The Weekly Update #4

Dear STEM Academy Families,

Our seventh- and eighth-grade Ravens are ready to share their discoveries at the Science and Engineering Fair, November 12–16. We are proud of their work and still need volunteer judges!

Know a family exploring middle school options? Invite them to our Choice Schools Open House on Tuesday, November 17, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Help shape the future of The STEM Academy by taking the stakeholder survey and joining us for the Community Listening Session on Thursday, November 19, at 6:00 p.m. at STEM Academy.

Cheer on our Lady Ravens at home Monday and at Hesse Tuesday. Boys’ basketball tryouts begin Tuesday, and girls’ tryouts are November 18–19. A current athletic physical is required.

There is no school Wednesday, November 11, for Veterans Day. To the veterans in our Raven community, thank you for your service.

Go Ravens,

Mary Ann Rogers Lamberth

Principal

The STEM Academy @ Bartlett

maryann.lamberth@sccpss.com

SCCPSS is seeking input from families and stakeholders as we plan for the future of STEM Academy.

The STEM Academy Future School and Location Stakeholder Survey gives you an opportunity to share what matters most to you, including programs, student experiences, learning spaces, facilities and location.

If you haven't completed the survey yet, we want to hear from you.

TAKE THE SURVEY

And the conversation doesn't stop with the survey.

SCCPSS will host a Community Listening Session to provide another opportunity to learn more, ask questions and share your thoughts about the future of STEM Academy.

Thursday, November 19, 2026
6:00 p.m.
STEM Academy at Bartlett Middle School
207 East Montgomery Cross Road

Whether you participate through the survey, attend the Community Listening Session, or both, your voice is an important part of this process.

Help us shape a future of Unlimited Possibilities for STEM Academy students.

We are excited to announce that our STEM Science & Engineering Fair will take place in person November 12–16, 2026!

Our 7th and 8th grade Ravens have been hard at work researching, investigating, experimenting, and preparing to share their findings. Now, we need YOUR help!

We are seeking volunteers to serve as judges for this year's fair. Whether you have a background in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, education, or simply a passion for supporting young innovators, we would love to have you participate!

Interested in judging? Please complete our interest form below:

https://forms.gle/B5jsgxiAJpLJs8Qs8

Even if you are unable to participate, please consider sharing this opportunity with colleagues, friends, and community members who may be interested.

Thank you for helping us celebrate the curiosity, creativity, and hard work of our student researchers. We cannot wait to showcase what our Ravens have discovered!

How well do you know your Greek myths? Join us for the Pegasus Mythology Exam, which will be given on March 15, 2027, and this year’s theme is Perseus and Other Stories in the Stars.

Win an award and be celebrated like a hero! There is no prerequisite, and you do not need to be in Latin or Mythology class to take part. Ms. Osborn will prepare study packets for you to work on individually starting November 2, and you can pick them up on Thursdays at her door in Room A2.

Sign up with Ms. Osborn in Room A2 by December 1, either by scanning the QR code on the poster or by visiting https://forms.gle/kSPMx12SVXppAgXv7. Show us your knowledge of the Olympians!

The STEM Academy @ Bartlett will host our Choice Open House on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, from 5:30–7:00 p.m., and we would love your help welcoming the next generation of Ravens!

Our parents and students are our best advertisement! Please tell your friends, neighbors, and coworkers who are exploring middle school options about our Open House. Encourage them to join us and discover what makes Raven Nation special!

This evening gives prospective students and families an opportunity to explore our programs, meet our faculty and students, and experience the learning, leadership, and community that define STEM. Who better to help tell our story than the families who are already part of Raven Nation?

We are looking for 5–8 current parents to participate in a parent panel, sharing your experiences and STEM expertise with prospective families. Your perspective on the transition to middle school, academic opportunities, extracurricular activities, and school life can help families feel informed and excited about joining our community.

We also welcome parent volunteers to greet visitors, help families find their way, and answer questions throughout the evening.

Teachers and club sponsors will also be reaching out for assistance and may request that your student attend to provide tours, answer questions, demonstrate projects, perform, or show off their skills! Our students are wonderful ambassadors, and we look forward to giving them an opportunity to shine.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email Principal Lamberth at maryann.lamberth@sccpss.com with:

• Your name

• Your student’s grade level

• How you would like to help, including whether you are interested in the parent panel

We will follow up with additional details and assignments.

Thank you for sharing your time, experiences, and Raven pride. Our goal is for every visiting family to leave saying, “This is where I want my child to be.”

