From the Desk of Ms. Julie M. Short,
Principal

 

 

 

 

 

Spring Assessment

The year is almost over and I want to thank all of you for your continued support with the education of your student(s).  Currently, students just finished taking the California Standards Test or California Modified Assessment.  The atmosphere on campus is positive and I am hopeful that all of your hard work along with that of the teachers and the students will show in the amount of growth each student will have made this year. 

 

Events in May

Many exciting events are planned for the month of May.  May 11th, we will be hosting a well know author, Valerie Hobbs.  May 14th is our annual Staff Appreciation luncheon, our CST Celebration day activity and prize giveaways, and our Mayfest Carnival.  These events as well as the End-Of-The-Year Awards Assemblies, 8th grade Magic Mountain Trip, 8th grade picnic, and graduation will all be occurring in May.  It’s a busy month so please be looking for more information in the form of flyers and letters being sent home to provide you with more detailed information on all of these great activities. 

 

School Rules on Electronics

Because we want to end the year in the same positive manner as we began the year, we need you to please check your student(s) backpack, binder, or pockets for items that are NOT allowed on campus.  We have had many problems with cell phone usage during school hours and strongly urge you to not allow your student to bring electronics in any form to school with them.  iPods also tend to be an issue for us this time of year.  As for cameras, do not allow your student(s) to bring cameras to school until the very last day.  Remember that it is not the school’s responsibility to monitor their use or recover lost and/or stolen electronics.  If you allow your student(s) to bring a camera the last week of school, you do so at the risk of it getting lost, stolen, or damaged. 

 

Student Safety

Lastly, water bottles can become a discipline issue if students do not use them properly.  As the weather heats up, students are allowed to have a water bottle on campus to keep hydrated.  Students are not to share water bottles with each other and the water is for drinking only, not splashing or throwing on other students. 

 

Please help us with these matters so that every student can have a pleasant and memorable end of the year here at Stiern.  Thank you.

 

 

 

The California Standards Test and Incentive Events

 

Spring is here and with that comes our most important annual event for all students and staff in education.  That event is the annual California Standards Test (CST).  This year the CST will be administered over the course of a two week period beginning Aril 27th and ending May 10th.   This exam influences all classes and student schedules for the following school year.  It is imperative that all students and parents take this exam seriously and that students are encouraged to “Try Their Best” each and every day during the test.  We will be offering additional tutoring after school and on Saturdays prior to the CST.  It is called the Academic Boot Camp at Stiern (ABC’S).  Please look for more information within this newsletter. 

 

Attendance during this two week period is also of paramount importance.  All students attending Stiern are required to complete every exam on the CST. 

 

To help encourage our students to be here EVERY DAY and to “TRY THEIR BEST” on the CST, Stiern will hold an Incentive Event after the testing is completed.   On May 14th we will be on an Activity Day Schedule and the event will occur at the end of the regular school day.  Students with PERFECT attendance from April 27-May10 and who completed the CST with their best effort will be able to participate in the festivities  The activities will include an ice cream social, picnic style; outdoor water and relay games.  Participating students will have a chance to win prizes that will be given away.  Each participating student will receive a ticket for the prize drawing with items such as movie tickets, restaurant gift cards, books, games, bicycles and more. 

 

The staff here at Stiern is working hard to ensure that your student has the best possible education and we hope that the events planned for the CST will encourage all students to be here at school on time and ready to perform at their highest level.  Thank you for all that you do at home to assist in your student’s academic success.  The partnership between school and home is the most important partnership we can have.  Let’s keep it positive and productive so that every student has a chance to succeed.

 

We will be offering additional tutoring after school and on Saturdays.  It is called the Academic Boot Camp at Stiern (ABC’S).  Please look for more information within this newsletter. 

Thank you.

 

As we begin the 2nd Semester here at Stiern we are focusing on three key elements that have a direct impact on your student’s academic achievement.

