Falcon Flash

Good Evening Stetson Families,

Thank you to our World Language Department and our students and families for all of their hard work to make our International Pot Luck dinner a huge success on Thursday, March 16th. It is always a joy as a school principal to see our teachers, students, and families coming together and celebrating our community with events such as these.

Congratulations to the members of our Science Olympiad team on their success at the regional competition last week. The team earned medals in 5 of the events and did a fantastic job proudly representing Stetson.

Our teachers would like to say thank you to the PTO for the wonderful treats that were provided this morning for St. Patrick's Day. We appreciate your support and love from the community. We recognize that it takes a village!

Lastly, it is exciting times at Stetson Middle School as next week marks our final week of the 3rd Marking Period! Spring sports, clubs, and activities are now officially in full swing and we are rounding third base on another great school year. Parents and students please continue to frequently check PowerSchool for updates to students grades and to monitor performance. Communication between home and school is crucial to ensuring our students success, especially around the end of a marking period. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of our teachers, counselors, or administrations with any concerns you may have.

As always, thank you all for your continued support! Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Puchalla

Principal

Monday, March 20th-- Day 2

Tuesday, March 21st--Day 3 ***Falcon Period***

Wednesday, March 22nd-- NO SCHOOL

Thursday, March 23rd--Day 4 ***Falcon Period***

Friday, March 24th-- Day 5 (End of the 3rd Marking Period)

Monday, March 27th-- Day 6

Tuesday, March 28th--Day 1 ***Falcon Period***

Wednesday, March 29th-- Day 2

Thursday, March 30th--Day 3 ***Falcon Period***

Friday, March 31st-- Day 4

Parents and Community Members, we have heard your call for action. You have said stop talking and act, so let’s go!

Please join the WCASD Team and Dr. Una Martin, Interim Director of Equity, for an informational meeting on April 16 from 2:30PM to 4:30PM at Peirce Middle School-located at 314 Burke Rd, West Chester, PA 19380.

The purpose of this meeting is to mobilize parents and community members to strategize the launch for a Zoom mentoring and tutoring initiative for K-12 students. Come prepared to participate in the discussions and plans to create action steps for the implementation in the fall of 2023.

The Stetson Science Olympiad Team competed in the Regional Competition on Friday. The team placed 9th and earned a position at the State Competition on April 22nd.

The team earned medals in 5 events.

2nd Place in Disease Detectives: Hannah Lefebvre and Georgia Green

2nd Place in Bridge: Hannah Lefebvre and Georgia Green

3rd Place in Write It Do It: Gautham Varier and Georgia Green

3rd Place in Storm the Castle: Coby Booker and Ian Wood

4th Place in Codebusters: Jugad Singh, Liam Swett, and Ethan Park

The team worked hard and performed well. Wish them well as they prepare for States.

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

The West Chester Area School District will be hosting an informational zoom session for parents on Monday 3/6 at 7pm to provide details and clarify any questions about the Universal Behavioral Health Screening that will be given to 7th grade students on Tuesday March 28th at Stetson. The health screening is a social/emotional wellness checkup to identify and address any barriers that may hinder our students’ access to their education. This zoom will be followed by a parental permission letter given to students to bring home prior to the screening taking place. Our district translator, Sandra Bradley, will also be in attendance for any Spanish speaking families. Here is the zoom link:

https://wcasd-net.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yUEIiYOuQbm3OAq3JzbY4A

We are planning on hosting an internet safety parent informational night on Monday, March 27th at 6:30 pm in the Stetson auditorium. This presentation will be run by Renee Merion who is the Deputy District Attorney for the Chester County Justice Center. Renee travels to many schools throughout Chester County sharing her experiences with juveniles and discusses ways to keep our students safe online. Renee will also be giving a presentation to our students on Wednesday March 29th to discuss strategies students can use to remain safe online and appropriate use of technology. This information will be a great resource for us and will allow our school and community a better opportunity to work together to support our students.

Just wanted to pass along a friendly reminder about upcoming PSSA and Keystone testing dates at Stetson. We know families may plan vacations over the course of the school year, and we wanted to ensure we provided enough notice to help guide future plans.

