Weekly Update 2/9/26

Parents, Students, and Faculty,

This past week was a busy one—but a great one—as our boys basketball team clinched 1st place in the region heading into the Region Tournament in Albany. They will take the court on both Thursday and Friday nights as they begin tournament play, and we are excited to see them represent Seminole County. The girls team will also play in the tournament on Monday after their win against Quitman on Saturday. Baseball season is now underway as well, with a varsity home game on Tuesday and an away game at Miller on Friday. Middle school baseball will travel to Whigham on Thursday, and tennis will compete at home on Tuesday and away on Thursday—so it’s a full week of athletics across the board.

We also have several important events happening on campus. Troy University will be here Monday for a lunch visit with interested students, there will be an informational meeting Tuesday about the upcoming Boston trip (Class of 2027 & Class of 2028), and Jostens will be on campus Wednesday to collect class ring and senior supply payments. On Thursday, we will host our annual 5th Grade Parent Night to share important information about the transition from elementary school to middle school. We encourage all current 5th graders and their parents to attend.

As Valentine’s Day approaches, please remember that deliveries on Friday must follow school guidelines, so be sure to check the rules beforehand. Looking ahead, we will enjoy an extra-long weekend with Winter Break on Monday and Tuesday (the 16th and 17th). We will still have baseball at home on both of those days. We hope everyone has a great upcoming week, a wonderful Valentine’s Day with loved ones, and a restful long weekend before returning to

Seminole County Middle High School, the best school in southwest Georgia!

Monday, February 9:

• Troy University Lunch visit - 11:00 AM

Tuesday, February 10:

• Leadership Team meeting - 3:30 PM
• Varsity Tennis vs Dothan - 4:00 PM
• Varsity Baseball vs Blountstown - 5:00 PM
• Boston Tour meeting - 5:30 PM

Wednesday, February 11:

• Club Rotation D
• Progress Reports
• Jostens Lunch visit - 11:00 AM
• Safety Team meeting - 3:15 PM

Thursday, February 12:

• Youth Leadership - 11:00 AM
• MS PLCs - 12:30 PM
• MS Tennis (Girls Only) @ Westgate - 2:00 PM
• Varsity Tennis @ Westgate - 4:00 PM
• MS Baseball @ Whigham - 4:30 PM
• 5th Grade Parent Night - 5:30 PM

Friday, February 13:

• Varsity Baseball @ Thomasville - 5:00 PM

Monday, February 16:

• Winter Break
• MS Baseball vs Thomasville - 4:30 PM

Tuesday, February 17:

• Winter Break
• Varsity Baseball vs Miller - 6:00 PM

Flu, Cold & COVID season are here! The best treatment is PREVENTION. Good hand washing, not sharing drinks, and covering your sneezing or cough in the bend of your arm are all good ways to help prevent the spread of sickness. Per the CDC you cannot tell the difference between flu and COVID-19 by the symptoms alone because many of the signs and symptoms are the same. Testing is needed to confirm a diagnosis. If your child has a temp of 100.4 or above it is recommended that you take them to your doctor's office or a rapid care clinic for evaluation. DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY HAVE A FEVER OR ARE VOMITING. You will need to provide a parent note OR a doctor's excuse if you are out of parent notes. Any questions please reach out to Nurse Tina at tina.calhoun@seminole.k12.ga.us

Sixth grade science students are growing crystals using borax as part of a hands-on investigation of minerals. This experiment helps students meet Georgia 6th grade science standards by exploring how minerals form, identifying their physical properties and understanding crystal structures. Through this real world lab, students connect classroom science to natural processes that occur deep within the Earth.

On Thursday, January 29th, two FFA members traveled to Irwin County to compete in the Lawnmower Operations CDE. Members had to answer questions on a written exam dealing with lawnmower operations, maintenance, and safety, determine the problem and the best solution to the problem in ten problem solving questions, and complete a practical driving test where they will exhibit their skills in driving a lawnmower through a designed course.
Our Senior contestant was Christian Albritton who placed 1st in Area 5 and will advance to the state contest this Saturday! Our Junior Contestant was Gavin Riley who placed 6th in Area!
Congratulations to these students for representing Seminole so well! Go Indians!

Seminole County CTI will be selling stickers for $1 each to support Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). When selecting a charity to sponsor, CTI Coordinator Kaylah Andrews, along with Mrs. Charlotte Thomas and Mr. Mitch Royals, connected with CHOA and learned of a significant and ongoing need for clothing and this fundraiser will directly help with that urgent need.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has been dedicated exclusively to caring for children and teens since 1915. What began as two small cottages with just 20 beds has grown into a nationally ranked pediatric healthcare system, serving more than one million patient visits each year across three hospitals. As a not-for-profit organization, CHOA relies heavily on community support to carry out its mission of making kids better today and healthier tomorrow.

When children arrive in the emergency department—especially following traumatic events—their clothing often must be cut away to provide immediate care, leaving them without appropriate clothes to wear home. While CHOA receives many generous donations for infants and younger children, there remains a critical need for new clothing items for older children and teenagers. Funds raised through this sticker sale will help purchase these urgently needed items, restoring comfort and dignity to patients during a vulnerable time.

Please consider supporting this important cause by purchasing a sticker. Teachers in our elementary, middle, and high schools will proudly display the stickers in their classrooms. Thank you for supporting CHOA and CTI!

The Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Department at SCMHS is more than a collection of classes - it is a launchpad for student success. Through hands-on learning, real-world applications, and a commitment to preparing students for life beyond high school, CTAE plays a vital role in shaping confident, capable, and career-ready graduates.

What really sets the CTAE department apart is its incredible teachers!! They bring energy, experience, and heart into their classrooms, creating environments where students feel comfortable trying new things and confident asking questions. These teachers don't just teach content — they mentor, motivate, and inspire. They take the time to get to know their students, recognize their strengths, and help them see possibilities they may not have considered before.

CTAE classes at SCMHS are engaging and practical, giving students skills they can actually use. Whether students are exploring career options, building technical skills, or preparing for life after high school, CTAE teachers make learning meaningful and relevant. Lessons are connected to the real world, helping students understand not just what they’re learning, but why it matters.

The department also plays a huge role in building student confidence. Through our Career, Technical Student Organizations - FFA, HOSA, FBLA, CTI and FGE - CTAE teachers encourage leadership, teamwork, and responsibility, pushing students to take pride in their work. They celebrate successes, support students through challenges, and never stop believing in their potential. That encouragement makes a lasting impact well beyond the classroom.

The CTAE department at SCMHS is a reflection of the dedication and passion of its teachers. Their commitment to students, their creativity in the classroom, and their genuine enthusiasm for education make this program an essential part of the school. Because of them, students leave CTAE not only with valuable skills, but with confidence, direction, and a sense of purpose.

We appreciate these teachers pictured here and are proud to showcase a CTAE program that truly prepares students for success - wherever their paths may lead. #ctaedelivers

• 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’s Chorus and Drama students traveled to The Cultural Arts Center in Dothan, Alabama to watch SEACT’s Youth perform “Anastasia the Musical”. Afterwards, students talked with the cast and shared their personal experiences on the stage. It was a wonderful day with likeminded individuals. We look forward to seeing what’s in store for next year.

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.”

School Attendance public service announcement from GaDOE and Georgia Public Broadcasting