Mandarino Minutes for 12-10-21

 Dear Parents/Guardians,

Holiday Concerts this coming week at the John & Dede Auditorium-

• Tuesday, December 14th is the Upton Choirs and 7th & 8th Orchestras Holiday Concert at 7pm.
• Wednesday, December 15th is the rescheduled Upton & HS Bands Holiday Concert at 7pm.

Division 1 Ratings -

This past weekend, we had several band and orchestra students in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association's Solo and Ensemble Festival.  All students who participated received a Superior Division I Rating.  If you see any of these students, please make sure you congratulate them on their performance.

 

Sofia Hall

Lucas Zahrt

Elena Walsh

Ethan Maynard

Matthew Bawks

Collin Sahs

Reece Crawford

Maxwell White

Liam Dunleavy

Eric Walsworth

Sofie Baghelai

Seth Martin

Ariana Robinson

Andrew Coburn

Sadaphonh Phongoudom

Rachael Chen

Naomi Peremans

Madisyn Murphy

Catalina Gonzalez Santa Cruz

Aminah Garcia

Hayden Razor

From the Desk of the UPTO -

Upton Parents,

 

Click on this link to donate to this year’s Upton Teacher’s Holiday Breakfast:

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040c4eaaa82aaafa7-teachers

THANK YOU!

 

A very special thank you to Berrien County Prosecutor, Steve Pierangeli and Alli Kibler-Campbell, a Child Abuse Prevention and Outreach Specialist for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Michigan.  Both speakers came to SJHS last week to inform parents about the dangers of social media and online predators.

 

Their message was very clear:  Talk with your children and learn what they are doing online.

 

For the next few weeks we will send you important information from that presentation to keep your children safe online.

 

Lesson #1

 

START A CONVERSATION

 Ask your children:

• What’s your favorite website?  What do you like to do there?

• Have you ever seen something online you didn’t want to see?

• Do you ever talk to people you don’t know online?  What do you talk about?

 

Important Websites to know:

 

www.protectmichild.com

www.missingkids.org

Upton Joe Bots-

The Joe Bots team had our second qualifier of this season at Coloma today and our teams made HISTORY!!!  All 3 Joe Bots teams are going to the State Championship in Battle Creek on Dec 17-18. 

 

-- 8513 Maize:  Ranked 6th. Design Award Winner. Motivate Award 2nd Place. Qualified to State already.

-- 11855 Blue: Ranked 9th.  Advancing to State.

-- 13702 White: Ranked 7th. Advancing to State.

 

The Joe Bots continue to demonstrate gracious professionalism on and off the field by cheering for every team; helping and encouraging each other and having fun.  We also want to point out how great it is to see so many Average Joes volunteers at Coloma today.  They made us so proud to be part of the St Joe School District.  

 

The Robotics Coaching Staff

Ski Club-

There are only a few spots remaining for the Ski Club.  If you are interested, please sign up right away. Read through the google slide presentation before signing up for Ski Club:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XAS5lc2EoFhKFITvRJQygZ9nTqSSN3mGyfRICB_qAY4/edit?usp=sharing

Spirit Week next week-

Monday - Monochromatic Monday (Dress in all the same color)

Tuesday - Twin Tuesday

Wednesday - Hawaiian Christmas Wednesday

Thursday - Dress like a Musician (Country, Rock, etc.)

Friday - Ugly Sweater Friday

From the desk of the Guidance Department -

Please click on the link to read the latest guidance department blog post:

https://sites.google.com/stjoebears.com/upton-updates-from-your-guidan/home

Late Start next Wednesday, December 15th -

This Wednesday, December 15, is a late start and school begins at 8:45am.  Doors will open at 8:15am and buses run an hour later.

Lunch Next Week -

Monday - Cheeseburger on a bun, french fries, fruit

Tuesday - French toast sticks, hash browns, sausage patty, fruit

Wednesday - Chicken tenders, corn, mashed potatoes with gravy, fruit

Thursday - Grilled chicken club, french fries, applesauce

Friday - Cheese bosco sticks with marinara, broccoli, fruit

Invitation from the Varsity Hockey Program-

If you have never had the opportunity to view the St. Joseph & Lakeshore combined hockey team they are inviting you to come out and watch their games this weekend. Below is their schedule:

COME SEE YOUR LSJ VARSITY TEAM THIS WEEKEND

1ST HOME GAMES OF THE SEASON

FRIDAY 12/10

7:00 pm vs Brebuf @ Garden Ice Arena

SATURDAY 12/11

11:00 am vs South Stars @ Howard Ice Arena

8:40 pm vs Vipers @ Garden Ice Arena

SUNDAY 12/12

10:10 am vs Bloomington @ Garden Ice Arena

National Days Next week-

Monday, December 13 - National Cocoa Day

Tuesday, December 14 - National Alabama Day

Wednesday, December 15 - National Monkey Day

Thursday, December 16 - National Chocolate Covered Anything Day Friday, December 17 - National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

P2 Theme of the week-

Next week the theme is Self-Control.

