Principal's Weekly Report

Dear Stone Middle Families, Students, and Staff,

Welcome to Week 3! We’re so happy to have everyone back for another great week of learning, growth, and connection.

This week, we’re kicking off a very important milestone: Progress Monitoring 1 (PM 1) testing for ELA and Math begins Tuesday. These assessments help us establish a baseline understanding of where our students are academically, so we can better support their learning throughout the year. Please ensure students are well-rested and ready to do their best!

We’re also excited to announce that our Back to School Dance is happening this Friday! It’s a wonderful opportunity for students to celebrate the start of the year with friends and fun. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance so you don’t miss out!

Don't forget we are going into a 3-day weekend for Labor Day! Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. Let’s make this week a fantastic one!

Go Gophers

Lauren Feronti Williams

Principal

Facebook: @StoneMS

TikTok: @stonegophers

Twitter (X): @stonemms

Instagram: @stonemagnetgophers

Home | Stone Magnet Middle (brevardschools.org)

Basketball and Cheer/Dance practices have begun. Up next... GAMES starting September 9th!!! Email barrett.marissa@brevardschools.org for cheer questions, muniz.christopher@brevardschools.org for boys basketball and saunders.rahshon@brevardschools.org for girls basketball.

Starting the 2025-2026 school year, all K-8 schools are personal electronics free per state statue. Personal electronics include cellphones, headphones, tablets, etc. As Principal of Stone Middle School an electronic free campus is important to me. Cellphone and other electronics may be silenced in backpacks to not distract the learning. Students must secure all electronic devices in backpacks before coming on campus and may use their phones after the dismissal bell. This past summer, I read "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt and would like to share information from this book regarding teen use of electronics.

"Over the course of many decades, we found ways to protect children while mostly allowing adults to do what they want. Then quite suddenly, we created a virtual world where adults could indulge any momentary whim, but children were left nearly defenseless. As evidence mounts that phone-based childhood is making our children mentally unhealthy, socially isolated and deeply unhappy, are we okay with that trade off? Or will we eventually realize that we sometimes need to protect children from harm even when it inconveniences adults?" (pg 14).

Starting this year, two automated calls will be scheduled to families regarding students' attendance. A morning call between 11:00 am and 11:15 am will take place to alert families of an absence in the morning to help verify a student arrived to school. An additional call will be generated between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm to share with families a student's overall attendance for the day. Please remember attendance is crucial for a student's academic success.

Stone Magnet Middle School will adhere to the School Board Rules of Brevard County as cited in the Secondary Student Parent Handbook.

These are the portions most frequently referred to by parents, students, and school personnel.

The educational program offered by this District is predicated upon the presence of the student and requires continuity of instruction and classroom participation. Attendance shall be required of all students enrolled in the school during the days and hours that the school is in session.

School attendance is the responsibility of parents/legal guardians and students.

• A student who is absent from class with an unexcused absence may need to complete supplemental learning opportunities.
• Excused absences may include medical appointment of the student, pregnancy related issues, court dates, religious holidays, illness with medical documentation and chronic and extended illness, insurmountable conditions, death in immediate family, and appointments for a therapy service provided by a licensed health professional.
• For excused absences, the student shall have a reasonable amount of time, up to ten (10) school days, to complete make-up work. Principals or designee may grant extensions to the make-up time limit for extenuating circumstances.

Principal: Lauren Feronti Williams

Feronti.Lauren@brevardschools.org

Assistant Principal of Curriculum: Shannon Sejeck

Sejeck.Shannon@brevardschools.org

Assistant Principal of Disciplines: Kelly Borck

Borck.Kelly@brevardschools.org