 

1)      The first element is attendance.  Grade level standards are very demanding and if your student misses even one day of school, he/she could spend several days trying to complete the class work that was missed and understand any new concepts that may have been taught during their absence.  If your student is ill, please call the school and keep him/her home.  If the absence is for any other reason, do your best to avoid appointments scheduled during school hours.  We appreciate all that you do to have your student here at school each and every day.

 

2)      Behavior and following school and class rules.  Class room behavior may be the number one cause of student’s not learning or achieving academic success.  Even though continual talking, being out of the seat, sleeping in class, or refusal to participate in the instruction may seem like minor rule violations to you or your student, they become major obstacles for the teacher in the class room.  These student behaviors require the teacher’s attention and eventually limit the teacher’s ability to affectively instruct the rest of the students in class.  Please spend time talking with your student about their responsibility to follow the rules so that everyone has the same opportunity to get a quality education.  Those individuals that continually impede the education of other students in the class room are subject to removal from the class room and suspension.  

 

3)      Failure to pay attention in class, failure to complete class work and homework, and failure to participate in the learning harm the student’s chances of a quality education and future opportunities.  I can not stress enough the limitations your student may be placing on themselves educationally when they decide not to participate in class room learning activities.  If your student is bored, ask them what they did in class.  Ask your student if he/she raised their hand, asked questions, completed their assignments, or took an exam.  If you begin to ask them daily what they are doing in school and they never have anything new to say, your student is probably not putting the required effort into his/her studies.  This lack of effort will only become critical when your student is nearing graduation of 8th grade or high school.  Do not wait until then to address these issues.  It will be too late.  

 

We are about 30 instructional days away from your student taking the annual California Standards Test (CST).   You, your student, and the staff here at Stiern need to continue to work together so that your student has the best possible chance for academic success. 

 

Thank you for your continued dedication to your student’s future.

 

 

 

Dear Parents:

Resources

                As your student begins the second semester of the school year please keep in mind that your support at home for your student is critical to their ongoing academic achievement.  Stiern provides many resources for both parents and students to assist in their achievement of all academic areas.  We have after school tutoring, clubs, and sports as well as intervention programs for your students.  We have numerous Parent Involvement activities and instructional programs for parents as well.  This newsletter will outline some of those services for you.  If you have access to the Internet, you can also utilize our School and District websites to locate additional information on all of the services we offer.  Our school’s website address is http://schools.bcsd.com/stiern and our District’s website is http://bcsd.com.  It is our hope here at Stiern that every child will be successful and look forward to school each and every day. 

Academic Planning

                Our school updates the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) each year in the fall.  School Site Council advises this process.  This plan describes our schools academic history, our goals, and the action steps we will take to achieve those goals. 

1.       LANGUAGE ARTS

For 2009/10, school-wide and high priority student groups API growth targets (identified in API table above) will be met.  Additionally, an annual increase of at least 10% of all students in every classroom will demonstrate proficiency in English-Language Arts as measured by CST. Student groups and grade levels to participate in this goal: 6th, 7th, and 8th grades school-wide, African American, Hispanic, White, Low Socioeconomic, English Learners, Migrant, and Special Education student subgroups.

2.      MATH

For 2009/10, school-wide and high priority student groups API growth targets (identified in API table above) will be met.  Additionally, an annual increase of at least 10% of all students in every classroom will demonstrate proficiency in Mathematics as measured by CST.

Student groups and grade levels to participate in this goal: 6th, 7th, and 8th grades school-wide, African American, Hispanic, White, Low Socioeconomic, English Learners, Migrant, and Special Education student subgroups.

3.      AMAO 1 and AMAO 2

·         At least 53.1% of English Learners progress by at least one CELDT level each year (AMAO 1) in 2009/10 School Year.

·         At least 32.2% of English Learners will attain English Proficiency (as measured by the CELDT – AMAO 2) in 2009/10 School Year.

