"The Stinger" november 3, 2023

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. Go Stingers!

November 9: Red, White, Blue

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

STMS important Information

The Four Critical Questions of Learning

If we believe all kids can learn:

1. What is it we expect them to learn?
2. How will we know when they have learned it?
3. How will we respond when they do not learn?
4. How will we respond when they already know it?

In our PLCs at STMS, these questions guide the conversations of our entire staff, the collaborative teams, and the day-to-day work of teachers in every classroom. We reflect on these questions for every lesson that we plan.

Here were some celebrations from our Science Department this week:

1. In Mr. Hussey's classes, his students scored much better on the last test retake.
2. In Ms. Fauss's classes, 7th graders made a tenacious effort to figure out how conservation of mass works using the chemical equation for photosynthesis.
3. In Ms. Betance's classes, many students attended office hours and their grades are increasing.
4. In Mr. Niebch's classes, students earned an outside break for being stellar for his sub.

Their next steps in Science are to unpack the data from CFA #6 and start working on the Q2 final.

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

Counseling Corner

A Note from Mr. Moriarty

Hello Stingers. Now that fall break has passed and we are back to business, I’d like to remind all parents and students that support is available to all in need. I meet with students every day, and one theme constantly presents itself: this being the feeling of anxiousness and anxiety. Students are not alone. Many parents also feel this in their lives, and it can be one of the most difficult experiences to unravel.

Anxiety can impact the learning process. In children and adolescents, the anxieties and worries often concern the quality of their performance or competence at school or in sporting events, even when their performance is not being evaluated by others. It can present in a multitude of ways, such as catastrophic thinking, perfectionism, and being unsure of themselves, sometimes tending to redo tasks because of excessive dissatisfaction, with less than perfect performance. While procrastination is part of human nature, anxiety can make it impossible to undertake essential tasks.

One of my main goals is to prepare 7 th graders for 8 th grade, thus preparing them for high-school. Middle school is a training ground for their future. If you see any of the traits provided above, please feel free to reach out to me personally, and I will meet with your child to discuss barriers presenting. To carry these feelings is often unnecessary.

In the coming weeks, I will be offering small group work. One group will be a skills-based group, one that speaks to many of the feelings and barriers presenting in the lives of our students. Areas covered will include executive function strategies, goal setting, thinking flexibly, organizing and prioritizing materials and time, organizing and prioritizing information, remembering (memorizing), and self-monitoring and self-checking. A second group will focus on emotion regulation dynamics, communication skills, and building resiliency. I believe these groups will offer skills relevant to their current experience. I’m sure you will find value in these programs.

Please feel free to email me, and I will be sure to respond.

Athletics

Coach Don Larson (Athletic Director): 480.272.8620

PTO

PTO Board:

Sarah Fairfield, President

Bethany Flower and Annie Schwartz, Vice Presidents

Mollie Sutherland, Secretary

Virginia Sierra, Treasurer

Kelly Clary and Jessica Cammarata, Fun Shine Chairs

Ashley Renie and Kelly Groth, Snack Shack Chairs

Kelly Harkins, Web and Technology

Jessica Spencer, Social Media Chair and Site Council