Panther Press

🍎 September:

• September 23: Asynchronous Day for Students

Dear SMS Parents,

Fall pictures are coming up! Below is the schedule:

Photo Info Website:

All SMS photo information can be found on the website: https://www.bluedominionstudios.com/sms

Wednesday 10/16:
Block 2: 8th Grade Teachers - Gault, Sorrell, Kidd, Summerlin, Shelton, Robertson, Reid (entire class)
Block 3: 7th Grade Teachers - Greenwell, Murphy, Coyle, Vaughan, Rice, Shelton, Kidd

Thursday 10/17:
Block 2: 8th Grade Teachers - Gay, Mullin, Tisdel, Pearson, Williams, Triplett
Block 3: 7th Grade Teachers - Boyer, Williford, Bynum, Nance, Andria, Cantu

Wednesday 11/20: Makeup and retake day will take place on 11/20

Photo Ordering: Ordering will be 100% online. Photos will be available to order about two weeks after picture day. More info will follow.

Our Girls on the Run/Heart & Sole season starts next week! Registration is closing soon. If you've been considering this opportunity, now is the time, register today!

Code of Virginia 22.1-137.2. Lock-down drills

"In every public school there shall be a lock-down drill at least once during the first 20 school days of each school session, in order that students and teachers may be thoroughly practiced in such drills. Every public school shall provide the parents of enrolled students with at least 24 hours notice before the school conducts any lock-down drill, provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to require such notice to include the exact date and time of the lock-down drill."

At Smithfield Middle School, we will regularly practice drills. You can support our efforts to keep your child safe by encouraging your student to. . .

• take all drills seriously.
• follow all directions quickly and quietly.
• talk to you about the drill and how it makes them feel.

Thank you for your support! We will be engaging in a lockdown drill this upcoming week.

We are still looking for a PTA Treasurer and PTA Vice President. Please reach out to Dr. Kulp if interested at ckulp@iwcs.k12.va.us.

If your student(s) ride an IWCS school bus, please join our new Remind group by using this code: @smsbusinfo.

Through this group, SMS will begin sharing bus updates in the morning and afternoon as we receive them from transportation. Thank you!

Please use the link above to submit parent/guardian notes of absence.

Teachers will be administering a hope assessment at the end of September to best help support students as we move through the school year. A copy of the assessment is included below for your review. Please utilize this link if you would like to opt your student out of this assessment.

Student attendance is very important to us at SMS. We want our students to be present everyday as student attendance is vital for success.

However, if your child is ever absent, please complete one of these options to prevent attendance plans and/or truancy:
- Complete the Google Form (included in weekly newsletter).
- Send in an excuse note to the front office.
- Email our front office staff (Mrs. Ashley Davidson at adavidson@iwcs.k12.va.us).

Families can only submit 5 parent/guardian written excuse notes per semester.

All students enrolled in Isle of Wight County Schools are given an opportunity to apply for free and reduced price meals. Applications may be completed privately and securely online at www.schoolcafe.com Forms can be obtained from your school's cafeteria or main office.