SBMS Faculty are back at school preparing for the year ahead with workshops, Wilderness First Aid & Responder certifications, and COVID Response Team trainings. |
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It's the SCOOP for August 20, 2021
Your weekly news from Santa Barbara Middle School
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Dear SBMS Families,
Faculty and staff have been on campus working hard to prepare for the new school year. From setting up equipment in the kitchen to re-certifying ourselves in Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder class, it has been busy!
We hope you are getting excited for the year ahead and to kick it all off during Orientation Week. There have been a few changes to drop-off locations and times highlighted in yellow below, so please read through this Scoop carefully. We understand that the start of school is a busy time, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions along the way.
With gratitude,
Brian, Bianca, and the SBMS Staff
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COVID-19 VACCINE SURVEY
To help us prepare for the safest return to school, we need EVERY family to complete this survey as soon as possible. Your responses will help us design and adapt our COVID Response Plan to the most current data and guidance so we can keep our families safe AND provide the most robust Middle School Program. Our newly updated COVID Response Plan will be released early next week and will continue to evolve as conditions and guidance change. Please fill out this anonymous, one-minute survey.
COVID PROTOCOLS
Our 2021-22 COVID Safety Plan will be coming out next week with detailed protocols and guidelines. In the meantime, please read through this important COVID Health and Safety email that went out to all faculty, staff and families two weeks ago and lays out initial protocols for a safe return to campus. If you have any questions on COVID Health and Safety, please don’t hesitate to reach out to erik@sbms.org. Thank you all for doing your part to keep the community safe and SBMS open!
CUPS AND QUESTIONS
We will be hosting a start of school Cups and Questions for all families on Thursday, September 9 at 9am. You can join us on Bianca's zoom here to discuss the first week of classes, electives and more! |
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ORIENTATION WEEK SCHEDULE |
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Monday, August 30
Diamond Day for Incoming Families (details below)
- NEW 6/8 Grade Families: 10:30am - 12:30pm
- NEW 7 Grade Families: 1pm - 3pm
Tuesday, August 31
First day for 9th Grade - Leadership Training (details below)
Wednesday, September 1
First day of School for 6th-8th Grades - Orientation and Bike Clinic (details below)
Thursday, September 2
Orientation Ride & Overnight (details below)
Friday, September 3
Orientation Ride & Overnight (details below)
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ORIENTATION WEEK DETAILS
MONDAY, AUGUST 30 - DIAMOND DAY FOR INCOMING FAMILIES
All NEW 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade families are invited to meet their teachers, staff, and fellow SBMS families. Please arrive at your designated time below for check-in. You will then head to the upper lawn for a message from our Head of School, Brian. Afterward, you will have a chance to visit information stations set up around campus. This is a great way to get all of your questions answered about the beginning of the school year, and attendance is highly recommended!
If you are wondering about the kitchen, and what food will look like at SBMS, make sure to come to learn about the lunch program, volunteering opportunities, and our community partnerships. You will also learn about the Orientation Ride & Overnight, elective classes, bikes and equipment, and more. The Warehouse will be open for outdoor expedition gear, and our Parent Association reps will be on hand to explain some of the fun ways you can get involved.
To keep our numbers at a minimum, we ask that only parents/guardians and incoming students attend (no siblings or extended family). The event will take place both indoors and outdoors, and masks will be required throughout.
STAGGERED ARRIVAL TIMES & CHECK-IN
6th / 8th Grade NEW FAMILIES 🔶 10:30am - 12:30pm
Park in the lower lot and head to the designated lower-level entrances for check-in. Here you will get your nametags and information on the rotations.
Arrival times are below:
- 10:30am - Group 1 last names A-H
- 10:40am - Group 2 last names I-P
- 10:50am - Group 3 last names Q-Z
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11am - Program starts promptly for all on upper lawn
7th Grade NEW FAMILIES 🔶 1pm - 3pm
Park in the lower lot and head to the designated lower-level entrances for check-in. Here you will get your nametags and information on the rotations.
Arrival times are below:
- 1pm - Group 1 last names A-H
- 1:10pm - Group 2 last names I-P
- 1:20pm - Group 3 last names Q-Z
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1:30pm - Program starts promptly for all on upper lawn
What to bring:
- Deal letters if you have not turned them in
- Any office paperwork that needs to be submitted
- Questions you may have about our program
- A big smile and an open mind!
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 31 - 9TH GRADE LEADERSHIP SEMINAR
This day of leadership and learning is a special day for our ninth graders. All other students in grades 6-8 have this day off.
- Drop-off: 9:00am
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Lunch: Pizza lunch will be provided. Please bring a mask and a water bottle.
- Pick-up: 2:00pm
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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
This day will be fun for all! We will review the basics of the SBMS program, meet classmates and teachers, and practice bike riding for our Orientation Ride. 6-8th graders will need to bring their bikes, helmets, and gloves to school for our bike clinic. Our orientation ride is relatively flat and a borrowed bike will be just fine for the bike clinic and the trip. If you do not have a bike yet or need to borrow one, please email Jesse Kasehagen at Jesse@sbms.org. Be prepared to pick up bikes at the end of the first day of school and bring them back to the start of the Orientation Ride on Thursday, Sept 2.
