Falcon Flash
May 12, 2023
Principal Message
Good Evening Stetson Families,
This week was absolutely ELECTRIC at Stetson Middle School (haha)! Thank you all for your incredibly flexibility and understanding as we navigated our power outage on Monday morning. It is never a good feeling when you get a call early in the morning stating that your entire school building is without power, however our staff, parents, and students did a fantastic job in remaining calm and working together to achieve a safe solution for everyone. As "dark" at that moment was, it shined a light on just how supportive and willing to help our community is.
This upcoming week we have two very exciting live music opportunities coming to Stetson Middle School. Monday (May 22nd) our 7th and 8th grade band students will host a concert starting at 7pm in the Stetson auditorium. Additionally, on Wednesday (May 24th) our 6th grade band and chorus students will showcase their talents at 6:30pm in the Stetson auditorium as well. These concerts never disappoint and are always a great way to show the talent and passion of our musical department and our students.
This week we wrapped up the final bit of our state testing with the Algebra I Keystones. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our staff, students, and families for all of their hard work and persistence. We know that testing can be draining, but we are so proud of all of your progress and success this year. We only have a few weeks left so let's keep up the great work!
Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Puchalla
Principal
Calendar -- Look Ahead and Plan
Monday, May 22nd-- Day 5 ***7th and 8th Grade Band & Jazz Concert*** 7PM START
Tuesday, May 23rd--Day 6 ***Falcon Period***
Wednesday, May 24th-- Day 1 ***6th Grade Band and Chorus Concert*** 6:30 PM START
Thursday, May 25th-- Day 2 ***Falcon Period***
Friday, May 26th-- Day 3
Monday, May 29th-- (NO SCHOOL -- MEMORIAL DAY)
Tuesday, May 30th--Day 4 ***Falcon Period***
Wednesday, May 31st-- Day 5
Thursday, June 1st-- Day 6 ***Falcon Period***
Friday, June 2nd-- Day 1 (8th Grade Dance)
Dress Code Policy Reminder
Friendly reminder regarding the WCASD Dress Code Policy:
Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate for school. Unacceptable attire includes, but is not limited to, attire that is unsafe, unhealthy, disruptive, offensive to generally acceptable community standards, or contains obscene language; any clothing that reveals undergarments; torn clothing or clothing with holes in it; and tight fitting outfits that are inappropriate and/or revealing. During the school year and summer school, the following applies to male and female students:
1. Tops
a. Shirts, t-shirts, and sweatshirts shall not have inappropriate slogans, words, pictures, alcohol/smoking advertisements, etc.
b. No tank tops, no tops that show the midriff or cleavage, and no see-through tops shall be permitted.
2. Pants/Shorts/Dresses/Skirts
a. Dresses, shorts, and skirts shall be at an appropriate length, which has been determined to be no shorter than midway between the knee and the top of the leg.
b. No pants/sweatpants/shorts/etc. with writing located in inappropriate places are permitted.
c. Pants shall be appropriately sized and worn at the waist, and no lower than the top of the hips.
d. Undergarments shall not be displayed.
e. Pajamas shall not be permitted.
3. Outerwear
a. Coats, hats, hoods, scarves, and the like shall not be worn in the school building, except for religious reasons.
4. Footwear
a. No bedroom slippers shall be permitted.
b. Laces on shoes shall be secured.
c. Any footwear that poses a safety hazard shall not be permitted.
5. Other
a. No chain link belts.
b. Spike jewelry, chains or any other jewelry that could cause injury or constitute a hazard are not permitted.
8th Grade Dance Information
Please see the attached letter regarding the 8th grade dance on Friday June 2 from 6:30-9:00 at Stetson. We are excited to see all of our students enjoying themselves and celebrating the end of their middle school careers.
***NEW*** Stetson School Spirit Store
We have set up an online store for families to purchase Stetson apparel that can be delivered directly to your room. We look forward to seeing students wearing these items around the building!
Store Link: https://teamlocker.squadlocker.com/#/lockers/stetson-middle-school
ORDER YOUR STETSON 22-23 YEARBOOK HERE!
