What's Happening at SHMS

For more important dates, check our school calendar.

For more information about our Sports & Activities, visit our SHMS Athletics page.

The district is currently in need of clerical substitutes. Please share this information with someone you know who may be interested in working during their holiday break as well as future breaks from school. It is also a great opportunity for anyone who would like to work around a child’s school schedule. We have open jobs every day with varying start times, allowing for a flexible schedule. No previous experience is needed, the requirements for subbing are listed below, the process is very easy. I have a sub orientation this week, they could be ready to work after the holiday break.

Pay Rates for the Clerical Substitute position

• $15.00 Clerk positions (Instructional Clerk, Library/Media Clerk, Technology Support Clerk, etc.).
• $16.50 Paraprofessional and Early Childhood Teaching Assistant positions.
• For those substitutes that work over 31 days in these roles during the 2024-2025 school year, pay increases to an incentive rate of $18.00. They’ll continue to receive the incentive rate for all of next school year as well.

Requirements for Clerical Subbing

· High School Diploma

· Willing to work across the District at all schools of at least two levels (elementary, middle school, or high school)

· Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check (paid for by the applicant)

· Must complete a Personal Care Assistant Certificate of Training (Click here to take the PCA/CFSS training and test)

· Must complete a pre-employment physical (paid for by the district | district will provide Physical Form)

· Must attend a New Hire Orientation

Upcoming Orientation Dates

Please use this form to select an orientation date from the list of upcoming clerical substitute orientations.

· Tuesday, December 17th, 2024: 10:00am – 12:00pm

· Friday, January 3rd, 2025: 10:00am – 12:00pm

· Tuesday, January 14th, 2025: 10:00am – 12:00pm

If you know someone who is interested, please forward this along. I’m happy to answer any questions they may have about this opportunity.

SHMS is excited to offer the Young Authors Conference Field Trip. It is open to students in ALL grade levels.

The YAC offers students an opportunity to learn from and write with professional writers for an entire day! Students will leave with new strategies, ideas and sills to improve their writing. This year’s theme is “Adventure in Every Draft.”

The YAC will be held on Friday, March 14th at Bethel University.

Participants will leave at 8:00 and return by 2:15pm.

Registration opens in Edutrack on Thursday, Jan. 2nd at 8:00am.

SHMS has 30 tickets available, so register early to guarantee your spot!

The cost for this field trip is $47, which pays for the conference and transportation.

We are sorry that there are no scholarships available. Please check your family calendar before registering for the March 14th Conference, since tickets are non-refundable.

If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Back

Choirs

Concert

Date & Time

Where

Attire

Bring

Seating

Questions

Eastview Lightning Boys Volleyball Skills and Competition Clinic (boys, grades 6-8)

Sun | Jan 5-Feb 23 | 1:00-3:00 p.m. | 6 sessions | $95 | Eastview High School/Dakota Hills Middle

Archery Adventure Camp (ages 9-17)

Mon | Jan 6-Feb 3 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | 4 sessions | $85 | Pinewood Community School

Conquer Ninja Winter Rec Team (ages 8-13)

Mon | Jan 6-Feb 24 | 7:00-8:00 p.m. | 8 sessions | $199 | Conquer Ninja Gyms, Rosemount

Karate and Mixed Martial Arts – Kick Boxing (ages 6-adult)

Tue & Thu | Jan 7-Feb 13 | 7:00-8:00 p.m. | 10 sessions | $129 | Westview Elementary

Intro to Ninja (ages 17+)

Thu | Jan 9-Feb 27 | 7:15-8:15 p.m. | 8 sessions | $199 | Conquer Ninja Gyms, Rosemount

Youth Equestrian Club (ages 4-17)

Fri | Jan 17-Feb 7 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | 4 sessions | $210 | Cornerstone on the Vermillion

Fewer than 5 spots left!

Healthy Twisted Favorites (adult and child ages 6

Sat | Jan 18 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. | 1 session | $73/pair | Falcon Ridge Middle School

Fewer than 5 spots left!

Breakfast Bites (ages 6-16)

Tue | Jan 28 | 6:00-7:00 p.m. | 1 session | $36 | Falcon Ridge Middle School

Rosemount Irishettes Winter Dance Team Clinic (grades K-8)

Fri | Jan 31 | 4:45-8:00 p.m. | 1 session | $60 | Rosemount High School

Beginner Tae Kwon Do (ages 6+)

Tue | Feb 4-Apr 1 | 6:25-6:55 p.m. | 8 session | $80 | Rosemount Middle School

Families are encouraged to complete an Educational Benefits Application. Your children may qualify! Applications are now open.

While meals are free for all students, all families are highly encouraged to complete an Application for Educational Benefits. Your approved application provides critical funding to our school district. This compensatory aid helps increase funding for teachers, paraprofessionals and social workers to include math and reading support. An approval for educational benefits also allows families to receive discounted Activities/Community Education fees. Learn more about the Educational Benefits Program.

