Our Vision

We will provide a safe community for students and staff to connect, learn, and grow.

Our Mission

Our students will learn to believe in themselves, work together, and gain skills needed for a positive and successful future.

Our Beliefs

Everyone belongs. All students can learn. School safety matters.

As we wrap up our first quarter, it’s hard to believe how quickly time has flown! We have had an exciting start to the school year, with many achievements and memorable moments. Here’s a snapshot of what’s been happening here at Stevens:

• Our students have learned and embraced The Stampeder Way—showing respect, integrity, determination, engagement, and responsibility in their actions daily. This foundation has helped create a positive and connected school environment, setting the tone for a fantastic year ahead.
• At our successful Open House, it was inspiring to see so many families joining us to celebrate our community and commitment to student growth.
• We've already honored many outstanding students with our Student of the Month awards, Stampeder Way tickets, and raffle rewards, and our first PBIS reward was a hit! (A big thank-you to our PTO for supporting this.).
• We also honored our Custodians, Transportation and Cafeteria staff, and Principals
• This quarter marked the conclusion of our first athletic season. Congratulations to our football, volleyball, and cross-country teams and coaches for their hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship.
• Our Associated Student Body (ASB) is now up and running, and we’re thrilled to see the energy and enthusiasm they bring to school leadership.
• TSA recruited members, teams are forming, and projects are beginning!
• Loads of student clubs were started, and students are finding their place to belong.
• In 8th-grade science, students completed an impactful project on the Elwha River, deepening their understanding of our local environment and history.
• Academically, we’ve set our baseline in math and ELA with the MAP test, providing us valuable insight to guide each student’s learning journey.
• Our peer mediators have completed their training and are ready to make a positive impact by assisting their classmates.
• NOLS Book Wars have kicked off in ELA classes, sparking excitement and motivation to read.
• To top it all off, our first Spirit Week and Spirit Assembly brought a lot of fun and school pride to Stevens! We extend our gratitude to Ms. McComb and our Leadership students for organizing such fantastic events.

Thank you for your support and involvement in making our first quarter so successful. We look forward to all that lies ahead in the coming months as we continue to grow and achieve together.

Melissa McBride

Principal

360-565-1782

mmcbride@portangelesschools.org

• The end of first quarter is Nov. 1
• Grades will be posted by Nov. 8 (report cards are only sent home at end of semester; please check Skyward for end to quarter grades)
• We will send out information for Silver (3.0-3.59) and Gold (3.6-4.0) Honor Roll celebrations shortly after grades are posted
• There will be a Veterans' Day assembly (families are invited) on Nov. 8
• There will be no school on Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans' Day
• We will be doing a school-wide food drive this month to support our local food bank - more information to come!
• Thanksgiving Holiday
• Nov. 27th will be a half day (no Late Start) - release at 12:15
• Sack lunches will be available
• No school Nov. 28-29

We have high expectations for all of our students, and we know that every one of them can be successful with the right support. At SMS, we follow The Stampeder Way. We expect students to have a growth mindset, to be kind, to show respect to themselves and others, to have integrity, to commit their own growth and success, and to be a good citizen. We'll teach these concepts in class, and throughout the year, we'll be looking for students who exhibit these qualities. Students who stand out among the crowd may be awarded a Stampeder Way raffle ticket and they may be nominated for Student of the Month. See photos below of our September raffle winners and September Students of the Month! Great job, Stampeders...we're proud of you! Keep it up!

Respect: Treating others with kindness and valuing their perspective.

Integrity: Being honest, ethical, and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Determination: Showing perseverance and commitment in all endeavors.

Engagement: Actively participating in the school community and striving for personal and academic growth.

Responsibility: Being accountable for your actions and contributing positively to the school environment.

