SMS Press

We are officially halfway through the school year, and we are thrilled to share some fantastic progress our students and staff have made together! As we look back on the first semester, our school data shows that the hard work in our classrooms is truly paying off.

We have much to celebrate, including:

• Academic Growth: We have seen a significant increase in both Math and ELA Fastbridge scores across the building. This growth is a testament to our students' persistence and the dedicated support of our teachers.

• Positive School Climate: We are also seeing a downward trend in behavioral incidents, with fewer office referrals written overall. Our focus on "Work, Respect, Belong" is making a visible difference in our hallways and classrooms.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for supporting your child's learning at home. Let’s keep this momentum going through the second half of the year!

February is a short and sweet suggestion from the SMS Health Office:
Be KIND. With so much negativity within the school walls, outside of school, on social media or in the news in general, it’s so easy to forget the basics. Spreading kindness has positive health benefits. Some simple ways to spread kindness include:

• Be polite to peers and adults

• Say hi to/make friends with students other than your usual friend group

• Smile

• Give compliments

• Help others when they need help

Please Be Kind, you never know what another person is going through.

Relationships are such an important part of life and they are often a huge point of focus in middle school. Here are some signs to look for to help you decide whether a relationship (dating or friendship) is healthy for you:

It is important to choose relationships wisely as they have the ability to significantly impact your mental health and overall well-being. If you feel that you are in an unhealthy relationship or if you are feeling unsafe, please reach out to a trusted adult for help. We are here to support you.

The library was delighted to host the Spartan Salutes last week!

Last month we kicked off our Career Cafe!

Students will have the opportunity to meet with professionals from various fields right here during lunch!

Our lovely Mrs. Anderson helping rearrange the cafeteria to prepare for a concert!

Enrollment is open for 8th grade students! Parents are welcome to join as well. For tour details and to secure your spot, copy & paste the enrollment link into your browser (www.eftours.com/2826540NZ) or scan the QR code below.

We want to make sure every student who wants to go has the chance to join us. If you have any questions about the itinerary, the enrollment process, or the payment schedule, please don't hesitate to reach out to our international group leader and Superior School District teacher, Leah Herman, at missleahherman@yahoo.com.

Let’s make these memories happen!

Check out the opportunities to support SMS students and classrooms below! Donations can be dropped off in the main office. Thanks in advance for your support!

Our clothing closet is in need of some items! Many students utilize our clothing closet if they need a change of clothes or are in need of hygiene items.

We are only accepting NEW items.

Donations can be dropped off in our main office.

Check out & share our wish list!

Thank you for supporting our SMS students.

We're looking to make our middle school lunch periods even more engaging and fun for our students, and we need your help! The College of St. Scholastica OT students have been working with us to find ways to make our lunches more engaging and fun for the students. We have created a game cart and are in need of more supplies.

We're collecting gently used games for our students to play during their lunch breaks. Games are a great way for them to socialize and have some fun with friends.

Do you have any of the following lying around that you don't use anymore?

Card Games? (Uno, Phase 10, Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, etc)

Board Games? (Chess, Checkers, Connect Four, Scrabble, etc)

Small group games (Tenzi, Dominos, Yahtzee, extra dice)

We kindly ask that all donations are complete and in gently used condition.

How to Donate:

Games can be dropped off in the main office.

Thank you for helping us enrich our students' lunchtime experience! Your generosity will bring a lot of joy and connection to our campus.

- The SMS Lunch Supervision Crew

Our Spartan Store is still looking for donations to reward our students for practicing work, respect, belong. Here is the link to our Amazon wish list-https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1K51YESY0I0DS...

Please review the fan expectations below!

It's National Mentoring Month so it's a great time to get to know a little about Mentor North! Mentor North connects youth with caring, consistent adult mentors because research shows that having just one supportive adult outside of family can improve a child’s confidence, community connection, school engagement, and overall well-being.

• FREE program that enrolls youth ages 7-14 in both Superior and Duluth!
• Each youth is matched with a carefully screened and trained adult mentor based on their preferences and interests, helping to build safe, trusting relationships that last.
• Youth and their mentors are expected to spend at least 4 hours/month together doing things they enjoy. They get to make their own schedule and choose what they'd like to do!
• Matches get free or reduced admission and passes to over 40 partner venues around the Twin Ports (World of Wheels, Great Lakes Aquarium, Brush & Co., etc.) and can attend our free events.
• Families can sign up by completing a short application at MentorNorth.org or contact us at Info@MentorNorth.org with questions.
• Interested in becoming a mentor? Learn more or apply here. A few hours a month can make a lifelong difference. We'd love to hear from you!
• Stop by our office at SMS to say hello or get more information. If we're not there, contact our Superior Program Advocate at 218-606-2789.

We will be partnering with CASDA, Douglas County Drug Prevention Coalition, UW-Madison Extension, and Brightwater (formerly HDC) to offer the "Love is..." series. There are several educational opportunities related to Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Every event will take place in the SHS Library Conference at 6-8 p.m.

Love is Gentle:

Feburary 3rd - The Last Drop film & discussion

Love is Healthy:

February 10 - Screenagers - Under the Influence film & discussion

Love is Compassionate:

February 17 - In Their Shoes simulation & discussion

Love is Healing:

February 24 - Wisdom of Trauma film & discussion

If your student is interested in playing rugby, check out the information below! Additional sources for information can be found at www.twinportsrugby.org and www.facebook.com/TwinPortsRugby.

Class starts each day with students in classrooms by 7:53am. To see if your child has been tardy to any of their classes, check PowerSchool to view your child’s attendance. If you see any errors, please contact the main office.

**Our school day ends at 3:10 pm. Unless your student is registered for an after school activity, they must leave the building by 3:30pm.**