Saline Middle School Hornet Highlights for Sunday, June 5, 2021

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 Principal's Message:  

It is hard to believe that this year is coming to an end and this is the last SMS Hornet Highlights of the year.  Thank you does not seem to be sufficient for what you have been through.  The support that you have given (and continue to give) your students did not go unnoticed.  Thank you for your flexibility, patience and tenacity as we worked through this pandemic.  We wish you a relaxing, fun and refreshing summer!  

To our 8th grade families, we wish you all of the best as you enter high school with your students.  It has been a pleasure being your principal (again) for your last year of middle school.  Thank you for the warm and gracious welcome and I know that your students will accomplish amazing things, whether academically, athletically, musically, or in an organization that serves the students of Saline High School or beyond!  The lessons that they have learned during this pandemic will serve them well in life.  They demonstrated flexibility and resilience and learned a technology skill or two.  They (and you) will be missed at Saline Middle School.

Finally, for those that may not have heard, Wendy Dorset, Math Teacher, will be retiring after 27 years in education, 23 of those spent in Saline.  We wish Mrs. Dorset all the best in her new adventures!

                                      SALINE MIDDLE SCHOOL WEEKLY SCHEDULE:

(The daily schedule is now below under repeated information.)

New and Important Information for the Week:


NEW:  Eighth Grade Celebration

The 8th grade celebration is a chance to recognize and celebrate our 8th graders as they head off to the high school. We recognize their achievements and participation at the middle school through several presentations and hear from their newly minted freshman class president. In addition, there will be musical performances by school groups, words of well-wishing from administrators, and student choice awards, capped off by a nostalgic video look back through their years at SMS. It is our way to say goodbye and good luck! This is an event that is intended for our students, but here is the live-stream if you are interested.


Eighth Grade Teachers will be live-streaming the event from their classrooms.  We will not be gathering in the auditorium as a class due to Covid-19 indoor restrictions.  Virtual students will be able to live-stream from home.


NEW LINK!!  Saline Middle School 8th Grade Celebration - Wednesday, June 9th at 8:10am


NEW:  Congratulations


This year, 61 soloists from the Saline Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Bands participated in the MSBOA Solo and Ensemble Festival. With the completion of all middle school festivals statewide, MSBOA was able to compile a list of events selected as outstanding by the adjudicators. CONGRATULATIONS to the 10 Saline Middle School musicians who were selected for this honor! This honor places these students among the best middle school musicians on their instrument in the state of Michigan.

Tommy Allmand - 8th Grade Trumpet
Yohei Kuroda - 7th Grade Tuba
Daniel Lemmerhirt - 8th Grade Trumpet
Shepard Orwig - 7th Grade Alto Saxophone
Sam Peavler - 7th Grade Oboe
Quinton Riggs - 8th Grade French Horn
Abby Roth - 8th Grade Alto Saxophone
Brady Sattler - 8th Grade Tenor Saxophone
Carrie Schwartz - 8th Grade Flute
Ana Sirbu - 7th Grade Flute


NEW:  Congratulations to the 4x800 meter relay team took 1st last week at the Mega Star Meet with a new middle school record! Madison Rogan, Cora Conley, Corynn Gady, and Mackenzie Sellenraad.


NEW:  Science Olympiad 



NEW: Attend the Inspiring Role Models (IRM) Virtual Conference on August 7 - 8. Hear personal stories, advice, and career guidance from top leaders in the fields of STEM, business, and social activism! Our speakers include former NASA employees, Ivy League students, founders of nonprofits, and CEOs of businesses. 


Check out our website here: myebeat.com/irm-event/ to see the full conference schedule and to register! 


For volunteer hours, leadership experience, and free VIP passes, you can also apply to be an ambassador for the conference!


If you have any questions about the conference, feel free to email ylc@myefound.org and for conference updates, check out @irmconference2021 on Instagram!


Looking for a summer camp for a child with special needs?  Check out these opportunities!  https://www.veryspecialcamps.com/Michigan/Special-Needs-Summer-Camps.shtml. 


NEW:  From the 5th Corner Teen Center


NEW:  Learn more about LGBTQ+ language and identities

On June 15th from 4-5:30 pm, The U-M Spectrum Center will present an introduction to LGBTQ+ language and identities. Gender identity, attractionality, and pronouns will be introduced. Participants will engage in discussion around inclusive practices that can be employed as well as how to be an active ally. There will be opportunities for participants to reflect on their own experience with allyhood development and identify strategies for personal and organizational change.

Zoom Meeting ID: 963 9310 4883
Passcode: 148091

This event is sponsored by the City of Saline DEI Committee. It is free and open to the public. 

Device Return


Students will not be keeping the district device that was checked out to them for summer school or summer classes; they will need to request that device through either CE or Special Ed depending on the program.


NEW: For current 8th grade students




Current 6th and 7th Graders looking for a summer academic enrichment opportunity-Click on the link for this great opportunity.


TRANSITION INFORMATION:

Please click on the link if you were not able to attend the informational
Webinars or missed emails.
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.

NEW:  Wednesday, June 9th:  1/2 Day for Students and 8th Grade Celebration (Live-streamed event)

Thursday, June 10th:  1/2 Day for Students and the Last Day of School

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.  

NEW: Updated COVID-19 information from the Washtenaw County Health Department: 

Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Guardians

Cuarenenta y Aislamiento preguntas frecuentas para padres y tutores

If You Test Positive 

Si Da Positivo en la Prueba de Covid-19

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.


Repeating Messages:

Summer Online Courses:  The application for summer ONLINE courses is ready. An updated course list for 2021-2022 is included. Summer Application Please note that the form requires a counselor's approval. 


SALINE MIDDLE SCHOOL DAILY SCHEDULE FOR ALL STUDENTS:



Please bring your charged devices with a power cord. A friendly reminder that in-person learners are expected to bring their changed devices to school each day. While we provided loaner devices for some students last week, students are expected to bring their device. 

Attendance Change for 3rd trimester in-person students:  In-person students are expected to be in-person to be marked "Present." In-person students will be marked "Absent" if they call in for any reason that is not related to COVID-19.  Students would still be allowed to Zoom if they wish, but they will be marked "excused or unexcused absent" depending on the reason if they are not physically present at SMS.

Bring Your Own Device Presentation

Thank you to those who joined the BYOD+ Q&A session on March 24, 2021. Attached below is a copy of the presentation, which can also be found on our SHS BYOD+ page.

Here are the details for the Continuous 4-day/week learning plan. (Same as the link in the principal's message)


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.


Michigan Family Alliance. https://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/upcoming-events/






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