Mandarino Minutes for 5-14-21

 Folks,

6th & 7th grad M-Step next week for ELA -

• *ELA testing for 6th and 7th graders - 5/17 - 5/19.  
• Please bring in your own set of ear buds. Please try to help remind your daughter/son.

Band and Orchestra Concerts coming up -

Upton Spring Concerts 

Monday,  May 24th - 7th and 8th Bands

Thursday, May 27th - 7th and 8th Orchestras

Thursday, June 3rd - 6th Band and 6th Orchestra

Student report time: 6:30 p.m.

Concert start: 7:00 p.m.

Place: John & Dede Howard Auditorium @SJHS

Students should enter the high school through the auditorium entrance with their family. Performers please head to the stage or rehearsal room for tuning and warm-up. Cases will be stored backstage and in the back hallway as needed.

Cellos and basses bring your home instruments and rock stops! All others remember to take your instrument home the evening of the concert. Each student should bring their own music.

What to Wear:

6th Grade - Nice, dressy casual, school-appropriate clothes with your nicest pair of shoes. Please NO jeans or athletic attire.

7th and 8th - Black and White uniform

As in the previous concerts, please follow the COVID protocols. Families should sit together as a group and avoid switching seats. Thank you for your cooperation and support! We are excited to be able to perform  for you! If you have any questions, please ask.  

Mrs. Cabanilla-Sinnett, Mr. Lokey, & Mr. Doe

Summer Send Off—Get a free book! -

Hey, St. Joe Bears!

 

We want to send you into summer and off to high school with more FREE books! Once again, our amazing partnership with the SJPS Foundation and Forever Books has made this possible. 

 

To select YOUR FREE BOOK, you should first browse the Summer Send Off Book Options and then submit your top choices using the UMS Summer Send Off Book Selection Form. With almost 50 titles to choose from, there's something for everyone!

 

To make sure we can get your FREE book ordered and delivered to you before the end of the year, please submit no later than 5:00 pm, on Tuesday, May 18. 

 

If you are an in-person student, your FREE books will be distributed through your English class before we say our summer farewells on June 11.  If you are a virtual student, we will let you know when your books are available for pickup.

 

If you have questions, please email 

Mrs. Burnette at kburnette@sjschools.org.  

Wonderful parents & UPTO -

The staff at Upton Middle School felt so appreciated last week for teacher appreciation week! Thanks so much for the Dilly bars, treats in the lounge, wonderful emails, cards, etc! The staff truly feels blessed to have such a wonderful group of parents/guardians!

Yearbooks are in! -

Extra yearbooks are available for $45.  Please see Mr. Khan next week for a yearbook. You can also email him at kkhan@sjschools.org.

Volleyball Camp Opportunity-

Please see the attachment about a summer volleyball camp opportunity:

Volleyball Camp Registration Form Attachment

Sideline Cheer for 8th graders going into

high school-

From the Guidance Department -

Late Start Wednesday-

Wednesday, May 19th is a late start and school begins at 8:45am.

What’s for lunch? -

Monday - Chicken patty on bun, potato wedges, fruit cup

Tuesday - Grilled cheese, tomato soup, goldfish crackers, applesauce

Wednesday - Rotini pasta with meat sauce, garlic bread, fruit/veggies

Thursday - Grilled chicken club, french fries, applesauce

Friday - Pepperoni calzone, corn, applesauce

Quote of the week-

Have a fantastic weekend,

Mr. Mandarino

Mandarino Minutes for 5-7-21

 Folks,

Joe Bots-

The Upton Middle School Robotics teams competed last week in our second remote qualifying event in Howell, Michigan. Both teams exceeded all expectations and set their place in FIRST robotics history. This is the first time that any of our Joe Bots competed outside of West Michigan and we proved that we can run with the big dogs from the East side of the state!

 

Joe Bots - Maize - Team 8513

Finished ranked #6 out of 23 teams

WON 3rd place nomination for the THINK AWARD

WON the highly praised CONTROL AWARD for the first time in Upton's robotic history!

 

Joe Bots - Blue - Team #11855

Finished ranked #1 out of 23 teams

WON 3rd place nomination for the COLLINS AEROSPACE INNOVATE AWARD

WON the events MOTIVATE AWARD

WON our place to compete in the MICHIGAN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - The week of May 17th!

 

Please congratulate all the robotics students for all their hard work in quite a challenging season.

 

Videos of our competition season can beed  found on our YouTube channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFATd6NevDxrSpjYfi94hDw

Ren Baldwin Tech Fest 2021-

The 2021 Ren Baldwin Student Technology Festival has been launched via the festival website.  Please visit http://bit.ly/rbtechfest2021 to view all of the entered projects and see this year's winners.  Congratulations to AJ Bacolor and Ryan Lokey who were the grand prize winners for Upton.  A special thank you to the SJPS Foundation for supporting this event.

Buchanan Art Competition-

The middle school art kids really showed up for the Buchanan Art Competition. Our students won 10 out of 12 awards possible.  Please take a moment to congratulate them if you see them.

 

 

Ava Rommel - Best in Show!!!

Zoe Williams -Special Merit

Dylan Walsh - Merit Award

Avery Valenti - Merit Award

Sarah Bennett - Special Merit

Brayden Hauch- Merit Award

Addison Steinbraker- Merit Award

Cadence Grunder- Merit Award

Layla Garcia- Merit Award

Ramzi Dumke- Merit Award

Mariah Jhala- Merit Award

7th grade M-Step Next Week-

This coming Monday in their 7th grade math class our 7th graders will begin the Math M-Step test.

