Get Your Scorpion Scoop - Week of 10/19-10/23!
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Principal’s Message
Good evening Scorpion Community,
We are in the thick of one of the longer-feeling months of the school year. This past week, I reminded students in morning announcements to hold true to our schoolwide expectations, practice excellent work and study habits, demonstrate respect to one another, and, most importantly, take care of ourselves. This looks different for each individual - it may mean going on a walk, reading a good book, drinking extra water, journaling, engaging in an activity, or something else productive and that brings us peace. Whatever it may be, remember that as long as every one of us strives to be the best version of ourselves each and every day we show up at San Jose, we can make it a great place of learning. Thank you for all you do to build community and be kind.
Below you'll find a message from the wonderful Mrs. Mariah Fisher:
Hello scorpions families! This is Mariah Fisher, drama teacher, and I want to let you know that this week I was able to go into all 8th grade science classes to introduce myself and offer support for 8th graders as they start to figure out what opportunities they was to consider for next year. There is a Google form in their bookmarks that I have asked them to fill out if they are interested in taking a look at some of the MSA programs. The form is due Friday, October 23rd. I will be at the PTA meeting on Monday to answer parent questions and go over the information I shared with students, hope to see you there!
Congratulations to our Cross Country Running Scorpions! We see you working diligently every week to grow your endurance and represent SJMS with pride. Great job at this last week's meet!
I am so excited for the opening of The Outsiders! Be sure to get your tickets using the link below. This is a show you are not going to want to miss!
TICKETS HERE: The Outsiders Tickets
As we head into a week with forecasted rain, please be sure you are prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear. Also, it is a good idea to work out a routine where you leave for school a bit earlier than usual, and have a meet up spot after school if you are coming and going by car. Traffic is not an excused reason for tardiness. Thanks for working with us to get your Scorpion to school on time, and ensure they leave school at dismissal in a safe manner.
Whitney McEachern, Principal
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October:
📌 10/19 - PTA Meeting, 6 PM, SJMS Library
📌 10/21 - Outsiders Production for Students, 2 PM, Black Box Theater
📌 10/22-24 - Outsiders Drama Production
📌 10/29 - Minimum Day, 12:44 PM Dismissal
📌 10/30 - On-Campus Halloween Festivities (More info from leadership coming soon.)
November:
📌 11/5 - Reflections Art Exhibit
📌 11/5-7 - Outsiders Drama Production
📌 11/6 - Lunch on the Lawn
📌 11/11 - Veteran's Day, No School
📌 11/16 - PTA Meeting, 6 PM, SJMS Library (or by Zoom)
📌 11/18 - ELAC Meeting, 5:30 PM, SJMS Library
📌 11/19 - International Dinner (Potluck)
📌 11/23-27 - Thanksgiving Break, No School
📌 11/28-29 - Choir Caroling, Downtown Novato
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Don't forget that we have Dine & Donates coming up in October and November. Chipotle is October 27 and Finnegan’s is November 17 more information to follow.
Also, be sure you've marked your calendars for the change in dates for upcoming PTA meetings. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow at 6 PM in the library or by Zoom if you're able to make it.
Please follow us on Instagram as well for updates @sjms_pta Instagram .
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Hi Scorpion Families,
Kindness is a daily choice, and during National Bullying Prevention Month, we are celebrating the small actions that make SJMS a welcoming place for everyone. From simple daily greetings to including someone new at lunch, our students are learning that creating a safe community is a shared responsibility. Thank you for continuing to reinforce these values at home. Together, we are building a school culture where every Scorpion feels valued and supported.
As we may finally be moving into Fall weather next week, I encourage you to have your students wear some layers in the morning. With that in mind, our lost and found rack is already quite full. If your student has misplaced a water bottle or article of clothing, encourage them to visit the lost and found area to possibly retrieve those items.