4.      STUDENT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

·          All students will show an improvement in respectful behaviors as measured by an overall 5% decrease in suspension rates during the 2009-2010 school year in comparison to the suspension rates of 2007-2008.

·          Students will show an increase in their desire to be responsible by an overall .5% increase in student attendance rates for the 2009-2010 school year in comparison to the attendance rates from 2008-2009.

                In order for Stiern to have the ability to increase our offering of additional electives and enrichment classes to your student, we need them to meet these academic goals.  We can’t do this without your help.

Parent Involvement

                We know that our Stiern students are working very hard to pay attention in class, complete class work and homework, and ask questions when they need assistance.  We have many dedicated students and committed parents.  This is a time of year where students tend to become more interested in social activities and less interested in school work.  We need your help in continuing to support education as the number one priority with your student(s).  Try to:

1.        Have a quiet and safe area for your student to complete homework and class assignments each evening. 

2.        Call the school and ask to speak to a teacher if you have a question or concern about the class work or your student’s performance. 

3.        Maintain that school comes first before social activities.

4.        Ask questions about what your student has learned each day.

5.        Offer assistance with class assignments or call the school and request tutoring if you notice your student falling behind.

                Our students will not learn if they do not put forth effort in their studies.  Our students will not learn if they pay more attention to their peers than they do their parents and their teachers.  Together we can meet their needs academically and help them achieve the success they require in order to later move on to high school and beyond.  Thank you for your continuing efforts in partnering with our school.  There is nothing better than seeing a student smile because they feel good about their achievements.  Thank you.

Dear Parents:

Thank you for participating in November’s Parent Conferences. 

This year we had record numbers of parent’s attending the conferences.  I hope that the meetings with your child’s teachers were positive and productive.  As always, we work toward building a solid relationship between school and home so that all student’s have the best opportunity for academic success.  Please know that a conference with one of your student’s teachers does not need to be limited to once a year.  You are welcome to contact the school and speak with your child’s teachers when you have a question or a concern about your child’s education. 

 

Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures

The District investigates and resolves complaints that are formally filed through the Williams Uniform Complaint Process.  The majority of the complaints come from two categories; insufficient textbooks and facilities.  If you are interested in additional information regarding the Uniform Complaint Procedures, please go to the BCSD webpage at www.bcsd.com.  You can view Student Services and Board Policy.

 

As the winter holiday fast approaches, I want to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.  I am looking forward to seeing you here for our Winter Concert December 10th at 7:00PM in our Multi-purpose room.   Thank you for your continued involvement with your child and your support of Walter Stiern Middle School.

 

Respectfully,

Julie Short  

 

All students will discover that school can be challenging from time to time whether it be academically or socially.  The Middle School years is a time of growth, adjustment, and sometimes rebellion.  Preteens and teenagers are very capable of hiding their problems and not allowing their parents or teachers to know what is troubling them until the problem gets out of hand.  Please look for the following warning signs so that you can help your student continue to be successful at school and at home:

  • Watch for a change in grades.  If you notice lower grades in subjects your student normally does well in, this may be a sign for concern.

  • Watch for a change in behavior such as a decrease in willingness to talk about friends of school.

  • Diminishing confidence in his/her ability to do things he/she normally did without doubts.

  • A change in habits and/ or attitude where he/she spends more time isolated, alone, in front of the television, away from others, or shows a negative attitude.

  • An increase in school communication such as phone calls and notes from the school counselors or teachers. 

All of these are warning signs that there may be a problem.  Make sure you follow the ABC’s of Student Success.

A-      Ask for Help:  Talk to your students teachers or school counselor.

B-      Be Involved:  Get involved in school activities.  Studies show that students do better when their parent/guardian is connected with school.

Attend Parent/Teacher Conferences and Parent Classes offered at the school

Join the Booster Club

Help out in our school’s library or in the classrooms.

Attend concerts and sporting events.

