Falcon Flash
December 2, 2022
Principal Message
I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving break with their families last week. The majority of students that I spoke to about their school break last week reported that they had a restful and fun time hanging out with their family and friends. I will be honest, it was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of school life.
This week we had to get back into our routine of school expectations. We need your help to make sure all students are continuing to follow our school vision of P.R.I D.E each day. Please continue to monitor your students academic progress this marking period on Schoology and Power School. Communication with our teachers is essential to make sure our students grow and progress through their middle school experiences.
This week we had our annual Stetson Spelling Bee on Tuesday and our 8th graders had a field trip to Eastern State Penitentiary on Thursday and Friday. It was great to see the students smile, laugh, and really enjoy these opportunities provided by our staff members.
December is a month filled with multiple musical concerts as well. We hope to see you all at the concerts to help support our students who worked really hard this semester to make some beautiful music for us!
Thank you for your continuous support and communication for our school community.
Mrs. Puchalla
Principal
Calendar -- Look Ahead and Plan
Monday, December 5--Day 3
Tuesday, December 6--Day 4 ***Falcon Period***
Wednesday, December 7--Day 5
Thursday, December 8--Day 6 ***Falcon Period***
Friday, December 9--Day 1
Monday, December 12--Day 2
Tuesday, December 13--Day 3 ***Falcon Period***
Wednesday, December 14--Day 4
Thursday, December 15--Day 5 ***Falcon Period***
Friday, December 16th--Day 6
Athletics Events
Home games this week:
12/5 Girls Basketball vs. Peirce MS
12/8 Girls Basketball vs. Fugett MS
***8th Grade designate to play at 3:15 pm first unless otherwise noted. 7th Grade typically starts around 4:15 pm.***
Stetson Wrestling
Our Wrestling program is off and running. Announcements were held all week, the coaches held an informational meeting on Thursday morning and their first practice was held on Friday 11/18/22. The next practice is Monday 11/21/22. In order for your son to wrestle he must have taken the Impact Concussion test in the last two years and must have his physical exam dated on or after 1 June, 2022. The physical exam must be uploaded to Family ID. If your son(s) are interested in wrestling and did not attend the informational meeting please have them contact Mr Atkins at catkins@wcasd.net.
Instructions for uploading the physical exam to Family ID are attached.
Boys Basketball
Announcements were held all week and an informational meeting took place about tryouts for boys basketball before the break. Here is the tryout information:
Friday, December 2nd--7th grade boys tryouts (first cuts) 3:00- 5:45 pm
Tuesday, December 6th--8th grade boys tryouts (first cuts) 3:00- 5:45 pm
Thursday, December 15th--7th & 8th grade tryouts (final cuts) 3:00- 5:45 pm
**All candidates must have a completed physical on the proper PIAA form and a completed baseline concussion test. NO STUDENT is permitted to tryout without this paperwork.
If you have any questions, please see Mr. Stolzer in room C104 or contact by email at pstolzer@wcasd.net.
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.
Yearbook Order for 22-23 School Year
Remember to order your 2022-2023 yearbook! Don't miss out! You can order at jostensyearbooks.com. Please let Miss Verna know if you have any questions at sverna@wcasd.net
SMS Spelling Bee
Congratulations to all students who participated in the annual school spelling bee this year. We had twenty-six contestants that qualified for this competition by winning the bee in their individual English classes across all three grades. Twenty-two students competed on Tuesday afternoon in the auditorium lead by Mr. Stolzer. The competition went fourteen rounds before we declared a winner!
The results of the competition were as follows:
4th place--Desmond Saito
3rd place--Samantha McNichol
2nd place--Jugad Singh
1st place--Christian Miller
Christian Miller will be representing our school at the county competition in May--Good Luck!
Stetson Clubs and Opportunities
Holiday Scholastic Book Fair
Our Holiday Book Fair is coming!
Students will visit the book fair Dec 9-13 with their English classes.
Monday Dec 5 - 6th grade
Tuesday Dec 6 - 7th grade
Wednesday Dec 7 - 8th grade
Thursday and Friday we are also open!
Students may also visit during lunch or homeroom beginning on Tuesday.
