Falcon Flash
April 5, 2024
Weekly Letter
Dear Stetson Families,
I hope this letter finds you well and refreshed after the spring break. I trust that everyone had a wonderful time relaxing and spending quality moments with family and friends. As we return to school, I am filled with optimism for the final marking period of the academic year. Despite the rainy weather forecast for this week, our spirits remain high as we dive back into the rhythm of school life.
It is exciting to note that spring sports games are gearing up, bringing excitement and energy to the campus. Additionally, I want to remind you that PSSA testing is scheduled at the end of this month. We are diligently preparing our students for these assessments, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge necessary to excel. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child's education. Together, we will make this marking period a successful and fulfilling one for all.
Best Regards,
Mrs. Puchalla
Principal
Calendar -- Look Ahead and Plan
Monday, April 8th--Day 6
Tuesday, April 9th--Day 1 (Falcon Period)
Wednesday, April 10th--NO SCHOOL
Thursday, April 11th--Day 2(Falcon Period)
Friday, April 12th--Day 3
Monday, April 15th--Day 4
Tuesday, April 16th--Day 5 (Falcon Period)
Wednesday, April 17th- Day 6
Thursday, April 18th--Day 1 (Falcon Period)
Friday, April 19th--Day 2
PTO Information and Opportunities
NEWS FLASH!
We are excited to announce that the Stetson PTO now has Venmo! Please consider making your $25 PTO donation today! Thank you for your support!
We look forward to a successful year of supporting our students and teachers. How can you help? If you are able to make a contribution to the PTO, please send cash or check (made out to Stetson Middle School PTO) to the school marked PTO contribution. ($25 is the recommendation, but anything is appreciated). We are also continuing with our candy bowls for the teachers: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054AA8A72DA7F94-teacher. Keep looking for more information to come throughout the year.
2023-24 PTO Board: Patty Arabia, Vicki Babylon, Nancy Bragger, Jamie Grant, Dee Hurford, Lindsey Rauch
PTO Happenings this April
-
PTO will be having a General Meeting on April 15th at 4pm in cafe. Everyone is welcome to attend.
- 8th Grade Yard Signs for sale: Order now through Friday, April 19th. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ES-vHfNVm0uySeZst8u8ItF459hLSfZCkmJBjqRoc8FUNVNTOVRGSEVKMlhVNjFZWU9NSjhHNk1YMi4u
- The Philadelphia Union game postponed due to weather has been rescheduled for April 30th at 7:30 pm. Hope to see everyone there! Please contact acarrington@philadelphiaunion.com with any questions.
-
We love our Stetson Teachers! Help us celebrate them and support our PTO by ordering a cupcake for a teacher that will be delivered on Teacher Appreciation Day, May 7th. For each cupcake you order, a personal message will be printed and given to the teacher of your choice. If you would like to order one and choose a message for the entire staff, please choose "other" instead of choosing a specific teacher and you can write a message for the "Stetson Teachers" in the note section. We will display the general messages with the cupcakes.
Please support our Stetson PTO by purchasing discounted Hershey Park tickets. Complete the form and submit it to the office, with payment, by April 24th.
Stetson Athletics
Student Spectator & Attendance Reminders (UPDATE)
Just a few friendly reminders regarding students attending after school sporting events and activities.
1. We do allow students to access their phones after 2:50 to ensure they are able to communicate home and arrange rides if necessary, however students are not permitted to take pictures or videos of opposing teams during events.
2. In regards to arranging rides home, please be mindful that most of our after school events usually end around 5 so please try to have students arrange rides around that time.
3. Students must arrive at school before 11:30 AM in order to participate in after school activities. If they have a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon, they must be here until 11:30 AM.
Thank you for your support of our Stetson athletic programs!
Spring Athletics UPDATE
Spring Athletics UPDATE
Sports offered in the winter for 7th and 8th graders include softball, baseball, girls lacrosse, boys lacrosse and co-ed track and field. Tryouts will begin for some sports around the week of March 4th. All middle school families should complete the PIAA physical registration information required for sports participation online through https://hello.familyid.com/. We do not accept hard copies of the physical packet. Family ID is a secure, user-friendly registration platform that streamlines the registration process and helps the WCASD be more administratively efficient and environmentally responsible. When you register through FamilyID, the system keeps track of your information in your FamilyID profile. Please see the registration link and introduction letter to FamilyID.
In addition, all of the sports, with the exception of track and field, require an Impact Concussion baseline test to have been performed while at Stetson Middle School. If you are unsure if you have completed a baseline test, please check with Mr. Logan. In addition, Mr. Logan will conduct Impact Concussion baseline testing on Wednesday 2/21 and Wednesday 2/28 after school from 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM in B107. If you are unable to attend during this time, please contact Mr. Logan at alogan@wcasd.net to arrange a time to take the baseline test.
