• 10/16 SCHOOL STORE OPEN in Library before school!

• 10/17 SBDM

• 10/17 SMS Football vs TCMS @ TCHS 6:00 PM

• 10/20 6th/7th Grade Boys Basketball Open Gym 1:30 - 3:00 PM
  

• 10/21-10/25 Hygiene Drive

• 10/25 Kona Ice

• 10/27 7th/8th Grade Boys Basketball Open Gym 1:30 - 3:00 PM

• 10/29 Band Concert: 6th Grade @6:00 PM. 7th and 8th grade @7:00 PM.

• 10/30 SMS Trunk or Treat

• 10/24 SMS Football vs Beaumont @ PLD 6:00 PM

• 10/30 6th Grade Boys Basketball Open Gym 7:30 - 8:30 AM

• 11/7 SMS Choir Concert @ Tates Creek Presbyterian Church 7:00 PM

• 11/21 College, Career, and Special Programs Night at SMS

• 11/27-11/29 Thanksgiving Break

• 12/11 Boys Basketball Tryouts (Must have updated KHSAA Physical)

• 12/23-1/6 Winter Break

• 1/16 Science Night at SMS

• 1/20 No School

• 1/21 Kona Ice

• 2/18 Multicultural Night at SMS

• 2/28 Kona Ice

• 3/21 Spartan Family Breakfast at SMS
  

• 3/21 SPARTAN DAY!

• 3/26 Wellness Night at SMS

• 4/25 Kona Ice

• 6th Grade Parents -Please look for the email from Mr. Payne explaining a Research Project we are excited to participate in with our Leadership Academy Classes. Students will be given ebucks from their writing teachers when they bring back (or if they already have) the parent permission.

• Intramural Soccer has started and will be on Fridays until 5. Having a ride at 5 is important. Athletes do not need a physical but should have a water bottle they can keep with them on the field. We do not go back into the school building.

• ONE Way Bible Study group is starting on Wednesday mornings from 8:00 - 8:30 AM. Students should wait at the front doors until 8 am.
  

• The Academic Team will be meeting on Wednesday's after school until 5:30 PM and on Friday mornings at 8:00 AM each week.

• The Student Council will meet on Thursdays at 8:00 a.m. weekly in room 505 until further notice. Please check emails for updates and reminders!

• Chess Club is Tuesdays after school, 4-5pm in Room #202. NO CHESS CLUB 10/15!

• Intramurals: Second session (pickleball/volleyball) will run November 12- December 19

  Third sessions (basketball) will run January 21-April 2. Permission slips must be turned into Mr. Jerry Smith at room 404.

• Please join our PTSA! Please click http://southernms.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true to become a member for $5! They do so much to support our students and staff!

• Did you know you can attend SBDM meetings? (Site Based Decision Making Council). There is a public input portion on the agenda, and you can bring any concerns or questions you have to the council. The council can either offer feedback or choose to put the input on the next agenda- but it is a chance to have your voice heard! All SBDM meetings take place in SMS Library. If you cannot attend an SBDM meeting and have input, you can also email to kevin.payne@fayette.kyschools.us.

• Dress Code Reminder- Students can only wear pajama pants on Fridays if they have maintained their eOS employability. Pajama pants are not permitted any other day than Friday unless a Spirit Week theme.

• *ATTENTION CAR RIDERS* You may only use the car loop in the mornings and afternoons to pickup/drop off your students. Using the staff lot creates a safety issue for our kids.

We will be offering Academic Restart, our after school tutoring program, each week Monday-Thursday. Students do not need to sign up. It is a drop in program. There is no cost. It will be in Ms. Pack's room (406). Mr. Payne will announce when he dismisses the car riders to the drop off loop to go to "Academic Restart". Students need to come up with something to work on.

Rides need to be here by 5 or students can walk home.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Pack at Jennifer.pack@fayette.kyschools.us

• Procedure for Student Absences due to Illness and/or Appointments: If your student is absent, please have them bring an excuse note/doctor’s note to Ms. Cornett as soon as they return. Notes need to be returned within three days of the absence. Parents/guardians can also email a note to cari.cornett@fayette.kyschools.us

• Parent notes must be HANDWRITTEN and have the date you wrote it, include the student's first and last name, date of dismissal and/or absence, the reason for early dismissal or absence, and a signature.
• Doctor’s notes can’t be handwritten, they need to come from the doctor’s office your student was seen at. The note needs to include the student’s first and last name and date(s) of service.
• Notes can also be faxed to 859-422-9957 Attn: Ms. Cornett

Is your Infinite Campus Contact Information Updated?

Please help us ensure your contact information is up-to-date in Campus Parent.

Campus Parent is a confidential, secure website where families can access real-time academic information. It also enables us to quickly send important messages to families about transportation impacts, school closures, safety, and more. Your student’s teachers can also use this tool to contact you directly about missed assignments or other classroom concerns.

To update your contact information and preferences, visit fcps.net/ic.

Any 8th graders interested in more information about Southside Technical Center, Eastside Technical Center or Locust Trace AgriScience Center, please fill out the Google form below. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Vanzant at molly.vanzant@fayette.kyschools.us.

The Gifted and Talented (GT) High School Programs - Liberal Arts Academy, MSTC and SCAPA - want to make families aware that any 8th grader considering a gifted and talented high school program will need to submit an interest form by October 25, 2024. To ensure opportunity and access for districtwide GT programs for the 2025–2026 school year, required assessments and auditions needed for program inclusion will occur during the district wide approved testing and audition windows (November–December 2024). The GT HS Program Flyer lists program information and links for submitting the GT Interest Forms.

FCPS GT HS Program Flyer

8th Grade- 10/11

7th Grade- 10/18

6th Grade- 10/25

8:35 AM-9:00 AM

Every week your student receives a social-emotional learning lesson during their Academic Leadership class. The lessons will differ by grade level. Second Step is the program utilized and it helps students build social-emotional skills- like nurturing positive relationships, managing emotions, and meeting goals. This helps our students thrive in school and life.

6th Grade- Unit 1 Lesson 6 - Monitoring Your Progress

7th Grade- Unit 1 Lesson 6 - Overcoming Roadblocks 2

8th Grade- Unit 1 Lesson 6 - My Future Self

Have you signed your DESSA consent?

DESSA stands for Devereux Student Strengths Assessment. It will allow us to understand the important role social and emotional skills play in your child's academic success and beyond, SMS will participate in the DESSA from October 21st to November 1st. It is an optional assessment but if you would like your child to participate, Click here to sign the consent form. If you would like more information please scan the QR code or contact me.

Valerie Morrison, LCSW

Southern Middle School

District Mental Health Specialist

valerie.morrison@fayette.kyschools.us

859.422.3582 ext. 41890

Mr. Gunn comes to SMS with over 30 years of educational experience, including more than 23 years teaching Mathematics, 20 in a middle school setting. Originally from upstate NY, he moved to KY in 1993 for graduate school in Mathematics at UK and has been in education in and around the Bluegrass ever since. Most recently, he taught at Tates Creek Middle School, and before that he worked for the Cabinet for Health & Family Services supporting the work of the over 850 FRYSC centers across the state, including our own YSC here at SMS. Mr. Gunn brings a passion for middle school students and is very grateful for the opportunity to work with our 8th graders here at SMS. He is eager to work with each student to help build an enthusiasm for learning and for math.

Email: kevin.payne@fayette.kyschools.us
Website: https://southernmiddle.fcps.net/
Location: 400 Wilson Downing Road, Lexington, KY, USA
Phone: (859) 422-3852
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southernmiddleschoolfcps
Twitter: @southern_middle