SCMS Counselor Newsletter

In April:

• Course Request Forms are now available to request courses for next school year for grades 7 and 8. See below for more information and links to the forms. Please return by April 10th.
• SCSC Online Registration opened March 31st. All students need an updated registration for next school year through Parent Portal in Infinite Campus: https://silvercreekin.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/silver_creek.jsp
• Hanover Summer Program application due by April 1st https://www.hanover.edu/academics/summeracademy/
• PJ or Hat Day is this Friday, April 3! If you've paid, you're all set. If not, it's just $2 to participate and students can pay that morning. All proceeds go to support student activities.
• IUS Career Presentation to 6th grade students in Study Skills Classes on April 13
• SCMS Welcome Night for 6th grade students for school year 26-17 (current 5th grade students) April 16th Fifth Grade Welcome Night
• Week of 21-24th: ILearn Testing for 6th, 7th, 8th Grades for ELA and Math
• 6th Grade Field Trip Permission Forms and payment due by April 25 for the May 6 Bats Baseball Field Trip
• Week of 27th: 6th grade will take the ILearn Science exams

• May 1: No School
• May 1: Deadline for current 6th grade students to apply for Camp Kilowatt: https://www.indianaec.org/programs/youth/camp-kilowatt/
• May 5: Synchronous Elearning for SCMS and SCHS
• May 6: 6th Grade Louisville Bats Baseball Education Day
• May 13: 7th Grade Holiday World Field Trip
• May 15: 8th Grade Kings Island Field Trip

Students across the district recently completed their ILEARN checkpoint assessment. You can access the ILEARN Family Portal to view your child’s assessment scores, review their strengths and weaknesses, download and print score reports, and access additional resources.

Before accessing the portal, make sure you have your student’s unique 6-digit access code.

If you have not received an access code, please contact your child’s school.

To access your ILEARN Family Portal please follow the instructions below:

1. Go to the ILEARN Family Portal login page: https://in-familyportal.cambiumast.com/#/

2. Enter your child’s unique 6-digit access code, their date of birth and legal first name

3. Click the sign in button

   
   

Additional Information and Helpful Resources

• Indiana Department of Education Assessment Portal

• Frequently Asked Questions

• ILEARN Checkpoints Family Guidance

Adopting healthy coping strategies can boost confidence and the ability to face hardships in the future:

• Stress Management Techniques: These include time management skills, prioritizating responsibilities, and relaxation exercises. Create realistic schedules, take breaks when needed, and breathe deeply.
• Healthy Lifestyle Habits: Regular exercise, nutritious eating, adequate sleep, and limiting screen time. Such habits support overall well-being and resilience by promoting physical health and reducing stress. When these practices are already in place, chaotic events tend to feel somewhat more manageable and less unnerving.
• Social Support Networks: Connecting with friends, family members, teachers, and counselors; having supportive, safe, vulnerable relationships can provide a lot. They give a sense of belonging, validation, and emotional encouragement that can carry someone through any challenge.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Break down problems into actionable steps, brainstorm solutions, and seek assistance when needed. Developing these practices empowers students to approach challenges without getting stuck in intimidation or being paralyzed by what the future holds.
• Healthy Self-Talk: Encourage students to practice more helpful self-talk strategies. Thinking, "I am excited to do this" can help decrease feelings of anxiety and make moments more manageable.
• Seeking Professional Support: It's okay to seek support from counselors, therapists, or mental health professionals; asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

https://www.stopitsolutions.com/blog/building-coping-skills-in-middle-and-high-schools

If your student has five or more missing assignments, they may be pulled for a working lunch with one of the counselors to complete any assignments marked as missing.

Be sure to check for assignments, study guides, resources, etc. in Schoology. Also, these Infinite Campus apps for students and parents are really helpful for notifications with grades, missing assignments, and more.

Students enrolled in the Free or Reduced lunch program will also be automatically enrolled in the 21st Century Scholarship Program in the 7th and 8th grades. If you need to apply for the lunch program to see if you qualify, here are the links:

• 25-26 Free & Reduced Application

• 25-26 Free & Reduced Application - Spanish

Be sure to check your email daily for the most up to date news and announcements. Students and parents will receive a daily email from the SCMS Office of announcements Monday-Friday through ParentSquare.

If still needed, here is the link to sign up for ParentSquare: https://www.parentsquare.com/signin

Counselors will share a newsletter each month highlighting upcoming events, reminders, and updates.

Past Editions for School Year 25-26:

Back to School Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/rfpzh1

September Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/h7ymw

October Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/v4u53

November Newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/m5jd87

December Newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/zpr0w

January Newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/npg03

February Newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/e1quxk

March Newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/zf9e0