Drop-Off:
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8:45am 9th grade arrives
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9:00am 7th grade RETURNING students arrive
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9:30am 6th grade students and NEW 8th graders arrive
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9:45am NEW 7th grade students arrive
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10:00am 8th grade RETURNING students arrive
Pick-Up
- 3:00pm 6th grade
- 3:15pm 7th grade
- 3:45pm 8th grade
- 4:00pm 9th grade
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THURSDAY, SEPT. 2 - FRIDAY, SEPT. 3 - ORIENTATION RIDE & OVERNIGHT
On Thursday, September 2, and Friday, September 3, the entire school will go on our annual Orientation Ride & Overnight. We do NOT expect you to go out and buy all new gear for this trip. Borrowed camping gear for this short overnight is great, and SBMS will provide tents. The packing list can be found here.
Please pay attention to and adhere to drop off and pick up times. Students will bring bikes, helmets and gloves to drop off and be ready to ride!
Thursday, Sept. 2
Drop off at Palm Park Parking Lot at the intersection of Cabrillo Blvd and Garden Street
(beachside next to the bike path adjacent to the skate park).
- 9th grade: 8:30am
- 6th grade: 8:45am
- 7th grade: 9:15am
- 8th grade: 9:45am
Friday, Sept. 3
Pick up at Palm Park Parking Lot
- 8th grade: 1pm
- 7th grade: 1:30pm
- 6th grade: 2pm
- 9th grade: 2pm
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INCOMING STUDENT REMINDERS
DEAL LETTERS FOR INCOMING STUDENTS
Incoming families, Brian looks forward to reading your child's Deal Letter in the coming weeks. Help them get creative and think about why they chose Middle School, what they would like to accomplish, and what gifts they are excited to share with the community. Please come by and drop their letter off in our main office or mail it in when ready. You can also bring your Deal letter with you on Diamond Day and drop it off there. Thank you!
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COMPUTERS FOR INCOMING STUDENTS
Our IT team will be hosting a Laptop Drive-Through Pick-Up event on Wednesday, August 25, from 4:30-6pm. Colin and David will be stationed in the lower parking lot at the picnic tables by the fountain and are available to hand off laptops to those who’ve ordered but not yet received theirs. The cost can be added to tuition payments or can be paid up-front via check.
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COVID PROTOCOLS
Please read through this important COVID Health and Safety email that went out to all faculty, staff and families. It lays out initial protocols for a safe return to campus in the coming weeks. Our COVID Safety Plan will be coming out next week with more detailed protocols and guidelines as things continue to shift. If you have any questions on COVID Health and Safety, please don’t hesitate to reach out to erik@sbms.org. Thank you all for doing your part to keep the community safe and SBMS open! |
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6TH GRADE FAMILY PICNIC
This is a great opportunity for 6th grade families to introduce themselves in person and let the students start getting to know each other. On Wednesday, August 25, from 5:00-8:00pm, families will gather at the grassy area picnic tables adjacent to Shoreline Cafe. Games like cornhole and Spikeball will be provided, but feel free to bring other activities that your kids enjoy. It's casual!
What: 6th-grade family picnic (siblings welcome!)
When: August 25, 5:00-8:00pm
Where: Picnic tables in the grassy area to the west of Shoreline Cafe (801 Shoreline Drive)
How: The parent association will provide games and activities, but feel free to bring your own
More: Bring dinner/snacks/drinks for your own family, and perhaps a dessert to share. Shoreline Cafe also has a to-go window if takeout is your preferred option :)
No need to RSVP, just show up! If you have any questions or need additional information, please call/text/email Sarah or Noreen. Please add their emails to your email address books to receive future 6th grade Parent Association notes.
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SBMS BOOK CLUB
We are excited to start up our parent SBMS Book Club again on Tuesday, September 14, at 9:30am. The book we will be reading is "Far From the Tree" by Robin Benway. We welcome any and all parents to join us for a discussion on Zoom here.
Being the middle child has its ups and downs. But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including—
Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties. Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs. And Joaquin, their stoic older bio brother, who has no interest in bonding over their shared biological mother. After seventeen years in the foster care system, he’s learned that there are no heroes, and secrets and fears are best kept close to the vest, where they can’t hurt anyone but him.
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ON THE HORIZON
Please note that dates and events are **subject to change** and updates will be communicated.
2021-22 School Year
September 2021
Monday, September 6: Labor Day - No School
Tuesday, September 7: School Resumes (Electives begin)
Thursday, September 9: 9am Cups and Questions on Zoom
Friday, September 10: First Sunrise Swim at 6:45am
Tuesday, September 14: Back to School Night for 6/7**
Tuesday, September 21: Back to School Night for 8/9**
Sunday, Sept. 26 - Thursday, Sept. 30: 9th Grade Leadership Trip**
October 2021
Monday, Oct. 11 - Saturday, Oct. 16: Upper School Fall Expedition to San Simeon**
Monday, Oct. 18 - Saturday, Oct. 23: Lower School Fall Expedition to San Simeon**
November 2021
Thursday, Nov. 11: Veteran’s Day - No School / Faculty In-Service
Monday, Nov. 15 - Friday, Nov. 19: Tentative Academic Conferences**
Monday, Nov. 22 – Friday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Break
Monday, Nov. 29 - Friday, Dec. 3: Remote Conferences if needed**
December 2021
Thursday, December 2: Winter All-School Town Meeting
Thursday, Dec. 16 - Friday, Dec. 17: 8th Grade Retreat**
Friday, December 17: Annual Solstice Celebration**
Monday, Dec. 20 – Friday, Dec. 31: Winter Break
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