Dear Parents,

                We are off to a great start and the first six weeks have progressed smoothly!  It is hard to believe this past week marks the end of the first hexter of the 2012-13 school year.  I am sure you have noticed that Middle School is a time of great change for your student.  Students seem to grow inches overnight and begin to develop a sense of independence.  Hopefully by now, your child has a solid understanding of the school and the many teachers he/she interacts with on a daily basis. 

                Thank you for reinforcing the importance of attendance, promptness, academics at school and at home, and having your student wear their student identification badge every day.  As most of you know, October is a critical month for us due to the “Official Count Day,” which determines how public schools are funded.  We appreciate your efforts in having your student at school during the count window (September 24^th-October 8^th) and every day of the school year.

Attendance is a critical factor in a student’s ability to attain the maximum benefit from the educational environment.  Some of you may have experienced a call or a letter regarding an attendance concern.  The district attendance intervention policy is based on the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) philosophy to help schools prioritize levels of student attendance concerns and direct resources proactively through the systems’ support strategies.  The following steps are being implemented to prevent attendance concerns:  1. A teacher will speak to a student once the student has 2-3 absences (excused or unexcused).   2.  When a student has 4-5 absences (excuse or unexcused) a teacher may make parent contact to discuss the possible attendance concerns.   3. When a student has 6-7 absences (excused or unexcused), an administrator will either call or send a letter to notify parents of his/her concern about continued absences. 4.  When a student reaches 8-10 absences (excused or unexcused), an administrator will arrange for a conference to be held with parents, student, and teachers to develop a Student Attendance Stipulation (Contract).  Again, the purpose of the guidelines is to assist your child in realizing the importance of school and becoming the best student possible.

The staff continues to support academics by providing extra help before/after school, during lunch, and at Homework Helpers (four days a week before and after school in the media center).   Always feel free to contact your teacher by email or phone, with email being the more efficient source of communication.  Make sure you mark your calendars for Thursday, October 11^th (5-8 p.m.) and Friday, October 12^th (12 Noon – 3 p.m. & 4:30-7:30 p.m.) for SRMS Parent/Teacher Conferences.  There will be no school on Friday, October 12^th due to morning training for staff and conferences beginning at noon.

 Eighth (8^th) grade parents, please note District 12 is sponsoring a High School Open House.  Feel free to attend either of the two sessions:  November 8^th from 6-8 p.m. at Thornton High School (THS) or November 13^th from 6-8 p.m.  at Northglenn High School (NGHS). 

 Thank you for supporting our school wide fundraiser.  Selling the Entertainment books and cookie dough has been a profitable success in the past, we will have an amount raised in next month’s newsletter.  As most of you know, the fundraiser is spent on building technology.  We continue to implement technology into our instruction in various methods.

 

Thank you for your continued care and support for your student, Shadow Ridge Middle School, and Adams County School District 12!

Sincerely,

Principal Susie Wickham