Sells eNews

Winter has definitely arrived! Personally, I am NOT a big fan of this cold weather. With this in mind, please make sure your student is dressed appropriately as they wait for their bus in the morning and at afternoon dismissal. All students have a locker and can easily store their coat during the school day.

Overall, there are only two weeks left in this 2nd quarter. The students should be working to meet all of the work teachers have assigned. Parents should reach out to individual teachers with any questions or concerns about their child's academic progress. For our 8th grade students, many of them will be taking high school mid-terms as part of the class requirement. Not ALL 8th grade students will be completing these exams.

Below is the Testing schedule for the last week of the semester. ONLY students taking high school courses will take an exam. Other classes may be giving a test that week, but will NOT be considered an exam.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns as we work to finish up this first semester of school. Have a great weekend and stay warm!

Matt

Principal: Matt Sachtleben (sachtleben_matt@dublinschools.net)

Assistant Principal: Katy O'Neal (oneal_katy@dublinschools.net)

Here are the assignments for our school counselors this school year.

Last names A-F: Mrs. Erin Bissell (bissell_erin@dublinschools.net)

Last names G-M: Mrs. Jessica Lanka (lanka_jessica@dublinschools.net)

Last names N-Z: Mrs. Dawn Wolf (wolf_dawn@dublinschools.net)

This week we celebrated the students who were nominated for the December Student of Month! We are so proud of these students for going above and beyond our common commitments! These students were nominated based on their demonstration of P.R.I.D.E. (Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Discipline and Empathy). We truly appreciate our nominees' leadership in and out of the classroom!

6th Grade - Jack Hoag, Anna Marion, Veer Patel and Ellie Leitch

7th Grade - Wakana Hoshina, Luca Dicenzo, Vanessa Curtis, Patrick Leitch, MIa Robbins and

Madalynn Davidson

8th Grade - Quinton Wheaton, Mio Lisbon, Valeria Nonato and Val Smith

We are excited to announce that our Special Food Day will happen at Sells on Friday, December 13. Students are encouraged to bring in something special for lunch that day to showcase a meal or some sort of food that represents their background or heritage. Here is a video from last year's Special Food Day for inspiration. This is totally optional, but a fun way for students to learn a little bit about each other in a way that we can all relate - through food!

Special Food Day is a great way to get students excited about our Sells-a-bration. We will be having our Sells-a-bration this year on December 20, which will be a day dedicated to celebrating the amazing diversity that we have at Sells. This school year, we are centering our activities around a winter theme.

It is time, once again, for the Sells yearbook cover contest. Show off your creative talents, and your artwork could grace the cover of the 2024-2025 Sells Middle School yearbook, allowing it to be remembered forever.

Pick up a form in the office, from Mr. Rauh (room 151), or from Mr. Sebastian (room 137). Designs can be done on the form, or created digitally - Just make sure to follow the instructions on the form. Submissions are due by Tuesday, December 17th, 2024. See Mr. Sebastian if you have any questions.

We're excited to announce that we'll be partnering with Junior Achievement, January - May, as they provide support for volunteers who come to our school to discuss their educational and career journey with our students.

Junior Achievement believes that career exploration should be a funnel, not a hose; that kids need to learn about as many jobs as possible so they can confidently self-direct to a career of their choosing!

With that in mind, we'd love if YOU would join us as a JA Career Speaker Series volunteer, helping the students connect the dots from the classroom to the Real World. By the end of the program, the students will share with their parents a full portfolio of career research and steps they need to take to further their exploration.

Junior Achievement has made it easy for you to participate by creating a Google Slides presentation for you to follow. (If you'd like to create your own presentation or "just talk to the kids," that's great, too! However you are most comfortable.)

Please click the link below to register as a JA Career Speaker Series volunteer:

JA Career Speaker Series Schedule and Registration

After clicking the link, scroll through the volunteer opportunities or simply hold downControl-F on your keyboard and enter our school name into the "find" box at the top right corner of the page. Then hit the down arrow to see dates on which we are welcoming volunteers into our classroom.

Please consider volunteering at other schools as well and please share this email with friends, family and colleagues. All careers are welcome ... remember ... the funnel!

Thank you for all you do in support of our school and community.

Check a back-to-school box off your list by going ahead and filling out the Free and Reduced Meal Application for your students. Apply online through PaySchools Central or use one of our printable forms (translated in multiple languages) to submit your information.

If your child will be absent from school, please email our attendance line at sms_attendance@dublinschools.net

Or leave a voicemail at 614.718.8572

Please do not call the main line for attendance before 9:00am.

Please utilize the attendance EMAIL or attendance VOICEMAIL.

• Students MUST be in Rock period by 8:28am - Anytime after 8:28am is considered LATE and MUST sign in at the Main Office.
• LEAVING EARLY - A note from the parent/guardian should be given to Mrs. Stevenson (Attendance Secretary) first thing in the morning. She will give them a pass to leave class at the given time and your student will meet you in the Main Office at that time. You as the Parent/Guardian will need to come in to the office to sign them out.
• ARRIVING LATE - If your student is arriving late to school due to an appointment, they will need to sign in at the Main Office with Mrs. Stevenson. Medical appointments will be excused with a note from the medical provider.

The complete attendance policy is located in the Middle School Student Handbook on

pages 11-13.

Another fun hockey opportunity to raise money for Sells PTO!

Join us on Saturday, January 11th at 7pm at The Schott as the Buckeyes take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Tickets are $20 and a portion of each ticket is donated back to the Sells PTO and parking is free.

Go Bucks!

Let's get ready for some hockey! We have partnered again with the Columbus Blue Jackets to offer 4 different fundraiser games which means they will donate a portion of the ticket cost back to Sells PTO. It is a great opportunity to raise some money and have fun!

You can donate to the Sells PTO all year and it is easy to do! Donations support several

fun, FREE things planned for the students and teachers and they wouldn't be possible

without your support!

Just click link below or your child can drop off a check in the office in an envelope

marked PTO Donation.

https://john-sells-middle-school-pto.square.site/

Don’t forget to join the Sells Middle School PTO Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1741183269442405

Scioto Theater Presents Inspecting Carol

Get your holiday cheer on with this hilarious, madcap comedy! This laugh out loud holiday spoof makes for a night at the theatre that is anything but show business as usual. Showtimes are December 6 and 7 at 7:30 and December 8 at 2:00 p.m. Purchase tickets here.

College Credit Plus (CCP) Virtual Night
Our Academics team will hold a College Credit Plus (CCP) Virtual Information Session on December 10 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Here is the link to the virtual session. This link can also be found on our website.
College Credit Plus (CCP) is Ohio’s dual enrollment program. It provides students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to take college classes from Ohio colleges/universities for free. This opportunity allows Ohio's students to earn these college credits and high school credits at the same time. Information about important dates, Dublin's options, and CCP guidelines can be here.

Healthy Guide Online Now!

From fitness and adult programming to teen and youth activities, find all your favorite Dublin recreation programs in one place! Read the Winter/Spring Dublin Community Recreation Center Healthy Guide today. Program registration begins Dec. 10 for City of Dublin residents and Dec. 17 for Dublin City Schools district residents and non-residents. View it here.

2024 Fill-A-Cruiser Toy Drive

Dublin Police officers are collecting unwrapped toys and gift cards for the annual toy drive to help share some holiday cheer with first-responder families in need. Visit the Justice Center event Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Find more Fill-A-Cruiser details.