Sycamore Springs Middle School
Weekly Newsletter
October 25, 2026
Hello Sycamore Springs Middle School Families,
It's hard to believe we're already heading into the final week of October! We have another exciting
week ahead in Tiger Nation, with plenty of opportunities for our students to get involved, show their school spirit, and celebrate all the great things happening at SSMS.
Red Ribbon Week is here! We're looking forward to seeing our Tigers participate in this week's dress-up days as we come together to promote healthy choices and a drug-free lifestyle. We'll wrap up the week with our costume contest on Thursday, which is always a fun opportunity for students to show their creativity and school spirit!
There is so much to celebrate across our campus, from athletics and fine arts to the many ways our students and staff continue to make SSMS a special place. Be sure to scroll through this week's newsletter for upcoming events, important reminders, and some wonderful Tiger celebrations!
As always, thank you for your continued partnership and support of our Tigers.
Have a great week, and Go Tigers! 🐯
Sincerely,
Kelly Miller
Principal
1. ❤️ Red Ribbon Week is HERE! Join StuCo in celebrating Red Ribbon Week October 26th-29th Including a Costume Contest! See the section below for our daily dress-up themes and details!
2. 🐯 SSMS School Board Spotlight – Monday, October 26! We are excited to have our students representing SSMS at Monday evening's DSISD Board of Trustees meeting! Our students will be highlighting the incredible Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities available at SSMS and sharing how these courses help prepare students for future learning and career pathways. We are so proud of our students and teachers for showcasing the amazing things happening in our classrooms!
3. Don't forget that this Friday, October 30, is a teacher workday and student holiday. We hope that you and your family have a wonderful Halloween and enjoy the extended weekend! 🎃👻
4. Attention all Veterans - We invite all veterans to join SSMS as we honor you for your selfless service to our nation. A ceremony will be held on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 10:25 am. Please fill out the form at this LINK so that we can prepare a seat for you.
5. Lost and Found - This week is donation week! The Lost & Found will be located in the front rotunda or out front of the school from Monday, October 26th through Thursday, October 29th at 12:00 p.m. After 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, all remaining items will be gathered and donated to a local charity or shelter. Any jewelry, electronics, or other valuables are kept in the front office, please see the receptionist for assistance with those items. They will be donated as well.
6. Tiger Talk: Ready, Set, RALLY! – POSTPONED. The PTA's Ready, Set, RALLY! Tiger Talk originally scheduled for October 28 has been postponed until January 2027. This change will allow families to receive the most up-to-date information about Texas PTA advocacy ahead of Rally Day on February 22. See below for more details!
7. The DSISD Gifted & Talented referral link is now live on the DSISD GT Website until Friday, November 13. Parents may complete the referral form for their student to be tested for the DSISD Gifted & Talented Program. All referrals must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on November 13 to be considered for this testing cycle. For more details on the DSISD GT program, please visit the DSISD GT website.
8. Secondary Grading Information: The Connection Between Attendance and Learning
At DSISD, we believe consistent attendance plays an important role in student learning and academic success. Grades are intended to reflect what students know and are able to do, but regular attendance helps ensure students have the instruction, practice, and feedback they need to demonstrate that learning.
When students miss class, they may miss important instruction, classroom discussions, opportunities to ask questions, or feedback that helps them prepare for assessments. While assignments can often be made up, the learning experiences that happen in the classroom aren't always easy to recreate.
Under Texas's 90% Attendance Rule, students must attend at least 90% of the days a class is offered to receive credit or a final grade for that class. This requirement is separate from a student's numerical grade and is calculated by individual class period at SSMS.
How can families help? Encourage regular attendance, help your Tiger stay on top of missed assignments, and remind them to communicate with teachers when they are absent. If your Tiger is sick, please keep them home. Our teachers and administrative team are here to help students stay on track when absences occur.
