The Pirate Post

We hope that everyone enjoyed their break. We are quickly approaching the end of the first semester. The second grading period officially ends January 17th which means that all makeup work must be completed by then. It is the student's responsibility to know when teachers are cutting off grades. Teachers cannot wait until the last day of the grading period to accept assignments because they will not have sufficient time to grade the assignments before grades are due for report cards. Don't forget that the general schoolwide expectation is to pass 2 iReady Reading lessons and 2 iReady Math lessons per week. This means that should have 18 total passed Reading lessons and 18 total passed Math lessons since October 30th. Please ask your child to pull up their iReady lessons, so that you can verify this. Also, all students know how to utilize PowerSchool to check their grades and missing assignments. Now is the time to review grades and resolve any discrepancies with teachers before the grading period ends. If your child is not passing any class, it is highly recommended that you schedule a conference with that teacher to develop a plan to help get your child get on track to pass their End of Grade tests and to meet promotion requirements. Students will begin their Middle of Year iReady diagnostics this week and growth reports will be provided with report cards which are scheduled to go home on January 29th. Please encourage your child to take their MOY diagnostics and all assessments seriously. They should take their time, use their strategies and show their work.

Sports eligibility requirements are based on a student's grades and attendance from the previous semester. Students must pass 5 out of 6 classes and must be present 85% of the semester to be eligible to play school sports. Also, the behavior incentive for the second grading period will be a school dance held during the day on January 24th. Students can earn this reward by having no ISS, OSS or a bus suspension and no missing work or zeros during the second grading period (October 28th-January 17th). Don't forget students that have Honor Roll (all grades 80 and above) all year will be eligible to attend a trip to Mac Daddy's at the end of the year and students that have Principal's List (all grades 90 and above) all year will be eligible to attend a trip to Busch Gardens.

January is National Mentoring Month. We have fabulous mentors here at SBMS, so we would like to give them a shout out! Thank you Mrs. Bak, Mrs. Cohn, Ms. Cook, Mrs. Faasii, Ms. Holland, Mrs. Sabdo, Mrs. Snedeker, Mrs. Wilmoth, and Mr. Trees for being amazing mentors!

This Thursday we will kick off our basketball season with games at Hunter's Creek Middle School. The girls will start around 4pm and the boys will follow. Tickets are $5 at the door for everyone school aged or older.

We have recently seen an increase in respiratory illness like colds, flu, pneumonia and RSV. Please remember if your child is sick (nonstop coughing, trouble breathing, has a temperature of 100 or greater, or is vomiting or having diarrhea) please keep them at home and seek medical care as needed. Remember to keep your child home until they have been fever-free (without using medications like Tylenol and ibuprofen) for 24 hours or have had no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours-this is an Onslow County School Board policy. If your child has started on antibiotics, they cannot return until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours. Also, medications are NEVER to be sent in with students. ALL medications, even over-the-counter medications, must have a medication order and be checked in by the school nurse in order to be given at school. This is for the safety of all our students.

Tactics to avoid respiratory infections:

• Avoid touching your face. Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth helps keep germs away from those places.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Then wash your hands.
• Clean surfaces. Regularly clean often-touched surfaces to prevent the spread of infection from touching a surface with the virus on it and then your face.

• Avoid crowds when possible. The flu spreads easily wherever people gather — in childcare centers, schools, office buildings, auditoriums and on public transportation. By avoiding crowds during peak flu season, you lower your chances of infection.

• Wash your hands, especially before eating.

• Get vaccinated. Immunizations help decrease the severity and length of flu, pneumonia and RSV

We wish you a germ free holiday season!!

The state passed new athletic eligibility requirements, students must pass 70% of all classes and be present 85% of the semester. For SBMS students, this means students are only allowed to fail one class and remain eligible and based on the current school calendar they cannot miss more than 13 days this semester in order to be eligible to play sports this spring. The new policy does not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences.

