Principally Speaking

PRINCIPALLY SPEAKING - Academic Excellence; Developmentally Responsive Curriculum; Social Equity

Dear Saghalie Skyhawk Families,
On behalf of the staff here in Skyhawk territory, welcome back to a new school year! And a particularly special welcome to those of you who are first-time middle school parents — you have an exciting three years ahead! Middle school is a very special time, with tremendous growth for kids, socially, intellectually, and physically, which is why we strive for Academic Excellence, Developmentally Responsive Curriculum and Social Equality for each of our young Skyhawks! Below is an excerpt from an article entitled “Meeting the Needs of the Adolescent Learner.” I believe that this is an excellent description of middle school age students:

“They strive for independence, yet they clamor to belong. They fight the connections they have with their parents, but they need to form alliances with peers and bond with understanding teachers. They are finding themselves and, in the process, will challenge authority, experiment with sarcasm, and try on many different personalities. They are adolescents. And, if recent brain studies are accurate, they can be as young as age 10 or as old as age 25. . . Such scientific ambiguity suggests a certainty for teachers: those who work with adolescents must understand them, connect with them, and make learning relevant to their lives . . . ‘This period is the second most rapid period of human maturation’. . . During early adolescence, children develop physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. . .”
— ASCD Education Update, Vol. 46, No. 5, August 2004

This is truly an exciting time of year for all of us at Saghalie Middle School. I am hopeful that the information in this newsletter will ease a few of the butterflies as we “gear up” for the start of the 2008-2009 school year. A critical goal in our School Achievement Plan is to continue to strengthen our partnership/relationship with parents and our community. We have established a strong PTSA and need more parents to continue the tradition. In 2008, I will continue to host every other month Coffee & Pastries with the Principal. We will discuss such topics as offering parent workshops, learning needs, helping students with homework, and middle school social issues to name a few. I firmly believe that open lines of communication between school and home will result in a healthy and positive experience for each of our young Skyhawks!

SOCIAL EQUITY
As you know, School Life in 2008/2009 at Saghalie has changed just a little. Our young Skyhawks will be required to wear School Uniforms. The uniform policy is in place to support and enhance the Powerful Relationships, Relevant Curriculum, Effective Teaching Strategies, Meaningful Assessments, and Student/Parent participation, which are the most essential components of the Teaching & Learning process.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
In September of 2007, Saghalie increased our rigor in Pre-AP Language Arts by offering Spring Board. Springboard is a unique program designed around the rigorous College Board Standards for college success. These standards identify the skills and competencies students need to be prepared for both high school and college. In September of 2008, Saghalie will increase or bolster our Math sequence by offering the following:

· Pre-Algebra – 6th Grade…Pre-Algebra for 6th grade students develops the topics of rational number properties, order of operations, inverse operations, operations with integers, functions, graphs, measurement and computation, patterns, algebraic expressions and solving equations, statistics and probability, geometric properties and relationships and problem-solving strategies with a theme of “Thinking Algebraically”. Concrete strategies and geometric models of mathematical concepts will be emphasized.

· Algebra – 7th Grade…Algebra provides students with a transition from thinking about patterns and operations using concrete quantities to their abstraction as variables, expressions, equations, inequalities, and functions. Students should become adept at translating between verbal, symbolic, and graphical forms for representing algebraic ideas.

· Geometry – 8th Grade…Starting In September 2009…Students taking 8th grade will be able to understand the concepts of plane, solid and coordinate geometry through the use of proofs, both deductive and inductive, while simultaneously developing logical thought and reasoning processes.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

DROP OFF
In the past, we have allowed parents to drop their students off and enter the building at 6:30am. Because of the obvious safety issues and lack of adult presence, we will open our doors to our young Skyhawks at 7:00am. The 1st bell rings at 7:55am and classes start five minutes later at 8:00am.

COMMUNICATION
As mentioned earlier, parent communication is critical and very important. At Saghalie there are many ways that we communicate. Information is posted on our website which provides staff’s classroom telephone number and email address. “All Call” messages are sent out to families when appropriate. In addition, a Student Planner/Handbook will be issued to your son and or daughter within the first few days of school along with the Student Rights & Responsibility Handbook. I encourage you to keep these items handy for quick reference throughout the course of the school year.

ATTENDANCE
Maintaining high standards of attendance creates opportunities for greater levels of success. Research clearly indicates that students having poor attendance tend to also demonstrate poor academic performance. Some work missed during absences can be made up with relative ease yet quite often when students are absent they miss the context, the richness and the depth of discussions and instruction that enhance students’ learning. We feel strongly that both parents and students must take an active role in monitoring school attendance and making it a high priority. Please assist us in starting the day on time and on a positive note. Students that arrive after 8:00am will be marked as tardy. All tardy students are required to sign in at the office with a written excuse, unless a parent/adult is signing the student in.

Saghalie’s Tardy Policy is designed to help students appreciate the importance of punctuality. Students arriving to school late…
1. will receive a Saghalie Middle School admittance slip from the office staff to be admitted to class.
2. will be addressed by a staff member (if tardies are frequent) with a call home.
3. will receive Thursday school. The point of contact for Thursday school is Mrs. Ross. Her number is 945-5016. The focus for students attending Thursday school will be Reading and Math.
4. NOTE: For the purpose of collecting data, ALL students arriving to school late will go through Saghalie’s Tardy Policy process.

HONOR LEVEL SYSTEM
The Honor Level System has been established to provide an environment that encourages students to act responsibly and appropriately. More importantly, it provides a means for students to recognize inappropriate behavior, make changes and be rewarded for their effort.

Saghalie Middle School students are expected to:
· Use appropriate language
· Respond appropriately to a direct staff request
· Come to class with appropriate materials
· Follow all classroom rules
· Follow all school rules
· Treat staff and students with respect
· Arrive to class on time

All students begin the year on Honor Level One. Students who do not remain on Honor Level One will always have the opportunity to work their way to Honor Level One. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at (253) 945-5000. We look forward to partnering with you and your son or daughter throughout the 2008/2009 school year so that ALL of our young Skyhawks are provided a productive and safe learning environment that supports student success.

IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE A SKYHAWK!

Damon Hunter
Principal
Saghalie Middle School

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1. No head gear

2. No personal electronics in use during school hours.

3. No harrassment, intimidation, or bullying.

4. Comply with the District's dress code.

5. Comply with reasonable requests from staff members.

Saghalie Uniform Guidelines for 2008-2009

Saghalie Recommended School Supply List

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The Honor Level System

The Honor Level System has been established to provide an environment that encourages students to act responsibly and appropriately. More importantly, it provides a means for students to recognize inappropriate behavior, make changes and be rewarded for their effort.

Saghalie Middle School students are expected to:

• Use appropriate language
• Respond appropriately to a direct staff request
• Come to class with appropriate materials
• Follow all classroom rules
• Follow all school rules
• Treat staff and students with respect
• Use appropriate conduct
• Arrive to class on time

All students begin the year on Honor Level One. Students who do not remain on Honor Level One always have the opportunity to work their way to Honor Level One by observing all school rules and receiving no infraction demerits for two weeks. At the end of two weeks, students will be “raised” up to the next level. Example: If a student is on level four, and has no infraction demerits for two weeks, at the end of two weeks, they would move up to level three. Students on levels lower than Honor Level One are consistently encouraged to “work their way up” to Honor Level One.

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