Please have the following information when you register:
Doctor information
Health Insurance Information
Current Physical Exam – dated after June 1, 2023
Students that have already participated in a sport at Stetson during the 2023/2024 school year must complete the Parent Recertification form from the PIAA physical and upload it to FamilyID.
REGISTRATION PROCESS:
Parent/guardian click the link to register https://www.familyid.com/organizations/g-a-stetson-middle-school
7th Grade--Behavioral Health Screening info
We wanted to reach out to remind you about the upcoming Universal Behavioral Health Screenings for our 7th graders. Originally scheduled for March, the screenings have been rescheduled to take place on April 17th of this month.
For those of you who have already returned permissions, we sincerely appreciate your prompt response. You do not need to resubmit another permission form. However, if you missed the email sent out at the end of February, we kindly ask you to review the attached letter that explains the process in detail.
It's important to note that your student can only participate in the screening if they have submitted a permission form. These forms can be dropped off at the main office to Mr. Schwartz, your child's school counselor, or handed in to their homeroom teacher.
We want to emphasize the significance of these screenings as they enable us to better understand and support your child's needs within the school environment. Your cooperation and consideration in this matter are greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time and continued support.
Warm regards,
Sheree McDermott, MSW, LSW
Mental Health Therapist
484-266-2714
Inside SMS
Annual Hoops For Heart Fundraiser--May 23rd
Please take some time to read this packet of information about our annual event. We hope you will consider contributing to our fundraiser and come to watch this event!
Stetson Chorus Spring Concert Info
(6th Grade Chorus, 7th Grade Chorus, 8th Grade Chorus & Honors Chorale)
Tuesday, May 14th-- 7:00PM at Rustin High School Auditorium
Dress Code for Concert: All black formal attire. No sneakers or flip-flops.
Dress Rehearsal: Tuesday, May 14th at Rustin HS during the school day. Bus transportation provided. Approximately 9:30AM-1:30PM
Students MUST pack a lunch.
Spring 2024 Falcon Flyer Newspaper
Please enjoy our latest edition of our student led newsletter, the Falcon Flyer.
Pulsera Project
From May 6 – 20, Stetson will be partnering with the Pulsera Project, a nonprofit organization that educates, empowers, and connects Central American artists in over 3,600 schools in 50 states through the sale of colorful handwoven bracelets, or “pulseras” in Spanish. The initiative brightens U.S. schools with art and compelling cultural education while employing Guatemalan & Nicaraguan artisans and investing proceeds in social impact programs and scholarships to create lasting change in their communities.
During these two weeks, Stetson will be selling hundreds of pulseras and “bolsitas”, handwoven textile bags in Spanish, in the main atrium upon student arrival, during grade level lunches, and Spanish students will be coming around to homerooms to promote and sell as well! Each pulsera is a one-of-a-kind work of art and comes tagged with the photo & signature of the artist who made it, making it super easy to feel a connection to the people you're supporting. Each pulsera cost $5, and bolsitas cost $15. All proceeds go back to Central America!
We are incredibly proud to educate our school community about life in Central America while cultivating student leadership and awareness of global social issues. Let’s color the school together!
Stetson Yearbook Orders
Back To School Reminders
Bus Status 4 App
The WCASD now uses the Bus Status 4 app to provide live updates about changes in regular bus times. We encourage all families to upload the Bus Status 4 app since we will not be sending bus changes out regularly, as we have done in the past. See the attached document for more information.
Attendance
Stetson Middle School enforces the WCASD Attendance Policy and PA State attendance laws related to absences and tardies. Students are required to be in attendance daily to keep current with school work. When your child must be absent, please call our absence line as early in the day as possible (please do not call the nurse.) Automated phone calls are sent out by the district to notify families of absences every day, regardless of whether the absence is called in or not. If you would prefer to avoid that automated phone call, you can email a note on the morning of an absence to Heather Mazza at hmazza@wcasd.net, this would also serve as a parent note.
Call 484-266-2710 or email hmazza@wcasd.net
before 9:00 am
IMPORTANT! Submission of Excuse Notes for Absences
After an absence, a parent or doctor’s note must be submitted to the Attendance Secretary or emailed to hmazza@wcasd.net within three days of the student's return to school, or the absence will be considered unexcused/unlawful. Emailed excuse notes are acceptable, as long as they are received within three days of the absence.
Arrival / Dismissal Procedures
Thank you for your cooperation with the start of this new school year. We have had a very successful start of the school year in regards to drop-off and pick-up. We enjoy seeing our parents smiling faces, waves, and cute dogs!
