SMS Press

Hydration is often an overlooked but very important part of EVERY person’s success throughout a day. It helps improve concentration, memory, performance in classrooms and sports, and generally feeling your best. The health office sees a ton of students that have headaches, dizziness, fatigue, etc. and oftentimes kids don't have a water bottle or haven’t drank enough (or any) water in their school day. The health office staff encourages all kids to have a water bottle on hand or in their locker; one or two drinks at a water fountain is not enough to keep you sharp and focused throughout the day. Aim for 6-8 cups of water each day. Also, many fruits and vegetables have a naturally higher amount of water content which is a bonus for hydration and incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your balanced meals. To sum it up: drink more water!! It’s good for your health :)

We will be celebrating Unity Day on Wednesday October 22nd!

This short video gives you an overview of what Unity Day is and why it’s important.

Unity Day, started by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in October 2011, is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month. This is a day when we can come together to send a visible message of building commUNITY through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. The call to action is simple: wear and share the color orange. This vibrant statement becomes a conversation starter, showing support for students who have been bullied and for bullying prevention.

We ask that on Wednesday October 22nd, students wear the color orange to show their participation in this call to action.

Why the color orange? Unity Day is celebrated in October, and orange is a color commonly identified with the month and the autumn season. It is also a color that is associated with safety and visibility. It is a color described as warm and inviting, and its vibrancy makes an impactful statement.

The Spartan Start class wearing the most orange in their grade level will win a barrel of cheese balls! One Spartan Start from each grade level will win!

With the continual conversations about bullying during our Bullying Prevention Month, we are seeing an increase in cyberbullying happening outside of school. It is important to check in with your child and closely monitor their use of technology.

According to stopbullying.gov, cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.

The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:

• Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok

• Text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices

• Instant messaging, direct messaging, and online chatting over the internet

• Online forums, chat rooms, and message boards, such as Reddit

• Email

• Online gaming communities

There are many apps to help you monitor your child’s phone use. Forbes Advisor has a top rated list of parental control apps that allow you to have a wide range of control settings and monitoring systems. With your help, we can begin to decrease cyberbullying happening at SMS!

During 6th grade BARR I-Time last week students participated in an activity titled Shields. The purpose of the Shields I-Time activity is to help students and staff learn more about one another and continue to identify commonalities. On the shields participants included a place they would like to travel, their favorite movie, qualities friends would identify about themselves, and one thing they like about school.

During 7th grade BARR I-Time this week students participated in the lesson, Who Is Your Champion? They watched a TED Talk by Rita Pierson titled Every Kid Needs a Champion, discussed the qualities of a teacher or adult that made them feel valued, and identified at least one adult they can go to for help or support. The students then created How To Be a Champion at SMS posters for the staff.

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!

Please review the fan expectations below!

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.**