SMS Newsletter October 1, 2021

Sandburg Newsletter

October 1, 2021

Dear Sandburg families,

As reported in the media, there is a new TikTok challenge going around called the “slap a staff member on the backside” challenge.

We encourage you to talk to your student about this challenge and about social media in general. Making physical contact with any adult is clearly not tolerated and we take this seriously.

We have been working hard the last month in developing caring relationships with our students and creating a family culture. I know that our students know that this type of behavior is wrong and it is important that we continue to work together.

We appreciate your ongoing partnership and support.

Sincerely,

John Groenke

Remind Your Student To Bring Headphones or Earbuds

Please remember to have your student bring headphones (earbuds or over the ear) to school in their backpacks each day for use with classroom technology (Chromebooks). While we don't allow students to have them out to listen to music in the hallways, students do need to them for classroom use. SMS has a limited supply to give to students. The school will not be held accountable and will not be investigating lost or stolen earbuds etc.

Make-Up Picture Day October 6th

Sandburg's make-up picture day is October 6, 2021.

School pictures can now be ordered from the Sept. 15 picture day! Please see the flyer here.

Parents/Guardians will receive an email. If you do not receive a link you can call or email Kemmetmueller Photography at 952-473-2142 or info@k-photography.com.

Restorative Practices At Sandburg

Over the course of the past several years Sandburg has been on a journey to expand our use of restorative practices. As we continue this journey, we want to include our families in the journey. Look to this space in the future for more information and opportunities to learn about restorative practices. Today we share Robbinsdale Area Schools’ vision.

Restorative Practices

The district’s vision is to provide a system of practices that will increase student engagement and build academic and social achievement. Restorative practices allow a school community to build relationships, problem solve, repair harm, and learn. Practices include collaborative negotiation, circle process, peer mediation, conflict resolution, and formal restorative conferencing. In this approach, relationships are the most important way we learn about the world and ourselves. A restorative practice school and community believes:

Everyone in the school community is good, wise and powerful.
We are all connected to one another.
All of us want to be in good, healthy relationships with others.
We all have talents and gifts we bring to school.
It takes time, habits, and support to build and maintain positive relationships.

Personal Electronic Devices “Away for the Day"

Student cell phones should not be visible during the school day!

Cell phones and earbuds can be brought to school but must remain off or silent and completely out of view for the entire school day. Students will not be permitted to display, turn on, or use a cell phone from the start of the first class until after the last period of the day.

Research

Science supports an “Away For The Day” policy. When students do not have the freedom of accessing their phones during school hours, they are engaged socially and academically.

Details

The first time a student has their cell phone or earbuds out during the school day, the teacher/staff present will ask the student to place their phone in a ziplock bag with a name tag and placed in a safe container to transport the device to the front office for the remainder of the day. The device (phone and/or earbuds) may be picked up by the student when they are ready to leave school. If there is a second offense, the device will be taken to the front office and will be kept for a day or be picked up by a parent or guardian. If there is a third offense, the device will be taken to the front office and a meeting will be set up and may result in the device being left in the front office daily.

Lost/Stolen Phones

The school will not be held accountable and will not be investigating lost or stolen phones and/or earbuds.
All students are issued a locked locker to hold their personal belongings.
Students do not share your lockers or locker combinations

Parent Pick Up Families

Please make sure to pull all the way forward so that our buses can enter the parenting lot. Form two lines if possible in order to keep traffic moving.

More information can be found in the image below and here: Sandburg Student and Family Information Guide 2021 - 2022

Bus Tracker App Now Available

We have launched a new free bus tracker app for families. The app is available in English and Spanish and allows you to:

View student bus routes in real-time, including for multiple students simultaneously.
See scheduled arrival times for each stop.
Receive messages that notify users of route delays and schedule changes.

Download the Durham Bus Tracker app through the Apple app store or Google Play.

In the Apple app store, search for Durham Bus Tracker and then download the app.
In Google Play, search Durham Bus Tracker and then download the app.

Families can also access the Durham Bus Tracker from a computer at m.durhambustracker.com.

After you have downloaded the app, create an account and login to track your student’s bus. You can find detailed instructions at rdale.org/discover/transportation. Please note, you will need your student's ID number when creating your account. This can be found in your parent portal.

Parents: Set Up Your Parent Portal Account

With the school year ready to begin, now is a good time to check out the district’s Parent Portal.

Families can use the portal to access important student information, including grades and attendance.

Visit our technology webpage at rdale.org/discover/technology if you need help creating an account for your Parent Portal, or resetting your username and password.

Keeping our Sandburg Community Safe: Masking

Masks must be worn while at Sandburg Middle School at all times. Masks must be worn tightly over your mouth, nose and chin. You should wear a clean mask at least every 3 days.

There are only two times when it is ok to remove a mask.

1. When a person is alone in a room.

2. When a person is eating or drinking, at breakfast or lunch in their seat.