Insight PA Middle School Newsletter

Dear Insight PA Bulldogs,

Here at the Middle School, we are very proud of the outstanding achievements of our students. Our talented, energetic staff has a tireless commitment to students and families. We are all truly grateful to be working in such a wonderful school community, thank you!

As we approach Winter Break, the end of the semester will be here before we know it in January. It is as important as ever for students to remain focused and make the most of the 2nd quarter. While we want students to relax and have fun over break, it is also a great time to catch up on any missing work for classes. This will allow them to come back in January ready to finish the quarter strong.

On behalf of the Middle School administration and staff, we want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

Your Leadership Team,

Allison Parry, Principal (alparry@insightpaschool.org)
Allison Dracha, Assistant Principal (aldracha@insightpaschool.org)

Kelly Watts, Assistant Principal (kewatts@insightpaschool.org)

Join our Middle School Principals on December 10th for a Parent/Guardian workshop! This month's topic will be "Schooling at Home: Tips for Virtual Learning Success"!

Date - Tuesday, December 10th

Time - 12:00pm

Location - Zoom Meeting

Please note the following important dates this month:

• Tuesday, 12/03 - Asynchronous Day for Students, Parent-Teacher Conferences
  
  
• Tuesday, 12/17 - Insight PA Board of Trustees Meeting*
  
  
• Monday, 12/23 - Friday, 1/03 - Winter Break (School Closed)
  
  
• Monday, 1/06 - School Resumes
  

*If Needed

Congratulations to our November Middle School Students of the Week!

Nominated by Mrs. Anderson

“Peyton is a joy to have in class! She consistently participates and approaches her work with a positive attitude. She readily takes on additional challenges and goes above and beyond what is expected. Keep up the great work!”

Nominated by Mrs. Rebhorn

“Lily shows great empathy and encouragement towards her peers. She shows a natural ability to listen actively and provide thoughtful support to her classmates. Lily’s actions inspire a sense of community and belonging in class and her commitment to making others feel seen and valued is a shining example of the values Insight PA strives to uphold.”

Nominated by Ms. Mrakovich

“Kayden is an active participant in 6th Grade! He uses his camera, microphone, and interacts in the chat. His participation, work completion, and contributions to class are very much appreciated!”

Nominated by Mr. Huff

“Teryn is a valuable member of the 7th Grade team! She comes to class daily, ready and eager to learn. Teryn is always happy to lead the class and does an excellent job helping her classmates when necessary. Her positive attitude and willingness to be active sets a great example for her peers.”

Congratulations to our Middle School Students who made our Quarter 1 Honor Roll! Click the link below to join us in celebrating them!

Don't Forget!

We are offering additional support to students after school, Monday - Thursday, from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. These optional sessions are open to all students. Check your schedule in Schoology - students can drop in and stay for as long as needed!

Every year, one of our key in-person events is state-mandated testing. Students in grades 3-8 will take the mandatory ELA (English Language Arts) and Math PSSA exams, while those in grades 5 and 8 will also complete the Science PSSA. Insight PA designs our curriculum and instruction to prepare students for these proficiency standards. As a Pennsylvania public school, Insight PA is required by the PA Department of Education to participate.

After the winter break, you will receive details on your student's testing assignment, including the date and location. You or an appointed adult guardian must sign your student in at the testing site on their assigned days. The adult signing them in will need to present a valid photo ID.

Last year, students had a great time meeting our teachers, staff, and classmates during testing. They also received drinks, snacks, and fun incentives for their participation. To help ensure a successful testing experience this year, we invite you to complete a brief survey. All survey respondents will be entered into a raffle to win one of TEN great prizes!

Earlier this month, our MS students sent questions to Gunnery Sergeant Jerry Vanek of the U.S. Marine Corps and he answered them in a video for them. Check out the recording below.

Thank you to Gysgt. Jerry Vanek for your service and for the time and information you shared with our students!

Our Community Engagement Coordinators have been busy planning a variety of exciting events for our students and their families! Check out what they have planned for the next several weeks.

Click on the links below to learn more about each event and sign up to attend!

Friday, December 6th

• Monroe County - Schisler Museum & McMunn Planetarium
• Lancaster County - Lancaster Science Factory

Friday, December 13th

• Allegheny County - Zone 28
• Dauphin County - The Hershey Story Museum
• Montgomery County - Urban Air Willow Grove

Friday, December 20th

• Northampton County - Crayola Experience
• Philadelphia - Rolling Thunder

Title I, II, III and IV are federally funded grants designed to help students reach high academic achievement. Insight PA participates in a school-wide Title Program. We value the importance of a strong home and school connection. In an effort to support this belief, we are asking for your feedback. This will help inform school administration about the effectiveness of our communication with parents and how to improve our Parent and Family Engagement Policy.

All families who complete the survey linked below by Sunday, December 22nd will be entered into a drawing for an item of their choice (up to $35) from our school store. Section two of the survey must be completed in order to be entered into the drawing.

Please join us for the following parent/guardian education sessions during the month of December:

School Based Medical Access

Tuesday, December 10th from 12:30PM - 1:00PM

Presenters - Amanda Tingler (Special Ed Compliance Coordinator) and Kristen Salamone (Related Services Manager)

Zoom Link - https://insightpaschool.zoom.us/j/4080572556

How to Get Ops Documentation to School

Tuesday, December 17th from 12:00PM - 12:30PM

Presenters - Corinne Davis & Jazmin Cruz, Insight PA LEAP Specialists

Zoom Link - https://insightpaschool.zoom.us/j/4080572556

Self Care & Stress Management for Parents/Guardians

Tuesday, December 17th from 12:30PM - 1:00PM

Presenter - Crystal McClure, Insight PA Student Resource Specialist

Zoom Link - https://insightpaschool.zoom.us/j/4080572556

1. Throughout the year, students will complete a survey to assess their social and emotional skills, as well as identify areas where they may need support. Based on the survey results, some students may be invited to participate in small counseling groups. Parents and guardians will receive notifications via Parent Square if their student is invited to join a group. Please feel free to reach out to your counselor if you have any questions about these opportunities!

2. Counselor Connection sessions take place every other Friday with your student's assigned school counselor and their grade-level peers. Please ensure your student's attendance to this essential class. A few recent topics we have explored include identifying and managing emotions, values exploration, and responsible decision making. If there are any barriers to attendance, please contact your counselor for assistance.

3. The Friendship Cafe is welcoming new members! If your student would like to spend their lunchtime twice a month on Tuesdays meeting new friends, sharing hobbies and interests, or simply enjoying socialization, please inform a counselor!

Our MS students are assigned a counselor based on the first letters of their last name. Not sure who your counselor is? Check the list below!

• Ms. McGourney (Last names A - E)
• Mrs. Snyder (Last names F - L)
• Ms. Foster (Last names M - R)
• Mrs. Schleifer (Last names S - Z)