Weekly Warrior for Families

Sevier and RNR will play one another on Thursday, October 17 at J. Fred Johnson Stadium (Dobyns Bennett football field) for the city championship. Varsity 6pm, JV 7:45pm. Come out and support the Warriors (players, cheerleaders, dancers, band)!

Over the past two weeks, we’ve been in conversation with Dr. Kevin Graham, principal of Unicoi County Middle School, about how we can best support their school community. They have been blessed by a tremendous outpouring from federal, state, and local agencies, as well as numerous donations from organizations. Dr. Graham shared that they currently have an abundance of tangible items. However, he anticipates that their needs will evolve in the coming weeks and months as families work toward rebuilding and the school transitions from a command center back to a learning environment. The road ahead will be a long one.

To support these ongoing needs without contributing to an excess of supplies, our John Sevier Prayer Warriors are holding a financial donation drive. Please see the information below if you and your family would like to participate.

• Teachers/office staff will direct students that have donations to the library to turn this in (Mrs. Williamson-Jackson will be collecting/logging).
  
• When guardians/family members drop donations off to the office window, a staff member will deliver your donation to the library.
• Cash or check accepted (no digital payment allowed at this time).
• Checks need to be made out to: John Sevier Middle School (or JSMS), in the memo you can notate 'donation for Unicoi' or whatever you feel appropriate

Do you need homework help? Ms. Mullins (room 330) will be available on Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2:45-3:45 to any grade level students needing homework help in any subject.

Please sign up through this google form: Homework Help Google Form

Students will need to arrange for a ride home.

See below for assistance with Christmas for children 12 years old and younger (and seniors 62 years old and over).

Hello JSMS Warrior Families!

• By popular demand, Fri-yay will continue to be offered by our PTO. Students can purchase a snack during their activity period each Friday (if there is not school on Friday, Fri-yay will be held on Thursday of that week). Now accepting: cash, card, CashApp

• If you are interested in serving on the PTO this year in any capacity, please reach out to our PTO President Jana Woliver at johnseviermspto@gmail.com. We would love to have some extra hands to make a bigger impact on our school.

Please consider donating to our clothes/hygiene closet. For clothing/shoes, we will happily accept new or gently used items. The following items are currently needed: leggings (all sizes...this is our most needed item at this time), joggers/sweats (all sizes, boys/girls), tennis shoes, feminine products.

Thank you SO MUCH to the individuals that have dropped off or sent in items! We very much appreciate your generosity!

Great news! The YMCA is back at Sevier this year offering an after school program. Come have fun, meet friends, and receive homework assistance.

• Hours: Monday-Friday, 2:45-6pm
• Program has started at Sevier for this year, come join the FUN!

• Students will report to the cafeteria after school, and parents will pick up from there.
• Snack/meal is provided daily directly after school.

• Students or guardians can pickup an application from the Sevier office (the completed application can be returned to the Sevier office)...or click on the link below to view/print.
• There is a $30 one time registration fee for the school year (if guardians need to pay this in installments, you can discuss this with the YMCA).
• Cost: students can qualify through a grant (the application will determine this).
• Students will begin after the guardian has been contacted by the YMCA for acceptance into the program. YMCA will give you a start date (after they receive and review the application).
• The application and more information can be found here

KCS currently has openings available in our no cost Kingsport City Schools Pre-K programs. Any child who turned 4-years-old on or before August 15th is eligible to attend (regardless of socioeconomic status). M-F 8:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. with a structured daily schedule. High-quality, state-approved early education curriculum which prepares children academically, socially, and emotionally for Kindergarten. Instruction from highly qualified, experienced educators who focus on building a strong foundation in key academic areas such as literacy and math. Seven locations in Kingsport schools. Available openings are limited; so don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity! Please call the Palmer Center today at (423) 378.2160 for additional information.

Permission slips for our spring trip (May 7-9) were given out to students that have returned their behavior contracts. If your child has not yet returned his or her contract, they may still do so. If your child needs another copy, have them see Mr. Carr asap.

*** Please don't forget that the first payment of $150 will be collected (new dates to be dtermined), in the gym, before school. No money should be turned in to the office, or to another teacher. This payment will guarantee your child a spot on the trip, as long as the behavior criteria is met. Late payments cannot be accepted.

Washington DC trip in May: Information and paperwork was shared with all 8th grade students during the first week of school in their science class. If they did not receive this paperwork they can ask their science teacher for a copy or see Mr. Moore or Mrs. Bingham.

The first payment of $275 was taken up on Thursday, September 5. There are limited spots remaining. If you are still interested you can turn in your first payment and all completed paperwork to Mr. Moore or Mrs. Bingham (we will not take the payment without paperwork filled out).

