Sycamore Springs Middle School

Hello Sycamore Springs Middle School Families,

Happy Sunday! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather and getting ready for the Super Bowl!!!

This week brings several important highlights, especially for our 8th grade students as they visit Dripping Springs High School to learn more about course offerings and begin preparing for the transition to high school. We also have an annual lockdown drill scheduled for Tuesday morning as part of our ongoing commitment to campus safety. Please know this is a planned drill, and students will be guided carefully through the process by their teachers.

Looking ahead, we have a four-day weekend coming up with student holidays on Friday, February 13, and Monday, February 16. We are also excited to share sign-ups and auditions for our first-ever SSMS Talent Show, upcoming athletics events, and several opportunities for families to stay engaged through PTA and district events.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership and support. Please take a few minutes to review this week’s newsletter so you don’t miss any important updates.

As always, if you need anything or have questions, please contact your student’s teacher, counselor, or administrator.

Go Tigers!

Sincerely,

Kelly Miller

Principal

1. This Monday and Wednesday 8th grade students will tour DSHS and get insights into course offerings during 1st period and Tiger Win. Students will be bussed to and from SSMS. When students return to SSMS, around 11:15, they will go directly to their 2nd period class.

Monday (2/9) Classes (based on 1st Period Teacher)

Pilcik, Dyer, Victor, Kylberg, Flores, Johnsey, Bookout, Mays, Apple

Wednesday (2/11) Classes: (based on 1st Period Teacher)

Gaines, Pillai, Jameson, Hancock, Plante, Romero, Van Wyngeeren, Loyola, Snyder, Riley, Shane, Steiner, Saldana, Robbins, McGilvray, Sherman

*Students that have a 1st period class at the High School will meet at Sycamore Springs on Wednesday and ride the buses with the 8th graders to go do the tour at the high school. They will not attend their 1st period class at the high school.

2. Our annual Lockdown Drill has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 10, in the morning. The community can expect to see multiple first responder vehicles on campus to conduct the drill. Students will be directed by teachers on the appropriate steps to follow based on the Standard Response Protocol. This is an important drill practice, as campuses may initiate a “Lockdown Drill” in situations of “Gunfire, Violent Intruder, Dangerous Animal, etc".

3. This Friday, February 13 and Monday, February 16, are student holidays. Teachers have a professional development workday on Friday, February 13 and February 16 is a district holiday. All campus and district office will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16. We hope you enjoy the four-day weekend.

4. For 8th Grade Families - DSHS will be hosting several events catering to rising freshmen and their families.

• Feb. 9 & Feb.11 - 8th Grade Field Trip to DSHS (during the school day)
• Feb. 17 - DSHS Tiger Band and Color Guard Orientation Meeting' DSHS Band Hall @ 7pm
• Feb. 27 - Course Requests are Due (in SchooLinks)

***For more details and a full list of events, please check out the Rising Freshman Grade Newsletter. We recommend that you bookmark this link for future reference as updates will be made as needed.

5. Dripping Springs HS PTSA is excited to host Dripping Springs the Harlem Wizards on Sunday, February 22rd at 2 pm where they’ll take on the teachers, staff and community members from Dripping Springs Independent School District in a fun-filled community event. You can purchase your tickets now and view a sneak peek of the event.

6. SSMS will host is first ever TALENT SHOW on Feb. 26 & 27!!! The SSMS PTA Middle School MixTape Talent Show sign up here: SignUpGenius - Mobile. Auditions for performers & emcees are NEXT Thurs Feb 12th & Fri Feb 13th. Mandatory run throughs Thurs Feb 19th & Fri Feb 20th (Times TBD) Note: Acts to be 3 minutes max! Please, bring music and any instruments needed. Email: president@ssmspta.org with inquiries

7. Orchestra Meet & Greet - This gathering will be a great opportunity to discuss the bright future of our programs at DSHS, DSMS, and SSMS. I’m looking forward to sharing some goals for the program and, more importantly, getting to know the students and families who make this community so special.

