Principal’s Note
I would like to celebrate a great start to the school year. Students have made great transitions to their new schedules and the few changes we’ve made from last year. I’m aware of a glitch with PowerSchool, preventing you from viewing your child’s classes when using a mobile device. We believe this has been corrected.
Please note upcoming newsletters will be broken into three sections:
1. New information – updates and reminders
2. Repeated information you may want to refer back to
3. School or community links such as the Solon Public Library page
Respectfully, Mike Herdliska, Middle School Principal
Welcome to our SMS Family
Please welcome the following to our SMS family:
6th grade – Matthew Babbitt and Ben Merrick
7th grade – Jack Dunnwald, Natalie Hedge, and Sebastian Ramirez
8th grade – Dylan Dunnwald, Gideon Garmoe, Avery Johnson, and Luke Merrick
Staff – Ms. Deutmeyer (Choir), Ms. Hinrichs (Art), Ms. Millerd (8th grade Science), Mrs. Wymer (moving from Science to Student Success Facilitator), Ms. Balvanz (School Based Therapist), and Ms. Smith (Associate)
Arrival and Departure
With the exception of dismissal on the first day of school, the arrival and dismissal times have gone very smoothly. Thank you for continuing to use the drop off and pick up lane as designed.
Please feel free to use the bus drop off lot, outside of the normal arrival dismissal times, when you are picking up early or dropping off late for appointments or other reasons. Doing so allows your child to see you pull up from the office and can hustle out to you without delay.
Attendance Calls
We recently implemented an attendance protocol similar to what the high school has used in recent years. If your child is not present, and we have not received notification from a parent, for HomeBase, 1st or 2nd period, you will receive a robo call notifying you of the absence. This will be a single call that goes out shortly after 9:30 a.m.
Unaccounted for students will now be marked as “truant.” For absences where parents have notified the office, those students will be marked as “unexcused.” Once a doctor’s note, or other appropriate documentation has been received, the absence will be changed to “excused.”
This change will have minimal impact on the majority of parents. In some cases, it might serve as a reminder to call the office to report the absence.
Student Illness at School
If you receive a text or other message from your child, claiming they aren’t feeling well, please direct them to the school nurse. Should your child need to be sent home, Mrs. Link will excuse the absence and communicate any other information with you directly.
Handbooks
Student handbooks can be found on the SMS webpage, www.solon.k12.ia.us/o/sms, under the “documents” tab. The majority of the expectations, processes, and protocols found in the handbook are covered with students during the opening weeks of the school year.
ISASP
Final ISASP results have arrived. I am excited to share our building data with you in an upcoming communication. Please look for a district message on how parents will receive individual student data.
Character Strong
After having several teachers participate in a pilot program last spring and seeing the benefits of the program, we are thrilled to be implementing Character Strong into our HomeBase time this year. Please see this Character Strong Family Letter (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EH¬_zeZwplrNr6ti11zWH76V-10jhK2Z9/view) for additional information. We look forward to updating you throughout the year and sharing some of the things happening at SMS.
Tanager School Based Services
In addition to Character Strong our wellness initiative has received a great boost with the addition of a School Based Therapist to be shared among our four buildings. Please see this brief informational document (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eiC-ewgl1575P4btm7KCf2ont5cf4P9/view) for additional information. Initial support from families has been outstanding and we hope to have our roster spots filled and students receiving services soon.
Daily Assignments Website
Please see https://sites.google.com/solon.k12.ia.us/sms-daily-work/home for assistance with knowing what your child is doing in class and what homework he/she may have.
SMS Library news
March Sutton, District Librarian
Welcome back to the SMS library! Just a few things to keep in mind as we look forward to a great year
Circulation
• Students can check out up to two books at a time for a two-week time period.
• Books can be renewed for an additional two weeks if no one has placed the book on hold.
• Overdue notices will be emailed to students once a month for them to take home.
Lost or damaged books
• Lose a boo? Did your new puppy take a bite? Baby get a hold of some markers? No worries, just contact the media center and we will let you know what to do next. Generally, there is a $15 replacement fee per book, or a replacement copy can be purchased from a bookseller of your choice.
If you have any questions about the SMS library, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can access our library website at https://sites.google.com/solon.k12.ia.us/scsdlibraries/. The best way to contact me is through email at [email protected].
Iowa Teen Award Challenge
New this year, any SMS student that reads at least four of the Iowa Teen Choice award-nominated books will be able to attend a pizza party in April and participate in the statewide vote for Best Teen Book of 2023-2024. Students do not have to read all of the books, but they will be expected to answer a few questions from Mrs. Spence to receive credit. Any questions? Ask Mrs. Spence.
