Sycamore Springs Middle School

Hello Sycamore Springs Middle School Families,

What an incredible week at SSMS! We kicked things off with football’s inter-squad scrimmage on Thursday morning, followed by our volleyball team’s first match of the season against DSMS. On Friday, our band did a great job playing as we welcomed students to campus, and we wrapped up the week with our very first Club Friday! Students had a blast spending Tiger WIN time connecting with friends, exploring their interests, and making memories.

As we head into the long weekend, I hope you’re able to enjoy some quality time with friends and family. Just a reminder: Monday is a Student/Staff Holiday, we’ll look forward to seeing everyone back in the building on Tuesday, September 2.

Below you’ll find a few important reminders for the weeks ahead. As always, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s teacher, counselor, or an administrator.

Go Tigers!

Sincerely,

Kelly Miller

Principal

1. This Monday, September 1, is a student and staff Holiday. All schools and district office will be closed. We hope you enjoy the three-day weekend!

2. School Picture Day is Sept 2 & 3 - Fall pictures are on September 2nd and 3rd through your student's social studies class. Photo Texas packets were passed out last week to all students this week. If your student needs a new one they can pick up a packet in the front office.

3. Secondary Grading Information: Student course grade averages are intentionally hidden from students in Canvas. Students can view individual assignment grades in Canvas, but not overall course averages. Canvas uses a different grade averaging formula than Skyward, and the two systems do not match. Canvas is not an accurate reflection of a student’s grade, and Skyward is the official grade book for students and parents. Of course, if you ever have grade questions, we encourage you to reach out directly to your Tiger’s teacher. Open parent teacher communication is vital to our Tiger’s success! We also have this great Parent/Student quick reference sheet about grading that you’re welcome to print out and put on your fridge.

4. Check out this flyer with information on an upcoming Parent Book Study on the book- “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt. This District-Wide book study is being facilitated by two of our Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LMHPs).

5. Last week to sign up...🐯 Student Leadership Opportunities - At SSMS, there are many ways for students to get involved and make a difference! Check out these opportunities to lead, share your voice, and show your school spirit:

• Student Council (StuCo) - Interested in joining Student Council or running for an officer position? Report to Mrs. Johnsey’s room (H104) during Tiger WIN on Wednesday, August 27. Click HERE for the StuCo Officer Application.
• Tiger Leader Lighthouse Team - Want to make a difference in our school culture? Ready to step up as a campus leader? The Lighthouse Team meets daily during Tiger WIN. If you’re interested, pick up an application from Mrs. Johnsey in H104.
• Principal's Student Advisory Committee - Do you have ideas to improve SSMS? Want to share feedback directly with Principal Miller? Apply for the Student Advisory Committee! We meet once a month during Tiger WIN. Click HERE to apply.
• Bulletin Board Bunch - Are you creative? Do you want to help celebrate student accomplishments and keep our halls looking amazing? Join the Bulletin Board Bunch! Volunteers will be assigned a teacher and a bulletin board to decorate throughout the year. Click here to sign up!

6. UIL and Grades - Students participating in UIL (University Interscholastic League) competitive activities must be eligible to participate in those activities. Grade reporting and eligibility check deadlines are the same across DSISD and are approved by the UIL itself. Please click HERE to see the UIL Eligibility Calendar. It is also linked below at the bottom of the newsletter. The first UIL Eligibility grade check is at Interim IB which is on September 19.

7. Lightspeed Parent Portal - For Grades 6-12 who take home Chromebooks: Parents will have access to a parent portal in Lightspeed, which provides parents with visibility and control of their child's Chromebook, during after-school hours. Please note: this only applies to Chromebooks, not iPads for students in grades 6-12. See below for more information.

8. Spirit Shop - Drip Spirit opened this past Thursday, August 28 for our second year of operation! Place orders online at dripspirit.com.

9. Buy your yearbook now for the lowest price. 2026 yearbooks are now available for only $45! However, this is a limited time offer, and will end before you know it! Click HERE. See below for more information about purchasing a student ad.

10. The application window for the DSISD 2025-26 Community Advisory Committees is 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡. Community Advisory Committees serve an important role for the district by helping DSISD stay connected with its stakeholders, giving parents and community members the opportunity to participate in our processes and programs while leveraging the knowledge and expertise within the Dripping Springs community to improve our district. The application window is open until Friday, September 5. Parents and community members will be notified by October 1 if they have been selected for a committee. Apply Here: https://www.dsisdtx.us/article/2358273

11.Student attendance is CRITICAL for student success. When students are out, they miss critical learning opportunities that cannot be duplicated. Since we are on a block schedule, missing one day means they actually miss two days worth of lessons. This adds up and creates learning gaps. Please click HERE (or read the Attendance section below) for more information how to report an absence, attendance office contact information, attendance times and additional information. DSISD Attendance Matters Flyer - click HERE

Wow! The first three weeks of school flew by fast! It really has been such a great start to the school year! We hope you all enjoy the long weekend! Monday, Sept. 1, is a School Holiday. We will welcome students back on Tuesday!

