SMS Weekly Update

While this has been a crazy week with shifting weather forecasts, stormy weather, and a week's worth of school closures, we hope above all else that you are safe, warm, and with power during this challenging weather.

This past week was, obviously, very different than what we had planned for our students. We value the well-being of our community and know that, while difficult for families to plan around students not in school, the safety of our students and their families is the top priority for all of us. Thank you for your patience and understanding as our district navigated the best course of action for our students during inclement weather.

In non-weather related news at SMS, we have some exciting upcoming opportunities for students. In Mr. Mitchell's STEM class students will soon be undertaking a unit on Robotics where they will have the opportunity to design, build, and program robots to perform tasks. We are excited to see what students create with this new opportunity at SMS. Mr. Simpson's Outdoor Pursuits students will soon begin their highly anticipated Archery unit. Students will have an opportunity to learn the basics of archery while having opportunities to practice these skills in class. We love the tie-in to our mascot, The Archer, and always appreciate the buzz and excitement that this experience creates among our students.

Lastly, this past Friday our Advanced Band was able to make it to Eugene, OR and back before the weather hit to perform at the Oregon Music Educators Association state-wide conference. This was a huge honor for our students as Middle School ensembles are typically not selected. Between the preview concert at the High School and this performance we had a number of staff from across the district able to support our students, and their feedback was that our band is simply phenomenal. Thank you to Mr. Crane and Mr. McCann for all of their hard work and dedication in working with our band students.

Front Office Hours: 7:30 am - 3:45pm

Student Hours: 8:45 am - 3:26 pm (Except on scheduled Early Release days)

Doors Open to Students: 8:30 am (Main Entrance and Activities Entrance)

January 24

• Early Release - Dismissal at 2:26 pm
• School Board Meeting - 7:00 pm, District Office

January 31

• Early Release - Dismissal at 2:26 pm

February 2

• District 14 Honor Choir (selected auditioned participants)
• Student of the Month Breakfast - 7:45 am - 8:15 am

February 5 - 9

• Staff Appreciation Week

February 7

• Early Release - Dismissal at 2:26 pm

February 10

• West Salem Jazz Festival

February 15

• NAEP Assessment

Additional events may be viewed on the SMS Calendar and the District Calendar.

Sherwood Middle School has been selected to participate in the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Often referred to as the "nation's report card" this assessment is conducted at hundreds of randomly selected schools across the country each school year in order to determine how students are progressing in their education. This assessment will be provided to 50 randomly selected 8th grade students on February 15th.

NAEP staff will determine the students selected. If your 8th grade student is selected you will be notified in early February. Students will complete this assessment during the school day and will be excused from class in order to do so.

As you know, our district is in the process of searching for the next Principal of Sherwood Middle School, following the announced retirement of current Principal Marianne Funderhide at the end of this school year. Your feedback is important to our Human Resources Department and hiring team as they conduct their search for the next SMS Principal.

To share your feedback with school district leadership and the hiring team, please complete the survey below by Thursday, January 25. All survey responses are anonymous, and will not be viewed by our school's administrators/staff.

We continue to get a lot of items in our Lost and Found. It would be helpful if items were labeled with your student's name, as we attempt to return all lost and found items back to their owner if at all possible.

Students may check the lost and found before school, during lunch, after school, and during passing times.

Parents are welcome to come look in the Lost and Found for missing items before school or after school after checking in at the main office.

The inaugural Oregon Civics Bee encourages young Oregonians to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Middle school students with an idea about using civics to solve a problem in their community are invited to participate in the first round of the contest by submitting an essay.

Judges will select 20 finalists from their essay submissions to participate in the Civics Bee event on May 30, 2024 at Willamette University in Salem. The winner of the Oregon Civics Bee will be invited to participate in the National Civics Bee in Washington, D.C. in fall 2024.

For more information and contest entry, please visit the link below. All essay entries are due by January 22, 2024.

We are excited to share an update regarding Flex Time. As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering academic success, we will be extending Flex Time opportunities for the remainder of the school year. Beginning in January, students will have the chance to attend Flex Time twice a month on Wednesdays. This expansion provides an even greater opportunity for our students to engage in personalized learning experiences and receive the support they need.

What happens during Flex Time?

Flex Time is a dedicated block of time in our schedule designed for students and teachers to meet for a specific need.

During Flex Time, students can:

1. Get Additional Academic Support:
   Whether they need clarification on a challenging topic or want to reinforce their understanding, Flex Time provides an environment for academic support. Teachers may utilize this time to assign students to a Flex to ensure that they are getting the additional time and targeted support in areas of need.
2. Attend Academic Extensions:
   For those eager to explore subjects in greater depth, Flex TIme offers academic extensions, providing students with the chance to delve into advanced topics and expand their knowledge.
3. Participate in Clubs:
   Flex Time provides a platform for students to engage in extracurricular activities through club participation. These clubs are diverse, catering to a range of interests and provide opportunities for students to connect and share passions.
4. Experience Enrichments:
   Beyond the standard curriculum, Flex Time features enriching activities that encourage creativity, critical thinking, and exploration.

How Can Your Child Make the Most of Flex Time?

• Student autonomy: encourage your child to take an active role in their education by choosing sessions that align with their needs and interests.

• Discuss with your child how they can utilize these opportunities for academic growth and enrichment.

We believe that Flex Time serves as a valuable resource for our students, promoting not only academic success but also fostering a sense of responsibility and independence in their learning journey.

January 29th is the deadline to sign up for the 2024 8th grade East Coast Trip. Here is the link to sign up. The code for our trip is sher2024. Please email smsgoeseast@gmail.com with any questions for this non-school sponsored trip.

It's that time of the year again for our annual County required Immunization Review. Monthly reminder letters are now be mailed out to families whose students are missing immunizations. Please see the information below for more details on important dates from the County. If you have any questions please reach out to our Registrar, Allison Kopp, at akopp@sherwood.k12.or.us or 503-825-5520.

2/7/24 Exclusion letters from the state will be mailed to students who are still out of compliance.

2/21/24 Exclusion Day - All students out of compliance are not able to attend school until their required Immunizations are up to date or the exemptions have been completed.

Medical and nonmedical exemptions are also allowed.

• To request a medical exemption from vaccine requirements, submit a signed statement from your child's physician.
• To request a nonmedical exemption from vaccine requirements, you must do one of the following: (1) Talk to your healthcare provider and get a signed Vaccine Education Certificate, fill out the nonmedical exemption section of the Certificate of Immunization Status, and turn in both forms to your child's school; or (2) Watch the Vaccine Education Module for parents at: https://www.oregon.gov/OHA/PH/PreventionWellness/VaccinesImmunization/GettingImmunized/Pages/non-medical-exemption.aspx and print out the Vaccine Education Certificate at the end of the module, fill out the nonmedical exemption section of the Certificate of Immunization Status, and turn in both forms to your child's school.