Student Drop-Off/Pick-up: Safety is the top priority at Stetson. Please use the designated lane to drop off/pick up students. There will be only one lane available for drop-off and pick-up in the morning and afternoon. Prepare for long lines and plan accordingly. Students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 am. Stay in the car line and follow staff members’ instructions. You will find the carline traffic flow map attached below. Please review the map and feel free to reach out with any questions. Students may only enter or exit cars at the designated cones. Student drop-off and pick-up can be challenging with the high volume of cars that enter the campus. We appreciate your efforts in helping keep our students safe during this time.
Due to the start time of the staff workday, students can only enter school after 7:30 am unless directed by a teacher for a pre-determined appointment. Students dropped off before 7:50 am will be directed to wait in the cafeteria (6th grade) or LGI (7th and 8th grade) until dismissed to lockers/homeroom.
Being on Time to School: Homeroom begins at 8:05 am and ends at 8:15 am. Students arriving late to homeroom (after the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am) must report to the office for a late pass. The administration will handle lateness following the WCASD Attendance Policies and PA State Laws.
Lateness Clarification:
a. All Stetson students who are assigned and ride a bus that arrives late will NOT be marked late due to the bus’s late arrival.
b. A student who is driven to school and dropped off in the car line will be marked late if the student is not in their homeroom when the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am.
Early Dismissal
If possible, please try to refrain from making appointments during school hours. We understand that at times this is unavoidable, so if your child must leave school early, a student must present a written request by a parent to the office upon arrival at school. Stetson’s Attendance Secretary, Mrs. Mazza, will then give a pass with the dismissal time to your child to share with their teacher at the designated time. Emailed early dismissal notes are not permissible. Keep in mind that only a doctor’s note will excuse an Early Dismissal. Any Early Dismissals, prior to 1:50 PM will be counted as a Parent Note.
Please see the School Board Policies section of the WCASD website to access more information about the WCASD Attendance Policy.
Dress Code Policy Reminder
Friendly reminder regarding the WCASD Dress Code Policy:
Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate for school.
Unacceptable attire includes, but is not limited to, attire that is unsafe, unhealthy, disruptive, offensive to generally acceptable community standards, or contains obscene language; any clothing that reveals undergarments; torn clothing or clothing with holes in it; and tight fitting outfits that are inappropriate and/or revealing. During the school year and summer school, the following applies to male and female students:
1. Tops
a. Shirts, t-shirts, and sweatshirts shall not have inappropriate slogans, words, pictures, alcohol/smoking advertisements, etc.
b. No tank tops, no tops that show the midriff or cleavage, and no see-through tops shall be permitted.
2. Pants/Shorts/Dresses/Skirts
a. Dresses, shorts, and skirts shall be at an appropriate length, which has been determined to be no shorter than midway between the knee and the top of the leg.
b. No pants/sweatpants/shorts/etc. with writing located in inappropriate places are permitted.
c. Pants shall be appropriately sized and worn at the waist, and no lower than the top of the hips.
d. Undergarments shall not be displayed.
e. Pajamas shall not be permitted.
3. Outerwear
a. Coats, hats, hoods, scarves, and the like shall not be worn in the school building, except for religious reasons.
4. Footwear
a. No bedroom slippers shall be permitted.
b. Laces on shoes shall be secured.
c. Any footwear that poses a safety hazard shall not be permitted.
5. Other
a. No chain link belts.
b. Spike jewelry, chains or any other jewelry that could cause injury or constitute a hazard are not permitted.
Spirit Wear & Physical Education Uniform
Students should wear the standard Stetson PE uniform, gray Stetson t-shirt, green gym shorts with white socks, and sneakers. Please print the student's name on the inside of the shorts and in large print on the back of the t-shirt. We also have a limited supply of PE shirts on hand to sell (planning in the morning 2nd week of school) for $10.00. Please see Mrs. Avagliano in the main office to purchase.
Lockers
Each student will have a locker assigned with a built-in lock. Students must lock the locker consistently and the combination kept private to maintain security. It is suggested that all students bring a combination lock to school to secure belongings in a locker during PE and in the athletic locker rooms.
Stetson P-R-I-D-E
As a school we are always looking to improve upon our building culture. This year we will be promoting positive relationships and growth with our students using the acronym PRIDE. Pride stands for:
P- Purpose (Having our students do things with intent and determination.)
R- Respect (Showing respect to our peers and adults.)
I- Integrity (Doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Strong moral principles.)
D- Diversity (Recognizing that we all come from difference places and experiences and we respect each others differences.)
E- Empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.)
