A Message From Principal Hirschi
Dear Shoreline Families,
We are a few weeks into the school year, and it has been great to see our Panthers settling into their routines. One thing that is part of our routine every single day is the reminder of what it means to be a Panther:
Be Respectful | Be Responsible | Be Compassionate | Be Safe
These four values make up The Panther Way, and they are at the heart of what we are trying to build at Shoreline. We talk about them during Advisory, recognize students who demonstrate them, and regularly discuss what they look like in our classrooms, hallways, activities, and throughout our school. The Panther Way isn't just something we say during announcements. It influences how we treat one another, how we approach learning, and the kind of school community we want Shoreline to be.
Celebrating Students Who Live the Panther Way
Each quarter, we will celebrate students who are working hard to live the Panther Way by meeting our expectations for citizenship, attendance, academics, and Advisory. We want as many students as possible to participate in these activities, and each quarter provides a fresh opportunity for students to work toward qualifying. If you like to plan ahead, here are our quarterly activities:
Q1 Panther Way Activity — November 5: Qualifying students will enjoy a movie in our auditorium followed by a treat in the cafeteria.
Q2 Panther Way Activity — January 21: Qualifying students will be invited to a dance in our cafeteria.
Q3 Panther Way Activity — March 31: Qualifying students will participate in an activity planned by our Panther Way student team. More details will be announced as we get closer to that date.
Q4 Panther Way Activity — May 27: Qualifying students will have the opportunity to participate in Lagoon Day.
Please note: Lagoon Day will require students to purchase a park ticket and transportation costs, which could total up to $100 per student. We wanted to share this information early so families have plenty of time to plan and so students have the opportunity to earn money outside of school hours if they choose.
How Do Students Qualify?
To participate in a Panther Way quarterly activity, students must meet all four of the following expectations:
Citizenship: Satisfactory (S) or Outstanding (O) citizenship grades in all classes.
Attendance: Three or fewer unexcused tardies.
Advisory: Pass Advisory.
Academics: Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA.
These expectations are designed to give students clear goals to work toward. We don't expect students to be perfect. We do expect them to make good choices, take responsibility when they make mistakes, and continue working to improve.
A Fresh Start Every Quarter
One of the things I love about this system is that every quarter is a fresh start. Students have the opportunity to set goals, make improvements, and work toward participating in the next activity.
We want these activities to be something students are excited about and proud to earn. More importantly, we want them to understand that the same habits that help them qualify—being responsible, respectful, compassionate, safe, attending school, and taking care of their academics—are the habits that will help them be successful long after they leave Shoreline.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Our Parent-Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, September 16, from 4:00–7:00 p.m. are a great opportunity to connect with your student's teachers and ask questions about their citizenship, academic progress, or anything else you may be wondering about.
You are an important part of our Panther Way team.
Thank you for partnering with us and helping your student make the most of their time at Shoreline.
We are excited for a great year and can't wait to celebrate our Panthers and all the growth, effort, and success we will see along the way.
Tommy Hirschi
Principal
Shoreline Middle School
Important Dates
September 14–18 is Bike to School Week.
Friday, September 11
Proofs of school pictures were given out in math classes today. If your student did not receive one, please let the office know. If your student was not yet enrolled or was absent on our first photo date, retakes will be on September 23.
Monday, September 14
Dress-up day: Wear neon or bright colors.
Utah Symphony at Provo High School: Select Shoreline students enrolled in music classes will participate during school hours.
Tuesday, September 15
Dress-up day: Wear funky sneakers or crazy socks.
Wednesday, September 16
Dress-up day: Seventh grade wears black and yellow; eighth grade wears red.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Please note: Shoreline will be closed from 3:00–4:00 p.m. to prepare to open to families at 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 17
Dress-up day: Wear a crazy hat or decorate your bike helmet.
Friday, September 18
Dress-up day: Wear school colors or a Shoreline shirt.
Wednesday, September 23
Picture Retake Day
Thursday, September 24
Shoreline PTA Spirit Night at Freddy's Steakburgers, 4:00–8:00 p.m.
PTA Parent-Teacher Conference Meal Help
Help feed our teachers before Parent-Teacher Conferences by signing up to provide food.
Note: The state is still working to transition our PTA name from Dixon to Shoreline. If you see Dixon Middle School PTA on PayPal, you have opened the correct link.
Get the Scoop and Beyond High School Night
Join us at Provo High School on Monday, September 21, from 5:00–8:00 p.m. for Get the Scoop and Beyond High School Night.
Enjoy an evening filled with hands-on activities and interactive demonstrations as you explore the many opportunities available through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Students can discover new interests, learn about potential careers, and see how classroom skills connect to the real world.
Families will also have the opportunity to speak directly with representatives from colleges and universities about admissions, scholarships, programs, and turning future dreams into reality.
Students and families of all ages are welcome. Whether you are beginning to explore future possibilities or preparing for life after graduation, there will be something for everyone.
Student Check-In and Check-Out
Shoreline uses the Raptor electronic identification system to allow visitors into the building. This includes parents coming to check out students during school hours. Please be prepared for the process to take up to 15 minutes and plan your arrival time accordingly.
Anyone wanting access to the building or wanting to check out a student during school hours will need a government-issued ID each and every time. Thank you in advance for your collaboration with district policy to help ensure all our students are safe when in our care.
Shoreline's Absence and Attendance Policy
When your student is sick, has a doctor's appointment, has a family trip, or has another reason for missing school, it is very important that you contact the school to excuse the absence within one week of the absence.
Choose one of the following ways to excuse an absence:
Call the school at 801-374-4980 and choose option 2.
Send an email to smsattendance@provo.edu.
Turn in a doctor's note to the Attendance Office.
You may need to leave a voice message when calling the Attendance Office because our attendance secretary, Veronica Peterson, is often on the other line with a parent or assisting someone in person.
When you leave a message by phone or email, or request a note from your doctor, please include:
Your name
The student's name
The day or days you need to excuse your student
The reason for the absence
A phone number where you can be reached
Please allow 24 hours for the excused absence to appear in PowerSchool. If you have already contacted us to excuse the absence, please disregard any robocalls received for that absence.
Questions regarding student grades or missing assignments should be directed to teachers or school counselors.
Calendar and Other Information
Visit the Shoreline Middle School website to find the public calendar and other useful information. For your convenience, a calendar magnet will be sent home with students for quick reference of days with no school or early release.
Closed Campus and Food Deliveries
To ensure the safety of all students, Shoreline Middle School is a closed campus. All students are required to be checked out of school before leaving during school hours and must check back in upon return. This includes leaving for lunch with a parent or guardian.
We will only check out students to legal parents or guardians and those listed as emergency contacts in PowerSchool unless prior arrangements have been made directly with the Attendance Office.
We do not allow food deliveries to students from anyone other than an immediate family member. You are welcome to drop food off in the office for us to take to your student during their lunch period. We will reject commercial delivery services for safety reasons.
Helpful Links
Contact your student's counselor
Find your student's bus route
