Pacetti Bay Middle School Wildcat Weekly

Issue 118

https://www-pbm.stjohns.k12.fl.us/

Good afternoon Wildcat families,

We have a 4-day school week this week, since Thursday is the last day of the quarter and Friday is a teacher planning day. Spring Break is the following week - March 12th - 17th. We hope that you all have a fun, relaxing and safe spring break. The next Wildcat Weekly will be sent on Friday, March 17th.

As mentioned, March 9 marks the end of the third quarter. Student success has been and will continue to be our priority at PBMS. Our teachers have built opportunities for remediation and retest for all summative assessments. Furthermore, each grade level offers Lunch and Learn sessions where students can receive additional support and remediation if necessary. We are focused on students knowing the content and being able to apply the skills. Parents, you can help by reviewing grades with your child, checking on Schoology, and helping students organize their notes and schedules.

We reviewed expectations and consequences to all students at the beginning of the second semester. We are happy to report that the vast majority of students are meeting or exceeding these expectations. It is critical for the school to provide a safe and secure environment for students to learn and grow. We ask that you partner with us by encouraging your child to actively support the Wildcat Way! The 22-23 Expectations presentation can be seen at https://www-pbm.stjohns.k12.fl.us/deans-office/  or https://vimeo.com/740462750.

Click on the attached link to view and provide input to the proposed SJCSD school calendars. https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/calendar/feedback/

Parents of 8th grade students, please read through the Wildcat Weekly in its entirety as there are details regarding SJCSD academy processes, Gradventure and yearbooks. Don't miss out!

We encourage families to visit our website frequently, as there will be many updates as the school year begins. This can be viewed at https://www-pbm.stjohns.k12.fl.us/ and click on the grade level link on the left side navigation. These are general supplies and additional details may be given by your child's teacher during the first weeks of school.

Here are some important pieces of information for this coming school year:

·      Doors will open for students starting at 7:10am. We are NOT able to monitor students before 7:00am. Our office hours are 7:00am- 3:00pm.

·      Students MUST have possession of their ID at all times on campus. These are used for a number of purposes on campus.

·      School begins at 7:30am, students who arrive to class after 7:30am will be marked tardy to class.

·      Parent drop-off and pick-up are the second entrance on Meadowlark lane from Pacetti Road. Please do not use the parking lot as a drop-off location as it is unsafe. When pulling up, please pull up all the way to the oak tree at the entrance of the school.

·      Please remind your children that cell phones need to be put away and off once entering the building and can be be turned back on at the end of the school day.

·      Bottle refilling stations are located throughout the school for refillable water bottles.

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM!

• March 8th - Papa Johns Spirit Night
• March 9th - First Quarter Ends
• March 10th - Teacher Planning Day - Student Holiday
• March 13th - 17th - Spring Break
• March 20th- Classes Resume
• March 28th - Report Cards Issued

The Calendar Committee has been meeting to draft the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 School Year Calendars. They are seeking community input on two given drafts for each year and would appreciate your feedback. Please take a few minutes to first read the “Frequently Asked Questions” that will provide background information /calendar guidelines used when creating each of the draft calendars and then complete the survey for each school year’s calendars. 

Click on the attached link to view and provide input to the proposed calendars. https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/calendar/feedback/

State Assessment Results

To access your student’s assessment results,

• Log on to your Home Access Account, (HAC) account. https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/hac/
• Click on the tab that says Grades.
• Click on the tab that says Test Scores.
• Assessment results are listed in alphabetical order by date.

A resource was created to help families understand the information found on the FAST Grades 3-10 Individual Student Reports, which are posted to HAC within two weeks of the student completing the test.  

Understanding FAST Grades 3-10 ELA and Mathematics Reports: A Guide for Families

Any student who has been absent from school shall provide a note from a parent or guardian within forty‐eight (48) hours of returning to school stating the cause of the absence.  Failure to provide a note will result in an automatic unexcused absence.  However, the fact that the student provides a note does not require the school administration to excuse the absence.  The principal or designee will decide whether the absence meets the criteria for an excused absence, and that decision will be final.  The administration may request additional documentation  Student Code of Conduct Page 19), such as a doctor’s note.  The excuse must state specific dates of absence, and must be signed by the treating, licensed physician.  After fifteen (15) days of absence, whether excused or unexcused, a student must present verification from a licensed doctor for all subsequent absences due to illness.  

Scholastic Book Store:

We are not planning another in-school book fair this year. However, you can continue to shop the online Scholastic Store using this link. If you select PBMS while shopping, our school will earn 2% of every purchase all year long. This is a great way to shop for books for all ages while also supporting our school. If your student had money left over in their eWallet, you should have received an email from Scholastic with your gift card information. You can use the gift card at the online store.   

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 with outstanding materials or fines need to clear their account before being allowed to continue checking out books. Students, and their parents, are responsible for the replacement costs of any lost or damaged materials. Please check before attempting to replace a book with your own copy as many of our books are library bound. Therefore, a copy you get at retail is not a suitable replacement. 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 .

Parental Choice Library Book Restriction Form:

If you would like to change your student’s level of access to library books at school, please complete the Parental Choice Library Book Restriction form found on the Media Center website (or click here) and submit it to the Media Center.    