Event Details

• Date: February 26

• Time: 5:30 PM

• Location: DSHS Orchestra Room

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to meet you all and begin this journey together. See you there! Mr. Perrin

8. Attention 6th Grade Families - There are required Immunizations for all 7th grade students; 1) Tdap and 2) Meningitis. Nurse Smith needs updated immunization record OR a notarized Affidavit from the State of Texas found here: https://co-request.dshs.texas.gov/. You may bring updated records to the school or email a copy to blair.smith@dsisdtx.us. For more information, visit https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunizations/school or call Nurse Blair at 512-858-3604.

9. Questions about the DSISD Acceleration Process? If you have questions regarding the acceleration process for your student, please visit the Credit by Exam & Grade Placement page on the district website. This page contains important dates, testing calendars, and referral windows.

For a comprehensive overview of the procedures and requirements, you can access the DSISD Acceleration Guide directly here.

10. SSMS Attendance Matters - Weekly Update: Week 23 results are in! Our overall Average Daily Attendance (ADA) was 91.7%. While we are still pushing toward our campus goal of 96.9%, a big shout-out goes to our 6th Graders for leading the school this week with a 93.3% attendance rate, followed by 7th Grade at 92.2% and 8th Grade at 89.5%.

Maintaining consistent attendance is vital for academic credit and student success. Per Texas law, students must attend at least 90% of their classes—staying within a limit of 5 unexcused absences this spring—to receive course credit. Because our block schedule means missing one day is actually missing two days of instruction for those subjects, we ask that you report all absences within 48 hours via Family Access and consult the school calendar before scheduling non-emergency appointments. Thank you for partnering with us to keep our Tigers on track!

Course selection visits are moving right along! We worked with current 6th graders this week and have helped them add their courses in Skyward. We will help all current 7th graders enter their courses in Skyward on Monday and Tuesday, in their Science class. We will collect the students' choice sheet at this visit and those will remain with the Counselors.

For current 6th & 7th graders, changes to 26/27 courses in Skyward can be made up until March 5th. After that Skyward will close on the student side and only counselors can make changes. Please also note that all applications for student aide, office aide, CL & I aide, Elementary aide are due by March 5th. We will not accept any applications filled out after this deadline.

Please refer to this very Helpful link for course selection information, choice sheets, and course descriptors. Please reach out to your student’s counselor if you have any questions!

For our current 8th graders transitioning into high school, the High school counselors visited last week and assisted with course selection. For rising 9th Grade course selection information, please review this very Helpful link with your student. If you have any questions, please contact your student’s counselor.

On February 17 & 18, our 7th graders will receive instruction, as required by Senate Bill 9 and the state guidelines for public schools, relating to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, dating violence and human trafficking. DSISD administration, Board of Trustees, and the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) have selected and approved the curriculum to use for these lessons. The lesson is called Relationships: Paint Them Healthy”. This presentation addresses healthy and unhealthy aspects of a relationship, including mutual respect, boundaries, jealousy and control, how to break up, and communication skills. Regardless of what we’ve seen and learned growing up, we can gain the tools to make a conscious decision about the kind of relationship we want.

The lesson will be presented by the counselors in 7th Grade History classes. It is approximately 45 minutes in length and includes a video and a script to guide discussions both before and after the video. You may preview scripts and watch trailers at Play it Safe.

7th grade parents received an email from Actionaly on January 30th. This email has the electronic opt in form for the lesson. If you want your student to receive this lesson, you must opt them in. The deadline is Feburary 12.

Please see this information from our DSISD LMHP team: Grit is having the perseverance and passion to pursue one’s goals despite failures and setbacks. This is a teachable skill that anyone can develop! Please see this newsletter created by our DSISD LMHP Team for information and strategies you can use to foster grit in your children. There is also a Lunch & Learn Thursday, February 12th from 11:30am- 12:15pm on: Fostering Grit. Click here to register to get the link.

We hope you all have a great week ahead!

Go Tigers!

Ms. Dykhoff, Grades 6-8 last names A-K

Mrs. Zimmerman, Grades 6-8 last names L-Z

The SSMS PTA Middle School MixTape Talent Show has been scheduled for Thurs Feb 26 & Fri Feb 27th. Sign up here: SignUpGenius - Mobile.

• Auditions for performers & emcees are Thurs Feb 12th from 4:30-6pm
• Mandatory run throughs Thurs Feb 19th & Fri Feb 20th (Times TBD)
• Note: Acts to be 3 minutes max! Please, bring music and any instruments needed.

