Falcon Flash

Dear Stetson Families,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am thrilled to report that it has been a fantastic week here at Stetson! The warm weather has brought a renewed energy to our school community, infusing each day with excitement and vitality.

I am pleased to inform you that we have successfully completed our PSSA testing period for the year, thanks to the hard work and dedication of both our students and teachers. This upcoming week we will be conducting PSSA make-ups throughout the week. Students will be notified during homeroom if they need to make up a PSSA test. The following week on May 14 and 15, we will have Keystone Exams for our students taking Algebra course this school year.

It's truly inspiring to witness their commitment to academic excellence. With this milestone behind us, we are eagerly looking forward to the last month and a half of the school year, filled with engaging activities, meaningful learning experiences, and memorable moments for our students.

Just a friendly reminder that the deadline to order your yearbooks for this school year is May 12th. Information about this ordering process is located below. Also, please be sure to look at our Nurse's corner for updated information regarding vaccine and dental requirements for next year.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in making Stetson a place where every child can thrive.

Best Regards,

Mrs. Puchalla

Principal

PSSA Make up Testing Throughout the week:

Monday, May 6th--Day 6

Tuesday, May 7th--Day 1 *Falcon Period

Wednesday, May 8th- Day 2

Thursday, May 9th--Day 3 *Falcon Period

Friday, May 10th--Day 4

Monday, May 13th--Day 5

Tuesday, May 14th--Day 6 *Keystone Testing- for Algebra students only

Wednesday, May 15th- Day 1 *Keystone Testing- for Algebra students only

Thursday, May 16th--Day 2 *Falcon Period

Friday, May 17th--Day 3

Please join at Stetson on Monday, June 10th for an Ice Cream Social Community Event.

We would like to end our year with a sweet treat. On Monday, June 10th (0ur last full day) Maggie Moo's Ice Cream truck will be in the bus loop selling cups of ice cream and fresh baked cookies from 4:00 - 5:30. We'd love to get as many families together to celebrate the end of a great year at Stetson. Please take the time to complete this form if you're family is planning on attending. Parents must attend with their children and prices for ice cream cups range from $6-$8.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeKdGuftHcMvineJaOozeKAi6oyhfgPEtheNrPIKtF_5tuvjA/viewform

If you are interested in learning more about our Original Credit courses, please register for that session using the Acceleration Program Information Session Link.

More information here: https://www.wcasd.net/Page/14054

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

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!

Please see the below game schedule for this week:

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

FamilyID Intro Letter

Rustin will be offering a tennis camp for all Stetson students from grades 6 through 8. Please see this flyer for specific details.

All questions should be addressed to Coach McElroy at the email address listed on the flyer.

The Stetson Science Olympiad team competed at States this past Saturday. The team did very well considering 70% of the team are participating for their first time. The team gained a lot of experience and will build upon that for a more successful season next year.

Liz Guo and Dylan King placed 5th in Disease Detectives

August Raines and Liam Kleinhans placed 10th in Road Scholar

Congratulations and great job! We are proud to have you represent Stetson!

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!

I hope this message finds you well! I'm writing to share some exciting news regarding our upcoming Spring Chorus Concert at Stetson MS. While we were originally set on a specific date, unforeseen scheduling conflicts have arisen. However, I want to assure you that this change brings with it a wonderful opportunity to make our concert even more memorable. By shifting the date, we now have the chance to accommodate more attendees, ensuring that all of our students' hard work and talent are showcased to the fullest extent. This adjustment also allows us to explore new creative possibilities, enhancing the overall experience for both performers and audience members alike. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility in this matter. Your continued support means the world to us, and we can't wait to share this special event with you on our new date. Let’s make this concert one to remember!

Warm regards,

Molly Bond

Choral Director

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!

Pre-order your 2023-2024 yearbook now! Yearbooks are on sale for $40. CLICK HERE and place your order. The deadline for ordering is May 12th, 2024. If you have questions about the yearbook, see Miss Nissi Zachariah in A101A or email her at nzachariah@wcasd.net!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

1. 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.
   
2. Animals are not permitted on the bus except as otherwise required by law.[14]
   
3. Large musical instruments or school projects are not permitted on the bus unless they can be held on the student’s lap.
   
4. Items may not be placed under seats, as they can become projectiles upon impact.
   
5. 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.

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.

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.

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.

As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out our school nurse, Mrs. Czerpak at 484-266-2706.

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.

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.