It's the SCOOP for February 11, 2021
Your weekly news from Santa Barbara Middle School
 Dear SBMS Families, 
 
This week was short and sweet but still bustling with activities. A new ping pong table was built for students to expand their pickleball skills in a smaller arena. The garden has been filled with delicious vegetables and fruits for harvesting. And students continue to read, write, and learn in and out of the classroom. 
 
This morning the 8th grade traded their book bags for their hiking packs and hit the trails. From Romero to Montecito Peak and Inspiration Point, the 8th grade enjoyed another adventure day with their classmates. Next week the rest of the school will get outside, and we are planning further adventure days in March. We are hopeful that after Spring Break, we will be in the red or orange tier here in Santa Barbara County. This will allow us to embark on some sequential daytime adventures and activities in and around our community. With continued success on campus and by continuing to follow local, state, and national guidance, we will keep adding adventure day experiences to the calendar.
 
With President's Weekend starting tomorrow, please make sure to read our latest travel advisory email. We are all feeling the doldrums of this pandemic and the sacrifices that have been made for safety purposes, but please know that we appreciate your efforts. We would not be open and in-person if it wasn't for all that you do. Let's continue making smart decisions to keep all of us and our extended families healthy. If you are planning to travel, reference our CDC travel risk flow chart to evaluate the level of risk your trip-related activities are. If you feel you have been exposed or engaged in any high-risk activities while traveling or at home, and feel you need to contact trace, we are here to help. 
 
We also are excited to announce that we have finalized our date for Rites of Passage and once again have booked the gorgeous Godric Grove for the ceremony. We will be holding the event a week earlier than previously scheduled on Thursday, June 10. Please see the updated dates below:
  • Monday, June 7 - Normal School Day 
  • Tuesday, June 8 - Last day of school for 6/7/8
  • Wednesday, June 9 - No School
  • Thursday, June 10 - Rites of Passage
 
Have a great holiday weekend!
 
With Gratitude,
Brian, Bianca, and SBMS Staff
BIANCA'S BLURB

At SBMS we choose to look at behavior grades differently than other schools and it is probably very different from when you were in school. While overall behavior in class is important to us, we feel that if there are any issues or concerns, there would be an ongoing conversation between the deans and parents. So instead of reporting on behavior, we choose to report on a student's mindset. For those of you who attended my parent workshops on growth mindset in the past, you know that we want to promote a growth mindset both inside and outside the classroom. We ask students to self-assess and begin a conversation with their teachers about their approach to learning. It's easy to see and think of a growth mindset while on our outdoor adventures. We literally have to believe that we can make it to the top of the mountain in order to get there on our bikes. Inside the classroom, however, we also encourage students to think that they haven't learned a concept YET and that there's always more to learn! 

This past year has shown us a new need for a growth mindset. Students, parents, teachers, and administrators have all had to learn new skills, take risks, and maintain a positive mindset that we can do hard things! As we continue on our journey, I encourage you to dive into the concept of growth mindset. Here are some resources to help you learn more:

Growth Mindset
 
At Santa Barbara Middle School, we promote a growth mindset both inside and outside of the classroom. The numbers that follow your child's academic grade indicate where both they and their teacher feel they fall on the internal and external growth mindset rubric (a scale from 1-5). Below you will find a brief key for each level. Ideally, a student with an internal growth mindset maintains a positive attitude, knows there is more to learn, shows interest and enthusiasm with their learning, takes risks, perseveres and sets goals, and makes a plan to reach them. Moreover, a student with an external growth mindset supports and collaborates well with others, includes others, celebrates others’ success, promotes a positive learning environment, and contributes to the learning of all.
 
1. BEGINNING A student at this level struggles to demonstrate a growth mindset.
2. EMERGING A student at this level rarely demonstrates a growth mindset.
3. APPROACHING A student at this level sometimes demonstrates a growth mindset.
4. GROWING A student at this level demonstrates a growth mindset.
5. EXPANDING A student at this level extends their growth mindset beyond school and encourages and models for others. 
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
FEBRUARY ADVENTURE DAYS
What a wonderful day we had with our eighth grade hiking to great heights. Following the President's Day Weekend, we will be out on the mountains with our 6th, 7th, and 9th grades. Please see the dates below for each grade and look out for a cohort-specific email.
  • 7th Grade: Tuesday, February 16
  • 6th and 9th Grade: Friday, February 19

FROM THE BUSINESS OFFICE
We have already received numerous completed contracts for students returning next year - thank you! If you haven't already done so, please log into the SBMS HUB and complete your contract.

  • Contract completion and nonrefundable deposits are due no later than Friday, February 19, 2021.
  • For questions about completing the contract, please contact Brandi at brandi@sbms.org
  • For questions about your financial aid award, please contact Maida at maida@sbms.org  
THE WEEK AHEAD

Friday, February 12 - Monday, February 15
President's Holiday Weekend - No School!