Important Announcement: Scoliosis Screenings – November 18, 2026
Do you have a 6th- or 8th-grade student attending the STEM Academy?

In accordance with Georgia state requirements, scoliosis screenings will be conducted for all 6th- and 8th-grade students on November 18, 2026.

Please note that students who receive an annual wellness examination with their physician typically receive a scoliosis screening as part of that visit. Additionally, students who are already being evaluated and followed by a physician for scoliosis do not need to participate in the school screening.

Opt-Out Information:

If your student meets either of these criteria, please complete and return the attached opt-out form:

Your student receives an annual wellness examination with their physician.
Your student is currently being followed by a physician for scoliosis.
All opt-out forms must be submitted BEFORE November 18, 2026.

Please understand that, to ensure an organized and successful screening process, we will not accept phone calls, emails, or opt-out forms on the day of the screenings.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us make this important student health screening process a success. We appreciate your partnership in keeping our students healthy and well!

At STEM, we are committed to helping every Raven succeed! Families of students who earned a failing grade (below 70) in a course during the first nine weeks will receive a Critical Decision Form. A parent-teacher conference is required to discuss academic concerns and develop a plan for improvement.

Credit Recovery provides eligible students a three-week opportunity to demonstrate mastery of essential academic standards through targeted assignments, instructional support, and assessments. Students who successfully complete the program may have their failing nine-weeks grade replaced with a 70.

Please note that the first nine-weeks grading period is closed. Credit Recovery is not an opportunity to submit previously missing assignments.

We encourage families to review report cards in PowerSchool and communicate with teachers. Together, we can help every Raven soar! 💙💚

Raven Families, we are asking for everyone’s continued help keeping arrival and dismissal safe for ALL members of Raven Nation.

No student should ever be dropped off on Montgomery Cross Road. This is an extremely dangerous practice, and we are asking—begging—families to please stop. Students should only be dropped off using our designated campus arrival procedures and car rider areas.

During arrival and dismissal, please remember that you are sharing the road and our campus with student pedestrians, bike riders, buses, other vehicles, and faculty and staff members on duty. Please stay alert, put distractions away, follow all traffic signs and staff directions, and never attempt to bypass established traffic patterns. Our current procedures specifically ask families to use designated car rider areas. Refer to the maps included in each Raven Report. Eyes up. Phones Down. Drive slow. Follow the process.

And we want to celebrate some GREAT progress! Thanks to the cooperation of our families and the hard work of our staff, our afternoon car line is now clearing before 3:00 PM—with no line remaining! That is HUGE progress, and it shows that our procedures work when we all follow them.

Our goal is not simply a faster car line. It is a safe, predictable, and efficient arrival and dismissal for every Raven. Thank you for slowing down, staying alert, looking out for one another, and helping us protect our students and staff.

We have a great opportunity for STEM families in need who are experiencing an economic hardship. We have an organization who will be providing nutritious food/snacks for students that may otherwise not have enough food on the weekends. That program will begin in about 2 ½ weeks. Students will be able to pick up the weekend healthy snack food items every other Friday afternoon before bus dismissal.

Please submit your request for Backpack Buddies by using the link below by Friday, October 9th by COB. Your request will be treated with the utmost discretion. Once you sign up, you will need to also complete the signed permission form as well and email it using a pdf format directly to Rachel.Newsome@sccpss.com

https://tinyurl.com/mt9hrtv5

Did you know SCCPSS allows students to participate in up to five Asynchronous Remote Learning (ARL) Days each school year?

If you know your Raven will be absent, we encourage you to request an ARL Day so your student can stay engaged in learning and potentially receive attendance credit!

📋 How to Request an ARL Day:
Log into the PowerSchool Parent Portal → Forms → General → ARL Remote Learning Request.

Requests must be submitted before 7:40 a.m. on the day of the absence and are subject to administrative approval.

Important: Students must log into EVERY scheduled class, including Applications, and actively participate on the actual day of absence. Attendance credit is awarded only after participation is verified. Simply submitting the request does not count a student present.

ARL Days are not available during designated district or state testing days, and regular in-person attendance remains our priority.

Whether on campus or learning remotely, every day counts! Go Ravens! 💙💚

Our Raven Future Problem Solvers are learning to think creatively, collaborate as a team, and develop solutions to real-world challenges through the Future Problem Solving (FPS) academic competition!

You can help support their journey by shopping our Snap! Raise Store. Purchases made by family and friends help cover competition fees, materials, and other team expenses, making these opportunities more affordable for our students.