One our first day of school, Monday, we held a Town Hall meetings with each of our grades to welcome them back and review expectations and PRIDE was the heart of our presentation. We encouraged all students to practice PRIDE every day at Stetson and we encourage parents to talk with their students about what PRIDE is and how they can show it. We wanted to make adults at home aware in case they hear their student mention it at home. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Falcon Period Explanation
Next week we will be starting to run our Falcon Periods on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning. Falcon Period runs as an extended HR from 8:15-8:50. The purpose of this additional period is to provide an academic support period during the school day for students to have the opportunity to complete work, receive remediation/enrichment, and participate in our social and emotional activities. Our bell schedule is adjusted to accommodate for the Falcon periods. Tuesday Falcon Period will concentrate on executive functioning support and Thursday will be focused on social and emotional learning. We believe through these opportunities students can make stronger connections with teachers, counselors, administrators, and peers.
WCASD Lunch Order Updates
Welcome Back!
Starting this school year there have been some recent updates to our food service program and federal waivers that will affect our cafeteria programs this school year. Please read carefully over the letter below for information about our Free and Reduced Lunch Program, Meals and Menu options and prices, and PaySchools Central Account information where parents can load money onto an account that students can use to purchase lunch at school. For questions about Free and Reduced Lunch please reach out to Colette McLaughlin at cmclaughlin@wcasd.net.
Bus Information
Each student is responsible for knowing their bus number, stop location, and pick-up time. Students should be at their bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Per WCASD policy, students are neither permitted to ride a bus to which they are not assigned nor get off at an unassigned bus stop. Bus passes will not be permitted due to continued limited bus capacity. Bus drivers have the right to assign seats on their buses. BUS ARRIVAL TIMES MAY NOT BE EXACT IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS SO PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE WORK TO HIT OUR SCHEDULED TIMES.
Musical Instrument on Bus Reminder
Large or Dangerous Objects
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation regulations mandate that the interior of a school bus must be free of objects which could cause injury. Objects must be secured and the aisles and emergency exits cannot be blocked. The following must be adhered to at all times:
- No items can be placed in the driver’s compartment, doorway, or aisle. These areas must be kept clear to exit in case of emergencies.
- Animals are not permitted on the bus except as otherwise required by law.[14]
- Large musical instruments or school projects are not permitted on the bus unless they can be held on the student’s lap.
- Items may not be placed under seats, as they can become projectiles upon impact.
- Objects that endanger other students are strictly prohibited. Such objects include, but are not limited to, glass objects, large metal objects, and certain sports equipment that is large and cumbersome, including but not limited to skis, skateboards, or ice skates, unless the ice skates are in an enclosed bag.
Laptop Information
Accidental Damage Policy:
Our students will be covered for one incidence of accidental damage coverage for each academic year. Any cost of repair/replacement of damage beyond the one incident per year will become the responsibility of the student or parent/legal guardian. This accidental damage coverage will not cover device loss or intentional damage.
Items Not Allowed In School
Cell phones and other unauthorized electronic devices are not allowed to be carried on a person during the school day. If a student chooses to bring a device to school, it must be turned off/silenced and stored in the student’s locker for the duration of the school day. Failure to follow this directive will result in the confiscation of the item and possible further disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, the student’s parent/guardian having to pick the item up from school.
Website & Social Media
Please check Stetson's website often to find updates and school information. You may also keep up-to-date on your child's academic progress by accessing our Parent Portal system. Please follow us on Twitter to check out our latest events and announcements @GAStetsonMS.
Nurses Corner
Nurses Corner
As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out our school nurse, Mrs. Czerpak at 484-266-2706.
State Mandated Screenings Notice
School health mandated screenings are completed each year for all grade levels and are conducted throughout the school year. If your student should not pass a screening, a referral will be sent home with them. Screening results are available in PowerSchool. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
6th Grade- Height/Weight/Vision
7th Grade- Height/Weight/Vision/Hearing/Scoliosis
8th Grade- Height/Weight/Vision
Change of clothing
The health office has very limited clothing options in the event of a spill or accident. Therefore, we recommend that students keep a change of clothing in their locker and change out for the seasons.
Dispensing of Medications
All medications, even over-the-counter (OTC) medications, must be dispensed by the school nurse. Do not send medications with your child to take during the school day. Sending medications with your child is against school policy and the WCASD Discipline Code. A signed parent permission note must accompany medications that needs to be given during school, in addition to a written order from the doctor to include type/dosage/time. A copy of the prescription to the pharmacy is not the same and cannot be accepted. Students are not permitted to bring medications to school. A parent/guardian must personally deliver the medication to the school nurse, who must secure and dispense the medication. Any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Melissa Czerpak at 484-266-2706 or email at mczerpak@wcasd.net.
Stetson Middle School Code of Conduct
All students will be given access to an electronic copy of the WCASD Discipline & Records Policy through the distribution of the 1 to 1 laptops. Additionally, the administration will review the policy manual with each grade level during their town hall meeting the first week of school. It is vitally important to review every page of these documents with your child. Each child will be required to verify through a signature that they have received the policy. Knowing what is expected of each student and what consequences are for various offenses will be important to have a successful experience at Stetson Middle School.