ATTENDANCE- Please make school attendance a priority. When students are not at school, they miss out on important opportunities for hands on learning and discussion and this can never be recreated through a makeup assignment. Students get frustrated because they are behind their peers, and this often leads to students shutting down and giving up. It is also important that students are at school on time in class by 7:30 am, ready to learn. Rushing in late sets students up to have a bad day. Signing students out before dismissal (2:40 pm) also creates gaps in learning and sends the message that school is not important. Please make sure that your child knows that you value their education by making attendance a priority. Good school attendance is also great for their mental health and creates good habits for future employment. In order to be eligible for sports at SBMS, a student must be present for at least 85% of the previous semester. It does not matter if the absence is considered an "excused" absence or not. North Carolina also has truancy laws. It you do not comply with this law, Social Services and Law Enforcement will become involved. Let's avoid that and get our students to school regularly! Absentee notes can be email directly to our data manager (lesley.whited@onslow.k12.nc.us). We follow the OCS Board Attendance policy: Policy Manual (boardpolicyonline.com)

BEHAVIOR- Everyone deserves a safe and distraction free environment for learning. School rules and procedures are in place to help us achieve this goal. Please be proactive by discussing school rules and expectations with your child. When students make mistakes and break the rules, encourage them to accept the consequences and learn from these mistakes. Failure to support school discipline policies will lead to increased behaviors. Please help us in teaching our students that you don't have to agree with a rule in order to follow it and you don't have to like someone to be respectful towards them. This will set your child up for success at school and in the real world. We hope to be able to work with families in order to help our students through these difficult middle school years with the least turbulence as possible. Always encourage your child to put forth their best effort; hard work pays off!

COMMUNICATION- Effective communication is critical for success.

1. The teacher is always the first point of contact. If you cannot resolve an issue after meeting with the teacher, please schedule an appointment to meet with administration. Administration does not take walk ins as we are in classrooms, meetings, and working directly with students & staff during the school day. You may leave a message, and we will do our best to return your call within 24 hours. If you do not hear back within 48 hours, please reach out again as it may have gotten lost in the shuffle. The best way to reach administration is via email which is listed below or can be accessed from our school's website.

2. Please sign up for Parent Portal (paperwork will be sent home on the first day of school). This gives you access to PowerSchool where you can see up to date information on student attendance and assignments. Please check Parent Portal weekly to stay on top of missing assignments.

3. Pay attention to the weekly ALL CALL and EMAIL that is sent out every Sunday evening. If you don't want to listen to the message, no worries, the email contains the transcript as well as important links and some pictures too! If you are not receiving the call and email, please let our data manager (lesley.whited@onslow.k12.nc.us) know so that we can make sure your info. is up to date. This is the method that we will use to communicate with parents in the event of an emergency, so you need to make sure that you are receiving these calls and emails. If you use your cell phone as your primary phone in PowerSchool, you can opt in to receive texts as well. If you block us, you will not receive emergency calls either.

4. Check out our school website: Home - Swansboro Middle School (onslow.k12.nc.us)

5. Check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SwansboroMiddleSchool/

6. Remember, for safety reasons, we do not give out student information over the phone and all changes in transportation must be made in writing.

7. If there are custody issues, we must have a copy of the current custody paperwork on file with a judge's signature. If not, both parents have equal access to the student and their educational records.

If you have concerns regarding bus stops or drivers, please contact the Swansboro Transportation Department at 910-326-1436. Swansboro Middle School does not have direct access to buses. Communication directly with buses can only be done through the transportation department. If there are any emergency situations, we will send out an all call to parents; otherwise, please assume that everything is fine, buses are just running behind schedule. If you have an emergency, the best way to reach administrators is via email since we are often tied up in meetings and can't answer the phone.

page.highsmith@onslow.k12.nc.us

amanda.reopelle@onslow.k12.nc.us

michelle.napier@onslow.k12.nc.us

Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right. If your child does not follow the bus rules, they will be suspended from the bus. Disrespectable and unsafe behaviors will not be tolerated.

