"The Stinger" october 27, 2023

A Note from Mr. Boggs

Hello Fellow Stingers!

What a beautiful turn the weather has taken! NOW is the time of year I text my friends back in Kansas and let them know just how cold, cloudy and rainy it ISN’T here!! I. Love. It.

Today I am going to suggest something that may sound a little crazy. But rest assured, Mrs. Towns, my third grade teacher would be on board and all about this.

See, she was the nice lady who made sure that I knew my times tables. We would practice at home and she would call us up individually and we had to be able to recite them as fast as she could flip the cards. All the way to the 12s!

I imagine you must be thinking “what is he on about now? What is the point? Does he need more sleep or something?” Well, probably but I have a point here. A few years back, mathematical instruction changed at the primary level placing a new emphasis on higher order thinking and problem solving. Whether or not this was a good idea is a discussion for another time, but it has had an interesting effect and presented an unusual challenge to students as they mature and encounter more complicated algebraic type math like we do here in middle school.

Here is the part that makes complete sense: It is harder and slower to solve algebraic equations if you have to stop at each step and do that finger thing to figure out what 7 times 6 is. Imagine you are in a new, fancy car with unfamiliar controls. It is absolutely possible to figure out how to operate the radio and cruise control and navigation system simply by accessing the owner’s manual. It is REALLY AWKWARD (and dangerous) to do that while you are trying to drive! Likewise, it is really hard to concentrate on solving a complicated equation if you have to stop and THINK about the simple steps along the way.

This is a bad news, good news situation. The bad news is that many of our students don’t have mastery of this basic skill. Here is the very good news. We are talking about times tables, not particle physics. There is such an easy fix and can be done old school. Simple flash cards are all you need to really help our shared students take a significant step towards being a better math student. And it isn’t even a long term thing! Within ONE WEEK, every student can master this basic skill up through the 10s. Every student.

I invite you to challenge and test me on this. Ask your student random simple multiplication questions. Heck, they may know them and then all is well. But if they struggle, are are slow or have to stop and figure, then you would be doing them a real service by helping them and ensuring they master this skill.

Now that I have imposed upon your time and given you all homework, I will bid you a fond farewell and wish you a happy weekend. GO DIAMONDBACKS!!

Upcoming DateS

October 31: Halloween Spirit Day- students may dress up- no masks

November 1: 1:00- 90-minute PLC early release day

November 7: Take the night off from cooking and eat at Chipotle

November 8: 1:00-90-minute PLC early release day

November 9: Veteran's Day Assembly

November 10: Veteran's Day- No School

November 13-19: School Psychology Week

November 13-19: American Education Week

November 15: 8th graders go to CSHS- Future Falcon Fly-In

November 17: Bus Evacuation Drills

November 22-24: Thanksgiving Break- No School

November 28: Site Council

November 29: 1:00- 90-minute PLC early release

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. We will also celebrate random students each week who participate. Go Stingers!

November 3: College Day

November 9: Red, White, Blue

November 17: Waldo Day (Where's Waldo?)

STMS important Information

PLC Information: How are we shifting at STMS from our "old ways"?

A Shift in Professional Development

1. From external training to job-embedded training on campus and within CCUSD.
2. From the expectation that learning occurs infrequently (on the days devoted to professional development) to an expectation that learning is ongoing and occurs as part of routine work practice.
3. From presentations to entire staff to team-based action research.
4. From learning by listening to learning by doing.
5. From learning individually through courses and workshops to learning collectively by working together.
6. From assessing impact on the basis of teacher satisfaction (“did you like it”) to assessing impact on the basis of evidence of improved student learning.
7. From short-term exposure to multiple concepts and practices to sustained commitment to limited, focused initiatives.

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!

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.

Clubs

NJHS

The STMS National Junior Honor Society started their annual food drive this week. It runs through Friday, November 3. Students should donate non-perishables or canned food to their 4th period class. The class that collects the most items for Foothills Food Bank wins an ice cream party!! Courtesy of NJHS.

Thank you for your donations and continued support!

social wOrk

Hello parents,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to provide you with an update on Second Step, which is now in its fifth week. The topic for this week's lesson for seventh-graders is: "Overcoming Challenges". During this week's lesson, students were encouraged to think about their goals and identify any potential obstacles that could prevent them from achieving them. They were then taught strategies to overcome these obstacles and to consider seeking help from others if needed.

The topic for the eighth-grade lesson this week was: "Overcoming an Obstacle to Achieve a Goal". In this lesson, students were asked to think about a time when they faced an obstacle while trying to meet a goal. During the discussion time, students were allowed to share how they were able to overcome their obstacles. If they were not able to do so, they discussed what they could have done differently to succeed.

If you have time in your already busy day, please engage with your children on these topics. Share with them your thoughts and experiences with overcoming challenges. If you struggle to come up with questions or talking points, I have added a few below:

1. Share with your child a time you faced a challenge and were able to overcome it.

• What strategies did you use?
• How did it feel to overcome the challenge?

2. Tell them about a time that you faced a challenge that you were not able to overcome.

• What did you learn from the experience?
• What did you do next?
• How did it feel?

3. Talk to them about the importance of seeking help from others when facing a challenge and who they might go to for help.

The lessons in Second Step for seventh and eighth-grade students are designed to teach them valuable skills that will help them overcome challenges and achieve their goals. As parents, it's important to engage with your children on these topics and share your experiences with them. Encourage them to seek help when they face challenges and let them know that it's okay to ask for assistance. By doing so, you can help your children develop the skills and confidence they need to overcome obstacles and succeed in life.

~Mr. Slager

Counseling Corner

Does your child have test anxiety? Did you know that over 35% of students have test anxiety no matter how much they prepare! These tips can help your student alleviate some of that stress: (Repeat)

1. Study a little bit over time so the answers become second nature
2. Practice taking tests with resources like kahoot and then practice taking a test like you would in class.
3. Do some deep breathing before the test. When you panic, you stop breathing properly, and lack of oxygen affects your brain. Learn to do deep-breathing exercises, and use them before and even during a test.
4. Communicate with teachers and parents. Don’t keep your test anxiety inside! Let your parents, teachers, and other supporting adults know that tests really amp up your anxiety. They may have some helpful tips and tricks for you!
5. Keep things in perspective. We promise, failing one test will not destroy your life. If test anxiety is disrupting your life (affecting your mood, causing you to lose sleep, giving you physical symptoms like stomach problems or headaches), you might need to talk to someone like a professional counselor or therapist.

Some Things to Remember:

Is your child interested in taking Executive Functioning Skills next semester? Please email Mrs. Love with their name and she will have a conversation with them to see if they would like to be part of group.

8th Grade IB Program Information Session:

Athletics

Coach Don Larson (Athletic Director): 480.272.8620