Pacetti Bay Middle School Wildcat Weekly
Volume 15
Good evening Wildcat Nation!
We hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend. We are excited for a number of events and activities coming up this week. Students and teachers have been feverishly working deep into the curriculum. As I walks the halls, visit classrooms or sit in our commons areas, I see students hard at work. Please take the time to ask your child about what they are learning. They are doing a great job and I am certain they would be willing to share.

This Wednesday there is no school in observance of Veterans Day. We are incredibly grateful to all of those who have served. Our social studies classes will be giving special attention to the service of our military members over the coming week. On behalf of the entire Wildcat Nation, we thank you for your service.

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.

Pacetti parents and community, SJCSD is currently in the review process for English textbooks district-wide. Below you will find information on the process. As always, your input is valued. Feel free to contact kate.houston@stjohns.k12.fl.us with any questions.

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

Looking forward to a great second quarter, Go Wildcats!

Respectfully,

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

  • NJHS Canned Food Drive- All week long!
  • Monday, Nov 9th- NJHS Meeting (Hicks)
  • Tuesday, Nov 10th- Battle of the Books Meeting (Gowins)
  • Tuesday, Nov 10th- Needlecraft Club (Craig)
  • Wednesday Nov 11th - Veterans Day, No school
  • Friday Nov 13th - Picture retakes (See below)
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/

Leonard's Picture Retakes
Picture Retakes will take place on November 13th. Please find the attached flyer or for online ordering at https:/www.leonards.com/photoprepay Pacetti Bay’s access code is R511186 

  • Any School Based Distance Learning who would like to have pictures taken will need to sign up on the signup genius on November 13th from 7:30-8 Retake Signup Genius. Lastly, distance learners only have a limited time to make an appointment to take pictures at Leonard’s Senior Studio.
 
  • Brick and Mortar students will be called by grade level to take their picture during 8:00-9:15.
SJCSD Textbook Adoption Process
The SJCSD textbook adoption process for English-Language Arts and Intensive Reading is currently underway. PBMS would like to formally invite any community stakeholders in our school- parents, family members, business owners, neighbors, etc- to participate in the selection process. If you are interested in doing so, you can find an informational video regarding the process here: https://vimeo.com/476307599. You can then access all pertinent information regarding participation in the textbook adoption review via the SJCSD website dedicated to the topic. Go here to learn more: https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/instructional-resources-media-services/textbooks/adoption/.
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
Media Center
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 resources. Also, see Schoology sections below for previously posted information.    
 
Welcome Wildcats!
We are so excited to be welcoming many of our 1st quarter Distance Learners to campus as we begin 2nd quarter. 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.          
Online Book Fair open now through November 16th!
  • Use the following link to shop our online book fair: https://efairs.follettbookfairs.com/guest/home?classCode=RKP51
  • Middle school books are featured, but you can purchase books for all ages by using the “Search” field, then using the “Filter” feature to narrow your search by grade/price range.
  • When asked for your student’s teacher, please select their homeroom teacher
  • Orders will be shipped free of charge to school when the eFair ends and received well before our winter holiday break (think holiday gift giving!). 
  • Orders will be delivered to your student in homeroom unless you email me at karin.gowens@stjohns.k12.fl.us to tell me you are a Distance Learner or wish to pick up your order instead of having it delivered to your student at school (i.e. to keep gifts a surprise). We will announce the pick-up date/time once orders have been received.
  • Thank you for encouraging a love for reading which is critical to student success!
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 first Battle of the Books club meeting after school Tuesday, November 10th 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.

 
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 Pacetti Bay Volleyball


*All tickets must be pre-purchased for games on the Pacetti Bay School Website.

Please be reminded masks are to be worn until seated and socially distanced.
Club Updates
PBMS National Junior Honor Society will be collecting canned and nonperishable food for a local food bank. Collection will take place through homerooms. The homeroom with the most items collected will win donuts and juice.
 
This drive will start on Monday, Nov. 2nd and continue through Monday, Nov. 16th. On the 16th, our NJHS members will come around to gather collected items.Bring canned and non-perishable items to help those in need and good luck to each homeroom!
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!

 
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
 
All Spirit wear orders have been delivered. Please contact your homeroom teacher if you have not received them.
 
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.
 
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
small encouragements!