Report cards are in the mail.

The first quarter of this school year sure had some unusual challenges. We greatly appreciate the hard work of our students and the trust of our families to keep you children safe as we gradually reopen our school. We continue to work towards the safest learning community possible.  

Starting on November 16th, we will transition to having school two days a week. A Group students will attend Monday and Tuesdays and B Group students will attend Thursday and Fridays.  [UPDATE: due to COVID-19 numbers, the middle school will not be moving to two days a week.]

Each middle school student is assigned a mentor with who they work each week to set goals and monitor their academic progress.  Over the next two weeks, mentor teachers will be reaching out to connect with parents and students for conferences. This will be done over the phone or via Google Meets.   

Additionally, please reach out to Mr. Joachim or your child's mentor if you have any questions regarding progress at school.  

We look forward to helping!  

 

In-person and online learning...

 Take a look at Mr. Edwards class! 

Distant Learning Checkin Time

The middle school teachers are committed to our students. Each hour they will be signing into their Google Classroom and will open a Google Meet video conference. We hope to record these conferences and post them to the teacher's pages for students who miss them. Please be sure to check in with your classroom teacher at the scheduled meeting time.

 Good Afternoon, This is Mr. Joachim, Principal of Springdale MIddle School.  

I want to begin by sharing my appreciation for all the students and parents who attended conferences last week.  If you have not yet met with our teaching team, please give me a call at 258.4738 to schedule your conference.

This week is our first week of distance learning; this is certainly not how we wanted to start the new school year.  However, our teachers are ready.  They will be posting content to their Google Classrooms and will be hosting online lessons throughout the week.  Additionally, teachers will be calling students for weekly mentor check-ins.  As a district, we will be providing weekly deliveries of printed homework and resources on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and each Wednesday, we will be delivering meals.  This Thursday will be our first homework delivery day.  

Please be sure to review our school website or Facebook page to learn more about connecting during our distant learning phase..  

Finally, our new Chromebooks have arrived, been updated, and are ready to be picked up.  If you are one of the families who needs the new Chromebook, please stop by the office to pick it up between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM

I hope that everyone is able to make this first week of distance learning a great week.

I hope to see you soon,

Mr. Joachim
509.258.4738

Conferences start Monday!

Dear Parents and Students,

The start of school is just around the corner...Monday, August 31st.  

Thank you to all those who have already signed up for the conferences next week. Yesterday, calls were made to many of those who have not yet reserved a spot. You can still sign-up for conferences at the MS SignUpGenius page or by calling 509.258.4738. At this time, we have openings primarily on Wednesday(12-7 PM) and Thursday(8-3 PM) It is our goal to see every student this next week. Please be sure to sign up. If you have already signed up, please assist a friend or family member who may need help with this process. 

The following is our agenda for each conference:

Complete First Day Packet*

Submit Family Resource Survey*

Pickup Chromebook*

Meet Teachers

Review Gradual Re-Opening Plan

Review Layers of Safety for COVID

Homework and Meal Delivery

At-Home Learning w/ Summit Learning

*Please consider arriving a bit early to complete the first three agenda items.

I look forward to seeing everyone next week. Enjoy your weekend.

Mr. Joachim, Principal

Springdale Middle School

Middle School Update

Dear Middle School Families,

The official start of the new school year is just ten days away! August 31st, 2020! This will be the saddest start of a school year in my entire career, as we will be starting without having students in the school. The students ARE the school.  

Our district's Gradual Re-Opening Plan was approved by Tri-County Health and the Mary Walker School District. Below is a graphic that highlights our gradual re-opening steps.  

