Sedgefield Middle School PTO
Important Dates
Monday, March 16 - Friday, May 15: State-wide school closures mandated by Governor Cooper in response to COVID-19 (extended from March 30 to May 15.) All events, before- and after-school programs suspended.
 
News and Information During
COVID-19 School Closure
A Message from SMS PTO During School Closures
We hope this newsletter finds you and your families doing well and staying healthy during this second week of mandatory school closures.

As you have likely heard, mandatory school closures will continue through Friday, May 15, per a mandate from Governor Cooper ( click here for the update from CMS.)

Teachers have begun a digital learning component this week. Please have your scholars check Google Classroom and Canvas for updates and enrichment assignments. Need help as a parent with Canvas? Click here for a complete Canvas tutorial.

A second technology distribution of Chromebooks begins today and continues through Friday, March 27. Please read more details below to sign up.

Beginning Monday, March 30, actual online teaching and learning of new material will begin; students will be accountable to complete work, communicate with teachers, and grades will be earned for that work. 

Vital functions at the school are being provided by a rotation of support staff and administrators, who are also monitoring phones remotely and responding to email. Rest assured, SMS teachers, support staff, administration and social workers continue to check in on our scholars to make sure their needs are being met - for everything from food distribution to Chromebook and Internet access. This has been a huge team effort and we can't thank our amazing Sedgefield family enough!

Please continue to check your e-mail for both CMS and SMS communications. Additionally, please consider the following sources for regular updates and helpful information:




Chromebook Distribution This Week - Sign Up Required
This week, from Tuesday, March 24 - Friday, March 27, SMS will distribute Chromebooks at the school between the hours of
10 a.m. - 1 p.m. This distribution is for any scholar that currently does not have a device at home.

To receive a Chromebook, sign up is required.  Please sign up for a distribution date and time using Sign-Up Genius at the following link: https://bit.ly/2wx9jBJ

No walk-ups can be honored; a distribution form requiring information in advance must be signed at time of pickup. Since it is possible that at some point distribution of devices may no longer be possible, please make arrangements now to give your scholar the tools needed for success in school.
Show Your Spartan Spirit During Virtual Spirit Week, March 23-27!

Get in on some fun during our Virtual Spirit Week! Even though we aren't all together, we can keep our Spartan Spirit going by engaging in these fun activities! Make sure you tag us on Instagram (@sedgefieldspartans) and Twitter (@sedgefieldcms):


3/23: Movie Monday
Post a pic of your favorite movie and snack!


3/24: TikTok Tuesday
Post a video of you doing or teaching someone a TikTok dance!

3/25: New Creation Wednesday
Post a pic of something you built out of Legos, Play-Doh, or paper!

3/26: "Pawfect" Pet Thursday
Post a pic of you and your pet!

3/27: Favorite Memory Friday
Post a pic or video of your favorite memory of the year!

Class Registration for Rising 7th and 8th Grades
"Virtual" class registrations for rising 7th and 8th grade scholars will take place this week. Please click the grade-level links below to complete the online form. Complete class descriptions in the 2020-21 Middle School Planning Guide are available by clicking here.



Ms. Sherer will hold Zoom office hours for rising 7th graders to answer registration questions Monday-Friday from 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. The Zoom meeting ID is: 975251839


Ms. Means will hold Zoom office hours for rising 8th graders to answer registration questions Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. The Zoom meeting ID is: 7127152524.


If you have a current 5th grader attending Sedgefield Middle next year and have registration questions, please e-mail Ms. Stephanie Sherer to setup a virtual appointment.
Mental Health Crisis Resources
If you are in need of mental health support while at home, please review these resources (click each image to link to the larger flyer):
CMS School Meal Information During Closure
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will provide grab and go meals while schools are closed. Lunch (and breakfast for the next day) will be served in participating school’s - including Sedgefield Middle School - parking lots. Meals are free for anyone 18-years old and under. 
Meals will be distributed Monday-Friday beginning Tuesday, March 17 from 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. The district will review the meal distribution plan weekly and communicate each week to media and the community.

Families are welcome to take advantage of food distribution at their nearest participating school; services are not school-specific and anyone may go to any of the grab and go sites, regardless of the school they attend. For families interested in utilizing Sedgefield Middle, p lease enter at the front of the school and pull past the front entrance to the door between signs for gymnasium and cafeteria. All food will be packaged to be picked up from that location – no one will be permitted to enter the building. 

Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry
Loaves & Fishes food pantry is offering food to anyone who needs it. If you need a referral to take advantage of this program, please e-mail Ms. Sherer, Ms. Means or Ms. Bowens.

Don't have a need, but would like to help? Please consider making a donation of food to Loaves & Fishes to help our school and greater Charlotte communities. Loaves & Fishes anticipates the need for emergency food to spike with the economic impact on our community.
School Closure Grab-n-Go Food Distribution
Following is a list of community organizations offering lunch and breakfast food distribution during the school closure:
How to Login on Your Chromebook from Home
Below are directions to login to Chromebook from home. Should your scholar need technology assistance during the closure, please complete this online request form.
Free Spectrum Internet Access
Charter Communications will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll, call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.

News
Order a Yearbook Today!
Yearbooks for the 2019-20 school year are now on sale! Each yearbook features 100 color pages of our scholars' favorite memories.

Orders are due by April 17. You may print and complete the order form and return to Ms. Harmon or Ms. Algood after the school closure, or click here to order online. Cost is $25 per yearbook.

Know of a local business that would like to advertise its products or services to our school community? Ad space is available! Cost is $10 for a half page; $20 for a full page.

Questions? Contact Ms. Harmon.
School Events, Activities and Volunteer Needs
The following school events, activities and volunteer needs are postponed and are to be determined:

  • SMS athletics and clubs
  • March Dadness
  • Recruitment for EOG proctors, club advisors and field trip volunteers 
  • PTO board, committee and general meetings

As soon as these activities and updates resume, we will let you know. Many of you have asked how you can help our school during this time and we appreciate your support. The PTO is working with the SMS administration to determine where support is needed. Stay tuned for more details. Thank you!