Shuswap Middle School

Parents, youth (13 years and over), school district staff and community members are invited to view the well known documentary “Angst – Raising Awareness around Anxiety” and have an opportunity to explore the topic of youth anxiety with a panel of local experts on Tuesday, Sept. 18 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.at the District Education Support Centre (DESC) in Salmon Arm.

Angst is a film that explores anxiety its causes, effects and what we can do about it. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health challenge, with age seven being the median age of onset, according to the World Health Organization. While anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only one-third of those suffering receive treatment. Everyone involved in the development of “Angst” has a personal experience with anxiety – from the producers to the interviewees.

To register please click on this link.

The filmmakers’ goal is to have a global conversation and raise awareness around anxiety. Angst features candid interviews with kids and young adults who suffer, or have suffered, from anxiety and what they’ve learned about it. The film includes discussions with mental health experts about the causes of anxiety and its sociological effects, as well as help, resources and tools.

Immediately following the showing of the documentary a local panel of experts will host a question and answer session.

This documentary is brought to you by: School District No. 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap) and community partners; Salmon Arm Daybreak Rotary, North Okanagan Shuswap DPAC, Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo, CMHA – Shuswap-Revelstoke, and the Shuswap North Okanagan Division of Family Practice.

 

We hope to see all of our families this Thursday for our Open House.  Beef on a Bun will be available (with fruit and a drink) for $5 beginning at 4:30.  Students are welcome to take their families for a tour of the school and their classrooms.  There will be a brief presentation in the gym at 5:30.  Hope to see you then!

Please remember to go to Parent Connect and respond to the variety of Consent Form requests.  We are hoping that all parents will respond by the end of this week.  Thanks very much!

We have had a fantastic start to the year.  Classes are settled and learning has begun.  It has been wonderful to see our returning students helping our new students feel welcome!  Please let me know if you have a student who needs some extra help settling in to our busy school!

School District 83 Permission Forms are now available for parent and student responses.  To access them online please:

• Parents:  Login to Parent Connect (Instructions available on this website)
• Students:  Login to Student Connect
• On the right hand side of the page under “Forms” please read and respond to each form.  There are multiple pages; please click “next” to ensure you view and respond to each form.

We would like to have all forms updated prior to September 17th.  Thank you for taking the time to ensure your child(ren) are set up for a successful year.  Please contact our office if you have any questions.

Welcome back to our returning grade 7 and 8 students and all families new to SMS!  We have been working hard to get ready for a fantastic year……..now all we need is you!

Tuesday, September 4th our warning bell rings at 8:20 and CORE classes begin at 8:25.  Supervision begins at 7:50 and students are welcome to come into the school anytime after that.  Busses run four hours earlier than our normal schedule; making Tuesday’s dismissal time 11:29.  We will have lots of people helping new students find their classes; come and ask any of our 81 wonderful adults who love their jobs at SMS and can’t wait to see everyone back at school.  See you soon!

We hope all of our families have had a safe and relaxing summer.  Our custodians have been working hard and our school is looking great!  Our maintenance department has made some fantastic changes to make space for our two extra divisions.  A big thank you to the all of the crews who have been working hard over the summer to get us ready for a great year at SMS!

A reminder to new families that registration day is Tuesday, August 28th.  The office will open at 8:00.  Please bring your child’s care card and birth certificate, as well as proof of address.  We look forward to meeting you!

For returning families that took a “sneak peak” at student connect when the district moved our central management system to the 2018/19 year, please be aware that class placements are not finalized (there were a few days when it was open for viewing but it is now closed until lists are finalized ;).  Oops!) Once we meet our new students on the 28th, we will be making final lists.  Our goal is to have class lists posted on Friday, August 31st in the late afternoon or evening.

As always, please feel free to contact me with any questions, suggestions, or concerns.  Email is best until we are back full time next week.  Enjoy the rest of the summer.  We can’t wait to have you back at SMS!