SJPS Foundation Cookbook Cover Contest-

Our St. Joseph Foundation is hosting a cookbook cover contest.  All entries are due by Thursday, May 20th.  

Here is the link to more details:

SJPS Foundation Cookbook Cover Contest Link

Late Start this Wednesday, May 5th-

Wednesday, May 12th is a late start and school begins at 8:45 AM. Breakfast is available at 8:15 AM.

From The Guidance Department-

Guidance Department Blog Post Link

Lunch Next Week -

Monday- French Toast Sticks , Hash Brown, Sausage, and Oranges

Tuesday- Cheese/Pepperoni Pizza, Carrot & Celery Sticks, Apple Slices

Wednesday- Nachos with Cheese/Beef, Refried Beans, Mandarin Oranges

Thursday- Mac & Cheese, Garlic Bread, Fruit Cup, and Carrots

Friday- Bosco Sticks with Marinara, Veggie Sticks, Fruit Slushie

Quote of the week -

We have a wonderful group of educators at Upton Middle School! These folks work tirelessly to make sure our kids are cared for, supported, and have a top-notch educational experience! This week being teacher appreciation week we salute the Upton Middle School staff!

Have a great weekend,

Mr. Mandarino

Mandarino Minutes for 4-30-21

Dear Parents/Guardians,

NWEA Testing Next Week-

Next Thursday, May 6th we will do the Reading NWEA test and on Friday, May 7th we will do the Math NWEA test.  Please try your best to have your daughter/son to school here on time as we have to read directions to the class before they begin.  Thanks!

School of Choice window open from May 3-21 -

It is that time of year again!  Schools of Choice will be open May 3-21.  The packet will be available on our school website beginning May 3 on the district home page and all of the buildings' main pages at www.sjschools.org.  Those wishing to apply may download, print and complete the forms and return by US mail, email, fax, or they may drop off the packet to the central office located at 2580 S. Cleveland Ave, St Joseph or fax to 269-428-0333.

Football Meeting this Sunday, May 2 -

There is a football meeting THIS Sunday at 7:00 p.m. @ the HS Football Stadium for current 6th-11th grade students that are interested in playing football next year.

Tennis Club Monday Informational -

This Monday, May 3rd we will have a informational meeting at the tennis courts for students interested in tennis for parents and students beginning at 4:30 PM. The meeting will last approximately 45 minutes. Please wear a mask to the meeting.

No School Monday, May 3 for Elementary Schools ONLY -

Upton and the high school have a regular day of school on Monday. School begins at 7:45am.

Leaving early from school reminder-

When a student is leaving Upton for any reason the student needs to either bring a parent note to the school office in the morning, a parent/guardian needs to call the office with the student’s name and time they are leaving, or the student must call home from the office.  Texting or emailing through the classroom is not allowed.

Late Start this Wednesday, May 5th-

Wednesday, May 5th is a late start and school begins at 8:45 AM. Breakfast is available at 8:15 AM.

St Joseph Virtual School Updates-

https://stjoevirtualschool.blogspot.com/

From the Guidance Department -

 

GUIDANCE NEWS

BALANCE  is our theme for MAY 

 

It was so nice to have all of our students back in person last week!  As we begin a new month filled with more activities at and outside of school, we want to share some resources to help you find balance.

 

What's New This Week in our google site COVID-19, Guidance & SEL:

 

In the Parent Resources section:

Too much focus on ‘learning loss’ will be a historic mistake from Edutopia - Learning loss is real and needs to be addressed, but how we go about it should be commensurate with the size of the moment.

In the Community Resources section:

Do you need help paying for the internet? - from Common Sense Media - Congress created the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB) to provide short-term assistance to individuals, students, and families to help pay for internet service and devices.

Be Kind to your Mind - MI StayWell Counseling team is offering a  free virtual support group sessions (especially for 14-17 year olds) 

 

 

What’s Happening at School:

 

Encourage your HS student to  check their grade level google classroom (classwork section under general info for job postings).  We just added info about: Lane Automotive, Fitch Camp in Dowagiac,  Air &/or Space Force Recruiting opportunities.  Work permits can be obtained from the office.

If you have job opportunities we can share,  please reach out so we  can get your information to our students!

 

 At Upton, we are starting an academic support group to help students with organizational skills.

 

Please remember we are here to support you - reach out if you have a question/concern:

guidance@stjoebears.com

SCHOOL LUNCH HERO DAY! -

The first Friday in May is School Lunch Hero Day, dedicated to those men and women who make the cafeterias and the schools a better place to be! For many children, the cafeteria is the first place they enter on a school day. From the first time through the cafeteria line, the lunch hero has more than nutrition on their minds.  The well-being of every child is important to them.  Keeping them safe, happy, and providing them with good and delicious food is also a priority. At Upton Middle School we are blessed with wonderful lunch ladies!

Cinco de Mayo on May 5-

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage. It commemorates the date of the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

National Days next week-

May 3 - National Two Different Colored Shoes Day

May 4 - National Star Wars Day (May the fourth be with you)

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

May 6 - National Nurses Day

May 7 - National School Lunch Hero Day

(for more national days this month go to https://nationaldaycalendar.com/may/)

What’s for Lunch? -

Monday - Mini corn dogs, french fries, fruit cup

Tuesday - Hot ham & cheese on pretzel bun, sun chips, veggie/fruit cup

Wednesday - Popcorn chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, dinner roll, apple slices

Thursday - Turkey & provolone on croissant, baked chips, veggie/fruit cup

Friday - Wild Mikes pepperoni or cheese pizza, fruit slushie, veggies with ranch

Quote of the week -

Have a great Friday & weekend,

Mr. Mandarino