Get Your Scorpion Scoop - Week of 11/9-11/13!

Posted Date: 11/08/26 (04:21 PM)

Principal’s Message

Hello Scorpions,

I hope you're enjoying the beautiful weather we've had this weekend. I want to begin the Scoop with a huge thank you to all the parents who participated and helped make our Día de los Muertos celebration possible. Your time, enthusiasm, and dedication made this event a success. Thank you for sharing your traditions and culture and for helping us keep our beautiful traditions alive. When our community works together toward a common goal while recognizing and accepting our beautiful diversity, there is nothing we cannot do! A special thank you to: María Guadalupe Godoy, Angélica Zacarías, Santiago Carcamo, Veronica Vasquez, Karina Portugal, Blanca Osorio, Ingrid Vasquez, Manuel Reyes, Marcela Morales, Inelda López, Adriana Mendieta, Sabrina Salas, Dunia Romero, Nery Escobar, Ms. Evelyn Zavala, Ms. Roxana Leiva, and Ms. Regina Laredo. We appreciate you!

It is very exciting to announce that the RISE Chess Scholars Program is expanding to SJMS! Thank you to Ms. Maria Krot for hosting Chess Club during lunch for Scorpions who wish to build their skills. San Jose now has the opportunity to work with RISE Scholars Chess Program to build on the chess opportunities already present at SJMS. Please tune into the flyers below for more details. Friday, 11/13 will be Coach Abel's first day at San Jose. We welcome Abel and RISE with open arms and look forward to this new partnership! You may reach out to Abel directly with any questions you may have. If your Scorpion wishes to attend the after school sessions on Fridays, please be sure you fill out an application (which can be found in the front office).

The Turkey Trot is coming, Scorpions! Leadership is working super hard to prepare a gobble of an event as we head into Thanksgiving Break. Every one of our Scorpions activated their 99 Pledges accounts last week via their English classes. Ask your Scorpion about it now!

Lunch on the Lawn was an absolute delight this past Friday. We at SJMS recognize what a task it is for families to take time away from their typical routines and daily happenings to join us on campus. It means the world to us to have you at school, so thank you for showing up in support of not just your Scorpion, but all students. Continue to tune into the section below titled "Upcoming Dates", as well as the list of dates that was sent home at the start of the year, for the remaining Lunch on the Lawn dates. We plan to have many more this year (weather permitting)!

Don't forget that this week has only four school days. On Wednesday, 11/11, school will be closed in recognition of Veteran's Day. We honor the brave service members who have protected our nation, and are deeply grateful to all veterans - especially those in our own community - for their selfless service and dedication to our country.

See you out there,

Whitney McEachern, Principal

Upcoming Dates

November:
📌 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

PTA Update

We have the PTA association meeting next Monday, 11/16 at 6pm, if you also have a student in drama you should stay for the Drama Booster meeting right after, both will be at SJMS and are a great way to meet other families.

International Dinner is Thursday, November 19 5-7pm. It will be a fun event, bring a dish from your culture to share with other families. See the post in Parent Square.

We have begun planning the auction. We are looking for big items like vacation homes, sports tickets (Giants, 49ers, Valkyries, Warriors, Sharks etc. They can be for next season too). We are also seeking experiences or items families would like to donate too. Does your company want to Sponsor a game? Please reach out to Julia julia.cavanaugh@gmail.com and we can coordinate your donation. It will be a stellar time as we reach out of this world to support the kids. Donations can be made online as well just click on the link. https://paybee.io/@sjscorpions@37

Please follow us on Instagram as well for updates @sjms_pta Instagram

The AP Sting

Dear Scorpion Families,

This Friday was so much fun at SJMS! Lunch on the Lawn had another great turnout, and I got to see the whole production of the Outsiders with a completely full house! Hats off to the students in the Outsiders, they did a great job, and a shout out to Ms. Fisher for directing such a great show.

We’ve got more rain on the horizon, so please have your students dress appropriately for the cold, wet, weather. We are certainly deep into flu season, and hope not to spread the flu around, so bundle up!

Please continue to encourage your students to pick up their litter, use kind language, and push through the end of the semester. Campus has been getting quite dirty lately as we have settled into the school year and students really need to be able to throw their own trash away at Access and Lunch. We should all remember to use appropriate language and be kind to one another, and the kids could use the extra encouragement. The end of the semester is coming faster than we think, so please check your student’s grades on JumpRope and help them finish the semester strong.

Thanks!

Mr. G

Assistant Principal

Counselor's Corner

A November full of gratitude, recognizing indigenous peoples, and career development!

As we enter the month of November, it is a wonderful opportunity to help our middle schoolers practice dialing in their daily routines at home. With cooler weather and busier schedules, establishing consistent morning and evening habits—like packing backpacks the night before, laying out clothes, and setting a reliable wake-up alarm—makes a world of difference. When students take ownership of these small daily steps, they arrive at school on time, equipped with all their necessary supplies, and feeling calm and confident for the day ahead.

