Senn-Thomas Middle School

Hello everyone!

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend!

As we begin the second quarter, I want to thank all the families who attended Parent-Teacher Conferences last week. We appreciate you taking the time to connect with our teachers and discuss your student's progress. If you were unable to attend or would still like to speak with a teacher, we have included a follow-up form in this week's newsletter.

We have an exciting week ahead! Winter sports tryouts for basketball and wrestling begin Monday, October 26, and we encourage interested students to get involved. We are also highlighting our PAWS for Excellence Incentive Program, including the qualifications students must meet each quarter and information about our upcoming first-quarter reward trip to the St. Louis Zoo on November 6. If your student qualified, please remember that permission slips are due Friday, October 30.

As we move into the second quarter, remember that STMS operates on a semester grading system. First-quarter grades are a progress update, not final grades, and students will continue to have opportunities to improve throughout the semester.

Please take a few minutes to review the newsletter for additional information about upcoming events, activities, and opportunities for our students.

Thank you for your continued support. Let's have a great second quarter, Blackcats!

Kyle Borror
Principal
Senn-Thomas Middle School

Winter sports are right around the corner! Tryouts for 7th and 8th grade boys' and girls' basketball and wrestling will begin Monday, October 26. We encourage all interested students to come out, work hard, and get involved!

Basketball Tryouts – October 26–28

• Boys: Senn-Thomas Middle School, 2:45–4:45 PM

• Girls: Pevely Elementary, 3:00–5:00 PM

• Transportation will be provided for girls from STMS to Pevely Elementary.

Wrestling – Monday, October 26

• Time: 2:45–5:00 PM

• Location: Herculaneum High School Wrestling Room

• Open to 7th and 8th grade boys and girls.

Important Reminders

Students must have their Red Card paperwork completed and on file before participating in tryouts.

For Red Card information, please contact Mrs. McClain.

We're excited to kick off another season of Blackcat athletics! Good luck to all our students trying out!

At STMS, our PAWS for Excellence program recognizes students for their academic success, positive behavior, and consistent attendance. Each quarter, students have the opportunity to earn rewards by meeting the following expectations:

PAWS Qualifications:

• Academics: No failing grades and no more than 5 missing assignments when reports are pulled.

• Behavior: No after-school detentions, no out-of-school suspensions, and no more than 2 lunch detentions.

• Attendance: 93% or higher.

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Students have a fresh start each quarter, giving everyone a new opportunity to qualify!

First Quarter PAWS Reward – St. Louis Zoo

Students who qualified for the first-quarter incentive will be attending a field trip to the St. Louis Zoo on Friday, November 6, 2026.

Permission slips are due Friday, October 30. Permission slips must be returned to participate.

We encourage all students to continue working toward meeting these expectations throughout the school year!

Now that the first quarter has ended, we want to remind families that first-quarter grades are not final grades. STMS operates on a semester grading system, meaning students' grades will continue to change throughout the second quarter.

The assignments, projects, and assessments students complete during the remainder of the semester will continue to impact their overall semester grade. Students still have opportunities to improve their grades and demonstrate their understanding of the material.

We encourage families to regularly check Infinite Campus to monitor grades, missing assignments, and academic progress. As we move into the second quarter, this is a great time for students to reflect on their progress and focus on finishing the semester strong!

Thank you to all the families who attended Parent-Teacher Conferences last week! We appreciate you taking the time to connect with our teachers and discuss your child's progress.

If you were unable to attend conferences or would still like to speak with one of your child's teachers, please complete the form below. This will allow us to connect you with the appropriate teacher to arrange a follow-up conversation.

October 26 - 28: Winter Sports Tryouts

November 6: PAWS Trip

November 10: Dunklin Veteran's Day Celebration

November 11: No School - Veteran's Day

November 25 - 27 : No School - Thanksgiving Break

Don't miss your chance to save on the 2026–2027 STMS Yearbook!

From October 26–31, use promo code BOO10 at checkout to receive 10% off your yearbook purchase.

Beginning November 1, the yearbook price will increase to $30, so now is a great time to order and save!

Make sure to order your yearbook and capture all the memories from another great year at STMS!

After-School Study Hall is on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Study Hall provides students with additional time after school to work on assignments, complete missing work, and get caught up on their schoolwork.

Parents/guardians must complete the After-School Study Hall Form each week they would like their student to attend. Completing the form one week does not automatically register your student for future weeks.

