Spartan Scoop

Sunnyvale Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Week of November 18th, 2024

Principal's Message

Good afternoon, everyone -

We have been working on getting student report cards emailed home. There have been a couple of technical glitches - we should have them sent out in the next couple of days. We had good turnout at our TUPE event - where folks learned about vaping, its warning signs, dangers, and how to prevent it. Finally, we had a good lockdown drill on Thursday. Four officers from the Sunnyvale Department of Safety walked the school with us during the drill.

Sunnyvale Promise

Every student is known by name, strength, and need,

Ready to excel in high school and beyond,

and to lead a life of joy and purpose.

We have just completed the first week of the second trimester. When report cards come out this week, please take some time with your student to have them share with you what is working for them in school; what they enjoy; what their goals are for the second trimester; and what support they need. We will be doing this in our AST classes as well This process of periodic reflection and goal setting helps students see the intermediate steps that turn their dreams into reality.

Vince Iwasaki, principal

on behalf of the Sunnyvale Middle School staff

Useful Links:

A/B Day Schedule

Bell Schedule

Cafeteria Menu

This week's features ...

Construction & Traffic Updates

TUPE - Vaping Presentation recap

Lost & Found

Parent Support Group

PTSA Fundraiser

East Coast Trip

Music Fundraiser

Sports

PTSA Reflections Awards!

PTSA!

After School & Lunchtime Opportunities! - WE HAVE UPDATED THE LINKS!

Upcoming Calendar

* Monday, 11/18, is an "A" Day

* Tuesday, 11/19, 8:30am, Parent Support Group (see below)

* Thursday, 11/21, Club Fair at Lunch in the Quad

* Friday, 11/22, Club Fair at Lunch in the Quad

* Monday, 11/25 - Friday, 11/29: *** NO SCHOOL *** Thanksgiving Break

12/2 => 12/13, Winter NWEA Testing

12/2 => 12/6, Book Fair, Library

12/2 => 12/19, Winter Olympics, PE!

* Monday, 12/2, is a "B" Day

* Monday, 12/9 is an "A" Day

* Tuesday, 12/10, 6pm, Winter Music Concert

* Friday, 12/13, 5pm, Winter Dance

* Monday, 12/16 is a "B" Day

* Thursday, 12/19 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL UNTIL January 6, 2025!!

Attendance Note

Report an absence:

email (preferred): sms.attendance@sesd.org

phone Julie Melville: call: 408.522.8288 x2105

Please include student's first & last name, grade, & reason for absence

Construction & Traffic Updates

Construction Updates in Pictures 11/14 /24

Construction Updates - Drone Pics 11/14/24

Utilities:

Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection (MEPF) contractors have installed inserts into the metal deck that will be used to hang piping.

Structure:

The structural steel for both buildings and the connecting balcony have been erected. The metal decking is complete on the north building, and continues to progress on the south building.

Rebar will start being installed on (11/18).

Grouting for the structural steel columns took place on (11/14). This is in preparation for the slab and deck pours.

Some of the building wall panels have arrived on site. Wall panel erection will take place the first week of December.

Project Milestone:

The slab on grade pour is scheduled for Tuesday, (11/26). The slab on deck pour is scheduled for Wednesday, (11/27).

Student Construction Club Workshops:

The first Construction Club session will take place on Wednesday, 11/20 for selected students. This session will include an introduction to general contracting and a tour of the construction site.

Lost and Found!

Vaping Prevention and Education

On Thursday, November 14th @ 6pm, we had a good turnout for a presentation on vaping. If you have questions or would like access to the resource deck, please email: brenda.flores@sesd.org

Parent Support Group

We are pleased to offer a parent support group meeting on Tuesdays from 8:30 - 9:15 in the Sunnyvale Middle School conference room. This group will be facilitated by counseling staff.

Details are here

No RSVP is required, but if you have questions, you can email:

bianca.robles@sesd.org

priti.wirasinghe@sesd.org

PTSA Fundraiser - 11/20 - Armadillo Willy's!

Please support our monthly PTSA fundraising by dining out at Armadillo Willy's this Wednesday (11/20) between 3pm and 8pm. 20% of your purchase will be donated to PTSA. Details are here.

