August 2020
Hello Sacajawea Thunderbird families.
I am so excited to welcome you to the top middle school in our region. While our start will be anything but normal, we are poised to have an amazing school experience with our students and families. If you are new to Sacajawea, or a current family who has this "middle school thing" down, we are ready for you. Our world class staff have been planning all year for a robust “Real Time” remote learning model. Here are a few key informational items for your planning:
COMMUNICATION
Unlike elementary school, our primary form of communication is this newsletter. Sacajawea News You Can Use, SNYCU, is our one stop shop for key information, upcoming events, celebrations and more. This welcome to Sacajawea issue is packed with answers to many of your questions and concerns related to opening school this fall. We will send this out monthly, so please read it in detail to ensure you are informed.
Periodically I send out voice and email messages with critical and timely information. I generally post information on the website, the reader board, social media, SNYCU, voice messages and email. My hope is that one of these mediums connects you to our school.
STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WATCH your mailbox....Student schedules and Power School log in information will be arriving either by the end of this week or early next week.
Please join us virtually for “Sneak Peek”. Similar to a college registration on-boarding experience, we have built video links on our website. Click here to view. Beginning the afternoon of September 3rd, we ask students and families to watch our loom videos about key supports, athletics/activities, ASB/Leadership, core content/elective course offerings and videos to meet your teachers. Don’t forget to watch the Welcome to Sacajawea highlight video. Our hope is that our virtual welcome alleviates some stress students and families may have.
WHOLE CHILD
Our staff is again implementing Character Strong this year as part of a comprehensive middle school experience. We believe deeply that the community we build within our school house walls (KIND, equitable, child centered, joyful, relational, committed to lifelong learning and growing) is what we will help build in our larger community. At Sacajawea we lead by example. Time and time again we see our staff and students - both current and former working hard, LEADING in Spokane and the world. You will see our ASB (student leaders) and Positive Behavior Support team guiding our work to create a Socially Equitable and Developmentally Responsive School.
At Sacajawea, we believe in preparing our students for post-secondary pursuits. Our students use established Advisory time to implement time management, study skills, organization in a virtual world, and much more.
GET INVOLVED
Involved students are more adjusted to our school climate and culture. Middle school research is clear that students involved in athletics and activities, clubs, and music have better grades, better attendance a better sense of self and are more likely to attend post-secondary. WIAA requires athletes to have a sports physical to participate in athletics at Sacajawea Middle School. All our students are part of our Associated Student Body and will need an ASB card. Getting involved is easy, simply go to www.sacthunderbirds.com.
Finally, parents and guardians, middle school is the most critical transition in the lives of your children. We value you and want your help. Donate to our Parent Teacher Student Group, volunteer, help support our needy student fund, attend your child’s events and activities, check PowerSchool often and make attendance in middle school a key focus. Attendance is equally, if not more important in a virtual setting.
We know nothing about this situation is easy for parents and we SO wish things were different BUT we are here to help please don't hesitate to call or stop by the office.
We are so excited to partner with you this year.
Jeremy Ochse
