BlueJay Families,

We hope this message finds you well! This week at Shepherd, we had the opportunity to observe Constitution Day. On our announcements, we explored how our Classroom Social Contracts serve as a "Classroom Constitution" of sorts, laying the foundation for a positive and collaborative learning environment. It’s been wonderful to see our students engage in discussions about the values and responsibilities that contribute to a strong classroom community.

As we head into next week, we're all looking forward to a break in the heat! While the sunny weather has been enjoyable, I'm sure both our students and staff will appreciate more seasonal temperatures.

Looking ahead, we have several important events on the horizon. We will soon be sharing more information about Orange Shirt Day, which will be acknowledged on September 30th, which is picture day, so we will observe it together as a school on Monday, October 1st. This day holds special significance as we reflect on and honor the experiences of Indigenous peoples in residential schools.

Also, a reminder that Picture Day (Sept 30) is approaching, and we’re quickly closing in on Homecoming Week, which will take place during the first full week of October (October 7-11). Stay tuned for more details on these events!

Thank you for your continued support, and please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

• What word on your Social Contracts do you think are most difficult in class? Why? For you personally? Why?"
  

September

• 30th: Picture Day

• 30th: Orange Shirt Day-Acknowledged

October

• 1st: Orange Shirt Day Observance-Wear Orange to commemorate the residential school experience, witnessing and honoring the healing journey of the Survivors and their families

• 7-11: Homecoming Week

Getting adequate amounts of sleep at night can help students to do better in school. When asleep, the brain is transferring short-term memories into long-term memories. When students get enough sleep, the brain is better able to store information that students are studying in school. Help your student to fall asleep more easily by encouraging them to avoid caffeine in the afternoons/evenings and by avoiding large meals or snacks right before bed.

Read more about sleep hygiene tips here

Supporting Your Middle Schooler’s Social Media Use (If you are allowing it)

As middle school students become more active online, it’s important to understand how social media impacts their emotional well-being. Social media can foster connections but can also lead to issues like anxiety, depression, and unrealistic self-image expectations. The Child Mind Institute emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, encouraging open communication, and monitoring use to help your child navigate these platforms in a healthy way. For more insights, read the full article here.

By staying engaged, parents can support their children’s balanced online experiences.

Shepherd Community!

Thank you to those of you who helped our 8th Grade students with their Salt River Cemetery Memorial Day Project last year. A special appreciation to those whose ancestors were the subject of a number of our students' projects and helped them with interviews, images, artifacts and stories of the lives of your loved ones which helped to create an emotionally moving and in some cases life changing experience for our students.

We are starting the project again this year and thought we would send to you a list of veterans, family members, and members of the Shepherd community to see if anyone would be interested in assisting by being an interviewee for this year's 8th grade. Also if you do not wish for your family member to be researched in this year's project please reach out by email to Dan TerBurgh (dterburgh@shepherdschools.net) our 8th grade U.S. History teacher.

The following is the list of people who the students have chosen to research this year:

John Charles Alexander (WWII)

Malden R. Beach (Civil War)

Harvey D. Bidlack (WWII)

Simeon C. Brown (Civil War)

J.D. Church (Civil War)

Robert Leroy Clark (WWII)

William Clark (WWII)

Oscar F. Condon (Civil War)

Barrett Elias Conklin (Civil War)

Alonzo Converse (Civil War)

Edward R. Curtiss (WWII)

Russel James Curtiss (WWII)

Ronald William Davis Sr. (Korea)

Ray Decker (WWII)

Solomon H. Fordyce (Civil War)

Enith O. Foster (WWI)

John Henry Foster (Vietnam)

Milo Freeman (WWI)

Solomon F. Frye (Civil War)

Elijah Hamlin (Civil War)

David L. Harless (Korea)

Fay Heltzel (WWII)

Jessie Herron (Korea)

L.C. Hoover (WWII)

Orlando Hutchinson (WWI)

Elbridge G. Jaka (WWI)

Clida H. Kiser (WWI)

Fred Knipp (WWI and WWII)

Robert Lantz (WWII)

Dr. Floyd S. Marvin (Civil War)

Lloyd S. McClintic (WWII)

Raymond Frank Merrifield (WWII)

"Spikehorn" Meyer

Katherine Mullinax

Lloyd R. Myers (WWII)

Jehu Parkinson (Civil War)

James N. Parks (WWII)

Henry Herbert Perrine (Spanish American War)

Thomas Pickett (Civil War)

James D. Priestly (WWI and WWII)

John Ritchie (Civil War)

Jerry Lee Robinson (Korea)

Stanley E. Salisbury (WWII)

Arthur George Scott

Isaac Newton Shepherd

George C. Slaven (Civil War)

Joe Edward Ulsh (WWII)

Minnie Vautrin

John Wilberding (WWII)

Thornie Yates (WWI)

Shepherd Middle School PICTURE DAY is Monday, September 30.

Order School Pictures TODAY at mylifetouch.com

Use the Picture Day ID: EVTTZMG7C

If your student rides a bus, they MUST be registered with the bus garage. If the student is not registered to ride, they will be turned away from the bus.

Shepherd Public Schools would like to give a few reminders about athletic events:

1) Elementary aged students MUST be accompanied by a parent/adult, who is responsible for their supervision.

2) Middle and High School students do not need to be accompanied by an adult, but we encourage adults to stay for the game and be responsible for your student. Middle and High School students not meeting expectations of appropriate behavior may be asked to leave.

3) High School and Middle Schools students, once you leave the game you are not allowed back in.

4) Please leave footballs, soccer balls, etc at home.

5) Please refrain from running, throwing, kicking, etc as others are there to enjoy a game and not be a part of a game.

6) We have a great concession stand so please leave the outside food and drink outside.

7) Umbrellas for shade at outside events are okay but please be aware of those around/behind you so that they can see the action too. Do not bring and set up a canopy tent as they obstruct the view of others.

8) For inside contests at Shepherd High School the Auxiliary Gym is off limits to those not competing/warming up. It is not an open gym space for our younger students.

9) Our Shepherd Janitorial Staff is top notch but at the end of the night they are also ready to go home. Please take a couple of minutes and pick up any garbage and properly dispose of things.

We're thrilled to re-announce the new app for Shepherd Bluejays! It's everything Shepherd Bluejays, in your pocket. Download the app for Android or iPhone.