SMS Newsletter

The Sacajawea community is committed to

ensure high levels of learning for all students.

We are a compassionate community that honors grit

and celebrates growth in order to face the future

with a level head and a critical eye.

** In this Title I school, parents have the right to request certain information on the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers and paraprofessionals providing services.

Happy February! As we find ourselves in the month of love and friendship, we are excited to share the latest news and updates from SMS.

Our 8th grade Student Council has renamed February as Love the Earth Month and will be learning more about recycling and composting as a school community. We are also looking forward to our WinterFest on Friday, February 16th. WinterFest is a fun few hours on a Friday night at SMS with friends, staff, and games galore.

As we continue to navigate the school year together, let's celebrate the accomplishments of our students while looking forward to the next few months that lie ahead. Thank you for your ongoing support, and here's to a fantastic February!

Sincerely,

Ashley Henigman

SMS Principal

La organización local Thrive publica una revista mensual.

Para recibir noticias escolares del Distrito de Bozeman, consejos sobre la crianza,

y recursos en la comunidad, por favor registrarse a través de este enlace:

Students are not allowed to have any outside fast food delivered to them for lunch,

unless it is their birthday. Barring this one exception, please do not

have food delivered to the school.

Thank you!

February

• 2nd: Semester 1 Report Cards Available
• 6th: Spelling Bee, SMS Cafeteria 3:30 - 5:30 pm
• 12th: Team Yosemite to Big Sky
• 13th: SMS 5th Grade Parent Night 6:00 - 7:00 pm
• 14th: Team Zion to Big Sky
• 16th: SMS Winter Fest 5:00 - 7:00 pm
• 19th: President's Day, NO SCHOOL
  
• 21st: Team Garnet to Bridger Bowl
• 23rd: Team Sapphire to Bridger Bowl
• 24th: Speech and Debate Meet, BHS 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
• 27th: 6th/7th Grade Choir Concert, Willson 7:00 - 8:00 pm
• 28th: Team Denali to Big Sky

March

• 1st: Team Lava to Bridger Bowl
• 11th - 15th: Spring Break, NO SCHOOL
• 26th: Team Mystic to Bridger Bowl
• 28th: Team Emerald to Bridger Bowl

Abbey Boyer is a graduate student at MSU studying school counseling. As the practicum part of her studies, she will be working with Ms. Leah until the beginning of May.

Abbey has lived in Bozeman for seven years with her husband, daughter, and dog named T. Rex. She is a former math teacher with experience teaching middle and high school students in Salt Lake City and at Gallatin College.

She is a disco diva on the dance floor and teaches dance cardio and other fitness classes at MSU. When she is feeling crafty, she likes to crochet and draw. When she is feeling brave, she likes to roller skate with her daughter. And on a hot summer day, she likes to cool off in a river with her family.

Abbey is very grateful for this learning experience and for the opportunity to be a part of the SMS community.

Who are our school counselors?

Leah Kreitinger - Assigned teams: All 8th-grade teams, share all 6th-grade teams

Meghan Powell - Assigned teams: All 7th-grade teams, share all 6th-grade teams

Brad Stein - SAFE-TI Program counselor

School Counselors at Sacajawea help all students:

• Apply academic achievement strategies

• Manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills

• Develop awareness of postsecondary options (higher education, work force, etc.)

We do this by providing:

• Classroom-based lessons

• Small group interventions to support student needs

• Short-term individual counseling with students

• Collaboration with families/teachers/administrators/community for student success

• Advocacy for students at student-focused meetings (IEPs, 504s, or family/team meetings)

• Data analysis to identify student issues, needs, and challenges

• Acting as a systems change agent to improve access, achievement, and opportunities for all students

Fly Falcons, Fly!

The cost per book is $25.

Please click the button below to order online.

Cash or check purchasing options will be

available in the near future.

The SMS Spelling Bee is being held on February 6th, right after school, from 3:30 pm to approximately 5:30 pm in the cafeteria.

Good Luck to all of the participants!

February 16th, 2024 5:00 - 7:00 pm

Games! Raffle Prizes!* Food! Fun!

There is no cost to attend. Tickets are $0.50 and will be sold at the festival and during lunches on Thursday, February 15th and Friday, February 16th.

Pizza and drink meal coupons will be available for purchase before and at the event for $6.00.

Come have some wholesome SMS fun with your friends and family!

*Do you own a business in the Bozeman area?

