 THE MUSTANG WEEKLY
MAY 4th, 2020
Or, as our Star Wars obsessed teachers like to say,
May the fourth be with you.
During the FCPS closure, most of our communications will continue to be sent to our community via the eNotify system. However, we want to also send out our Mustang Weekly with information specific to the SCMS community.
Dear South County Middle School Community,
I am so proud of the grit and flexibility exhibited by our faculty and students over the past few weeks. I am proud to report that SCMS is up and running with synchronous learning sessions! I loved being a “fly on the wall” as our students and teachers reconnected in live sessions. The classes I attended averaged a whopping 25 students per section! I enjoyed learning about World War 2 in History and civil and criminal cases in Government. I also loved seeing improv technique in theatre, and touring art museums in art class. I can’t wait to see what our creative teachers have in store for next week. The overwhelming response from the students emphasized their excitement to see their peers and teachers. This supports the strong community aspect of our school.
While synchronous learning is a key component of distance learning, the asynchronous activities that our teachers have been providing for the past five weeks are the “meat and potatoes” of our learning. Teachers should be providing approximately 30 minutes of work per day, per content area for students to complete. The live, synchronous sessions are simply the gravy on top! I have asked all teachers (core content and elective) to provide synchronous sessions, even though students are only required to attend sessions for the four core classes and world languages. Though not required, the live sessions by our elective teachers are engaging and meaningful towards student content mastery.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Peter Kownacki, Principal
pakownacki@fcps.edu
@PAKownacki
REMINDERS FOR STUDENTS:
- Students should be checking their FCPS Gmail account (that ends in @fcpsschools.net).
- Staff email addresses and other information is posted on the SCMS web page
- More information about grading and report cards can be found in our April 27th Mustang Weekly on the main SCMS web page: https://southcountyms.fcps.edu/aggregator/sources/1
- Order your yearbook today. Supplies are limited. See below.
- As you can see from our staff photo collage (created by Mr. Gardner) we miss you!
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Friday, May 1st was the end of the 3rd quarter (extended from April 3rd).
- May 4th – May 8th. Stress less week. Check out last Friday’s newsletter for details about each day’s theme and for resources.
- May 4th – May 8th. Teacher Appreciation Week. See links below.
- 3rd quarter report cards will be printed from a central location and delivered to the post office by May 23rd.
- May 12th. FINAL PTSO MEETING of the 2019-2020 school year. 7:00 p.m. via Zoom (the invitation/link will be available soon). See our PTSO section below for additional information.
- The last day for students is June 12th.
THIS IS TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK:
When teachers started back to work last August for the 2019-2020 school year our theme was “Superheroes” because we feel that our teachers ARE superheroes. We continue to see the amazing things our teachers are doing every day to connect with students. Since we will not be able to show our appreciation in the usual ways this year, we are asking for your words of appreciation to be shared with our teachers. We ask that you also read the PTSO section below to assist them with their teacher appreciation projects. Please click this link to add your comments:
https://forms.gle/CnEYmdGUoXYakhKP6
PTSO – TEACHER APPRECIATION AND POSITIONS FOR NEXT YEAR:
We understand that everyone is facing this pandemic with unique circumstances and hope that this message finds you and yours healthy and safe.
The PTSO has partnered with a company in NYC named Tribute to create a virtual THANK YOU video for our teachers and staff at SCMS for Teacher Appreciation Week. We need your help! The due date for these is Wednesday, May 6th.
- Click here to record/upload a video message from you (parents) or your students. https://www.tribute.co/scms-staff-appreciation-week/
- Be silly! Be serious! Be thankful! The teachers will be so happy to see their students’ smiling faces.
- Do you have pictures of what your kids have been doing over the break? Sleeping in? Reading outside? Creating a project? Send those pictures to jenthibodeau@gmail.com and those will also be included.
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Parents say the darndest things! Send over your favorite homeschooling memes and memories.
Again, the due date is Wednesday to allow enough time to edit the video by Friday. If you have any questions, please contact jenthibodeau@gmail.com
Please see the additional information from our PTSO below regarding the virtual PTSO meeting on May 12th at 7:00 p.m. to elect board members for the 2020-21 school year.
FINAL PTSO MEETING FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR/ELECTIONS:
The PTSO will host the Final PTSO meeting of the year, May 12th @ 7pm via Zoom.
