School year busy so far

Swanton Middle School has had a busy fall so far. What with Student Council elections, sixth grade camp, Constitution Day activities, athletic events, and midterms coming up, the month of September is flying by. Some of their past and future events include:

* Quarter 1 midterm was Friday, Sept. 19. They will attempt to mail home midterm grades the week of Sept. 22. However, with the transition to the new computer system and sixth grade teachers at camp it may take a little longer to get the midterm reports sent out.

* Wednesday, Oct. 10 is a Late Start Day. Middle School classes will begin at 9:30 a.m. Students will be permitted to enter the building at 9:20 a.m. Students coming for breakfast will be permitted to enter the building at 9:10 a.m. Teachers will be involved in staff development that morning.

* Picture Retake Day is Wednesday, Oct. 1. Any student who did not have their picture taken on the Aug. 14 picture day or is new to the district and did not get their picture taken on the 14th, will have their picture taken on October 1st. A picture packet will be sent home with these students. Any student who purchased pictures and wants a retake, must return their pictures to the main office in order to be added to the retake list.

* Oct. 22 is the end of the first quarter. Grade cards will be mailed home the week of Oct. 27.

Conference Dates

Swanton Middle School will be holding Parent/Teacher conferences from 4-8 p.m. on the, held in the teachers' classrooms and Tuesday, Feb. 10 in the teachers' classrooms

It is not necessary for parents to attend both the Nov. 6 and the Nov. 13 conferences. They are being held a week apart to accommodate our parents so they will be able to attend either one or the other of the conference days.

For our parents that are new to the arena-style conference, conferences are held in the Middle School gym. Teachers will be at tables spread throughout the gym. You locate the teacher that you want to conference with, hold your conference and move on to the next teacher. Seating is available at each teacher's station. We do request that you try to hold your conference time with each teacher to 5 minutes. If you need additional time, please make arrangements with the teacher to meet for an extended conference.

Student Medications

One of the greatest concerns of the Swanton school district is the safety of our students. For this reason, Board policy states that Swanton school staff is not permitted to dispense any over-the-counter or prescription medication to students unless we have a doctor's written authorization and written parental permission.

Permission to Administer Medication forms are available in the Middle School main office. Also, medications need to be in their original packaging with the students name labeled on the package. Prescription medications must be in their original container. All medications need to be brought to the main office by a parent/guardian or another adult. Students are not to transport medications.

Students are permitted to carry an inhaler, however, they must have a completed permission form on file in the main office. These forms are available in the main office. Students, with their parents' written authorization, may carry cough drops.

If you have any questions or concerns about student issues, please be sure to check the student handbook, which is located in the front of your child's agenda book. If you need additional clarification, contact the Middle School main office at 419-826-4016.

SMS attendance

Student attendance is very important in the Middle School. If your child is going to be absent, please contact the Middle School attendance office by 9 a.m. If we don't hear from you, we will call the home to advise you of your child's absence.

In addition, when your child returns to school after an absence, please send a note with them excusing their absence. If your child has a doctor's appointment, you may send a doctor's note for an excused absence. If your child is going to be absent for an extended period of time, if possible, please advise the attendance office prior to the absence. While we understand that there are extenuating circumstances that will sometimes prevent a student from attending school, when a student is habitually absent, it is difficult for them to keep up in the classroom.

Also, when a student is tardy on a daily basis, it becomes an issue for the entire class as the student is walking in during class time. This causes a disruption for the students and the teacher. With your help, your child will achieve the best possible academic experience by maintaining good attendance practices.

Again, if you have any questions regarding Middle School policy, please refer to the Student Handbook that is located in the front of your child's agenda book. If you have any questions regarding Swanton Middle School activities, please call the Middle School main office at (419) 826-4016.