Please consider donating a small raffle prize to the event!

All proceeds from the raffle will go to support our PTO/PAC and student clubs and activities.

Email maggie.guttormson@bsd7.org to arrange a donation.

All raffle prizes must be at SMS by 4 pm on Friday, February 16th.

We hope to see you there!

Science Olympiad is a fun way to be involved at SMS! Check with your student to see if they are interested.

We will compete on April 19th at Montana State University.

Here is a slideshow that provides a brief overview of the different events. If your child is interested in being on one of the teams, please email Mrs. Belote (melissa.belote@bsd7.org) or Mrs. Holland (carrie.holland@bsd7.org). We will also meet on Thursdays in Mrs. Belote’s room (E20) or Mrs. Holland’s room (E21).

Here are the events that are still open:

Engineering/Building Events

• Tower
• Wind Power
• Wheeled Vehicle

Other Events

• Microbe Mission
• Codebusters
• Fossils
• Road Scholar

We would like puzzles that are 750 pieces or smaller. If you have puzzles that you would like to donate and that are in good shape, please drop them off at the main office during school hours.

Thank you to all who have donated - they are great!

🕢 Library Hours 🕓

Early Birds - 7:30 - 8:00

After School - 3:30

Upcoming Events:

Poetry Slam - April

Used Book Sale - May

Thank you to everyone who is scanning their receipts and contributing to the

SMS Library through BOXTOPS!!

Our annual school fundraising campaign has come to a close. Thanks to your rockstar support, our kiddos will now have a larger inventory of ice skates for the ice rink and see new playground equipment in the spring. Your donations also mean extra teaching aids and materials as requested by our teachers. WOO-HOO!!!

A HUGE shout-out to every single one of you who gives your time, your talents, and your hearts to make SMS the fantastic school that it is. Every volunteer hour, every kind word, every donation big or small – that's what makes our SMS community shine! Thank you for making a difference!

Our next PAC meeting date will be announced soon. Remember that all parents are automatically a member of SMS PAC! Hope to see you there!

P.S. For those who still want to purchase a SMS t-shirt, we still have some available. Shoot us an email, and we'll hook you up!

As always, a giant THANK YOU!

Krista Drake and Randi Lanning (sacptopresident@gmail.com)

Since 2012, rates of anxiety in adolescents/teens have been on the rise, with an additional uptick since COVID. Here are a few tips to support kids.

Tips for building resiliency:

1. Don’t eliminate or avoid things that cause anxiety.

2. Listen and empathize with their feelings AND express your belief in them.

3. Be a calm presence in the face of big feelings.

4. Let them fail and share your failures with them.

5. Increase independence.

Coping Skills for Kids with Anxiety:

1. Sleep! (9 - 11 hours of sleep/night).

2. Exercise and spend time outdoors.

3. Limit Screen Time–studies have shown a correlation between excess screen time and depression/anxiety in teens.

4. Mindfulness exercises - breathing, grounding, journaling.

5. You! The best antidote to an anxious teen is a parent who cares and listens when a teen wants to talk.

For these and other parenting tips,

reach out to your SMS Thrive Parent Liaison

Ashley Mares Jones

ashley.maresjones@bsd7.org | (406) 922-4230.

Surprise! It's winter in Montana! Please remember to send your kids to school with winter gear every day: layers, coats, hats, gloves, boots, etc.

Although the temperatures have dropped, our policies have not.

Unless temperatures fall below 0 degrees Fahrenheit, students are to remain outside of the building until 8:10 am. This includes students having school breakfast.

Students are also going outside before and after lunch, as long as temperatures are above zero, and should be reminded to bring their winter gear with them to lunch, as they are discouraged from returning to lockers outside of passing periods.

THANK YOU, and stay toasty!

Sacajawea is pleased to provide a number of activities in which students can be involved outside of the classroom. Please have your student inquire with the appropriate teacher and fill out the permission slip below, prior to attending any clubs or activities.

MONDAY:

Outdoor club: Mr. Ottey 3:30 - 4:30 pm (starts after Thanksgiving)

TUESDAY:

Jazz Band: Mr. Wilcox 7:30 am, Band room

Art Club: Mr. Rooney 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C5

Computer/Tech Club: Mr. Chamberlain 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C8

Knitting Club: Mr. Scott 6th grade lunch, Room F14

7th Grade STUCO: Ms. Belote 7th grade lunch

WEDNESDAY:

Rubix Cube Club: Mrs. Ulrich 6th grade lunch (Every other Wed.)

