It's the SCOOP for June 2020
Your summer news from Santa Barbara Middle School
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Dear SBMS Families,
After this challenging and unpredictable year, we hope you are soaking up these summer days and getting some rest and relaxation.
While coronavirus was not the mountain we were prepared to climb or the dragon we expected to face, this pandemic journey has taught us many of the valuable SBMS lessons we would have received in the course of a “normal” SBMS year. We have been pushed off the map and out of our comfort zones, forced to adapt to something different and uncomfortable, encouraged to dive in without being able to see what’s below the surface, and we have been invited to begin again . . . and again.
RESILIENCE.
We have continued to learn something more than just academic content this year. We have learned about who we are as learners and how each of us learns best.
SELF-DISCOVERY.
We have also asked ourselves over and over again, what are the truly essential functions and needs of our school, classes, students, families, and community.
RELEVANCE.
Our students and families have honored the SBMS Deal with their efforts, kindness, and contributions, while the SBMS faculty and staff have kept their end of the Deal by always going the extra mile for our students, and by reinventing school as we know it, almost overnight.
As we look back over this crazy, unprecedented year, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the superhuman efforts of this entire community. As this year came to a close, I asked one of our master storytellers and filmmakers, David Teton-Landis, to recapture our journey with a wide-angle lens. David’s short film reminds me of what we all have accomplished this year, in spite of the pandemic, and from the pandemic, that will help us face whatever comes our way in the future.
With Love & Gratitude,
Brian
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SBMS SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
2019-2020
Please share this short video celebration with your family and then continue reading about our plans and preparations for next year.
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SBMS 2020-21
As we look towards next year, we want to reconfirm our plans to begin the week of August 24, two weeks earlier than last year. We will launch the school year with a week of orientation activities, health and safety trainings, and parent meetings, followed by two days of riding and an introduction to our academic schedule with our first round of classes--all before Labor Day! We are committed to safely delivering our unique SBMS program on campus for five full days a week. We will continue to provide engaging academics, a robust electives program, community service opportunities, and a scalable outdoor education program adapted to make the most of fall and late spring, so we can get on our bikes and explore nature more frequently throughout the year.
Our scheduling committee is laying out what the day-to-day will look like so that we can address student math levels, continue to run electives, and host a variety of experiential education days in addition to modified trips as conditions permit. Here are some important facets of our reopening plan:
- Campus will be prepared to safely host all students on campus daily in cohorts, strictly following all public health and social distancing guidelines.
- Students will have a full day schedule, five days a week, that includes 3 academic classes, a flex period, plus electives each day.
- A multitude of electives will continue to be offered through cohorts including music, physical fitness, recreations, some sports, art, technology, photography, robotics, community service, and more.
- Staggered drop-off and pick-ups will be required to make this schedule work and to function as highly as possible.
Cohorts will consist of 12-16 students
by grade, a number defined by CAIS and public health considerations. Cohorts are based first around math placement, so we can continue untethered math, but also around gender and social considerations. Like our expeditions, tenting contracts, and trip family groupings, there will always be challenges. We can't promise students will be with all of their best friends, but we ask our students and parents to remain open and excited about building stronger relationships with their cohort-mates. We will work diligently to put them in the best placement and will have team-building exercises and group opportunities to build friendships, trust, and openness. Cohorts will be announced in August as we approach the start of school.
Outdoor education will be different this year.
We will be having more frequent experiential education days throughout the whole year in addition to scalable expeditions. We are looking to create manageable faculty and staff-led adventures under cohorts so we can continue outdoor ed, while not violating any safety protocols. Our expeditions are meant to build resilience and a relationship with nature, which we can still do. It just might look different based on coronavirus conditions at the time!
COVID-19 Preparations
SBMS continues to work with our COVID-19 Committee of doctors, health workers, and local public and independent school leaders to make sure we can run our full program safely. Classrooms, community spaces, and bathrooms are being modified for spacing, ventilation, sanitation, and flow. Our curriculum, schedule, calendar, and drop-off/pick-up routines are being modified to maximize health and learning. Our COVID-19 Handbook Supplement detailing these protocols and guidelines will be shared next month. We will need your understanding, help, and cooperation to ensure we can operate safely at the highest possible level next year.
Please note a few changes to
next year’s calendar
to accommodate for flu season and the possible return to Distance Learning. Our goal is to pack in as much direct classroom, elective and outdoor experiential learning as possible in the fall and in the spring. By starting earlier, moving vacation times, adjusting schedules, trips and projects, we can make the most of our direct learning opportunities while also minimizing the digital learning challenges of going back online when necessary.
Communications
With these calendar updates, the summer mailings were delayed a bit, but please look out for them in the coming weeks. You will also be able to find digital copies of the packet's contents in the SBMS Hub. Upcoming communications also include:
- A parent survey to gather valuable feedback on the 2019-20 school year
- A COVID-19 Supplemental Handbook at the end of July/early August
- Email updates on the return to school, orientation week, schedule details, drop off protocols and any calendar adjustments will come in the beginning of August
Summer homework assignments
for each grade have been sent out via email and posted on the Resources Board in the Hub.
