Spartan Chronicle

Southern Lehigh Middle School | August 15, 2024

Vol 3. Issue 1

“Strong people don’t put others down, they lift them up.” - Michael Watson.

WELCOME BACK!

We are so excited to have our students back in the building in just a few short weeks! This summer, we’ve been busy hiring, redecorating, planning, and preparing as we launched a new student information system, (Infinite Campus), with great features, planned and prepared for new resources and curriculum and brought on some fantastic new staff!

Our theme for 2024-2025 is “BRAVE the Storm!” Each team has been given a new storm-themed name. We will be continuing and building on our school-wide values of BRAVE - Belonging, Responsibility, Achievement, Valuing each other, and Empathy and celebrating these characteristics in our students. We will also be planning more activities through our teams to reinforce these characteristics and build communication skills and teamwork.

Middle school can be a stormy time for both adolescents and parents, as students begin to search for independence, but still very much need support from their families! We want to celebrate student voice and choice, while maintaining high expectations and high support. We are very much looking forward to a great year, filled with new learning, new experiences, and new opportunities!

Welcome to Southern Lehigh Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year!

You are Invited:

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1. Title 1 Parent - Family Engagement Meeting:
• 8/28 @ 3:30 via Google Meet

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• Comprehensive Planning Meeting
• Interested in sharing your feedback as part of the Steering Committee for SLSD’s Comprehensive Planning?
• Meeting dates and times TBD

*** Email Mrs. Webb @ webbd@slsd.org to participate.

NEW STAFF

We are so excited to welcome some new staff to our team this year:

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Miss Alyssa Ehret - will be joining us as a new Special Education teacher. Miss Ehret is a recent graduate from Millersville University who just completed an intensive year-long internship with the local Intermediate Unit and brings a wealth of fresh knowledge and experience supporting students.

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Ms. Danielle Ide - will be joining our team as the new Certified School Nurse. Ms. Ide has worked as a school nurse at Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, as well as in Whitehall-Coplay school district, and has several years of experience in the field as a circulating and scrub nurse.

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Ms. Randa Ray - We are excited to have a new French teacher joining us, once released from her current district. She has many years of experience teaching both French and Spanish and a true joy and passion for teaching French!

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Ms. Janelle Reiser - has joined our team as the new Licensed Health Room Nurse and coming to us with lots of experience. She will be working with Ms. Ide to promote and maintain student health!

Principal’s Message

August & September Updates

8/26/24 - First Day of School!

• Orientation for 7th graders

8/26/24 - TEAM Assemblies

8/30/24 - No School

9/2/24 - Labor Day - No School

9/5/24 - Open House 6:30 - 8:30pm

9/6/24 - Picture Day! (Make ups 10/10)

9/23/24 - Inservice -No School for Students

Updates for the start of the 2024-2025…

• Infinite Campus: New Student Information System!
• Student and Parent Portal , SLSD Infinite Campus Resources
• Student Schedules live at end of day (3:00 pm) 8/15/24.
• Please make sure you are signed up and able to access Infinite Campus. You can use this portal to put in requests to bring your child in late or leave early, check student grades/schedule, and much more!
• Students will be using the portal to request hall passes, contact teachers and stay up to date on their grades and assignments.

For your planning purposes….

MP 1 Assessment Schedule

• IXL Math Diagnostic: 8/26 - 9/6
• IXL Reading Diagnostic: 9/3 - 9/13
• STAR Math: 8/26 - 9/13
• STAR Reading: 9/3 - 9/20
• Interested in more info on IXL? Check out this IXL Parent guide!

Cafeteria Updates

Welcome & Information Newsletter from Food Services

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SLMS Cafeteria Menus & Additional information

(can be found on the SLMS website, under Parents Tab)

Come support our Athletes:

SLMS Sports Schedule

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Important Documents to Review/Complete

• Beginning of the Year Form - Please complete this essential 24-25 First Day Form, which includes information about Photo Releases, Over the Counter Medication, School Lunch Info, 1-1 Laptop policy, and more: First Day Forms 24-25
• Please review: SLMS Handbook & Code of Conduct
• Parent Right to Know Letter - Title I
• For your reference:
• 24/25 Bell Schedule
• 24/25 SLSD School Calendar

Reminders

• Parent Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures
• Parent Drop Off begins (doors open) at 7:15.
• Parent Drop Off ends at 7:38 (doors close) because students need to be in their Homeroom by 7:40 to be considered on-time.
• Similar process and locations from 23-24 School Year.
• More Information & info on the Special Bus Permit available here: 2024-2025 Student Drop-Off/Pick-Up

Open House

Thursday, September 5, 6:30-8:30

Similar to last year, this will be a “Drop-In & Explore” style of Open House. Parents and students can follow their schedules, explore the Middle School and visit each classroom - meeting & greeting each teacher.

Parking can be a challenge during an event like this, so we’re asking parents to stagger their arrival times. Families with last names beginning A-I should try to arrive at 6:30 PM, J-Q at 7:00 PM, and R-Z at 7:30 PM.

Spartan Shoutouts

• Our Custodial Team: Joanne, Eddie, Kendra, Tom & Adam - the building looks wonderful! Thank you!
• Mrs. Lounsberry, Mrs. Young, & Mrs. Cooper - Thank you for helping us get ready for this year with schedules, a new Information System and contact with families!
• Mr. Hayducek, Ms. Robbins & Mr. Pauling - Working to produce Studio 22!

Parent Connections

We are looking forward to re-establishing the PTG this year with connections to the JPLIS PTG in order to build in continuity. In addition, we will be holding Parent Engagement events quarterly and are open to any additional ideas of parent involvement or needs you might have! Looking forward to connecting!

Stay Connected

• Follow us on Twitter! @SlmsSpartans
• Check us out on Facebook: SLMSSpartans
• Please make sure your settings on Infinite Campus are correct in order to get ALL the alerts & communications.

August 15, 2024

Phone: 610-282-3700

Address: 3715 Preston Lane,

Center Valley, Pa

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Visit our Website:

Southern Lehigh MS

YESS! Fall Lecture Series

Free & Open to Parents/Educators:

YESS! Fall Lecture Series 9/9, 10/7, 11/4

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New Offerings!

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We are constantly working with our staff, our community & our families to offer new opportunities to MS students:

• We are excited to offer MathCounts after school in the library once per week beginning in September.
• Sign up for more info here: Math Counts Interest Form
• We will be offering Mock Trial Experience during the Trimester 1 Activity period within the school day.
• Our Award-Winning What’s So Cool About Manufacturing Team is looking for a few new members to join!
• Studio 22 our broadcast network also has some limited open spots for new participants!