C-      Communicate:  Make the time to talk to your student each day.  They value your input and need you to be interested in what they are doing at school.  They may resist at first but don’t give up.  Every one of our students is an amazing individual and we value them. 

 

Thank you and have a safe Holiday.

 

 

MESSAGE FROM JULIE SHORT
PRINCIPAL


Back-To-School Night a huge success!!
Parents, family members, and guardians, thank you so much for attending our Back-To-School Night September 17th. We had at least 600 interested family members visit the school and meet their student’s teachers. I was able to have very positive conversations with many of you and received some wonderful feedback on how we are doing as a school. Thank you again for taking the time to come to Stiern and help us improve our partnership with you.
Please help us continue to make Stiern a safe and secure campus for your children. When you come to Stiern, always register with the office. We enjoy seeing you and want to acknowledge your involvement with your child’s education. A Visitor’s Pass is available if you would like to come on the school grounds and visit your child’s class. Parent(s)/ Guardian(s) please do not drop your student(s) off at school earlier than 7AM each morning. We have student supervision after 7AM. Again, your child’s safety is one of our greatest concerns.
Parent/Teacher Conference Week November 2nd-6th
Your child’s teachers are looking forward to meeting with you during this week to discuss the progress and growth your student has made since August. A flyer will be sent home October 19th letting you know of the dates and times for scheduling a meeting. 6th grade conferences will be held in the Library all week. 7th and 8th grade conferences will be held in the Multi-purpose room all week. The meetings begin at 1:00 p.m. and run until 2:45 p.m. You are such an important part of your child’s education. We hope you can make it one day that week.
Ideas for Parents: Staying Involved in School
Sometime we distance ourselves from school as our children grow older. Kids seem to do well without as much of our involvement. They’re supposed to be independent, right?
Kids need their parents to stay actively involved in their education throughout middle and high school. Parents can easily stay involved in small ways that will make a big difference. For example:
• Maintain ongoing communication with your child’s teachers. Call to check in every month, before trouble appears. Some teachers encourage e-mail.
• Join the Parent/ Teacher Booster Club. If you can’t volunteer a lot of time, say so.
• Volunteer to help out in small ways. Check with the teacher or the school’s counselors.
• Help your 8th grader stay on track for graduation by reminding them they must have a 2.0 GPA for the year and encourage them to do their homework each night.
• Provide a quiet place for your child to complete their homework.

Thank you for your continued support of your child.
 

 

Dear Parents: 

Welcome to another year of learning at Walter Stiern Middle School!  I continue to have an optimistic outlook on our partnership as educators and parents/guardians in the ongoing effort to educate your child both academically and socially. 

 

Please take the time to review our District’s Parent/Student guide with your child.  There are many importance pieces of information that will assist you in helping your child have a successful school year.  I want to draw your attention to the section on Student/Parent/and School Responsibilities.  We must all work together equally, in order for your student to have success and grow this school year.  It can not be stressed enough how vital your positive support is in the academic and social development of your student(s). 

 

Our school-wide rules are: LEARN

 

L   Listen and follow directions.

 

E   Everyone is to be in class and on time.

 

A   All hands, feet and objects are to be kept to oneself.

 

R   Respect yourself and others.

 

N   No gum, food, seeds or candy of any kind. 

 

All teachers review this with the students throughout the first week of school.  We expect all students to follow these basic rules and allow the other students in class to learn.  Disruptive behavior that interferes with other students’ learning efforts will not be tolerated. 

 

Stiern offers many extracurricular activities throughout the school year for your student(s) to participate in.  We have competitive sports teams for both boys and girls as well as numerous clubs and tutoring services available after school each week.  More information about these clubs and services will be given during our Back-To-School night here on Thursday beginning at 5:30PM in the Stiern Gymnasium.  Our goal is to create an environment your child will be excited about being a part of each and every day.  I look forward to seeing you at our Back-To-School Night here at Stiern on September 17th from 5:30-7:00PM.

 

 

Julie M. Short

Principal