Spartan Update 2/3/25
SBMS Spartan Update for the Week of 2/3/25
Message from Principal Paula Nolan
Hello SBMS Community!
This Week's Quick Summary:
- February is Black History Month.
- No school on Monday the 3rd for semester transition day.
- Copies of semester 2 schedules will be redistributed Tuesday morning.
- Activity Night Friday from 6-8: Volunteers needed to hold this event.
More Detailed Information:
Black History Month
February marks Black History Month, a month where special recognition is paid to the contributions of African Americans. Although Black history is not limited to being taught and celebrated just in February, recognition months are important because they "provide us with an opportunity to delve into the rich historical, cultural, and social dimensions of various identities, while amplifying voices that have often been marginalized." (Source). Black History Month was the brainchild of Dr. Carter Woodson (the second Black American to earn a PhD from Harvard University). His work started in 1926 and 50 years later the government of the United States began to recognize February as Black History Month. If you are interested, you can learn more about Dr. Woodson here and more about Black History Month 2025 here (last accessed by me on 2/2/25 at 1:30 PM).
No School Monday the 3rd
There is no school on Monday the 3rd. Monday is a semester transition day.
Semester 2 Schedules Issued Tuesday Morning
Students can pick up their semester 2/quarter 3 schedules Tuesday morning in the school lobby. While students can submit schedule change requests if they believe there is an error, due to constraints on the schedule and our small size, schedule changes are very limited.
Repeat: Teacher and Education Support Professionals of the Year
Nominations for Teacher of the Year and Education Support Professional of the Year are still open. If there is a member of our staff that you feel you'd like to nominate, information about how to submit their name to the state is below.
Thank you for your time in reading this week's Spartan Update. If there is anything that I can do for you, please feel free to contact me at nolan_p@4j.lane.edu, 541-790-8300, or by clicking the Contact Paula button at the bottom of this newsletter.
Have a nice day,
Paula
Paula Nolan
Principal
Spencer Butte Middle School
Help Needed for Activity Night! - Friday from 6:00-8:00
SBMS activity nights are a fantastic way for students to connect with one another in a fun way! We host a game room, open gym, movie room, dance hall, snack bar, and lobby hang-out. Giving students a variety of supervised choices takes help and we would love to have you join us. There is no set-up and no clean-up on your part! Chaperones come a little bit early to get signed in and assigned to a station, and leave right after the dance!
Detailed information about the dance (what is there to do, etc...) is in the calendar section of this newsletter (scroll down and look for a mirrorball).
If you are interested in helping at our upcoming activity night on February 7th (click here) or contact Stephanie our school secretary at 541-790-8300 or at minter_s@4j.lane.edu
SBMS No Place for Hate Pledge
Inclement Weather Information
Teacher and Education Support Person of the Year Nominations
Every year, each of the 50 states, U.S. territories, DC, and the Department of Defense Education Activity names a teacher of the year. The Oregon Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and honors teacher excellence, with the Teacher of the Year serving as the face and voice of exemplary educators across the state. Candidates for Oregon Teacher of the Year are exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled licensed public school educators in grades preK-12. Thanks to the Oregon Department of Education’s partnership with the Oregon Lottery, the Oregon Teacher of the Year receives a gift of $10,000 as well as a special fund to cover all travel costs for the year.
About the Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year Program
Every school community in Oregon is comprised of dedicated professionals who spend their day in support of students and educators, performing a variety of jobs promoting quality education, fostering positive learning environments, offering nutritious meals, providing reliable transportation and maintaining safe and clean schools for all students.
Beginning in 2020, the Oregon Department of Education, in partnership with the Oregon Lottery, is privileged to facilitate the Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year award. The winner will receive a $5,000 gift, as well as a plaque and banner to commemorate this significant achievement.
How to Become a 4J Volunteer
Volunteers are incredible forces in the lives of our students. We have many volunteer opportunities at SBMS- activity nights, field trips, and in-school events are a few examples. To be a volunteer, there's a two-step process:
- Volunteer Application
- Background Check
If you've been a volunteer in the past, your background check is good for 2 years.
We will share our volunteer opportunities through the Spartan Update and emails to families. To get the process started, please click the button below.
Upcoming School Activity Nights 2/7 and 4/11
SBMS activity nights are a fantastic way for students to connect with one another in a fun way! We host a game room, open gym, movie room, dance hall, snack bar, and lobby hang-out. Giving students a variety of supervised choices takes help and we would love to have you join us. There is no set-up and no clean-up on your part! Chaperones come a little bit early to get signed in and assigned to a station, and leave right after the dance!
If you are interested in helping at our upcoming activity nights on February 7th (click here) or on April 11th (click here) or contact Stephanie our school secretary at 541-790-8300 or at minter_s@4j.lane.edu
Upcoming Events
SBMS Activity Night
What is there to do at the Activity Night?
This Activity Night will consist of a dance in the large gym, open gym in the small gym, a movie room, a game room, and areas to snack and hang out in the lobby.
How much does it cost?
