Sumner Middle School Update

• ASB Fundraiser- First Turn in Date: Oct 11

• Pictures Sent Home Last Week AND Picture Retakes on Oct 8

• No School on Oct 18 - Staff Training Day

• Wrestling, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer - Register Now!

• Attendance Matters

• Town Hall and Needs Assessment Survey

• Welcome our New Prevention/Intervention Specialist

• HIV/AIDS Prevention Curriculum- Parent Curriculum Review Night, Dec 10

• Stay Connected!

Our school goal is $15,000 and we set an individual goal of $30 per student! SMS Athletic teams, clubs, and student activities will be directly supported through this fundraiser! All money raised goes to SMS. Please consider taking part!

Students have been instructed NOT to solicit money from strangers or go door-to- door. We are also telling students to leave money at home until the turn in days: Oct 11, Oct 15 & Oct 16. If each student collects $5.00 from six family friends, they will help us meet our school goal.

Bobcat Boogie Pledge Form

Online Payment Portal instructions

Direct any fundraiser related questions to our ASB Advisor, anna_mcleod@sumnersd.org.

Thanks for supporting Sumner Middle School ASB!

Students who ordered pictures on August 26 received their pictures last week.

Picture retake day is Tuesday, October 8. Picture retake day is for students who:

• need their picture taken because they missed August 26 pictures. Students will need to get their picture taken for the yearbook and their student ID card.

• received their pictures but would like a retake

• Pictures were given to students last week.

• Students must bring their picture packet to school on Oct 8 if they want retakes.

How can you help your child have strong attendance?

Excused and unexcused absences easily add up to too much time lost in the classroom. Students are at risk academically if they miss 10 percent of the school year, or about 18 days. Once too many absences have occurred, poor attendance can affect learning, regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused.

Sporadic, not just consecutive, absences matter. Before you know it – just one or two days a month can add up to nearly 10 percent of the school year. Avoid unnecessary absences. We know that some absences are unavoidable as children get sick and need to stay home. What is important is getting children to school as often as possible.

How can you help your child have strong attendance?

• Schedule non urgent appointments for after school or during school holidays

• Only let your student stay home if they are truly sick.

• Develop a back-up plan for getting to school incase of the unexpected

• Talk to your student about the importance of attendance.

• Talk to your students’ teachers if you notice sudden changes in behavior. These could be signs of an underlying issue.

• Update your student’s information at school if your address and/or phone number(s) has changed.

• If your student is going to be absent, please contact your school. If prior notice is not possible and you are notified that your child was absent through ParentSquare, please reply to the attendance notice, call or email your school, or send a written note upon the student’s return to school.

During the last week, our counselors met with all 6th graders in their social studies classes, and our office team met with our 7th and 8th graders in the Commons, to review the difference between conflict and bullying, to remind students how to report if they have concerns, and to review school expectations. Our building administrators communicated the expectation that all individuals on our campus are to treat each other with safety, respect and kindness.

Please join us in welcoming Stephanie Michelson, our new Prevention/Intervention Specialist. As a Prevention/Intervention Specialist, Stephanie will provide information on life skills, healthy choices, drug and alcohol education, anger and stress management, self-care, and learning to communicate with peers and adults. She often meets with students who are affected by others in their lives with substance use issues as well. These skill building sessions are designed to provide students with knowledge and skills for academic success to make safe and healthy choices.