Top three rows, left to right: 6th & 7th grade Academic Fair! Kara shows highlights from Teen Press; 6th graders present during Shark Tank; Jonathan and Oliver explain Oliver's Kiva microfinance loan project; Stella shows off her math project on base 2; Grant as Robert Frost and Cliff as Freddy Mercury as part of the Authors Alive! project.
Bottom row: 8th graders at the Museum of Tolerance earlier this week.
It's the SCOOP for March 1, 2019
Your weekly news from Santa Barbara Middle School
UPCOMING EVENTS (see details below)
Monday, March 4: Campus Open at 9 am; No Diamond Time
Tuesday, March 5: Parent Meeting, 8:30 am; No Diamond Time Yoga
Thursday, March 7: SBMS Students Playing at Youth Interactive, 5:30 pm
Tuesday, March 12 : 8th Grade English/Poetry Slam, 6-8 pm
Wednesday, March 13 : Book Club Discussion, 8:45 am
Thursday, March 14: PA Parking Lot Coffee, 8:30 am
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
SBMS Celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility!
We are proud to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility at SBMS on Friday, March 8th. We ask students to wear the colors of the transgender flag, if they choose: baby blue, white, and/or light pink. Students from Rainbow Alliance will be discussing the importance of this international holiday at our Town Meeting 3/8, mainly the opportunity to recognize and empower transgender people and raise awareness of trangender people's contributions to our world!

NO YOGA THIS TUESDAY, MARCH 5 & PILATES DURING DIAMOND TIME
Tuesday's Yoga with Elyse during Diamond Time is cancelled on Tuesday, Feb. 26, returning March 5. Community Pilates class with Michele Byrd on Wednesdays at 8:15 am during Diamond Time continues as scheduled. 

STUDENTS PLAYING AT YOUTH INTERACTIVE
SB Youth Interactive on Thursday March 7 from 5:15 - 7:30 PM. We have set up an evening of all SBMS musicians performing at the First Thursday event. 

SKI POLES NEEDED
The Winter Mountaineering Course is looking for old ski poles with snow baskets for the mid-year expedition. If you have any, please let Victor know.

PLEASE CHECK LOST & FOUND
Parents, please check the Lost & Found for any of your child's items. We'll be donating unclaimed items in the next few weeks! Lost & Found closet is located next to Jesse K's classroom and the Bike Monkey room.

WINTER & RAIN GEAR AVAILABLE IN THE WAREHOUSE
Come stock up on warm clothes and rain gear. Also, check out our worn wear rack for quality used items. Sizes for kids and adults. 

SAVE THE DATE! 8th GRADE ENGLISH/POETRY SLAM NIGHT: MARCH 12
Location: Breakfast Culture Club, 711 Chapala St. Date: Tuesday, March 12, from 6-8 pm
More details to come soon!
SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS
Social Media driving you crazy?  Here are a few tips from your Assistant Head of School to navigate the world of "screenagers."

1.Set limits. Have your child turn their cellphone in at 8 pm. No devices in the bedroom! 

2. Monitor the devices. Let your child know that you will periodically check their phone/messages/etc. In 9th grade, you can show you trust your child by slowly stopping your checks. Using an app like Qustodio can also help you track their online activity.

3. Communicate with other parents. Talk to the parents of your child's friends and see if you can all agree to some basic things (no phones after 8 pm, no device until 7th grade, no social media until 8th grade, etc). This helps ease social anxiety on the part of your child so they know they aren't being left out. (You can also remind them that any good/real friend will catch them up to speed anyway.)

4. Learn! Here are a few links of resources to read:
MID-YEAR EXPEDITION INFORMATION
Below are websites for each trip. The websites contain Friday trip prep info, trip departure/return info, packing lists, and more. Please read thoroughly!


Gear for the Mid-Year Expeditions may be purchased at our school-run Warehouse; open Mon. 8:30-10am; Tues. 9:30-11am & 2:45-3:45pm; Wed. 2:30-3:30pm; Thurs. 9:30-11am; & Fri. 8:30-10am. By appointment: email  Erik@sbms.org . Mountain Air Sports also is offering 10% discount to SBMS students on trip gear (must be on a trip packing list).
FROM DEVELOPMENT
Save the Date!
We hope you're able to join the SBMS community for our Annual Spring Dinner & Auction Benefit on Saturday, May 18. This year's theme is California Gold, and we'll be celebrating our home state's heritage, local cuisine, and incredible community. Stay tuned for ticket sales starting in March! 

Are you artistic or crafty?
We need your help with student art projects and the ninth grade performance. Join the fun by filling out the  Volunteer Sign-up Sheet here>> and we'll be in touch! Auction Volunteers also help with everything from decorations, to securing item donations, and more, so however you'd like to be involved we'd love to include you. 

A Win-win for you and SBMS: Guy's Poker Night: April 13, 2019, 5 - 10 pm
Hosted by Steve Byrd
Join a full house of SBMS dads for a Texas Hold 'em tournament, hosted by Steve Byrd! Buy-in is set at $100, and a spread of tacos, tequila, margaritas, and beer will keep you fed and hydrated as you play. Bust out early? No problem - buy back in or watch the games while playing ping-pong or corn hole. Prize money is divvied out among the top three finishers! 

$125 per person to attend - $25 ticket to secure your spot, and please bring $100 cash to event.  RSVP to Steve here. 
LIBRARY NEWS
GREAT READING FOR GROWN-UPS: NEXT BOOK ANNOUNCED
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
by Gail Honeyman

Books are available for sale in the library and office. The discussion will take place on Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at 8:45 am.

SPRING EXPEDITIONS & SPRING BREAK
It’s all just a few weeks away! What will your child be reading? Our SBMS Library has many new and noteworthy titles to usher in the season!

