Smore logo
remove_red_eye 1.3K
page background

Sycamore Springs Middle School

Weekly Newsletter

Sycamore SpringsMiddle SchoolWeekly Newsletter
zoom_out_map

March 30, 2025

Hello Sycamore Springs Middle School Families,


Happy Sunday! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful Sunday.


Last week was amazing! Our Blackout Pep Rally was a hit. Thank you to Ms. Sisk, Mrs. Gressett, and Student Council for all of your hard work in organizing this amazing event. Thank you, also, to our band, choir, cheer, dance, tech teachers, athletics, and all the staff and students that made it such a huge success. We couldn't have done it without you! Make sure to check out all the events in this week's newsletter as we have another busy week with golf, tennis, and soccer kicking off.

As always, if you need anything or have any questions, please contact your student's teacher, counselor, or administrator.


Go Tigers!


Sincerely,

Kelly Miller

Principal

1. πŸ’ƒSSMS Spring Dance is April 4th!πŸ•Ί Tickets will be sold in the cafeteria starting Thursday, March 27th (in the morning and during each lunch). $5.00 - Cash only.


2. Attention 8th Grade Families: 1) As we approach the end of the school year, it’s time to order yard signs to celebrate our 8th graders! Please complete the yard sign form for your student. If you have more than one student in the same grade, kindly submit a separate form for each child. The cost of each sign is $10 and payment options are on the google form. 2) 8th Grade Student Field Trip: May 1 at Highland Lakes Camp and it’s $45 per student. A flyer and permission slips will be sent home in April. Please pay HERE for your student by April 17.


3. STAAR testing is quickly approaching! If you have a school-issued Chromebook at your house not being used, please bring it to campus as soon as possible. We are in the process of taking count of our computers, and need to make sure they’re updated and ready to go for our students.

Please see the schedule for STAAR tests here.


4. Attention 6th Grade Families - There are required Immunizations for all 7th grade students; 1) Tdap and 2) Meningitis. Nurse Smith needs updated immunization record OR a notarized Affidavit from the State of Texas found here: https://co-request.dshs.texas.gov/. You may bring updated records to the school or email a copy to blair.smith@dsisdtx.us. For more information, visit https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunizations/school or call Nurse Blair at 512-858-3604.


5. SSMS Attendance - Woohoo! Attendance is back up this week! Thank you to everyone for helping to prioritize student attendance at Sycamore. Go Tigers!πŸ―πŸ’›

We hope you all had a wonderful spring break! It is hard to believe we have only 9 weeks remaining in the school year!


The deadline for current 6th and 7th graders to make changes in Skyward has passed. If there are any additional changes your student would like to make, please reach out to your student’s counselor.


The deadline for students to fill out their applications for courses that require an application (PALS, Yearbook, Student Aid, Office Aid, CL & I Aid PAWs PE PAWs), has passed. We are no longer accepting any applications.


Current 8th grade students' deadline to submit their classes in Schoolinks has now passed. If your student needs to make any changes to what they submitted, please email Sandy Zimmerman at sandra.zimmerman@dsisdtx.us no later than May 23. No other class changes will be accepted after this date. Also, for any current 8th grade students wishing to have Off campus PE in their schedule, DSHS requires that you provide the ORIGINAL COPY of the completed form BY MAY 23, 2025 to Attn: DSHS Registrar Ms. Libby Weaver by either Dropping off the Original Copy of the form at the DSHS Front Office OR Mailing the Original Copy of the form to DSHS at:


Dripping Springs High School

Attn. Libby Weaver, Registrar

940 W. Hwy 290

Dripping Springs, TX 78620


**Rising 9th Grade Students should list Olympic PE as one of their Electives in Schoolinks and also note whether you want the off campus period to be AM or PM.


On April 1 & 2, sixth-grade students, in their huddle class, will have the opportunity to participate in an important educational lesson (presented by the counselors), focused on the prevention of child abuse, family violence, dating violence, and human trafficking, as required by Texas Senate Bill 9 (SB9). The curriculum has been carefully selected and approved by the DSISD administration, the Board of Trustees, and the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) to ensure that it is developmentally appropriate for our sixth graders. Still, these are opt-in lessons and parents must opt their students into the lessons in order for their child to participate. The lesson is called Sexting & Cyberbullying: Can’t Take it Back and is about 45 minutes long and includes a video component and guided discussions to reinforce the material.