Questions or concerns: ask our Nutrition Services department at Nutrition@district196.org or 651-683-6958.

6th Grade: Brian Buechner

(952)-423-7602

brian.buechner@district196.org

7th Grade: Sarah Blasing

(952)-423-7603

sarah.blasing@district196.org

8th Grade: Ashley Welke

(952)-423-7608

ashley.welke@district196.org

From left to right: Brian Buechner, Sarah Blasing, Ashley Welke

Navigating the Holidays

As the holiday season is upon us, many see this season as a full of hope, cheer, reflection, and togetherness. For some, however, the holiday season may bring reminders of grief and loss, trauma, loneliness, and stress. Here are some tips for your child (and you!) to navigating the holiday when you aren't in a place to feel very festive.

https://secure.smore.com/n/mbecy

Hundreds of District 196 students have completed EmpowerU with incredible improvements in confidence, mental health and motivation. This program will help your student learn the skills they need to become more self-directed and motivated in school and life. The program is:

• Easy-to-use/self-paced and online
• Supported by a 1:1 online coach with expertise in student resilience
• Goal driven- 90% of students make progress on goals
• Click here to find out more

The program is FREE with limited seats available. Students will be selected for the program on a first come, first served basis. Please fill out this brief survey if you are interested in getting your student started with EmpowerU. Deadline to sign up is November 26th .

Attention 8th Grade Families here are some upcoming dates for High School Registration – Mark your calendars.

25-26 High School Registration

Middle School Dates

Parent Registration Nights

Apple Valley- Wednesday, January 22 - 6-7 PM, Theatre

Eagan - Tuesday, January 21 - 6-7 PM Auditorium

Eastview- Tuesday, January 21 - 6:30-8:30 PM PAC (tentative date)

Rosemount - Thursday, January 16 - 6:30pm-8:30 PM PAC

High School Visits to the Middle Schools

All High Schools will be visiting the middle schools on Thursday, January 23.

Spring Visits - Middle Schools travel to High School

Valley MS – Travel to Apple Valley on May 13 - 10 AM

Healthy eating is so important for children. At Scott Highlands Middle School, we work hard to ensure students receive a healthy breakfast and lunch each day to support their developing brains and bodies. Research shows that children who eat regular, nutritious meals are more likely to attend school and be engaged in learning.

We are excited to partner with Every Meal to offer a free weekend meal program to all our students.

Every Meal is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to fight child hunger through community and school partnerships. They strive to make a difference in children’s lives by focusing on food gaps like weekends, school breaks, and summer when they can’t receive food in school. Here are some important things to know about Every Meal:

• Free for all families
• No qualifications required
• Students enrolled in the program will receive a 4-5 pound bag of nutritious, nonperishable food each week
• Every Meal does not collect information from families; privacy is protected
• Families may choose to participate in the program anytime throughout the school year
• Families may choose from a variety of different weekend food bag options

If you are interested in receiving food from Every Meal, please fill out this google form: Every Meal Electronic Enrollment

The first bags of food will be delivered in early October. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah Blasing, the 7th grade counselor, at sarah.blasing@district196.org.

Versión en español de este mensaje

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If you have a student who is dealing with the loss of an immediate family member (sibling, parent, grandparent, caregiver) or individual who significantly influenced your student and feel they would benefit from participating in Park Nicollet's Growing Through Grief group, we would like to offer your student this grief group opportunity.

Scott Highlands Middle School will be hosting this group again; this year it will be facilitated by Jenny Simmonds, a licensed grief therapist through Park Nicollet. Group sessions will be held during the school day and will run throughout the school year. Our hope is that this group would begin sometime in October. If you are interested in having your student participate, please email your student's school counselor with the name of your student and they will contact you to provide further information.

Community Resource Guide Dakota County - this guide includes information on health care, dental, women’s health, food, housing, special needs/disability, and other supports for families

FastTracker MN - a behavioral health search tool that allows you to filter services based on your search criteria, which can include free and sliding fee services available.

Virtual Calming Room - designed to assist in identifying different strategies for managing emotions, this webpage includes links to calming tools and other resources for youth and families

Worried about your student’s OR your own mental health?

Dakota County Crisis Response: Call 952-891-7171

National Crisis Text Line: Text SCHOOL to 741741

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

To report an absence, send an email to shms.attendance@district196.org (preferred) or call the 24 hour attendance voicemail number at 952-423-7587. Please provide the following information:

• Student’s Name (please spell the student’s first and last name)
• Grade
• Name of person reporting absence
• Reason for absence

**The direct line to Beth Gissibl, school nurse, is 952-423-7583

You can also report an absence by filling out this form: Report an Absence

We are a GREAT School because we are:

Respectful

to all people in the building

Responsible

with ourselves and our belongings

Ready to Learn

by being prepared and present in the learning environment

Website: https://shms.district196.org/
Location: Scott Highlands Middle School, Pilot Knob Road, Apple Valley, MN, USA
Phone: 9524237581
Instagram: shms_saints