Weekly Update 10/19/26

Parents, Students, and Faculty,

After a busy Homecoming Week and a well-deserved Fall Break, we are excited to get back into the swing of things at Seminole County Middle School! Before the break, we had a great week filled with activities and school spirit! Homecoming Week was full of fun, creativity, and plenty of Seminole spirit! Although Hurricane Isaias caused some changes to our plans, we were able to move the Homecoming football game and recognition of our Middle School Homecoming Representatives to Thursday night. Our Middle School Homecoming Dance also went on as planned, giving students an opportunity to enjoy an evening of music, dancing, and fun with their classmates. It was a great way to wrap up our Homecoming celebrations!

We hope everyone enjoyed a relaxing Fall Break! Now, it's time to get back to work as we begin the second nine weeks! Monday will be a Teacher Workday/Digital Learning Day, with students returning to school on Tuesday. Report cards will also go home Tuesday, providing a great opportunity for students and parents to review first nine weeks progress, celebrate successes, and set goals for the next grading period.

We have a busy week ahead! On Wednesday, some of our students will travel to the Sunbelt Ag Expo, while others will participate in our "Be a Winner" assembly. Our Middle School basketball teams will also kick off their season with home games Wednesday! On Thursday, we will celebrate students who have earned Good Standing with a special reward party recognizing their positive behavior, attendance, and academic efforts. Our basketball teams will also travel to Whigham for another round of games.

It's hard to believe we are already beginning the second nine weeks! We are looking forward to getting back into our routines, celebrating student successes, and continuing the work we started in August. It's going to be another great week at Seminole County Middle School, where we continue Building the Tribe and helping every student Belong. Grow. Achieve.

Monday, October 19:

• Teacher Work Day/Distance Learning Day
• BBB - 8:30 AM

Tuesday, October 20:

• Report Cards

• Fall Picture Retakes
• "Be a Winner" assembly - 8:20 AM
• Expo - 7:15 AM
• Basketball vs PCA - 4:30 PM

Thursday, October 22:

• Basketball @ Whigham - 4:30 PM
• Powder Puff & Community Pep Rally - 5:30 PM

Friday, October 23:

• Varsity Football @ Miller - 7:30 PM

Help A Child Smile Mobile Dentistry will serve middle and high school students on Monday, November 16th.

Applications are being sent home for families who are interested in having their student receive dental services. An online application may also be completed using the following link: https://www.myschooldentist.com/

Applications must be returned to the front office by November 9th.

If you have any questions regarding the dental clinic, please contact Seminole County School System Social Worker, Bianca Bright, at 229-524-2433.

Please note: If your student already has an established dentist and receives regular dental care, we encourage you to continue using their current dental provider and disregard this program.

As you make plans throughout the year, we encourage families to use the holidays, breaks, and scheduled days off listed on this flyer for vacations, appointments, and other activities whenever possible. We know some absences are unavoidable, but every day in school matters! Planning ahead helps our students stay on track, connected, and ready to learn.

Be here. Be on time. Be ready to learn. Be Tribe Strong! 💚

This week, we are excited to spotlight three staff members who support our students and teachers in many different ways: Haley Rykard, Kristi Albritton, and Melanie Spooner. Mrs. Rykard serves as our Middle School Guidance Counselor, helping students navigate academic, social, and personal challenges while encouraging them to make positive choices. Mrs. Albritton, our Middle School Academic Coach, works alongside teachers to strengthen instruction and support student learning. Mrs. Spooner serves as our Middle School Interventionist, providing additional support to help students strengthen skills and experience success. Together, these ladies play an important role in helping our students Belong, Grow, and Achieve as we continue Building the Tribe!

Homecoming brought plenty of fun, creativity, and school spirit to Seminole County Middle School! This year’s dress-up themes included Heroes vs. Villains, Teachers vs. Students, Country vs. Country Club, Green and White, and Summer vs. Winter. Students and staff showed off creative outfits, and our Tribes enjoyed a little friendly competition for the most participation!

The fun continued Saturday from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at our Homecoming Dance! Students had a great time dancing and spending time with friends, keeping the dance floor busy throughout the evening. Tickets included complimentary punch and cookies, and our PTO offered pizza and sodas for purchase. We appreciate our PTO and everyone who helped make the evening such a success!

From dress-up days to the dance floor, Homecoming gave our students plenty of opportunities to make memories and celebrate together. What a fun way to continue Building the Tribe!

Our 7th grade students took their study of world religions beyond the classroom with an interactive Gallery Walk in the Media Center! Students rotated through stations where they analyzed primary sources, explored the core beliefs and traditions of major world religions, and worked with classmates to compare what they learned.

Activities like this give students an opportunity to move, collaborate, think critically, and engage with the content in a different way. It was a great example of our students taking an active role in their learning while building a deeper understanding of the world around them!

Our 8th grade students had a great opportunity to begin exploring their futures as they attended the SCMHS Career Fair! Students visited with representatives from local businesses and organizations, learning about different careers, the skills needed for success, and the opportunities available right here in our community.

As our 8th graders prepare to transition to high school, experiences like this help them begin thinking about their interests, future goals, and the pathways they may want to pursue. It was a great opportunity to connect what they are learning in school to real-world possibilities.

We appreciate SCMHS, the event organizers, and all of the businesses and community members who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences with our students. Opportunities like this help our students see that the choices they make today can open doors for tomorrow!

The 2026 SC Football Program will be available for purchase at all home games this season for $5.00 each. Programs are produced, sold by, and support the SCMHS Seminole Fine Arts Boosters (SFAB) which benefits the Band, Chorus, and Visual Art Departments. Programs are available at the SFAB table next to concessions. Each program contains a unique number in the centerfold, and is automatically entered into the Halftime Program Prize Drawing. Winning numbers are called at halftime, and prizes may be picked up at the SFAB table immediately following the announcement. SFAB will also have SC Spirit Items for sale to help you cheer on our Indians! Cash, Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal are acceptable payments. LET’S GO, INDIANS!

Each month, we recognize students who demonstrate what it means to Belong, Grow, and Achieve at SCMS. We are proud to celebrate our September honorees!

Our Belong winners are Charlie Deibert, Bryan Collier, and Keenan Scott, recognized for helping create a positive school community where others feel welcomed and valued. Our Grow winners are Ryan Reed, Kimberly Trejo, and Karmen Leonard, recognized for showing growth through effort, perseverance, and a willingness to improve. Our Achieve winners are Ja'khyi Greene, Harper Atkinson, and Cedrianna Harris, recognized for demonstrating excellence and working hard to reach their goals.

Our September Tribe Builder Staff Spotlight goes to Mr. Michael Barber! Mr. Mike was nominated for stepping up when he was needed, always with a positive attitude and never a complaint. He has also taken the time to teach and work alongside new employees, helping prepare them for success. His kindness, encouragement, and willingness to help wherever needed are wonderful examples of what it means to be a Tribe Builder.

Congratulations to all of our September honorees! We are proud to have each of you helping us Build the Tribe at SCMS!

Our 8th grade students are rocking their i-Ready Reading lessons! Several students have gone above and beyond, completing anywhere from 10 to an impressive 60 lessons! Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to improving their reading skills are worth celebrating.

We are proud of these students for taking ownership of their learning and putting in the extra effort to strengthen their skills. Keep up the great work, 8th graders! You are showing us what it means to Grow and Achieve at SCMS!

School Attendance public service announcement from GaDOE and Georgia Public Broadcasting