Saline Hornet Highlights for Sunday, March 7, 2021

 Principal's Message:  

As we prepare for the start of trimester 3, we have two half days on Thursday, March 11th and Friday, March 12th.  March 11th is an in-person day for our GOLD students while Friday, March 12th is asynchronous virtual 1/2 day.  Please note that our buses WILL be running for our in-person students on Thursday and our day ends at 11:20 am.

If your student will be making a change in learning preference (in-person to virtual or virtual to in-person), you will be hearing from us via email on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Thank you for your patience as we work through the learning preference changes.

Also, families of current 6th and 7th graders should have received scheduling/elective information in your email.  If you did not receive an email entitled "Saline Middle School 2021-22 Course Selection (Action Required)" please email schukowa@salineschools.org .  It is also included in the transition blogs below.

Here is the half-day schedule.

Schedule for the Week of March 8-12, 2021

General Hybrid Schedule

Click here for the daily hybrid schedule.

Elective Day	Monday A	Tuesday A	Wednesday B	Thursday B 1/2 Day- School Dismissed at 11:20 am	1/2 Day Asynchronous Friday: Both A and B Electives 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:

NEW: Do you plan on traveling internationally over Spring Break?  According to the CDC, anyone traveling internationally must quarantine for 10 days upon return.

Note: If a parent travels internationally and returns, the parent would quarantine but the kids could still come to school as long as no symptoms arise. But if—for example—the entire family goes to Mexico for spring break—the kids will not be able to come back to school until 10 days have passed. 

 

Details are here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html

 

The exception is that anyone who has had both doses of vaccine (and is at least two weeks past that second dose, up until 90 days after their immunization) does not need to quarantine.

NEW:  Do you want to learn more about Summit?  There will be a Zoom meeting explaining the Summit platform on Thursday, March 11th at 7:00 pm.  The Zoom link will be added soon.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Mar 11, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: SMS Summit Informational Night

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://salineschools-org.zoom.us/j/95839418214?pwd=cUNjWEg3OEtoelQ1aytscWFlSEt5UT09
Passcode: 509392
Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +13017158592,,95839418214#,,,,*509392# or +13126266799,,95839418214#,,,,*509392#
Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 900 9128
Webinar ID: 958 3941 8214
Passcode: 509392
International numbers available: https://salineschools-org.zoom.us/u/an4EbvoZ4

NEW: Did your student not take a yearbook photo and would like to be in the yearbook? Please email David Reeves at reevesd@salineschools.org for details. If you would still like to order a yearbook, there is still time. Please order by the end of this week! To purchase yearbooks, visit yearbookforever.com and search for Saline Middle School.

NEW: 2021-22 BYOD+ Expectation (Incoming 6th and 7th graders)

Next school year, there is a BYOD expectation for both 6th and 7th-grade students. For current 6th grade families that have received a school-issued device during COVID, we will collect those devices at the end of this school year. Please refer to the BYOD+ Informational Flyer for more information and the link to the scholarship form if needed.  

Students who are 8th graders in 2021-22 will be provided a school-issued device and expected to participate in BYOD during their 9th-grade year. 

There will be a BYOD community forum on Wednesday, March 24 at 6:30 PM via Zoom: 

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://salineschools-org.zoom.us/j/91511777004?pwd=UU1mTndCNDF1Y0EvTHBoZWJRZEMzQT09

Passcode: 885764

NEW:  Safe Driving at Dismissal

We have received multiple complaints of unsafe driving entering and exiting our parent/guardian pick-up loop at dismissal. Please practice safe and patient driving while on Maple Rd. and school property. Thanks for your immediate attention to this matter. As a reminder, here is a video showing our pick-up loop procedure.

NEW:  Is your student interested in TRACK?  Click here for all of the information that you need or open up the QR code!

WIN 4 AUTISM:

NEW! TRANSITION INFORMATION:

It was a big week in the area transition! Please click on the link if you were not able to attend the informational

Webinars or missed emails.

• Class of 2028 (Current 5th Graders)
• Class of 2027 (Current 6th Graders)
• Class of 2026 (Current 7th Graders)
• Class of 2025 (Current 8th Graders)

Covid-19 Related Items:

Covid-related absences:

• If your student is currently in quarantine for testing positive or having symptoms within the past 10 days or are awaiting test results
• If your student has been identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive within the past 10-14 days   
• If you have traveled outside of the United States in the last fourteen days

The attendance line can be reached at:  734-401-4600; press #1 for attendance OR use the Google Form.  

Updated COVID-19 information from the Washtenaw County Health Department:  If You Test Positive, If You Test Positive (en español), Quarantine/Isolation FAQ, Saliva Testing Site

What Happens When Someone Gets Covid

Flowchart for Symptomatic Individuals

New Saliva test released

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

Box Tops:  Happy Holidays Saline Middle School Families! Have you downloaded the Box Top$ for Education app yet? Please keep box tops In mind while you are grocery shopping this holiday season. It is now easier than ever to submit box tops via the box tops for education app. Just scan your receipt within 14 days of purchases and the app will check for eligible items in order to give our school credit. If you’re shopping online for groceries or get emailed receipts, you can still earn Box Tops for our school. Download the app and start earning today.

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.

Thursday, March 11th:  1/2 Day for SMS Students

Friday, March 12th:  Asynchronous 1/2 day for SMS Students

Monday, March 15th:  Start of Trimester 3

Monday, March 29th to April 2nd:  Spring Break

Repeating Messages:

Attendance Reminder:  We are finding that students are electing to learn virtually on a given day for a variety of reasons unrelated to a COVID-19 situation and this is becoming very difficult to track for classroom attendance, particularly in 7th and 8th grade.  

If your student is currently attending in-person for hybrid instruction, please send them to school on a consistent basis UNLESS they are showing the symptoms in the COVID-19 health screener graph below.  If your child is showing symptoms of COVID-19, then we would ask that they either get tested for COVID-19 or see their pediatrician.

If your student prefers to remain virtual for the remainder of the trimester, please email Laura Washington at washingl@salineschools.org

Item Drop Off and Pick-Up Times:  The Saline Middle School vestibule doors will be open from 7:00 am-4:00 pm Monday-Friday this week for drop off and pick-up of items.   

Report Cards:  Report cards are now available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal.  If you are having difficulty accessing the Powerschool Parent Portal, please email  powerschool@salineschools.org.  Thank you for your patience as we have had difficulty sending report cards electronically this trimester.

NWEA Scores are now available in Powerschool!  Here are the directions to access them.

Food Pantry Locations: If you or someone you know are in need of food and food items during this difficult time, here is a list of food pantries in the area.

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.  

A new Covid-19 saliva test has now been released!  Here is the press release from the Washtenaw County Health Department.

Here is the At-Home Learning Toolkit released by the SAS Elementary buildings.  There is a lot of useful information that may also help our secondary students.