April 2015 Skyridge Newsletter

5220 NW Parker Street, Camas, WA 98607
Phone: 360 833-5800 • Fax: 833-5801 • Attendance: 833-5806
http://schools.camas.wednet.edu/skyridge/
April 2015
From the Principal – Aaron J. Smith
Dear Skyhawk Families,
It never seems to fail that the beginning of our hugely popular track season begins with some interesting weather.
This was certainly the case on Tuesday afternoon when some impressive thunder and lightning brought practice to
an abrupt halt and sent our 260 track participants running for cover! Hopefully, things will improve by the time our
first meet occurs with Liberty Middle School on April 28.
In addition to the start of our track season, there are many other invigorating things happening here at Skyridge.
At the moment, this includes “Spirit Week”! Although I was a bit nervous about Wednesday’s crazy “whatever”
day, our students kept things in check and had a lot of fun showing their creativity. It reminds me of the time I
showed up to school a little late on a Monday in sixth grade dressed up as a punk rocker. When I walked into class,
it became apparent that I was one week early expressing my spirit. This was certainly a memorable middle school
moment!
Of course, we have the opportunity to share many memorable middle school moments with your amazing kids
every day. We wouldn’t have it any other way! Here’s hoping you have a restful and rejuvenating spring break full
of fond family memories.
Smarter Balanced Testing 2015
Skyridge Middle School Students will be participating in Smarter Balanced testing beginning on April 27. Smarter
Balanced is a national assessment consortium designed to test student learning in relation to common core state
standards. The testing this year will be in the areas of math and language arts for students in all three grade
levels. Because this is a computer based assessment, testing will be spread over several weeks due to the limited
number of students that can be testing at the same time. For the schedule specific to your child, please go to our
school website under “Quick Links” on the Home page.
Testing will occur during a student’s class period in each subject. Please make every effort to have students in
classes during testing days, and make sure that they are well rested and have had a good breakfast. Please look
for more information coming soon from your child’s teachers, and if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to
contact our Associate Principal, Clint Williams at 833-5800, ext 79140 or at [email protected].
Stay informed…
Skyridge Network News (SNN)
Posted on Facebook and YouTube
Search for Skyridge Middle School and be sure to
“Like” us for school news.
April 6-10
Skyridge Newsworthy Notes 1
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Daily calendar review is available on our website:
www.http://schools.camas.wednet.edu/skyridge/
MAR 30 – Track Season Begins
APR 6-10 – NO SCHOOL; Spring Break
APR 13 – School Resumes
APR 15 – Middle School Choir Festival in Ridgefield
APR 15 – Cookie Dough Pick Up @ 2 PM – 4 PM
APR 18 – Science Olympiad State Tournament
APR 22 & 23 - LATE STARTS
APR 22 – Earth Day
APR 23 – ASB “We Day” Conference in Seattle
APR 24 – Track Pictures
APR 27– Smarter Balanced testing begins – see website
Quick Links for the schedule
APR 28 – Twilight Track Meet @ Doc Harris 6PM
MAY 1 – End of Grading Period – Progress Reports
LATE STARTS
Wednesday and Thursday, APRIL 22 & 23
Classes will begin at 10:15 AM.
Buses will run 2 hrs. and 15 min. later than the regularly
scheduled times.
LCRMEA Middle School Band Festival
Scoring Superior and high Excellent, our 8th grade band
came away with 4th place at the festival. The
competition scored quality of sound, technique,
musicality, and an “others” including group attention,
music selection, and tempos. Our Skyhawks received
high praise from the judges receiving 10’s in the
“others” category.
SKYRIDGE TRAFFIC FLOW
Safety is our #1 concern. Please
support the following practices:
Parents are required to use our dropoff/pick-up loop. DO NOT use staff or
visitor parking lots unless you are
parking and entering the building.
Pull forward as far as possible when you
enter the student drop off area. Your
student will be able to enter the building
through any of the front doorways.
Allow adequate time. Classes begin at
8:00 AM. Students can access their
classroom hallways and lockers any time
after 7:45 AM.
Be courteous to others, use safe driving
practices including no cell phone use,
and be cautious of pedestrians.
Do not enter or drop off students on the
Leadbetter Drive bus entry road at the
rear of our building. This entrance is for
buses ONLY.
THANK YOU!
Way to go Skyhawks!!
