• 11/17 Boys Basketball Open Gym 6th/7th Grade 1:30-3:00 PM

• 11/18 Girls Volleyball Game 6:00 PM @ EJ Hayes

• 11/19 Picture Retake/Makeup in Library

• 11/20 Girls Volleyball vs LTMS 6:00 PM @ SMS
  

• 11/22 8th Grade Choir "Singsgiving"- Details to be Mailed Through IC

• 11/21 College, Career, and Special Programs Night at SMS- See Flyer Below

• 11/24 Boys Basketball Open Gym 8th Grade Only 1:30-3:00 PM

• 11/25 Girls Volleyball vs Winburn 6:00 PM @ SMS

• 11/27-11/29 Thanksgiving Break

• 11/20 "Know"Vember Reading Challenge Due

• 12/1 Boys Basketball Open Gym 6th/7th Grade 1:30-3:00 PM

• 12/2 Girls Volleyball 6:00 PM @ Jessie Clark Middle

• 12/4 Girls Volleyball vs Leestown @ SMS- 8th Grade Night!

• 12/5 Girls Volleyball Game @ Bryan Station

• 12/6 SCHOOL DANCE!

• 12/8 Boys Basketball Open Gym 8th Grade Only 1:30-3:00 PM

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

• 12/11 Round 1 Girls Volleyball B Team Tournament

• 12/12 Round 1 Girls Volleyball A Team Tournament

• 12/12 8th Grade Band Performance @ Tates Creek High School 7:00 PM

• 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

• 3/1 Innovation Showcase for FCPS Special Programs 10AM-2PM @ Tates Creek High

• 3/21 Spartan Family Breakfast at SMS
  

• 3/21 SPARTAN DAY!

• 3/26 Wellness Night at SMS

• 4/25 Kona Ice

• Latina Club every Friday 8:35 AM in Sra. Davis' Room (102).

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

Dear families,

Thanks to all of you who were able to make it to the meeting about our upcoming trip to Reykjavik, Hvolsvöllur in Summer 2026. If you were not able to attend, please see the attached presentation.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18JT592J9qfo7nliNPH80wWXS5NflK1j9gmLsmDMC5Aw/edit?usp=sharing

Lock in one of the limited spots available with a $95 Enrollment Fee by November 22.

By enrolling now, you will also receive a $200 tour scholarship and qualify for your risk-free enrollment period!

Enroll now with this link: www.eftours.com/2679416HP
**Space is limited, and is first-come, first-served!

Please view the Parent Guide to Travel from EF Educational Tours, our travel partner. This guide covers all the details about EF, including options for academic credit, payment plans, and what to expect on tour. Additionally, once you enroll, you will have access to your individual fundraising page and will be able to apply for EF's Global Citizen Scholarship.

Still have questions? EF's Traveler Support team can help through their online chat at https://www.eftours.com/contact-us or by phone at 800-665-5364. And if your student has friends who have not signed up yet, feel free to pass this message along to their families too.

Thanks everyone!
Adriana Gregory

SMS Science Fair will be held Thursday, January 16th during the school day and we need volunteers to help make this event a success! We need professionals in a science, engineering, or medical fields to help with judging science fair projects and we need volunteers to help with set-up, clean-up or bringing snacks for judges. If you are able to help - please sign up on the following form and we will send you details closer to the science fair date! https://bit.ly/SMSScienceFair25

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 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

Fayette County Public Schools wants to help students explore their talents and refine their career interests before they graduate. That’s why we offer more than 30 magnet and school programs designed to foster skills in art, music, automotive maintenance, carpentry, emergency medical services, welding, engineering, and more.

If your student would benefit from these programs, we encourage you to attend our Innovation Showcase on Saturday, March 1, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tates Creek High School. Showcase participants can browse resource tables and talk with teachers and staff from each of our available programs.

Applications for our magnet and school programs open on March 1, 2025 and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on March 17, 2025. To learn more about our application process, visit our website. For general questions, please email Vee Pryor or call 859-422-0071.

Important Dates

• Oct. 21 - Nov. 29: Cognitive and achievement testing window
• Nov. 1 - Dec. 20: Visual and performing arts auditions window
• March 1 - Applications open
• March 17 - Application deadline
• March 31 (high) & April 1 (elementary and middle) -- notifications to families

8th Grade- 11/8

7th Grade- 11/15

6th Grade- 11/22

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 2 Lesson 8- What are guiding principles?

7th Grade- Unit 2 Lesson 8- What is self-concept?

8th Grade- Unit 2 Lesson 8- Agency

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