Switzerland Point Middle School

• March 8: 3rd Quarter Ends, Raider Store
• March 11-15: Spring Break
• March 18: Teacher Planning Day - No School for Students
• March 19: Classes Resume
• March 21: Character Chats! (Character Chats Bell Schedule)
• March 22: Raider Store

95.1 WAPE’s Teacher of the Month will honor the area's BEST TEACHERS! Nominations are open now! Each month on the WAPE morning show, Dex & Barbie T will name of Teacher of the Month who will receive some amazing gifts, along with a plaque to display for all!

Nominations can be made here: https://www.wape.com/fp/951-wape-honors-jacksonvilles-best-teachers-with-teacher-month-award/

State testing dates have been announced (see below). Students will be told of their testing room by their 1st period teacher. Testing begins promptly at 7:30. Please encourage your child to do their best, bring testing materials (pencil, calculator, wired earbuds for students with oral presentation accommodation), and eat a healthy breakfast. Be sure to save the date!

We are hearing that some HS students are using a mobile app called GradeWay to see their grades stored in eSchoolPlus HAC. In order to use this app, students/parents give their HAC password away to these unknown apps and, therefore, give access to all their private student record information contained in HAC.

This has happened before with other mobile apps that use HAC credentials to produce their own School app, which is why the District purchased the eSchoolPlus Family app.

Please understand GradeWay (and apps like it, that access HAC) are not District approved.

Students/parents who use apps that are not District approved do so at their own risk.

Current trends we’re seeing in the deans’ office that we need your help with!

· Cologne/Body Spray: Students are not permitted to have body spray, cologne, perfume, spray deodorant, etc. If seen, it will be confiscated and sent to the deans’ office. Students are spraying others in the hallways, in class, at lunch, etc. We have many students and staff with allergies, asthma, and other health concerns, so we cannot allow these sprays. Please assist by reminding your children to keep these sprays at home!

· Student Entrepreneurs: Students are not permitted to run their own business and make a profit during school hours. While we admire their business sense, it's a disruption to the educational environment and not what our students should be focusing on during the school day. Please remind your children that all home businesses must be done off campus and outside of school hours.

• At the end of the year, students can attend a field trip as a reward for their behavior.
• Students who earn ISS or OSS during 2nd semester, or students who commit a Level 4 offense during the entire school year, will NOT BE ELIGIBLE to participate in the grade-level reward trip. Students cannot earn more than 5 demerits or 7 tardies to remain eligible for the trip. See the progressive discipline plan below. Please see Section 5, Levels of Discipline, on page 31 in our Student Code of Conduct for examples of Level 4 offenses.
• Students with 15 or more unexcused absences during the school year will NOT BE ELIGIBLE for the trip.
• For 8th-grade students, these behavior requirements also apply to the 8th-grade formal dance.
• Once a reward trip has been paid for, we will be unable to give refunds or transfer the reservation to another student’s name.

Please see our demerit progressive discipline plan:

• 3rd demerit: Lunch detention
• 4th demerit: Lunch detention (2 days)
• 5th demerit: ½ day ISS or Wed after school detention
• 6th demerit: ISS (1 day in-school suspension and loss of field trip)
• 7th demerit: ISS (2 days in-school suspension)
• 8th demerit or more: OSS

Please see our tardy progressive discipline plan:

• 5th TARDY: Lunch Detention
• 6th TARDY: Lunch Detention (2 Days)
• 7th TARDY: After School Detention or 1/2 day ISS
• 8th TARDY: ISS (1 day in-school suspension and loss of field trip)
• 9th Tardy: ISS (2 days in-school suspension)
• 10th Tardy: Delayed transitions/escort

SPMS is celebrating the Character Counts! pillar of Trustworthiness in March. We look for students who:

• Are honest.
• Don't deceive, cheat, or steal.
• Have integrity. Do what they say they will do.
• Keep their promises.
• Are loyal. Stand by their values.

Trust plays a role in all relationships in life. You should be able to trust your family, your friends, and safe adults around you. To add, they should be able to trust you! When someone is trustworthy, you can have confidence in him or her.

Trustworthiness shows itself in at least four different ways:

1. Integrity: Your thoughts, words, and actions all agree with each other.
2. Honesty: You tell the truth, sometimes volunteering information because it is essential or important for another person to know.
3. Keeping your promises: You do what you say you will do.
4. Loyalty: You support your friends, family, commitments, and your country.

