Good afternoon Stinger families!
I hope this emails finds you all doing well! We are so excited to showcase our amazing school to our Future Stingers next week. There is so much to be proud of in all we do for our 7th and 8th grade students. The 6th graders will be on campus Tuesday so the schedule will be a little wonky for our students, but they will still go to all classes. Speaking of "future", if any 8th grade parent/student missed Future Falcon night this week, please be sure to scroll to the bottom of my newsletter where you will find a presentation and video from CSHS.
Repeated from last week: Is there one teacher out there who you feel goes above and beyond for your child? Are you looking for an easy way to honor that individual? Well, look no longer. It is that time of year again to nominate a teacher of the year! I know at STMS we have so many, but take a minute to reflect on that person who has really made a difference for your child. This nomination does not take long at all. If you have any questions, please reach out to me. This is a great way to honor the work that our staff does! Thank you in advance.
As always, please be sure to read all the way through this newsletter. I know they get lengthy, but there is a lot going on and we want to make sure everyone is "in the know".
Have a nice weekend. I hope to see many of you tomorrow at "Run the District".
Together,
Jill Sarraino, Principal
SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION
Main Line Phone Number: 480.272.8600
Attendance: 480.272.8604
Health Tech: 480.272.8602
Upcoming Dates
January 20: Run the District- how much fun would it be to have a bunch of our STMS families run in their Stinger green? See below links for the flyer and registration. We hope to see you tomorrow morning at the Falcon Field!
January 24: 1:00: Early Release PLC
January 26: 8:00 am: 7th grade parents- if you have questions about schedules, next year, etc- plan to attend a Q/A session in our library. If you cannot make this, yet have questions, feel free to contact our 7th grade school counselor, Mr. Moriarty, or Mr. Boggs/Mrs. Sarraino
January 31: 1:00: Early Release PLC
A NOTE FROM MR. BOGGS
Hello Stinger families!
I wanted to drop in this week to say “HI” and to touch base on a few things.
First I want to express our sincere gratitude for the success of our recent STAR an ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT assembly. After all, those would not be possible without a huge number of students qualifying for both! I this position where a lot of your attention is pulled toward problem solving, your perspective can get skewed where you only see what needs to be improved. Celebrations like that really bring a person back because we can see how many of our students are truly being successful by measures both social and academic. To have that many students on Honor Roll and Principal’s list is a real testament to the students, the families from which they come and the amazing teaching staff we are lucky to have assembled.
Second, I want to share with you that our “discipline” this year is down from previous years. That means that I am seeing fewer students for misbehavior than in the past. This is a very good thing, because the less time they spend with me the MORE time they spend in class! I believe that our PBIS (Positive Behavior Support System) is having a positive effect, but I also know that parent involvement and support are absolutely responsible for this as well, so THANK YOU!
Now is the time when I ask for some of that help and support 🙂
We are having some vandalism in some of our restrooms. Objects being shoved deep in toilets or tossed into urinals etc. This means that our ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL cleaning crew and head custodian (as well as Mrs. Sarraino and myself) have to glove up and dig stuff out of the toilets. We obviously don’t have cameras in bathrooms, and I do intend to implement some things to help identify which students are behind this, but we could really use your help in explaining to the students how uncool and unnecessary this behavior is. We do not want to have to shut down restrooms, but if this continues we may be forced to. Please communicate this with your students!
As always, thank you for your involvement in and support for Sonoran Trails!
Dave Boggs
PBIS
Theme Days
As a part of PBIS, we celebrate and do fun "things" with our kids. Every Friday, we have a school theme day. We will share these days with our students during announcements, but you can also find them in this section of the newsletter. Please encourage your child to participate. We can still have fun while learning. Go Stingers!
January 26: Anything but a backpack day- be reasonable
Outstanding STAR Students
There are students out there who continue to do the right thing, don't always get recognized for their efforts, or just might need a little pick me up. We invite you to write up a nomination. Please revolve your answer around Safety, Trustworthy, Accountable, Respectful. Student names will be read on announcements OR they will get a special visit in one of their classrooms. When completing, you can remain anonymous if you so choose.
Stinger Shining Staff
This is an opportunity (and part of our PBIS system) for you to share your words of appreciation to any staff member on our campus- and it is FREE. The form below will take less than a minute to complete. We appreciate you in advance for letting our staff know the great joy and success that they bring to our campus, students, and community!
Stingers of the Month
ACADEMICS
Office Hours are by appointment only. Every teacher will have a google form that students will complete prior to attending their office hours. This ensures safety and also allows for our teachers to appropriately prepare for the many needs that our students have when they come to get additional support in office hours.
UPCOMING ASSESSMENT DATES
- February 26-March 8: Mimic #3 (ELA/Math)
- March 18-April 12: AzSci State Assessment
- April: AASA State Assessment (schedule will be forthcoming)
SCHEDULING FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR
7th grade parents- We will host a scheduling assembly for our 7th graders on January 23rd during 5th period. Students will bring home their registration sheet that evening. Please review this with your child, select classes for 8th grade, sign and return to your child's Science teacher. Our counseling team will assist students with signing up for their 2024-2025 classes the week of January 30-February 2nd. As a reminder, we staff based on requests, thus, we do not change schedules once they are made. PLEASE take time to talk through your child's wishes, needs, etc. prior to finalizing the course registration sheet. These are due back to the Science teachers no later than January 29th. If you have any questions or need anything, we will hold a one hour Q&A in our library on Friday, January 26th at 8:00.