Phoebe Debord, Kaylee Peterson, Addisyn Smith, Presley Daugherty, and Adley Church...thanks for being amazing Stampeders! We appreciate all of our students for following expectations and making Stevens and great place to be. 90% of our students earned the October Stampeder Way reward! That means only 10% of our students earned 1 or more major referrals in October. We will be celebrating with ice cream sandwiches (popsicles for those who are lactose intolerant) on Nov. 8th at lunch. Students can let us know if there are further dietary restrictions so we can provide an alternative. These kids are awesome!

If parents or staff would like their student to be considered for Hi-Cap services, then a referral form will need to be completed by November 15th. Here is the link for the form: 2024 HC Referral Form Completed forms can be given to building secretaries or dropped off at Lincoln Center.

All students in grades K-12 are eligible for referral. Also, please note that all 2nd grade students have been screened with the CogAT screener this past month as per OSPI guidelines. 2nd grade teachers across the district have been given information on next steps for students identified to take the full CogAT screener in November.

Homework Club is held Monday-Thursday from 3:15-4:15. Staff is on site to assist with homework. Chromebooks are available. Transportation is available Tuesday and Thursdays. Students must sign up in the front office at the beginning of the day, as we submit a list to the bus driver so they can create a route.

Boys' Basketball has begun! Student athletes must attend practice, maintain passing grades, follow building expectations, and show up on time for classes. Students who miss practice, are failing a class, earn behavior referrals, or are tardy/absent from school, may not be able to participate or attend games. Remember, student athletes are students first! And they represent our school. We have high expectations for our students and encourage them to be good citizens and role models for others.

Our next sport is Girls' Basketball, which begins in January after Winter Break. Wrestling begins in February.

If you need support with athletics, need help completing your Final Forms, or need to pay sports fees, we are currently operating on a part-time basis. We should have this position filled soon. We appreciate your patience as we navigate the beginning of our Winter Sports Season.

Coaches will provide their contact info to players and families at the start of the season.

Our PASD Athletic Director, Dwayne Johnson, can be reached at 360-565-1608.

ASB is our student-elected student government. Mr. Edwards is our ASB advisor. Our 7th grade senators were elected in October, and we are now fully "staffed" and ready to start making some change! Here's to student leadership!

Band students who would like to extend their musical experience can join Jazz Band. This is held Tues/Thurs from 3:15-4:15 with Mr. Hansen in the Band Room.

We have had various student-created clubs that take place during lunch, before school, and after school. Students can pick up a club application form from the office. Students are encouraged to look at the clubs board in the main hall by the office to find out what's available. Check out our current options HERE.

Honor Society begins in late October/early November. It is open to all 8th graders with qualifying grades (a cumulative 3.0 GPA), and teachers have a sense of behavior. The first event has typically been at the end of October (Harvest Carnival) or November (Teddy Bear Tea). From that point forward there will be one service activity each month. Mrs. Day is the advisor for this club.

In collaboration with the Peninsula Dispute Resolution Center, 30 students have been trained in peer mediation. These students, along with their adult advisors, will begin managing peer conflicts in November.

In October, the Wellness Club hosted Unity Day to promote kindness and inclusion throughout the school. We participated in Project Connect by making a giant paper chain with kind messages for all students.

In November, Wellness Club is focusing on spreading gratitude through out school with some fun upcoming lunch time activities. Students are always welcome to join Wellness Club. We meet every Wednesday during flex. To sign up, let a teacher know or come talk to Sal in room 17.5!

Check out these awesome learning opportunities for parents...

Check out this awesome resource from Sal Michael: Vaping Facts & Prevention Tips for Parents

Check out this article from the American Psychological Association - Keeping Teens Safe on Social Media: What Parents Should Know to Protect Their Kids

We are also thinking of inviting The White Hatter back to our school to give a presentation to students. Check out their content and let us know what you think. They have an amazing free resource for parents called Parenting in an Online World: Internet Safety, Security, Privacy, and Digital Literacy for Parents.

Get familiar with Our Stevens Stampeders Behavior Expectations. Following these expectations will help make our school a safe and welcoming place for everyone. This form will need to be signed and returned to your student's 4th period teacher. We also follow the District Handbook. Please familiarize yourself and your student with this important document. All students will review the most important parts of this handbook in their 4th period Stampeder Time class. You will also need to confirm that you have reviewed this document when you log into Skyward for the first time.

