Middle School Newsletters

Lord,
it is night.

The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.

The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.

The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.

In your name we pray.
Amen.
(Rev. John Williamson, 1987)

As we step into Advent, this prayer settles into my heart: “Lord, it is night.” It feels like this point in the semester. The days run long, the energy runs thin, and our minds keep spinning. Yet the words invite us to stop, to breathe, to sit in the presence of God for a moment.

“What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done; let it be.” I think of our middle schoolers who worry about every assignment, every grade, every friendship misstep. I think of the adults too. We reach this point in the year with triumphs and regrets, things we handled well and things we wish we had done differently. Advent offers a holy pause. Not a rewrite of the past, but a gentle release of it into God’s care.

“The night is dark.” Middle school often feels like that line. Big feelings, real fears, pressures they do not always name out loud. The world around them adds its own noise and shadows. The prayer reminds us that those fears rest in God, not in their shoulders or ours. God holds the quiet corners of their hearts and ours.

And then the turn: “The night heralds the dawn.” Advent stands in that threshold. The semester draws to a close, yet a new one waits just ahead. A fresh start, new habits, different choices, renewed courage. My hope for our students, and for us, is simple. That we look toward that next day with expectation. New joys. New possibilities. Trusting that the God who meets us in the dark also leads us into the light of the coming morning. May your advent be filled with hope.

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ATTENDANCE UPDATE:

Please note that, beginning in January, whenever a student is absent and the “Report New Attendance” form is not submitted in PowerSchool, the absence is marked as an Unreported Absence (UA). Parents have three school days to either submit a doctor’s note to the division office or complete the form in PowerSchool. This does not necessarily exempt the absence from the “more than four” rules.

Any unresolved UAs after the three-day window will result in late penalties and disciplinary consequences for affected student work. Please help us support your child’s learning by reporting all absences promptly.

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SEMESTER EXAMS:

Please join us in celebrating a joyful milestone for our beloved Chaplain, Casey Duncan, as she is ordained to the priesthood. You and your family are warmly welcomed and wanted at the service.

When: Saturday, December 13th, at 5:00 p.m. Where: St. James Episcopal Church, 208 N. 4th St., Baton Rouge

We’re grateful for Chaplain Casey’s ministry - come help us mark this special day!
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CAMPUS STORE:

Campus School Store Hours (when students are on campus):

Wednesday 7:30 - 8:30 am
Thursday 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Payment types: Cash, Credit Cards, and Checks

Items for sale: All sizes of white and navy crewneck sweatshirts and hoodies, navy sweatshirts, PE uniforms, everyday tee shirts, and other miscellaneous items.
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MORNING DROP-OFF:

A friendly reminder, drop-off in the morning is front lawn or carpool circle with younger sibling(s). Please do not drop-off in any other location. Thank you!
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SAES (Southwest Association of Episcopal Schools) is offering a series of six webinars for parents and educators, featuring bestselling authors and speakers. I encourage you to check out the information. The series is free for Episcopal school parents, but registration is required to attend. (Next webinar is January 16th.)

• How to Join
  • Visit the Parent Series page: isacs.ws/PS25-26SAES
  • Click Register for the sessions you want to attend
  • Add the events to your calendar after registering

Important Notes

• Registration is required to attend live or view the recordings
• Recordings will be available after each session for a limited time
• This link is for our school community only—please do not share publicly

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ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITIES:

Join us for exciting athletic events and cheer on our amazing middle school athletes alongside your family! We will continue to update the schedule as more sports and games are added.

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ATTENDANCE:

Please remember that all absences must be reported through PowerSchool.

Looking ahead into the semester, please also know that we will be emphasizing our attendance policy this year; students who miss more than four sessions of any one class will be required to make up the minutes.  This is to comply with Louisiana state law.  You may hear this policy referred to as “No More Than Four” and, while there are some exceptions for school-sanctioned absences and for unavoidable absences (hospitalizations, natural disasters, etc), both reported and unreported absences count towards this limit. For more information, please refer to the handbook.
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Upcoming Dates

*Tuesday, December 9th. Winter Band Concert. 7:00 pm. VPAC.

*Thursday, December 11th. Lessons and Carols. 7:00 pm. Chapel.

*Tuesday, December 16th - Thursday, December 18th. Noon dismissal. MS Exams.

*Friday, December 19th. 10:00 am dismissal. MS Exams.

*Monday, December 22nd - January 4th. Christmas Holidays.

*Monday, January 5th. 1st Day of Quarter 3.

All School Calendar

Keep track of school holidays, major events, and important dates across all divisions—updated year-round for your planning needs.

MS Resources

Find supply lists, summer reading logs, orientation info, required forms, club sign-ups, and more—all in one place.

Lunch Menu

See what’s being served in Webster's Refectory. Updated every Friday with daily options