Welcome to St. Johns Middle School!

Thanks for visiting SJMS, a supportive place for middle level students to grow and thrive. We embrace our motto, "Working as a TEAM to build the future!" Our PURPOSE is to educate the whole student through building relationships, establishing high expectations, and providing innovative and engaging instruction to become independent, responsible, self-confident, contributing members of an ever-changing global society.

Middle school is an important time in your child's education. It helps student shift their focus from a single teacher to several teachers and from external supports to his/her own personal educational ownership and responsibility. Students explore more sophisticated and thought provoking ideas in their reading, they embark on more rigorous math, begin to tackle advanced reading; engage in higher-level, more rigorous math; choose from a wide array of elective offering; and are encouraged to participate in the social, service, and athletic fabric of the school community.

Parental involvement in a child’s education is essential for academic success. We invite you to visit our school regularly, attend parent teacher conferences, and participate in the SJMS Community Group (our middle level parent-teacher-community organization, or PTO). If you require additional assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.

In an effort to strengthen communication between home and school, and to celebrate the successes of our SJMS students, we regularly publish a school newsletter. For your convenience, editions are arranged here with the most recent on top.

November 15, 2024

Previous Newsletters

Link to SJMS Student Council

Schedule Changes:

2 Hour Delay - Start time is 9:50 AM This is due to fog, extreme cold, or road conditions. No breakfast is served when we have a two hour delay. Bus students will be picked up two hours later than normal. School will dismiss at the regular time.
Early Release - AM This is the time students are released for a 1/2 day of school.
Exams - Students are released at PM.

Attendance

In order to maximize learning potential, students are expected to be in school and on time every day school is in session. Parents are urged to schedule appointments and vacations after school and during scheduled breaks whenever possible. Please see the St. Johns Middle School Student/Parent Handbook for full details.

When this is not possible, or when your child is ill, please contact the Attendance Office using the information below.

To prepare for a prearranged absence or excuse an illness, please call the Attendance Hotline:

989-227-4344

Or email the Attendance Hotline:

msattendance@sjredwings.org

If you have further questions, please contact:

Trisha Kloha - Attendance Secretary

klohat@sjredwings.org

989-227-4306

Students must check into the office when entering or exiting the building during school hours.

M-STEP (State Assessment)

GET YOUR CHILD READY TO SUCCEED ON M-STEP!

What is M-STEP?

"In June 2014, the Michigan Legislature required the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to develop a new test for spring 2015, creating a need to reduce a normal three-year test development process to nine months. The MDE worked to create a new assessment system called the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP." (1)

"M-STEP is a summative assessment and is administered to students in the following grades and subjects: English language arts and mathematics will be assessed in grades 3–8; science in grades 4, 7 and 11; and social studies in grades 5, 8 and 11." (1)

"These assessments are required by both state and federal law in order to ensure all children are learning and receiving a high-quality education. State assessments take up or require less than one percent of student instructional time during a school year. All other assessments are determined at the local district or building level." (2)

Why Does M-STEP Matter?

The M-STEP assessment is an important part of the teaching-learning-assessment process.

"Once each year, all students in Michigan take a high-quality State assessment, whether it’s the M-STEP general assessment or the MI-Access alternate assessment." (2)

State assessments provide:

An important snapshot of student achievement at a state, district, and building level.
Valuable information to parents on their child's academic achievement.
Important data for teachers, schools, and districts to help guide instruction." (2)

Get Ready!

Take the M-STEP Practice Test HERE. (Open in Google Chrome browser.)
Practice using your mouse HERE.
Practice typing (speed and accuracy) HERE.
Navigate academic tasks in an online environment HERE.
Drag and drop HERE.

Fundraising

Each year, we work to put together a school program that goes above and beyond what is "required" of middle level education. We give our kids opportunities and experiences, encouragement and recognition. These hugely important parts of their middle school experience cost extra money. Through your support of our fundraising program, we are able to offer our students so much more. Just another way our community and our school are "Working as a TEAM to build the future!" Check out our current fundraising options!

Box Top$ for Education - All Year!

Check out http://www.boxtops4education.com/. Clip Box Tops and drop them off in the SJMS front office to raise money for our school. It's easy, and you were going to throw them away anyway.

Healthy Choices

Students who establish healthy eating and activity patterns often carry them into adulthood improving their chances for long, healthy lives. We offer several programs at St. Johns Middle School to support the development of these healthy habits.

Health Course - Sixth graders are enrolled in a required health class based on the Michigan Model for Comprehensive School Health Education.
Physical Education Courses - Sixth graders take required physical education. Seventh graders and eighth graders have access to several physical education options, all of which are electives.
Interscholastic Sports - Visit the Middle School Athletics page for more information and for schedules.