February 20, 2015
SJMS
FEBRUARY
Quick Links
Home Access Center
Dear Tiger Parents,
MISD Website
SJMS Website
SJMS Volunteer App
Join PTO
Come Out to Honi's
Coffee House Night Benefiting SJMS Fine
Arts Department!
We will host our annual Spring Showcase
on March 5th from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
We invite you to come see some of the
wonderful things happening here at Evans Middle School and to find out
what your students have been learning this year. We hope to see you
there!
Parents, if you have students involved in Fine Arts, I am sure
that you are aware that we are entering the time of year for UIL contests
and competitions. This usually means that they will be missing some
class instruction time. Please help your student stay on top of their
homework and class assignments as they will be responsible for anything
they miss while away from campus.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mitch Curry
SJMS Celebrates Black History Month
Location: The Surrey
House - 312 S.
Tennessee, Downtown
McKinney
7:30 - 11:30 PM
Saturday February 28
Featuring specialty
coffee, live music,
Honi's T Shirts, Local
Vendors
All proceeds go to help
SJMS Fine Arts
Programs!
Bring your Tiger and have them take you around for a tour of their school! March
5th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Spring Showcase is a "come and go" event, like an Open House. Bring
your Tiger and come see what they've been up to all year! We are excited
to have the opportunity to show you what your students have been
learning this year, and to let you see education in progress here at Scott
Johnson. Hope to see you there!
SJMS Celebrates Black History Month
Fill the Bus!
Got any extra new or
gently used school
supplies? Bring them to
SJMS and drop them
off in the box to Fill the
Bus! This is a
community project in
conjunction with all 3
McKinney High School
Student Councils!
Donations start Feb.
27th until March 27th!
Left to right: Mr. Warren, Mr. McGowan, Mrs. Ruben Johnson, Mr. Evans, Mr.
Curry, and Mr. Herrington.
February is Black History Month and SJMS had a wonderful celebration
Friday, February 13th. Some of the faculty and staff put together
assemblies for each grade level and asked members of the community to
participate that have been influential in our community.
PTO Needs YOU!
Pictured above are Mr. McGowan, Mrs.Ruben Johnson and Mr. Evans; all
namesakes of schools in MISD.
SJMS Rising 6th/7th Grade Meeting - March 16, 2015
Attention all 6th and
7th grade parents!! The
PTO needs YOU!!
There are several
positions that will be
open for the 2015 2016
School Year. The PTO
is the organization
where parents and
teachers plan different
events that benefit our
school. For more
information about the
SJMS PTO, please
visit our page on the
Tiger website by
clicking here!
March for a Match
Emily is a happy-golucky 7th grader at
Cockrill Middle School
who as a toddler work
every morning and said
"It's a sunny day!"
regardless of the
weather. After noticing
excessive bruising and
exhaustion, Emily's
parents took her to the
doctor. Within days,
they learned that Emily
has sever aplastic
anemia. Emily needs to
find a matching donor
for a bone
marrow/stem cell
transplant so she can
have a full lifetime of
sunny days.
It just takes a cheek
swab to register. YOU
might be the ONE
person who can
provide a second
chance at life for Emily
or someone else's
sister, mother, child,
brother or friend.
"Finding a donor match
is basically a matter of
luck and numbers, so
the more from which
there is to draw, the
The middle schools are excited
to welcome incoming 6th
graders! Please join us for a
parent information meeting at
the time listed below. At the
meeting, principals will discuss
middle school schedules, course
options, the registration process,
and the transition to middle
school. We will have
counselors, administrators, and
fine arts teachers available to
answer any questions you may
have. Course request forms
and course descriptions will be sent home with students the week of
March 2. You will need to complete the form and return to your child's
teacher by March 20. And, again, Scott Johnson can't wait to meet our
new Tigers! This meeting is District wide and happens at all middle
schools.
Max Glauben - Holocaust Speaker
SJMS 8th Grade Class had the
distinct honor of hearing Max
Glauben, Holocaust survivor,
speak on Thursday, February
19.
Mr. Glauben was born in
Warsaw, Poland and was 10
when the Germans occupied
Poland during World War II. His
story is one of survival,
heartbreaking sadness, victory,
and hope. We are so lucky to
have the opportunity to have him
speak to our 8th graders.
Ask your 8th grader what he or
she thought was the most
Mr. Glauben talking with Mrs. Jenson
important part of Max's message.
If you'd like to find out more about Max Glauben, and other survivors,
please visit The Dallas Holocaust Museum.
greater the chances
are of finding a suitable
donor." - Lee and
Grady, Emily's parents.
