Welcome to

Stroudsburg Middle School

2021-2022 Orientation

Welcome to SMS!

Administrative Team:

Principal: Mr. Schalk

Assistant Principals: Mrs. Romano Mrs. Kessel

Welcome to SMS!Guidance Department:

5th Grade: Mrs. Borzio6th Grade: Mrs. Meissner7th Grade: Mrs. Said

About SMS● Established in 2005● Currently housing grades 5, 6, and 7● We have approximately 1100 students● Our building has 5 floors – 4 are used for

instruction, offices, etc. The bottom floor is mechanics only

● We currently have 3 administrators, approximately 90 professional staff, and 40 support staff

Our Philosophy

We are committed to providing a school culture and climate that supports excellence and achievement

for all students.

We understand that Middle School students have unique academic, emotional, physical, and social developmental needs, and we are committed to

meeting those needs in a safe, nurturing environment.

Our Philosophy

We foster age appropriate independence and responsibility in all students to help them become active participants in their own learning.

We teach good citizenship and respect for others and our environment.

We provide a gradual transition from middle school to junior high school.

First Student Week: Aug. 30 - Sept. 2

Closed:

Friday, Sept. 3&

Monday, Sept. 6

SMS Regular Schedule

Mins Period Start End

0:20 AM Hm Rm 8:10 AM 8:30 AM

0:41 1 8:33 AM 9:14 AM

0:41 2 9:17 AM 9:58 AM

0:41 3 10:01 AM 10:42 AM

0:41 4 10:45 AM 11:26 AM

0:41 5 11:29 AM 12:10 AM

0:41 6 12:13 AM 12:54 PM

0:41 7 12:57 PM 1:38PM

0:41 8 1:41 PM 2:22 PM

0:41 9 2:25 PM 3:06 PM

0:06PM Hm Rm/

Announcements 3:09 PM 3:15 PM

0:15 Dismissal 3:15 PM 3:30 PM

Our School Day Week 1

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast

1. Breakfast students will be dismissed from their busses a few minutes early for breakfast.

2. Parent pick-up students will be dismissed at the same time.

3. Breakfast students eat in homeroom

Lunch

1. You will be assigned seats and tables by homeroom.

2. You can give checks or cash to your homeroom teacher. a. Sealed envelope labeled with “lunch

money, student name, and ID number”

3. You can access the account online through “My School Bucks.” a. View the menu, ingredients, and

make adjustments for food allergies.

Breakfast and lunch are FREE for students

this year.Extra lunch or

breakfast, snacks, & a-la-carte items are a

charge to families

New Students will immediately report to the gymnasium

➔ Students organized by colored index card (mailed)

➔ Greeting of 5th grade and new students ➔ Students will be given their schedules and

student ID cards➔ Homeroom teachers escort students

throughout day

What to Expect on Day 1

Teaming

Teaming approach to instruction and organization

teachers work in teams of 3-4

This results in the feeling of a small school environment ■ Limited, supervised traveling■ Opportunity for collaboration and safety netting■ Age appropriate/transitional

Teaming/Curriculum Teams Curriculum

5th Grade 4 Teams: → 2 teams with 4 teachers → 2 teams with 3 teachers

82 Minutes ELA (Reading and Language Arts)82 Minutes of Math 41 Minutes of Science (Recess Included - MP 2 & 4)41 Minutes of Social Studies (Recess Included - MP 1 & 3)41 Minutes of Physical Education/Unified Arts41 Minutes of Lunch41 Minutes for additional programs, such as Orchestra, Band, Chorus, Interventions, and Study HallPE/UA – Tech Ed, PE, Art, Music (6th Grade), Computers (5th Grade)

6th Grade

7th Grade 3 teams:→ 6 teachers per team

41 minutes of Language Arts (Writing)41 Minutes of Reading82 Minutes of Math 41 Minutes of Science41 Minutes of Social Studies41 Minutes of Physical Ed/Unified Arts41 Minutes of Lunch41 Minutes for additional programs such as Orchestra, Band, Chorus, Interventions, and Study Hall.PE/UA – FCS, Music, PE, Health, Essentials of Research Writing

Attendance Tardy: Homeroom by 8:10

Pick Up Early: Call office or send note

*No later than 2:30 pm*Dismissal before

11:30=full day absenceDismissal from 11:30 -

2:00 = PM absence

Absences: ● Hand in a written note within 3

days of return○ 10 parent excuse notes per

school year - any more REQUIRE a doctor’s note

● Hand in a doctor’s note if absent 5 or more consecutive days

● Trips are not excused with a parent note○ Educational Trip Forms

● Mandatory Attendance Improvement Plan Meeting ○ 3 unlawful absences ○ Chronic truancy may result

in citation

Dress Code ● No PE uniform

○ During PE students wear comfortable clothing

○ Colors and style follow dress code colors and school appropriate

● Masks any color and pattern, Sburg logo only and no writing or other logos, no gaiters

● No hoodies/hooded attire, leggings, jeggings, spandex, tight-fitting bottoms/tops, logos, stripes, or patterns

Stay Connected Communication is Key! ● Phone, Email, Agenda● Call System ● Website ● Parent Portal / Google Classroom● Papers sent home

○ less frequently than in elementary

● ClassDojo

Follow us @SMSmounties

Stroudsburg Middle School: Facebook and

Instagram

1. District Website www.sburg.orga. Click Parentsb. Click Community Web Portalc. Log in OR Create Accountd. Enter key word “mountie” (all lowercase)e. Complete student info and wait for email with

PIN

Community Portal

PBIS R.I.S.E Goals We will encourage ALL students to be Responsible, Involved and Safe Everyday with RISE Prizes and ClassDojo.

