Springton Lake Middle School

Pennsylvania School to Watch

Email: Rbuterbaugh@rtmsd.org
Website: https://www.rtmsd.org
Location: 1900 North Providence Road, Media, PA, USA
Phone: (610) 627-6500

Dear Spartan Families,

What an exciting first full week! The energy in the building has been fantastic, and our students are ready for a great year of learning and growing.

Back-to-School Night was a huge success! So many families joined us, and it was wonderful to see parents actively engaged in their child’s school experience. Many also attended our sports information meeting to learn about the season ahead.

Sports teams are in motion with meetings and tryouts underway. We can’t wait to cheer on our student-athletes this fall.

This week also brought Day 7 of our cycle rotation, music ensemble practice, and our first Advisory session. Advisory helps students feel supported and connected. Activities included “Getting to Know You” activities and the “All About Me in Five Words” project, which will later become part of a community-building collage.

On September 11, our Patriot Club led a special tribute. Students and staff wore red, white, and blue, paused for a moment of silence, and learned about the day through videos and stories shared by staff. Linked here are the 6th Grade Video and 7th and 8th Grade Video.

It’s been a week full of connection, tradition, and school spirit. We are off to a fantastic start!

With gratitude,

Principal Buterbaugh

Regular school attendance is essential for success in school and contributes to the development of good work habits, a sense of responsibility, and self-discipline.

Call our Absentee Voicemail Hotline (610-627-6500, ext. 2) each day the student is absent. Absence is the non-attendance of a student on those days in which school is in session.

In addition to the telephone call, a written note indicating the reason for the absence must be submitted upon the student’s return to school.
A note containing parent/guardian’s signature may be scanned/emailed to the Main Office or a hard copy may be submitted to the Main Office.
Parents/guardians may also utilize the function on the school’s website to submit an electronic excuse note FORM.

All families will continue to receive an automated telephone call whenever a student is marked absent in homeroom. The call will be sent regardless if you have called the attendance hotline. This is an enhanced safety procedure that we are pleased to have available.

All members of our SLMS community are members of our PTG. Your participation in attending family events, supporting fundraisers, attending meetings, or volunteering is greatly appreciated and supports all of our students. A $10 donation per family is suggested; however, any amount is appreciated.

How can you donate....

1. ONLINE using PAYPAL.

2. By check or cash - please send your donation in a sealed envelope to the school office. Mark your envelope "PTG Donation."

You can sign up for PTG specific email by creating an account here: Groupvine Email

Our first meeting will be held on October 14th at 7:00 in the Springton Lake Library and on zoom. We hope you can make it!

For more information about the PTG, please contact:

President: Carlie Ali-Hassan

Vice President: Staci McArdle

Treasurer: Amber McArdle

Secretary: Emily Catanese

The PTG School Spirit Store is now open through September 18! Place your order today. Items can be shipped directly to your home or delivered to SLMS. http://cmsportinggoods.chipply.com/springlakems/

For questions, please contact Emily Catanese at: emilycatanese1211@gmail.com

Barksdale Photographers will be at The Lake on Thursday, September 25th, to photograph all students. Pictures will be taken in the auditorium during the school day.

Families may place orders online at www.barksdalephoto.com. If ordering online, please use the Springton Lake Middle School Access Code: 18306IN.

These photos will be used for student ID cards, included in the yearbook, and kept on file for official school records.

Penncrest Boys Soccer is hosting a Springton Lake Middle School Night under the Stadium Lights at the Penncrest High School on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 7:00 pm. The PHS Boys Soccer Varsity team versus Marple Newtown High School. It should be a great game and we are looking to completely fill the stands! There is a $5.00 entrance fee for adults only - not for the students. Plan for dinner in the stadium stands!! Concession stands will be open selling pizza, soft-pretzels, candy/snacks and beverages.

Sixth grade parents, please send in documentation of a 6th grade physical if you have not done so already. The physical must be dated September 2024 or later.

Seventh grade parents, please send in documentation of a 7th grade dental if you have not done so already. The dental examination must be dated September 2024 or later.

Forms can be handed in to the nurse, emailed to khartner@rtmsd.org, or faxed to 610-627-6531.

State mandated health screenings will be ongoing throughout the fall. All students will have their height, weight and vision screened. In addition, students in the 7th grade will have scoliosis and hearing screened. Please contact the school nurse with any questions.

Emergency Card Information – Please be sure to complete or update your child’s information in the Home Access Center (HAC). For families who need assistance, a computer has been added to the office for your use.

To keep classrooms focused and learning uninterrupted, all wireless devices, including cell phones, smart watches, earbuds, and similar devices, must be OFF and AWAY during the school day unless a teacher gives a specific academic reason to use them. Students will be reminded each morning to power down their devices.

Please let your child know that you will not be texting or calling during school hours. If a student needs to reach a parent, a staff member can provide permission. In an emergency, the main office is the best way to get in touch. More details are available in the Springton Lake Student Handbook.

Thank you for helping us create a safe, distraction-free learning environment!

A number of our important school documents can be accessed at https://slms.rtmsd.org/ under the Students & Families section. Additional resources, outlined below, will also be made available on our website in the near future.