The "Play it Safe" program offers trailers of the video lessons that parents or guardians can watch to get an idea of the content that will be presented to their children. If you'd like more information on what You may review more detailed information about our Senate Bill 9 Play it Safe Curriculum on the District website by clicking this link.


6th Grade parents received an email from Actionaly, on March 6th. The actionaly email contained the consent form for the lesson. The due date for this opt-in form was March 27, 2025. If we did not receive your form submission by this date, your student was opted out.


LaDonna Caroselli, 6th Grade Counselor A-K & 7th Grade Counselor

Sandy Zimmerman, 8th Grade Counselor & 6th Grade Counselor L-Z

Lead (Leader in Me) - Weekly Spotlight Lead (Leader in Me) - Weekly Spotlight

Here’s the habit focus for the week. Take some time to review the habit, action items, and support section with your student(s).

🐯 Campus Announcements πŸ“’ 🐯 Campus Announcements πŸ“’

πŸ’ƒSSMS Spring Dance is April 4th!πŸ•Ί

Tickets will be sold in the cafeteria starting Thursday, March 27th (in the morning and during each lunch). $5.00 - Cash only.

Tickets will be sold in the cafeteria in the morning and during each lunch starting Thursday, March 27th.

STAAR Testing

STAAR testing is quickly approaching! If you have a school-issued Chromebook at your house not being used, please bring it to campus as soon as possible. We are in the process of taking count of our computers, and need to make sure they’re updated and ready to go for our students.


Please see the schedule for STAAR tests here.

zoom_out_map

2025-26 INCOMING 7TH GRADE TEXAS IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Texas school immunization requirements are determined by the state legislature and set by the Texas Department of State Health Services, in conjunction with the Texas Education Agency.


All incoming 7th graders are required to have two immunizations:

1. Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap): 1 dose within the

last 5 years to be valid.

2. Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV4): 1 dose of the quadrivalent vaccine on or after a student's

11th birthday to be valid.

or

Reasons of Conscience Exemption


If your child has already received these immunizations, you may drop off, fax (512-858-3699), or email (blair.smith@dsisdtx.us) the updated record at any time.


Please note: We can only accept a record from an electronic health record system if it includes the clinic's contact information and the provider's signature/stamp. A screenshot or print-out from your child's patient portal does not satisfy this requirement.


Your child’s immunization status is available for you to view in Skyward. Go to Family Access and click on the β€˜Health Info’ tab located on the left side of the page.


Class schedules will not be released and students will not be allowed to start on the first day of school, August 13th, 2024, until an updated immunization record has been provided. Thank you for your understanding.


Please contact me with questions.

--

Blair Smith, RN, BSN

Nurse|Sycamore Springs Middle School

512-858-3604

Fax 512-858-3699

Attention 8th Graders 🐯 Attention 8th Graders 🐯

1.As we approach the end of the school year, it’s time to order yard signs to celebrate our 8th graders! Please complete the yard sign form for your student. If you have more than one student in the same grade, kindly submit a separate form for each child. The cost of each sign is $10 and payment options are on the google form.


2. 8th Grade Field Trip - Our 8th Graders will go on their final middle school field trip on May 1! It will be a wonderful full day of team building and fun hosted at the Highland Lakes Conference center and facilitated by students from DSHS! Click HERE to pay $45 for the field trip. The deadline to pay for the field trip is April 17.


3. 8th Grade STAAR Dates:

  • April 9, 2025 - ELA

  • April 15, 2025 - Social Studies

  • April 22, 2025 -Science

  • April 30, 2025 - Pre-Algebra and Algebra


4. Rising 9th Grade Newsletter - Click HERE to access the DSHS Rising 9th Grade Newsletter.

open_in_new zoom_out_map

πŸŽ‰ Campus Celebrations and Acknowledgements πŸ™Œ πŸŽ‰ Campus Celebrations and Acknowledgements πŸ™Œ

πŸŽ‚ Staff Birthdays πŸŽ‰

Happy Birthday to all our SSMS Faculty and Staff! We ❀️ You! Go Tigers! 🐯

🏈🏐 Athletics πŸ€πŸ 🏈🏐 Athletics πŸ€πŸ

🐯 Boy's Athletics 🏈 🐯 Boy's Athletics 🏈

πŸŽ‰ Congratulations to our Tiger of the Week: Lucas Cassioppi!

