Pacetti Bay Middle School Wildcat Weekly
Volume 16
Good evening Wildcat Nation!
We hope that you all enjoyed the wonderful weekend weather and even got a glimpse of the SpaceX launch this evening. As we progress through the second quarter, we are working to continue instruction through both platforms while building supports for students who may not have met their potential in the first quarter. Some of the ways we support all students is through our Lunch and Learn program, which began last week, and our Wednesday after-school test make-up and retest. It is our goal to ensure the success of every student, preparing them for the next step in their educational career.

Speaking of teachers who do all that they can for our kids, we got to recognize our Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year.

Our Teacher of the Year is Mr. Manias. He teaches Science, our WEB class for leadership and Television Production. HE also is the sponsor of our yearbook this year. He does an amazing job working in each are and will go above and beyond for every kid. Truly an amazing teacher and person.

Our Rookie Teacher of the Year is Ms. Duve. She is a wonderful mathematics teacher and has a very bright future in education. In addition she coaches our boys' volleyball team and is often seen helping her kids.

We are so grateful for amazing, caring teachers at Pacetti Bay Middle School. Each one of them easily could have been our teacher of the year.

Parents, as a reminder, please reiterate with your kids about proper PPE usage which includes students wearing masks over the nose and while on campus and school buses. We have noticed a considerable uptick in the number of reminders given daily. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

The faculty and administration wants to make sure that you have all of the information you need for your children to have great success and we believe this format will aid in the process. Please take a moment and register to receive the Wildcat Weekly at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/IWZG0wo

Looking forward to a great second quarter, Go Wildcats!

Respectfully,

Ted Banton, Principal
Upcoming Events
Events for this Week and Beyond

  • NJHS Canned Food Drive- through Nov. 16th
  • November 17th: Battle of the Books Meeting- Ms. Gowens
  • November 17th: Needlecraft Club Meeting- Ms. Craig
  • November 18th: First Quarter REPORT CARD available in HAC
  • November 20th: Turkey Trot- PE Classes
School Reminders
PPE Expectations
Students are to have their face masks or face shields on when arriving to campus and leaving campus. Please remind students to be diligent in keeping masks on and over both the mouth and nose. We have seen an increase in students placing the mask below the nose.

COVID Safety Procedures
Parents, please remember to check your child’s temperature before they depart for school. Remember that a student with a temperature of 100.4 will need to be picked up at school. In addition, please remember to ensure you go over the checklist below with your child each day.


Students are to have their face masks or face shields on when arriving to campus and will be directed by their teacher after their temperature is checked at homeroom.

SJCSD Microsoft Office 365 Offer
Families and employees of SJCSD are eligible for free Microsoft 365 Pro Plus. Please click the link for details: https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/advantage/
SJCSD Textbook Adoption Process
The SJCSD textbook adoption process for English-Language Arts and Intensive Reading is currently underway. PBMS would like to formally invite any community stakeholders in our school- parents, family members, business owners, neighbors, etc- to participate in the selection process. If you are interested in doing so, you can find an informational video regarding the process here: https://vimeo.com/476307599. You can then access all pertinent information regarding participation in the textbook adoption review via the SJCSD website dedicated to the topic. Go here to learn more: https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/instructional-resources-media-services/textbooks/adoption/.
Attendance Information
The new link for attendance notes is now up and running! Visit the PBMS webpage under attendance link or click on the button. You can complete and submit all in one easy form! Any questions, please contact our attendance office at 904-547-8780
Media Center
Last chance … Our Online Book Fair ends November 16th!
  • Use the following link to shop our online book fair: https://efairs.follettbookfairs.com/guest/home?classCode=RKP51
  • Middle school books are featured, but you can purchase books for all ages by using the “Search” field, then using the “Filter” feature to narrow your search by grade/price range.
  • When asked for your student’s teacher, please select their homeroom teacher
  • Orders will be shipped free of charge to school when the eFair ends and received well before our winter holiday break (think holiday gift giving!). 
  • Orders will be delivered to your student in homeroom unless you email me at karin.gowens@stjohns.k12.fl.us to tell me you are a Distance Learner or wish to pick up your order instead of having it delivered to your student at school (i.e. to keep gifts a surprise). We will announce the pick-up date/time once orders have been received.
  • Thank you for encouraging a love for reading and supporting our book fair!
Battle of the Books Club:
If you have been reading the Sunshine State books and are interested in being a part of our Battle of the Books team, please:
  • Join the Battle of the Books Schoology group using this access code: KFNW-CGG5-GNVHH
  • Plan to attend our Battle of the Books club meetings after school Tuesdays 1:50-2:45 in the Media Center. We will not meet on November 24th. You must have transportation home at 2:45 to attend in person. I will also have a live Zoom conference for those who wish to attend virtually.

 
Zoom Conferences
Having trouble conferencing with Zoom? We have added two Zoom troubleshooting guides to the PBMS Schoology Information webpage. Please check here first for Schoology related information and support. Also see Schoology sections below for previously posted information.    
 
Welcome Wildcats!
We are so excited to be welcoming many of our Distance Learners to campus. Please bring the following items to school with you:
  • Textbooks- You will need to return your black, hardcover Language Arts “Collections” textbook. You will hold onto your other textbooks to use in class or as directed by your teachers.
  • Library books- Any outstanding library books need to be turned in to the Media Center. If you have lost or damaged books, please bring payment for those items. Checks must have two phone numbers written on them. If you owe books or payments to another SJCSD school, you may turn them in to us and we will forward them to the appropriate school for you. Please be sure to make checks out to the school owed.
  • Technology- Borrowed laptops (including power cord) and hot spots are to be turned in when coming on campus.          
 