East Coast Trip - Announcement

Final Enrollment deadline is for the 8th grade East Cost Tour over spring break is 12/23. There are currently only FIVE open student seats available. Any enrollments after 12/23 are not guaranteed a spot on the tour (and will cost an additional $100) www.efexploreamerica.com/2722276CN Any questions can be addressed to me, Leslie Genna at sms.eastcoast.tour@gmail.com, or by calling EF Travelers Support at 1-888-333-9756

Music Program - See's Fundraiser

Support SMS Music Program by purchasing Sees Candies at their virtual storefront with product shipped directly to you or your sweet one. https://www.yumraising.com/secure/smsmp_sms_music_program45/AmbStu2554/candy

Spartan Sports

This Week In Sports 11/18 - 11/22

WRESTLING

11/20, 4pm: Away vs. Blach Falcons

11/21, 4pm: Home vs. Columbia Bulldogs

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

6th Grade:

11/21, 5:05pm: Away vs. Columbia Bulldogs

7th Grade:

11/20, 4:00pm: Home vs. Blach Falcons

11/21, 4:00pm: Away vs. Columbia Bulldogs

8th Grade:

11/20, 4pm: Home vs. Black Falcons

11/21, 4pm: Away vs. Columbia Bulldogs

Valley Athletic League website with scores & schedules & gym locations

PTSA Reflections Contest! (Last Week!)

Reflections Art Competition results are in! Congratulations to the winners at our school level!

Reflections Art is a theme-based art competition, sponsored by the National PTA. The theme 2024-25 is “Accepting Imperfection”.

A big thank you to all the judges. Great job to all the participants.

1st place winners (award of excellence) at the school level move on to compete in the Cupertino Fremont Sunnyvale Council of PTAs (CFSCPTA).

Dance Choreography:

Award of Excellence: “Will You Still Love Me?” By. Elda G., 6th grade
Award of Merit: “Unstoppable” by Eva G., 6th grade
Honorable Mention: “Jazz Dance” by Kaitlyn B., 8th grade

Film Production:

Award of Excellence: “Artful Imperfections” by Megan W., 6th grade
Award of Merit: “Save our Planet” by Viviane P., 8th grade

Literature:

Award of Excellence: “Behind the Yellow Mansion” by Feiyang C., 7th grade
Award of Merit: “Cicatrices” by Ema K., 7th grade
Honorable Mention: “Accepting Imperfections” by Aanya J., 6th grade

Music Composition:

Award of Excellence: “Inspire” by Graham S., 8th grade
Award of Merit: “Uniquely Us” by Ramin V., 8th grade

Photography:

Award of Excellence: “Shining Through”, by Vivienne P., 8th grade
Award of Merit: “The Pick of the Patch” by Valeria S., 6th grade

Visual Arts:

Award of Excellence: “Accept Differences and Weaknesses”, Aadhya Y., 6th grade
Award of Merit: “A Wilted Flower” by Navya C., 7th grade
Honorable Mention: “Escaping the Thornbush” by Elina L., 8th grade

Honorable Mention: “Roses Have Their Thorns”, Sydney P., 6th grade

Accessible Arts (Music Composition):

Award of Excellence: “I Try My Best” by Pranav D., 7th grade

f you are interested in participating in next year’s competition, you can start preparing for it now. The 2025~26 theme is “I Belong!” To help you jumpstart, here is a National PTA report on the theme choice.

Spartan PTSA Updates!

PTSA Updates:

PTSA membership - We're so close to our goal of 150 SMS PTSA members! Please join today!

PTSA Donation Updates - SMS PTSA has raised ~$19,000 so far this year. The target for SMS PTSA is to raise $45,000 this year. Thanks for all of your donations to help us raise ~42% of our target so far. All of your support in helping us reach the $45,000 goal is appreciated. Here is a link to the SMS donation portal. If your companies match your donations, please donate through them.

Fundraiser Update: Since the school is out for Thanksgiving, we are hosting our monthly Fundraiser dine-out on Wednesday, 20 November at Armadillo Willys. Support the SMS fundraiser by planning for a dine out at Armadillo Willys on Wednesday! If you have a particular restaurant that you would like to have a fundraiser in, send an email to SMS PTSA President

If you have any questions regarding PTSA, please contact:
president.sms.ptsa@gmail.com

After School & Lunchtime Activities!

New after school and lunch clubs!

If you are looking for something to do at lunch or after school, please check out these clubs!
After School & Lunch Clubs

We have everything from BlackPink to Gardening to 3D printing to K-Pop to Dungeons & Dragons to Robotics to ASL (American Sign Language) - there is a club for everyone. And if you have not found a club to fit you - please consider visiting:

Peer Connect Club: Wednesday, lunchtime, Rm E1 with Mr. Burnsed

Wellness Center: Open before school, brunch, and lunch in Rm B7 with Ms. Carina & Ms. Henry

We also have high school- and teacher- led clubs after school here:

List of After School clubs, descriptions, schedule, and signups.

If you would like to join a club, please go to the meeting!

6th Grade Survival Guide!

Check out "The Guide" - everything a new student needs to know about navigating Sunnyvale Middle School! This work was put together by three Sunnyvale Middle School 8th graders in July, 2023. Significant portions of this work will show up in our PBIS Expectations assemblies and in our AST lessons. Credit to: Lauren Ishimatu, Claire Ishimatsu, and Maggie Ng for creating this for our community!