Register as a Bone
Marrow Donor Saturday, February 28
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Slaughter Elementary
2706 Wolford St.
More Information Click
Here
Middle Years
Take a look at some
helpful communication
starters with your Tiger.
In this edition, you'll
find tips on working
with your student's
teachers, how to revise
papers, bullying, and
more!
Max Glauben addressing the 8th Grade Class
Tigers on the Prowl for a Cure!
Middle Years - English
Middle Years - Spanish
New Spirit Wear Available!
On behalf of the SJMS AVID, NJHS, and Girls on the Run organizations
we invite you to join us in the Fight for the Cure. We are teaming up
together to raise money for the SJMS Relay For Life Team:
"Tigers On The Prowl For A Cure"!
I would love each of our Tiger Families to volunteer to come Relay For
Life Night and walk for a hour with our team! Bring your family, or
BETTER yet, JOIN the SJMS Relay For Life Team: "Tigers On The Prowl
For A Cure"!
$25
Order at the Front
Office
To join the SJMS Relay for Life Team: Tigers on the Prowl for a Cure
click here to be directed to the Relay For Life page and sign up or
donate!
When: Friday - April 24th 7:00 PM - 1:00 AM (not overnight this year)
Where: The Ballfields at Craig Ranch
6151 Alma Rd.
1:The World
2015 - 2016
Parent
Meetings
Schedule
McKinney, TX 75070
In the coming weeks, be on the lookout for fun fundraising events and
opportunities that will be available for you to participate in on our campus!
Feb. 16 - MNHS
Mar. 2 - MBHS
Mar. 16 - MHS
Mar. 30 - MNHS
Apr. 13 - MBHS
Apr. 27 - MHS
May 11 - MNHS
1:The World Parent
Meeting Website
8th GRADE
PARENTS:
Please familiarize
yourself with this
presentation about
Registration and
Graduation Plans for
Showcase Meetings for
High School.
Did someone say HOT WINGS?
SJMS is holding our very own "Hot Wing" Relay For Life Race during the
March 6th Assembly. Beginning Monday, students, staff and YOU, our
Tiger family, get to decide just how "HOT" the wings will get!
Voting will take place during all three lunches and in the front office. The
more money we raise the HOTTER the wings become in the "Hot Wing"
Relay For Life Race!
The Administrator that raises the MOST money for Relay for Life will have
to eat the hottest wings we can muster up!!
MISD Community
If you have questions
at the meeting, please
write them on the index
cards that will be
provided and include
your email address.
Questions will be
answered via email
only and not at the time
of the meeting.
Of course, if you have
questions later, feel
free to contact our
Counselors at SJMS.
Want to stay up to date on all the
activities and programs available to all
your MISD students? Bookmark the
Community Folder area of the MISD
website and you'll be able to stay up to
date with activities!
Visit www.mckinneyisd.net and click
Community Folder at the top of the page. Have an event or activity that
you think could benefit MISD parents, students, and teachers? Here's
where you can upload the information so that everyone in the district can
see or be informed!
Attention Current 6th Grade Parents: Student Immunizations for the
2015 - 2016 School Year
MISD Registration &
Graduation Plan
Presentation
If You Only Knew Me
Please watch this
video made by MNHS
PALS and their AntiBullying Campaign
Watch the Video
Your
student will need proof of the following new immunizations to pick up a
grade schedule for the 2015 - 2016 school year. We're informing you well
in advance to help you avoid possible vaccine shortages and long lines at
immunization clinics in August. Your child's classroom assignment and/or
schedule will be withheld next fall until his/her school immunization
records are up to date.
The deadline to turn in these records to Nurse Kerr before August
17th, 2015.




Tetanus/Diphtheria/pertussis-containing vaccine (unless a
booster dose received within the past 5 years for 7th grade, last
10 years for 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th grades)
Meningococcal Vaccine (one dose)
Varicella vaccine (two doses received on or after 1st birthday)
MMR vaccine (two doses received on or after 1st birthday)
The vaccines listed above are required in addition to those required by
earlier laws. A signed statement of varicella disease will count towards
the varicella requirement.
Please see the attached document from MISD School Health Services for
additional information, including information about where to get
immunizations and insurance information about vaccinations.
MISD School Health Services - Letter to Parent - Immunizations 2015 - 2016
MISD School Health Services - Letter to Parent - Immunizations 2015 - 2016 Spanish
Accelerate Your Future - Spring Online Courses
THE TIME HAS COME!! MISD students have the
option of accelerating their course work by taking an
additional course online during the Spring of 2015.