We use the PBIS Rewards software to track student behavior. This software provides family access through a free app. If you were at registration, you received your student's QR code. We will also send an invite via text and email the first week of school. This app allows you access to your student's major and minor referrals throughout the year. We can resend this information, or even help you set it up on your smartphone. Please set up a meeting so we can assist! Students can access this information on their Clever account, which is accessible on school Chromebooks.

We have monthly celebrations to honor students who have earned zero major referrals for the month. We provide lots of intervention and support to help students stay on the right path. If you are wondering what kinds of support are available, please reach out. We want all of our students to succeed and have a positive experience at Stevens.

Electronics Policy - We expect students to be engaged in their academics, and electronics (especially cell phones, ear buds, and smart watches) can get in the way of that. We require that students turn these gadgets off and put them in their back packs for the day. Students keep their backpacks with them at all times, aside from during PE (they are in the locker room) and lunch (they are kept in a classroom). The school is not responsible for lost valuables, so please keep these items at home if you are worried about your student losing them. Students can store their cell phone in the front office if they are worried about losing it during the day. If you need to reach your student during the day, please do not text or call them on their cell phone. This can disrupt class. Call the front office, and we will send a message to your student. Your student can also use the student phone in the office to reach you during the day.

Dress Code -

Allowable Dress

• Students must wear clothing including both a shirt with pants or skirt, or the equivalent and shoes.
• Shirts and dresses must have fabric in the front and on the sides.
• Clothing must cover undergarments, waistbands and bra straps excluded.
• Fabric covering all private parts must not be see through.
• Hats and other headwear must allow the face to be visible and not interfere with the line of sight to any student or staff. Hoodies must allow the student face and ears to be visible to staff.
• Clothing must be suitable for all scheduled classroom activities including physical education, science labs, wood shop, and other activities where unique hazards exist.
• Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.

Non-Allowable Dress

• Clothing may not depict, advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
• Clothing may not depict pornography, nudity, or sexual acts.
• Clothing may not use or depict hate speech targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation or any other protected groups.
• Clothing must not threaten the health or safety of any other student or staff.
• If the student’s attire or grooming threatens the health or safety of any other person, then discipline for dress or grooming violations should be consistent with discipline policies for similar violations.

We are currently operating with a string of substitute attendance secretaries. As such, it is, unfortunately, quite likely that there will be some mistakes made with attendance, missed calls, and slower response to truancy. If you receive a robocall about your student's attendance that doesn't seem right, please give our main line a call. Also, if you have questions about anything attendance related, call that same number - 360-452-5590. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Students are expected to be at school. If your student must be absent due to illness or an appointment, be sure to call in to excuse the absence. If a student is absent longer than 5 days, we will require a doctor's note. Accumulated unexcused and excessive excused absences may lead to truancy processing. Communication is key when it comes to attendance. If you are struggling with your student's attendance for any reason, please reach out. We have many resources to provide support.

To contact our Attendance Secretary, call 360-565-1779. (Currently, we are operating with a number of substitute Attendance Secretaries. If you have questions about your student's attendance, call our front office line, 360-452-5590; and thank you for your patience.)

You can access Skyward via our website and through a free app for your phone. This is how you will access your student's grades and attendance records. If you have questions about how to access your Skyward account, please call our front office.

Our Student Services Secretary, LeAnn Mandeville, can be reached at 360-565-1778.

If you have questions about your student's schedule or classes, reach out to our building counselors.

Beth Clifford 360-565-1797

Dana Christensen 360-565-1763

If you need support securing mental health counseling or drug/alcohol counseling, reach out to Sal Michael or our Family Navigator Team. Our Navigators can also help you find additional community resources.