Parents are welcome any time!
We will be open during the concerts on Monday as well.
The E-Wallet is available through our bookfair webpage
How you can help:
Volunteer! E-mail smslib@wcasd.net with your availability
Encourage your child to purchase books!
Stop by and purchase holiday gifts!
Donate to All 4 Books
Your donation helps Stetson Library get more books
Scholastic matches your donation and supports organizations like
Toys for Tots
Family Literacy Center
DRAMA Club
All students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade are welcome to participate. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, December 13th from 3:00PM-5:00PM in the Chorus Room with callbacks for lead roles on Wednesday, December 14th from 3:00PM-4:30PM. All students participating in the musical MUST audition.
Follow the link to learn more! SEUSSICAL JR INFORMATIONAL PACKET
Full URL:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o0d4aWehpgEVC9XXhwgRvCqaqBLZOGidUmJKMx6adVQ/edit?usp=sharing
Performance Dates
Friday, March 31, 2023 7:00PM
Saturday, April 1, 2023 1:00PM & 7:00PM
Stetson Cheerleading
Stetson MS Cheerleading
The cheerleading program is underway this year and coached by Miss Ramos and assisted by Ms. (Sra.) Stephens. They received a very detailed skills tryout packet (Skills Tryout Packet) that has several pages to be completed and handed back. There is a cheer Schoology page also where you can find a lot of the paperwork and links. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Ramos at lramos@wcasd.net.
Stetson Ski Club
The Stetson Ski group for 2022/2023 is now active. This year we'll be offering bus trips to Blue Mtn on Friday JAN 27th, FEB 3rd and FEB 24th. If you would like more information on how to sign up send an email to: stetsonski@gmail.com
* Stetson Ski provides transportation to and from Blue Mtn. Priority for signing up will be given to students attending Stetson and their siblings until Nov 25th.
* If this is your son or daughter's first time skiing/boarding please get lessons first during daylight hours prior to going on one of these trips. I recommend Bear Creek which is only an hour away. Learning to ski or snowboard is difficult and typically requires lessons and many trips down the mountain to gain the confidence necessary to ski/snowboard safely. If your student is not familiar with skiing/boarding please plan to follow the bus and be prepared to assist.
Thanks,
Kip Volkman, Gabriela Stephens and Sara Trout
Stetson Craft Club
Are you a crafty person looking to expand your skill set or learn a new crafting skill, like hand sewing, knitting, crocheting and more? Come join Stetson’s Craft Club, meeting Tuesdays from 3-4. The club will begin meeting Tuesday, November 29th. Please see Mrs. Carlin in A131 or Sra. Stephens in E101 for a permission slip.
Permission Slip: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10I-yos-ejHYWGtgyThylcUF_wSmq9gpL38qMJzcJqus/edit?usp=sharing
Falcon Flyer Newspaper Club
Please enjoy the first edition of the Falcon Flyer Newspaper.
Be on the look out for our new edition at the end of the month. Our students are working hard this month to provide some interesting opinion research on some holiday preferences.
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.
Stetson PTO Holiday Gift Card Drive
For many people, the holidays can be a difficult time. Please consider supporting our students and families by participating in our gift card drive. The Stetson PTO is partnering with our school caseworker to get these to families who could benefit.
Shop-Rite, Acme, Walmart, and Target are suggested so families can use these for gifts, toiletries, food, etc. Gift cards can be sent to the Stetson main office.
Contact our school caseworker, Colette McLaughlin, at cmclaughlin@wcasd.net with any questions or if your family could use support.
Thank you for your generosity and Happy Holidays!
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
Next week we will be starting to run 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.
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.
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
Navigating the sick season?
It is the winter and holiday season and sometimes we experience sickness in our households. I wanted to share a good resource for your family from CHOP:
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
Thank you for your cooperation with the start of this new school year. We have had a very successful start of the school year in regards to drop-off and pick-up. We enjoy seeing our parents smiling faces, waves, and cute dogs!
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
Starting this marking period, 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.
Community Involvement Opportunities
Know someone who is interested in becoming a substitute?
Kelly Education Services Opportunity Below