Courses are provided by Apex Learning and taught
by MISD teachers. There are no course meeting
times, and classes can be accessed 24/7 for the
duration of the term. Online classes are available to
students in grades 8-12.
Upon Counselor Approval, one of the following courses may be taken
for credit acceleration:
U.S. Government (11th or 12th grade)
Economics (11th or 12th grade )
Psychology (8-12)
Sociology (8-12)
Health (8-12 )
Creative Writing- (9-12 elective credit only)
English III- A & B (10th grade only)
English IV-A and B (11-12 graders only)
Dates: Feb 9, 2015-*May 22, 2015
Tuition: $220.00 per semester (50.00 free/reduced lunch)
Orientation : Orientation will be made available online on day 1 of the
course after payment is made.
Additional Info: Payment can be made to your campus counselor in the
form of cash, check, or money order made payable to McKinney ISD.
Payment to counselors will not be accepted after May 1, 2015.
For more information, view the brochure by clicking the link: Acceleration
Brochure - Spring 2015
What is ReadiStep?
What Is ReadiStep?
ReadiStep™ is a flexible, low-stakes, low-cost eighth-grade assessment
that provides early assessment feedback - and helps put students on an
early path to college success.
Developed by the College Board, ReadiStep helps identify the skills
students need to develop, and it identifies students who are ready for
more challenging course work.
ReadiStep is the first step on the College Readiness Pathway, an
integrated assessment system, including the PSAT/NMSQT® and SAT®.
Designed to work together, the three feedback tools help educators
identify and close achievement gaps from middle school through high
school. It helps all students graduate ready for the rigors of college.
What Does It Measure?
ReadiStep measures the skills and knowledge students need to be on
track to be college ready by the time they enter high school. The
assessment is vertically aligned with the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT, and
measures the same skills through the same format and question types in
three basic academic areas:
MATHEMATICS , WRITING SKILLS , CRITICAL READING
How Can Students, Parents and Educators Benefit from Results?
EARLY FEEDBACK
ReadiStep provides a view of students' progress toward college
readiness while there is still time to make necessary adjustments and
target academic areas that may need attention.
SKILLS IDENTIFICATION TO INFORM INSTRUCTION
Through the use of score reports and ReadiStep Skills Insight™, teachers
can identify areas in which students excel, as well as areas in which
students require further development - and can develop specific
classroom or small-group instruction to more closely address the areas
that need improvement.
COURSE SELECTION
Help inform course choices by identifying students who are prepared to
be challenged by a rigorous high school program, as well as those who
may need more preparation in specific areas.
CURRICULUM
ReadiStep helps you pinpoint areas in need of curriculum modification,
and pacing guides for future school terms. Because the ReadiStep
assessment is based on the College Board Standards for College
Success™ (CBSCS), teachers and administrators can use the standards
and ReadiStep Skills Insight to focus on curricular areas that will increase
college readiness.
COLLEGE-GOING CULTURE
Promote a college-going culture by administering the assessment to all
students, and use results to help students realize that college is within
their reach.
ASSESSMENT FORMAT
Total testing time: 2 hours
Three multiple-choice sections:
* Critical Reading - 40 minutes, 45 questions
* Writing Skills - 40 minutes, 50 questions
* Mathematics - 40 minutes, 36 questions
No essays or student-produced response questions
Paper and pencil
If you would like to download a copy of this information, please click the
following link to open the PDF document with this information. ReadiStep
Information - Download PDF by Clicking Link
Save the Dates!
Feb 23
SJMS Soccer Club
3:45 - 5:00 PM
Feb 24
MISD Board Meeting
Public Session
Central Office
1 Duval St.
Feb 26 - 27
UIL District Oral & Writing SJMS
Events
Feb 26
Grade Level Student
Leadership Lunch
Admin Classroom
Feb 27
Donuts with Dads
7:45 AM - 8:15 AM
Feb 27
6th Grade Choir Concert
SJMS Cafeteria
Feb 27
Youth & Government Austin Trip
Feb 28
Bone Marrow Donor Sign
Up
10 - 4 PM
Slaughter Elementary
March 2
Tennis Parent Meeting
5:30 PM
SJMS Cafeteria &
Gym
March 4
SJMS Poetry Slam
SJMS Library
March 5
Showcase Night
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
SJMS Campus
March 6
End of 3rd 9 Weeks
Pep Rally #3
SJMS Large Gym
Tiger Pride Awards
Assembly
March 9 - 13
Spring Break
School Closed
Reminders: MAP Testing began Jan 21. Please refer to schedules sent
home with your students if applicable to their grade level.