8th Grade Families: You are invited to our
Skyridge 8th Grade Celebration
Friday, June 12, 2015 8:15 – 9:45 AM
Ceremony in Tom Wallenborn Gym
Reception following in Dining Room
Students will then go to Big Al’s
to celebrate from 10:30 AM - 2:15 PM
Please stop by and check out the lost
and found items located outside the
LMC before spring break begins. All
unclaimed items will be donated over
spring break.
Skyridge Newsworthy Notes 2
New Vaccine Requirements for Fall 2015!
At Skyridge we
Dress for Success!
With warmer weather on
the way, please remember to
follow our dress code. The
shaded portion of this figure represents
those parts of the body that need to be
covered up while attending school. Further
details can be found in our Student
Handbook. What may be considered
appropriate at home often differs from
what is appropriate at school.
Students in 7th and 8th grade will be required to
have two (2) doses of the Varicella (Chicken Pox)
vaccine. This year only students in 6th grade were
required to have two doses. If you are unsure if
your student will need this vaccine, please call the
school nurse at 360-833-5800 ext. 78203.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR
DRESS CODE!
Science Olympiad Regional Champ!
The Skyridge Blue team won 1st place at the Regional meet on March 7 at Lower Columbia College
advancing to the state competition on April 18 at Highline College in Des Moines, WA. The Blue team
earned medals in 19 out of 23 events. The Skyridge Green and Red teams competed as well earning
more medals and honor for Skyridge. Blue team members: Tsering Shola, Maia Kawamura, Athena
Tsai, Yeh Seo Jung, Rahul Ram, Jason Liu, Christopher Xia, Samantha Walters, Ben Peterson, Zaynah
Usmani, Devank Shekhar, Shivank Shekhar, Donna Ferdows, Victor Wu. Green team members: Quan
Ho, Daniel DeLeon, Justine Pendergraft, Parker Doyle, Donla Gyalnub, Efra Ashan, Lucas Mansfield,
Diya Lonial. Red team members: Akash Prasad, Zachary Mello, Momina Naushab, Julian McOmie,
Owen Baenen, Gabriel Guo, Brody Baenen, Jacob Bode.
Skyridge Newsworthy Notes 3
Your Skyridge ASB Team has been actively involved in planning and implementing a few important
events. We just finished a very successful school dance experience and Live Long and Strong Fitness
Challenge Day. Both of these events were well attended and received by our student body.
Upcoming ASB events to look for information about include:
 Our CAMAS Parks Clean-up event which is put on by the Skyridge ASB Team is in the process of
being organized. This event will take place on a Saturday morning TBD in April or May and will
focus on giving our parks a spring cleaning.
 ASB elections for ASB Officer positions that will be open for the 2015-2016 school year will take
place in May. Look and listen for information regarding this important application and
campaign process. The open Officer positions include, President (must have ASB experience to
apply and run for this position), Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and two Rally
Commissioners.
Skyridge Newsworthy Notes 4
Skyridge Track began on Monday, March 30 with
over 275 students in 6/7/8 coming out to
participate. Please use the link on the school
website to review the team informational letter,
participant handbook, schedules and results
through www.athletic.net, and much more.
Geographic Bee News
Our Skyridge Champion, Steven Sturges, passed
the written level of competition to make it to the
state level.
Checkmate!
Congratulations to Alex Gee, Tyler Gee, and Akash
Prasad for winning 1st Place for grades 6-8 at the
S.W. Washington Chess Championship
tournament. These students along with Baenen
Owen head to the state championship in Spokane
on April 25. Good luck!
Stay in the loop by clicking the PTO link off the
Skyridge website, viewing our Facebook page, or
adding your name to the PTO email list by sending
us a message at [email protected].
Dine-Out Success — Our Firehouse Subs night on March 4 was a huge success, earning over $200. Be
on the lookout for another PTO dine-around event in late May.
Waffle Bar for Staff — April’s Staff Appreciation event will be a waffle bar, with a variety of waffle
choices, toppings, and syrups. If you’d like to join the committee or make a donation, contact Erika Cox
at [email protected].
Order Spirit Wear By April 15 — There’s still time to place your order! Get that form in by April 15 for
delivery in early May: http://skypto.weebly.com/spirit-wear.html.
Thank you for the great smoothies…
Skyridge Newsworthy Notes 5