Saline Middle School Hornet Highlights for Sunday, November 15, 2020

 Principal's Message:  

As students enter the shortened week and the Thanksgiving holiday, it is a reminder of the importance of reading.  While at Saline Middle School we recommend a 1/2 hour of independent reading each evening, here is a short graphic highlighting the importance of reading 20 minutes.  While we know that obtaining books during a pandemic can be a challenge, please reach out to your student's English Language Arts teacher.  Also, The SMS Media Center is open for book check-out, for both in-person and virtual students.  Watch this video to learn how it works!  Finally, the Saline District Library is also available for book check-out.

Wednesday and Thursday are parent-teacher conferences.  If your student's teachers have not reached out to you and you have a concern, please feel free to contact them soon.  All conferences will be completed remotely.  Again, please personally reach out if you have a concern.  If you wish to meet with your child's counselor, please see the message in "Important Information."

The first day of the new trimester will begin on Monday, November 30th.  We are in the process of finalizing the survey results of in-person and virtual preferences.  You will hear from us by Monday, November 23rd if your student's preference has changed.

Schedule for the Week:

This week is parent-teacher conference week.  Please note the alternate schedule below.

Elective Day	Monday A 11/16	Tuesday A 11/17	Wednesday B  11/18    1/2 Day Day ends at 11:20 am (No lunch served at school)	Thursday B 11/19 1/2 Day Day ends at 11:20 am (No lunch served at school)	Friday A and B 11/20 1/2 Day Day ends at 11:20 am
Blue (A-K)	In-Person	Remote	In-Person	Remote	Remote
Gold (L-Z)	Remote	In-Person	Remote	In-Person	Remote

New and Important Information for the Week:

Counselor availability during conferences: If you would like to schedule a meeting with your student's counselor

during conferences, here are the links below:

Mr. Stimac (6th Grade Summit and 8th Grade): https://koalendar.com/events/Meet-with-Matt-Stimac-1

Ms. Chambers (6th Grade Google Classroom and 7th Grade):  https://koalendar.com/events/Meet-with-Tara-Chambers

Covid-19 Related Items:

What Happens When Someone Gets Covid

Flowchart for Symptomatic Individuals

If you are coming into Saline Middle School for a meeting, please fill out the Health Screener before your arrival.  Your cooperation with this is appreciated.

Here is the latest version of the SAS Connected Learning Plan. This includes updates to sample schedules and a new flow chart for health scenarios.

From the SMS PTO:

PTO No Hassle Fundraiser.  Please donate at this link:  http://mspto.weebly.com/fundraising.html

Upcoming Dates:

For information about clubs, athletics and school events, subscribe to the Saline Middle School calendar or go to the Saline MIddle School Website.

November 18th and 19th:  1/2 Day for Students and Afternoon and Evening Conferences

November 20th:  1/2 Day for Students (Remote for All Students)

November 24th:  Remote for ALL Students

November 25th-27th:  Thanksgiving Break

Repeating Messages:

More Information from Saline Social Services:

Dear SAS Families,

As we head into the winter/holiday season and the global pandemic continues, we know that the needs of our families may be significant.  This year, we are partnering with Saline Area Social Services to offer assistance to struggling families.

Saline Area Schools families (including school of choice students and employee children) are eligible to receive bags of supplies for a Thanksgiving meal from Saline Social Services.  Supplies include:

Stove Top Stuffing – 1 box

Green beans – 2 cans 

Cream of Mushroom – 1 can

Gravy – 1 can

*Please note, if a family has 4 or more people, they will receive two bags. 

Please call Saline Social Services at 734-429-4570 by Monday, November 16th.  When you call, let them know that you are a Saline Area Schools family and indicate whether you would prefer to pick up your supplies at Saline Social Services or at your child's Saline School.

Saline residents may also apply with Saline Social Services for on-going assistance including: 

• A weekly food pantry that includes fresh, frozen, canned and boxed goods, diapers, toiletries and paper products.  We also provide special items, like laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo, deodorant and feminine hygiene products to our clients monthly.
• Referrals to government agencies and additional resources that can help our clients with specific needs.
• Limited assistance with rent, energy bills, car repair and prescription co-pays.
  • Rent assistance, in emergency situations only.
  • Utility must be in client’s name.  Client must be on a budget plan or payment protection plan or have a shut-off notice. In shut-off situation, client must go to Department of Human Services first and get verification of what DHS will pay.
  • We can assist with co-pays for prescriptions filled at our partner pharmacy (Saline Pharmacy) once the client enrolls in the Washtenaw County Prescription Plan, Medicaid, Medicare Part D, or a private insurance carrier.
• Personal items — such as eyeglasses, backpacks, children’s musical instruments and supplies.
• Back-to-School backpacks and supplies, including new shoes.
• Birthday gifts for children under the age of 18.
• The Holiday Meal Program, providing a complete holiday meal for Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
• Adopt-a-Family Program, which matches our families with generous adopters for gifts during the Christmas season.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your building's School Social Worker.  Contact info can be found here.

Thank you and take care,

SAS School Social Work Team

Did you that there is a website to assist Saline families in need?  Here is the link to Hornets Helping Hornets! 

Need tech help?  The SAS Tech Department is here to help!  Fill this form out with your tech questions and problems.

Attendance:  Please remember that if your child is going to be absent, even remotely, please call the Saline Middle School front office to report attendance at 734-401-4600; press #1 for attendance OR use the Google Form.  

Grades:  Please check Powerschool or Summit Platform as many teachers have begun to enter grades.  Please contact the technology department here if you are having difficulty accessing Powerschool.

Breakfast and lunch continue to be free for ALL students as long as Federal funding allows.  

Office Loop:  At the end of the day, please pick-up students in the pick-up loop near the auditorium as buses do arrive at Saline Middle School very close to the bell at 2:54 pm.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

SMS Pick-Up Loop:  In an effort to keep our students and families safe, and keep traffic off of Maple Road, please watch this short video about the Saline Middle School Pick-Up Loop in the afternoon.   https://youtu.be/wfilwLopcvI

Saline Middle School Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA):  Is your student interested in helping start Saline Middle School's Gay-Straight Alliance? Whether you're a part of the LGBTQ+ community or you're an ally, we would love to hear how interested your student is.  Please fill out this form if your student is interested. 

Super Smash Bros. is back!  Super Smash Club will meet Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7:30-7:55 AM in the SMS Hot Spot. There are a limited number of screens and seats available for use, so interested students please complete the Super Smash Club Interest Form. Contact Mr. Terberg for more information: terbergj@salineschools.org.

The SMS Girls Who Code Club is looking to begin meeting in the 2nd trimester. Please go to HQ.girlswhocode.com and use MI27446 to sign up and show your interest. Meeting dates and times will be determined after everyone has signed up based on everyone's availability. 

Toys for Tots: Miss Saline is collecting donations for Toys for Tots. You may find a donation box at: Saline Middle School, Saline High School, Renew Salon and Spa, Mancino's, Susan Rosales at State Farm Saline, Brewed Awakenings, and Katherine Kelly Orthodontics. Please donate a new unwrapped toy by December 14th. Thank you! 

Destination Imagination:  The deadline for registration is January 1, 2021; however, we would love to get students on teams before then, if possible.  A ton of details are on our website: www.salinedi.org.