Sycamore Springs Middle School
Weekly Newsletter
September 13, 2026
Hello Sycamore Springs Middle School Families,
I hope you are enjoying your Sunday afternoon. We have a great week ahead of us with volleyball, football, and cross country all competing. Plus this Friday is our first UIL Eligibility check (Interim 1B), so make sure all work is turned in and retesting is complete.
If you need anything or have any questions, please reach out to your student's teacher, counselor, or administrator.
Go Tigers!
Sincerely,
Kelly Miller
Principal
1. We’re excited to kick off our first Principal’s Coffee & Chat this Friday, Sept. 18 at 8:15 am in the Sycamore Room. This is an informal opportunity to connect with Principal Miller, ask questions, and be part of the conversation at SSMS.
2. UIL Eligibility Reminder - This Friday, September 18, is the first UIL eligibility snapshot. Students participating in UIL (University Interscholastic League) competitive activities must be eligible to compete. Grade reporting and eligibility check deadlines are consistent across DSISD and are approved by UIL. Students who are not passing at this snapshot will become ineligible beginning Friday, September 25. Please click HERE to view the UIL Eligibility Calendar, also linked at the bottom of this week’s newsletter.
3. Nurse Smith will be conducting state-mandated health screenings this semester. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) mandates that all children must be screened or have a professional examination for possible vision and hearing disorders, and Acanthosis Nigricans. Please click on this LINK to read the full letter from Nurse Smith.
Round 1 will take place on Monday, September 28th and Tuesday the 29th (if needed) and will involve:
-All of 7th grade: Vision, hearing, and Acanthosis Nigricans screening (marker on back of neck for Type 2 Diabetes)
Round 2 timing TBD (notification will be sent out) and will involve:
-All 7th grade girls: Scoliosis
-All 8th grade boys: Scoliosis
Parent Notification and Opt-Out Information
In accordance with current Texas requirements, these screenings may be conducted using an opt-out process. If you do not want your child to participate, please notify the campus nurse (blair.smith@dsisdtx.us) in writing by September 25th, 2026.
4. Buy your yearbook now for the lowest price. 2027 yearbooks are now available for only $45! However, this is a limited time offer, and will end before you know it! Click HERE. See below for more information about purchasing a student ad.
5. For Parents of 6th and 7th Grade Students - We have a permission form for parents regarding their child’s access to the Young Adult (YA) section of the library. Access to this section is opt-in only and requires parent/guardian approval. If your child is currently in 7th grade and you completed this form last year, there is no need to fill it out again. Please click the link below to review the form and additional details. Parent Permission to Read Form
6. Are you looking for a way to honor a Dripping Springs ISD employee? Whether you are a staff member wanting to recognize a co-worker for a job well done or a parent who is impressed by your child's bus driver for going that extra mile, this is the program for you! Anyone can nominate any DSISD employee through the district's employee recognition program, Tiger Stripes for Staff. Click HERE to leave a Tiger Strip!
7. Secondary Grading Information: Have you noticed that assignments in Skyward fall into three different categories? Each category serves a different purpose in your Tiger’s learning:
- Formative – 30% of the final grade
- Summative – 70% of the final grade
- Practice (PRAC) – 0% of the final grade
Formative assignments are part of the learning process. These occur while students are still developing their understanding of a concept or TEK, so mastery is not yet expected. Formative work gives students opportunities to practice, make mistakes, receive feedback, and improve before they are asked to demonstrate mastery.
Formative assignments may include quizzes, homework, rough drafts, notebook checks, class activities, or other checks for understanding. Teachers use this information to determine what students need next—additional practice, reteaching, tutorials, or an opportunity to move forward.
Practice (PRAC) assignments also support learning but do not impact a student’s numerical grade. These assignments provide students with additional opportunities to practice a skill and receive meaningful feedback without affecting their overall average.
Not every activity students complete will receive a numerical grade—and that is intentional. The purpose of every assignment is not to collect points; it is to help students learn. Feedback along the way helps students understand where they are, what they need to work on, and when they are ready to demonstrate mastery on a summative assessment.