Check out the OCS Transportation website for more great information regarding buses: Home - Onslow County Schools

We are raising the bar for our behavior incentive for the second grading period is a school dance during the day. Students can earn this reward by having no ISS, OSS or a bus suspension and no missing work or zeros during the second grading period. Don't forget students that have Honor Roll (all grades 80 and above) all year will be eligible to attend a trip to Mac Daddy's at the end of the year and students that have Principal's List (all grades 90 and above) all year will be eligible to attend a trip to Busch Gardens.

1/1/2025-1/31/25 National Mentoring Month

1/8/2025 Reading MOY Diagnostic

1/9/2025 Basketball at HCMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

1/9/2025 Math MOY Diagnostic

1/16/2025 Basketball vs JCMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

1/17/2025 Grading Period Ends

1/20/2025-1/22/2025 Winter Break- No School for students

1/23/2025 Basketball vs BMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

1/23/2025 8th Grade Science NC Check In (No Testing Schedule)

1/24/2025 Winter Dance Behavior Incentive

1/28/2025 Basketball vs NBMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

1/29/2025 Report Cards go home

1/29/2025 School Improvement Team Planning 3:15-4:15 Media Center

1/30/2025 Basketball at TMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

2/3/2025-2/7/25 National School Counseling Week

2/4/2025 Basketball vs SWMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

2/5/2025 Pirate Parents Meeting 9:30 in Pirate's Den

2/6/2025 Basketball at DMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

2/10/2025 Preseason Sportsmanship Meeting (Required Once Per School-Year) @ 6:00pm

2/11/2025 Basketball at NPMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

2/12/2025 ERPD (release 3 hours early)

2/12/2025 Teacher Supply Drop sponsored by the Pirate Parents

2/12/2025 Interim Reports

2/14/2025 Dance (Cheerleader) 2:40-4:30

2/15/2025National SRO Appreciation Day

2/15/2025Basketball Tournament- Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 (Top 4 Teams; Time and Location TBD)

2/17/2025Volleyball / Boys Soccer Tryouts

2/17/2025Workday- No school for students

2/19/2025School Improvement Team Planning 3:15-4:15 Media Center

2/24/25-2/28/25ACCESS Testing

2/26/2025Volleyball / Boys Soccer at HCMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

2/27/2025Pre-MPA Concert Orchestra- 6pm (Auditorium, Band, Choir, Orchestra)

2/27/2025Pre-MPA Concert Band- 6pm (Auditorium, Band Room)

3/2/2025-3/8/25School Social Worker Week

3/5/2025Volleyball / Boys Soccer vs JCMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

3/5/2025Spring Pictures

3/5/2025Pirate Parents Meeting 9:30 in Pirate's Den

3/6/2025Interim Reports

3/7/2025Maintence Worker Appreciation Day

3/10/2025Volleyball / Boys Soccer vs BMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

3/11/2025Fire Drill (Required every month)

3/12/2025ERPD (release 3 hours early)

3/13/2025Volleyball / Boys Soccer vs NBMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

3/15/2025Tri-M Car Wash Fundraiser 8am-12pm

3/17/2025Workday- No school for students

3/18/2025Volleyball / Boys Soccer at TMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

3/19/2025Preseason Sportsmanship Meeting (Required Once Per School-Year) @ 6:00pm

3/20/2025Volleyball / Boys Soccer vs SWMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

3/20/2025Choir Concert- 7th & 8th Grade- 6pm (Auditorium & Choir Room)

3/21/2025Kona Ice (Hospitality) Tentative

3/24/2025Volleyball / Boys Soccer at DMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

3/25/2025Monthly BT Meeting 3:15-4:15 in Faasii's room

3/26/2025School Improvement Team Planning 3:15-4:15 Media Center

3/26/2025Volleyball / Boys Soccer at NPMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