Email: president@ssmspta.org with inquiries

Hey Tigers, are you ready to cheer? If you’re interested in trying out for cheer, a Parent or Guardian must attend one of two sessions on Feb. 5 or Feb. 19 (students are welcome and encouraged to attend!) where we’ll break down everything you need to know about practice schedules, costs, required skills, the tryout process, application packets, and expectations for cheerleaders throughout the school year. This meeting helps families decide if cheer is the right fit before committing to tryouts. Let’s get ready to bring the spirit! Quick reminder - cheer is only available for rising 7th and 8th graders. Let’s get ready to bring the spirit! Click HERE to access the flyer with more information.

Dear 6th grade Parents/Guardians:

Texas state law requires that ALL students receive the following vaccines PRIOR to starting 7th grade. Students cannot start 7th grade and will not receive their schedules without meeting the following requirements:

1. Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap): 1 dose within the last 5 years to be valid.

2. Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV4): 1 dose of the quadrivalent vaccine on or after a student's 11th birthday to be valid.

OR

• Reasons of Conscience Exemption https://corequest.dshs.texas.gov/

Most physicians administer the required vaccines during the 11 year wellness check. Please check with your child's doctor to see if your child has already received the required vaccines. If not, please make arrangements to have the vaccines administered.

Vaccine records can be emailed to me (blair.smith@dsisdtx.us) or dropped off at school.

Helpful links:

Texas Minimum State Vaccine Requirements for Students Grades K-12

Texas Immunization Exemptions

Immunization Resources

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Nurse Blair

DSHS has created a Rising 9th Grade Newsletter with key dates and upcoming events. The link will be shared in my weekly newsletters, but you may also want to bookmark it and check back for updates. Click HERE to access the Rising 9th Grade Newsletter.

Upcoming Events:

• Feb. 9 & Feb.11 - 8th Grade Field Trip to DSHS (during the school day)
• Feb. 17 - DSHS Tiger Band and Color Guard Orientation Meeting' DSHS Band Hall @ 7pm
• Feb. 27 - Course Requests are Due (in SchooLinks)

Please join me in celebrating our amazing Tigers with September birthdays! Wishing each of you a day filled with joy, laughter, and lots of cake. We ❤️ You! Go Tigers! 🐯

Big cheers to our amazing SSMS teachers who earned a shout-out from their peers this week! Your hard work and positivity keep our campus shining bright. We’re so lucky to have the BEST staff around. Thank you for making SSMS the place to be!

🏀Boys' Athletics 🏈

Please help me in congratulating Lolo Keller for being our Tiger of the Week! We are so proud of all the hard work and effort you put into athletics!

Our 7th and 8th A Team basketball girls did amazing last weekend! 7A placed 2nd in the district and 8A took home the District Championship!

All four teams have all worked exceptionally hard this season so if you have any of our wonderful athletes in class today please let them know how proud we all are of them.

This past weekend the Tiger Belles officers and a few of our soloist competed at CPD Spirit at Lehman HS and absolutely blew it out of the water! I’m so proud of these young ladies!

Congratulations to our students, Caleb Luddy, Carla Smith and Pema Fithen for making the 2026 All-Region Choir. These students have been working so hard since the Fall semester to audition for this advanced choir. On January 31st, they competed against 500 other students from around Austin and were placed in 2nd, 7th, and 11th chair! get to sing in the All-Region Choir Concert on 2/7.

• Teachers 4 the Win at our 3rd Annual SSMS PTA SOUPer Bowl on Friday-THANK YOU to the many CHAMPION volunteers. Stay tuned for more opportunities to help and donate.

• Say YES! to the SSMS PTA “One-Click LOVE Fund” Donations help programming like our upcoming 26’ SSMS PTA Talent Show, Student & Staff Grants, and much MORE! DONATE HERE (easily once or monthly): February Edition: Spirit Nights THANK YOU for all the generous contributions so far! Questions? Email: SSMS PTA Fundraising at fundraising@ssmspta.org

• SSMS PTA Spirit Night ‘𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴’ at 𝗦𝘂𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆 NEXT Thurs Feb 12th at 6:30PM Geared for middle schoolers. Check in at door & mention SSMS PTA.