Our first of six steps to re-open school is face-to-face conferences starting Monday, August 31st. These meetings will be hosted outside around the new covered play area. At the conferences, we will be reviewing the re-opening plan, sharing resources, and answering your questions. Please sign your student(s) up for conferences by clicking on the following link: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f094aa8ab28abfc1-springdale

The six-step re-opening plan is one of two options for families. The second option is the 'Continuous At Home Learning.' The goal of this option is to partner with parents and students throughout the COVID-19 closure to provide curriculum and learning resources for use at home. Teachers will check in with students every week and will be available for calls when help is needed. Additionally, monthly student progress reports will be documented with parent and teacher input. If you are interested in learning more about this option, please connect with me for more information.

Many families in our district do not have Internet connections in their homes. This is due to several factors; poor cellular reception, inadequate phone lines, and/or general cost restrictions. If you are one of them and would like to see about getting the internet, please send me an email or call our school district's message line at 509.258.4798.

I look forward to seeing everyone at our conference!  

Brett Joachim, Principal

Springdale Middle School

wk. cell 509.919.0538

Middle School Feedback Needed

Dear Middle School Parents and Students,

I hope that all of you are well and healthy.  Sadly, tomorrow will be five months since we have had students in our halls.   I greatly miss our families and students and can not wait to get back to school! 

I recently shared with staff that I feel like I am treading water in a rip current and have the fear that a shark may attack at any time.   In the very literal sense, as well as the figurative sense, I am used to swimming in turbulent water and rarely have fear; however, the barriers and challenges before our society and world today is concerning.  

As the district's re-opening plan is being formed, the administrative team is working to cautiously get our students back into the classroom as soon as possible.  It has been difficult, as local and state expectations seem to morph and change daily.  Then to make things even more complicated, I watch the local and national news.  Sorting through the various health concerns, news reports, scientific facts, and political views is genuinely mind-boggling.  The one point that I can solidly stand on is that our school district cares deeply about every student's wellbeing.  We want to see our students back in the classrooms engaging in teaching and learning as soon as possible.  

The current plan for our re-opening is a gradual system that provides students with academic and social supports and will progress as the local cases decrease.   Earlier this week, the following graphic was published on our website and Facebook page to show our current thoughts for the upcoming school year.   This re-opening plan is pending Health Departments' approval on August 13th and board approval on August 17th. We will have two-week intervals where we hope to move to each next step.

I know this is not a perfect plan, but one that takes into consideration the various restrictions of the State and local health departments.  Please review this plan and share your suggestions, thoughts, and ideas.  

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Brett Joachim, Principal

Springdale Middle School

MS Memo and Newletter

Springdale Middle School parents and students! 

We have finally made it to the end of the school year! Thank you for your dedication and perseverance through this challenging time.  Congratulations to all the high school seniors who graduated last weekend and to the 8th graders who are being promoted to high school!  

Last Day of School

June 17th is our last day of school. As a result of the COVID-19 Closure, state officials directed all schools to add five days to their previously scheduled school calendar. 

Ice Cream Drive-Through & Chromebook Return

Join the middle school teachers for an ice cream drive-through on Tuesday, June 16th, from 1 PM-3 PM. At this event, all students need to submit their final projects, homework, and return their Chromebook. We will be maintaining strict social distancing. Please stay in your car as you drive through the bus loop. Upon staff approval, students will be permitted to access the school only if they need to retrieve personal items. Chromebooks may also be returned to the office or district office during regular working hours of 8 AM-4 PM.

Next Fall

As many of you may have seen or heard, the state released its Reopening Washington Schools 2020 Guidance on Thursday. This document provides schools with the framework in which to develop reopening plans for the fall. All schools will open for all students across the state! At Mary Walker, we will be working with the county health officials to develop a plan that is responsive to our current status of COVID-19. As we work within the state's guidelines, our goal is to have in-person instruction with social distancing and personal protective equipment. However, if restrictions and health concerns increase, we will be prepared with backup plans that may include a rotating schedule, phased-in opening, or continuous remote learning. There is much work ahead of us. Over the next several weeks, we are looking forward to receiving additional guidance from the state to help us create our plans. I assure you that the Mary Walker Team will be ready to meet all students learning needs next fall. 