Here is the family link: https://posproject.org/p2-for-families/6-8/

The password is: P2

Quote of the Week-

Have a great weekend,

Mr. Mandarino

Mandarino Minutes for 12-3-21

 Dear Parents/Guardians,

Holiday Concerts to Brighten the Season-

Tuesday, December 7th 7:00 PM in the John & Dede Auditorium at SJHS is the 7th-12th grade bands.

Wednesday, December 8th at 6:00PM & 7:00PM at Upton Blue Gym-

6th Grade Band Informance  Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 6:00 pm 6th Band Students please report to the Blue Gym at 5:30 p.m. The performance will start at 6:00 pm and be finished by 6:30 pm. 6th Grade Orchestra Informance  Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 7:00 pm 6th Orchestra Students please report to the Orchestra Room at 6:30 p.m. Orchestra parents go to the Auditorium for a presentation with Mr. Lokey at 6:30pm. The performance will start at 7:00 pm and be finished by 7:30 pm. Tuesday, December 14th 7:00 PM in the John & Dede Auditorium at SJHS is the 6-8th grade choirs & 7-8th orchestra.

Thanksgiving Thankful 5K-

What a wonderful time many students and staff had at the first annual Thanksgiving Thankful 5K at Upton Middle School Thanksgiving morning.  Mr. Maier setup and organized this fun event.  At the end of the 1st & 2nd mile we reflected on what we are thankful for.  Donations were collected and over $320 dollars were raised for the Emergence Shelter Service of Benton Harbor.

Things we are thankful for...

From the desk of Mr. Jeffers - The Dance this evening for 7th & 8th graders-

The Upton Student Council and PTO are hosting a 7th & 8th-grade dance tonight, from 5:30-7:30 PM, in the UMS Blue Gym.  The cost to enter is $4 or a toy valued at $4 or more.  These donations will be given to Toys for Tots.  The school will not be able to contract trace potential COVID cases from the dance- this means that masks will be strictly enforced!  Any student who is not wearing their mask correctly will be removed from the dance and asked to call for a ride home.  Please verify with your student that they can manage this expectation before sending them to the dance.  Please have rides waiting right at 7:30 PM- our staff and volunteers would like to get home promptly to their families.

Interact Club-

The Interact Club has been quite busy! In October we collected 3 boxes of new and gently used Halloween costumes and donated these to the foster closet at MDHHS.  In November we made thanksgiving cards for the residents at Royalton Manor at our membership meetings and set-up and tore down the Luminary Festival for St. Joe Today.  Service Above Self!

Competitive Cheer reminder-

St. Joseph Girls Competitive Cheer season has begun.

Practices began Wednesday December 1st.

All future practices will be held on a daily basis.

Daily practice: Monday-Friday 5 p.m.-7p.m. 

Competitions are yet to be announced.

I am looking forward to a great season,

Coach Kylie

From the desk of the Guidance Department-

Hello everyone,

Here is the December Guidance Blog

Other information from the guidance website on community resources:

https://sites.google.com/stjoebears.com/covid-19-guidance-and-sel/resources/community-resources.

NHS Tutoring at SJHS Tuesday and Thursday reminder-

If your child plans to go to the High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays, after school for tutoring, they must come to the Upton office early on those mornings (before noon) to get an Academic Study Session form.  This must be filled out by a teacher and handed in at the High School each time your child attends tutoring and this sheet is also their bus pass to go to SJHS.  Busing is provided to the High School for those students going to NHS Tutoring on the Pink Pig bus.

*If your child comes into the office after 12:00, they will not be able to get a form to attend tutoring that day.*

Upton Bears Student Credit Union-

Upton Bears Student CU offers great incentives to promote good saving habits for students. All new members will receive $15 if they open their membership with at least $1 (membership forms are available at the Upton Bears Student CU table). All existing members will receive $5 for making their first deposit at Upton Bears Student CU. There is a prize box so students can choose a prize with every deposit. Every deposit is entered into a monthly drawing to win a gift basket with a $25 Visa gift card. Every deposit is also entered into an annual drawing to win an iPad Mini at the end of the school year!

Upton Student workers at Upton Bears Student Credit Union

Late Start Next Wednesday-

We do have a late start next Wednesday, December 8th.  School will begin at 8:45 AM.  Breakfast is available at 8:15 AM.

Lunch for next week-

12/06/21 – MINI CORN DOGS, CURLY FRIES, SALAD CUP, FRUIT SELECTION AND MILK

12/7/21 –  PEPPERONI CALZONE, RICE, BROCCOLI, FRUIT SELECTION AND MILK

12/8/21 – ROTINI PASTA W/MEAT OR MARINARA SAUCE, GREEN BEANS, BREADSTICK, FRUIT SELECTION    AND MILK

12/9/21 – BBQ PULLED CHICKEN SANDWICH, BAKED CHIPS, PASTA SALAD, FRUIT SELECTION AND MILK

12/10/21 – FRENCH BREAD PIZZA (PEPPERONI OR CHEESE) CORN, SALAD CUP, FRUIT SELECTION AND MILK

P2 Words of the week-

Next week the words are:  Knowing my words and actions affect others.  Here is the link to the family page:

https://posproject.org/p2-for-families/

The password is P2.

Quote of the week-

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend,

Mr. Mandarino