SMMS Weekly Update

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.

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.

Students may enter the building at 7:12 a.m. Staff members are not available prior to that time to supervise students. Students should NOT be dropped off or walk to school prior to that time. No supervision can be provided for students who arrive prior to 7:12 a.m. daily. Parents/Guardians leaving students at school prior to 7:12 a.m. pose a safety concern.

For morning drop-off, parents must enter the side parking lot to drop off at the side door when buses are using the front loop. Students will walk to the front to enter the building after 7:12 a.m.

Late arrival in the morning is 7:30 AM. Students will be marked tardy if they are not in the building and in homeroom by 7:30 a.m

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.

Dear SMMS families,

We want to thank you for all your support so far this year with Box Tops! We are excited to meet our goal — and with your continued support, I know we can reach it! Our goal is to earn $1,000 through Box Tops this year to help fund field trips. Every Box Tops product count towards our goal! Let’s work together to get SMMS to the finish line.

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.

We are writing to request that you spread the word to all of your students and families that Academy Day 2024 will be held for any and all students, parents, guardians and school officials interested in learning more about U.S. service academies (Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, Military/West Point, Naval).

We will also have representatives from local ROTC programs on hand to discuss ROTC scholarship opportunities. Mock interviews will be offered and a representative from the Dept. of Defense’s Medical Examination Review Board will join us on Saturday, September 28, 2024 and Sunday, September 29, 2024.

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. Please attend and encourage middle and high school aged students and parents to attend.

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.

Berkeley County Schools is excited to partner with the Cook Center for Human Connection and their Mental Health and Wellness Resource Center: ParentGuidance.org. This is a family support library for all families that provides any adult and caretaker in the district with a trusted place to go for qualified answers to the toughest parenting and childcare challenges from the premier therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists in their respective specialties, who offer compassionate, anonymous, and supportive guidance for you and your children.

This FREE resource offers over 50 courses in English and Spanish created and given by licensed clinicians addressing topics like: Anxiety, Depression, Self-Harm, Bullying, Social Media, Substance Abuse, Grief and Loss etc.

Even more 6th grade students are earning rewards for meeting their reading milestones.

Congrats to all those students rocking the reading challenge!

Both our boys and girls teams finished second in our scrimmage last night against North and Hedgesville Middle Schools. In the girls race, Caylee Cruse finished first, Cassie Zimmerman was fourth, and Hattie Corder finished eighth. In the boys race, Emmett Corder finished third, Reid Boswell was fourth, Dylan Alexander finished sixth, and Rylan Leonard was seventh.

Our very own Ms. James was recognized as A Caring Educator for all of her contributions to our students, staffulty, and school community. Way to go, Ms. James!

Some of our teams are engaging in conditioning or Flex days. Please see the information below and reach out to the appropriate coach with questions.

All students must submit a copy of their physical form to Ms. Pavlik, our Athletic Director.

• Cheer
• Coach: Toneia Eccelston (coachneiasmms@gmail.com)
• Boys Basketball
• Varsity Coach: Brooks Everline (brooks@ynphomesolutions.com)
• JV Coach: Noah Payton (noah.payton6@gmail.com)
• Cross Country
• Coach: Chip Barnhart (cbarnhar@k12.wv.us)
• Meets:
  
• 9/18/24- Tri-Meet at Poor House Farm at 5:30 p.m.
• 9/25/24- Tr-Meet at Spring Mills High at 5:30 p.m.
• 10/3/24- Tri-Meet at Poor House Farm at 5:30 p.m.
• 10/10/24- County Championship at Poor House Farm- Time TBD

• September 17- Interims Posted Online
  
• September 18- Tri-Meet at Poor House Farm at 5:30 p.m.
• October 23- Middle School Parent Teacher Conferences from 5:00-7:00 p.m.