Order your 2022-2023 yearbook at jostensyearbooks.com. They are currently $40 +tax! Sales end May 7th. Please let Miss Verna know if you have any questions! sverna@wcasd.net
CAR LINE REMINDER
As spring sports and clubs have begun, we are starting to see an increase in the number of students who are utilizing our car line both in the morning and afternoon (even after practices). We would like to reiterate a few reminders regarding our drop-off/pick-up practices to ensure a smooth experience for our students and families.
1. All students are able to be dropped off as early as 7:30am at Stetson. 6th grade students will report to the cafeteria, and 7th and 8th grade students will report to the LGI. We encourage parents to utilize this early drop off option to avoid a late rush close to the start of school time.
2. To help allow as many cars as possible to drop off their students, please pull all the way up and around the curve in our car line. This will allow more cars to drop students off closer to the building. Students are able to get out of their cars at any point on the sidewalk to allow them to walk into the building rather than wait in the car line until they are in front of the building.
3. Please make sure all students are ready to immediately disembark when the vehicle stops. This will help students will sports bags, instruments, etc. are able to easily and quickly exit their vehicles and head into the building on time.
New--Falcon Flyer Spring 2023 Edition
Stetson Athletics
Athletics Events--winding down the spring season
Home games this week:
5/15
Boys Lacrosse vs. Downingtown
All home games are expected to start around 3:15pm unless otherwise noted.
Field Hockey Information Meeting--Next year plans
Rising 7th and 8th graders interested in trying out for Stetson field hockey in the fall should attend the upcoming interest meeting.
When: Tuesday May 23 during homeroom (8:05)
Where: In the gym
Stetson Spring Tennis
All…welcome back to our Stetson Tennis Program held at Rustin High School!
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with a rain make-up of Thursday, except the week of May 29th – we will do Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday with a rain make-up of Friday.
May 8th to June 7th
3:30 to 5:00
All levels welcome, co-ed and open to all 3 grades,
we will be limiting numbers to 24 players per week.
***Students must provide their own transportation***
Student Ineligibility List
It is Stetson’s mission to help all students maintain passing grades, however, if a student is failing two or more academic subjects, or one academic subject, and two unified arts classes, they will be placed on our ineligibility list. Students who are on the ineligibility list are unable to participate in any extracurricular sport/activity. A report is generated every Thursday to determine eligibility status for the following week. Parents will receive an email the Friday before the ineligible week and students will receive a letter in homeroom. Students are encouraged to check their grades frequently on PowerSchool and Schoology.
Stetson Clubs and Opportunities
Stetson Library Summer Book Exchange
Stetson Library is planning a book exchange for the summer.
If you have middle or elementary school appropriate books at home that you no longer want, please donate them for our exchange.
There is a collection box outside the library.
We will collect throughout May. In June, we will distribute books for students to keep.
Thank you for sharing with us.
Stetson Community Night: Union Game (PTO Organized)
Stetson Middle School families!
Stetson MS is partnering with the Philadelphia Union on a school night out this season! Families can purchase tickets the game on Wednesday, May 31st on Charlotte FC.
With Union tickets at an all-time high demand, we are opening this up well in advance. Tickets for the game are almost sold out and only about 75 tickets left. The Union do expect to sell out this game soon by the weekend so please purchase today.
Purchase your tickets ASAP at the following link: https://fevo.me/40bBpew
Questions? Contact Alex Carrington with the Union directly at 610-497-8796 or acarrington@philadelphiaunion.com.
Hope to see you at Subaru Park!
6th Grade Kindness Club
Any 6th grade students interested in joining the Kindness Club please see Dr. Markiewicz in the library. The first project will have students creating Kindness Jars that feature paper slips with positive messages on them to be used in classrooms for positive affirmations.
***UPDATE: 6th and 7th grade students are meeting in the library for Kindness Club! We are finishing up our Kindness Jars and will begin another Kindness project in April! All students are welcome.