Tuesday, February 16
7th Grade Adventure Day
3:30-4:15pm Art Class with Sophie (Join here)

Wednesday, February 17
7:30pm Parent Association Meeting

Thursday, February 18
3:30-4:15pm Sophie's Yearbook Class (Join here)

Friday, February 19
6/9 Grade Adventure Day
Re-Enrollment Contracts Due
⚠️ WEEKLY SAFETY UPDATE ⚠️
Vaccines are on the horizon and the numbers continue to look better each week. Tune in to Santa Barbara County Public Health's COVID-19 Vaccination Virtual Town Hall tonight at 6pm to learn more about the vaccine rollout and what to expect. More details here. Though everything is looking promising, we are not in the clear yet. Though the stay-at-home order has been lifted, there are still important restrictions in place and they are there for a reason (see chart below). With a long weekend beginning tomorrow, make sure to continue following guidelines and avoid risky behavior. Whether you are planning on traveling or staying close to home, remember these Safe Practices and refer to CDC guidance when in doubt.
  • Avoid crowds or busy public places
  • Do not travel with people outside of your household
  • Social distance with at least six feet
  • Wear a mask
  • Wash hands often
  • Stay home you feel sick
  • Get tested before and after travel
The importance of ongoing restrictions:
COMMUNITY
SBMS BOOK CLUB
The next book club read isUntamedby Glennon Doyle and we will be meeting to discuss on Monday, March 8 from 9:30-10:30am. 

Untamed is a 2020 memoir by Glennon Doyle. It was published by The Dial Press on March 10, 2020. It is her third memoir following her works Love Warrior and Carry on, Warrior. The book debuted at number one on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list. where it stayed for seven weeks. 
YOUTHWELL WORKSHOPS

Wellness Tips For Families 
  • Sunday, February 21, 2021
  • 4:00pm-5:30pm
  • Register in advance (no cost): YouthWell.org/workshshops
  • Youth (ages 10-25), parents, educators, & community members are invited to learn simple hacks for yourself and your family to infuse balance into your day, improve your mood, fight fatigue, and relieve stress. 
  • 2020 was a challenging year for everyone with the pandemic, remote learning, working from home, loss of jobs, loss of celebrating milestones, and feeling isolated from friends and family. For many, the new year is not feeling much different. 
  • This workshop is an opportunity for anyone regardless of your age to learn new tools and set your own intentions for what you want in 2021 so that you feel empowered to manage your mental and physical wellness. 
  • PANELISTS: Jenni Tasca, Cara Ferrick, Shadean Runyen

Consejos de bienestar para familias 
  • Domingo, 21 de febrero de 2021
  • 4:00pm-5:30pm
  • Regístrese con anticipación [GRATIS]: YouthWell.org/workshshops
  • Se invita a jóvenes (de 10 a 25 años), padres, educadores y miembros de la comunidad...
  • Aprenda trucos sencillos para usted y su familia para infundir equilibrio en su día, mejorar su estado de ánimo, combatir la fatiga y aliviar el estrés con un panel inspirador...
  • Jenni Tasca, Cara Ferrick, Shadean Runyen
FROM THE PARENT ASSOCIATION
February Parent Association Meeting
Wednesday, 2/17 at 7:30 pm
Featuring Dr. Emily Eccles talking about the sex/health ed curriculum being taught to SBMS students in the month of February. 

Let’s Bring the “Birds and the Bees” into 2021
The focus of this talk will be how to have current and authentic conversations with your teens and preteens about sex. This discussion will focus on how to talk to your children about sex, how to prepare them for contemporary challenges in sexuality, and how to build trust in the process. Emily will be speaking with parents about topics covered in the Lifeskills human sexuality curriculum and providing resources for both you and your child. 

Here's the short bio on Emily:
Dr. Emily Eccles earned her B.S. degree in Zoology from the University of California at Santa Barbara. After receiving her doctorate in clinical psychology from Fielding Graduate University, she’s excited to be working under the supervision of Dr. Steve Smith as a postdoctoral fellow and supporting the SBMS community as part of the Counseling team.
ON THE HORIZON
Please note that dates and events are subject to change and updates will be communicated. **Subject to SBMS COVID-19 Committee & Public Health Guidance**

March 2021
Thursday, March 11: 7:30pm Parent Association Meeting
Monday, March 15 – Friday, March 26: Spring Break
Friday, March 26: Return From Travel
Monday, March 29 - Friday, April 2: Distance Learning Week
Monday, April 5: Return to In-Person Classes

April 2021
Saturday, April 24: Songfest
Monday, April 26: No School / Faculty In-Service 

May 2021
Monday, May 24 - Friday, June 4: All-School EOY Experiential Education Weeks
Monday, May 31: Memorial Day 

June 2021
Monday, June 7: Normal School Day 
Tuesday, June 8: Last day of school for 6/7/8
Wednesday, June 9: No School
Thursday, June 10: Rites of Passage**
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