SRMS Updates, February 15, 2024

Good afternoon, Sandy Run Families,

As we head into the extended weekend for Presidents' Day, I hope you and your families are well. This week, we have seen groups across the building leave positive messages in the spirit of Valentine's Day. This has been a subtle, but welcomed addition to boost the positive feelings across the school. This also fits well with the February school-wide value of Kindness. We have worked with students around different ways to express kindness to each other in an authentic, and age-appropriate way. Last night, Sandy Run was proud to host a Black History Month celebration organized by local parents and students. Hundreds of families turned out to see a showcase of history, current UD students' exceptional skills, and a night of community-building for all.

Please see the updates below for some important, new information, and I hope that you and your families enjoy the extended weekend. Schools and offices are closed on Monday, February 19. Take care and stay warm!

Sincerely,
Dan Ortiz

• Email srmsattendance@udsd.org with name, grade, and reason for absence or lateness

• Call the SRMS Attendance Line at 215-576-3280 and press 3 to leave a message

• Submit an absence notification through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Select "More" from the panel and then "Absence Requests." Submit the necessary details regarding the absence or lateness.

Please see this link for information about the District's Summer STEM Academy held at Sandy Run Middle School in July.

We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you - we now have a NEW Official Facebook page for the school district! Join us on Facebook: UDSD Official Facebook Page

We understand the power of social media in connecting and engaging with our incredible community, and we believe that this new page will serve as a hub to recognize our students and share information about events and district business. We are working to increase our social media presence and put information in the palm of your hand.

How You Can Support Us:

• Like & Follow: Make sure to hit that 'Like' button and follow our page to stay connected.
• Share & Invite: Spread the word! Share our page with your friends, family, and fellow Upper Dublin enthusiasts.

This tutoring group called SSOS (Students Supporting Other Students) offers free tutoring to elementary and middle schoolers by qualified high school students. The tutoring takes place at Upper Dublin Public Library at a convenient time for both student and tutor. We took over this group because we understand how expensive tutoring is to parents, and how easy it is for some students to fall behind without extra help.

The QR code brings you to the Google form for the parents to fill out but here is the link as well https://forms.gle/4XmhZeGN9ZibyJwh9

Learn how to keep your children safe on social media. Join us for a special presentation by the Organization for Social Media Safety on Thursday, February 29 at 6:30 PM in the UDHS Forum Room. Click here to learn more and register. This event, along with related student assemblies at SRMS and UDHS, has been made possible thanks to a generous gift to the Upper Dublin Education Foundation.

Don't miss a night of fundraising and fun, hosted by the Upper Dublin Education Foundation and Upper Dublin Township, at the Manor House at Commonwealth. Winning "Cards" Casino Night is all about supporting our community, directly benefiting our schools and local charities. Join us for a night of casino gaming with professional dealers, delicious food and drinks, and incredible prizes and auction items. Bet on an entertaining night of giving back and register now!

This week, we are focusing on the governor's school breakfast challenge and our district-wide Silver Savers launch.

Please see this flyer for more information from the Upper Dublin High School's Water Polo team.

See this flyer for information about Kindergarten & New Student Registration for the School Year 2024-2025.

Greater Philadelphia has been providing FREE support to those impacted by cancer for over 30 years. This means someone they care about has/had cancer, they themselves have/had cancer or their person died from cancer. Here is a brief overview of what we are offering this spring along with a few attached flyers.

1. Teen Essay Contests: Open to 6th-12th graders who have or had cancer in their life. Encouragement from trusted teachers and counselors often inspires students to share their experiences through writing. As you know, writing is a very helpful way to process thoughts and feelings about what has happened to them. The attached flier contains all the requirements and registration details, with the essay deadline set for Monday, April 1st.

2. Kid Support Groups: In person sessions starting in March for families with cancer.

3. Living with Loss Groups: Monthly in-person groups for K-6th graders, along with a parent group and virtual groups for middle and high school students.

4. Straight Talk about Cancer Groups: Tailored for teens, these groups take place both inside schools and virtually.

5. Snowy Spectacular with Friends Party: A winter celebration for families to anticipate, providing an opportunity to connect with others who have faced or are facing cancer. The event includes a DJ, games, food and crafts.

Cancer can be an isolating experience, and at CSCGP, we firmly believe that no one should face it alone.

For more details on our offerings and to explore additional resources, please visit our website at www.cancersupportphiladelphia.org.

It's time to order your Sandy Run Yearbook! Yearbooks are officially on sale starting at $35. Be sure to have a copy of the memories of the 2023-24 school year. To order, click this link.

Email: dortiz@udsd.org
Website: https://www.udsd.org/o/srms
Location: 520 Twining Road, Dresher, PA, USA
Phone: (215) 576-3280
Twitter: @srmscardinals