Timberwolf Times

Timberwolf Families,

As we settle into September, we want to highlight two important observances taking place this month that reflect our commitment to celebrating our diverse community and supporting student well-being.

• Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15): Starting this week, we are proud to honor the rich history, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Over the next month, our students will explore these vibrant traditions through special classroom activities, cultural showcases, and morning announcements. We encourage you to ask your child what they are learning!
• National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: The mental health and safety of our students is our absolute top priority. This month, we are focusing on spreading mental health support, reducing stigma, and ensuring every student knows they are never alone. Middle school can be a time of big transitions, and we are dedicated to providing the resources our families need.

If your child or family ever needs support, our school counselors are here to help. You can also access free, confidential support 24/7 by calling or texting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

Sincerely,

SHMS Admin Team

Mon., Sept. 14: 5:00 Away Field Hockey & Volleyball games at HH Poole MS

Wed., Sept. 16: 5:00 pm Football away game at Drew MS & 6:00 pm PTO meeting

Thurs., Sept. 17: 7th grade hearing and vision screening during the school day & 4-8 pm Sweet Frog PTO Fundraiser

Fri., Sept. 18: Away Field Hockey & Volleyball games at AG Wright MS

Mon., Sept. 21: No school

Tues., Sept. 22: 5:00 pm Home football game vs. Stafford MS

Wed., Sept. 23: 5:00 pm Home Field Hockey & Volleyball games vs. Gayle MS

You can subscribe to the SHMS Community Calendar: SHMS Community Calendar.

Stafford County Public Schools has partnered with Lightspeed Systems to give parents visibility and control over their child's internet usage on school-issued devices outside of school hours.

By opting in, parents receive a Weekly Student Online Activity Report via email every Sunday, which summarizes web browsing activity, top visited websites, and daily page counts. Parents can also create a full Lightspeed Parent Portal account to view complete browsing history in real time and manage access, such as pausing internet browsing on the device.

How to Opt-In:

• Log into ParentVUE at psp.staffordschools.net.

• Go to Student Info, click Edit Information, and set Lightspeed Parent Portal to YES.

• Save your changes. Weekly summary emails will begin within 14 days, containing a link to set up your full Parent Portal account.

The full guide is attached below.

Dear Timberwolf Families, Great news! Our school has partnered with Smile Programs...the dentist is

coming to Shirley Heim Middle School Thursday, September 24th 2026. Permission Forms were

previously mailed , please return them by September 23rd. If you have lost the application you can pick up a new application at the school or scan the QR code to register online. The dentists offer in-school dental care. Sign up your child today at www.myschooldentist.com.

Even better, dental care is usually at no cost to you, with insurance. All insurance is accepted including Medicaid and CHIP. For those without insurance, a low cost self-pay option is available.

Convenient and comfortable

Our in-school dental program saves you time and provides a safe and comfortable place for your child to receive gentle dental care from licensed local professionals. Dental care includes a complete dental exam, x-rays, cleaning, fluoride and sealants when necessary, and in some cases, restorative care such as fillings.

Dental care for a healthy life

Children who see a dentist regularly may have fewer health issues like:

● Early tooth loss due to dental decay

● Gum disease

● Heart disease

● Impaired speech development

Help keep your child healthy, in school and learning.

Nurse Evelyn Reyes Ford , BSN, RN

Estimadas familias de Timberwolf: ¡Buenas noticias! Nuestra escuela se ha asociado con el programa

Smile... El dentista llegará a la escuela secundaria Shirley Heim el jueves 24 de Septiembre 2026. Los formularios de autorización se enviaron previamente por correo; por favor, devuélvanos antes del 23 de septiembre. Si ocupan un nuevo formulario, pueden recoger uno nuevo en la escuela o escanear el código QR para registrarse en línea. Los dentistas ofrecen atención dental en la escuela. Registre a su hijo hoy en www.myschooldentist.com.

