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Spring 2017
Volume 1 Issue 6
SPMS Administration
Principal’s Corner PumaFest was a wonderful success Friday evening. I
want to thank all the teachers, staff, our SCA, and the
parents who donated so many wonderful items. The
generosity of our parents never ceases to amaze me.
Most importantly, thank you students! As usual, you
rise up to any occasion and demonstrate why Short
Pump Middle is the BEST school in the land. Go
Pumas!
- - Mr. Thomas McAuley.
Thomas McAuley
Principal
Jennifer Maddux
Associate Principal
Lindsay Ingram
Assistant Principal
Cynthia Elbert-Pollock
Administrative Aide
Jerome T. Flemming
Administrative Aide
Doug Wright
Administrative Aide
**Special Announcement**
March 15th Battle Across Broad-
Divided on the Court,
United for the Cause
Where: Glen Allen High School, 10700 Staples Mill Road
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 pm
All proceeds benefit: The American Cancer Society
School Counseling Department
Welcoming New Pumas to Our Pack
Although moving to a new area and school can be an exciting adventure, it can also be a challenging and overwhelming experience and we would like to provide our families with some neighborhood support. The School Counseling team would like to create a pool of people who are willing to help welcome new Puma families to SPMS and to our community. If you are interested in volunteering in this capacity, please complete this form:www.tinyurl.com/pumawelcome. We may use the information collected from the form to help match families in similar neighborhoods or with similar backgrounds. By completing the form, you are agreeing to allow the School Counseling team to share your personal contact information with newly enrolled families. Thank you for your willingness to support our Puma family!
YOUR School Counseling Team:
Ms. Riggs, Director 6th grade
Mrs. Rich, 7th grade
Mrs. Sharpe, 8th grade)
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Music Department
Spring Concerts… In June!
Sarah Berry – Chorus
Jennifer May – Strings
Bruce Swartz – Band
Library > SPMS Parents & Students please save and share your
box tops!
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Nominations for Volunteer of the Year Due Wednesday Do you know a volunteer who has gone above and beyond this year? Nominate him or her for SPMS Volunteer of the Year. Send your nomination with a brief statement that highlights the volunteer’s contributions, commitment, enthusiasm and creativity to Lucille Lindamood at [email protected] by March 15. Are You a Puma Patron? Through April 1, the PTSA is sponsoring its spring Puma Patron Drive. This is the sole PTSA fundraiser and allows 100% of your donation to directly support programs and activities for our students and teachers. We plan to use your donations to support our regular programs as well as renovations of athletic spaces, funding music and arts programs and assisting with school beautification efforts. Visit http://bit.ly/2m10YfZ for details. Donations are tax-deductible. Scholarships Available for Former Pumas Do you know a former Puma who is graduating from high school this spring? For the third year, the SPMS PTSA will award the Dr. Mark E. Chamberlain Scholarship to up to three former Short Pump students. Applications for the annual $500 scholarship are due April 13. Visit http://spmspta.org/?page_id=283 for application details. Library Volunteers Needed We’re looking for library volunteers to assist with shelving books and other projects for our librarians and students. Sign up on nList or contact Lucille Lindamood at [email protected]. Nominate a Top Teacher for Henrico Citizen Award This May, the Henrico Citizen, a biweekly newspaper about Henrico County, will recognize 20 of the top teachers in our county. Deadline for nominations is March 31. Nominate a teacher who has inspired, challenged or supported your student today at http://www.henricocitizen.com/site/top_teachers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit www.spmspta.org or www.facebook.com/spmspta or email [email protected] for more information about PTA.
Save the Date! SPMS 2nd Annual Run/Walk 5K When: April 22, 2017
Where: SPMS Time: 10 a.m. - 12 noon!
It’s time to put those running/walking shoes on !!!
SPMS PTA BOARD
President
Sarah Westmoreland
1st VP Membership
Glenda Eaddy
2nd VP Volunteers
Lucille Lindamood
3rd VP Communications
Alissa Poole
Secretary
Annemarie Tull
Treasurer
Susan Beller
Lay Advisory
Jill Parker
Tim Simmons
County Council
Link Parikh
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Announcements
SPMS SCHOOL COUNSELING OFFICE
Announcement 1 Short Pump Middle School will be holding a Career Day for 8th grade students on Wednesday April 5, 2017 from 8:15 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. We are looking for volunteers from a variety of different occupations and fields to help educate our 8th graders about careers. If you or someone you know are interested in volunteering for this wonderful educational experience please contact Heather Sharpe at [email protected] or 804-364-0837 for more information. Thank you! *We greatly appreciate any and all volunteers to participate in this event. At this time, we are looking for one representative per career/occupation. If we already have a volunteer representing your field we will let you know. Thanks again!*
Announcement 2
The Short Pump Middle School PRIDE Committee is working to recognize our students for demonstrating PRIDE (Positivity, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Excellence). We are working to develop celebrations for our students who are recognized for PRIDE and we would love to incorporate games in our events. If you have any age-appropriate board or card games that you would be willing to donate to the cause please drop them off in the main office in the designated box! Thank you for your support! If you have any questions, please contact Heather Sharpe at 804-364-0837.
