Falcon Flash
January 27, 2023
Principal Message
Good Evening Stetson Families,
Today our 8th grade students took a field trip to Rustin High School to get a first hand look and feel for what awaits them in a mere 8 months. Students were able to interact with various classrooms and departments throughout the building and get a sense of just many opportunities are available to them at the high school level both through core content classes and electives. Students and faculty came back from the trip exhausted, but glowing, from getting to experience such a comprehensive opportunity. This day was an incredible treat for our 8th grade students!
Additionally, today marked the first day our building participated in what we are referring to as "Power Down Friday". Each Friday we will be strategically shutting the lights off to a select few areas of the building to help support our districts comprehensive plan goal of conserving energy in our buildings. High occupancy areas of the building such as the cafeteria, gymnasium, and our auditorium remained fully lit while in use by students to ensure safety.
Our current 6th and 7th grade parents are invited to attend a course selection evening presentation at Stetson Middle School on Wednesday, February 1st, at 6:30pm in the auditorium. The presentation should last no longer than an hour and will contain information regarding the course selection process for the upcoming 23-24 school year. If you are unable to attend, a copy of the presentation will be sent home to be viewed at your convenience. In the meantime, please feel free to view the district's course selection guides here below:
https://www.wcasd.net/Domain/6883
Thank you for your support and I hope you enjoy the weekend!
Go Birds!
Mrs. Puchalla
Principal
Car Line Safety Concern (PLEASE READ)
We are halfway through the school year and would like to remind everyone about student drop-off procedures in the morning. We know that the drop-off line is very long most days and that the volume of vehicles varies daily, which creates unpredictability and frustration.
We have noticed there are students being dropped off in the parking lot, which creates a dangerous situation as students then need to cross in front of vehicles in the car line. In order to keep all of our students safe, please ONLY drop students off in the designated car line. We recognize that everyone’s time is valuable, and it may seem more efficient to skip the car line and drop off in another area, but this puts your child at risk and is inconsiderate of those following drop-off procedures.
As a reminder, students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 am. Our campus is most busy between 7:55-8:05 am, so we recommend arriving before those times. Students must be IN HOMEROOM by 8:05 am to be considered on time for school.
We appreciate everyone’s support at drop-off as we work together to keep our students safe.
Calendar -- Look Ahead and Plan
Monday, January 30th-- Day 4
Tuesday, January 31st--Day 5 ***Falcon Period***
Wednesday, February 1st--Day 6 (Rising 7th and 8th Grade Course Selection Evening 6:30pm @ SMS)
Thursday, February 2nd--Day 1 ***Falcon Period***
Friday, February 3rd-- Day 2
Monday, February 6th-- Day 3
Tuesday, February 7th--Day 4 ***Falcon Period***
Wednesday, February 8th--Day 5
Thursday, February 9th--Day 6 ***Falcon Period***
Friday, February 10th-- Day 1
8th Grade Parents -- SAVE THE DATE
Save the Dates -- PSSA's and Keystone Exams
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)
Athletics Events
Home games this week:
Feb 1st: Basketball vs. Fred S Engle
***8th Grade designate to play at 3:15 pm first unless otherwise noted. 7th Grade typically starts around 4:15 pm.***
6th Grade Intramural Basketball
The 6th Grade Intramural Basketball Program is an after-school activity in which 6th grade students will have the opportunity to improve their basketball skills, interact with their peers and get physical exercise. If your student would like to participate and follow the guidelines, please sign and return the attached permission form by February 15th, 2023.
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
Stetson Sixers Community Event
Stetson Sixers Community Night
Stetson Community Event – February 23, 2023
After having such a successful food truck night with our Stetson Community, we have decided to try another event. We’ve set up a deal with the Sixers to go to their game on Thursday, February 23rd. As of right now, the Sixers have blocked off 200 tickets to try and keep many of our Stetson family members in the same section; ticket costs will be somewhere between $40-$50 each. The game starts at 7:30 but we’ll be given early access to watch the shoot-around starting at 6:00.
Below is a link to a Stetson branded website exclusively for members of our school community to order their tickets for the game. The website also contains contact information for the account executive who is coordinating this event for us should you need it. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Purchase Link: https://fevo.me/3EQ6Ykq
Brought to you by your Friendly Stetson Community Crew!
International Pot Luck Dinner
Please contact Madame Strauss for more details at sstrauss@wcasd.net.
Stetson Clubs and Opportunities
DRAMA Club Pajama Day
Pajama Day comes to Stetson!
Today's Pajama Day at Stetson was incredibly successful and we are very grateful for all of our families generosity to support our Stetson Musical this year. Our next Pajama Day will be held on Friday February, 17th. The cost again will $1.00 . This contribution will directly benefit the production of our Stetson musical this year. If you wish to participate in this fundraiser, please bring your money to Mrs. Bond in the atrium before homeroom and receive a hand stamp indicating that you have been approved to wear your pajamas that day. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to wear your favorite pajamas to school as you show support for our Drama Club!
Here are the performance dates:
Performance Dates
Friday, March 31, 2023 7:00PM
Saturday, April 1, 2023 1:00PM & 7:00PM
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 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.
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.
Rustin Swim Team Meet & Greet Opportunity in February
Attention all 8th grade swimmers.
Interested in learning more about the Rustin Swim team?
Come see us in action and meet the team.
Feb. 3, 2023 7pm at the Airport Rd YMCA
Please RSVP to Stacy Clancy before February 3rd @ sgc1103@gmail.com.
6th Grade Girls Leadership Opportunity
National Girls and Women in Sports Day inspires girls and women to play and be active, to realize their full power!
All girls in grades 2-6 are invited to West Chester University to try out some sports with members of the West Chester Women’s Sports teams. Each girl will receive a certificate and a ticket to a future women’s basketball game!