⚽Boys Soccer Schedule πŸ₯…

πŸ€Girls' Athletics🏐 πŸ€Girls' Athletics🏐

Please help me in congratulating Teagan Daniels for being our Tiger of the Week! We are so proud of all the hard work and effort you put into athletics!
⚽ Girls Soccer Schedule πŸ₯…

β›³ Golf & Tennis 🎾 β›³ Golf & Tennis 🎾

Golf Schedule β›³
Tennis Schedule 🎾

🐯 SSMS PTA 🐾 🐯 SSMS PTA 🐾

zoom_out_map

SSMS PTA Updates:

  • Please join us for the DSISD Board of Trustees Candidate Forum on Monday, April 14 from 6:30 - 8:00pm in the Center for Learning and Leadership (300 Sportsplex Drive) in the Live Oak Room. All candidates for the DSISD Board of Trustees have been invited by the DSISD Council of PTAs. Submit questions for the candidates here. For inquiries, please contact: advocacy@dsisdcouncilpta.org

  • It seems as if allergies and germs are around every corner, and our SSMS Teachers are either dangerously low or out of supplies to keep our kiddos comfortable. If you would like to send in tissues and/or disinfecting wipes, please bring them in, send them with your student, or you can send them easily through our "Sniffles, Tigers, and Germs, Oh My!" Amazon Wishlist. Thank you for supporting our school!

  • The SSMS PTA is offering a new way to see our school in action! In an effort to increase family engagement, we will be doing parent-to-parent campus tours to give you a firsthand view of what our students and teachers do each and every day - sign up here!

  • The SSMS PTA and the SSMS Staff have been so grateful for the help we've received this year! The teachers get so much time back to spend in their classrooms with all of our children and will be able to start the New Year off with a little more ease. Sign up here!

  • We appreciate everyone that has joined SSMS PTA this year! If you haven't joined yet, please consider! It is open all year to new memberships, we appreciate each and every one of you. Go to joinpta.org to join.

  • Be sure to Like and Follow our Facebook and Instagram - we post information and updates daily, and we’ll show up more often in your feed the more you react to the posts!

zoom_out_map
zoom_out_map
zoom_out_map
zoom_out_map

District/Community Announcements District/Community Announcements

DSISD Employee Recognition Program


Are you looking for a way to honor a Dripping Springs ISD employee? Whether you are a staff member wanting to recognize a co-worker for a job well done or a parent who is impressed by your child's bus driver for going that extra mile, this is the program for you! Anyone can nominate any DSISD employee through the district's employee recognition program, Tiger Stripes for Staff.

The program invites DSISD staff, students, parents and community members to participate by leaving a positive note about a staff member. Please click HERE to go to the district Tiger Stripe page.

BOND 2025 COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS


DSISD will host two Community Information Sessions on the 2025 Bond on Wednesday, April 9 in the Center for Learning & Leadership. A morning session (9:30 - 10:30 AM) and evening session (6:00 - 7:00 PM) will be offered for DSISD stakeholders. The sessions will include a presentation by Superintendent Dr. Holly Morris-Kuentz, Deputy Superintendent Elaine Cogburn and Chief Operating Officer Scott Berry. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions during the session.


DSISD Board Candidate Forum

The Dripping Springs Council of PTAs is hosting a candidate forum for all candidates for DSISD Board of Trustees. The forum will be on Monday, April 14th, from 6:30 pm - 8pm in the Live Oak Room at the Center for Learning and Leadership, located at 300 Sportsplex Drive. All candidates for the Board of Trustees have been invited, the forum is open to the public, and will be strictly non partisan.


Here is a link for submitting questions: https://forms.gle/2iygsPpp63Kah96u8

open_in_new zoom_out_map

Founder's Day Volunteer Signup

As you know, Founder's Day requires a lot of volunteers. This is a great opportunity for student's, staff, parent volunteers to get service hours or just help this community event run smoothly. To view all the volunteer opportunities, please click on the SignupGenius link.

