💐 May: Asian and Pacific-American Heritage Month, Better Hearing & Speech Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, National Mental Health Month

• May 21: Junior Beta Inductions, SMS Library, 6:30 pm
  
• May 22: SMS Band Concert at 7 PM, SHS Auditorium
• May 24: Snow Day in May - All Schools/Offices Closed
• May 27: Memorial Day - All Schools/Offices Closed

📝 Upcoming Testing Dates

• ✅ May 15: Reading 7th Grade
• ✅ May 17: Reading 8th Grade
  
• May 21: Math 7
• May 31: Math 8 and Algebra I
• June 4: Science 8 and Civics 8

🌻 June: National School Safety Month

• June 12, 13: Three Hour Early Dismissal for All Schools
• June 13: Last Day of School/End of Fourth Quarter/Second Semester; Elementary and Middle School Report Cards Issued
• June 13: School Board Meeting, 6:00 PM, Westside Elementary
• June 14: Staff Work Day/High School Graduations
• June 17: Summer Hours Begin
• June 19: Juneteenth - All Schools/Offices Closed

Congratulations to our 7th grade Honor Roll and All A recipients from the 3rd Quarter! The videos below have been played during the morning news, and we look forward to recognizing our 8th grade recipients at our promotion ceremony on June 10th.

Honor Roll Video Link

All A Video Link

Rising 7th graders will receive a copy of this flyer (linked here) next week during their English class. Students will bring this flyer home in order to make decisions about exploratory class choices for next year. Please talk with your student about their selections, mark off the selected options and consider alternate choices, and have your student return this on Wednesday, May 22nd. We will be selecting students' top choices of exploratory courses on the 22nd and 23rd of next week. Please reach out with any questions you may have.

Please remind your students of our dress code expectations as the weather continues to warm up. Here are the dress code expectations that were outlined at the beginning of the year in the student handbook:

STUDENT DRESS CODE

• Students are expected to dress appropriately for a K-12 educational environment. Any attire that inhibits the learning environment will be viewed as inappropriate. Inappropriately dressed students’ parents/guardians will be called to bring appropriate clothing before students can attend class. If a parent/guardian is unable to bring a change of clothes or an alternate, more appropriate outfit will be provided by the school (SMS PE uniform).

The following clothing is not permitted:

• Hats, hoodie, and other head coverings (unless religious or medical purposes).

• Sunglasses (unless a medical note is provided and on file).

• Clothing with language or images that are vulgar, discriminatory, or obscene, or clothing that promotes illegal or violent conduct, such as the unlawful use of weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or drug paraphernalia or clothing that contains threats such as gang symbols is prohibited.

• Clothing that exposes cleavage, private parts, the midriff, or undergarments and/or is see-through, is prohibited.

• Pajama tops, bottoms, and slippers; unless Spirit Day.

• Flip-flops, sandals (with and without backs) and slides are not permitted in the gym or other school activities that require physical safety (shall your child be injured due to flip-flops, sandals, slippers, and slides, the school will not be held liable - wear at your own risk).

Junior Beta Inductions will be held on Tuesday, May 21st at 6:30 pm in the SMS Library.

SMS Career Day is returning on Tuesday, June 11th! We would love for you to come join us and share your career with our school! We are looking for careers from all areas and experiences.

We need class presenters and booth presenters during lunch shifts. Class presentors will have 30 minutes to share their experiences with students and answer questions. Lunch booths will be held from 11-1, with students coming up to the tables throughout their lunch shifts.

Please let us know if you would like to participate by completing this form: SMS Career Day Sign Up. We are excited for you to join our students in career exploration!

All attendance notes may be handwritten and dropped off at the main office, or you can use this link (https://forms.gle/BmFXDUdgh3bSfTbD9) to submit the notes as well.

You are also able to email, scan, or screenshot to Ms. Davidson at adavidson@iwcs.k12.va.us.

Excused Absences: Students are only allowed 5 parent notes per semester. There is no limit to doctors' notes.

Hello all, it is that time of the year again where Riverside is assisting in hosting sports physicals for all our athletes! There will be two dates for physicals in Isle of Wight County, both dates will cost $20 cash or check made out to Smithfield Athletics per athlete.