This upcoming year will be another expeditionary journey of its own, but like this year, we are confident that we can make the best of whatever challenges we may face together.
Wishing you all a fun and healthy summer break!
Brian, Bianca, the SBMS Faculty and Staff
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INCOMING FAMILY DEAL MEETINGS
It all truly begins with the deal...
Thank you for joining our community at Santa Barbara Middle School. This is Anne at SBMS -- I am ready to help you register for a Deal Meeting with Head of School Brian McWilliams. After you register, Chiara del Campo, Assistant to the Head of School, will be available to help you with rescheduling as needed. Chiara’s email is
Chiara@sbms.org
.
As you may recall from the interview, the Deal Meeting is an opportunity for families to meet with Brian and for new students to make a commitment to their part of the SBMS Deal. It is an enjoyable time for everyone and an important step as your family joins our SBMS family.
We are excited to be able to hold the Deal Meetings in person, at the same Kiva where Deal Meetings have been held for over 25 years! We will be following all necessary safety precautions and protocols to keep your family healthy. If your family is not able to meet in person, Brian is happy to meet over ZOOM.
Please click the link below to schedule your Deal Meeting. The registration is linked to the same system you used for the application process. If you need help or have questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know at
anne@sbms.org
.
If none of the listed times work for your family, please be assured that we will be offering more sessions
in August
. If you live outside of the Santa Barbara area, Chiara will help you schedule a meeting time to take place when you will be in town.
The Deal Meeting lasts about one hour. Our new Admissions Director Mandy Westerman will be there to greet you. She is looking forward to seeing you soon and sharing this memorable day with you!
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SBMS SUMMER CAMPS!
SBMS SUMMER CAMPS
SBMS is offering “Build Your Own Experience” Summer Camps. Camps will run in blocks starting at 9am, 11am, and 1pm. Depending on the activity, blocks will be 60 or 90 minutes long. This leaves 30-60 minutes between blocks for snacks and lunch. Each camp/block runs for one week, Monday through Friday.
Learn more about the program here and email
summercamp@sbms.org
for questions or to register.
Camps Offered
- Watercolor (materials included) - 90 minutes - $175/Week
- Nature Art: Painting & Drawing (materials included) - 90 minutes - $175/Week
- Bike Mechanics (some materials included) - 90 minutes - $175/Week
- Beginning Guitar (guitars available) - 60 minutes - $145/Week
- Ukulele (ukulele available) - 60 minutes - $145/Week
- Photography (Camera or phone with a camera required) - 60 minutes - $125/Week
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ARTISTE WINERY
New wine release with sales benefitting SBMS!
Our family has been so grateful for the years our son, Mason Rice, has had at Santa Barbara Middle School and are excited to give back through
Artiste
. This month, we are releasing a one-of-a-kind summer Sauvignon Blanc, "
Riviera
" that features the imaginative work of SBMS Artist-in-Residence Richard Wilke. This delicious wine will pair perfectly with your favorite summer foods. This offer is a limited run and EXCLUSIVELY available to the SBMS community.
We will be donating $15 to SBMS for every bottle sold to help support this amazing school and team of teachers! Cheers! - Anna and Bion Rice
*Because this wine is for fundraising purposes, no Artiste discounts apply. Thank you for supporting SBMS!
SBMS AT THE MATHCOUNTS REGIONAL COMPETITION
Our SBMS team did an amazing job at the MathCounts competition this past spring. Congrats to Ada, Kieran, Charlie, Paia and Cooper on all your hard work and dedication! Watch the championship round with our very own Cooper
here. What a win!
We can't wait to see what you all do next year.
WEBINAR: RESILIENCE IN CHALLENGING TIMES
June 29, 2020 at 3pm EDT
The International Association of Dyslexia is offering a two-part webinar on resilience presented by Dr. Robert Brooks. Dr. Brooks has written many books including
Raising Resilient Children
and is an excellent speaker.
This webinar is for parents, caregivers, and teachers of all children. Learn more and register for free at
https://woobox.com/9ddus9
.
A THANKS TO THE 8TH GRADE FOR ELYSE'S BIKE
Elyse, we were so sorry to hear about your bike being stolen and are so grateful for our 8th grade parents who saved the day. Thank you to our families who chipped in to help get Elyse her new bike. What a wonderful community we have. Happy Riding!
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ON THE HORIZON
*Please note that dates and events are subject to change. We will be in communication over the summer with event updates and date confirmations.
August 2020
Monday, August 24 - Friday, August 28: Orientation Week One
Monday, August 31 - Friday, Sept. 4: Orientation Week Two
Tuesday, Sept. 1 - Wednesday, Sept. 2: Orientation Bike Rides
Thursday, Sept. 3 - Friday, Sept. 4: Introduction to Academic classes
September 2020
Monday, September 7: Labor Day - No School
Tuesday, September 8: Classes Resume
See the remainder of the calendar
HERE.
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