We have completed all schedule changes and are no longer taking requests for changes.

Check out this flyer with information on an upcoming Parent Book Study on the book- “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt. This District-Wide book study is being facilitated by two of our Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LMHPs).

We hope you have a great week!

Go Tigers!

Ms. Dykhoff, Grades 6-8 last names A-K

Mrs. Zimmerman, Grades 6-8 last names L-Z

Fall pictures are on September 2nd and 3rd through your student's social studies class. Photo Texas packets were passed out last week to all students this week. If your student needs a new one they can pick up a packet in the front office.

Hello Tiger Family!

Myself and the yearbook team wanted to remind all of our parents who aren't aware of the back to school special that the 2026 yearbook is available for only $45! However, this is a limited time offer, and will end before you know it! You can scan the above QR code to access our storefront, or may copy and paste the direct link that I will leave at the bottom.

I also wanted to quickly answer a question many of you have had: Can I purchase a student ad, then create the ad at a later date? Unfortunately this is not possible, however Jostens has made the process of completing student recognition ads a breeze. You have multiple pre-designed templates waiting for you, and they are incredibly easy to use! As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email me at: james.sheridan@dsisdtx.us

Storefront HERE

Every Friday, students participate in Club Fridays—a time to join peers in clubs that match their interests, build connections, and explore new activities. Clubs will continue through the end of the semester, and students will select new clubs next semester.

At the same time, Fridays also provide additional academic support through ZAP (Zeros Aren’t Permitted). Students who are below 75% and missing two or more assignments may be assigned to a mandatory tutorial session instead of attending their club. ZAP is designed as an opportunity for students to receive extra time, guidance, and support to complete missing work and get back on track.

Check out this flyer with information on an upcoming Parent Book Study on the book- “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt. This District-Wide book study is being facilitated by two of our Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LMHPs).

Students participating in UIL (University Interscholastic League) competitive activities must be eligible to participate in those activities. Grade reporting and eligibility check deadlines are the same across DSISD and are approved by the UIL itself. Please click HERE to see the UIL Eligibility Calendar. It is also linked below at the bottom of the newsletter. The first UIL Eligibility grade check is at Interim IB which is on September 19.

Your students’ coach, advisor or activity sponsor can answer any questions you may have about how grades are checked for that specific activity. How can you help as a parent? Help your student stay accountable with their executive functioning skills, planning, calendarizing, and management of their assignments. Perhaps set calendar reminders for your student two weeks before eligibility checks, to give them enough time to make up any work missed during absences, etc.

For Grades 6-12 who take home Chromebooks:

Parents will have access to a parent portal in Lightspeed, which provides parents with visibility and control of their child's Chromebook, during after-school hours. Please note: this only applies to Chromebooks, not iPads for students in grades 6-12.

With the Lightspeed Parent Portal, parents will have access to:

• The Weekly Student Online Activity Report will be sent to the parents' email. This report summarizes their child’s after-school hours web browsing activity for the week.

• Parents will know when and what sites are accessed at home, and be able to pause screens or control app usage as needed to promote healthy screen time habits (after school hours and only for grades 6-12 who take home their Chromebook).

To access the user guide and link to the portal, please visit the Lightspeed page on the Digital Learning site.

Please join me in celebrating our amazing Tigers with September birthdays! Wishing each of you a day filled with joy, laughter, and lots of cake. We ❤️ You! Go Tigers! 🐯

Big cheers to our amazing SSMS teachers who earned a shout-out from their peers this week! Your hard work and positivity keep our campus shining bright. We’re so lucky to have the BEST staff around. Thank you for making SSMS the place to be!

Congratulations to the Tiger of the Week!

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!

We are so proud of all our Volleyball players! We especially want to recognize the following players of the game from this week's game against DSMS!

SSMS XC left it all on the trails at the Viking XC Invitational on Thursday, August 28th in our first meet of the season. The temperatures were blazing but that didn't stop our runners' determination, grit and perseverance as they blazed the dusty, windy and hilly two-mile course.

The poise, kindness and class of SSMS XC shined so brightly that the meet hosts shared that you were their favorite visiting team. Thank you for carrying the torch and keeping the legacy of SSMS XC blazing bright.

