Sumner Middle School Update
Arena Conferences, Thursday, 11/14/24
SMS Arena Conference, Nov. 14
Please join us for Sumner Middle School’s Arena Conferencing on Thursday, November 14 from 11:30am to 6:30pm.
Students will be dismissed at 10:25am on November 14 so that conferences can begin at 11:30am. Afternoon bus stop drop-off times will be 3.5 hours earlier than when students are currently dropped off.
Students completed invitations last week in advisory class. Students should have brought this invitation home to you.
What is arena conferencing?
In an arena conference model, each teacher will be available to meet with you for up to five minutes to discuss your child’s academic progress, classroom performance and address any quick questions you may have. It is called arena conferencing because teachers are arranged in a circular pattern in the main areas of our school (Commons, main gym, little gym).
Parents come in and meet with teachers in a first-come, first-serve fashion. To reduce potential long lines, we are recommending families attend at a specified time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do parents/guardians sign up for conferences? No. Parents/guardians follow the recommended schedule (if possible) and do not sign up for conference times.
Where will I find my child’s teachers? Teachers will be placed by teaching teams in the following locations:
6th grade teachers in the small gym
7th and 8th grade teachers in the main gym
Encore teachers will be in their classrooms in the Encore hallway
How long do parents/guardians have with each teacher ? We ask parents/guardians to limit each conference with each teacher to 5 minutes or less. We will space teachers out to provide optimal privacy.
Are students invited? Students are welcome to attend arena conferencing but are not required to attend. Students went over conference information in Den/Advisory on Monday, November 4 and should have brought this information home.
What else can parents/guardians do at arena conferences besides talk to teachers?
Pay fees such as ASB, yearbooks, or chromebook assurance (which covers the loss or damage to a chromebook)
Watch Screenagers in the library at Sumner Middle School. See information in the next section.
Get help with navigating Family Access
In our Commons, we will provide Top Tips for using Family Access, Google Classroom and ParentSquare. Our office staff will also be on hand to help with specific questions.
Lost and Found - Is your student missing a jacket? A hydroflask? Other clothing? We will have our lost and found available for parents to look through.
Confirm contact information- our counseling office will be confirming important contact information for all of our students
Where is the best place to park? Parking will be available in the front, side and back of the school.
Screenagers Movie Showings on Nov. 14
Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience (60 Minutes)
Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER - Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience: a film that examines the science behind teen’s emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age.
Watch the trailer here
Showing at 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm on Nov. 14 in the library followed by a Q & A where parents can ask questions of SMS staff
Screenagers UNDER THE INFLUENCE: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, & Alcohol in the Digital Age (70 Minutes)
Screenagers Under The Influence: Addressing Vaping, Drugs, and Alcohol in the Digital Age, the third feature documentary in the Screenagers trilogy, delves into how the tech revolution has reshaped adolescence and its effects on substance use.
The film debunks myths and depicts strategies parents and schools can use to encourage healthy decision-making, support teen mental health, set limits, and create healthy home environments.
Watch the trailer here
Showing at 1:30 pm and 4:30 pm on Nov. 14 in the library followed by a Q & A where parents can ask questions of SMS staff
Stay connected with SMS’s Booster Parent Group!
Connect with SMS Boosters and learn how to support SMS students and staff
Facebook – Sumner Middle School Boosters Club https://www.facebook.com/Sumnermiddleschoolboosterclub/
Instagram @smsbobcatsboosters
Email – smsboosters@gmail.com
Fred Meyer Community Rewards – link your card; search for us by name or by our non-profit #84696. IMPORTANT: You still earn your Reward Points & Rebates!
Stay connected with Sumner Middle School!
Important SMS Information:
Call or visit: Our offices are open Monday - Friday, 6:30am to 3:30pm during the school year. Visit us or call 253-891-5000. Parents/guardians may schedule conferences with teachers/counselors at a mutually agreed upon time.
Email: A majority of our communication to families will be via electronic newsletters/emails. Please check Family Access to make sure we have a valid email address for you. Staff email addresses are on our website in the staff directory.
Follow us on Facebook
As always, please contact us if you have any questions or need support/assistance. Thank you for partnering with us!
Jenny Williams, Principal, jenny_williams@sumnersd.org
Dave Johnson, Assistant Principal, dave_johnson@sumnersd.org
Tomas Morales, Dean of Students, tomas_morales@sumnersd.org
Cassie Waddle, Athletic Coordinator, cassandra_waddle@sumnersd.org
Shawna Eklund, Counselor for students with last name A-K, shawna_eklund@sumnersd.org
Donna Knutsen, Counselor for students with last name L-Z, donna_knutsen@sumnersd.org
Quicklinks