Here are a just a few suggested reads for your child:

  • ON THE COME UP by Angie Thomas
  • SEVEN KINGDOMS TRILOGY by Kristin Cashore
  • NEW KID by Jerry Craft
  • THE POET X: A NOVEL by Elizabeth Acevedo
  • THE DEAD QUEENS CLUB by Hannah Capin
  • FIVE FEET APART by Rachael Lippincott
  • DRY by Neal Schusterman
  • BRIDGE OF CLAY by Markus Zusak
  • TWO CAN KEEP A SECRET by Karen M. McManus
  • THE GIRL KING by Mimi Yu
  • THREE DARK CROWNS SERIES by Kendare Blake
  • THE ASSASSINATION OF BRANGWAIN SPURGE by M.T. Anderson
  • A HEART IN A BODY IN THE WORLD by Deb Caletti
  • YOU’LL MISS ME WHEN I’M GONE by Rachel Lynn Solomon
  • THE GIVER: The Graphic Novel Adaptation by Lois Lowry and P. Craig Russell

#checkitoutatSBMSlibrary
DELI NEWS
SALAD BAR
Salad Bar is returning to the Mediterranean. Think tabouli, Israeli couscous, roasted veggies, THE SALAD DRESSINGS, and more!

GET HOOKED! A WEEKLY SEAFOOD SUBSCRIPTION WITH PICK-UP AT SBMS
As a Community Supported Fishery program, Get Hooked operates like a CSA. Customers subscribe for a customized weekly or bi-weekly delivery of the catch of the week. Sign up on our website here and select SBMS as your desired location for a convenient pickup on Wednesday afternoons (3-4pm, look for the cooler located outside of the deli).
PARENT ASSOCIATION
Hello Parents -

While the students are away, the parents will play...mark your calendars for the  all-school Parent Cocktail Party  the evening of Thursday, March 21 (while our students are on the mid-year trip). We will be celebrating at El Paseo Mexican Restaurant from 5:00-7:30 pm. Light appetizers and No-Host bar. Watch your email for the Evite.

Please join us for the next Parent Meeting on Tuesday, March 5th at 8:30 am in the Lotus.
In honor of April being Sexual Assault Awareness Month, we have Elsa Granados from STESA (Standing Together to End Sexual Assault) coming to present to us. She is the executive director of this important local organization (formerly SB Rape Crisis) and will be sharing the information that she herself presents to teens and will help us as parents know how to support and talk to our teens about this subject. There will be lots of great information, so please join us at 8:15 for coffee and conversation, the meeting begins at 8:30.  

It’s Songfest Season coming up! If you are interested in volunteering or finding out more please email me at melissapaine07@gmail.com and look for the sign up genius coming out next month.

Looking ahead:
  • Thursday, March 14: PA Parking Lot Coffee 8:30 am
  • Thursday, March 21: Parent only Cocktail Party at El Paseo Restaurant, 5-7:30pm
  • Tuesday April 16: 7 pm Parent Meeting on Social Media and Cyber Bullying with Dr. Chunyan Yang from UCSB. Many of you are coming to me with concerns about social media so this will be an important meeting to try to make. In the meantime, go to https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ for A LOT of good info and stay tuned…

With Gratitude,
Melissa
INTERESTING READS
WHAT I GAVE MY CHILD INSTEAD OF A SMARTPHONE
Click here to read.
SUMMER CAMPS

SBMS MOUNTAIN BIKING AND BIKE MECHANICS CAMPS
Learn how to ride your bicycle properly on trails and also learn basic bike mechanics. Camp is taught by the experienced staff of S.B. Middle School. Explore the bike trails at Wilcox Preserve, More Mesa, and more. You must bring a bike, helmet, and gloves. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Ages 9-13. Mon.-Fri., 9am-3pm; June 24-28; July 1-3 (for intermediate to advanced bikers, 9am-12 noon $200); July 8-12; July 15-19; July 22-26. $325/week. S.B. Middle School,1321 Alameda Padre Serra. Email summercamp@sbms.org to sign up or for more information.

CATE SCHOOL CAMPS
Cate Summer Institute  is our residential academic program for current 6th and 7th graders. We offer three sessions, June 16-22, June 23-29 and July 28-August 3 (new for 2019!). Students will choose their primary class as well as an elective. All students participate in a outdoor session which will include a different activity each day (surfing, mountain biking, SUP and kayaking, hiking and ropes course). 

Cate Sports Academy  offers day and residential options for 6th - 11th graders. CSA runs Monday - Friday from July 8-August 2. Sports campers will have 5-6 hours of sports training each day and evening activities and field trips at night. We also offer opportunities to swim and play ping pong and relax during non-sports hours. 

Cate Summer Outdoors  is NEW this year. There’s no better place than Cate to enjoy nature. Building on Cate School's successful outdoors program and led by Cate instructor, Pete Bonning, Cate Summer Outdoors is an ideal summer option to make unforgettable memories, form lasting friendships, and develop a deep connection with the natural environment. The landscape of California is vast and varied, and you'll find a little bit of everything in Cate's backyard. From the rugged coastline along the Pacific Ocean to the mountainous regions of the Los Padres National Forest, CSO participants are in close proximity to some of the best backpacking, surfing, and rock climbing in the nation. Space is very limited!
ON THE HORIZON
Friday, March 15: Early Dismissal, 2 pm
Monday, March 18 - Friday, March 22: Mid-Year Expeditions (some may depart or return a day earlier or later)
Thursday, March 21: Parent only Cocktail Party at El Paseo Restaurant, 5-7:30pm
Monday, March 25 - Friday, April 5: Spring Break
Monday, April 8: Classes Resume
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