Spartan Staff Weekly

Sonora Middle School

Chelsea Jennings, Principal

Rhett Barrett, Assistant Principal

Aaron Tinnin, Assistant Principal

Email: cjennings@sdale.org
Website: sms.sdale.org
Location: 17051 E Hwy 412, Springdale, AR, USA
Phone: (479)750-8821
Facebook: Link

Teaching stressors can impact our nervous system. It's one reason this profession has some of the highest burnout rates, and it's why my newsletters often have a section dedicated to Staff Wellness tips. Regulated doesn't necessarily mean "calm," but it does mean being able to ride the daily waves of stress and restore to a healthy state of balance. The extra day in the weekend hopefully provides more time to refill your cup. The following practices to regulate your nervous system are all backed by research:

Hug a loved one (6-10 second hugs release more stress-reducing hormones)
Get 7-9 hours of sleep

Take a hot bath w/ Epsom salts
Do a cold plunge

Go for a walk and stretch
Eat a nutritious meal

Use a weighted blanket
Dance

Limit caffeine and alcohol
Listen to soothing music

Spend time in nature

Do a deep breathing exercise

Monday, September 1st:

Labor Day (No School)

Tuesday, September 2nd:

WIN: Intervention & Enrichment
SMS Volleyball vs. Ramay @ Lakeside, 4:30pm
SMS XC @ NWACC, 5:00pm

Wednesday, September 3rd:

Early Release Wednesday
CTMs @ 2:10 & Huddle @ 3:30pm

Thursday, September 4th:

WIN: Intervention & Enrichment
Leadership Team Meetings: Guiding Coalition & RTI Team
SMS Football vs. Hellstern @ SHS, 5:30pm

Friday, September 5th:

WIN: Clubs!

Sunshine Fund

Ann Zega helps to organize the Sunshine Fund, which is used on behalf of the staff when there are new babies, weddings, bereavement, hospitalization, and other experiences that may call for celebration or support. See more information below.

Field Trips

Instructions and links are updated in the Dashboard!

Grades

Empower login information will be emailed to parents in the coming weeks. Reminders of our expectations:

Update Empower regularly with scores = "evidence" of individual student proficiency.
Aim to enter one score per week to give parents and students feedback on progress.
In Empower, you need a minimum of 3 scores at a level 3+ for an essential standard for the algorithm to work. The more scores, the more accurate reflection of proficiency.
Quality > quantity of what is graded.

Remember: Assessments for learning might include group work or a practice activity = no score entered. Assessments of learning might include a CFA, project, portfolio, summative, or exit slip = score entered.