The Wolverine Weekly

Please touch base with your child's coach for most updated athletic practice schedules.

December 8:

• NEMS Book Fair
  
• Chili Days, Warm Bellies Cafeteria Promotion: Chili and Cheese Hot Dogs for lunch
  
• NEMS Basketball v. Paul Knox @ Home: 5:30 pm
  
• NEMS Book Fair will be open during the basketball game!
• We encourage you to pre-pay for your tickets at GoFan: https://gofan.co/app/school/SC74307
  

December 9:

• NEMS Book Fair
  
• NEMS Night of the Arts @ 6 pm
  
• NEMS Book Fair will be open during Night of the Arts

December 10:

• NEMS Book Fair
  
• AVID Application due for 8th Graders going to Silver Bluff (see information below)
  
• Holiday Spirit Day: Mistletoes--Wear Holiday Socks!
  

December 11:

• NEMS Book Fair
  
• Holiday Spirit Day: Mad for Plaid--Wear your favorite plaid shirt.
  
• Chili Days, Warm Bellies Cafeteria Promotion: Tater Tot Casserole
  
• NEMS Basketball v. Schofield, Away 5:30 pm
  
• We encourage you to pre-pay for your tickets at GoFan: https://gofan.co/app/school/SC74307
  

December 12:

• NEMS Book Fair
  
• Holiday Spirit Day: Elf Day: Wear red and green or your best elf ears
  
• acGATEWAY Applications Due (see information below)
  

December 14:

• Last Day to buy NEMS Band Fruit (Ship to Home)
  

December 15:

• Holiday Spirit Day: Holiday Lights: Wear sparkles or lights
  
• NEMS Basketball v. Highland Springs, Home 5:30 pm
  
• We encourage you to pre-pay for your tickets at GoFan: https://gofan.co/app/school/SC74307
  

December 16:

• Holiday Spirit Day: Holiday Sweater: Wear your favorite holiday sweater.
  
• Last Day to donate blankets for Student Council Animals in Need Drive
  
• Chili Days, Warm Bellies Cafeteria Promotion: Chili for lunch
  

December 17:

• Holiday Spirit Day: Snowman Day: Wear White of dress like a snowman
  
• Chili Days, Warm Bellies Cafeteria Promotion: Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
  

December 18:

• Cafeteria Special: Holiday Meal for lunch
  
• Holiday Spirit Day: Rudolph Day: Wear brown or antlers
  
• NEMS Basketball v. Leavelle McCampbell, Away 5:30 pm
  
• We encourage you to pre-pay for your tickets at GoFan: https://gofan.co/app/school/SC74307
  

January 5:

• NEMS Basketball v. AL Corbett, Home 5:30 pm
  
• We encourage you to pre-pay for your tickets at GoFan: https://gofan.co/app/school/SC74307
  

You may need our School Code for Parent Portal or PowerSchool registration.

NEMS School Code: GSNM

We encourage everyone to pre-pay for Basketball tickets online!

This helps us keep the line shorter and get you in the door faster! Thank you!

We have been trying to help students by collecting IDs at the end of each day. Huge thank you to Ms. Tate, Mr. Hoffmaster, and Ms. Bashline for all of their help arranging IDs each day!

December 8: Shenanigans

• Definition: Playful mischief or trickery.
  
• Synonyms: pranks, antics, foolishness
  
• Antonyms: seriousness, honesty, sincerity
  
• Example: The students' lunchtime shenanigans ended with spaghetti on the ceiling.

• Definition: Very attentive to detail and hard to please.
  
• Synonyms: meticulous, picky, fussy
  
• Antonyms: careless, sloppy, unconcerned
  
• Example: She’s so fastidious about her notes that each one is color-coded by subject.
  

The ABBE Book Mobile will be here Monday during Advisory

Please join us Tuesday, December 9th for our annual NEMS Night of the Arts. Doors open at 6:00 PM. During that time, we invite you to browse student artwork and visit the Book Fair. A performance by our band students will begin at 6:30 PM in the NEMS gym.

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to NEMS just in time for the holidays. Starting Monday, December 8 - 12, the library will be stocked with all types of books and supplies for purchase. Students are welcome to shop during the school day and are also encouraged to come with family for night events. The Book Fair will be open during the Home Basketball games Monday night and for Night of the Arts Tuesday evening. For full details, visit our school's Book Fair homepage at https://www.scholastic.com/bf/newellentonmidsteammagnet.

The NEMS Band is selling fruit online now through 12/14. All online fruit orders beginning 11/10 will be shipped directly to your home. To order online, please go to this link: https://www.ifundraise.com/906480

We appreciated your support!

The application for the 2026 acGATEWAY Summer Arts Program is now available. This year, the application is available in a digital format and can be completed by clicking the link below.

acGATEWAY is a rigorous and immersive summer arts opportunity for students who submit an application and go through the audition process. Current 3rd-12th graders are eligible and may choose from dance, theater, visual art, music, or creative writing.

The deadline to submit applications (online) is Monday, December 12th. No late applications will be accepted due to planning purposes.

All information about the program is detailed in the application.