πŸ’› SSMS Admin & Counselor Team πŸ’› πŸ’› SSMS Admin & Counselor Team πŸ’›

open_in_new zoom_out_map
🐯 SSMS Website
πŸ“… DSISD 2024-2025 Academic Calendar
πŸ“† DSISD 2024-2025 A/B Calendar
πŸ”” SSMS Bell Schedule 24-25
🏈🏐 DSISD UIL Eligibility Schedule πŸ€βš½
SSMS Drop-Off/Pick-Up Information πŸš—
⚠ Attendance Procedures
πŸ†” Buy a New ID
Rising 6th Grade Newsletter 🐯
Rising Freshman Newsletter πŸ…

πŸ—“Upcoming Events! πŸ—“Upcoming Events!

This Week:

Monday, 3/31 - A Day

Girls Soccer Parent Meeting; Gym @ 5:30pm

Boys Soccer Parent Meeting; Cafeteria @ 5:30pm

Board of Trustees Regular Meeting; 6pm @ Center for Learning & Leadership


Tuesday, 4/1 - B Day

6th Grade - Sexting & Cyberbullying: Can’t Take it Back (SB 9 Lesson); During Huddle


Wednesday, 4/2 - A Day

Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! πŸŽ‰

FCA Meeting in Small Gym @ 8:15am

6th Grade - Sexting & Cyberbullying: Can’t Take it Back (SB 9 Lesson); During Huddle

Student Council Meeting; P10 during Tiger Win

PTA Campus Tour; 11:30-12:00 - must sign up ahead of time (click HERE to sign up)


Thursday, 4/3- B Day

Tennis Team Picture; 7:30 am

Boys Soccer Team Picture; 7:30 am

Choir Contest; Hays CISD Performing Arts Center

Girls Soccer Team Picture


Friday, 4/4 - A Day

School Librarian Appreciation Day! πŸ“š

PTA Board Meeting; 8:15 am in Pecan Room

PTA Campus Tour; 11:30-12:00 - must sign up ahead of time (click HERE to sign up)

Spring Dance; 6-8pm πŸ’ƒπŸ•Ί

This Month:

4/7-4/11 - National Assistant Principal Week! πŸ™Œ

4/7 - Golf: Eanes Invitational @ Plum Creek; 4:15 pm

4/8 - STAAR Testing - 6th Grade ELA

4/9 - STAAR Testing - 7th & 8th Grade ELA

4/9 - Bond 2025 Community Information Session; 9:30 am or 6 pm @ CLL

4/10 - Principal Coffee & Chat; Pecan Room @ 8:15am

4/10 - STAAR Testing - ELA Make-up Day

4/10 - Boys Soccer vs BCMS @ BCMS; 5:00/6:15pm

4/10 - Girls Soccer vs BCMS @ SSMS; 5:00/6:15pm

4/10 - Tennis vs BCMS @ DSHS

4/11 - PTA General Membership Meeting; Sycamore Room @ 8:15 am

4/11 - PTA Campus Tour; 11:30-12:00 - must sign up ahead of time (click HERE to sign up)

4/14 - Golf: Lake Travis Invitational @ Hidden Falls; 4:15 pm

4/15 - STAAR Testing - 8th Grade Social Studies

4/15 - Taxpayer Tuesday; 9:30 am @ Rooster Springs ES

4/16 - STAAR Testing - 8th Grade Social Studies - Make-up Day

4/16 - NJHS Meeting; 8:00 am or 4:15 pm in 6th grade pod

4/16 - FCA Meeting; 8:15 am in Small Gym

4/16 - PTA Campus Tour; 11:30-12:00 - must sign up ahead of time (click HERE to sign up)

4/16 - Tennis vs HCMS @ DSHS

4/17 - Boys Soccer vs HCMS @ HCMS; 6:15pm (Maroon Team Only)

4/17 - Girls Soccer vs. HCMS @ SSMS (A Team Only); 5:00 pm

4/18 - Holiday; No School 🐰🐣

4/21-4/25 - National Volunteer Week! πŸŽ‰

4/22 - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! πŸšπŸ™Œ

4/22 - STAAR Testing - 8th Grade Science

4/23 - STAAR Testing - 8th Grade Science - Make-up Day

4/23 - National Administrative Professional Day! πŸ™Œ

4/23 - FCA Meeting; 8:15 am in Small Gym

4/23 - PTA Campus Tour; 11:30-12:00 - must sign up ahead of time (click HERE to sign up)