Sal is the Student Assistance Professional at Stevens. One of the goals of their work is substance use prevention. A majority of students at Stevens, and in Washington state, do not vape or use substances. To support that goal, education is an important part of substance use prevention for students and families alike. Here are 3 ways we are providing substance use education this Spring.

Sal Michael 360-565-3721

District Navigator Team 360-565-3719

Our School Nurse, Sarah Pierce, can be reached at 360-565-1777

Hello parents and Guardians of Stevens Middle school 7th grade mathematics. My name is Jerrod Dailey and I was born and raised on the Hilltop of Tacoma in the 80's and 90's. I have a family history tied to the area where my mother, uncles, aunts, grandparents and cousin lived here between Sequim and Port Angeles. I have served in the US Army for 13 years, and also been around the world seeing many different cultures, and countries. I was a truancy officer in the state of Colorado for 4 years before I became an educator helping with 4th and 5th grade mathematics. I am currently in my 9th year as an educator. Some of my hobbies are sports, reading a good book, and trying new foods.

Hi, I'm Jami Wood. This is my 14th year working for Port Angeles School District and all my years were at Roosevelt Elementary. Coming to Stevens has been so great! All the staff are so welcoming, and it is a joy to see my former students. They were so surprised to see me! I enjoy my role as a secretary and love working to help support students, their families, and our staff. Stevens has quickly became my new home!

I am a mom to three kids that have all attended Port Angeles Schools all the way through. My son Joel works for the City of Port Angeles and coaches baseball at PAHS and for Wilder Baseball. My oldest daughter Jaida is in her senior year at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma and will graduate in the Spring with a degree in Education. She is in the process of applying to grad school. My baby, Josie, is a senior at Port Angeles High School and between school, volleyball, dance classes, and her social life, she has not figured out where she wants to go to college yet. Any ideas? I also have a sweet bonus daughter Bella Money, who will be my daughter in law eventually (come on already Joel)! She works at Gastro Pub and is finishing up her degree in education this Spring also.

My name is Mykey Otero. I am a first year Americorps volunteer, tutoring eager young minds and being a positive role model and friend to all. I grew up in VA, and then moved to WA in 1998. I have been a professional musician for ~3 decades, as well as a fanatical pizza lover/consumer, and science/math-obsessed goofball.

Greg is one of our amazing night custodians. He also moonlights as a musician...you can catch him playing locally with The Works. He always has a smile to share and a positive attitude! We appreciate his dedication to keeping our school clean and safe.

We are just alerting/notifying families that there is an uptick of pneumonia cases, covid cases are still holding on since last month, and RSV/ pneumonia season will soon be here. Please keep your student home if they have fever, diarrhea, emesis or severe coughing. We encourage (this is not mandatory) students to wear a mask when symptoms are present if at school with no fever.

The Health Dept has free covid tests for families and will drop off several cases for our schools to hand out to families. Although, nurses will not be doing covid tests on our campuses, providing these tests to families will help rule it out AND save money😊. This is also a great time to get your flu vaccines.

Here is a short summary of RSV and Pneumonia:

· RSV

There is no specific treatment for RSV, but you can treat symptoms with over-the-counter medications and home remedies:

· Pain relievers and fever reducers: Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with fever

· Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration

· Rest: Get enough sleep to help your body recover

· Humidifier: Use a cool-mist humidifier to help with breathing

· Saline spray and suctioning: For infants, use nasal saline spray and suctioning to relieve cough and congestion

· Expectorants: Mucinex may provide some relief

· Viral pneumonia

Most cases of viral pneumonia are mild and get better without treatment within 1 to 3 weeks. However, some cases are more serious and require a hospital stay.

· Beyfortus

A single dose of Beyfortus (Nirsevimab) is a monoclonal antibody that can be given in one shot into the muscle to help babies fight the RSV virus

· Racemic epinephrine

An aerosol given by racemic epinephrine may be superior to beta2-adrenergic agents for treating RSV lower respiratory tract infection

Before taking any medications, you should always check with your provider or your pediatrician. Some medications may interact with other medications you're taking.