Couple Reminders....

A busy week lies ahead of us....

Art Prize for our 7th graders will take place this coming Monday.  Please encourage comfortable shoes, remember their lunch and remember the sunblock.

This coming Wednesday is our student count day.  If you can, please try to have your child be in attendance.  We do not want ill children at school but if they can come in and you can avoid appointments that day, we will appreciate it.

All next week is our Spirit Week.  Please encourage your student to take part in the activities.

Next Thursday is 8th Grade Unity Games.  This annual event is a lot of fun for the kids.  Students are asked to minimize hair coloring and face paint. 

Have a great weekend.  Thank you for your continued support.  It is valued and appreciated.

Male Camp Chaperones Needed!!

One of the best parts of camp is the experiences students have with the parents that attend camp as chaperones.  In fact, camp is only possible with the help of our chaperones.  One of the greatest responsibilities of the chaperone is supervision in the cabins at night.  We usually have the hardest time securing males to supervise the male cabins.  This year is different in that we have a desperate need for male chaperones.  We do not have enough to provide an enjoyable experience.  We are seeking your assistance.  If you are able to help chaperone your 6th grader and are a male, please consider contacting your child's advisory teacher.

Thank you for your consideration.

Revised Volleyball Schedule

We have deleted the previous volleyball schedule and have attached a revised version.  This version should replace your previous version.

Thank you.

Art Prize Rescheduled

We have rescheduled our Art Prize field trip for 7th grade for next Monday, October 3.  As of today, (I do realize that this is Michigan and I am setting myself up just by mentioning this but....) the weather looks good for next Monday.  We will look to move this one more time if the weather changes and it will benefit the experience for the kids.  We are all excited for this opportunity!

Art Prize Trip is Postponed

Due to impending inclement weather, we are postponing our 7^th Grade Art Prize trip.  This is a wonderful trip that is best enjoyed with decent weather.  Much of the day is set for outside travel.  We will reschedule the trip.  The date for this will be set very soon. 

Thank you for your understanding.

Meet in the Middle Meeting Schedule

Sparta Middle School

Meet in the Middle Parent Group

New to Sparta Middle School, is a parent group called Meet in the Middle.  Our goal is to work together with the staff, students, and parents to help make middle school a successful experience for our students.  Our group is very similar to the PTC group at the elementary schools.  Meet in the Middle meets on the 4^th Monday of every month from 6:15 to 7:15pm at the Administrative Building on the north end of the middle school.  Below is our 2011-2012 Meet in the Middle meeting schedule:

September 26, 2011 (no school, but we WILL have meeting at 6:15pm @ Admin Bldg)

October 24, 2011

November 28, 2011

January 23, 2012

February 27, 2012

March 26, 2012

April 23, 2012

May 28, 2012 – NO MEETING MEMORIAL DAY

Volleyball Game Change for September 26- Per Director of Athletics

We are going to move the volleyball games with Coopersville from Monday, September 26, to Tuesday, September 27.  This is due to  students not being in session on this day.  The start times will remain the same.  Please take note of these changes and plan accordingly.  Thank you.

Joe Droski

Parents and Technology

I am attaching a link to a publication that communicates issues to educators and parents of adolescents.  This article is lightly informative but provides a few good websites for parents to consider as well as a technology survey for you as a parent to complete.  This might just be fun for your kids to give you.  I am proud to say that I earned the honor of "Very Technology Savvy".  Enjoy!

http://www.amle.org/moya/PlanYourCelebration/PRResources/TechnologyTips/tabid/1200/Default.aspx

New MEAP Cut Scores

Recently, the Michigan Department of Education announced changes to how MEAP scores will be calculated via an increase in the cut score.  This will have an impact on our overall performance ratings as a building and district when MEAP results are released next year.  The scores may communicate differently but, our students and staff are working just as hard this year to do their very best.  As we prepare for the MEAP testing window of October 11-28, I want you to be informed regarding the arbitrary change that was made.  I could go on for a while regarding the validity of a test where you expect a 30% drop in student performance through the decision to change what constitutes proficient.  We will continue to work to improve our delivery and grow student abilities.  I ask that you continue to support your child at home with homework and encourage their continued efforts, on MEAP and all assessments.  Thank you.

Here is a link to the official state announcement:
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-37818-262249--,00.html

Transportation

I want to start with apologizing if last week's transportation issues caused any stress for you or your family.  I believe we have worked through the majority of the bugs that impacted our building and we are very close to exactly on schedule.  I want to thank the drivers and the team in our Transportation Department for their work to help rectify the issues.  If you are having any difficulties with our transportation system, please call 616-887-0136.  If this is unsuccessful, please call our building at 616-887-8211.  We would love to help.

Thank you.

Art Prize

Our 7th grade will be going to Art Prize again this year.  We are planning for Tuesday, September 27.  Because this event is very weather contingent to ensure an enjoyable experience, we will cancel if the weather is unfavorable.  We have rain dates planned and will use these if necessary.  Here is a link to the information that will be sent home to the students: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1037Hvua1NFKhZiSHP5uCV8t7SoewyNlA7p-mXpnbBEI/edit?hl=en_US#

This has been a very exciting and successful event for our 7th Grade and I expect more of the same this year!

6th Grade Coffee Sale

I wanted to let you know that we are all set for our coffee fundraiser, we will again be selling high quality Herman's Boy Coffee. We will be adding a few flavors and will need to charge $11, an increase from $10. Coffee prices have gone up a lot and this is still a great price considering. For every bag that is sold, the students will make three dollars to use toward camp costs. The forms will be passed out by Friday this week. The sale will end on Friday, September 23rd.   We will be able to pass the coffee out by Friday, October 7th.   Below is a link to the information sent home with students.

Please support our students as they work to cover their costs for 6th Grade Camp.  Also, please support Herman's Boy Coffee throughout the year, they have been wonderful to our school.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11q7toowxV03ebWhpTQfndrotVwfOyJzz51Dora9UcSU/edit?hl=en_US#

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AlSR27IdumQPdHJraGpQSzFuRGlVRThzNlRtR0dTTmc&hl=en_US#gid=1

Great Start to the New School Year

We had a very good start to the new year.  It is very nice to have the energy in the building that only excited socializing middle schoolers can bring.  We transitioned through our abbreviated schedules smoothly. 

I understand that there were a couple of bus pick up issues this morning.  We are doing the best we can right now in straightening out bussing assignments and communicating with parents.  The phones are being answered here in Sparta. There has been several people answering the phone continuously this morning, however when a call is being answered new calls simply continue to ring.  Please be patient and/or call a bit later today as the calls begin to dwindle.

In addition, I will be sending out a survey to all parents that did not attend Open House.  I am acutely aware of conflicts that cause the need to bypass this event.  I want to be sure that is the reason for the absence.  I would appreciate your feedback when requested.

If we can serve you or your student in anyway, please contact us.

Thank you for the privilege of working with your children.