8. Attendance Matters: Understanding the 90% Rule
Did you know that attendance is calculated by class period, not just by the number of full school days a student misses? At SSMS, once a student reaches 14 absences in a single class period, they fall below the 90% attendance requirement for that class and may be required to make up instructional time.
Also, sending a parent note does not automatically mean an absence is excused. Absences coded as Unexcused, Truant, or Absent count toward the 90% rule. If a student needs to make up time, an administrator may assign tutorials, Tiger WIN, or another opportunity connected to the class in which the time was missed.
This week's attendance: 97.0% 🐅
Our 2026–27 goal: 96.9%
Thank you, Tiger families, for helping our students be at school, on time, and ready to learn. Every day and every class period counts!
Yearbook Back-to-School Specials & Student Recognition Ads
We’re excited to kick off the new school year with a couple of special yearbook opportunities!
Back-to-School Yearbook Special:
Yearbooks are currently available for a special price of $45! This offer is available for a limited time and expires September 18, so now is a great time to reserve your student’s copy. Use the QR code on the attached flyer to order.
Student Recognition Ads
Want to give your student a special shout-out in this year’s yearbook? Student Recognition Ads start at $30 and are available for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Recognition ads are a great way to celebrate your student with photos and a personalized message that they’ll be able to look back on for years to come.
Please see the attached flyers for more information and scan the QR codes or click the links below to purchase your book and ad!
Thank you for supporting our yearbook program!
•ACTION: 290 down (and counting), 135 left to our 425 goal. Down to TWO raffles for YETI Ramblers 9/30, & a YETI Roadie 15 Cooler 10/31! Congrats to winner Shannon Drachenberg for winning the Glo30 Facial. Scan the QR code or visit JoinPTA – JoinPTA to join in 2mins— let’s Syc ’Em Tigers!
•THANK YOU to all who attended the first SSMS PTA Membership Meeting of 26’-27’ Next meeting is Friday Oct 16th 8:15AM RSVP here: SSMS PTA Membership Meeting RSVP 2026-2027 Followed by 11/13/26, 2/19/27, 4/9/27, and 5/7/27 Questions email, secretary@ssmspta.org
•ACTION: First Tiger Talks of 26’-27’ hosted by DS Council of PTAs, DSMS, and SSMS Screenagers: Navigating growing up in a Digital Age. Wed Sept 23rd 6PM Intended for adults and students 6th-12th Grade. Register here: Tiger Talks: Screenagers Generation AI
•ACTION: Opportunities to volunteer at SSMS are here! You can help free up teaching time to educate & mentor by simply volunteering to make copies in our workroom WEEKLY. Please, sign up for one or MORE slots that is convenient for you. OPEN SLOTS: Thurs 9/10 and Thurs 9/17 are available and will be posted weekly. Sign up here: SignUp.com Mobile
•ACTION: SSMS PTA is excited to participate in the Nat’l PTA Reflections! It encourages students of ALL ages & abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Students create and submit original works of art in the medium of their choice— dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts — reflecting on a specific theme. This year's theme is "What Culture Means to Me.We would love for you to participate! Rules and entry form here: https://www.txpta.org/reflections-participation
•ACTION: Want to show your love for our amazing SSMS Staff? Here’s how! We’re looking for volunteers for a Hospitality Committee for help with a few student & staff events starting with our beloved Staff Appreciation event Halloweenie, Fri Oct 23rd! Interested? Email: president@ssmspta.org
•Thank you to Mr. Chris Carter with Wandering With Carter for his generous donation to our SSMS PTA! Book here: Wander with Carter-Book-travel-with-no-booking-fees If you would to sponsor too, email: fundraising@ssmspta.org
•Be sure to Like & Follow Sycamore Springs Middle School PTA on ourFacebookandInstagram - only 75 followers away from a 1500 goal- we post information & updates daily throughout the school year, and we’ll show up more often the more you react to the posts!
DSISD School Library Advisory Committee Now Accepting Applications
In addition to the committees listed above, DSISD is now accepting applications for the School Library Advisory Committee (SLAC) for the 2026-27 school year. Applications for the SLAC will be accepted through Wednesday, September 16.
SSMS Facebook
SSMS Instagram
