Thank you to all the students, parents and

community members who participated in the magazine fundraiser at Summit. The income from this fundraiser is used to provide resources for

students at Summit. Most recently, the school used the funds for computers, iPads, PBIS

incentives, classroom libraries, field trips, and

other educational tools to help students be successful. It would not be possible without the

ongoing support of parent volunteers.

October 2014

Issue 2 Newsletter – October 2014

Summit Middle School/ 515-986-0318

Important Summit

Phone Numbers

Summit Attendance

986-0941

Summit Nurse

986-0931

Summit Guidance

Mrs. Heston 986-0318 x236

Mrs. Cunningham 986-0318

x157

Summit Nutrition

986-0938

Summit After School

(SAS)/Comm Ed.

986-0929

Summit Pool

986-0951

follow those expectations?” “What happens when a teacher

sees you following the rules?” When students demonstrate these expected behaviors, they are rewarded with a ticket that they can spend at our student store where they can “buy”

items such as crackers, Gatorade, wristbands, pens, pencils, t-shirts and spirit wear, and the most popular, a large pizza for up to four people.

Our school expectations specifically focus on safe, responsible and respectful behaviors, thereby providing for a safer school environment with more time for instruction. We are applying consistent consequences and positive

reinforcement for all kids. By detailing every expected behavior and teaching to kids in a positive way, we are providing a common language for everyone in our building, including

students, teachers, front office staff and our paraprofessionals. We believe that by helping students practice good behavior, we will build a school community where all students have an

environment where they can succeed and grow. We hope you will take some time to talk to your child about the expectations at school and the importance of

continuing to demonstrate our PBIS behaviors. With your continued support and involvement, Summit Middle School will remain a school where students can excel. .

You may have heard the buzz about our school initiative –

PBIS! Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) refers to a systems change process for an entire school or district. It is a school-wide strategy for helping all students

achieve important social and learning goals. We know that when good behavior and good teaching come together, our students will excel in their learning. The School-Wide PBIS

provides an operational framework for achieving these outcomes. More importantly, PBIS is NOT a curriculum, intervention, or practice, but IS a decision making framework

that guides selection integration, and implementation of the best evidence-based academic and behavioral practices for improving important academic and behavior outcomes for all

students.

As part of the PBIS program, we have established several clear expectations for the behavior we expect in all areas of our school. We explicitly teach those expectations to the

students and reward them frequently with positive notes and prizes for their great behavior. The expectations for all student behaviors have been made clear throughout our

building and playground areas, cafeteria, gymnasium, buses, and classrooms. You can ask your student, “What are the expectations in your school?” “How do you

Summit’s School-Wide PBIS Initiative

Winter Sports begin

in October…

We will begin our winter sports season for our 7th graders with

wrestling and girls’ basketball in October. Watch for

announcements.

“Thank You” to the Summit

Community for Supporting

our Magazine Fundraiser

Parent/Teacher Conferences: October 21st (4:30-8:00 pm) and October 23rd (Dismissal-5; 5:30-8 p.m.)

We want to have 100% attendance at parent teacher conferences. The conference is a great

time to set goals and share strategies for achievement. We appreciate the time that it takes

for parents to attend. Teachers will communicate your student’s assigned time for a

conference. If the assigned time does not work, please call 986-3341 to reschedule.

No School October 24th Professional Development

October is Fire

Safety Month! This is a good time to

check your smoke alarms. Having a

working smoke alarm

dramatically increases your chances of surviving

a fire. Remember to practice a home escape

plan frequently with your family.

“Save The Date”

Band Concerts 7th Grade Concerts – November 4th,

6th Grade Concerts November 3rd

(Details will be sent home with your students)

The 7th grade football team has opened up their season with back to back sweeps of Marshalltown and Ft. Dodge. Across five games, the Dragons have scored over 150 points and only allowed six, showing their hard work and practice is paying off on the field. The 7th grade cross-country team’s first meet was the Rick Rynning Invitational held at Camp Dodge for the first time in the program’s history. The girls placed 1st, while the boys placed 2nd, just five points behind 1st! Their second meet was the Valley Invitational, where both teams ran well and finished 2nd behind some great

You can support Summit Online! You can support Summit by renewing or purchasing your

magazines online by visiting www.gaschoolstore.com. You can purchase your magazines online and pay using your credit card by

clicking on “Shop Now!”

Our School’s Online ID Number is: 2585495

Bus Notes

Please send notes with your students if they plan to ride home with a friend on a different bus. Please don’t rely

on e-mailing your notes as there are limits on the number of extra students allowed to ride on each bus. This is

determined on a first come, first serve basis. Students get a bus pass from the

office first thing in the morning.

Do You Enjoy Solving

Math Problems? Math Counts is ready to begin. If your student enjoys math and would

like to join others who enjoy the thrill of solving mathematical problems, please have them join Mr. Skinner,

Mrs. Sparks, and Mrs. Podlich every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 2:50-4:00. This will run opposite TSA.

For more information, check out the Summit School Fusion page under activities or go to mathcounts.org.

competition. Coach Buchan and Coach Minear have been impressed with this group’s hard work and how well they positively represent Summit MS, Johnston and cross-country in general. The 7th grade volleyball team is off to a great start this season, all of the girls have shown continued improvement and enthusiasm to play! As we look ahead to our final five matches, we are excited for the competition we will face and growth that will happen with each match! The coaches say it has been encouraging to watch these girls work hard, play hard and grow together as a team.

