Middle School South - Weekly Update
August 29, 2025
Hello, Middle School South Community!
Thanks for checking in as we close out our 2nd full week of school!
The building is definitely feeling "settled into" this week as academics start to pick up, athletics hit their stride, and routines get locked down.
This is the time of the year when we keep leaning into expectations and holding students accountable to the rules and procedures that we emphasized in the first week and a half. As always, our students and staff have responded to this lean beautifully.
Thank you at home for helping us hold strong as the year truly starts to get off the ground!
Kris Fuller
MSS Principal
As we all know, raising & teaching children "takes a village." We are so incredibly fortunate in this community to have a strong alliance between our school and our families through a very active Parent-Teacher Organization.
Under the leadership of Mrs. Sarah Narloch and her team of officers, our PTO is an integral part of organizing partnerships in our community and funding countless initiatives here at South that allow us to support and celebrate our whole staff and all of our students.
The best part is that there is ALWAYS room for more!
COME JOIN US!!!
We will hold our first PTO Meeting of the school year IN PERSON on Tuesday, September 2, at 6:00PM! This meeting will take place in the Middle School South Library. There will also be a link to join virtually made available and sent out via email & Infinite Campus Messenger.
This will be an opportunity to hear about all the "news" going on here at South directly from my team as well as the numerous opportunities for involvement and community-building offered by the PTO throughout the year.
I will look forward to seeing you there!
On Thursday, September 4, our building will be OPEN from 5:30PM until 7:00PM to all 7th and 8th Grade Families to come in see our school, and learn more about what this year will look like for your student!
This will be a true "Open House" format, where families are welcomed to walk the building and visit with our 7th and 8th Grade teaching teams, who will be in their respective classrooms and spaces.
This will provide families with the opportunities to stop in at their leisure and learn about the curricula and see the spaces where this learning will occur.
Although teachers will be present and eager to share information about their class, please note that Thursday night is not designed for families to "conference" with teachers about individual students or concerns. For that, we invite you to join us on one of the 3 Family Conference nights later in the Fall.
We'll see you there!
Only a legal parent/ guardian of a student can dismiss a student from school. Siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or other non-guardians, including step-parents who aren't designated as a "guardian" in Infinite Campus, cannot request dismissal. If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking your student up, you must include this information in your note/message/phone call.
When you arrive to pick your student up from school, please report to the main office to sign your student out. You must present an ID for verification. Then, your student will be called down to the office for dismissal.
No student will be released from the building and to a vehicle without being accompanied by the adult who is picking up the student.
Thank you for your understanding and support in the need to ensure the safety of all of our students.
Sometimes, it's necessary for a student to ride home on a different bus with another student. This could be for any number of reasons.
Please remember the three necessary components for this to happen:
(1) A signed note from a legal guardian of the student who is changing buses. This note should include the name of the student as well as the name & bus number of the student whom your child will be going home with.
(2) A signed note from a legal guardian of the family "receiving" the student. If Person A is requesting to go home on the bus with Person B, Person's B's legal guardian also has to provide a note acknowledging the request.
(3) Administrative approval & signature.
Again, this is fundamentally a question of student safety, and we appreciate your partnership in this endeavor!
For your convenience, we will hold THREE Family Conference nights in the fall. This is a chance for your family to come in and have a more in-depth & individualized conversation about your student and their progress in class so far.
Family Conference Nights will be on September 23, September 25, and October 1, from 4:00P - 8:00P.
More information about these Conference evenings as well as information on how to sign-up will be coming soon!
Each year, our students all across the District participate in a series of low-stakes tests called MAP Testing. M.A.P. stands for Measures of Academic Progress, and these tests are designed to assess students' academic progress and growth over time. The data from MAP Growth assessments helps teachers understand where students are in their learning and identify areas where they might need additional support or challenge. This information can then be used to tailor lessons and activities to meet the specific needs of each student, especially in preparation for standardized State Tests in the Spring.
MSS Students will engage in MAP Testing according to the following schedule:
Tuesday, 9/2: Math 6
Wednesday, 9/3: Math 8
Thursday, 9/4: Math 8
Friday, 9/5: Math 7
Monday, 9/8: ELA 6
I share this information simply to keep your family in the loop. No stress or particular preparation required, other than a good night's sleep and a sense of efficacy on the day of!
This year, on top of typical payment methods, parents can purchase at home/online ahead of time!
Please see the flyer linked below for more information on how to pre-pay for our first Kona Ice visit on SEPTEMBER 10, 2025! (Follow the QR Code)
Again, pre-pay is NOT REQUIRED... It's just a convenience!
The use of personal technology, including cell phones, smart watches, and headphones/earbuds is severely restricted at all middle schools.
While these items are permitted to be at school, but they must remain powered off and put away at all times during the day. This includes in class, at lunch/recess, and in the hallways.
Headphones/earbuds may not be worn in the hallway. If a teacher has instructed a student in 6th or 7th Grade to bring headphones to class for an activity, students must CARRY their headphones to the class. 8th Graders must keep their headphones/earbuds in their backpack at all times while in the hallways as well as during class unless explicitly directed by a teacher to use them for an activity.
Students are permitted to use cell phones while riding the bus.
Smart watches are also permitted, but should only be used as a clock while at school.
Students are not permitted to send or receive text messages or calls on cell phones or smart watches during the day. Additionally, photos may not be taken with cell phones or smart watches at school. On state testing days, smart watches are not permitted to be worn.
Infractions may result in a student’s device being taken by building staff and kept in the office until the end of the day. Multiple infractions of these policies will result in the parent/guardian of the student having to come retrieve the device in the main office as well as progressive discipline for the student.
If a parent/guardian needs to reach their student during the school day, they should call the school office.
The school is not responsible for cell phones or smart watches that are lost, stolen, or damaged.
The Fall is a huge time for Lions Athletics! Here's what our athletes are up to in August... Come cheer them on with us!
GIRLS' GOLF
9/2 -- Away vs. Upper Arlington MSs (played at Raymond Memorial Golf Club) -- 4:30PM
GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL
9/2 -- Home v. New Albany Middle School -- 5:30PM
9/3 -- Away @ Newark Heritage MS -- 5:30PM
GIRLS' TENNIS
9/2 -- Home v. Upper Arlington Jones MS (played at Blacklick Athletic Complex) -- 5:30PM
9/3-- Home v. Dublin Karrer MS -- 5:30PM
8/28 -- Away @ Upper Arlington Hastings MS -- 5:30Pm
CROSS COUNTRY
9/6 -- Away @ Watkins Memorial Invitation -- 1:00PM
8th GRADE FOOTBALL
9/4 -- Home v. Reynoldsburg Waggoner Road MS (played at GMSW) -- 5:30PM
7th GRADE FOOTBALL
9/3 -- Home v. Westerville Genoa Heritage MS (played at GMSE) -- 5:30PM
Mark your calendar for the following dates...
Monday, September 1: NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
Tuesday, September 2: First PTO Meeting of the Year!! (6:00P -- in person at MSS Library & Virtual Option available as well)
Thursday, September 4: 7th & 8th Grade Open House (5:30P - 7P)
Tuesday, September 23: Family Conferences (4P - 8P)
Thursday, September 25: Family Conferences (4P - 8P)
Wednesday, October 1: Family Conferences (4P - 8P)