Congratulations to our 7th grade girls and our 8th grade boys for their team awards which will add the first team awards of the year to the SSMS Athletics trophy case this year! The 7th grade girls worked together as a team to hold off an amazing Liberty Hill team to bring home a 2nd place finish in their division. The 8th grade boys stayed close to each other and pushed each other to finish 1st in their division.

A huge shout out to our 10 individual medalists at Lago Vista. For the 7th grade girls, Reagan P. (1st), Ava S (11th) and Alex S. (14th). For the 7th grade boys, Theo M.(4th) and Asher E. (5th). For our 8th grade girls, Petra Vogt (2nd). For our 8th grade boys, Adam A. (1st), Caleb R. (3rd), Henry Z. .(9th) and Aiden S. (10).

Special recognition to Petra (8th grade) who independently took it upon herself to leave the meet better than she found it. After blazing to the finish, Petra walked the entire team camp area cleaning up cups, bottles and trash from SSMS and every team at the meet. By the end of the meet, all that was left was a full trash can, a full trash bag (that Petra asked for to deal with the overflowing trash can) and beautiful Hill Country. Thank you Petra. We should all be as thoughtful as you and are grateful for your inspiration.

As a coach, I'm most proud of the team spirit that carried us through the day. From the 20 minute chant of "SSMS Sic 'Em Tigers, Sycamore" as the bus pulled into Lago Vista to the echoing cheers from our team at the start/finish to the excitement of teammates as each runner finished to the deliveries of water/snacks to teammates as they recovered after the race, you showed our spirit and our heart with your actions. Thank you for supporting each other as you ran YOUR race.

Finally, a huge thank you to our parents, grandparents, friends and family who went the distance and endured the ruthless temperatures to cheer us on all the way to the finish. Your support inspires us.

Happy Trails!
Coach McGilvray

Thank you to all who attended the Booster Kick Off Meeting!

Please utilize the booster club website for information, updates, ways to get involved and to purchase merchandise. Note that uniform shirts have been restocked. The merchandise team is requesting a maximum purchase of 2 shirts so all athletes/students can get one. Your cooperation is appreciated while more bulk orders are coming in.

2025-2026 memberships are available to purchase on the website - your partnership and support helps every Tiger!

Merchandise questions? Email merchandise@ssmsathletics.com Other questions? Email president@ssmsathletics.com

• The SSMS PTA General Meeting of 25’-26’ is Friday Sept 12th 8:15AM in Sycamore Room. RSVP NOW: SSMS PTA General Meeting RSVP 2025-2026 We have officially passed our membership total from last year-currently at 304 SSMS PTA members! Join PTA TODAY: JoinPTA – JoinPTA You’ll be entered in BOTH upcoming raffles-our next drawing is Oct 30th for a YETI Hopper Flip 12!
• Tuesday your SSMS PTA hosted a Meet The Teacher Pizza Party to help fuel our SSMS teachers & staff before meeting families that evening. Thank you to SudsMonkey for providing the pizza & salad. This event was made possible by support of YOUR membership by joining the PTA for $12-Join PTA TODAY: JoinPTA – JoinPTA
• The SSMS PTA will be hosting Parent to Parent Campus Tours next month-Sept 5th, 19th, and 26th 11:30AM-12:15PM Sign up here: SignUpGenius - Mobile
• Reminders: SSMS 25’ School Picture Day with Photo Texas is Tues Sept 2nd & Wednesday Sept 3rd during your student’s Social Studies class. Pre Order w/ link by Sept 2nd: Sycamore Springs MS (DSISD) Fall 2025 Questions email: abby@phototexasphotography.com
• Reminders: SSMS Yearbooks are for sale NOW! Order here: Sycamore Springs Middle School AUSTIN, TX - 2026 Yearbook | Jostens
• Join DSISD for a Secondary Parent Book Study facilitated by two of our LMHPs on the “Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt to explore how screentime & social media are impacting kids-and what YOU can do to help! Google Meet: Fri Sept 19th -Sign up here: Secondary Anxious Generation Parent Book Study sign up
• Be sure to Like and Follow ourFacebookandInstagram - we post information and updates daily throughout the school year, and we’ll show up more often the more you react to the posts!

Next month, starts a call for entries for the 25’-26’ school year and YOU(I) Belong! in it-stay tuned!

What is Reflections? Reflections is a National PTA sponsored art contest. There are 6 categories you can enter for prizes, money, and scholarships: Dance Choreography , Film Production , Literature, Music Composition , Photography, Visual Arts.

