The Titan Times: 10/21/24-10/25/24
Jack Swigert Middle School Community News
Early Release Day on 10/23 for Student-led Conferences!
PEAK EXPERIENCE: 6th Grade Field Trip on 10/22 & 10/28
WHO: 6th grade students who have turned in a signed permission slip and selected 6th grade chaperones.
WHAT: 6th grade PEAK EXPERIENCE field trip
WHEN: 1/2 of the students will go on 10/22 and the other half will go on 10/28. Students who do not attend will have an alternate assignment available.
WHERE: The Plains Conservation Center, affiliated with Denver Botanical Gardens
WHY: 6th Grade Social studies, Unit 1, addresses the effects of geography on humans and humans on local geography. Students will be analyzing how different native groups adapted their culture to the environment and how it affected housing, dress, food, etc. On this immersive experience, students will discover what life was like for the Cheyenne Indians on the high plains. They will explore how the Cheyenne adopted the lifestyle of semi-nomadic hunter/gatherers to thrive on the prairie. Students will also learn about the flora and fauna of the prairie while engaging in real field-science which may include bird surveys, prairie dog ethograms and water quality testing.
Questions? Reach out to Yael Horowitz, staff sponsor of this awesome Peak Experience for our 6th grade class! yael.horowitz@d11.org
Sign Up for Student-led Conferences with Ice Cream for ALL!
We will hold fall conferences during the following times:
- Tuesday, 10/15: 11:00 AM - 7:30 PM (Teacher Work Day - No classes. Students attend only with their family to attend individual conferences.)
- Wednesday, 10/23: 1:00 PM - 7:30 PM (1/2 School Day with Early Release. Conferences begin at 1:00 PM.)
This week, students are preparing for student-led conferences. These conferences are an excellent opportunity for you to learn more about what your student is learning this year, to support their interests and abilities, and to partner with your child's teachers and other school staff to support your student's success and excitement about school.
We will have FREE banana split ice cream sundaes for all families and students who attend their scheduled conferences! Earn an additional toppings ticket for each teacher you visit! You can make a sundae with UP TO 7 TOPPINGS for each member of the family who attends! Call the school at 719-328-6900 to sign up for your conference times now! Your student's advisory teacher will reach out to you as well!
š Halloween Dress Expectations š»
As Halloween approaches, we know that many members of our community like to dress up for the occasion. Please be aware of expectations for dress should you choose to wear a costume to school on October 31st. Please ensure that you abide by these guidelines to help keep a professional, safe, and focused learning environment.
- No masks, face paint, hoods, or hats
- No weapon facsimiles
- No violent or sexually suggestive costumes
- All regular dress code expectations still apply
Our school administration and safety team will address any students whose costumes do not meet these expectations as we address any dress code violation: the student will be given the opportunity to correct the issue; if the student is unable or unwilling to do so, their parent will be contacted and they may face consequences. Consequences will be determined following our progressive discipline dress code response matrix.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school safe and the classroom environment focused on learning!
8th Grade Field Trip on 11/13 to The Potter Street Theater!
WHO: All 8th grade students with signed permission slips and selected 8th grade chaperones
WHAT: Field trip to attend a matinee performance of the fall high school play, "The Drowsy Chaperone"
WHERE: Mitchell High School, Potter Street Theater
WHEN: November 13th from 9:00 - 11:15 AM. 8th grade students who do not attend will have an alternate assignment to complete.
WHY: 8th grade students will have the opportunity to see high school aged peers highlight the performing arts as well as learn about the opportunities to get involved in the arts at Mitchell High School.
Thank you to 270 guests who had student-led conferences and ice cream on 10/15!
š šØ We deeply appreciate all of the families and students who attended student-led conferences on Tuesday, 10/15, and enjoyed ice cream with us! We had so much fun seeing the awesome sundaes you all created with the toppings tickets you earned by visiting teachers for conferences!
If you didn't come to conferences yet, or if there are additional teachers you'd like to meet, please JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY, 10/23 from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm or 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm. There's an ice cream sundae waiting for YOU! š¦š
Cellphone & Personal Technology Policy Reminder
This is a friendly reminder of our cellphone and personal technology policy as a reminder while we return from Fall Break. All students at Jack Swigert Middle School are issued a Yondr pouch for their use during the school day. Every morning when students report to school, they are asked to show staff that they are locking their cellphone, headphones, smart watches, and any other personal technology into their Yondr pouch for the duration of the school day. When students are dismissed, they unlock their pouch at one of several locations. Students who do not follow this policy and are observed on their personal technology during the school day receive progressive discipline consequences.
If you have any additional questions, please visit the Cell Phone Policy webpage: https://www.d11.org/boe/cellpolicy. You can click on the "Let's Talk" link on that page to communicate with district representatives. Thank you for your partnership in supporting an academically focused learning environment!
Safety Procedures for Visitors: 100% ID Check in Place
Parents/guardians, when entering the building just to pick up a student or waiting for them in the front Cyber Cafe area, you will be asked to show your ID and a guest badge will be printed. This is a required district policy to ensure the safety of our students. You will not be able to pick up your student without an ID to confirm it is you! We want to keep your students safe, so thank you so much for understanding this policy even though this may have not been the practice in the past.
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Athletics Updates from Athletic Director Mr. Ethan Moore
Hello families! Thank you so much for your continued support during our Football, Cross Country, and Volleyball seasons! It is great to see our community come out and support our scholar athletes!
For all things sports-related, please reach out to Ethan Moore: 719-328-6930 or Ethan.moore2@d11.org
Girls' Basketball
The season begins October 21st! Practice will take place in the gym at Swigert directly after school until 5. All athletes planning on playing must have an up to date physical packet complete prior to participating in practice. Physicals are good for one year from the date they are completed. Students and parents may pick up these packets in the front office between 8am and 4:15pm.
Athletic Eligibility
Weekly Grade Checks will be done by the coaches and school Athletic Director every Monday.
Scholar athletes are not eligible to play if they have any Ds or Fs.
- If a student has a āDā or āFā they will be given a slip to take to their teacher to get missing work and check with teacher.
- If a Student Athlete is not eligible, they will not be allowed to play in the games for that week. If a student is placed in ISS or ISD for a period or the day, the student will not be allowed to practice or participate in the game for that day. If a student is suspended out of school, they will be removed from the team.
- Students must be at school the day of the game.
- If miss entire day = Not allowed to play in the game/match/meet
- If half day missed = Sit out 2 quarters of the game/1 match
- If 2 periods missed = Sit out 1 quarter of the game/Subs in
- If students know they are going to be absent from school, they must communicate with coaches.
- Students must also be at practice the day before a game/match/meet, or they sit out from the game/match/meet.
- If students are going to miss practice, they must let the coaches know ahead of time and get it approved.
Reach out to our Athletic Director & Dean, Mr. Ethan Moore, with any questions about athletics.