends and relatives to do the same.

On the Box Tops for Education website, you can find coupons and special deals.

Thank you so much for giving back to others!

Your PAC Team & SMS Library

Email: kayla.fortier@bsd7.org
Website: sms.bsd7.org
Location: 3525 South 3rd Avenue, Bozeman, MT, USA
Phone: (406) 522-6400