Learn more and get involved! PTA.org/Reflections. Reach out with any questions to our VP of Programs, Laura Roye at programs@ssmspta.org

Community Advisory Committees serve an important role for the district by helping DSISD stay connected with its stakeholders, giving parents and community members the opportunity to participate in our processes and programs while leveraging the knowledge and expertise within the Dripping Springs community to improve our district.

The application window is open until Friday, September 5. Parents and community members will be notified by October 1 if they have been selected for a committee.

Apply Here: https://www.dsisdtx.us/article/2358273

Witness the power of persuasion and performance! The award-winning DSHS Speech and Debate team is proud to present an evening of intellect, eloquence, and entertainment. This showcase is a fantastic opportunity to see our talented students in action as they prepare for the upcoming competition season.

Come and be inspired by a variety of performances, which may include:

• World Schools Debate: Watch teams of students tackle complex global issues in this dynamic and collaborative debate format.

• Congressional Debate: See students act as senators and representatives, debating legislation they've written themselves in a simulation of the U.S. Congress.

• Informative Speaking: Learn about fascinating topics as students deliver well-researched and engaging speeches designed to enlighten the audience.

• Extemporaneous Speaking: Be amazed as competitors analyze and deliver speeches on current events with minimal preparation time.

• Lincoln Douglas Debate: Witness a one-on-one clash of values in this classic philosophical debate format.

• Policy Debate: Observe a deep-dive into complex policy issues, showcasing rigorous research and argumentation in a two-on-two format.

• Oral Interpretation: Be moved by powerful and entertaining performances of literature, including poetry, prose, and drama.

This event is a wonderful way to support our students, learn more about competitive speech and debate, and enjoy a thought-provoking and entertaining evening.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Location: Dripping Springs High School Lecture Hall

Admission: This event is free and open to all students, parents, faculty, and community members.

RSVP: https://forms.gle/MJf9yu6KmjgxmQCZ7

Monday, 8/25 - Labor Day/No School/Student & Staff Holiday

Tuesday, 9/2 - B Day

Fall Pictures; during Social Studies class

7th Football @ DSMS; 4:15/5:30/7:00pm

Wednesday, 9/3 - A Day

Fall Pictures; during Social Studies class

8th Football @ SSMS; 4:15/5:30/7:00pm

Thursday, 9/4 - B Day

Volleyball Team Pictures; 3:00pm

Friday, 9/5 - B Day

PTA Board Meeting; Sycamore Rm @ 8:15am

9/11 - Volleyball vs Lake Travis MS @ SSMS; 8B/7A 5:00pm & 8A/7B 6:15am

9/12 - Football Team Pictures; 7:30am

9/12 - PTA General Members Meeting; Sycamore Rm @ 8:15am

9/12 - XC St. Andrew's MS Invitational, St. Andrew's @ 5:00pm

9/12 - MS Band at Varsity Football Game; 7:30pm @ Tiger Stadium

9/12 - Choir Fall Retreat; SSMS Cafeteria @ 4:30pm

9/12 - Varsity Football vs. Harker heights; Tiger Stadium @ 7:30pm

9/15 - 7th Football @ LTMS; 4:15/5:30/7:00pm

9/16 - 8th Football vs LTMS @ SSMS; 4:15/5:30/7:00pm

9/18 - Volleyball @ HCMS; 8B/7A 5:00pm & 8A/7B 6:15am

9/19 - Fall Pep Rally; During Tiger Win

9/20 - Volleyball Hays Tournament @ Hays CISD

9/22 - 8th Football vs HCMS @ Westlake HS; 5:00/6:30pm

9/22 - School Board Meeting Featuring SSMS; CLL @ 6pm in Board Room

9/23 - 7th Football vs. HCMS @ SSMS; 5:00/6:30pm

9/23 - MS Volleyball Night @ DSHS Volleyball Varsity Game; @ DSHS

9/25 - Volleyball vs HBMS @ SSMS; 8B/7A 5:00pm & 8A/7B 6:15am

9/29 - 7th Football @ HBMS; 4:15/5:30/7:00pm

9/30 - 8th Football vs HBMS @ SSMS; 4:15/5:30/7:00pm

10/2 - Volleyball @ WRMS; 8B/7A 5:00pm & 8A/7B 6:15am

10/6 - 7th Football vs. WRMS @ SSMS; 5:00/6:30pm

10/7 - 8th Football vs WRMS @ Westlake HS; 5:00/6:30pm

10/9 Volleyball @ BCMS; 8B/7A 5:00pm & 8A/7B 6:15am