Wednesday May 29th, 2024 at Windsor High School 4-6 PM

Monday June 10th, 2024 at Smithfield High School 4-6 PM

Attached below is the most up today physical form from the VHSL, this must be printed, signed and dated in all areas by athlete/parent before they come to the physical. Unless the parent is with the athlete and can fill out all necessary forms on site.

Physical copies of the forms are available in the front office of the high school, and available to print at home via VHSL website, below is the link as well.

https://www.vhsl.org/vhsl-physical-form/

Riverside is also helping host and put on many other physical dates throughout the areas/school they service. Below are those dates and locations, prices for physicals may vary by school.

5/15 Heritage HS

5/21 Bruton HS

6/3 James Blair MS

6/5 Tabb HS

6/12 Denbigh HS

6/26 York HS

7/10 Warwick HS

Isle of Wight County Schools considers all current and past employees as part of our family. We celebrate them when they are with us, and when they retire. We also know many members of the community would like to join in celebrating them when they are no longer with us. To that end, IWCS has created a page where anyone can share information on the passing of a former employee. The information will be posted below. To submit information, use the online In Memoriam form. Here is a link to the In Memoriam page.

If your student(s) ride an IWCS school bus, please join our new Remind group by using this code: @smsbusinfo.

Through this group, SMS will begin sharing bus updates in the morning and afternoon as we receive them from transportation. Thank you!

The Focus is the Panther Expectations

Be Respectful

Be Responsible

Be Safe

SMS is using Panther Tickets.

Students must be responsible for their own tickets.

Cashing-In Tickets

Rewards can be bought on Friday’s during W.I.N. Block only.

Rewards to be bought with tickets

Active-duty military parents sign up your child/children up to participate in the Military Family Life Program and Anchor for Life. Consent forms are located in the SMS Counseling Suite. Also, if you are an active-duty member deploying or PCS'ing in the next six months, please contact SMS Ms. Frazier at frazierb@magellanfederal.com

Arrival-Students should NOT arrive to our campus without being accompanied by their parent/guardian before 7:10 am. Our doors open at 7:10 am to all students. Parents are to remain courteous to other drivers while dropping off students. Students who are car riders should be dropped off at the curb in front of the school. Please pay attention to our staff directing traffic. Students arriving after 7:25 am are considered tardy.

Attendance-. All attendance notes may be handwritten and dropped off at the main office. Or emailed, scanned, or screenshot to Ms. Davidson at adavidson@iwcs.k12.va.us.

Excused Absences: Students are only allowed 5 parent notes per semester. There is no limit for doctors' notes.

Bus Information-Students should be at their assigned bus stop at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time.

Breakfast-Breakfast is served in the cafeteria 7:10 am-7:23 am. Students who bring breakfast from home or local eateries must eat breakfast in the cafeteria during breakfast time. Breakfast cost $1.35; milk only $0.50; unless approved free/reduced lunch.

Lunch is served during 3rd block classes. Lunch cost $2.85 unless approved free/reduced lunch.

1st lunch - 11:10 - 11:35

2nd lunch - 11:40 - 12:05

3rd lunch - 12:15 - 12:40

4th lunch - 12:45 - 1:10

Dismissal-

Staggered Dismissal beginning with car riders. Car Riders will be dismissed at 2:40 pm.

Parents may pull up to the curb for pick-up. Students are NOT to walk through the parking lot during dismissal to get into a parked car, unless accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Bus Riders will be dismissed with their teachers walking them outside.

Dress Code-Students are expected to dress appropriately for a K-12 educational environment. Any attire that inhibits the learning environment will be viewed as inappropriate. Inappropriately dressed students’ parents/guardians will be called to bring appropriate clothing before students can attend class. If a parent/guardian is unable to bring a change of clothes or an alternate, more appropriate outfit will be provided by the school.

Food-Students should not share/exchange food items.

School Visitors- All visitors must sign in at the main office. Visitors may not visit classrooms unless an agreed-upon date/time is scheduled. DoorDash, GrubHub or local deliveries will not be accepted for students.

Water Bottles Only-Students are welcome to have water bottles in class. Only bottles with a sealed lid/cap.

What I Need (W.I.N.) Block-A daily 25-minute alternating Panther W.I.N. block. The purpose of this block is to ensure that students do not lack the additional time needed in any class to get additional academic help, complete assignment, make up missing assignments, decompress, or apply a new skill.