March: Youth Art Month, Music in our Schools Month, Theater in our Schools Month, Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, National Nutrition Month, National Women’s History Month

• March 4-8: National School Breakfast Week; Foreign Language Week
• March 10: Daylight Savings Time Begins

• March 13: SEAC Meeting, 6:00 PM, Westside Elementary

• March 14: School Board Meeting, 5:00 PM, Westside Elementary
• March 19-29: Science, Civics, and History 6 Week Benchmark Window
• March 26-April 12th: Yearlong Benchmark Window
• March 26: Integrated Reading/Writing SOL Test (8th Grade)

April: Autism Acceptance Month, Month of the Military Child, School Library Month

• April 1-5: IWCS Spring Break
• April 3: Paraeducator Appreciation Day
• April 4: National School Librarian Day
• April 8: Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, National Library Week

Over the course of the next month, teachers may be administering a student survey that is intended to collect anonymous feedback regarding their course. This feedback is intended to help guide teacher reflection as it pertains to their course. Again, the surveys will be anonymous. Please let us know if you have further questions or concerns.

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.

On March 26th, 8th graders will be taking the Integrated reading and writing SOL on March 26. Check out the VDOE website to learn more and review practice items at this link.

Just a few reminders for students being dropped off at SMS:

• Please pull up as close to the front of the line as possible to allow the maximum number of vehicles to have access to the sidewalk.
• Students should exit from the right hand side of vehicles only.
• Students should have all materials ready and exit vehicles as quickly as possible.
• Please limit the need to access cargo and trunk spaces as this often delays the flow of the drop off line.
• If you need to enter the building, please park in a parking space rather than stopping and or parking for an extended time in the drop off line.
• If you are turning left onto Turner Blvd. following drop off, please turn left back into the parking lot and exit through the far end of the lot.

Thank you for helping ensure our student and staff members' safety at drop off!

Event: Talent Show will be April 12th @ 7pm, doors to the theater will open at 6:45.

TICKETS ARE $5 AND SOLD AT THE DOOR (Concessions will be available)

Please reach out to Mrs. Rice at SMS with any questions, and we hope to see you there!

(1) Ordering: Yearbook ordering is online only. Read all instructions on the login page.

(2) Deadline: The official deadline to order a yearbook is April 15, 2024.

(3) Delivery: Yearbooks will be delivered to the school in late May or early June and go home with your student.

(4) Yearbook Ordering Link: https://AccessMyEvent.com/GXPRW1

Isle of Wight County Schools will follow the new CDC guidelines for respiratory virus for students and staff.

This includes illnesses such as COVID, FLU, RSV and Cold.

If you are diagnosed with a viral respiratory illness, or are having symptoms, please stay home and away from others until your symptoms are getting better AND you have been fever-free, without taking medication, for 24 hours.

Feel free to contact your school nurse or healthcare provider if you have questions.

For more information go to CDC COVID Updates

Student absences will need a parent or doctor's note to be excused.

Please see information regarding Smithfield soccer tryouts: Smithfield Soccer Club Open Tryouts

Audience: School Principals, Child Care Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff, Parents
Contact: Office of Parental Engagement, parents@doe.virginia.gov

The Virginia Department of Education is excited to celebrate Family Reading Month in March. Join the Virginia Department of Education & Virginia PTA for a Reading Together. A webinar designed for families to learn about best practices in reading instruction, the event also covers how families can support their student through all stages of learning to read and improving reading comprehension.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, March 13th from 7-8pm. Registration is required to participate and is open to the public.

The Virginia PTA has generously provided Family Reading Night Activities to use during this month of celebration.

• Host Bedtime Stories
• Have a Reading Camp-Out in the gym
• Select guest readers
• Ask readers to dress as a book character
• Play Reading Bingo with prizes
• Set-up a Literacy Escape Room
• Host a Literacy Scavenger Hunt
• Host a Community Book Swap
• Host a poetry slam or spoken word contest
• Host a StoryWalk: Print book pages & mount on yard-signs around the school
• Set-up an Illustrator’s corner for students to illustrate a book-scene
• Start a Little Free Library (or host a Swap Book Shelf in school)
• National PTA Family Reading Event Toolkit

Additional resources such as printable materials, infographics, videos and more can be found within the Virginia PTA Reading Toolkit.

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.

The next session is on Disability Benefits: Social Security and VA Medicaid Waivers on March 27, 2024 @ 6:00 pm in the Westside Auditorium.

Virginia Space Grant Consortium provides a free, 3-part program to 7th and 8th graders on the peninsula and in Isle of Wight. This is a great hands on program and has been in existence since 2008. Participants learn to fly drones, make and keep a rover robot and build a rocket at NASA. Click here for more information and to apply.

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.