Weekly Update 1/19/26

Parents, Students, and Faculty,

We had a wonderful first week back, and it truly showed what makes Seminole County Middle High School such a special place. Students, staff, and administrators all worked together to make the week run smoothly, and we are so appreciative of the support, patience, and understanding shown by our parents as we learn new routines together. It was a great start, and we are proud of how everyone pulled together to make it successful.

Although we will be out of school on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we still have a busy and exciting week ahead. Basketball will be at home on Tuesday and Friday, and we look forward to strong community support. On Wednesday at 5:30, we will host a Georgia Tour interest meeting for upcoming 8th graders and their parents. Our current 8th graders will also be touring our CTAE department as they begin making important registration decisions. To wrap up the week, our girls basketball team will travel to Tallahassee on Sunday to attend an FSU basketball game. It was an awesome first week, and now we’re ready to roll into another one at Seminole County Middle High School, the best school in southwest Georgia!

Monday, January 19:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Tuesday, January 20:

• Varsity Basketball vs Calhoun - 6:00 PM

Wednesday, January 21:

• Club Rotation A
• Ga Tour meeting - 5:30 PM

Thursday, January 22:

• 8th grade CTAE Tour - 12:30 PM

Friday, January 23:

• Varsity Basketball vs Quitman - 6:00 PM - Senior Night

10th grade students explored the new Lit Comp II EOC argumentative writing rubric by working together to break down expectations and better understand what strong writing looks like. They then participated in a gallery walk to review and give feedback on each other’s work, helping them connect the rubric directly to their own writing.

The SCHS Future Business Leaders of America attended the Region Leadership Conference on Thursday, January 15, at Lowndes County High School and, as always, represented our school with excellence. Students competed in a variety of events and participated in several leadership development sessions. Congratulations to Seminole FBLA and their advisor, Mr. Harrison Hall, on an outstanding performance. All participating students will advance to the state conference in March. Congratulations, FBLA!

1st place Public Speaking- MaryKate Kelley

1st Place Sales Presentation - Maggie Hornsby, Chloe Herrin and Brooke Robinson

1st Place Graphic Design - Desiree English

1st Place Customer Service- Emma Godby

Project Management- Addison Hamilton

Business Communication- MaryKate Kelley

3rd Place Public Service Announcement - Cameron Simpson

• Support the arts at SCMHS by joining our Fine Arts Booster Club! Your involvement helps provide resources and opportunities for our talented students in band, chorus, visual arts, and drama. Whether it's volunteering your time or offering financial support, every contribution makes a difference. Join us in celebrating and strengthening the arts at SCMHS! Email seminolefinearts@gmail.com for more information.

The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) voted to amend its policies regarding Name, Image, and Likeness payments to prep student-athletes. The changes are focused on curtailing any activity from what is known as NIL Collectives, a system that has permeated and fundamentally altered college athletics. NIL Collectives are shell corporations that function to exploit loopholes in NIL policy and allow donors to pay student-athletes for their athletic talents and enrollment at specific institutions –– these payments are often used in a recruiting context to maintain current players, solicit transfer athletes, or sign top level high school recruits.

With fear of the NIL Collective system seeping down from the NCAA and into the high school level, the GHSA has taken swift action to amend its rules. The new language to GHSA policy was formally voted in yesterday: “No student-athlete may be a member of nor receive compensation or any other benefit from a Collective or NIL Club. A Collective is defined as any group organized or existing for the purpose of compensating or benefiting an individual student[-]athlete or group of student athletes of a member school. NIL Clubs are defined as a group of student athletes organized or existing for the purpose of soliciting funds or other benefits from fans, members or other sources, managing or promoting NIL activities of student athletes or otherwise providing funds or other benefits to an individual student athlete or group of student athletes.”

School Attendance public service announcement from GaDOE and Georgia Public Broadcasting