RISE Prizes can be redeemed for:

● Online School Store● Monthly Raffles in the Cafeteria● RISE Days

- Improve the overall school climate and culture of our school by increasing and rewarding positive behaviors and improved student achievement.

- Develop a common language with consistent clear expectations between student and staff- respect, trust, high expectations, safe, supportive, etc.

- Implement preventative and proactive (vs. reactive) strategies and interventions to increase appropriate behaviors.

Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Program (PBIS)

1. In the morning, please be at your bus stop at least 10 minutes early

2. Students must have a mask on to board the bus and keep mask on the entire bus ride.

3. In the afternoon identify your bus # and locationa. Spots are letteredb. Substitute Buses use the same spot or the curbc. Identify your bus wave and classroom RISE letter

i. There are two waves

3. Bus changes/late buses: Follow on Facebook: Sasd Transportation

Bus Information

Arrival / DepartureParent Drop Off Location and

Times

1. Start entering the building approximately 7:55

2. Masks must be worn on the bus, entering and exiting the building, and in hallways

3. Parent Pick-up is same location and traffic patterna. Students picked up by

assigned #4. Follow pick up and drop off

signs on upper parking tier5. Security assists with

directing traffic

Lockers

1. You will receive a locker and combination- plenty of practice opportunities given

2. Keep your locker locked at all times, do not jam pencils or other items in the lock.

3. Let your teacher know if your locker is not working

4. Do not share your combination with anyone. Your personal items are in your locker and no one should have the combination but you!

Guidance DepartmentSchool Counselors are available to:

● Counsel● Consult● Collaborate

We don’t know what

is going on unless

you tell us!

Keys to Academic Success:

1. Stay Organizeda. Use your agendab. Keep your bookbag neat and

cleanc. Create a system for

notetakingd. Bring Chromebook and

materials home EVERY night and back EVERY morning

2. Use Time Wiselya. Set time for homeworkb. Use time during school to

start homework with teacher permission

c. Break up larger assignments and projects into smaller parts

Health Immunizations and Screenings

PA Mandated Health Services Available to Students throughout the School Year:

● Growth Screening: (height,weight,BMI) Grades: K-12

● Vision Screening: K-12● Hearing Screening: 7th grade● Dental examinations: 7th grade● Physical Examination: 6th grade● Scoliosis Examination: 6-7th grade

ALL MANDATED HEALTH SERVICES can be found in detail on SASD website under Resources/Health Services

Immunizations: All students need to have an updated copy of immunizations on file within our health office.

7th grade Immunizations: (For attendance in 7th grade)

● 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) on the first day of 7th grade.

● 1 dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine on the first day of 7th grade

Immunization Exemptions:

● medical reason ● religious belief● philosophical/strong moral or ethical conviction

Even if your child is exempt from immunizations, he or she may be excluded from school during an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease.

FORMS AND DOCUMENTS: All medication forms/physical/dental/vision can be found on the SASD website

Medications

Medications in school:

● Whenever possible, parents/guardian are requested to administer medications at home. ● If this is not possible, the parent/guardian may request the school staff to administer medication at the

scheduled time. ● Medication, including aspirin or other over the counter medications will be administered only upon written

order from a physician and in accordance with this policy. ● All requests shall be reviewed by the school nurse.

A "Physician's Authorization for Medication During School Hours" form must be

● completed by the physician and signed by the parent/guardian before medication can be given in school. ● No form?? there must be a written order from the physician and a note from the parent/guardian

requesting administration of the medication. ● The school nurse may accept a verbal order from the student's physician only in an emergency situation.

COVID-19 change in regards to Nebulizer administration in the school setting:

Current clinical guidance recommends switching to metered dose inhalers (MDI) or dry powder inhalers (turbuhaler or diskus) under most circumstances due to potential for aerosol generation, which could more easily spread SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

FORMS AND DOCUMENTS: All medication forms/physical/dental/vision can be found on the SASD website

Final Reminders

● Forms to go home on Day 1- Please get them back to us quickly!

● Supplies - Team specific

● 5th graders- Be sure to bring your colored card the first day

● Bus Riders: Know your Bus # and Wave #

● Car Riders: Know your Parent Pick Up #

● Parent Portal – Opens on Thursday, August 26th

● Cafeteria – Know your 5 digit ID Number if you forget your student ID card

THANK YOU & Welcome to SMS!