And the winners are....

6th Grade - Mrs. Oja

7th Grade - Mr. Talbot

8th Grade - Mr. Payne

Congrats to all participants for their determined effort and positive sportsmanship!

8th gr. Tug of War

Fun times in 8th grade- lots of energy and lots of smiles! All grades will be competing in the championship round today- with Mr. Gundlach, Mr. Case, Mr Payne and Mrs. Robinson going head to head for the number one spot in 8th grade! 

7th Gr. Tug of War

Mr. Jacobs, Mr. Talbot & Mr. Larson are headed to the finals for 7th grade! What a beautiful day for a bonding tug of war! 

6th Grade Tug of War

It was a great day for a tug-of-war! Advisory classes for Mr. Scanlon, Mr. Summerfield & Mrs. Oja will be competing in the finals this Friday!! 

Quick Picture Announcement!

Don't forget this week is TUG OF WAR for each grade level during Advisory! Time to get excited and cheer on your classmates!

Sports students: get ready for the paparazzi:
Volleyball Pictures take place tomorrow: Wednesday, Sept. 23
Cross Country Pictures take place on Monday, Sept. 28
Football Pictures take place on Tuesday, Sept. 29

AND School Picture Day is on Thursday, October 1! 

#neverforget

Today our thoughts are once again with all those who lost loved ones on 9/11- please take time today to pause and remember our nation. 

Tips for Homework

Schedules are set and homework has begun- Make the most out of your afternoon and keep your stress level to a minimum by following some of the tips below!

1. Establish a time for homework each day and pick a place!

• One can mentally prepare themselves if they have a specific time to complete work each night. Depending on the student, it could be right after school or possibly after a short break. Homework should be completed in a quiet place that most likely includes a work desk, chair, container for supplies and a reading lamp. Find your perfect fit and stick to it!

2. Get organized and use your planner.

• Sunridge provides a planner for a reason! It's an amazing tool for organization- Each column has a spot for assignments due/completed for specific courses. It's important to check your planner daily to keep on top of your assignment load and prepare for upcoming tests successfully. If you're struggling with organization, see your school counselor or teachers for help.

3. Eliminate distractions.

• During homework time there should be no TV, no texting, no computer (unless required for assignment) and no ipod. Electronics interrupt and stretch out the homework process.

4. Include snacks.

• Nutrition is important! Specifically for 6th graders, lunch has been quite a long time ago, healthy snacks can be beneficial for you concentration levels. It's important to stay hydrated as well to maintain focus.

5. For Parents: Be available and join your student, if possible!

• Encourage, praise and support your student, but don't complete any work. It helps to keep in close proximity in case of questions.

Overall- seek help when needed! Your SMS staff is here to assist- there are programs we can refer to for tutoring, there is assistance throughout the class period and there are people who care about your success! Don't be afraid to ask for help- after all, everyone started off as an amateur in the beginning!

Maybe you knew all of this, but managing your time can be difficult- watch the youtube clip below for some helpful tips on how to manage your time better!

 

 

 

Welcome to your 2015-16 School Year!

It's been a great 1st week at Sunridge Middle School! Congratulations!

Before we get into the year any further, I would like to make my introduction: my name is Jessica Sou, your new school counselor! I am excited to join the amazing team at Sunridge Middle School. Some of my best educational memories occurred here in this very building!

A few things about me- I am a proud Pendletonian graduate of 2003. Since graduating I have obtained my masters in counseling, lived in Thailand for 3 years and worked as a school counselor for a total of 8 years! I am recently married to an amazing man Mr. Joel Sou (pronounced "SUE") and we have a great rescue pup named Oliver. I love the Pendleton School District and am very excited to give back to the community that once gave me so much!

In other exciting news: Mr. Brizendine may have retired but he is NOT gone! I am extremely pleased to announce that he will be joining me part-time this year to increase our department to 1 1/2 School Counselors!

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with what a school counselor does: we are resources for students, staff and families. A school counselor is there to provide academic, social and emotional assistance to all students which may include study groups, classroom presentations, parent/individual meetings and more! If you have any questions, please feel free to stop by the office (we're found on the 2nd floor) or shoot us a quick email/phone call (see Contact Information for specifics).

Check back on this website for posting updates each Friday. I will be providing helpful tips for students and families as well any important  updates for events throughout the school year.