A Letter from the Principal
January 27, 2012
Dear Palm Springs Family,
I am so proud of the Stingrays Boys Soccer Team. Last Friday they won the Championship Game against Jupiter Middle School. The team remains undefeated for the whole season! Congratulations to Coach Jabr for leading the team to victory once again. This is the second year in a row that the Palm Springs Boys Soccer Team are champions.
On February 2nd we are having a PARENT SUCCESS NIGHT from 6 to 8 pm. There will be wonderful sessions presented by teachers that will be very useful to parents. One session is about a Homework Box with lots of goodies that every parent will receive when they attend the presentation. There will be sessions on writing, poetry, science, reading, math, technology and preparation for high school. The school is also providing dinner with lasagna, salad, bread from a great restaurant. We hope you will come and bring your family. Flyers are going out Friday, January 27th. Your RSVP is important to us, so that we will have more than enough food. See you then.
On February 4th the first Saturday School begins for 6th, 7th and 8th graders from 8:30 to 11:30 am. This a wonderful opportunity for students to receive extra help for FCAT. 6th and 7th graders will have both reading and math sessions. 8th graders will be in a Writing Academy for the first 3 Saturdays to focus on FCAT Writes. After that the 8th graders will have reading and science. The dates for Saturday School are as follows: February 4, 11, 18, 25 – March 3, 10, 31 – April 14.
Letters have been given to the students and it is important that we receive your registrations. Parents please ask your child for the letter and return the registration. The Saturday Sessions will really help them and all students are invited.
I was happy to be at the School Board Meeting last week to receive a plaque from the American Lung Association for recognition of the school as an Asthma Friendly School. The plaque reads “Palm Springs Middle School is an Asthma Friendly School”. This is an important accomplishment as certain criteria had to be met to receive this recognition.
I am also very proud of the Yearbook Staff and the sponsor Ms. Ellen Bredeweg. Last year’s yearbook just won Honorable Mention in the 2011 Lifetouch Yearbooks Showcase contest. Hundreds of entries were received and the Palm Springs yearbook was selected Honorable Mention for the creativity displayed in the yearbook. Once again congratulations to the Yearbook Staff and Ms. Bredeweg.
You may have heard about the visit the school had from Congressman Allen West. The assembly was held in the gym for all of the 7th and 8th students where Congressman spoke about citizenship, the greatness of this country and how every student has the opportunity to accomplish their goals in life. It was most gratifying when Congressman West presented Palm Springs Middle School with an American Flag and a certificate certifying that the flag was flown over the United States Capitol on August 30, 2011. The whole event was arranged and organized by Mr. Andrew Kussoy, Social Studies Teacher. It was quite impressive.
I am proud to say that the two teachers nominated by the school for the prestigious Dwyer Award this year are Ms. Ellen Bredeweg and Mr. Philip Mancusi. Both are outstanding teachers and we certainly wish them good luck in the final competition.
Report Cards for the 2nd nine weeks were distributed to students on Tuesday, January 24th. I hope that your child gave the report card to you and I hope that you are pleased with your child’s progress. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call and visit. Parent Conferences are arranged through the grade level offices.
As always thank you for your support of the school.
Sincerely,
Sandra M. Jinks, Principal