SMS Press

This week we had the pleasure of hosting some special guests at SMS! Local business leaders toured our school, discovering all the fantastic initiatives taking place here. They explored various classrooms, visited our Industrial Tech and Music Departments, and checked out Food Service.

Our guests learned about our Intramural Program, BARR, the R&R Room, and the PAES Lab. 8th grade leaders led a lesson similar to those in Spartan Start and shared a presentation that highlighted what our students are most proud of about our school and district!

We look forward to sharing updates and more information about our BARR Program and the R&R Room with families soon.

Week one of Chamber Orchestra rehearsal!

SMS Cross Country Intramural hosted its 3rd Annual Banana Relay at practice on Monday! Bunches competed against each other in a relay format, while using a banana instead of batons.

Hydration is often an overlooked but very important part of EVERY person’s success throughout a day. It helps improve concentration, memory, performance in classrooms and sports, and generally feeling your best. The health office sees a ton of students that have headaches, dizziness, fatigue, etc. and oftentimes kids don't have a water bottle or haven’t drank enough (or any) water in their school day. The health office staff encourages all kids to have a water bottle on hand or in their locker; one or two drinks at a water fountain is not enough to keep you sharp and focused throughout the day. Aim for 6-8 cups of water each day. Also, many fruits and vegetables have a naturally higher amount of water content which is a bonus for hydration and incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your balanced meals. To sum it up: drink more water!! It’s good for your health :)

October is recognized nationally as Bully Prevention Month. This is a crucial time to reinforce the values of kindness, respect, and inclusion that we emphasize daily here at SMS. Middle school can be a challenging time socially, and working together is the best way to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all of our students.

To support this movement at SMS, counselors are using Second Step curriculum to provide Spartan Start lessons surrounding bullying, harassment and conflicts. Through these lessons, our goal is for students to develop higher levels of social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making skills.

As school counselors, we encourage you to use this month as an opportunity to have open and proactive conversations about bullying at home.

Tips for Incorporating Bully Prevention Conversations at Home:

1. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Instead of just asking, "Were you bullied today?", try:

• "What did you notice your friends or classmates doing to help someone today?"

• "Tell me about a time you saw someone being treated unfairly."

• "If you saw someone being left out at lunch, what could you do?"

2. Define What Bullying Is: Make sure your child understands that bullying is repeated aggressive behavior intended to hurt or control another person. It can be physical, verbal, social (like exclusion), or cyber. Distinguish it from a one-time conflict or mean moment.

3. Stress the Role of the Upstander: Emphasize that being a passive bystander can be hurtful. Talk about ways they can safely intervene, such as:

• Reporting the behavior to a trusted adult (teacher, coach, or parent). OR use Speak Up Speak Out (SUSO)

• Distracting the people involved by changing the subject.

• Showing support for the person being targeted after the incident is over.

4. Model Kindness and Respect: Your child learns from watching you. Demonstrate positive conflict resolution, empathy, and respectful communication in your own interactions.

If your child ever shares a concern about bullying—whether they are experiencing it or witnessing it—please reassure them and contact your child’s school counselor so we can address the situation at school. Utilizing Speak Up Speak Out (SUSO) is also a helpful tool for our students to use; When you see something, say something! Working as a team, we can make our middle school a welcoming place for everyone.

-SMS School Counselors

Last week, students and staff celebrated Homecoming by participating in dress up days throughout the week.

Last week, our 8th grade leaders played Work, Respect, Belong Bingo with the 6th graders!

Audrey showing off her 19 year old vintage book that she bought at a thrift store!

Leeland holding our new library mascot. We are going to have the students submit suggestions a a name for our new owl.

Check out the opportunities to support SMS students and classrooms below! Donations can be dropped off in the main office. Thanks in advance for your support!

Please review the fan expectations below!

Class starts each day with students in classrooms by 7:53am. To see if your child has been tardy to any of their classes, check PowerSchool to view your child’s attendance. If you see any errors, please contact the main office.

**Our school day ends at 3:10 pm. Unless your student is registered for an after school activity, they must leave the building by 3:30pm.**