Stetson PTO Information
PTO welcomes new Board Members for the 2022-23 school year:
Patty Arabia, Vicki Babylon, Julie Finnegan, Jamie Grant, Dee Hurford, and Lindsey Rauch. We are asking families to consider making a contribution to the PTO, so we can continue to bring enhancements to our children’s education. Our suggested contribution is $25 per family, but whatever you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Cash and checks (made out to Stetson PTO) can be sent to school marked PTO Contribution.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR PARENTS for participating in Teacher Appreciation Week lead by our PTO Team. Our staff really enjoyed the daily treats.
PTO Candy Bowl
The PTO Candy Bowl is BACK!
Please help us show the Stetson teachers and staff some sweet appreciation by signing up to donate some candy!
Follow this link to pick a slot https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054AA8A72DA7F94-teacher.
Thank you!
Stetson P-R-I-D-E
As a school we are always looking to improve upon our building culture. This year we will be promoting positive relationships and growth with our students using the acronym PRIDE. Pride stands for:
P- Purpose (Having our students do things with intent and determination.)
R- Respect (Showing respect to our peers and adults.)
I- Integrity (Doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Strong moral principles.)
D- Diversity (Recognizing that we all come from difference places and experiences and we respect each others differences.)
E- Empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.)
One our first day of school, Monday, we held a Town Hall meetings with each of our grades to welcome them back and review expectations and PRIDE was the heart of our presentation. We encouraged all students to practice PRIDE every day at Stetson and we encourage parents to talk with their students about what PRIDE is and how they can show it. We wanted to make adults at home aware in case they hear their student mention it at home. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Falcon Period Explanation
Our Falcon Periods on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the morning. Falcon Period runs as an extended HR from 8:15-8:50. The purpose of this additional period is to provide an academic support period during the school day for students to have the opportunity to complete work, receive remediation/enrichment, and participate in our social and emotional activities. Our bell schedule is adjusted to accommodate for the Falcon periods. Tuesday Falcon Period will concentrate on executive functioning support and Thursday will be focused on social and emotional learning. We believe through these opportunities students can make stronger connections with teachers, counselors, administrators, and peers.
Counselor's Corner
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Week 3: May 15-21
The focus this week will be on promoting acceptance and compassion surrounding mental illness. Language matters; let’s work together to use person-first language and avoid derogatory terms.
Key messages:
We play a part in one another’s mental wellness.
· Language matters. The language we use to talk about mental health can either perpetuate prejudice and discrimination or promote acceptance and compassion. When it comes to mental health, words matter.
· It is up to each of us to be a lifeline, sharing in a commitment to care for ourselves and those around us.
· When we use open and compassionate language around mental health issues, we empower ourselves and encourage others to find the help they need.
If you would like further support or resources, please reach out to your child’s grade level counselor and/or visit the WCASD counseling resources page.
6th grade counselor: Mr. Schwartz – rschwartz@wcasd.net
7th grade counselor: Ms. Cerullo – ccerullo@wcasd.net
8th grade counselor: Ms. Selgrath – hselgrath@wcasd.net
Nurses Corner
Nurses Corner
Welcome Back! Below is a step by step breakdown to follow if you are experiencing Covid symptoms. Please pay close attention to the criteria for testing positive and experiencing symptoms as guidance has changed. Also, there are several options available for Covid testing kits and locations that are listed in the letter as well. As always, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out our school nurse, Mrs. Czerpak at 484-266-2706.
Please remember if your child exhibits symptoms of illness, please keep the home!
Reminder about phones- As a friendly reminder, if a student is not feeling well they should report to the Nurse's office. The office will then contact home with any health concerns or if a student needs to be picked up.
Nurses Corner Monthly Information
ATTENTION ALL INCOMING 7TH GRADE PARENTS
Dear Parents/Guardians of incoming 7th grade students:
The PA Department of Health issued stronger immunization laws that took effect August 2017 to ensure students are adequately protected against potential outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases. This law affects all incoming 7th grade students. Students must have one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra, MCV4) and one dose of Tdap vaccine before entry into the 7th grade.