Solon Public Library After School Programs
All after school programs at the Solon Public Library begin in September. Our first BAM POW Thursday early-out program was Thursday, Sept. 7. Please note our weekly BAM POW program is now for students in 1st through 8th grades. We’ll have activities for the different ages from 1:45-2:45 p.m. in the Library meeting room. A fall schedule of activities will be available soon, join us to Build and Make, Play, or Watch this fall!
Teens (6th-12th graders) will be able to enjoy CATS programs on Tuesdays after school Thursday, Sept. 14 and Thursday, Sept. 28 from 4:45-5:45 p.m.
Supervision is provided during the library program in the meeting room, while children also have the option to enjoy the rest of the Library. These programs are drop-in, no registration. We recommend parents and caregivers discuss their expectations, pick-up procedures, etc. with their children. Library staff are sharing these programs for participating children, but this does not provide the need for supervised childcare.
Thursday Activities
Students involved in co-curricular activities are welcome to remain in the commons area until 3:15 p.m. when released to practices or games. Students not involved in co-curricular activities must make other plans for this time.
Absences & Appointments
Please contact the office when your son/daughter will be late or need to leave early. We will get your child a pass and have him/her waiting for you upon your arrival. You are welcome to come in to sign your child in/out, but it is not required.
You are welcome to use the bus drop off area during the school day for drop off or pick up.
SCSD Classroom Celebrations Guidelines
Please see SCSD guidance on treats and snacks at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LRpxb5zV3eV6gljtKLJEyb_Rsv365zxl/view.
Co-Curricular Eligibility Process
Students who wish to participate in or attend school sponsored activities must attend school the entire day which precedes the activity unless permission has been given by the principal for the student to be absent. Medical and dental appointments are excluded from this expectation when appropriate documentation is provided.
Academic and Attendance Requirements:
• A student must be passing all subjects to be eligible for co-curricular activities. Those who fail to meet this requirement at any of the weekly checkpoints will be ineligible until the next checkpoint.
• A student must be in attendance the entire school day, excluding field trips and excused appointments, to be eligible for co-curricular activities on that day.
• Students are responsible for all assignments and tests given during an absence for a scheduled event and may be required to have all work done upon return.
• Any exception to the above expectations must be cleared through the building principal, and likely involve a review of student progress through the collaboration of student, staff, and parents.
Activities Schedules
Go to https://wamacconference.org/public/genie/150/school/12/ to find schedules, locations, dates, and times. Any questions can be directed to Casey Hack, district Activities Director, [email protected].
Bell Schedules
Regular day
8:10-8:26 a.m. – HomeBase
8:30-9:12 a.m. – 1
9:16-9:58 a.m. – 2
10:02-10:44 – 3
10:48-11:13 a.m. – Lunch A
11:16-11:41 a.m. – Lunch B
11:44 a.m.-12:09 p.m. – Lunch C
12:13-12:56 p.m. – 4
1:00-1:43 p.m. – 5
1:47-2:30 p.m. – 6
2:34-3:18 p.m. – 7
1:45 p.m. Dismissal
8:10-8:47 a.m. – 1
8:51-9:28 a.m. – 2
9:32-10:09 a.m. – 3
10:13-10:50 a.m. – 4
5 & Recess/Lunch
10:54-11:19 a.m. – 6th Lunch
11:19-11:44 a.m. – 6th Recess
11:48 a.m.-12:25 p.m. – 6th 5th Period
10:54-11:31 a.m. – 7/8 5th Period
11:35 a.m.-12:00 p.m. – 8th Lunch
12:00-12:25 p.m. – 7th Lunch
12:29-1:06 p.m. – 6
1:10-1:47 p.m. – 7
2-Hour Late Arrival
10:10-10:43 a.m. – 1
10:46-11:19 a.m. – 2
11:22-11:55 a.m. – 3
11:22-11:47 a.m. – 6th Lunch
11:47 a.m.-12:12 p.m. – 6th Recess
11:58 a.m.-12:23 p.m. – 8th Lunch
12:23-12:48 p.m. – 7th Lunch
12:15-12:48 p.m. – 6th 3rd Period
12:51-1:25 p.m. – 4
1:28-2:02 p.m. – 5
2:05-2:39 p.m. – 6
2:42-3:18 p.m. — 7
Solon Middle School
1775 Racine Ave., Solon
Phone – 319-624-3401
FAX – 319-624-2389
Email – [email protected]
Email – [email protected]
Web – solon.k12.ia.us/o/sms
Solon Middle School September news
September 13, 2023