Message from the Principal

Dear SMS family,

We have a few important reminders as we head into the coming weeks:

📸 School Pictures: School pictures arrived this week and will be distributed to students next week. Picture retakes are scheduled for November 13th.
⏰ Arrive on Time: Class instruction begins promptly at 9:30 AM. Please plan to arrive a little earlier to ensure your child has enough time to get to first period and be ready to learn on time.
👕 Dress Code & IDs: We continue to have concerns with dress code compliance. Students are required to wear their school ID every day, all day. Additionally, Nike Pro shorts and other volleyball-style shorts are not permitted at school. Please check your child's clothing before they leave home and help us avoid dress code issues during the school day.
📱 Cell Phones: Please talk with your child about the state law prohibiting cell phone use in middle schools and our school expectations regarding cell phones. Your support in reinforcing this expectation at home is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for partnering with us to help our students arrive prepared, on time, and ready to learn!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Nzeza

Important Dates

9/28 - Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball

9/28 - Coffee Cart - Volunteers needed please!!

10/5 - Soccer, Tennis, Volleyball

10/1 - PTSO Meeting - 9:30 AM

10/9 - 6th Grade Glow Party - 6:00 PM

10/9 - SAC Meeting - 8:15 AM

10/12 - Professional Day - No School

10/23 - First Quarter Renaissance

School News & Announcements

Time Lapse Lab

Time Lapse Lab 🔬⏱️
Students put their math and science skills into motion during the Time Lapse Lab! Using a recording sheet, students count how many steps they can take in five seconds and measure the distance they can travel. They then use their data to calculate how far they can travel over a given amount of time, exploring the relationship between distance, time, and speed in a hands-on way.

SMS Teacher of the Year

We are thrilled to announce our Sarasota Middle School Teacher of the Year, Science teacher, Mrs. Laura Simonson! Mrs. Simonson teaches 8th graders on our Panther Gifted Academy. She is also our Science department chair and 8th grade PLC Lead. Mrs. Simonson not only loves teaching students, she is extremely adept in tracking student data. Last year, under her leadership, our 8th grade Science scores increased by three percentage points.

Go Gold Day

Thank you to all those students and staff who participated in our Go Gold Day spirit event on Friday. We will continue to collect change and bills for our Go Gold Art Contest Fundraiser through the end of September. Thank you so much again for all your contributions and support. A final tally of raised funds will be shared in early October.

Outsider's Reading Circle

Students in Mrs. West's ELA classes gathered in a readers’ circle this week to read and discuss the novel, The Outsiders. Sometimes the discussion is teacher led, sometimes the discussion is student led. The readers' circle provides the opportunity for face-to-face in-depth discussion, immediate feedback, and deeper text connection and understanding.

Rebel Brings Extra Love to SMS

One of our therapy dog's, Rebel, and his owner, Mrs. Arthur, were out and about on campus this week spreading a little extra joy! Students were excited to stop, say hello, and get some much-needed Rebel love before heading back to class. 🐾❤️

Sometimes, a quick wag, a friendly face, and a few minutes of furry friendship are just what students need to brighten their day!

Attention 6th Grade Parents

This year's 6th grade Glow Party will be held on Friday, October 9th. We are so excited to put on a fun event for them. Please consider helping in any way you can - whether it be volunteering the night of the event, or providing something on our Amazon wish list. Thank you!