Announcement 3:
Applicant Process Student/Parent - http://blogs.henrico.k12.va.us/integrateddatasystems/specialty-center-online-application/student_parent/
Online Portal opens on 11/21.
Parents must complete the Authorization and Waiver Form before a student will have access to the online portal. This can be done through the Power School Parent Portal. See Specialty Center (star icon) menu on the left.
Reminders:
Students cannot access the system until a Permission/Waiver Form is on file. Once the permission form is submitted online, it will be 24 hours before they can access the Spec App Site.
If a parent cannot access the online system, the counselor can provide a manual form to the parent. Upon completion, the counselor would login to PowerSchool and update the flag for that student. Once the permission form and waiver flag is set in PS, it will be 24 hours before the student can access the system.
The online application will be made available through the coderva.org website on January 9, 2017.
Additional information about CodeRVA and FAQ may be accessed on the coderva.org website.
Quick Links
PowerSchool
Schoology
Menus
Calendar
Library
Homework
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Athletic Events: All Games/Matches begin 4:45 p.m.
Gymnastic Meets
3/6 Monday, Short Pump @ Stonewall
3/8 Wednesday, Short Pump @ Holman
3/14 Tuesday, Rolfe @Short Pump
3/21 Tuesday, West Quad @ Short Pump
Thank you to our Boys Basketball and wrestling teams
for a wonderful season! You represented the Puma’s
well!
Tryouts beginning soon
Baseball
Sofball
Boys Tennis
Girls Soccer
Track
Gymnastics Meet Friday, February 17th. Spring sports tryouts begin on March 23, 2017.
Look Ahead
SPMS Parent Info:
March 17—printed request letters listing courses the students and parents have selected are due to the high
school for rising ninth graders and are due from the elementary feeder schools for rising sixth graders
March 29—final student request verification sheet to be sent home with students through an afternoon
homeroom.
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Look Ahead (cont.)
SPMS Parent Info:
Important SPMS Testing Dates
Wednesday, March 22nd Writing Short Paper SOL (8th)
HAT writing prompt (6th and 7th)
Friday, March 24th Writing SOL MC (8th only)
Wednesday, April 19th NWEA MAP Reading
Wednesday, April 26th NWEA MAP Math
Tuesday, May 16th - May 24th EOC/SOLS/HAT Testing
*Please note: Attendance for students is expected on SOL/NWEA assessment days. Please
be aware there will not be any ‘principal excused’ absences on the above dates for
student travel for pleasure or tournaments. The regular procedure for student absences
for illness, bereavement, etc. will still be excused, with the appropriate documentation as
requested.
“Want to check out the announcements your students see each day? Click on the following link. These announcements update frequently, so check back often.” SPMS Rolling Announcements
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**Clinic News Update**
Spring updates from the SPMS Clinic- With Spring weather already in full swing (some days ), outdoor school field trips coming up, and spring sports beginning, a few health concerns come to mind: Asthma and Severe Allergies - If your child has asthma or a severe allergy, please make sure her coach and/or field trip chaperone knows. If your child has been authorized by a medical provider to carry her/his Epi Pen or inhaler make sure she/he has it with her/him at practices, games, and on field trips. A string backpack, clip, or special bag are great ways to make this easier. Now would be a good time to check these medications to make sure they have not expired. If your child does have an extra Epi Pen or inhaler (or other EMERGENCY medication) in the clinic, I will send it with her/his teacher on any field trip (unless I have written permission from you NOT to send it). Remember students may not carry any oral medications, even Benadryl for allergies may not be carried by a student at any time (during field trips, a trained staff member will carry meds and remain with the student). Emergency medicines kept in the clinic are not easily accessible to the students after school hours. If you would like your child to be able to carry his inhaler or Epi Pen during the school day/on field trips/after school hours, please contact the clinic, and we can send you the forms that must be completed by a medical provider and a parent. We want all of our students to be safe during these extracurricular activities. Seasonal Allergies – These also are quickly picking up. If your child suffers from seasonal allergies in the spring and normally takes an antihistamine, such as Claritin or Zyrtec, now would be a good time to start a daily dose. For anyone who suffers, staying indoors during peak hours (usually the morning and early afternoon), as well as showering and washing hair after having been outside can be helpful. If showering is not possible, washing hands with soap and water and splashing your face with cool water can also help. Flu, Colds and Allergies – Allergies can cause some of the same symptoms as flu and colds, including sneezing and a runny nose. However, if your child has a temperature of 100.4 or higher, is vomiting, having diarrhea, or their throat is so sore that it’s difficult to swallow, please keep your child at home and consider contacting their medical provider. Students should not return to school until they have been without these symptoms for at least 24 hours and is feeling better. Keep safe and healthy, everyone! Click here for HCPS Allergy Alert Update Notice
