Spring Ridge Middle

Welcome To Our School! Home of the Harriers!

19856 Three Notch Road
Lexington Park, MD 20653
301-863-4031
FAX 301-863-4035

Parent Welcome Letter 2010

August 15, 2010

 
Dear Spring Ridge Students, Parents & Guardians,
 
Welcome Back Everyone! It is always an incredible feeling of energy and enthusiasm as we kick off a new school year. The summer gave us the perfect opportunity to reexamine our instructional practices, policies and procedures. We used this time to look critically at all we do, and ensure that all of our decisions and actions are in the best interests of students, and promote academic achievement. Now, as we open the doors to our students once again, we feel recharged, and ready to meet their academic, social, and emotional needs.
 
Your child’s schedule for the 2010-2011 school year will be available on the Home Access Center beginning Friday, August 20. It will also be available during Open House or on the first day of school, which is Wednesday, August 25. Our school team has worked diligently this summer to use all available data to determine appropriate classes for all students. You will have an opportunity to walk through your child’s schedule during Open House on­­­­­­­ Tuesday, August 24. The times are as follows:   
6th / STEM 6 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
                                                7th / STEM 7 9:30 am – 10:30 am
                                                8th / STEM 8 8:00 am – 9:00 am
During Open House, you can purchase PE uniforms for $18.00 (shorts = $10 & shirts = $8). All students will be required to pay a $5.00 locker rental fee.  This cost covers both the instructional locker space and the PE locker space. Sixth grade students can pay their locker fee during Open House. Seventh and eighth grade students can pay their locker fee during homeroom the first week of school.
 
We will host an Aloha Dance for all students on Friday, August 27 from 2:15 – 4:00 pm   Families are responsible for transportation home from all school dances. Dance dismissal procedures will be sent home with students on the first day of school. Permission slips to attend the dance will be given out on Thursday, August 26. All students must have a signed permission slip, along with $5.00, to attend the dances this year.
 
Last year, we as a staff and student body were very focused in our instructional programs and interventions. Please note the following MSA summary for the 2010 Maryland School Assessment. Analysis of this valuable report provides us with the opportunity to recognize our 2010 achievements and identify key areas to assist us in refining our instructional focus for the 2010-2011 school years.
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Analysis of our data verified that:
 
In math:
 
  • Our 6th grade MSA scores showed in increase in all subgroup areas of African American and Special Education. ED showed a slight decrease. In 6th grade, our overall increase for the grade level was from 81.5% proficient in 2009 to 83.6% in 2010. 
 
  • Our 7th grade MSA scores showed decreases in all subgroups. In 7th grade our overall decrease for the grade level was from 75.61% proficient in 2009 to 73.4% in 2010.   
 
  • Our 8th grade MSA scores showed increases in all subgroups. In 8th grade our overall increase for the grade level was from 73.3 % proficient in 2009 to 82.3% in 2010. 
 
  • High School Assessment/algebra 98.4% pass rate
 
 
In reading:
 
  • Our 6th grade MSA scores showed an increase in subgroup areas of African American and ED. Special Education showed a slight decrease. In 6th grade overall we saw a slight decrease for the grade level from 81.5 proficient in 2009 to 80.8% in 2010. 
 
  • Our 7th grade MSA scores showed increases in all subgroups. In 7th grade our overall increase for the grade level was from 75.6% proficient in 2009 to 83.5% in 2010.   
 
  • Our 8th grade MSA scores showed increases in all subgroups. In 8th grade our overall increase for the grade level was from 73.3% proficient in 2009 to 79.6 in 2010. 
 
 
 
 
Reviewing our MSA scores gives us reason to celebrate. We made Adequate Yearly Progress in all subgroups! Since Spring Ridge Middle School is such a data driven organization, we will use this data to make instructional decisions and plan appropriately for all students.
 
 
Other Spring Ridge Successes:
 
v Received the PBIS Exemplar Gold Award for outstanding implementation of our PBIS program
v Maintained attendance percentage of 95%
v Received two Glossie Awards for cleanliness at the school: one for being most consistent and one for being most improved
 
All are welcome and encouraged to attend our School Improvement Team (SIT) meetings and we have plenty of work to pass around for those that do attend! SIT team participation will provide an opportunity for communication among school staff, parents, and community so that a shared vision for the school may be developed, implemented, and maintained. Please note the following SIT meeting dates:
 

Day
Date
Time
Location
Monday
November 1
2:20
Media Center
Monday
January 10
2:20
Media Center
Monday
May 23
2:20
Media Center

 
As we begin to prepare for a new school year, remember that our mission is to provide our students with an outstanding middle school experience while increasing student achievement.  To help us meet this goal we have several new staff members joining our SRMS family. Please join me in welcoming our newest staff members:
 

6th Grade Language Arts
Marissa Kinkaid
7th Grade Science
Christine Campbell
Band
Steve Gianuzzi
8th Grade Math
Jeanette Johnson
Guidance Counselor
Lorenzo Spicer
Nurse
Jill Collier
Assistant Principal
Scott Szczerbiak

 
 
I have included a copy of the Dress Code for Spring Ridge. This is to help you plan as you begin preparing your child to return to school. All students are required to adhere to our school’s dress code.
 
Also included in this communication is the St. Mary’s County Public Schools Cell Phone Policy. Please note that students are not permitted to have their cell phones turned on during the school day. I ask that you take the time to review this policy carefully with your child prior to the start of school to avoid any cell phone issues. This policy will be reviewed in detail with all Spring Ridge students on the first day of school.
 
I am looking forward to seeing students around the building! It has been a short, but productive summer. Get ready for a great year at Spring Ridge!
 
Warmly,
 
 
Maureen C. Montgomery,
Your Very Proud Principal!