🛍️ Shop the Raven Future Problem Solvers Store

Be on the lookout for newsletters from your student's grade-level team! These newsletters are an important source of information and will help families stay up to date on upcoming assignments, assessments, events, important dates, and other grade-level news.

If you are not receiving a team or grade-level newsletter, please first check with your student and then reach out to your student's homeroom teacher to ensure you are receiving the information being shared.

We encourage families to review these newsletters regularly—staying informed is an important part of our home-school partnership!

The STEM Academy PTSA is an important part of our Raven community! We encourage parents, guardians, grandparents, faculty, staff, friends, and community members to join and support our students and school.

2026–2027 PTSA Membership Drive

Your Raven benefits when you join PTSA!

EVERYONE can join! Membership is just $11 and does not require you to volunteer or attend meetings. Simply becoming a member helps our PTSA support student activities, faculty and staff, school initiatives, and the needs of our Raven community.

Join us as we work together to make The STEM Academy even stronger.

• November 2nd - 8th Grade.- Savannah State University
• November 2nd - 7th Grade C Hall.- Junior Achievement Biz Town
• November 5th - Visual Arts Applied Design to SCAD Museum
• November 5th - Ghost Pirates Game Day
• November 6th - 8th Grade - Savannah State University
• November 18th - 6th Grade Team Discovery - Skidaway Island
• November 19th - 6th Grade Team Endeavor - Skidaway Island

All students must have a valid physical on file to try-out for, participate in workouts for, or play MS Athletics.

Boy's Basketball tryouts will be Tuesday 11/10/26 and Wednesday 11/12/26 from 2:50pm-4:30pm. An updated Physical is REQUIRED to tryout.

Girl's Basketball tryouts will be Wednesday 11/18/26 and Thursday 11/19/26 from 2:50pm-4:30pm. An updated Physical is REQUIRED to tryout.

All children under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to enter any SCCPSS high school athletic contest. This provision will also include the following middle school athletic contests: football, track, and all playoff games.

• Children entering a SCCPSS athletic contest are subject to age verification requirements (School ID with DOB, State ID, Driver’s License, Driver's Learners Permit, Valid Passport)

• Identification will be verified by event staff prior to entering the security screening area. Any child unable to provide identification when age verification is required may enter the game by purchasing a ticket and must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. *Parents/legal guardians (excluding SCCPSS staff who have their employee ID) must also purchase or have a game ticket for entry

• Signage will be placed in areas of high visibility to remind families of age requirements for entry.

The STEM Academy requires that all students be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian for attending an athletic event as a spectator.

Get Involved at STEM! We are looking for parents, guardians, community members, and business partners who want to make a difference at The STEM Academy @ Bartlett. Whether you're interested in serving on our STEM School Council or STEAM Advisory Council, volunteering at school events, sharing your professional expertise, partnering with our school, mentoring students, or supporting STEM through donations or resources, we invite you to complete the interest form below. Together, we can provide meaningful opportunities that help our Ravens Lead. Innovate. Impact. Complete the survey below!

NOTE: We are working with the district on some emails being sent back to parents. You may send an email to ashley.watson@sccpss.com as the district works to solve this problem. Thank you for your patience.

If a change to a student's normal dismissal routine is necessary, the request must be submitted by email to STEMTransportation@sccpss.com as early as possible. To allow sufficient time to communicate changes to staff, transportation changes will not be accepted after 2:00 p.m.

The 2:00 p.m. deadline helps ensure all transportation changes can be verified, communicated to staff, and implemented safely before dismissal begins.

Be sure to include your student's full name, grade level, transportation change information, and your name. Requests will only be processed when matched with the PowerSchool email on file.

If you've ever experienced arrival or dismissal at The STEM Academy, you know one thing is true—there are a lot of cars! Every family plays an important role in helping us ensure that our students arrive and depart safely each day.

Please take a few moments to carefully review our Arrival & Dismissal Procedures and follow the designated traffic patterns and drop-off/pick-up zones. When everyone follows the same procedures, traffic moves more efficiently, students remain safe, and the process is faster for everyone.

As a reminder, we ask that families:

• Use only the designated car rider line to drop off and pick up students.
• Do not drop students off in unsupervised areas, off-campus, at nearby businesses, or on the street.
• Avoid using cell phones while driving on campus so your full attention remains on students, staff, and other vehicles.
• Keep music at a reasonable volume so you can hear directions from our staff; we love starting the day by wishing our Raven Families a "Good Morning!"
• Follow all traffic signs, staff directions, and established safety procedures.
  