• The SSMS PTA Middle School MixTape Talent Show Sign Ups for Thurs Feb 26 & Fri Feb 27th Sign up here: SignUpGenius - Mobile WE NEED SPONSORS too-win up to $150 in prizes! Auditions for performers & emcees are NEXT Thurs Feb 12th & Fri Feb 13th. Mandatory run throughs Thurs Feb 19th & Fri Feb 20th (Times TBD) Note: Acts to be 3 minutes max! Please, bring music and any instruments needed. Email: president@ssmspta.org with inquiries

• Mark your calendar the SSMS PTA Membership Mtg is Fri Feb 20th 8:15AM This special meeting will appoint a Nominating Committee for the SSMS PTA Exec. Board for the 26’-27’ school year RSVP here: SSMS PTA Membership Meeting RSVP 2025-2026

• THANK YOU to ALL our SSMS PTA Workroom Volunteers who show up to free up teaching time to educate & mentor in the workroom WEEKLY. Sign up here: SignUpGenius - Mobile Note: You must have a current background check completed with DSISD Inspiring Volunteers, Volunteering at DSISD | Dripping Springs

• SSMS PTA is still building a Talent Show Committee for Feb, headed by SSMS Parent, Mr. Carl Coccaro, and we’re STILL looking for volunteers! Note: There is an opportunity to join Ms. Connolly Lees on the All Abilities Committee too. Interested?, email president@ssmspta.org

• On behalf of SSMS National Junior Honor Society & Ms. McGilvray: Clothes Bin have partnered to collect & recycle old clothing, shoes and textiles! Every pound of recycled items supports SSMS NJHS! Place your items in a bag that is tied closed and deposit them in the newly UPDATED green recycling bin in our front Maroon parking lot.

• Be sure to Like & Follow Sycamore Springs Middle School PTA on ourFacebookandInstagram - we post information and updates daily throughout the school year, and we’ll show up more often the more you react to the posts! Note: Incoming 6th Graders Class of 2033 info is there too!

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!

Join DSISD on Monday, Feb. 9 from 8:30-11:30 am for a free "7 Habits of Highly Effective Families" workshop designed to help you build stronger, deeper connections with your family. This workshop is hosted by our very own DSISD staff and family members. Discover how the same 7 Habits principles that our students learn in school can be applied at home to help your family thrive. This engaging, self-discovery workshop will provide you with new skills and fresh perspectives. Make sure to check out the flyer linked above for more details.

Event Details:

• Date: Monday, February 9, 2026

• Time: 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM

• Where: Live Oak Conference Room, DSISD Administration Building (300 Sportsplex Dr.)

To help us plan, please RSVP by Friday, January 23.

Dripping Springs HS PTSA is excited to host Dripping Springs the Harlem Wizards on Sunday, February 22rd at 2 pm where they’ll take on the teachers, staff and community members from Dripping Springs Independent School District in a fun-filled community event. You can purchase your tickets now and view a sneak peek of the event.

Monday, 2/9 - A Day

"7 Habits of Highly Effective Families" workshop for our DSISD families; CLL @ 8:30am

7th Grade Enter Course Request into Skyward in Science classes (Counselor Visit #2)

8th Grade Field Trip to DSHS (group 1); 9-10:30am

Girls Track Parent Meeting; Big Gym @ 5:30pm

Tuesday, 2/10 - B Day

7th Grade Enter Course Request into Skyward in Science classes (Counselor Visit #2)

SSMS/SSE Lockdown Drill @ 9:30am

Beginning Band Concert; Big Gym @ 6:30pm

Wednesday, 2/11 - A Day

7th Grade SB9 "Relationships: Paint Them Healthy" Lesson in Science Class

8th Grade Field Trip to DSHS (group 2); 9-10:30am

Principal's Student Advisory Meeting; Tiger Win

Girls Track Meet @ DSMS - Run Only; 4:15pm

Boys Track Meet @ SSMS - Run Only Event; 4:15pm

Thursday, 2/12 - B Day

FCA; Small Gym @ 8am

7th Grade SB9 "Relationships: Paint Them Healthy" Lesson in Science Class

DSISD Lunch and Learn - Fostering Grit; 11:30am

PTA Parent-to-Parent Campus Tour; 11:30 (RSVP Here)