Join us for elections! Zoom invite will be sent soon. Many of our current Board members will be moving on with their children or out of the area. We NEED YOU!
ALL POSITIONS ARE OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS:
Current Slate for 2020-2021
- President - Position Open
- Vice President, 7th Grade - Position open
- Vice President, 8th Grade - Position open
- Secretary - Position open
- Treasurer - Position openPlease email SCMSPTSOPresident@gmail.com if interested
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM:
The After-School program will have their own weekly newsletter starting on Wednesday this week. Join the South County MS After-School @ Home Google Classroom!
Click this link to start: South County MS After-School @ Home
FCPS Middle School After-School has put together several virtual after-school activities to engage middle school students in the arts, music, STEM, physical fitness, cooking, games, puzzles, literature, and more things students can do at home. SCMS students can access these virtual after-school activities by joining the "South County MS After-School @ Home" Google Classroom. They can hold down the control key while hovering over the link and left click on their mouse. The classroom code is: qkj7iou
Once your student has joined the classroom, there are a variety of activities (topics) they can choose from in the "Classwork" tab. We hope your students enjoy this site, and that it helps them actively pursue their interests during this time of social distancing. If you or your student have ideas for other activities, please email our After-School Specialist, Chris Woodby, at cwwoodby@fcps.edu or use the "FCPS MS @ Home Interest Form" located on the classroom home page.
Be Safe! Be Active! And know that we are here for you and your family!
HOW AM I GOING TO GET MY STUFF?:
We hear you Mustangs! You are wondering if the half- sandwich you left in your locker on March 12th has blue or green mold. You want to know if the spring photo you took captured your real smile. Please know that we have posed these questions to our leadership and hope to hear back in a few weeks with some answers about getting pictures/yearbooks/items from lockers.
8TH GRADE SERVICE-LEARNING REQUIREMENT:
Per Regulation 3200, students are encouraged to complete 15 hours of service-learning hours by the end of 8th grade. This includes all hours completed in grades 7 and 8.
8th graders – please remember to put any of your completed service hours into X2vol. While we understand that many of you have not completed your 15 hours, we encourage you to input any hours that you have completed. The deadline to submit is June 1st. Please email your Social Studies teacher with any questions.
YEARBOOK UPDATE:
As the world adjusts to change, one thing that remains constant is the yearbook tradition. The 2020 yearbook will capture the story of our unique school year. Copies are limited! Please order your yearbook online. Now, more than ever, is a great time to buy a yearbook at Jostens.com! The price is still $40. Please contact Ms. Bolton at jrbolton@fcps.edu with questions.
All yearbooks will be mailed directly to students from Jostens.
ARE YOU MOVING SOON?
Parents, if you know that your student will be moving before the end of the school year, please contact the registrar, Ms. Perper, to complete the withdrawal process. Students must be officially withdrawn in order to send records to their new school. You may contact Ms. Perper at slperper@fcps.edu.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:
School-Based Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Resources During Distance Learning School Counselors, School Psychologists, and School Social Workers are available to support students, families and staff during distance learning. They are supporting students, families and staff in many of the same ways as they did prior to distance learning, but it may look different now. Students may continue to reach out to their counselors via email for support. Please check the SCMS website for counselors’ email addresses.
Numerous resources have been developed to support families, including the Healthy Minds Blog, Student Voice videos, and a Learning from Home webpage for families. Please click on this link to review resources for families regarding school-based social emotional learning and wellness resources during distance learning: Social-Emotional and Wellness Resources for Families.
CRISIS HOTLINE:
Students and families may use the PRS CrisisLink Phone Line: 800-273-TALK (8255), text “CONNECT” to 855-11, or use Lifeline Chat: SuicidePreventionLifeline.org/chat for after-hours assistance with mental health issues. The lines are safe, confidential and manned 24/7.
We encourage you to visit our school website frequently for updates and announcements. For more detailed information on all school matters, please visit our website at http://www.fcps.edu/southcountyms/
To update or modify your News You Choose preferences, please visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAEDUFCPS/subscriber/new?qsp=VAEDUFCPS_1
Parents of FCPS students may update contact information online through weCare@School http://www.fcps.edu/news/wecare.shtml a feature of FCPS Learning (Blackboard) or by contacting the Student Information Office at SCMS to have the contact information updated in the student information system.
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