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

• 12/10 Orchestra Concert @ 7:00 PM

• 12/11 Boys Basketball Tryouts (Must have updated KHSAA Physical). 8th grade tryouts will begin from 7:15 - 9:00 PM

• 12/12 Boys Basketball Tryouts (Must have updated KHSAA Physical). 6th and 7th grade tryouts will begin from 4:00 - 6:00 PM

• 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

• 12/19 SBDM

• 12/21 SMS Cheerleaders Take on State in Elizabethtown, KY

• 12/23-1/6 WINTER BREAK

• 1/16 SBDM

• 1/16 Science Night at SMS

• 1/18 District Governor's Cup- Academic Team @ SMS

• 1/20 No School

• 1/21 Kona Ice

• 1/22 Boys Basketball vs Crawford @ SMS

• 1/29 Boys Basketball vs Beaumont @ SMS

• 1/31 Kona Ice

• 2/3 Boys Basketball vs TCMS @ Tates Creek Middle

• 2/5 Boys Basketball vs Morton @ Morton Middle

• 2/6 PTSA Meeting 4:30 PM

• 2/10 Boys Basketball vs EJ Hayes @ EJ Hayes Middle

• 2/12 Boys Basketball vs LTMS @ SMS

• 2/17 No School

• 2/18 Multicultural Night at SMS

• 2/19 Boys Basketball vs Wiburn @ SMS

• 2/20 SBDM

• 2/20 Boys Basketball vs Jessie Clark @ Jessie Clark Middle

• 2/24 Boys Basketball vs Leestown @ SMS

• 2/26 Boys Basketball vs Bryan Station @ Bryan Station Middle

• 2/28 Kona Ice

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

• 3/14 No School

• 3/20 SBDM

• 3/21 Spartan Family Breakfast at SMS
  

• 3/21 SPARTAN DAY!

• 3/26 Wellness Night at SMS

• 4/7-4/11 SPRING BREAK
  

• 4/17 SBDM

• 4/25 Kona Ice

• 5/20 No school

• 5/26 No School

• 5/28 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

• 7th and 8th grade Spanish classes have midterms next week on Tuesday, Dec. 10th.

• *FCA* is starting and will be Fridays 8:00-8:35 AM in the Gym!

• 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.

• 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

• 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. Holes above the knee are prohibited.

• *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

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

The YMCA is hosting their 18th annual Reindeer Ramble 5K at Keeneland on Saturday, December 14. Race begins at 10:00am.

The Reindeer Ramble 5K helps to support the YMCA’s Impact Campaign, that raises funds to support local children and families that need financial support to belong to the YMCA and/or YMCA programming. So, you have an opportunity to participate in a great community event, while simultaneously supporting those in need!

Here is a special promo code that will save each registrant $5 upon enrollment.

Promo Code: FCPS-5
Saves $5 per registrant

Expires 12/08/2024

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

NONE IN DECEMBER

8th Grade- 1/10

7th Grade- 1/17

6th Grade- 1/24

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 11: Multiple Guiding Principles

7th Grade- Unit 2 Lesson 11: Changes in Self-Concept

8th Grade- Unit 2 Lesson 11: How to Build Confidence 2

We are in the heart of the Holiday Season. The holidays can bring many emotions to the forefront of our minds. We are often over scheduled, financially strained, or dealing with major family changes that can make the holidays look very different for the first time. All of this can bring anxiety and the inability to relax to each of us. You might even be saying, “I am too busy to take a break.” I HAVE A SUPER EASY AND QUICK SOLUTION FOR YOU TO TRY AND IT CAN BE DONE ANYWHERE!

Watch this 4 minute video to learn a 30 second technique that can help reset your Vagus Nervous System:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Mrs. Morrison

SMS District Mental Health Specialist.

Mr. Yeary is an 8th grade Math teacher, working with students on the Titans and Warriors teams. He has been in education for five years. He was a para-educator for one year, and then a teacher at SMS for the last four years. Mr. Yeary also coaches baseball at Tates Creek High School. In his free time he likes to watch sports, go to the gym, and play video games. When asked why he is proud to be a Spartan, Mr. Yeary said, "I love working at Southern because I, myself, was a student at Southern Middle and I know the staff are so passionate about our kids." We are very lucky to have Mr. Yeary!

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