Speech & Debate Club: Ms. Schumann 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C7

6th Grade STUCO: Mrs. Ulrich 6th grade lunch (Every other Wed.)

THURSDAY:

Select Choir: Colliver 7:20 - 8:10 am, Choir room

Robotics Club: Mr. Chamberlain 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C8

Birding Club: Ms. Lorenz 3:30 - 5:00 pm, Room F21 (last Thurs. of the month)

Knitting Club: Mr. Scott 6th grade lunch, Room F14

Yearbook Club: Mrs. Cambianica 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room F15

Speech & Debate Club: Ms. Schumann 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Room C7

8th Grade STUCO: Mrs. Guttormson 8th grade lunch

FRIDAY:

Jazz Band: Mr. Wilcox 7:30 am

The bell rings at 8:10 each morning after which students may enter the building. Class starts at 8:20am. Students should not enter the building before 8:10am unless they are

attending Early Birds in the library.

Early Birds is available each morning at 7:30am in the library. Students may

quietly work on homework or read a book during that time.

To report an absence for your student, the most efficient method is to log in to your

PowerSchool Parent Portal. On the left-hand menu, click on "Attendance Monitor,"

then "Report New Attendance."

If you need to reach the office, please call 406-522-6400.

Lisa Tesseneer and Cindy Smith work in the office.

If your student will be arriving to school late, please let the office know

and we can get them a pass to class.

There is a Lost and Found in the cafe. Please encourage your student to

check there frequently for notebooks, Chromebooks, water bottles, clothing, etc.

BREAKFAST: Breakfast is available starting at 8:10 in the cafe where students can take a few minutes to eat. Breakfast items can only be eaten in the cafeteria. We ask that students clean up after themselves and to make sure they don’t leave anything behind.

CELLPHONES: Cell phones are expected to be in student lockers/backpacks promptly at 8:18. Students may then retrieve and use cell phones at 3:25 when the bell rings. Cell phones are not to be carried during the day (unless there is a medical or language specific need that is pre-approved). ABSOLUTELY NO cellphones are allowed in locker rooms. We truly appreciate your support in regards to student cell phone use.

BACKPACKS: Backpacks need to fit inside a school locker. Students cannot carry their backpacks with them from class to class as we don’t have storage for them and it becomes a fire hazard to have them on the floors. Please encourage your child to pack lightly and use their locker to stay organized.

HATS: Hats may be worn outside only. When students enter the building the expectation is to take your hat off and keep it off while inside. We want to see everyone’s smiling faces! There may be some special days for hats, such as Fridays, so stay tuned for that information.

GYM CLOTHES: If you missed the previous order deadline, you can order again by following the link here, but your shirts won’t arrive for about a month. Your child’s HE teacher will communicate about dressing out expectations.

AFTER SCHOOL PLANS: Please make sure your child knows their after school plans in advance. Understandably, changes are sometimes made; however, we want to respect our office staff who field all of these phone calls. If you do have an emergent change in plans please feel free to call the front office in a timely manner (before 3:00) so we can get your child a message.

BUS/CAR/RIDE/WALK: SAFETY is a priority at SMS. The parking lots are a busy place upon arrival and pick up. If you are dropping off or picking up please be patient and aware of students who are walking/biking.

You may drop off and pick up in two locations: Front oval (off of South 3rd), and the North lot (off of Cambridge). Please do not park in the South lot or use that area as this is designated for our buses. Walkers and riders of all things with wheels… PLEASE use crosswalks and sidewalks. Stay safe out there Falcons!

SCHOOL NURSE: If you have a student with a medical condition or general medical needs please contact our school nurse, Jeana, at (406)-522-6412 or jeana.gaskill@bsd7.org.

If you know your student will need to be picked up early during the school day, it would be incredibly helpful if you could call the attendance office before 10:00 am to let us know. We can then write a blue pass to give to your student so they can meet you at the office at the designated time. This will eliminate the disruption and disturbance of us having to call into the classroom to have them sent to the office.

Thank you so much!

Front office staff

One of the most important aspects of your child's success is their attendance at school. We are here to support you and your child as we navigate their time at Sacajawea Middle School. We have a variety of resources to share with families, including strategies to support attendance and engagement along with personnel to work with you in support of your child’s education.