Elementary Application Link: https://forms.office.com/r/6DZV4FhqCJ

Middle/High Application Link: https://forms.office.com/r/bp5s85n6tS

Aplicación en español: https://forms.office.com/r/9qAELiN8NH

For further assistance, contact:

District Fine Arts Coordinator, Dr. Kimberly Fontanez at kfontanez@acpsd.net

Exciting Opportunity: Join the AVID Program at SBHS!

Dear Future SBHS Students and Parents,

We are thrilled to announce that applications are now open for AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), an academic elective designed to help students take ownership of their learning and future success. This opportunity will be offered at Silver Bluff High School beginning in Fall 2026.

What is AVID?
AVID is a college and career readiness program that strengthens skills in writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading. Students in AVID benefit from:

• Opportunity Knowledge – Understanding pathways to college and careers
• Rigorous Academic Preparation – Support in challenging courses
• Student Agency – Building confidence and leadership

What does being an AVID Scholar mean?

• AVID will be one of your elective classes
• You’ll be placed and supported in at least one honors or advanced course
• Maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA
• Represent yourself and the AVID program positively
• Learn strategies to become the best version of yourself

Ideal AVID Candidates:

• Average-to-high test scores
• GPA between 2.0–4.0
• College potential with desire and determination
• Excellent attendance and behavior

Application Details:

• Complete the online application by December 10
• The AVID Site Team will review grades, test scores, and teacher recommendations
• Acceptance is based on current performance and discipline records
• Initial notifications will be sent in February

AVID is a four-year high school experience that opens doors to college and career opportunities. If you’re ready to take your education to the next level, apply today!

Silver Bluff High School AVID Application for the 2026-27 School Year – Fill out form

If you have any questions, please reach out to us. We look forward to seeing you thrive with AVID!

Did you know that ALL students in Aiken County can eat Breakfast and Lunch entirely FREE? To make sure students are eating breakfast, our wonderful NEMS cafeteria staff has been offering two ways to grab breakfast: Students can either get a grab-and-go breakfast as they walk in the door or go to the cafeteria to enjoy a meal and opportunity to chat with their friends at the cafeteria table. We hope all students are taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity to eat wonderful, nutritious meals!

If you would like your New Ellenton Middle School child to participate in the BackPack Buddy program, please fill out this form: NEMS BackPack Buddy Application

ASA application for the 2026-2027 school year is NOW LIVE! Current 8th grade students who are taking advanced coursework, including English 1H and Geometry H, are eligible to apply. Visit the Future Scholars tab on our website to access the application, along with all the information you need about the application process. Information sessions for interested applicants and parents will be held November 4th, December 11th, and January 7th at ASA.

Parents/Guardians--if you have a specific NEMS or ACPSD adult that you would like to recognize, please go to the district's SHINE page located here: https://www.acpsd.net/o/dhr/page/shine-staff-shout-outs This is a great way to acknowledge people who go above and beyond, no matter what role that person plays in our district. This was created by ACPSD in 2024 in hopes of putting positivity into our profession by using this district-wide platform, which easily allows everyone to recognize one another!

NEMS Students--Do you have a faculty or staff member who you would like to give a shout-out to? Here's a great way to celebrate your teachers or other NEMS adults who help you each day! You will need to login to your Microsoft Account to complete the form. Click on the picture at the side or go here: NEMS Faculty-Staff Shout Out – Fill out form

The 2025 - 2026 NEMS Yearbook is now on sale! This year we are using Treering as our yearbook provider. Some cool features of this year's book include:

• Softcover and hardcover options starting at $34.68
• 2 FREE customizable pages that will only print in your student's book

To order, please visit www.treering.com/validate and enter our school code (1017423941473587).

Questions? Please see Mrs. Shepler

Aiken County Public Schools utilizes the "I Love U Guys" Standard Response Protocol (SRP). This response was used on Friday after hearing gunfire in the distance behind the school. Our Administrators, SRO, and faculty and staff knew to quickly get students inside and NEMS went on "Secure" status. At NEMS, that means we bring our students from the mobile classrooms indoors and no students use the breezeway to transition classes. Learning continues as normal, but within the safety of the school walls. We work to get messages to families as quickly as possible about the incident and to update everyone on the status of the school.

The terms (Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter) and procedures to follow are simply defined. These terms are communicated and posted as visual reminders on school campuses. Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter will be used internally in our response, and externally to update parents/guardians, as well as the larger school community.

If you would like to learn more about the Standard Response Protocol in ACPSD, please visit the district's website at: https://www.acpsd.net/page/standard-response-protocol

Want to make car line go faster? A sign with your child or family's last name would help tremendously! Prop it up on your dash, use a pants hanger to hang from your rear view mirror, or wave it out the window like you're on ESPN Game Day. It will be at least a month before we have your vehicle and all your relatives' vehicles memorized.

SchoolCafé gives students and parents a quick and easy way to stay on top of their nutrition. Macros, ingredients, and allergies are displayed for meals and individual items. Submitting eligibility applications has never been easier, SchoolCafé allows parents to quickly submit for Free & Reduced Meal Benefits.

https://www.schoolcafe.com/AIKENCOUNTYPUBLICSCHOOLS

Principal: Karen Fiery

Assistant Principal: Melissa Tripp

School Counselor: Bridgett Kearse

Main Office: (803) 652-8200

Website: https://www.acpsd.net/o/nems

Location:814 Main St S, New Ellenton, SC 29809