Fall sports are in full swing…

Summit Middle School is now in its second year of implementing a School Climate Committee to help with improving school culture and the way students treat one

another. The focus is on addressing issues such as bullying prevention, PBIS, and school climate related issues. Our first meeting of the 2014-15 school year was held on September 11, 2014 and focused on planning for Bullying Prevention Month for

the month of October. Students will be assisting with a variety of activities for the month of October including National Blue Shirt Day on October 6th and Mix It Up

at Lunch Day. The committee of thirty-two 6th and 7th grade students will be responsible for teaching their peers about changing the culture of Summit. Advisors

for the committee are school counselors Mrs. Cunningham and Mrs. Heston.

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

Starting at Home (Good for All Children) (taken from https://www.bullyfree.com/free-resources/tips-for-parents)

Teach self-control through discipline.

Don't tolerate mistreatment of others and consistently applying negative consequences.

Reward your child for improvement in behavior.

Teach your child to treat others the way they want to be treated.

Teach your child that mistreatment and kindness are powerful – creating memories.

Hold family meetings to teach empathy, sensitivity and values.

Teach child to control his/her anger.

Discuss models of acceptance (newspaper stories, television stories, movies, etc.).

Discuss bullying scenes you watch on television or in movies.

Teach your child to say, “I’m sorry.” and then to be kind to the person.

Student Leaders are sponsoring a “Walk or Bike to School Day” on October 8th. Those students

who ride or walk to school will receive an apple or banana for participating in the event.

Students can also pick up a healthy BINGO card

from the office on Monday, October 6th and try to get a BINGO. BINGO cards can be returned

Approximately 56 new 6th and 7th grade students at Summit

Middle School were given a warm welcome with a New Student Celebration on Thursday, August 28th. The students enjoyed a

breakfast and activities with the Summit student leaders. Each new

student was introduced by a student leader “buddy” and received a special welcome packet that included a free ticket to any Varsity athletic event and other school goodies. Pictures were taken and

the new students filled out a “get to know you” sheet so everyone can celebrate our new students. The “get to know you” sheets have been posted in each respective community area. We have

students who came from area schools and others who came from

various states. We welcome these new students and hope they have a wonderful experience here at Summit Middle School.

New Student Celebration

Summit Middle

School 9500 Windsor Parkway

P.O. Box 10

Johnston, IA 50131

PHONE:

515-986-0318

FAX:

515-986-0952

We’re on the Web! See us under schools at:

www.johnston.k12.ia.us

Important Dates

10/6 Bully Prevention National Blue Shirt

Day

10/7 SMS PTO Meeting -7pm @ LMC

10/6 TSA Fall Ldrshp Conf @ Camp Dodge

10/8 Fall Fitness – Walk or Bike to School

10/13 School Board Meeting -6pm @ ARC

10/17 End of First Quarter

10/21 P/T Conferences – 4:30-8pm

10/23 3 Hr. Early Dismissal – P/T Conf Dismissal-5 p.m. and 5:30-8 p.m.

10/24 No School – Staff Prof Dev

10/27 School Board Meeting-6pm @ ARC

10/28 Mix It Up At Lunch Day

10/29

MS Mock Trial Regionals

10/30 Mock Trial Districts Run-Offs

Fall Fitness Day Bike or Walk to

School on Oct 8th and Dance!

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month and to signify its importance, we will be asking students and staff to recognize this month by wearing blue and participating in Blue Shirt Day on Monday, October 6th. Students will be participating in Mix It Up at Lunch Day on October 28th where they will have the opportunity to cross social boundaries and meet new people. Our School Climate Committee is hard at work to help address bullying, not only in October, but also throughout the school year. What follows are a few things parents can do to help prevent bullying as parents play a key role in prevention and response to bullying:

A Message from our Counselors: Lauren Gallo-Heston and Brittney Cunningham

TDap Vaccine If you have a seventh grade student and

received a letter from the nurse regarding the Tdap vaccine, please

make sure that your student receives the vaccine by October 14th. The vaccine is

available at Polk County Health, doctor’s offices, Doctors Now, and

walk-in clinics.

School Climate Committee is helping to

improve school culture at Summit

back to the box on Friday, October 13th in the school office for a drawing of various prizes.

The PE Department is sponsoring an all school Dance. Students will be dancing together outside on the soccer field from the dances they learned in their PE classes on

Wednesday, 10/8. Students will perform the Cupid Shuffle, YMCA, ChaCha Slide, UNI interlude and the

Chicken Dance.

On Wednesday, October 8th, Summit Middle School will be participating in the Healthiest State Initiative to support healthy habits like exercising and eating healthy. The following activities will happen at Summit:

Attention 7th Chorus Students!

Please keep your eyes open for an Infinite Campus message in the next

few weeks regarding sign-up for 7th Grade Fusion Show Choir!

MAKE $17.39/HOUR DOING WHAT

MOST PARENTS DO FOR FREE! The JCSD has the following employment opportunities

Bus Drivers $17.39/hr. pre-employment drug screen required.

Substitute Bus Drivers

Pre-employment drug screen required.

Visit our web site at www.johnston.k12.ia.us

Click on Human Services – Current Vacancies

5608 Merle Hay Road • 278-0470

EEOC Employer