Pacetti Bay Middle School Wildcat Weekly
Volume 19
Good evening Wildcat Nation!
Next Tuesday, December 8th, marks the midway point in the quarter. Please check your child's progress in HAC and encourage him/her to seek help if needed. Students have opportunities to reach out to teachers during homeroom and through Lunch and Learn.

To our parents of distance learners, the district sent out a survey via email requesting your response by this Monday regarding your child’s educational options for 2nd semester. Please be sure to read the information in that email and respond so that we can plan and schedule accordingly.

Please be diligent to go over the COVID health screening and check your child's temperature before they attend school each morning.


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.

In addition, as a reminder, a photo ID is required for student check-out. This is for the safety and security of all children and Pacetti Bay Middle School.

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

Have a great week, Go Wildcats!

Respectfully,

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

  • December 7: Catan Club- Cofield
  • December 7-8: Student Council Book and Toy Drive
  • December 8: Second Quarter INTERIM available in HAC
  • December 8: Battle of the Books- Gowens
  • December 8: Needlecraft Club- Craig
  • December 8: Basketball Open Gym- Cofield (Form must be submitted, see Mr. Cofield for details)
  • December 14-17: PBMS Basketball Tryouts
  • December 16: PBMS PTSO Spirit Night at Your Pie!
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/
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

Please remember a photo ID is required for student check-out. This is for the safety and security of all children and Pacetti Bay Middle School.
Media Center
From the Media Center
 
FREE Book Friday – December 11th:
The Media Center has LOTS of books they are giving away this Friday, December 11th! Students may come to the Media Center with a pass from homeroom, class, or lunch to select up to 3 free books to keep.
 
Computer Science Education Week - December 7-13th:
This week is Computer Science Education week, an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science. A knowledge of computer science and coding is so important given the digital age our students are growing up in. We live in a world surrounded by technology and we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works. 
Students can access coding websites from the PBMS Media Center website, including code.org. Hour of Code (at code.org) started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. Students can create their own games with fun, interactive activities while learning computational thinking skills in an approachable way. You’ll find computer based and non-computer based activities for all grades, experience levels, and subject areas at https://code.org/learn.
 
BrainPOP also offers many resources by searching “computer science” or “coding”. Use our generic school login (UN: pbms PW: pbms) at BrainPOP.com or students can access BrainPOP through their Clever account.   
 
Book Fair books have been delivered!
Thank you to everyone who supported our online Book Fair! All orders were distributed to students on December 1st. Happy reading!         
 
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
2020-2021 Pacetti Bay Basketball tryouts
 
All students are invited to tryout for this year’s Wildcat basketball teams. There will be a open tryout for girls on Monday, December 14th, followed by a first cut and an invite-only tryout on Tuesday, December 15th. Both tryouts will run from 2:00-3:30. Open tryout for boys will take place on Wednesday, December 16th, followed by a first cut and an invite-only tryout on Thursday, December 17th. Wednesdays tryout will run from 12:00- 1:30. Thursday will run from 2:00-3:30
 
All prospective players must submit a permission slip BEFORE the first day of tryouts. Tryout rosters and tryout numbers must be created beforehand, so permission slips WILL NOT be accepted the day of tryouts. Permission slips can be picked up from Coach Cofield, Coach Felton, or the P.E. teachers.

 
Prospective players should come to tryouts in athletic clothing and shoes and should provide their own water bottle.
 
**Physicals are not required for tryouts, but physicals are required for all students chosen for the team**


Go Wildcat Nation!
Club Updates
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. 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.
Catan Club
When: Monday afternoons 2:00-3:30
Where: Room 495/6th grade pod
Sponsor: Mr. Cofield (Room 495)
 
All students are invited to come check out Catan Club. Settlers of Catan is a popular board that involves strategy, persuasion, skill, and quite a bit of luck. Don’t worry if you’ve never played, we will be happy to teach you! Come learn a new game while having fun with your classmates. Students can contact Mr. Cofield using Schoology; parents can reach him at brent.cofield@stjohns.k12.fl.us
Girls on the Run
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!
Needle Craft Club
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 Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PacettiBayMiddlePTSO)!
 
Save The Date: Your Pie Spirit Night: December 16. More details to come!
 
Sam’s Club Fundraiser: We've got a special promotion for you! PBMS is working with Sam's Club to help support our school when your order online or for pickup!
Use this unique tracking link to sign up for your Sam's Club membership! https://kb.cash/8PAErV You'll get a $45 credit to use online!
 
PBMS gets 10% of all new memberships purchased and 1% back on all online pickup orders! Visit us at https://www.pacettibayptso.org for flyer and more details!
 
 
Monthly Donations: The PTSO has begun 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!
 
At some point over the next two weeks we will be holding a holiday luncheon for the staff as well as providing each of them with a small gift. 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