Parents, Students, and Faculty,

This week marks the end of the third nine-weeks, with the grading period wrapping up on Wednesday and the fourth nine-weeks beginning on Thursday. It’s hard to believe we are almost done with another year!

We have several important events taking place this week. The ASVAB will be given on campus Tuesday, and FBLA students will attend their leadership conference on Thursday and Friday. As we move into the fourth nine-weeks, we will begin our end-of-year diagnostic and benchmark testing and will soon start preparing for GMAS testing. It is important that students take these assessments seriously and do their very best, as the results help show student growth and can help determine course placement for next year.

In athletics, we have another full week with middle school baseball on Monday and Wednesday, varsity baseball on Tuesday and Friday, tennis competing Monday through Thursday, track on Wednesday, and golf on Monday. As usual, there are plenty of opportunities to come out and support the Indians.

There is a lot happening here, and we are looking forward to another great week at Seminole County Middle High School, the best school in southwest Georgia!

Monday, March 9:

MS Tennis vs Providence (girls) - 3:00 PM
MS Baseball vs Pelham (DH) - 4:30 PM
Golf @ Albany Trojan Invitational

Tuesday, March 10:

ASVAB - 12:00 PM
Leadership Team meeting - 3:30 PM
MS Tennis @ Early Co - 3:30 PM
Varsity Tennis @ Miller Co - 4:00 PM
Varsity Baseball vs Baconton - 5:30 PM

Wednesday, March 11:

Club Rotation D
End of 3rd Nine Weeks
Youth Leadership - 8:30 AM
Safety Team meeting - 3:15 PM
Varsity Tennis @ Early - 4:00 PM
Varsity Track @ Miller - 4:00 PM
MS Baseball @ PCA (DH) - 4:00 PM

Thursday, March 12:

Begin 4th Nine Weeks
Varsity Tennis vs Mitchell - 4:00 PM

Friday, March 13:

Varsity Baseball @ Baconton - 5:30 PM

Attention 6th & 8th grade parents: Beginning on Monday, 3/2 through 3/12 all 6th & 8th grade students will have a mandatory scoliosis screening performed during their tribe time class. This is a state mandated requirement UNLESS the child's parent/guardian returns the screening form SIGNED with "OPT OUT" selected. Forms will be going home the last week of February with your child. Female students are required to wear a sports bra or bathing suit top and Male students need to wear a t-shirt for the test. Your students' tribe time teacher will notify them the day before their screening that they will be screened the next day. If you have any questions please contact the school nurse.

Teachers from six different school districts, including Seminole County Elementary and Middle High School, joined us for a hands-on, high‑energy day of learning. Sandi Parrish and Barbara Boler with Georgia Project Learning Tree, along with Smrithi Satish and Hannah Penn from Georgia Project WET, did an exceptional job facilitating the sessions.

Our educators explored creative and engaging ways to teach students about the environment, conservation, and our local watershed. These topics are more important than ever in today’s world — especially here in our region, where natural resources, agriculture, and community resiliency depend on strong environmental understanding.

This training was made possible through the generous support of the R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation, whose commitment to expanding educational opportunities directly benefits teachers, students, and communities across Georgia. We are truly grateful for their investment in our region.

The Georgia School Climate Survey (GSCS) is a statewide, anonymous survey that identifies issues that affect student achievement and school climate. The survey is designed to provide data for school and district leaders to improve schools. Please use the link below to fill out the survey. The deadline is March 31, 2026. Thank you for your participation!

https://survey.gadoe.org/FM?sid=495A07DB

The Seminole County Steer and Heifer Show was held this past Saturday at the Agricultural Center show barn. Six 4-H and FFA students exhibited their animals in the show. Mr. PJ Budler from Aledo, TX was the judge for the show. The show began at 10:00 AM with showmanship, followed by the Heifer Show, and concluded with the Steer Show. Senior Showmanship was held first, and the winner of this competition was Mindi Shattles, 12th grade FFA member and daughter of Loren and Missy Shattles. The Junior Showmanship class followed with Bowen Kirkland, 8th grade 4-H member and son of Brittany Easom and Bryan Kirkland, finishing as the winner. Showmanship was concluded with the Elementary class won by 1st grade 4-H member Blair Kirkland, daughter of Brittany Easom and Bryan Kirkland. Each of the showmanship class winners was awarded a belt buckle and prize money.

In the heifer show, Abbie Helms, tenth grade FFA member and daughter of Brandon and Leigh Anne Helms , exhibited the Grand Champion with her lb. Registered Shorthorn entry. Preston Smith, ninth grade 4-H member and son of Kyle and Jessica Smith, exhibited the Reserve Champion heifer of the show with his 1120 lb. Commercial heifer entry.

In the steer show, Bowen Kirkland exhibited the Grand Champion with his 1540 lb. Crossbred X steer. The Reserve Champion Steer was a 908 lb. Crossbred X steer exhibited by Blair Kirkland.