Study Hall will end at 4:30 PM. Transportation will not be provided, so parents/guardians will need to arrange for their student to be picked up at the front of the building at 4:30 PM.

Atlas Youth Outreach will be offering two free six-week support groups for STMS students beginning Friday, November 6: Anxiety Management and Understanding Neurodiversity. These groups will provide students with opportunities to learn strategies, build self-awareness, and develop skills to help them navigate different challenges.

Students may participate in one or both groups. Please review the flyers below for additional information and use the QR code on the flyer to register your student.

STMS is partnering with Compass Health Network to bring dental services directly to our school on December 1–2!

Students will have the opportunity to receive dental exams, cleanings, sealants, and other dental treatments during the school day. Medicaid is accepted, along with some private insurance plans, and a sliding-scale fee program is available.

If you are interested in having your student participate, please review the flyer below for additional information and registration instructions.

STMS offers several opportunities for students to get involved, meet new people, and explore their interests outside of the classroom.

If your student is interested in participating, please check out the flyers below for meeting times and additional information. We encourage all students to find something they enjoy, get involved, and try something new!

Contact the office if you have additional questions

The Jr. Blackcats Wrestling Club is gearing up for another exciting season! All K–8th grade boys and girls interested in wrestling are encouraged to join!

In-Person Registration: October 26 & 28

6:00–7:00 PM

Practice Information:

Season Begins: November 2

Days: Mondays & Wednesdays

Time: 6:00–8:00 PM

Location: Herculaneum High School Wrestling Room

Registration Fee: $100 (due November 11), which includes an AAU card, T-shirt, and uniform rental. A $30 practice-only option is also available.

Important Reminder: 7th and 8th graders may begin participating after the middle school wrestling

season concludes.

Wrestling is a great opportunity for students to build strength, discipline, confidence, and teamwork! We can't wait to see our future Blackcats on the mat!

For more information, contact Chris Bahr cbahr@dunklin.k12.mo.us

The HHS Life Skills class has started its own button-making business! Students are putting their skills to work creating buttons while gaining valuable hands-on experience.

If you would like to place an order and support our HHS Life Skills students, please use the link below!

Order Buttons Here

At the beginning of the school year, STMS provided school supplies for all students. However, we are asking families to provide a pair of headphones or earbuds for their student to use with their Chromebook.

Throughout the school day, students use a variety of instructional programs across different subjects that require them to listen to audio, videos, and other learning materials. Having their own headphones will help students stay focused, minimize classroom distractions, and make the most of these resources.

We appreciate your help in ensuring your student has the tools they need to be successful!

Instead of calling or emailing transportation changes, families can now complete the Student Transportation Form using the link below. We hope this new form makes it easier for parents and guardians to submit any needed transportation changes.

The current transportation guidelines and cut-off times remain the same:

• The daily cut-off time for STMS transportation changes is 11:30 AM. Any requests made after this time will be denied to ensure all students are in the correct location for dismissal.
• Students may have one AM bus stop and one PM bus stop. Students cannot ride the bus to a friend's home or an additional family member's home.

As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Transportation Department.

Dunklin R-5 Transportation Contact Information:

Chris A. Harris, Transportation Director
(636) 479-5200 extension 1025
charris@dunklin.k12.mo.us

Victoria Luebbert, Transportation Secretary
(636) 479-5200 extension 1026
vluebbert@dunklin.k12.mo.us

Transportation inquiries
bus@dunklin.k12.mo.us

Infinite Campus Parent Portal

Infinite Campus is a great way to stay connected with your student's progress throughout the school year. Parents can use the Parent Portal to view grades, assignments, attendance, and other important student information.

Need help with Infinite Campus or your Parent Portal account?
Complete our Parent Portal Help Form or reach out to Kim Propest (636) 479 - 5200 ex 2 for assistance.

Not sure how to use Infinite Campus?
This Infinite Campus Parent Portal Video provides a helpful walkthrough for parents.

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is another great resource for keeping up with what is happening in your student's classes. Families can use it to better understand assignments, classroom resources, due dates, and what students are currently working on.

For help getting started, check out this Parent's Guide to Google Classroom.

Dunklin R-5 provides families with free access to Parent ProTech, a resource designed to help parents and guardians navigate the ever-changing digital world with their children. Parent ProTech provides information and guidance on topics such as social media, popular apps, gaming, screen time, parental controls, online safety, and current technology trends. It also provides conversation starters to help families talk with their children about safe and responsible technology use.

We encourage families to take advantage of this free resource and stay informed about the technology our students are using.