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SSCMS PTO Foundation
STALLION NEWS
Family Newsletter
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Principals' Message March 13th, 2020
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Greetings SSCMS Families,
We are aware that many families are concerned about the Corona Virus. Please direct any questions you may have to the Georgia Department of Health and the CDC. We are asking everyone in the SSCSM community to follow the guidelines shared with us by the GDPH and the CDC. Staff members and families are asked to monitor anyone who has a fever and symptoms of a respiratory illness including a runny nose, cough, and/or shortness of breath. Please call your local health provider for assistance If flu-like symptoms occur. You can follow updates on the District website at
FCS SCHOOLS CLOSING
DIGITAL LEARNING
Students will be expected to complete online learning assignments and/or work packets as assigned by their classroom teachers. School principals and teachers will be sending out additional information related to this expectation by Monday, March 16, 2020.
Please make sure that your student brings home his/her device each day in the coming weeks. This will enable learning to continue should the need to close schools arise again. Our teachers are using the Microsoft 365 platform to enable students to receive necessary materials throughout their learning units. March 24 th is a digital learning day. Teachers will be communicating with the students the expectations for that day as it gets nearer.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS
The music department’s LGPE dates have been canceled for band and orchestra. Mr. Pena, Ms. Stalling, and Mr. Isaacs will keep you informed about any changes in the LGPE performances. Unfortunately, the music trip to Orlando has been canceled for this May. The music teachers will be working closely with the tour company to work out any reimbursements for the money that has been paid to date. Please reach out to Mr. Pena if you have any questions (Pena@fultonschools.org).
8th GRADE ACTIVITIES
At this time, the 8 th grade field trip to Savannah in May is approved to continue as planned. Mr.
Lawhead and Mr. Kaplan will be sending out more information about the trip as the date gets closer.
There has not been any change in the date for the 8 th grade dance on May 15 th . We will proceed with all of the 8th grade activities as planned.
MILESTONE TESTING AND ASSESSMENT TESTING
As April and May approach, we will begin our preparation for Milestone Testing. At home, you can help prepare your child by referring to the GA Experience Online at http://gaexperienceonline.com/. From the website - This practice site lets students see what testing online is like. Parents and educators are welcome to try it too. The items on the demonstration tests are general and are organized into three grade bands: Grades 3 – 5, Grades 6 – 8, and High School in the content areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The items do not necessarily represent the specific grade-level content that students learn daily in their classrooms. The primary purpose is to let students experience, firsthand, the functionality of the online testing platform. The sample tests are not graded, so have fun! The Test Practice is available daily from 7 AM to 10 PM.
Eighth Grade testing begins the Thursday after Spring Break with the Math EOG. Sixth and Seventh
Grade EOG’s begin Monday, May 4th .
The testing office has extended the testing window for the Algebra I assessment that was supposed to
take place this week. Ms. Lee and Mr. Hicks will be communicating the new date with parents and
students as soon as it is set.
ACTIVITIES:
All school and district activities are canceled/postponed effective Friday, March 13, 2020. This includes, but is not limited to, all scholastic and athletic competitions, sports practices, music/drama/arts performances, proms, school trips and any other extra-curricular activities. Additionally, this includes outside groups that meet at our schools.
-Mr. Abney and Mr. Hicks
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Letter from Mr. Abney to SSCMS Families Regarding Remote Learning 3/13/20
Due to school closure, Fulton County Schools has implemented Remote Learning. Remote Learning is a strategy for learning continuity to be deployed for extended time away from school. This plan assumes that power and internet connectivity is not disrupted.
Comcast is offering 2 months free to new Internet Essentials customers in response to recent and anticipated emergency measures associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19). https://www.internetessentials.com/.
Remote Learning assignments can be accessed in your child’s online notebook through any device. Each teacher will keep remote learning assignments up to date for students. There is a district expectation of 120 minutes per day of learning. Teachers will be available by email from 8:15 am - 4:15 pm to answer questions as needed. If you have questions about Remote Learning visit the Remote Learning Page.
Parents who have opted out of devices should come to the school no later than 11:30 am today to sign the device agreement to receive a device or pick up paper copies of assignments for their child. Also, parents who would like to pick up their child’s instrument should arrive before 11:30 am today.
See below for frequently asked questions (FAQs) concerning Remote Learning. Please work to establish a consistent routine of learning for your student(s) during this period of school closure. If you have any other questions or concerns regarding instruction, please contact your child’s teacher. Check the
Sandy Springs Middle School
and
Fulton County Schools
websites regularly for important updates.