Complete Results for the show are as follows:

(Showmanship)

Senior Showmanship (9-12th Grade)

Mindy Shattles – 1st Place

Levi Vickers – 2nd Place

Preston Smith – 3rd Place

Abbie Helms - 4th Place

Junior Showmanship (6-8th Grade)

Bowen Kirkland – 1st Place

Elementary Showmanship (K-5th Grade)

Blair Kirkland

(Heifer Show)

Class 1

Abbie Helms – 1st Place

Levi Vickers – 2nd Place

Preston Smith - 3rd Place

Class 2

Preston Smith - 1st Place

Bowen Kirkland - 2nd Place

Grand Champion Heifer: Abbie Helms

Reserve Grand Champion Heifer: Preston Smith

(Steer Show)

Class 1

Blair Kirkland - 1st Place

Class 2

Bowen Kirkland - 1st Place

Mindy Shattles - 2nd Place

Grand Champion Steer: Bowen Kirkland

Reserve Champion Steer: Blair Kirkland

Doyle Roberts Sportsmanship Award Winner: Levi Vickers

The Seminole County School System recently raised $2,275.00 for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta through a fundraiser sponsored by our CTI students. The funds will help provide clothing for children and teens who arrive in the emergency room and may need a change of clothes during their care.

Students and staff across the system participated to support this meaningful cause. At the Middle High School, Mrs. Kirksey’s Tribe raised the most money, while Mrs. Jodi Harper’s class was the top fundraiser at the Elementary School. Both groups were rewarded with a pizza party for their efforts.

We are proud of our students and staff for coming together to support children in need and for demonstrating the caring spirit of the Seminole County community. #Tribe Strong!

Rylee Scott and Trinity Rykard represented SCMHS at the HOSA State Leadership Conference, held at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. The conference brings together students from across the state to compete in healthcare-related events and strengthen their leadership skills in the health sciences field.

Trinity participated in Home Health Aide and Rylee in Clinical Nursing. Both students gained valuable experience and proudly represented SCMHS while learning and leading among many of Georgia’s top health science students. Nice work, girls!

Support the arts at SCMHS by joining our Fine Arts Booster Club! Your involvement helps provide resources and opportunities for our talented students in band, chorus, visual arts, and drama. Whether it's volunteering your time or offering financial support, every contribution makes a difference. Join us in celebrating and strengthening the arts at SCMHS! Email seminolefinearts@gmail.com for more information.

Seminole swept the Literary Region competition with 8 first-place wins. With a total of 62 points, Seminole County is the Literary Region Champion.

Kayden Peter won first place in Humorous Interpretation and Boys Solo. Milan Richardson won first place in Girls Solo and Dramatic Interpretation. Chloe Herrin, Mary Kate Kelley, and Brooke Robinson won first in Trio. David Jones, Coltin Alday, Kayden Peter, and Bryce Register won first in Quartet. Jamora Henry placed first in Duo Interpretation and second in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking. Emma Godby won first place in International Extemporaneous Speaking. Chloe Herrin won 8th Place in Personal Essay; Ven’Teria McLeroy placed 4th in Literary Analysis; and Mary Kate Kelley placed 5th in Argumentative Essay.

Our band students participated in the Disney Music in Storytelling workshop through Disney Imagination Campus during their recent performance trip. The session, held at EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort, focused on how music is used to enhance storytelling and create immersive experiences. Students engaged in guided listening activities, analyzed musical elements such as tempo, melody, rhythm, and harmony, and discussed how different musical styles influence emotion and audience perception. The workshop emphasized critical listening skills and real-world applications of music concepts, reinforcing classroom instruction in a professional setting aligned with national arts standards. Great job, Green Machine!

GHSA statement on NIL

The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) voted to amend its policies regarding Name, Image, and Likeness payments to prep student-athletes. The changes are focused on curtailing any activity from what is known as NIL Collectives, a system that has permeated and fundamentally altered college athletics. NIL Collectives are shell corporations that function to exploit loopholes in NIL policy and allow donors to pay student-athletes for their athletic talents and enrollment at specific institutions –– these payments are often used in a recruiting context to maintain current players, solicit transfer athletes, or sign top level high school recruits.

With fear of the NIL Collective system seeping down from the NCAA and into the high school level, the GHSA has taken swift action to amend its rules. The new language to GHSA policy was formally voted in yesterday: “No student-athlete may be a member of nor receive compensation or any other benefit from a Collective or NIL Club. A Collective is defined as any group organized or existing for the purpose of compensating or benefiting an individual student[-]athlete or group of student athletes of a member school. NIL Clubs are defined as a group of student athletes organized or existing for the purpose of soliciting funds or other benefits from fans, members or other sources, managing or promoting NIL activities of student athletes or otherwise providing funds or other benefits to an individual student athlete or group of student athletes.”