SMMS Weekly Update

September 27, 2024

Personal Information Update Link

We understand things happen and circumstances change over the course of the school year. Please use this form at any time during the year to update your personal information on file with the school. If you have any questions, please call Ms. Hite in our main office at 304-754-5030.

Update My Info

5th Period Changes Coming

This year, we have adjusted our master schedule to allow for time to provide targeted support to students in all four core content areas (math, social studies, science, and English Language Arts/Reading). We will be using IXL, which allows for lessons to be tailored to each student's needs.

Stating Monday, September 30, each student will notice an adjustment to his or her 5th period class. Our new classes have been structured to allow teachers to provide intentional and targeted support for students to improve academic achievement.

Fall Fundraiser

Dear Families,

We are excited to share with you that our fall fundraiser kicked off today! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. All of the funds raised will benefit each and every student at Spring Mills Middle School and we need your support to reach our goal. We are raising funds this year for our school activities, class field trips, and student initiatives.

Here are the quick steps to support our school:

1. Register your student online at shop.gwrcfundraising.com

2. Enter our school’s campaign ID: 19299

3. Add at least 10 contacts to share the fundraiser online to family & friends (20 contacts is the goal)

4. Shop & Support our school’s online store and our fundraising catalogs.

> > All students that register online by tonight and add at least 10 contacts will win their 1st celebrity duck keychain and be entered into a drawing for a chance to win the 32” SMART HD TV tomorrow!!

✔️ If your student sells 3 or more items, we will reach our school’s fundraising goal!

✔️ If your student sells only 7 items, they will our MEGA PARTY event during school!

✔️ If your student sells 20 items, they will attend the MEGA PARTY event and go to SKY ZONE for the ultimate PIZZA PARTY during school!

To find a list of all the other prizes they can win and more information, see the fundraising packet that was sent home with students today. Thank you in advance for ALL of your support!

Communication Norms

At SMMS, we want to work with you for the benefit of your student. That partnership requires communication. Please take a look at our norms for communication with parents.

Grades- Teachers are asked to post grades on the 10th and 25th of each month. We consider the posting od those grades as one form of communication with you. If you need assistance with your Schoology account, please email Ms. Brown at the included email address (lkbrown@k12.wv.us).
Online Messages (via Email or Schoology) or Phone Messages- If you have a concern or question, please reach out to your child's teacher. Teachers have been directed to respond to emails, online messages via Schoology, and phone calls during normal business hours (7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.). While many teachers spend time in the evenings planning lessons and grading assignments, they, as much as anyone else, need to devote time and attention to their families. Please allow 24-48 hours for a response to an online message and/or phone call.

Teachers at SMMS are ALL IN to support your student and help him or her grow. We look forward to working with you in this very important task.

After-School Clubs

Please see the link below about our after-school clubs this year. All clubs will begin in October. Space is limited.

Student Assistance Fund

The holidays are quickly approaching! If you or someone you know could use some assistance during this holiday season, let us help! Fill out the attached Google Form by Tuesday, Oct. 4th, and someone from SMMS will be in touch. Call 304-274-5030 and ask for Ms. James or email Margaret.james@k12.wv.us with any questions.

Submit A Request for Assistance Here

Water Bottle Info

At SMMS, we have a clear water bottle policy. This may seem like a minor detail, but asking students to bring a clear water bottle allows them to carry water with them all day. State policy provides students have access to water throughout the day, which is why we have a water fountain and a filling station in each hallway.

To reduce the disruption to classes with visits to the water fountain, we allow students to bring a clear water bottle with them from room to room. The first two weeks of school, we gave out a clear, reusable water bottle to any student who asked for one. If your student needs a clear, reusable water bottle, please ask him or her to see the grade-level assistant principal.

Box Tops for Education

Dear SMMS families,

As part of our ongoing fundraising efforts, we want to remind you that you can help us earn funds through Box Tops for Education by simply submitting your grocery receipts.

Here are two easy ways to participate:

Drop Off Your Receipts: Bring your receipts to the office and place them in the designated Box Tops Collection Box. Our Box Tops Coordinator will scan them for you—no need to do a thing!
Scan Your Own Receipts: If you prefer, you can scan your receipts using the Box Tops app. It's quick and easy! Just download the app, scan your receipt, and submit.

Every Box Top adds up, and your participation helps us get closer to our goal. Please take a moment to either drop off your receipts or submit them through the app. We appreciate your support!

Thank you for helping make a difference!

Sign Up to Help SMMS Here

Afternoon Pick-up Patterns

As we enter the colder months, we might have more bus cancellations. Please review the traffic patterns below just in case your student's bus is cancelled.

Last year, we worked with Dean Olack, the county security officer, to design a traffic pattern for the afternoon that would create the safest situation for students. Please use the directions and image below to review our procedures.

No parking along Campus Drive.
Line up, single-file, in the primary school bus loop.
No one may park in the primary loop and pick up their student. We have permission to use the lane as a staging area, not for parent pick-up.
Once the buses leave, the cars in the primary bus loop will enter the bus loop at SMMS with the assistance of a staff member directing traffic on Campus Drive.
No left turns from Campus Drive until all the cars from the primary loop have filtered into the middle school front loop.

Academy Day- September 28

Greetings from Senator Capito’s office!

An appointment to a U.S. Service Academy is a fully funded education opportunity valued from $240,000 to more than $400,000. Last year, students attending or who have attended schools in Berkeley, Brooke, Cabell, Fayette, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Marion, Mercer, Monongalia, Monroe, Ohio, and Putnam counties received appointments to United States Service Academies and Preparatory Schools. Most began their journeys this summer.

WV students graduated from U.S. Service Academies in 2024 and are moving forward to fantastic careers in various fields. Our WV students are more than capable of meeting the challenge of graduating from these prestigious institutions, but they must be aware of these opportunities in order to take advantage of them.

The key to a student’s success (besides academic, physical, and extracurricular achievements) is being informed about potential opportunities at these educational institutions and starting the information gathering process as early as possible. It is also important that they have an informed support system to assist them in navigating the application stage.

Academy Day is an opportunity for students, parents, guardians, and school officials to ask questions and obtain information regarding the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy as well as the ROTC scholarship process. No Registration Required.

Students who want to attend a prestigious U.S. Service Academy or ROTC program are generally more successful when they begin planning courses and extracurricular activities early in their academic career.

Representatives will be ready to answer questions regarding the educational, physical and recreational requirements to attend these prestigious institutions or obtain an ROTC scholarship. Our office will also address the nomination process.