As we move into March, the month of trustworthiness, do your best to keep your actions honorable to those around you.

Len Mattiace is a former graduate from Nease High School and is currently a golfer on the PGA Tour. The Len Mattiace foundation helps youth in NE Florida with raising awareness about bullying and creating a safe environment for them.

This fall we had 4 winners from our school! Congratulations to the following students:

• Cooper Beauman who won top prize two years in a row and was awarded $1000
• Aubrey Carn tied for third and was awarded $500
• Liv Pablo was awarded $100
• Sawyer Straight was awarded $100

A new contest is starting soon! Please see the flier and link below for more details. The contest begins January 16 and ends April 5 at 5:00 PM.

https://www.lenmattiace.com/st-johns-stop-the-bullying-campaign

We have attached information about our 2025 “A Day Without Violence” calendar art and poetry project. Poems and artwork should reflect life in a world without violence. Judges will look for art and poems that make a positive statement about a world without violence. Images of diverse kinds of people, places, and things that portray a harmonious way of life, a respectful living and working environment, as well as children interacting with not only each other, but also animals will be considered. Even students' favorite cartoon character or images of peaceful and fun activities that can be done alone or in groups are also encouraged. Any drawings or poems depicting firearms, knives, or any other violent images will NOT be eligible; violent images with a ban sign through them will not be eligible.

The purpose of these activities is to interrupt what otherwise may become a generational cycle of domestic violence.

Entry Rules:

• 8 ½ by 11-size horizontal
• NO computer graphic images
• All art must be original hand drawn/painted 2D media
• No crafts
• Drawings on poetry entries will not be eligible, only the poems
• Only one entry per student - either poetry or art will be accepted
• No forms of violence to be depicted in poetry or art

Each student MUST have an entry form attached to the back of his or her work with clear tape. Please help ensure that the names and information are written clearly and correctly.

All entries should be dropped off by the April 30, 2024, deadline at either

Betty Griffin Center Thrift Shoppe locations:

445 SR 13 N.

Fruit Cove, FL 32259

OR

1961 A1A South

St. Augustine, FL 32080

OR, any of the 6 St. Johns County Libraries will be collecting entries (see addresses attached.)

A 2024 "A Day Without Violence" Calendar will be provided to each teacher for use in the classroom, pending funding. These calendars also contain suggested activities, which can be used to create a more peaceful atmosphere.

We appreciate your assistance in informing the students, parents, and faculty of this domestic violence awareness project.

If you have any questions, please call Carole Sullivan at Betty Griffin Center, 904-808-8544 x 201.

Congratulations to the SPMS Speech and Debate Team. We had 10 competitors at Saturday’s competition at Toccoi High.

Congrats to the following Raiders for medaling:

Ethan Foss and Riya Poddar for placing 1st in Public Forum Debate

McKenzie Hartman for placing 2nd in Extemp Debate

Vishruth Merrady for placing 3rd in Extemp Debate

We will be traveling to Orlando in April to represent our school.

Congratulations to the Swiss Sculptors Robotics Team for placing 13th out of 54 teams in the Regional Tournament. They won the "Rising All Star" Award and an Alternate Bid to the State Tournament for their hard work in the Robot Competition, Innovation Project on Teen Playgrounds, and excellent Core Values. Thank you to all the kids and teachers in the school for participating in their collaborative survey with St. Johns Parks and Recs about Teen Playgrounds. You just might see the results of the survey at a new St. Johns County Park in the next 2 years!

- Your winterguard team earned a 1st place finish at the competition at Flagler Palm Coast HS! Congratulations! The team is now in 1st place overall in the state for the AAA class!

- Interested in joining the award-winning team next season? Tryouts are coming up.

- Want to know more about winterguard or see your team perform their 2024 show? Maybe learn to "spin" some equipment used in the show? Come on out and join us on the floor at the SPMS Night of the Arts Event on 4/18.

SPMS National Junior Honor Society is sponsoring an opportunity to send a special birthday or congratulations message to your student via the marquee in the front of the school. Cost is $25. Complete the form here to submit your request . Requests are due the Friday prior to the event and will display the following week (Tuesday through Monday). Example: If you turn in the request on Friday, September 17th, then your message will be displayed on Tuesday, September 21st.