Thanks for all you do,
Mr. G
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October: Kindness, Connection, and Looking Ahead
October is officially in full swing! By this point in the fall, the initial new school year feeling starts wearing off, the daily grind kicks in, and our habits and minds require some meaningful experiences at school to keep us motivated.
Fall is also a time we notice how tired brains can influence middle school social dynamics. Impulses happen, words slip out, and mistakes get made. That is completely normal! Growing up in today’s hyper-connected, media-saturated world isn't easy. But October gives us a great chance to hit the pause button, reflect, and work together to build a kinder campus community.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month 🧡
Bullying is a big deal, and while there are plenty of ways to react to it, our primary goal is to prevent it.
Mark Your Calendars: Unity Day is Wednesday, October 21st! This marks our 3rd year celebrating Unity Day! We’re asking all students and staff to wear orange, take the kindness pledge, and sign our campus unity poster to show we stand together against bullying. Take the pledge with your student at home: PACER Bullying Prevention Pledge
We’ve all heard "treat others the way you want to be treated," but the phrase "hurt people hurt people" often gets closer to the heart of what's going on. Kids make mistakes–sometimes to protect themselves, sometimes out of stress, and sometimes just because their adolescent brains are still under construction.
As school counselors, our job is to team up with you at home to handle these moments with empathy–whether your child was on the giving or receiving end–and help them grow into confident, skilled, and compassionate young adults. We found these tips on how to partner with us in discussion bullying just as helpful as doing something as simple as taking the pledge with your student at home: PACER Parent Resources
Mental Health & Wellness in 7th Grade 💚
With the mid-fall stress hitting, we also want to make sure no student feels isolated or overwhelmed. Shame, guilt, or feeling stuck can take a toll, and we want our kids to know they are never alone.
Next week, our awesome partner agency, Buckelew Programs, will visit our 7th-grade classes to talk about mental health, recognizing warning signs in friends, and knowing how to ask for help.
A Quick Note for Parents: We handle topics surrounding mental health and suicide prevention with the utmost care, respect, and age-appropriate delicacy. If you prefer to opt your child out of these presentations, please email or ParentSquare message your child's counselor:
8th Grade: High School Prep is Here! 🎓
Our 8th graders recently took a short walk over to College of Marin’s Indian Valley Campus for the Empower Tomorrow field trip. Not only was it an incredible day of exploring careers and college pathways, but practicing proper crosswalk safety along the way made for some surprisingly great conversations, especially about the opportunities that our local high school, Novato High, has to offer. On Thursday, NHS representatives will be speaking with our 8th graders about all the amazing opportunities awaiting them next year, including:
The Next Gen STEM program Medical Careers Pathway (MCP) Marin School of the Arts (MSA) Career Technical Education (CTE), AVID, and many more!
Parent Homework: Ask your 8th grader for a full recap after Thursday’s visit from NHS. Some of these specialized pathways, tours, and applications require parent approval down the line, so you'll want to get the inside scoop early.
As always, thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe, supported, and moving forward together.
Warmly,
Your SJMS School Counseling Team
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Congratulations to our teams for their continued hard work on the court, field, and track. It is truly paying off and the growth of the students and teams has been great to see.
Upcoming games/competitions
- 10/22: Flag Football @SJMS vs. Davidson @4:00
- 10/23: Flag Football @SJMS vs. Kent @4:00
- 10/23 6th Volleyball @SJMS vs. Hall @4:00
- 10/23 7th/8th Volleyball @SJMS vs. Kent @5:00
GO SCORPIONS!
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The 2026-2027 NUSD Middle School Handbook was sent home with your Scorpion at either schedule pick up or the first day of school. The final page should have been signed and returned to SJMS by Friday, 8/28. Please keep the handbook in a safe place at home, and consistently review it, as well is the SJMS Behavior Matrix. Both consist of expectations that are reviewed regularly at school. We highly encourage you to discuss high expectations at home with your Scorpion. Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your student knows how to be #ScorpionStrong!
Middle School Handbook PDF:
SJMS Behavior Matrix:
 
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