Schoology Information:

·        Schoology is our online learning management system. Teachers will be posting announcements, calendar events, assignments, and materials in Schoology.

·        Students should check their account regularly, at least once a week. It is strongly recommended that students check Schoology daily when absent.

·        All of our students have completed Schoology training and received the “Getting Started with Schoology” guide. 

·        If your student is having trouble signing in at home, please make sure they are following the specific steps in the guide provided above. Also, clearing the Chrome browser history completely and restarting your computer often solves login issues. 

·        Parents are encouraged to set up their own Schoology accounts. Parents will need their child’s parent access code to set up a new account or add a child to an existing account. Parent access codes are available in HAC. Click on the Registration tab and look under Additional Information. If you don’t see your parent access code listed, please keep checking back, it could take up to a week to populate for new students.

·        Visit the PBMS Schoology Information webpage and the SJCSD Schoology for Parents webpage for additional information and resources. 

Student Expectations

https://vimeo.com/740462750

Please be advised that as per the Student Code of Conduct , students are not permitted to wear pajamas to school.

• In accordance with statutory requirement F.S. 1006.07 (students are prohibited from wearing clothing that exposes underwear or that exposes body parts in an indecent or vulgar manner) enforcement will focus on positive guidance without embarrassment to the student and should not disrupt the educational process.
• Clothing must cover the area from armpit to armpit, and down to mid-thigh
• Tops must have shoulder straps and be long enough not to expose your midriff
• See through clothing or rips in jeans must not expose your underwear or your body between the mid-thigh to your arm pit area

Our lost and found is located in the cafeteria. Please check there if you have any missing items. Items are donated at the end of each month.

High school counselor meeting dates:

Our 8^th graders zoned for TCHS and NHS have met with the respective high school teams and have completed scheduling for next year.

Rising Bartram Trail H.S. Students will meet with their high school counselor on March 9^th.   

IMPORTANT IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION

All rising 7^th grade students are required to have a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) booster prior to entering 7^th grade. If your student needs or has already received this immunization, please bring, fax or email the updated Florida DH680 form to Pacetti Bay as soon as possible. The Health Department or your physician can update your DH680 form.

Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County

200 San Sebastian View

St. Augustine, FL 32084

(904) 506-6081

Contact Us | Florida Department of Health in St Johns (floridahealth.gov)

Call for hours of operation for immunization services.

If you have any questions, please call our Guidance Department at (904) 547-8760.

PBMS Fax: 904-547-8775

Email: kimber.ponce@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Make sure you get your Spirit Wear for the year- prices have been SLASHED and stock is limited! https://pbmsptso.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

SAVE THE DATE: Spirit Night at Papa Johns will be March 8th! 20% of proceeds goes to PBMS PTSO

We appreciate our Business Partners! If you know of a business that may be interested in partnering with PBMS, please direct them to: 

https://pbmsptso.memberhub.com/w/Support

Did you know when you reserve the Pacetti Bay marquee you get an entire WEEK of your message being displayed!?

That's right, your message will be displayed Monday - Friday the week of your choosing!

The deadline for submitting your request for the week is the Wednesday prior to the week you would like your message displayed.

Head over to: https://pbmsptso.memberhub.com/w/Marquee for more information and you make your reservation!

To keep up with the latest information, please join our Pacetti Bay Middle School PTSO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PacettiBayMiddlePTSO

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:

1. Join the Battle of the Books Schoology group using this access code: MQR2-6W62-3R2Z7
2. Join our club meetings after school on Tuesdays 1:50-2:45 in the Media Center. You must have transportation home promptly at 2:45 to participate.  

Parents can complete the online Free and Reduced lunch application by using this link https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/food/free/ We encourage you to fill out the online application-English or Spanish, but you can also print a form on the same website and return it to school. Parent should not delay applying to prevent a gap in their student’s meal eligibility.A new application must be completed every school year.

If you have any questions please contact the Café Manager, Jeanie Gray.

Jeanie.gray@stjohns.k12.fl.us

904-547-8776

Take Stock in Children (TSIC) Scholarship for 8^th Graders:

Eligible rising 9^th grade students who are awarded the Take Stock in Children scholarship program may earn a scholarship to attend post-secondary college, university, or trade/technical education after high school graduation as well as receive an academic mentorship throughout high school.

The Take Stock in Children (TSIC) program is a statewide initiative for students who meet the academic, attendance, and behavioral standards and who commit to working with a TSIC mentor through high school to earn a 2-year Florida pre-paid college scholarship. TSIC is income limited, aligned with the Federal free and reduced lunch income levels. More about the TSIC children program is included online at www.takestockinchildren.org.

Invest in Kids (INK!) oversees the program in St. Johns County. We have launched a new online application portal at https://apply.ink-stjohns.org/ to streamline the application process for students and families.

Minimum standards for middle school students to be considered for acceptance include:

·        Middle School GPA of 2.5 with no “F” semester grades

·        Attendance in last 3 semesters with a total of not more than 15 unexcused absences

·        No in-school or out-of-school suspensions for the last 3 semesters

Contest Application

Drop off Locations