Wristbands will be sold during the school day on Wednesday and Thursday before the dance for $4, or students can pay $5 at the door. As always, no student will be excluded due to inability to pay, please contact Stephanie in the office if this is a hardship for your family.
Who can attend?
Activity Nights are for Spencer Butte students only. Students need to be present at school for at least half the day to attend, unless prior arrangements have been made with administration.
Will there be food there?
Yes. We will have snacks and possibly pizza. Prices range from $1-$2
When does it dance start and end?
This activity night starts at 6:00pm and ends at 8:00 pm.
Can students enter and leave and enter again?
No.
Can students leave early?
If a student wishes to leave prior to the end of the dance, they may do so as long as a parent/guardian picks them up. If your student is leaving early with another parent, we will need individual parent permission for each student. This is most easily achieved with a note from a parent that can be given to staff at the dance.
Verifying permission to leave early or with non-custodial adults often causes a delay for students who are wanting to leave quickly, so we appreciate students staying until the end of the dance if possible. Additionally, we usually have a wave of students wanting to leave 15-30 minutes early. Verifying that early departure is permitted does take staff away from other supervision- so we would appreciate students waiting to be released at the end the dance if they are looking to leave 15-30 minutes early.
Do the school expectations still apply after school?
Yes. This is a school function so it falls under the same expectations of Spencer Butte Middle School and the 4J school district. We recognize our students’ need for fun and we appreciate your partnership in providing a safe environment for our students.
Can parents volunteer?
SBMS activity nights are a fantastic way for students to connect with one another in a fun way! We host a game room, open gym, movie room, dance hall, snack bar, and lobby hang-out. Giving students a variety of supervised choices takes help and we would love to have you join us. There is no set-up and no clean-up on your part! Chaperones come a little bit early to get signed in and assigned to a station, and leave right after the dance!
Friday, Feb 7, 2025, 06:00 PM
Questions about this may be directed to Greg Fortner at (347) 236-9088 or
In Every Issue: How to Connect With Staff
We are here as a part of your child's team. Whenever I have the opportunity to speak with a parent about something involving a class I always ask if they've had a chance to connect with the teacher. I ask that question because involving the teacher is the most powerful thing that we can do to help your child in class.
Our teachers love to hear from parents. Whether there is information about something happening in the student's life, a fun story about when your child spoke about the class at home, concerns about academic progress, or questions about the class, connecting with staff is the first and most important step in helping your student to succeed.
There are many ways to connect with staff. Sending an email or message in Canvas is the most direct way of reaching teachers. You can also call the school at 541-790-8300 and leave a message for a teacher to return.
Contacting Teachers Via Email
To find a teacher's email address, please access our directory below.
[Link to SBMS Staff Directory: https://spencerbutte.4j.lane.edu/41178_2 ]
Contacting Teachers Via the Canvas Parent App*
You may find the Canvas Parent app the easiest way to send a message. When in the app you can send a message by tapping on a course name and then the speech bubble emoji in the bottom right corner. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the inbox, tap on the speech bubble emoji, and then select the teacher/course you are intending to send the message to.
Canvas on Desktop*
If you are accessing Canvas via desktop you are able to send a message through the Inbox feature. To use that, follow the directions below:
- Click on the Inbox logo/name on the left hand side of the screen.
- Once you are in the Inbox, look at the top of the webpage and then click the pictogram that looks like a pencil writing on paper.
- After you do that, you can select the course/teacher you are attempting to contact.
*Information about how to access Canvas is below.
What is Canvas and How Do You Access It?
Canvas is the online learning platform that parents can use to track grades and what is happening in classes (announcements, due dates, etc...). It is a very important tool to use and I recommend that every parent/guardian uses their Canvas Observer account (accessed via the web or the Canvas Parent app on your phone).
The information below will tell new and returning users how to activate their Canvas Observer account for this school year.
All new and returning users must activate their account before you can start using Canvas Observer (even if you had an account last year). To activate your account , complete the following steps:
Visit 4J’s Canvas for Families webpage and click on “Forgot Password?”
Enter the email you provided your child’s school and then click the “Request Password” box
Enter a password after clicking the reset link you receive in your email
Return to the Canvas for Families webpage to log in with your username and new password
One account per email- Canvas Observer will not allow you to activate more than one account if parents/guardians have the same email address on file for their student. In this case, contact your school and provide a unique email address for each parent or guardian associated with your student.
Please contact us at 541-790-8300 or email me at nolan_p@4j.lane.edu if you run into any problems with activating your account.
ParentSquare- Communications Platform
Having the ParentSquare app will allow you to receive instant notifications from the school (in addition to emails). By going to this site or downloading the app you can get registered in a few minutes. Setup is pretty easy (I did it last year for my own parent account). Basically, you'll create your account and then you'll be asked to link your children to your account. The site or app will walk you through the process. If you need any help with it, please call us at 541-790-8300.
This platform is being used at all schools and I encourage our community to download it so you get the instant notifications in addition to emails.