Most students would have received this vaccine at their 6th grade physical. Proof of vaccination or a medical certificate scheduling the vaccine will be due by the 5th day of school of your student’s 7th grade year, September 5, 2023, or your student will face exclusion. More information can be found on the WCASD homepage.
Parents can access their provider’s patient portals (such as MyCHOP, MyNeMours, or MyPennMedicine) which will allow you to print proof of immunizations to send to the school nurse.
Parents can also use vaccinfinder.org to find a facility that offers these immunizations or schedule an appointment with your primary care physician.
Your child may still obtain medical, religious or philosophical exemption from this new required immunization. Please notify the health office via email if this is your request.
You can send in proof of immunization with your student, or scan and email to mczerpak@wcasd.net.
Early attention to this matter is greatly appreciated!
ATTENTION ALL INCOMING 7TH GRADE PARENTS (PART 2)
Dental examinations are required of children first entering kindergarten or 1st, 3rd, and 7th grades, and students transferring from out of state, according to Article XIV, School Health Services, of the Public School Code and regulations, 28 Pa. Code 23.1-23.87, Health Services.
Attached for your convenience is the Private Dentist Report form to be filled out by your Dentist. It is important that your Dentist complete the Dental Report form. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to return that form to the school nurse as soon as possible. Exams conducted after June 1, 2022 will be accepted.
Proof of dental examination is required by October 29, 2023 or risk exclusion. You can send the completed dental form with your student, scan and email to mczerpak@wcasd.net, or fax to 484-266-2799.
If you are receiving this email, the nurse does not have a dental exam on file.
Early attention to this matter is greatly appreciated!
Melissa Czerpak MHEP, BSN, CSN
NEW: Field Trip Notice (Medication)
Medication Reminder
Field trip season is upon us! Please see attachment regarding medication requirements, and a blank medication authorization form for physician and parent completion. Thank you.
Dispensing of Medications
All medications, even over-the-counter (OTC) medications, must be dispensed by the school nurse. Do not send medications with your child to take during the day. Sending medicines with your child is against school policy and the WCASD Discipline Code. A signed permission note must accompany medications that need to be given during school and a written order from the doctor with type, dosage, and time. A copy of the prescription to the pharmacy is not the same and cannot be accepted. Students are not permitted to bring their medications to school. A parent/guardian must personally deliver the medication to the school nurse, who must secure and dispense the medication. Students are not permitted to dispense medications to themselves. Our Nurse, Mrs. Melissa Czerpak, will be available for early medicine drop-off at various times in August. Please contact her to schedule the medication delivery by calling her at 484-266-2706 or emailing her at mczerpak@wcasd.net.
Stetson Middle School Code of Conduct
All students will be given access to an electronic copy of the WCASD Discipline & Records Policy through the distribution of the 1 to 1 laptops. Additionally, the administration will review the policy manual with each grade level during their town hall meeting the first week of school. It is vitally important to review every page of these documents with your child. Each child will be required to verify through a signature that they have received the policy. Knowing what is expected of each student and what consequences are for various offenses will be important to have a successful experience at Stetson Middle School.
Bus Information
Each student is responsible for knowing their bus number, stop location, and pick-up time. Students should be at their bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. Per WCASD policy, students are neither permitted to ride a bus to which they are not assigned nor get off at an unassigned bus stop. Bus passes will not be permitted due to continued limited bus capacity. Bus drivers have the right to assign seats on their buses. BUS ARRIVAL TIMES MAY NOT BE EXACT IN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS SO PLEASE BE PATIENT AS WE WORK TO HIT OUR SCHEDULED TIMES.
Laptop Information
Accidental Damage Policy:
Our students will be covered for one incidence of accidental damage coverage for each academic year. Any cost of repair/replacement of damage beyond the one incident per year will become the responsibility of the student or parent/legal guardian. This accidental damage coverage will not cover device loss or intentional damage.
