Principal’s Message:

We have now nearly completed our first month of school.  Let me say that I am impressed with the quality of our students.  I have had many staff indicate how polite and well behaved our students are.  I have had the opportunity to interact with many students in the hallways and cafeteria, and I would echo what our staff says about our students.  Thank you for sending us your best students!

As of your reading of this newsletter, we have begun MAP testing to determine our students’ base line in reading and mathematics for the 2009-2010 school year.  Teachers use data gathered from these assessments to guide their teaching.  As I will discuss in more detail later on, we will also be using the data from these tests in helping students set goals for this school year and beyond.  We have begun our sports seasons and have hosted football and cross country teams in competition.  Our band and choral programs are underway.  Believe me, it is a unique experience to be in the band room as students are collectively practicing a new note for the first time!

Port Susan Middle School is implementing the Navigation 101 curriculum in advisory classes this year.  Along with the other Stanwood-Camano School District secondary schools, we are working with students to think about their lives now and beyond school.  Our goal is to ensure that all students graduate from high school on time, prepared for the career and/or college of their choosing.  As I mentioned earlier, this involves setting goals as learners, as individuals, and as citizens.  One hallmark of this program is student-led conferences.  This year secondary students (middle and high school) will engage in fall conferences with their parents discussing their goals, why they set those goals, and how they plan to accomplish those goals.  In spring, we will hold another round of these conferences where students will share their progress toward these goals.  The advent of spring and student-led conferences is new to us, but we believe these are powerful experiences for our students.  Please plan to attend when your students make these appointments.

As I mentioned at the sixth grade orientation, the pattern of parent involvement at school drops off at the middle school level.  Please be pattern breakers!  We have need for parent involvement.  Whether it’s in our Walkabout program, our mentor, program, our PTA, our classrooms, or other, please be involved here at Port Susan.  Our students benefit from all the caring adults in our community.

We are looking forward to a strong year of learning and growing here at Port Susan Middle School. 



 Go Knights!

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