Our staff would be pleased to assist you to ensure your student has the greatest opportunity at Sacajawea Middle School. If you have concerns or questions regarding attendance please contact:

Julia Anderson (406) 522-6470 Executive Secretary

Ashley Mares-Jones (406) 922-4230 Thrive Parent Liaison

Attendance Facts

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful, and on track to graduation.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, or dealing with social conflict, along with other potentially serious difficulties.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
• By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
• Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success.
• Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.
• Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.

Attendance Tips

• Make school attendance a priority.
• Talk about the importance of attending school everyday and have that be the expectation.
• Maintain routines, such as finishing homework, being organized for the next day, and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.
• Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety. Please communicate with the school if this becomes a pattern.
• Have an awareness of your child's use of technology (gaming and cell phones) that could be impacting sleep, social connections, and other healthy habits.

Please communicate with the Sacajawea Middle School front office in regards to your child's absences. If your child will not be present at school, please call our attendance hotline at 522-6410 to excuse your child.

(The following information is subject to updates.)

How do you know when to keep your child home from school? Below is a list of guidelines to help you decide. Keep in mind that sending an ill child to school limits their ability to learn and also puts other students at risk.

Please do NOT send your child to school with the following symptoms:

• Fever of more than 100 degrees within the last 24 hours (Please do not give your feverish child fever reducing medication and send them to school)
• Vomiting within the last 24 hours
• Diarrhea within the last 24 hours
• Cough that he/she cannot control
• Body aches, headaches, ear aches, severe sore throat
• Generalized rashes (over multiple parts of the body) until they have been seen and diagnosed by their health care provider as non-infectious.
• Chickenpox, until all blisters have dried up and crusted over, typically 5-7days after the first blister appears.
• Very tired or sudden lack of appetite

Please remember to help your children practice these positive health habits:

• Frequent hand washing with soap and water is the BEST way to prevent the spread of germs. Hand sanitizer is a good option as well, when used correctly.
• Get plenty of rest -- 9-12 hours of sleep each night is recommended.
• Drink a lot of healthy fluids -- water is the best! (soda doesn’t count!)
• Eat a healthy diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables.
• Do not share cups or utensils with others.
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or elbow.

**If your child is placed on antibiotics by your healthcare provider, please do not have them return to school until they have been treated for at least 24 hours, or follow your health care provider’s recommendations.

Please keep in mind that the school can NOT give your child medication without a written order from a health care provider and your signature. You can get these forms from the SMS office.

Based on Parent's comfort level with their student, Middle Schoolers are allowed to keep in their backpack: 1 dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen in its original container (the travel size works well) for minor issues like headaches, cramping, or muscle soreness.

Please call the office: 522-6400 or the school nurse: 522-6412 with questions.

What is Healthy KidsPack?

A partnership between your school and the HRDC that provides free,

nutritious bags of snacks and simple meals to students to take home for the weekends.

Bags contain healthy, kid-friendly items that are easy to prepare. Items cycle each

week and include many local products.

How does the program work and why should I sign up?

Every Friday afternoon, your child will receive a KidsPack bag from

school in their backpack or locker. Participation is discreet and

confidential. With Healthy KidsPack, you can stretch

your family’s budget and save time and energy on meal prep!

Who can sign up?

Healthy KidsPack is for everyone!

Any family with children in grades K-12 can sign up.

Signing up is easy! Click on the corresponding button below to print out a sign-up form.

Fill out the bottom portion and return to the SMS front office.

You can unenroll at any time.

Did you know Sacajawea Middle School is part of the Box Tops for Education program?

It has changed to a mostly digital program. Traditional clip out Box Tops are being phased out but you can still send them to school (make sure it doesn’t say scan) to be turned in to the library.

The new process is so much easier!

1. Get the free, new and improved Box Tops mobile app on your phone.

2. Buy your groceries and ask for the receipt.

3. Take pictures of your receipt with the app within 14 days of purchase.

4. It will find any qualifying products and give 10 cents for each one to the school!

The money adds up and is used to enhance the book selection at our library.

It’s costs you nothing but 30 seconds of your time and you can help ALL the students at your child’s school. Encourage your friends and relatives to do the same.

On the Box Tops for Education website, you can find coupons and special deals.

Thank you so much for giving back to others!

Your PAC Team & SMS Library

Email: kayla.fortier@bsd7.org
Website: sms.bsd7.org
Location: 3525 South 3rd Avenue, Bozeman, MT, USA
Phone: (406) 522-6400