Media Center Policy:
Our students are expected to check out books and read throughout the school year. Students are responsible for returning or renewing their library books and textbooks by the due dates given. Students will only be permitted to check out books if they do not already have an overdue book. Students, and their parents, are responsible for the replacement costs of any lost or damaged materials. If ordered, a yearbook will not be delivered to the student and the cost of the yearbook will be put towards the replacement cost of any lost or damaged materials. Students may be excluded from end-of-year activities with Media Center materials outstanding. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please contact our Media Specialist at Karin.gowens@stjohns.k12.fl.us .
 
eBooks:
Did you know we have eBooks? We have 1000’s of eBooks, including all of this year’s Sunshine State titles. You can access our eBooks by going to the Media Center website and clicking on the eBooks section or using this link: https://www-pbm.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/ebooks/ . On the eBooks webpage, you will find all the information you need to access and navigate our eBook platforms as well as information about eBooks/eResources available on the St Johns County Public Library website. This information has also been posted in each grade’s Schoology Media group under Resources. There is so much there to discover. Enjoy exploring and reading these digital resources!
 
Book Holds:
We encourage our students to place a hold in Destiny (our online library management system) on a book they want to check out when it is not immediately available for them to check out while they are in the Media Center. Students place a hold by logging into Destiny using their student number and district password. Directions on how to do this have been placed in each grade’s Schoology Media group under Resources. When the book becomes available, we send the student a message on Schoology. They have 3 school days to come pick it up in the Media Center, before we check it back in from them and make it available to the next student. 
Distance Learners are welcome to utilize this hold system to check out books from our school library as well. Once they get the Schoology message that their book is available for them to pick up, they will have 3 school days to come pick it up in the front office between the hours of 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. Books are due 3 weeks from their checkout date. The due date is stamped in the back of the book. Distance Learners are still responsible for returning their books on time to the return bin outside the front office Monday-Friday 7:30-2:30 pm.    
 
Schoology for Students:
  • Click here for the “2020-21 Student Getting Started with Schoology Guide”. This shows students how to login, join their grade Media and Counselor groups, navigate the platform, and access the Schoology app if desired.
  • Students can find a pink “Student Schoology Help Videos” folder in each of their Schoology courses under Materials to reference for additional support.
  • Go to the PBMS Schoology Information webpage for more Schoology information and support resources, including Zoom troubleshooting guides.
 
Schoology for Parents:
  • Parents may set up their own Schoology account if they choose. Parent letters, including your parent access code needed to set up and link your account to your student, went home the second week of school. Students who register mid-year will receive their Schoology parent letter when they come to pick up their textbooks in the Media Center. If you already have a Schoology parent account for another student, you can use this access code to add this student to your existing account.
  • Visit the PBMS Schoology Information webpage for additional information and resources.
  • Visit the SJCSD Schoology for Parents webpage for additional information and resources.
Athletics and Physical Education
2020 Pacetti Bay Volleyball


*All tickets must be pre-purchased for games on the Pacetti Bay School Website.

Please be reminded masks are to be worn until seated and socially distanced.
Club Updates
PBMS National Junior Honor Society will be collecting canned and nonperishable food for a local food bank. Collection will take place through homerooms. The homeroom with the most items collected will win donuts and juice.
 
This drive will start on Monday, Nov. 2nd and continue through Monday, Nov. 16th. On the 16th, our NJHS members will come around to gather collected items.Bring canned and non-perishable items to help those in need and good luck to each homeroom!
Girls on the Run meets on Mondays from 2:00- 3:30 in room 220. Ms. Bowmaster, Ms. Boston, and Mrs. Hodges will be coaching this year. We look forward to a fun filled year!

 
All Wildcats are welcome to join our Craft Club!
We will meet on Tuesdays in the Cafe Bump Out room from 2:00 to 3:00.

Our first session will run from November 10 - January 19

The cost of $20 includes all materials.
https://qrgo.page.link/ZYnDP
PTSO News
To keep up with the latest information, please join our Pacetti Bay Middle School PTSO
 
All Spirit wear orders have been delivered. Please contact your homeroom teacher if you have not received them.
 
Monthly Donations: Beginning this month, the PTSO will begin monthly donation drives that will coincide with event specific expenses. Over the course of the school year we receive requests from the school to provide snacks, prizes, or other goods. We also want to make sure our teachers and staff feel appreciated and want to do an extra little something each month for them. By opening up these donation opportunities, it will enable you and your family to play a part in helping to meet these needs. You can donate anytime throughout the year!
 
This month we are partnering with the PE coaches to help with prizes for the Turkey Trot top finishers. (The Turkey Trot will be taking place on Friday November 20 during school hours.) We are asking for your monetary support in order to make this happen. We have set up a Venmo account to make things simple. You can find us at PBMSPTSO (also listed as Pacetti Bay Middle School PTSO.) 
 
Any help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if you would like additional information. As always, we are grateful for your support. 
 
PTSO Business Partners: More than ever, we are relying on the support and assistance of our local business partners and community to navigate the uncharted waters of the year ahead and help make it amazing for our school. Please visit our website for information regarding our 2020-21 Business Partners Program , and please feel free to reach out with any questions. We hope to have you join our Wildcats Family and help support our teachers, staff, and students through this school year and the challenges ahead. https://www.pacettibayptso.org/become-a-business-partner.html
 
Wildcats Announcement Marquee: This year, we are thrilled to share that the Wildcats Announcement Marquee is open for reservations! We hope you will join in the fun!
 
Your $25 donation provides a personal message on the Wildcats Announcement
Marquee outside The Bay. This is perfect for Happy Birthdays, Congratulations, or other