COUNSELING CORNER
The 7th-grade EF (Executive Functioning) group began this week with a focus on building rapport and introducing participants. The upcoming week will address time management and organization skills applicable both in and out of school. The Counseling Team is actively involved in preparing for 6th-grade tours and middle school registration, with registration sheets for students scheduled to be distributed next Tuesday, January 23, so parents watch for those coming home. Additionally, efforts are being made to support academically struggling students through academic check-ins, specifically targeting those with D and F grades. Parents, please look at PowerSchool with your students to make sure they are staying on track. Working together will ensure they are the most successful. The Counseling Team is proud to serve our students and parents. Should you have any questions or concerns please reach out to our counseling team.
UPCOMING ASSEMBLIES
At STMS, we are committed to fostering an environment that goes beyond academics, recognizing the value of nurturing the whole child. We were able to use tax credit money (thank you) and secure two different presentations for our students that we feel will add great value to the every student on our campus. Assemblies serve as a key platform for achieving this goal. Here is why they matter:
- Community Building: Assemblies bring our middle school community together, creating a sense of unity and belonging. They provide opportunities for students to connect with peers, teachers, and staff, fostering a supportive and inclusive atmosphere.
- Character Development: Beyond textbooks and exams, your child's character is shaped by their experiences. Assemblies often feature discussions and presentations that promote values such as empathy, respect, and resilience. These moments contribute to the development of well-rounded individuals.
- Inspiration and Motivation: Guest speakers, performances, and presentations during assemblies expose students to diverse perspectives and ideas. These experiences can inspire and motivate our students to explore new interests, set ambitious goals, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
- Social and Emotional Learning: Middle school is a crucial time for social and emotional development. Assemblies will often touch on topics related to mental health, effective communication, and positive relationships. These discussions equip students with essential skills to navigate the challenges of being an adolescent.
February 5th: Student assembly, "Technology Talks" with Dr. Lisa Strohman during school hours regarding the impact technology has on our students daily lives. We will host a parent presentation at 6:30 that evening in our gymnasium. Please plan on attending this presentation as you will find it to be great value to you! Dr. Strohman is a Cave Creek community member who has a wealth of knowledge on educating and training kids, schools and parents to become responsible digital citizens. Check out her website here:
February 12th: "Your Story Matters"- We are excited to welcome Cory Greenwood to STMS on February 12th. "Cory teaches students resilience and tools to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams, while creating a positive school culture." Cory will be presenting to our 7th and 8th grade students in two, separate sessions. We encourage you to review his website for detailed information about his program's message and review student/parent feedback on their experience. If you do not want your child to attend this session, please contact his/her school counselor directly. Students will be provided an alternate activity during their scheduled presentation time.
If you prefer to have your child opt out of the Cory Greenwood assembly due to the content, please email our school social worker, Daniel Slager, with that request. dslager@ccusd93.net
CLUBS
ATHLETICS
Yearbook Information
Are you interested in submitting photos to our yearbook? Please click on the link below!
Are you ready to purchase your child's yearbook? Please click on the link below!
8th Grade registration information from CSHS
If you missed Future Falcon night this week, please click on the link below. Feel free to reach out to CSHS if you have any questions.
PTO
PTO BOARD
- Sarah Fairfield, President
- Bethany Flower & Annie Schwartz, Vice Presidents
- Mollie Sutherland, Secretary
- Virginia Sierra, Treasurer
- Kelly Clary & Jessica Cammarata, FunShine Chairs
- Ashley Renie & Kelly Groth, Snack Shack Chairs
- Kelly Harkins, Web & Technology
- Jessica Spencer, Social Media Chair and Site Council
Future Stinger Night
Please share the below information to any 6th grade parents that you may know! We cannot believe we are already talking about the 2024-2025 school year!
2023-2024 STMS BELL SCHEDULES
FOLLOW STMS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
There are just so many wonderful things happening each and everyday on our campus. To ensure you don't miss out on anything, please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for daily updates.
Around CCUSD
CCUEF News:
CCUEF is going to have a Rally the District with the Suns, March 7th, 2024. They only have until Jan 31st to sell tickets. CCUEF will also be the Community Partner for the Night! They will be showing a short video from Grant the District on the Overhead Screens. They have 350 seats set aside in 6 different price ranges. 30 CCUSD students (16 yrs and younger) will get to be on the court during the National Anthem with the teams. CCUEF will randomly pick students who have tickets. Plus, we get early entrance to watch warm-ups sitting in the lower level.
$5 per ticket will go to CCUEF and any donations received will as well. CCUEF will have a table on the lower level concourse. This will help CCUEF fund grants for 2024.