SPMS athletics consists of both boys' and girls' volleyball and basketball, in addition to Winterguard.

All other middle school sports are operated by SJMSAA.

The St. Johns Middle School Athletic Association (”SJMSAA”) middle school sports program is not operated or sponsored by the St. Johns County School District. SJMSAA is an independent, private non-profit corporation that uses District middle school names and facilities under a license agreement with the District, and which is solely responsible for the operation of the SJMSAA middle school sports program and its individual teams.

Students need to register through the SJMSAA website prior to tryouts. Once a student makes a team, he/she will be provided with more information on paying and filling out the required forms

https://www-raider.stjohns.k12.fl.us/

🥳Celebrate your rising high school student with a fun yard sign!

It is 💲20, and it includes personalization!‼️

🔜Sale goes from March 4 to April 1, 2024.🔚
➡️ONLINE ONLY⬅️

https://swisspointptso.com/fundraisers

Signs will be available for pick up in the front loop starting April 24, 2024! They will be displayed in the grass, so stop by after 2:30 anytime after 4/24/24 to get a picture and to take it home.

Raider Families! All orders have been submitted to the vendor, so please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery! We will then inventory everything left and put it on the website. There are still stickers, magnets, shoe charms, and bracelets available!

ORDER ONLINE HERE!

The Sunshine Cart is the PTSO mobile version of staff appreciation! We take the goodies to them so they don’t have to find some time to get to the staff lounge!

This is a great way to help the PTSO show appreciation for all that the SPMS staff does for your student(s)!

Browse the staff appreciation wishlist, pick your favorite goodie and make sure to put your student's name in the notes! They will receive 10 Raider Bucks for donating!!

Thank you for your continued support, Raider Families!! SPMS PTSO Sunshine Cart Wishlist

The Raider Store is where students can spend their hard-earned Raider Bucks. Your student earns Raider Bucks from their teachers and staff for showing good character in the classroom and the hallways. They can then spend them in the PTSO-sponsored Raider Store.

We are always looking for new and fun things to stock the store with to keep the students coming back.

Please put your student's name on the gift, and they will be credited 10 Raider Bucks for your donation.

Thank you for your support! SPMS PTSO Raider Store Wishlist Raider Store Volunteer Sign Up

http://www.swisspointptso.com/

The SPMS PTSO is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance the learning and work experience of the students and staff at SPMS.

Our membership includes teachers, administrators, parents, and students.

What do we do?

Student Initiatives:

• Neon Bash-Fall Dance for students
• Raider Store-Rewards for students who earn Raider Bucks for academic and behavioral performance
• Grade Level Support
• Character Counts! Rewards

Staff Initiatives:

• Classroom grants-teacher members are eligible for up to $100 in a classroom grant to purchase items to enhance their classroom
• Staff luncheons and breakfast
• Staff Appreciation
• Annual Donation to the school for technology and other needs

How do we pay for these initiatives?

• MEMBERSHIP-this is our biggest fundraiser. By simply joining PTSO, families help us reach our goals
• Spirit Wear-PTSO sells spirit wear each fall
• Fall/Spring Fundraisers-examples include Nothing Bundt Cakes and Poppin' Box
• Business Partners-our area businesses help SPMS through our Partners in Education program
• Corporate Donation Matches, Amazon Smile, Box Tops and private donations

How do you join?

• A family membership is $25 for the school year. The membership includes parents and any siblings at SPMS.
• Membership form can be found at https://switzerland-point-middle-school-ptso.square.site/

We are excited about a wonderful and busy 2023-2024 school year and making a difference at Swiss!

If you are interested in finding out how you can help contact Dawn Evans at dawnevanswebpto@gmail.com

OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT PTSO

There will be various fundraisers throughout the school year to participate in to help fund the PTSO 2023-2024 initiatives.

Box Tops – Download the Box Tops app and scan your receipts for SMPS PTSO to get Box Top credits.

Keep an eye on the PTSO website, Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on what is coming up throughout the year!

Questions/concerns?? spmsptso@hotmail.com

For up to date happenings LIKE us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/SwissPointPTSO/

SPMS PTSO is on INSTAGRAM! Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/spmsptso/

Check the PTSO website for all the latest news! http://www.swisspointptso.com/