November is also a powerful time for reflection and growth across our school community. As we approach Thanksgiving Break, we encourage families to engage in meaningful conversations about gratitude and personal values. Taking time to identify what matters most and reflecting on the things we appreciate builds emotional resilience and strengthens relationships. Additionally, this month we honor Native American Heritage Month by recognizing, celebrating, and learning about the rich histories, cultures, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples.

Finally, in celebration of National Career Development Month, Ms. K and Mr. E will be pushing into classrooms to deliver engaging college and career lessons for all 6th and 7th grade students. These interactive sessions will help students explore their interests, learn about various career paths, and start connecting their current academic habits to their future goals!

With gratitude,

Your SJMS School Counseling Team

Megan Kovacevich (Ms. K): mkovacevich@nusd.org

*All 7th-grade students & 6th-grade students with last names A–G

Evan Englar (Mr. E): eenglar@nusd.org

*All 8th-grade students & 6th-grade students with last names H–Z

Athletics

It was so great seeing the SJMS flag football game on our turf last week! We're super proud of the way you show up and represent San Jose. Thank you players and coaches for your dedication.

We are now preparing for the Winter Athletic Season, and hoping to organize our basketball teams and coaches to start practice on November 30th. Please fill out the form in the link below to sign your student up for basketball, and/or to volunteer to coach.

Winter Sports Interest Form

Upcoming Games:

GO SCORPIONS!

Community Expectations

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:

MS Student Parent Handbook '26-'27 - ENGLISH.pdf
MS Student Parent Handbook '26-'27 SPANISH.pdf

SJMS Behavior Matrix:

Technology Information and Updates

Chromebooks may be available for check out for very specific situations. All technology use/AI related documents can be found on the website below:
https://www.nusd.org/information-technology

Fliers, Opportunities, Announcements, and More!

Student Birthday Celebration Program

Have you heard about our birthday packages? Check them out and find the best way to celebrate your Scorpion! We sent out our first batch of balloons this past week, and it was TRULY joyous! We celebrate every Scorpion via morning announcements, but if you wish to add a little extra something to your child's day, reach out to Mrs. Dugdale in the front office. She's ready to ensure a fun celebration is in store for your kiddo.

Commitment to Safety - Report a Safety Concern

Novato Unified School District (NUSD) is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all students and staff. To that end, should you have a concern related to the following issues:

If you have a concern about student or staff safety, including:

Bullying, Cyber/Social Media
Harassment
Hate Speech/Racial Inequity
Mental Health
Safety
Sexual Harassment
Substance Use

Please use the QR code below to report your concern, or visit our Safety Form Online to complete it. We will review reports promptly and address the issue. If there is an immediate threat or emergency, please call 911.
A black and white QR code with a pattern of squares.

More information can be found here:

https://www.nusd.org/nusd-safety-concern-reporting

Volunteer Requirements

Team work makes the dream work, Scorpion Families! Please review the link below and begin working on the process to volunteer, should you wish to support activities at SJMS this year. Thank you so much for taking the time to complete the necessary steps so you can be involved in your student's school life. All live links included in the image below can be found here: NUSD Volunteer Requirements

Modeling the Way
“Modeling the Way” is a NUSD employee recognition program, and anyone can nominate an employee – co-workers, peers, parents, or students.

Modeling the Way Google Form - 2026-27

Do you know someone who is going above and beyond to help make NUSD amazing? Please tell us about them! Nominate our exemplary staff members for our Modeling the Way program by filling out the form below. If the form is not working you can also click here to fill it out.

Stellar employees will be honored monthly. Thank you for helping to recognize staff members for their acts of kindness and outstanding professionalism!

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We are proud to partner with Raising the Bar, a county-wide initiative committed to keeping youth events substance-free through policy that prohibits adult drinking or drug use at youth-centered events. Research shows that parents and caregivers play a powerful role in shaping young people’s attitudes and decisions around alcohol and other substance use. By working together, we can make a lasting impact on the health and well-being of our youth – reducing the short- and long-term consequences of under age substance use for adolescents, families, and our broader community. Raising the Bar, a program of Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships works in collaboration with Marin Prevention Network, Marin County Office of Education, Marin Health and Human Services, Marin schools, youth sports teams and organizations and other local community based organizations. Together, we aim to shift norms around substance use and encourage healthy choices by promoting positive adult role modeling. We request that all adults abstain from using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other substances at youth-centered events, during youth sports competitions, and at team celebrations. By collectively promoting healthy behaviors, we can support a safer, healthier environment for all youth. To learn more, please visit rtbmarin.org or email lisa@mhyp.org Thank you for your support in helping our young people thrive.

Safe Routes to Schools encourages bicycle riding promoting health and teen independence. Fewer cars on the road benefit all.

Learn more about what parents should know about E-Bikes HERE.

Please visit this website for important information about how to keep your student safe and healthy:

https://www.saferoutestoschools.org/e-bike-education/

Welcome back, Scorpions! We are so excited to kick off another incredible school year with you. The counseling team is currently working hard behind the scenes to finalize student schedules and make sure everyone is right where they need to be. Hang tight as we get everything sorted—there is plenty more information to come soon. We hope your summer has included plenty of rest, hydration, and self-care. Enjoy these last few days, and we’ll see you all very soon!