4/23 - Golf: DSISD Invitational @ Delaware Springs; 4:15 pm

4/23 - Tennis vs LTMS @ LTHS

4/23 - Boys Soccer vs LTMS @ SSMS; 5:00/6:15pm

4/24 - Girls Soccer @ LTMS; 5:00/6:15pm

4/25 - No School/Staff Professional Development Day - Founders Day! 🎠

4/28 - Golf: Eanes Tournament @ Palmer Lakeside; 4:15 pm

4/29 - STAAR Testing - 6th Grade Math & Compacted Math

4/30 - STAAR Testing - 7th & 8th Grade Math

4/30 - FCA Meeting; 8:15 am in Small Gym

5/1 - STAAR Testing - Math (all tests) - Make-up Day

5/1 - 8th Grade Field Trip!!! 🎈

5/1 - Boys Soccer vs WRMS @ SSMS; 6:15pm (Maroon Team Only)

5/1 - Girls Soccer @ WRMS (A Team Only); 5:00 pm

5/1 - Tennis vs WRMS @ WHS

5/1 - Spring Play; 7pm in Cafeteria

5/2 - School Lunch Hero Day πŸ™Œ

5/2 - PTA Board Meeting; Pecan Room @ 8:15am

5/2 - PTA Campus Tour; 11:30-12:00 - must sign up ahead of time (click HERE to sign up)

5/2 - Spring Play; 7pm in Cafeteria

5/3 - Spring Play; 7pm in Cafeteria

5/5-5/9 - National Teacher Appreciation Week! πŸ‘©β€πŸ«

5/5 - CAC Meeting; Sycamore Room @ 7:45 am

5/5 - 6th grade field trip to Pedernales State Park (1/2 6th graders)

5/6 - 6th grade field trip to Pedernales State Park (1/2 6th graders)

5/6 - Golf: HLMS District Tournament @ Plum Creek; 4:15 pm

5/6 - Tennis vs HBMS @ LTHS

5/7 - National School Nurse Appreciation Day! πŸ‘©β€βš•οΈ

5/7 - Dance Performance; 6pm in Cafeteria

5/8 - Girls Soccer @ HBMS; 5:00/6:15pm

5/8 - Boys Soccer vs HBMS @ SSMS; 5:00/6:15pm

5/9 - PTA General Membership Meeting; 8:15 am in Sycamore Room

5/9 - ESports Tournament; 4:30 in Cafeteria

5/10 - Boys Soccer - District Tournament @ HCMS (Maroon Team Only)

5/10 - Girls Soccer - District Tournament @ WRMS (A Team Only)

5/10 - Band's Schlitterbahn Trip

5/12 - Boys Soccer vs DSMS @ SSMS; 5:00/6:15pm

5/12 - Girls Soccer vs DSMS @ DSMS; 5:00/6:15pm

5/12 - Extrava-Banda; 6:30 pm in Gym

5/13 - 8th Grade: Passion Projects (during ELA)

5/13 - Tennis vs. DSMS @ DSHS

5/14 - 8th Grade: Passion Projects (during ELA)

5/14 - Choir Spring Concert; 6:30 pm

5/15 - Tigers Rise (Rising 5th Graders Visit SSMS)

5/15 - ACC Graduation; 2pm

5/15 - Dance Spring Show; 4:30 pm in Gym

5/16 - 8th Grade Celebration and Awards - time TBD

5/16 - Cheer Showcase; 5:30 pm in Gym

5/19 - National Speech Pathologist Day!

5/19 - NJHS Induction; 7pm in Cafeteria

5/20 - Final Exams

5/21 - Final Exams

5/22 - Final Exams

5/23 - Final Exams

5/23 - Counseling Advisory Council; 8:00 am in Sycamore Room

5/23 - Last Day of School!!! 😎

Follow Us on Social Media Follow Us on Social Media

zoom_out_map

SSMS Facebook

zoom_out_map

SSMS Instagram

zoom_out_map

SSMS Website

Kelly Miller
Kelly is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters
Loading indicator

close

Created with

Communicate quickly and effectively with interactive newsletters.

Smore empowers educators to connect with their community, streamline school communications,
and increase engagement.

Create a newsletter