Tentative schedule for testing is as follows:

April 25, 26 & 27 ELA PSSA

May 2 & 3 Math PSSA

May 4 & 5 Science PSSA for Grade 8

May 17 & 18 – Algebra Spring Keystone (Current Algebra 1 Students Only)

On behalf of the World Language Department at Stetson Middle School, thank you to everyone who attended and help make our International Pot Luck Dinner a huge success last night. The food was delicious, but watching out students and families enjoy themselves was the best part. We look forward to more events like this that allow our students to showcase their passions outside of the classroom!

Home games this week:

NO MORE HOME GAMES UNTIL SPRING SPORTS!

***8th Grade designate to play at 3:15 pm first unless otherwise noted. 7th Grade typically starts around 4:15 pm.***

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***

Girls lacrosse tryouts are now complete.

Congratulations to our 2023 Stetson Girls Lacrosse Team.

We begin practices on Monday, March 20 for BOTH teams.

Practices will be held every day unless there is no school or we have a game.

See you Monday!

The 6th Grade Intramural Volleyball Program is an after-school activity in which 6th grade students will have the opportunity to learn the game of volleyball and to improve their volleyball skills. If your student would like to participate and follow the guidelines, please sign and return the attached permission form by April 11th, 2023.

Here is the link to the permission form that can be linked to the highlighted words above: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X9xoMK1XiNbSw6yvF0lMtDYBgjlXqWYSaeH81f37B6s/view?usp=sharing

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.

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

Every year on March 21st, people all around the world come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly colored, mismatched socks. March 21st (3/21) is symbolic because people with Down Syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome. Socks were chosen because the karyotype of Ds chromosomes actually looks like mismatched socks! We celebrate this day to create awareness of Down Syndrome and acknowledge those who are living with Down Syndrome every day.

Wearing crazy socks will start wonderfully beautiful conversations about Down Syndrome. The socks are meant to remind people that it’s okay to be different. Everyone has their own different colorful and unique abilities. Those abilities deserve to be recognized and talked about. So celebrate with us on Tuesday, March 21st by wearing your brightest, craziest and most colorful mismatched socks!

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.

Please see the attached flyer below for information regarding purchasing tickets for our spring musical. Tickets go on sale March 1st.

Performance Dates

Friday, March 31, 2023 7:00PM

Saturday, April 1, 2023 1:00PM & 7:00PM

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 STETSON FAMILIES WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR "DINE AND DONATE" AT PIC'AS RESTAURANT ON JANUARY 11TH. WE RAISED $202.80 THAT EVENING THANKS TO YOUR GENEROSITY. PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR OUR NEXT "DINE AND DONATE" OPPORTUNITY IN MARCH.

Help Stetson’s PTO earn fundraising money when you purchase Hershey Park tickets! Save on coaster rides, an entire water park, and so much more. Tickets must be purchased by March 31st so hurry and order now using this link https://tickets.hersheypa.com/storefront/shop/ViewItems.aspx?CG=HPGRPFNDRSR&C=GRPFNDRSR and enter code 42839234! All tickets will be delivered electronically. Please email ptostetson@gmail.com with any questions.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

https://www.chop.edu/sickseason?utm_source=patient_list&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=network_pc&utm_content=navigating_sick_season_view_sick_season_resources-cta_button-patient-awareness-primary

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Please see the attached flyers for information about the West Chester Nation Basketball league for 3rd-8th grade boys. Games are held Sundays in March!

Volunteering is Linked to Overall Happiness.

In fact, research from the National Institute of Health has found that “participation in voluntary services is significantly predictive of better mental and physical health”. Yet, according to the PA Youth Survey, less than one-quarter of teens in our area report they have volunteered in the last 12 months. To connect with your community, see your value in the world and maybe even find a passion, check out these resources to Get Started Volunteering Today! #wcyouthmatter

The West Chester Area School District is pleased to partner with West Chester Communities That Care to bring you Tips and Tricks for finding Passion and Purpose through Volunteering.