  

Thank you for helping us create a safe, welcoming, and efficient experience for every member of Raven Nation. Working together, we can ensure each school day gets off to a great start!

SCCPSS policy states that students may not bring or carry any medication on their person.

This means any medication in a backpack, purse, bag, pocket, etc. Students may never bring medication of any type to school - no aspirin, Motrin, vitamins, prescriptions, inhalers, epi-pens, sunscreen, over-the-counter products, etc. All medication and over-the-counter products must be signed in with Nurse Jamie by a parent or guardian.

Please understand you may not have your student carry the medication to or from the clinic. Students that carry inhalers or epi pens must have Asthma/Food Allergy Action Plans on file in the clinic and Self-Carry Authorization. Thank you for helping to keep all our students safe and healthy! With proper physician orders, inhalers and epi-pens may be issued to students by Nurse Jamie to carry on campus.

At The STEM Academy, we prioritize the health and well-being of all students. To help create a comfortable and safe environment, we kindly ask that you send only stick or roll-on deodorants, perfumes, or colognes with your child. Please avoid sending any spray versions of these products, as they can trigger migraines, asthma symptoms, and other sensitivities for some students.

Thank you so much for your understanding and cooperation in ensuring that all of our students can thrive in a healthy school environment!

Please contact our school nurse at jamie.vanderark@sccpss.com with any questions.

At The STEM Academy, student safety is always our top priority! As we prepare for upcoming field trips, we want to remind families of the importance of keeping all required medical documentation and medications current and on file with our school nurse.

Students who are missing any required medical documentation or medications, including prescribed emergency medications, medication authorization forms, allergy or asthma action plans, seizure action plans, and/or diabetes management plans, will not be permitted to attend field trips until all required items have been submitted and verified.

These requirements are essential to ensuring that our staff can respond appropriately to medical needs and emergencies while students are away from campus.

We encourage families to be proactive! Please contact our school nurse well in advance of any scheduled field trip to confirm that your child's medical information, action plans, and required medications are complete and up to date.

We understand that field trips are exciting and valuable learning opportunities, and we want every Raven to be able to participate safely. Thank you for partnering with us to protect the health and well-being of all students!

Families, please help us keep our Ravens focused and Raven Ready! Per the SCCPSS Code of Conduct and The STEM Academy Student/Parent Handbook, unauthorized possession or use of personal electronic devices during the school day is prohibited. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, headphones/AirPods, tablets, smart glasses, and other personal electronic devices.

Beginning last week, device violations will be documented through an office discipline referral and addressed progressively:

• 1st Violation: Parent/guardian phone call and parent/guardian pick-up of the device required.
• 2nd Violation: Parent/guardian conference and parent/guardian pick-up of the device required.
• 3rd & Subsequent Violations: Parent/guardian conference, parent/guardian pick-up of the device, and three days of ISS, in accordance with the SCCPSS Code of Conduct.
  
  

Please remind your Raven that personal electronic devices should remain off and secured according to STEM procedures throughout the school day. Thank you for partnering with us to protect instructional time and keep our students focused on learning.

STEM Spirit Wear can be worn every day at The STEM Academy, so stock up on your Raven favorites and show your school spirit all year long!

From students to parents, faculty, and staff, there’s something for every member of Raven Nation!

🛍️ Shop STEM Spirit Wear

Lead. Innovate. Impact. Look good doing it.

Dress Down Days are back! Families can purchase individual days, semester packages, special-event packages, or one year-long package.

🐦‍⬛ Individual Days: $2
📅 Semester 1 Package: $10
📅 Semester 2 Package: $12
⭐ All Regular Dress Down Days: $20
🎉 All Special Events: $25

💚 YEAR-LONG PACKAGE: $40 — includes ALL regular days + special events!

Important Reminders

• Dress Down means out of uniform—not no dress code! All SCCPSS/STEM dress expectations still apply.
• Purchases must be made through SchoolCash Online by 6:00 AM on the day of the event.
• Cash is not accepted at school.
• All purchases are non-refundable.
• Please do not purchase individual dates already included in a package you purchased.
• Students without a valid purchase should report in regular Raven Ready uniform attire.

👀 And keep watching... Pop-Up Dress Down Days may appear throughout the year!

Purchase now through SchoolCash Online:
https://sccpss.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/29810/239/False/True