3/27/2025Baseball Tryouts

3/27/2025Grading Period Ends

3/27/2025Math Benchmark

3/28/2025Reading NC Check In

4/1/20258th Grade Science NC Check In

4/2/2025Pirate Parents Meeting 9:30 in Pirate's Den

4/2/2025Bak/Hunt/Haigh/Goddard Team to Sturgeon City

4/3/2025Report Cards go home

4/4/2025Media Specialist Day

4/4/2025Dance 2:40-4:30

4/7/2025-4/11/25National Assistant Principal Week

4/7/2025Baseball at HCMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

4/9/2025ERPD (release 3 hours early)

4/10/2025Preseason Sportsmanship Meeting (Required Once Per School-Year) @ 6:00pm

4/10/2025Tri-M Dress Rehearsal – 2:45-4:00pm (in the Library)

4/11/2025Popping into Spring with Popsicles from the Pirate Parents

4/14/2025 to 4/21/2025Spring Break- Workday for staff Monday 4/21/25

4/21/2025-4/25/25Public School Volunteer Week & Administrative Professionals Week

4/23/2025Administrative Professionals Day

4/22/2025Track Tryouts

4/23/2025Baseball vs JCMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

4/23/2025School Improvement Team Planning 3:15-4:15 Media Center

4/24/2025Tri-M Recital- 6:00-7:00pm (in the Library)

4/25/2025Kona Ice (Hospitality) Tentative

4/25/2025Interim Reports

4/28/2025Baseball vs BMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

4/29/2025Dinner Theater- 6:00-8:00pm (in the PDC)

4/30/2025Baseball vs NBMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

5/1/2025School Principals Day

5/2/2025School Lunch Hero Day

5/2/20255th Graders Visit SBMS (Auditorium)

5/5/2025Baseball at TMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

5/5/2025-5/9/2025OCS Employee Appreciation Week, OCS Bus Driver Appreciation Week and Teacher & Teacher Assistant Appreciation Week- May 5-9, 2025

5/6/2024 Reading EOY Diagnostic

5/6/2025National Teacher Day

5/6/2025Mini Tri-Meet #1: Tuesday, 5/6 (Location TBD)

5/7/2025National School Nurse Day

5/7/2025Pirate Parents Meeting 9:30 in Pirate's Den

5/7/2025Baseball vs SWMS: (Home Game Starts at 4:00pm)

5/7/2025Teacher Luncheon sponsored by the Pirate Parents

5/7/2024Math EOY Diagnostic

5/9/2025Kona Ice sponsored by Pirate Parents

5/12/2025Baseball at DMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

5/13/2025Mini Tri-Meet #2: Tuesday, 5/13 (Location TBD)

5/13/2025Band & Orchestra Sign-Up Night 5:30-7:00pm (Auditorium, Choir, Orchestra, Band Room)

5/14/2025Baseball at NPMS: Away games- start time TBD by host site

5/15/2025Interim Reports

5/21/2025Conference Championship Meet: Wed., May 21 (Location and Time TBD)

5/26/2025Holiday- No School

5/20/2025Piano Concert- 6pm (Auditorium, Band)

5/22/2025Band Concert- 6th - 6pm, 7th, 8th, Jazz- 7pm (Auditorium & Band Room)

5/23/25-6/6/25NC Extend 1 Administration Window

5/27/2025Choir Concert- 6 TH, 7TH, & 8TH - 6pm (Auditorium & Choir Room)

5/28/2025Athletic Banquet

5/29/2025Orchestra Concert- 6th, 7th, & 8th - 6pm (Auditorium, Band, Orchestra, & Choir Room)

6/2/2025Science EOG

6/3/2025Math EOG

6/4/2025ELA EOG

6/6/2025Grading Period Ends

6/6/2025Llast day of school for the 2024-2025 school year for students