• Spartan Weekly Update

     

    SMS Spartans

     

    Dates: March 13-17, 2023

     

    Principal's Notes

    • First, thanks to everyone who came out for the PTSA Chipotle fundraiser!  When my wife went to pick up our online order, she said the place was packed and she talked with a number of Sunnyvale Middle School families!

    • Second, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (firefighter service and police service) is offering a “Youth Leadership Academy” to middle school students.  The Academy is free but there is an application process.  I reviewed the content, schedule, and previous media about the Academy and it looks like a great opportunity.  Space is limited. 

    • Third, our response for Steel City Codes has been outstanding.  A formal registration form for Steel City Codes will come out next week via this newsletter (sorry - we had to push our planning meeting to Monday).  If you did not express interest yet and you are interested, you can still add your student’s name to the interest form:

    • Fourth, AMC8 scores will be distributed back to students on Monday / Tuesday.  Students will receive their score sheet (with answers and answer key) and blank AMC8 test.  Sorry for the delay!

     

    Finally, two opportunities were recently shared with me that I wanted to pass on:

    1. High school football coaches from Homestead, Monta Vista, and Fremont high schools are offering two free football clinics at Homestead High School:

        2. The Fremont Union High Schools Foundation is running their annual Fundraising Dinner and Auction.  This foundation works to support students at Fremont,                  Homestead, Cupertino, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista High Schools. This is an opportunity to support Fremont and Homestead High schools and, for 8th grade                  parents, it is another way to connect to the high school world.  Information is here:  sp4ed Poster.pdf

    On to the newsletter!

    Sunnyvale Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)

    International Block Party - April 14

    SMS International Block Party (i.e. International/Multicultural festival) is back after four years! This is a great event for families that showcases food samples, activities, traditional clothes, decorations, posters, and more from various cultures. Students are invited to perform traditional dances, songs, musical instruments etc.

    • Date: April 14, 2023
    • If you would like to participate/volunteer, please email:   SMSInternationalBlockParty@gmail.com with the country/culture you would like to represent. Please talk to your friends who might be interested in joining in!
    • Please also email if you have questions, suggestions or comments, would like to help lead the event, or if you would like to represent your country/culture but will need support.

    8th Grade promotion party planning

    Attention 8th grade parents! Are you interested in helping plan out the 8th grade promotion party, which will include decorations, activities, food, music and dance? If so, please email SMS8thGradeVP@gmail.com.

     

    Staff Appreciation Meeting - March 14

    Would you like to join the Staff Appreciation team to plan out ways to celebrate our wonderful SMS Staff during Staff Appreciation week (May 1-5)? Join us for our Kick Off event!

    SMS PTSA  Links:

    Connect with us:

    SMS Music Program fundraisers

    1. Pizza My Heart fundraiser

    Dine-in or get take out on Wednesday March 22, 2023, 4-9 pm from Pizza My Heart at 110 E. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale. Mention the SMS Music Program and 30% of your order will be donated to support the SMS Music Program!  Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rKakEgegAI8p5nKB0s1OAsygV0Kh1sKv/view?usp=sharing

         2. Mountain Mike's Pizza fundraiser

    Dine-in or get take out all day on Thursday April 6, 2023 from Mountain Mike's Pizza at 848 E. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, and 30% of your order will be donated to support the SMS Music Program! 

    Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17id0xIulelDML764zLqC_gEAZx6c3sg9/view?usp=share_link

         3. See's Candies fundraiser

    Sunnyvale Middle School Music Program is hosting a See's Candies Spring fundraiser for their end-of-year music trips for our 6th-grade band, choir, and orchestra students for Great America Music in the Parks Festival and 7th/8th-grade band, choir, and orchestra students for Disneyland WorldStrides Music Festival. Follow this link to the online storefront and support one of the programs that makes SMS awesome and flex your Spartan pride!

    https://www.yumraising.com/secure/smsmp_sms_music_program27/AmbStu2554/

     

    Spartan Student News

    This is a reminder of the school expectations to participate in school-sponsored activities that are outlined in the student handbook.

    Student Expectations for End of the Year Activities

    Students in all grade levels must be in good academic and behavioral standing at Sunnyvale Middle School to be eligible to participate in school-sponsored activities such as dances and end of the year field trips!

    Students will lose one activity for each requirement they fail to meet as determined by the grade level administrator.

    • The students has no 1s in Life Long Learning grades in 2nd or 3rd trimester.
    • The student has fewer than 5 behavior referrals over the year.
    • The student has fewer than 30 tardies.
    • The student has fewer than 2 suspensions over the year.

    Students will have a final opportunity to raise their grades through May.  Any student that has made adequate academic or behavioral progress but is still not meeting minimum requirements may file an appeal to participate in the End of the Year activities.  A committee will review all appeals and students and families will be notified of the outcome.  Any behavior or academic issues that occur after the final date for approval will be reviewed by the administration.

    Please reach out to a grade level administrator if you have any questions.

     

    SMS Yearbooks

    Spartans, it's time to order and customize your yearbooks!  The deadline for customizing yearbooks is April 30th.  Yearbooks are for sale for $39.70 and can be ordered online.

    Yearbook fliers are attached.

     

    Spartan Community Meeting:  LCAP

    Every year, Sunnyvale Middle School asks families to provide input into programs funded through the Local Control Accountability Plan.

    The PTSA meeting will follow this meeting at 7:30pm.

     

    Sunnyvale Middle School Music Program fundraiser

    Sunnyvale Middle School Music Program is hosting a Sees Candies Spring fundraiser for their end-of-year music trips for our 6th-grade band, choir, and orchestra students for Great America Music in the Parks Festival and 7th/8th-grade band, choir, and orchestra students for Disneyland WorldStrides Music Festival. Follow this link to the online storefront and support one of the programs that makes SMS awesome and flex your Spartan pride!

    https://www.yumraising.com/secure/smsmp_sms_music_program27/AmbStu2554/

     

    Afterschool Homework Center:

    Afterschool Homework Center is up and running. We have three high school tutors committed at this time.

    • When:  Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
    • Where: Library
    • Time: 3:10 - 4:30pm

    Students are NOT required to attend every day. This will be a drop-in - but any student leaving before 4:30pm must be picked up or their guardian will need to speak with the school supervisor by phone. This is to ensure student safety.             

    Sunnyvale Middle School Debate Club

    The Fremont High School debate team came and led our second club meeting on Thursday.  We had ~ 50 students participating.  The club has informed me that they can take a few more students.  If your student is interested, have them show up on Thursday in the library.

    • When:  Thursdays
    • Where: Library
    • Time: 3:15 - 4:15pm 

    Upcoming Events

    March 13: Choir / Music Genesis Concert at 6:00pm  

    March 15: Band / Orchestra Concert at 6:00pm  

    March 17: Spring Dance at 3:30pm  

    School Policies

    Student handbook:  https://www.sesd.org/Page/573

    School Contacts

    Website: sesd.org/sunnyvale

    Front Office: 408.522.8288

    Principal: vince.iwasaki@sesd.org

    8th grade administrator: giovanni.bui@sesd.org, assistant principal

    7th grade administrator: stephanie.malcolm@sesd.org, assistant principal

    6th grade administrator: vince.iwasaki@sesd.org, principal

    Psychologist:  julianne.holmblad@sesd.org