Please know that we will be working over the summer to ensure we are prepared for the challenges we'll face in the year ahead! 

Mr. Joachim, Principal

Springdale Middle School

www.marywalker.org/sms

8th Grade Promotion Video

Help Needed: Broadband Speed Test, 8th Grad Promotion, Weekly Newsletter

Dear Middle School Students and Families,

This second semester and end of the school year have certainly been odd. I can't wait to get back to normal. Attached is this week's newsletter. 

  Broadband Speed Test

Stevens County is working to increase our internet speed, and we need your help. Can you please test your internet speed, the following link is being used to map out our county's internet access.  

https://expressoptimizer.net/public/

Due to privacy concerns, I encourage you to select the option to 'Enter my partial address' 

The Stevens County Broadband Action Team is using this data as they are preparing a presentation for the need for better broadband for our elected officials. Thank you for taking a minute to help out!

 8th Grade Promotion

Next Tuesday, June 9, at 7 PM, is our 8th-grade promotion. This event is a drive-through promotion. All 8th-grade families are encouraged to line up at the start of the bus loop before 7 PM. Community members and guests are invited to attend the promotion by parking inside the parking lot to cheer our students along the way. 

Mr. Joachim, Principal

Springdale Middle School

PS: Congratulations to all the high school seniors who graduate today!  

Re: 8th Grade Promotion Help

Way back then…kindergarten! 

On May 26, 2020, at 4:44 PM, Brett Joachim <bjoachim@marywalker.org> wrote:

Dear 8th Graders!  

I have to say, I really, really, miss you guys.   Yes, all of you...the bathroom mess-makers, the eye-rollers, the 'I'm-never-going-to-stop-talkers, and even the cafeteria food players!  I miss you all.  

The 8th-grade promotion is June 9th at 7:00 PM.   I am working with school staff, parents and county officials to establish a safe promotional event that honors all of you.

I need your help! 

What ideas and suggestions do you have for your 8th-grade promotion?  

Also, I need pictures to add to the 8th-grade promotion video.  I was so pleased to find some 6th-grade Egyptian presentation videos and look forward to including them.  It was awesome to browse through those clips. Some of you were so tiny and squeaky back then, as my grandmother would say, "cute as a button!”   I think I have some old dance videos too.  

Please email me photos and video clips.  Or, upload them to tinyurl.com/8thPromotion2020.

Miss you,

Mr. Joachim

Drive-Through 8th Grade Promotion

Next Tuesday, June 9 at 7 PM is our 8th-grade promotion. We are following the Washington State Department of Health guidelines to host a drive-through promotion.  We are all saddened by the fact that we are not hosting a traditional promotion and limited in how we can celebrate.  This class has persevered through some tough times, and we are so proud of each and every student. Please join us to celebrate the class of 2024!  This event is going to be a festive one that honors our hardworking students. 

At the start of the drive-through, students will receive a mini-party bag that includes festive items like a party popper, silly string, candy, and a USB drive with the 8th-grade promotion video. Cars will drive through the bus loop where staff and community members will be honking and cheering them along the way. Near the middle of the bus loop, students will pass through a balloon arch, which will be a symbolic reference to a gateway to their high school years.  Each student will then receive their 8th-grade promotion certificate.  

All 8th-grade families are encouraged to line up at the start of the bus loop prior to 7 PM. Community members and guests are invited to attend the promotion by parking inside the parking lot to cheer our students along the way.

Per State guidelines, 8th-grade students, and only their immediate family members who are staying at home together, should arrive in waves and leave after their individual recognition. Students must remain in the car and should be in the passenger seat as they drive through."  

I greatly appreciate everyone who has shared photos for the 8th grade promotion video.  The deadline to add photos is this Friday at noon.  Feel free to email me photos and video clips, OR just upload them to tinyurl.com/8thPromotion2020.

We look forward to celebrating our 8th graders next Tuesday, June 9 at 7 PM.  See you then!