Weekly Newsletter

The 2024-2025 school year is in full swing! This weekly newsletter will strive to keep you updated with all the latest SMS news and events. Here are some of the changes that have been implemented this year:

• Laptops stay in school. Due to the large amount of broken and damaged laptops we are no longer allowing the school-issued laptops to be taken home. Students plug them in at the end of the day and when they return to school the next day their laptops are charged and ready to go!
• A/B elective schedule. Our students attend their A elective one day and their B elective the next day. Each is for 80 minutes. A calendar of the A/B schedule will be coming soon and posted on the website and in this newsletter.
• Fine Art Credit. Due to a new requirement in Washington State our students need a fine art credit. Your student may have been put into Art, Choir, or Band class in order to meet this credit requirement.
• Bus Lane & Student Drop Off/Pick Up: Our new bus lane is on 4th street from High Street to the end of the football field. There is no parking there from 7:00am-5:00pm. Students can be dropped off and picked up in front of the school.

Thank you Skyhawk Families for your patience and understanding as we adjust to these changes. With your cooperation we can help these students succeed and thrive this school year!

September 15th-October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month! Latinas and Latinos have always held significant roles throughout our country’s history, dating all the way back to the American Revolution. Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it provides an opportunity to celebrate the integral part the Hispanic/Latino community has had in growing and strengthening our democracy.

SEPT. 23rd

Soccer travels to Lakewood M.S.

SEPT. 24th

Homework Club 2:45-4:45pm

TSA Science Club 2:45-4:45pm

Cross Country travels to Granite Falls M.S.

Volleyball travels to Kings J.H.

SEPT. 25th

Football travels to Kings J.H.

Role Playing Club 2:45-4:45pm

SEPT. 26th

Homework Club 2:45pm-4:45pm

Volleyball @ Home vs. Granite Falls M.S.

SEPT. 27th

Cross Country @ Home vs. S. Whidbey M.S.

October 15th

Evacuation Drill

October 23rd

Picture Retake Day

October 29th

Fall Choir and Band Concert 6:30pm

Free and Reduced Meals Applications must be filled out every year. If you haven't filled one out for this year, you can pick one up at the District Office or have one sent home with your student. Drop it off at the District Office or any of the school offices.

Here are some of the Clubs that have begun this year. There are more in the works that will be posted about here!

Role Playing Game Club is a place where students can test their minds and vanquish dragons, mages, and villains while creating friendships and problem solving along the way. Your student gets to imagine that they are an adventurer for a day and fight off the various fantasy monsters.

Staff Advisor: Mr. Coles

Where: Sultan Middle School Library

When: Wednesdays, after school

Bus riders can take the Activity Bus home at 4:45pm after clubs. See staff advisor for a bus pass.

Getting frustrated with trying to get your child to do their homework? Is trying to remember how to solve for x and y giving you a headache? How about sending your student to homework club?

Teachers will be available to assist with homework right after school.

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, after school until 4:45pm

There will be activity busses to transport your student home!

In the spring of each school year, Sultan Middle School students can apply to be part of the National Junior Honor Society. Club acceptance depends on several components. First is a student resume that highlights their academics, community service and leadership experiences. Next, students need to submit three teacher recommendations and one letter of recommendation from outside of the school community. Lastly, students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Once in the club, we focus on promoting the characteristics of building character, promoting good citizenship and leadership within our building and getting out into the community to provide services for those in need.

Email Mr. Riehle with any questions at Peter.Riehle@sultan.k12.wa.us

WEB Leaders are eighth grades who are good role models for younger students and have been successful at our middle school. WEB Leaders are trained to work with the incoming sixth graders and other new students who are entering our school. WEB Leaders will run sixth grade orientation on the first day of school in September. Throughout the school year, WEB Leaders will meet again with their student groups to touch base, discuss problems, and plan social activities.

Students are invited to apply to be a member at the end of their seventh grade school year to be trained as a WEB Leader for their eighth grade.

Questions? Reach out to Scott.Sifferman@sultan.k12.wa.us

If you are interested in exploring the fields of science and competing with other students across the state, join TSA club. In the club we will explore and learn about things such as how to build robots, create video games, and even how to build boats out of duct tape.

Staff Advisors: Ms. Hoffman

Where: Mrs. Hoffman's room, 404

When: Tuesdays, after school

Bus riders can take the Activity Bus home at 4:45pm. See staff advisor for bus pass.

We are in the middle of our fall sports season with Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer, Boys Football, and Cross Country. For Cross Country's schedule use the link below for Athletic. net. For all other sports use the link below for Arbiterlive.

Questions? Reach out to our Athletic Director, Chris Hill, at Chris.Hill@sultan.k12.wa.us

Our upcoming Winter I season includes Girls Soccer and Boys Basketball. Be sure to get your students sports physical as soon as possible. It is good for two years. Sports fees are $35 per sport and $35 for ASB for the whole year. The 4th sport your student plays is free. Pay online or at the office.

Use the link below to go to Final Forms to sign up now!

Introducing new staff at SMS:

Shawn Stern, STEM Teacher

Alexander Diaz, SPED Teacher

Julie Van Leemput, Science Teacher

Nicholas Chryst, Math Teacher

Hushvinee Iweala, ML Teacher

McKenna Matheson, Counselor

We are so glad you've joined our Skyhawk family!

My name is Hush, and I was born in Singapore. I moved to the U.S. a few years ago and work as a Multilingual Learner (ML) Specialist, collaborating with teachers to support ML students. I’ve studied in Singapore, England, and now in the U.S. I’ve worked in several countries including, China, England, India, Nigeria, and more. I have a cat named Tom, who only comes to me when he wants treats or belly rubs. I love listening to languages. I often think in both English and Singlish (Singaporean English), with both languages on my mind. I listen to Indian, Afro Beats, and Spanish songs every day, and binge-watch Korean shows weekly. Learning about different cultures fascinates me.

If a student is tardy to school in the morning, he/she must report to the student office. Tardiness due to dental/doctor appointments or late buses will be excused. Students not having a note from a parent/guardian or whose parent/guardian has not called will be issued an unexcused tardy.

Unexcused tardies will result in the following consequences:

• At 5th tardy – Lunch held in the Student Success Center to review expectations.

• At 8th tardy –Two lunches held in the Student Success Center to review expectations.

• At 11th tardy – Four lunches held in the Student Success Center to review expectations and a parent meeting scheduled.

• At 14th tardy --Alternative passing schedule put in place to help facilitate arriving to class on time. This will be in place for the remainder of the quarter.

For more information on our attendance policies click the link below for our Student Handbook.

Students are allowed to bring personal cell phones and other electronic devices to school but they may only be used before and after school (not during lunch, in the halls during passing period, or in the bathrooms). This plan puts safety and learning as priorities. All devicesshould be Off & Away (not vibrate or silent) and away (in backpack) during school and passing times. If a student has an emergency or needs to communicate with home/family, please contact the front office. SMS is not responsible for lost, stolen, or missing electronic item

ADDRESS:

Sultan Middle School

301 High Ave

Sultan, WA 98294

Ph: 360-793-9850

Fax: 360-793-9859

INTERNET/SOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.facebook.com/SultanMiddleSchool

WEBSITE: https://sms.sultanschools.org/