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Coronavirus: Information for Fulton County Schools Students, Employees and Families
Dr. Mike Looney, superintendent of Fulton County Schools (FCS), in collaboration with the Fulton County School Board (Board) is implementing proactive measures to minimize risk to students, employees, and families relating to the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19. As a part of this effort, a cross-functional Executive Task Force (ETF) of senior district leaders was established to monitor and oversee FCS’s ongoing response to the coronavirus.
The ETF will direct these proactive measures by providing guidance on school attendance, school cleaning, student enrollment, student travel and re-entry, employee travel and re-entry, employee attendance, and facility rental. FCS remains in close communication with the Fulton County Board of Health and other public health officials to make informed operational decisions. FCS is committed to keeping our students, employees, and families safe and informed with the most current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
All FCS Families are encouraged to open and read the attached 3-page document regarding FCS response to the Coronavirus regarding Student Attendance, Cleaning of School Facilities, Enrollment of Students from High Risk Areas, Student and/or Employee Travel, Re-entry of Student and/or Employees from Travel, Employee Attendance, Facility Rentals, and School and District Sponsored Events.
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Stallions Helping Stallions:
Groceries to Those In Need
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One of the impacts of closed schools is students in need going hungry. PTO Co-President Jenn Lott created a way the SSCMS family community can provide groceries to SSCMS families who are rely on free breakfast and lunch and will need assistance during the school closing. FCS is working on a plan, but it may take a while to get that plan in place since COVID-19 has become such a large crisis.
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To donate non-perishable goods or to pick up items, look for the bins in Samad with the signs below.
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Your PTO does its best to keep you updated on current events impacting SSCMS. A reminder your best source of information during this time are the
FCS and
SSCMS Websites.
Per Dr. Looney, families will be getting weekend status on Friday afternoons of our situation.
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8th Grade NSHS Summer Bridge Program
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Attention rising 9
th
grade parent/students:
Registration is now open for the 2020 Summer Bridge Program.
This year, our program will be held on the campus of Ridgeview Charter Middle School - 5340 S Trimble Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30342 Monday, June 1, 2020 through Friday, June 26, 2020.
The Summer Bridge experience is a four-week program that allows incoming freshmen to earn 1.0 credit toward graduation. (.5 – Health and .5 – Personal Fitness)
This program is only for students that are registered and will be attending NSCHS during the 2020-2021 school year.
Only 60 students will be accepted into the program.
The registration fee is $75.
The registration and payment links are listed inside of the Overview packet. T
he deadline for payment and registration is May 18, 2020. (First come, first served.)
See the
flyer
and
information packet
for more program info. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kimberly Daniel, Summer Bridge Coordinator, at 470-254-2081.
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Student Device YouTube & Internet Announcement
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There are two upcoming changes with your student’s device. As of Monday, March 16, 2020, student issued Fulton County devices will no longer provide open access to YouTube. We realize that YouTube does offer some educational videos, so teachers will be able to provide links to specific videos in YouTube through Safari Montage for students.
The second change is that the student devices will not be able to access the internet between the hours of 12 am and 5 am. Students will still be able to use apps, such as MS Word and OneNote during this time period; however, they will not be able to access the internet
This change is intended to protect our students while they are using Fulton County issued devices. We will be holding information session to discuss these changes on Monday, March 9, 2020 at 5:30 pm.
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Common Sense Media:
Help Your Family De-Stress
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With so much uncertainty over the last couple weeks, lots of families are feeling stressed out. Events are being canceled, spring break plans are being put on hold, hand sanitizer is in short supply. Feeling stressed? From Common Sense Media:
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Georgia Milestones Update
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DATE WILL BE RESCHEDULED:
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FCS will update families each Friday during school closure with updates. We will relay information as received, but the best place for the most recent information is
www.fultonschools.org.
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PTO FACEBOOK GROUP
If you haven't linked into the closed SSCMS Facebook group for parents and guardians yet, please request to join. Lots of important info is posted there throughout the week. Search under "Sandy Springs Charter Middle School PTO Foundation", answer the questions to confirm you're a SSCMS parent or guardian, and you'll be added right away! (you don't have to be a PTO member to join).
ON TWITTER?
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Our SSCMS Family Stallion Newsletter will come out weekly, containing important news and notes about SSCMS.
Join us also on Facebook under Sandy Spring Charter Middle School PTO!
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Your support of the SSCMS PTO Foundation provides funding to ensure after school sports and arts enrichment offerings in addition to so much more!
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