Talent Show Auditions; Cafeteria from 4:30-6:00pm

Friday, 2/13 - Student Holiday/Staff PD Day

Saturday, 2/14

Dance Competition

2/15 - National School Resource Officer Day 👮‍♂️🙌

2/16 - District Holiday/No School

2/17 - NJHS Meeting; 6th grade pod @ 4:20am

2/18 - NJHS Meeting; 6th grade pod @ 8:05am

2/18 - Boys Track Meet @ DSMS; Field Events Only (4:15pm)

2/18 - Girls Track Meet vs DSMS @ SSMS; Field Events Only (4:15pm)

2/19 - FCA; Small Gym @ 8am

2/19 - Talent Show/Mandatory Run-through; 4:30-6pm

2/19 - Cheer Parent Meeting; Sycamore Room @ 5pm

2/20 - PTA Membership Meeting; Sycamore Room @8:15am

2/20 - PTA Parent-to-Parent Campus Tour; 11:30 (RSVP Here)

2/20 - Talent Show/Mandatory Run-through; 4:30-6pm

2/20 - Percussion Only Ensemble Concert; DSHS PAC @ 7pm

2/21 - Dance Competition

2/22 - Harlem Wizards @ DSHS; 2pm (Buy Tickets HERE)

2/24 - Band Pre-UIL Concert at DSHS; 6:30pm

2/25 - Boys Track Meet @ LTMS; 4:15pm

2/25 - Girls Track @ West Ridge; 4:15pm

2/26 - CAC Meeting; Sycamore Room @ 7:45am

2/26 - Roots Meeting; F232 @ 8am

2/26 - FCA; Small Gym @ 8am

2/26 - Band Booster Club Meeting; Sycamore Room @ 5pm

2/26 - Orchestra Meet & Greet; DSHS Orchestra Room @ 5:30 PM

2/26 - SSMS Talent Show; Cafeteria @ 6:30pm

2/27 - PTA Parent-to-Parent Campus Tour; 11:30 (RSVP Here)

2/27 - SSMS Talent Show; Cafeteria @ 6:30pm

2/28 - Dance Competition

3/2 - SB9 Sexting/Cyberbullying Parent Presentation; 9am in Pecan Room

3/2 - Cheer Clinic Day 1; 4:15pm

3/3 - Cheer Clinic Day 2; 4:15pm

3/4 - Boys Track Meet @ WRMS; 3pm

3/4 - Girls Track Meet @ Hudson Bend; 4:15pm

3/4 - Cheer Clinic Day 3; 4:15pm

3/4 - UIL One Act Play Community Performance; 6pm in Cafeteria

3/5 - PTA Parent-to-Parent Campus Tour; 11:30 (RSVP Here)

3/5 - Cheer Tryouts; 4:15

3/5 - UIL One Act Play Community Performance; 6pm in Cafeteria

3/6 - UIL One Act Play School Performance; 1:30pm in Cafeteria

3/7 - UIL OAP Festival @ DSMS

3/10 - Band UIL Concert & Sightreading; Hays PAC

3/10 - 7th Grade Boys/Girls Pre-District Track Meet @ DSHS; 4:15pm

3/11 - Band UIL Concert & Sightreading; Hays PAC

3/11 - 8th Grade Boys/Girls Pre-District Track Meet @ DSHS; 4:15pm

3/12 - FCA; Small Gym @ 8am

3/12 - Choir Pre UIL; DSHS PAC @ 7pm

3/13 - PTA Board Meeting; Sycamore Room @ 8:15am

3/13 - PTA Parent-to-Parent Campus Tour; 11:30 (RSVP Here)

3/16-3/20 - Spring Break 😎🏄‍♀️⛱️

3/23 - 8th Grade Panoramic Picture

3/25 - District Track Meet - Day 1 @ Westlake HS; 2pm

3/26 - FCA; Small Gym @ 8am

3/26 - Roots Meeting; F232 @ 8am

3/26 - District Track Meet - Day 2 @ Westlake HS; 2pm

3/27 - Tennis Parent Meeting; Time TBD