Aún mejor, la atención dental generalmente no tiene costo para usted, con segura. Se aceptan todos los seguros, incluidos Medicaid y CHIP. Para quienes no tienen seguro, está disponible una opción de pago por cuenta propia de bajo costo.

Conveniente y confortable Nuestro programa dental en la escuela le ahorra tiempo y brinda un lugar seguro y cómodo para que su hijo reciba atención dental amable por parte de profesionales locales autorizados. El cuidado dental

incluye un examen dental completo, radiografías, limpieza, flúor y selladores cuando sea necesario y, en algunos casos, cuidados restaurativos como empastes.

Cuidado dental para una vida sana

Los niños que visitan al dentista con regularidad pueden tener menos problemas de salud como:

● Pérdida temprana de dientes debido a caries dental

● Enfermedad de las encías

● Cardiopatía

● Desarrollo deficiente del habla

Ayude a mantener a su hijo sano, en la escuela y aprendiendo.

Enfermera de escuela Evelyn Reyes Ford , BSN, RN

This school year, Shirley C. Heim Middle School will use the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA) to support your child's social-emotional growth and lifelong success.

What is the DESSA? The DESSA is a 100% strength-based tool that helps us identify the life skills your child has already mastered and areas where they can continue to grow. Students will complete a brief self-assessment during Advisory on Wednesday, September 16th.

Data Privacy & Parent Resources Published by Aperture Education, the DESSA strictly protects student privacy and will never share your child's data with third parties. Aperture also provides a Parent Portal featuring tips, resources, and question previews to help you support your child's development at home.

Opt-Out Information If you would like to opt your child out of this screener, please contact Jamie Stafford at staffordjl@staffordschools.net by Tuesday, September 15th.

Thank you for your partnership in your student's success!

Battle of the Books is a reading competition between all of the Stafford County Middle Schools. Participating students read a designated list of books (see below) and eventually form a team that will attend the competition. The Heim team will compete against other Stafford middle school teams by answering questions about the books they've read. The event will be held in February, but the date of our event is TBD.

Amari and the Night Brothers - Alston

Ambrose Deception - Ecton

Blackthorn Key - Sands

Bloom - Oppel

Curse So Dark and Lonely - Kemmerer

Everlost - Shusterman

False Prince - Nielsen

Ghost - Reynolds

House Arrest - Holt

Inheritance Games - Barnes

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus - Bowling

Waiting for Normal - Connor

Regina Kuhfuss

Librarian

Shirley Heim Middle School

Practices after school till 6 pm. Please be on time to pick up your child.

First game is Sept. 16 at Drew Middle School.

Games start at 5:00 pm.

Practices after school till 6 pm. Please be on time to pick up your child.

First game is Friday, September 11th home versus Drew Middle School.

Games start at 5:00 pm.

Shirley Heim's first military club begins this week!

Any student can join our after school club if you have active duty military parent(s)/guardian(s)!

We have a lot of fun times after school and we even have weekend opportunities such as: Urban Air, Monster golf, and Slick City.

We would love to connect military families and students, while having a blast!!!!

Shirley C. Heim Middle PTO just created a general sale or donation form "Wolf Cart Prepaid Card" and would like to share it with you. Click the button below to view details.

SHMS PTO Wolf Cart Prepaid Punch Cards Make shopping at the Wolf Cart simple and cash-free! Families can purchase a prepaid Punch Card for their student to use toward snacks and drinks when the Wolf Cart visits classrooms. Choose from $10 (10 Paws), $20 (20 Paws), or $30 (30 Paws). Each paw has a $1 value and is punched as your student makes purchases. Important: Punch Cards are non-refundable, non-replaceable, and non-reloadable. Lost or misplaced cards cannot be replaced. Once all punches have been used, a new card must be purchased. Every purchase supports the SHMS PTO and helps fund programs, activities, and resources for our students and staff. Prepay. Punch. Enjoy. We also accept Cash. Thank you for supporting our Timberwolf community!