Arrival / Dismissal Procedures
Student Drop-Off/Pick-up: Safety is the top priority at Stetson. Please use the designated lane to drop off/pick up students. There will be only one lane available for drop-off and pick-up in the morning and afternoon. Prepare for long lines and plan accordingly. Students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 am. Stay in the car line and follow staff members’ instructions. You will find the carline traffic flow map attached below. Please review the map and feel free to reach out with any questions. Students may only enter or exit cars at the designated cones. Student drop-off and pick-up can be challenging with the high volume of cars that enter the campus. We appreciate your efforts in helping keep our students safe during this time.
Due to the start time of the staff workday, students can only enter school after 7:30 am unless directed by a teacher for a pre-determined appointment. Students dropped off before 7:50 am will be directed to wait in the cafeteria (6th grade) or LGI (7th and 8th grade) until dismissed to lockers/homeroom.
Being on Time to School: Homeroom begins at 8:05 am and ends at 8:15 am. Students arriving late to homeroom (after the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am) must report to the office for a late pass. The administration will handle lateness following the WCASD Attendance Policies and PA State Laws.
Lateness Clarification:
a. All Stetson students who are assigned and ride a bus that arrives late will NOT be marked late due to the bus’s late arrival.
b. A student who is driven to school and dropped off in the car line will be marked late if the student is not in their homeroom when the homeroom bell rings at 8:05 am.
All Things Attendance
Please refer to the document below regarding our attendance policies. We have created a comprehensive document which should provide clarity on things such as early dismissals, late arrivals, absences, vacation requests, etc. If you have any questions, please reach out to our attendance secretary, Mrs. Heather Mazza, at hmazza@wcasd.net.
Attendance Codes UPDATE
Teachers will now have the ability to use attendance codes when taking attendance during their classes. Teachers will use the code "ACT" or activity for when a student has checked in and is participating in a school sponsored activity. If a student is not present in the classroom and has not previously checked in with their teacher, they will use the code "LAW" meaning they are not present in the classroom. Students must previously have checked in with their teacher in order for the ACT code to be used. We use these codes as a safety and accountability measure for our building.
Items Not Allowed In School
Cell phones and other unauthorized electronic devices are not allowed to be carried on a person during the school day. If a student chooses to bring a device to school, it must be turned off/silenced and stored in the student’s locker for the duration of the school day. Failure to follow this directive will result in the confiscation of the item and possible further disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, the student’s parent/guardian having to pick the item up from school.
Website & Social Media
Please check Stetson's website often to find updates and school information. You may also keep up-to-date on your child's academic progress by accessing our Parent Portal system. Please follow us on Twitter to check out our latest events and announcements @GAStetsonMS.
Student Leadership Conference Opportunity
Are you ready for the time of your life? Then you’re ready for the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation’s Life Skills Conference!
The conference is held at the Masonic Conference Center – Patton Campus, in Elizabethtown, adjacent to the world-renowned Masonic Village at Elizabethtown.
This active and exciting conference challenges attendees to develop leadership, respect, relational skills, and personal responsibility through a variety of creative approaches and various media. The program will also include active discussions of some of the toughest issues facing students today: drugs and alcohol, violence and conflict resolution, teen sexuality, and others. This year also brings the return of previous “hit” programs, including a day-trip to a high ropes course! It promises to be an even more exciting conference than ever before!
The Conference is limited to 100 participants and is open to youth 12 and older who have not reached their 18th birthday at the time of the conference. Registrations will be processed in order of receipt, and priority will be given to first-time attendees. Registration fee, medical history, emergency care, and ropes course releases will be required of conferees upon acceptance and prior to the start of the conference. Registration Deadline: June 15, 2023.
WCASD Special Ed Parent Training Series Flyers
West Chester Hoops: Summer Basketball League
Lincoln University FREE STEM Camp
This summer (July 10 - August 3), Lincoln University is offering a FREE STEM camp on our main campus near Oxford, PA. The camp will run Monday through Thursday and is for rising 6th through 8th graders. While all students/families are welcome to apply, the grant requires that 80% of our student population qualify for free or reduced lunch and are members of marginalized groups.