9. Attendance Matters: Medical Appointments & Attendance
Our Tigers finished Week 11 with 96.6% attendance, just below our 96.9% campus goal. A shout-out to our 6th graders, who led the way this week with 97.1% attendance! Although we dipped slightly this week, our year-to-date weekly average remains above our campus goal.
Did you know that some medical appointments can qualify as state-excused absences? Under Texas attendance guidelines, a healthcare appointment may qualify when a student attends part of the school day on the same day as the appointment and the family provides the required documentation.
Whenever possible, please schedule appointments outside the school day. When that isn't possible, having your Tiger attend school before or after the appointment helps protect valuable instructional time and may allow the absence to qualify as state-excused.
For additional information, visit the DSISD Attendance webpage.
•Thank you for all the contributions to the 3rd Annual SSMS PTA Staff Appreciation Halloweenie! We appreciate every chili, dessert, item, & dollar that made it possible. Shout out to Sami’sSweetsATX & Tamale de Flor for their generous donations. Please, consider donating to the next event, Sugar Shack Friday Dec 11th HERE:
•ACTION: Pumpkins, patches & PTA perks—fall fun that gives back to SSMS! Visit the Driftwood Fall Festival NOW until Sun Nov 1st by purchasing your ticket using our specific SSMS link here: Driftwood Fall Festival and SSMS PTA gets $5 per ticket-mention we sent you too!
•ACTION: LAST raffle for the YETI Roadie 15 Hard Cooler is THIS Fri Oct 31st and YOU have to be in it to win it! We are at 350+ members, and so close to our goal of 425, so join today at JoinPTA – JoinPTA
•Mark your calendar: The last SSMS PTA Membership Meeting of 2026 is Friday November 13th at 8:15AM in the Sycamore Room.
•ACTION: We love our SSMS Community for your support of SSMS students & staff! Your PTA donations—both BIG & small—help fund programs, events, grants, & staff appreciations like the upcoming Veterans Day celebration that make SSMS so special. Sponsorships start at $250 and offer great visibility on our social media with over 2K followers! Donate today: Donate to Sycamore Springs Middle School PTA to help us support our students, teachers, and staff.
•THANK YOU to our SSMS Community for supporting our SOLD OUT SSMS PTA Concessions for the SSMS vs DSMS games this past Tuesday. We appreciate our partnership with the SSMS Athletic Booster to make it possible!
ACTION: NEED HELP!-Open slots available are: Tues 10/27, Thurs 10/29, and Tues 11/3 Opportunities to volunteer at SSMS! You can help free up teaching time to educate & mentor by simply volunteering to make copies in our workroom WEEKLY. Please, sign up for one or MORE slots that is convenient for you. Sign up here: SignUp.com Mobile
•Register NOW at SSMS Spelling Bee Registration to receive the official word list to prepare for the SSMS PTA Scripps Spelling Bee. Date is TBA mid January 27’ in the SSMS Cafeteria. Questions, email: programs@ssmspta.org
•SSMS PTA is excited to participate in the Nat’l PTA Reflections! It encourages students of ALL ages & abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Students create and submit original works of art in the medium of their choice— dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts — reflecting on a specific theme. This year's theme is "What Culture Means to Me.We would love for you to participate! Rules and entry form now electronic, here: https://www.txpta.org/reflections-participation
•Be sure to Like & Follow Sycamore Springs Middle School PTA on ourFacebookandInstagram We post information & updates daily!
It's National School Bus Safety Week
National School Bus Safety Week is recognized each October to highlight one shared priority: keeping students safe on and around school buses.
Safety is a shared responsibility! Here’s how you can help keep our students safe:
- Parents: Talk to your kids about bus safety! Remind them to stand 3 giant steps back from the curb, make eye contact with the driver before crossing, and never walk behind a school bus.
- Drivers: Slow down near bus stops and on neighborhood roads. Remember: yellow flashing lights mean prepare to stop, and red flashing lights with an extended stop arm mean STOP — it's the law.
For more bus safety tips, please visit dsisdtx.us/bussafety.
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