If you have questions, please email mmoore@k12k.com

Do not be left out and unable to tryout by not having a sports physical on file. Get your fully completed forms turned in as soon as possible.
All students trying out for any of these sports must have a physical on file to tryout or participate. No exceptions.

Wrestling

• Tuesday 10/15 through Friday 10/18, 3-5pm.

Boys Basketball

• Non football players will tryout Tuesday 10/15, 3-5pm, cuts will be made. Practice Wednesday and Friday 3-6pm of this week for those who made the team. Friday will be a tryout for those who played football. Final Cuts made then.

Girls Basketball

• Tryouts will resume this week on Tuesday, Oct. 15th and Wednesday, Oct. 16th from 3:00-5:00. Final cuts will be made on Wednesday.

Baseball

• Due to the rescheduled football game this week, baseball tryouts will start on Thursday, October 17 at Sevier and continue Friday the 18th and Monday October 21st. Each day is 3-5 pm at Sevier.

Golf

• Tryouts will be held on October 22nd and 23rd at Cattails Golf Club (Meadowview) from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Players should meet Coach Fissel at the practice green, ready to play a few holes and showcase their putting and chipping skills. Please remember to bring your own equipment and ensure you have a current sports physical on file with the school to participate in the tryouts. If you have any questions, feel free to email Coach Fissel at bfissel@k12k.com.

Softball

• Tryouts October 23-25 from 3-5pm @ JSMS Softball field.
• 6th and 7th grade Wednesday Oct. 23
• 7th and 8th grade Thursday Oct. 24
• All grades on Friday Oct. 25 (including basketball players)

Boys Soccer

• Boys soccer tryouts will be on Wednesday October 23 through Friday October 25 from 3-5:15pm at Indian Highland Park (Dobyns-Bennett). If you are playing basketball or participating in wrestling, you will only need to attend Wednesday, October 23. If you have any questions, contact Coach Powell, dpowell@k12k.com
  

Track & Field

• Information coming soon...stay tuned.

All guardians need to download the "Remind" app and join the football group by using the code @sevierfb. You will receive important reminders throughout the season, as well as have communication access to the coaching staff.

If any middle schooler is interested in joining the swim team please go to the KCS athletic page under the swimming tab to find all the information you need.

https://athletics.k12k.com/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=864101&type=d&pREC_ID=1224573

There will not be middle school weight lifting at DB this fall. We will resume sometime in the spring semester. Stay tuned for details.

All students who have applied to be part of Leadership Ambassadors will be contacted this week to schedule an in-school interview and be given teacher recommendation forms. If you haven't been contacted by Friday, please email Mrs. Bingham

Looking for something fun to do after school? Love games? Join the Sevier Middle School Gaming Club.

Whether you’re into board games, card games, video games, puzzles, Dungeons and Dragons, or just want to hang out and try something new, the Sevier Middle School Gaming Club has something for everyone!

• When? 1-2 times per week, after school from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (days/time subject to change given student interest)
• First Meeting? Our first meeting will be all about YOU! On Thursday, October 17th, come to the Sevier auditorium to tell us what games you’re excited about, and we’ll build a club that’s perfect for you and your friends.
• Come play, laugh, and make new friends in a fun, laid-back environment. All skill levels welcome—whether you’re a gaming pro or just curious, we want YOU in the club! Don’t miss out! Game on!

ROTC will be meeting every other week after school in the library, next meeting is Sept. 30, come join us! Students will need to be picked up at 4pm at the front of the school. Students must have a permission form turned in prior to the meeting. Forms can be picked up from the front office.

• What is ROTC? ROTC provides citizenship training and an Aerospace Science program for high school students. The program explores the historic and scientific aspects of aerospace technology and teaches high school students self-reliance, self-discipline and other leadership characteristics.
• ROTC will meet every other week (typically on Monday, notated (*) when the meeting is not on a Monday). Remaining meeting dates: September 30, *October 16, October 28, *November 13, November 25, December 9. Next semester dates will be advertised at a later date.

• Prayer Warriors and Wyldlife will meet @ 7:15am in the library on alternate Wednesdays (see dates on the below flyers).
• Wyldlife offers additional opportunities not on campus (see below flyer for more information).
• Students must have a permission form turned in prior to the meeting. Forms can be picked up at Ms. Abrams room 234 or at the front office.

Friendly reminder:

All visitors going beyond the lobby doors—including to counseling or the front office—must have a visitor badge printed through the Raptor system. While this may take additional time, safety is our top priority, and it must take precedence over convenience. This policy applies to all visitors, including familiar faces.

• If you have attendance questions, please email Erika Williams at ewilliams@k12k.com or call 423-378-2450 and ask for her.
• If your child has a doctor's excuse, please email to ewilliams@k12k.com or fax to 423-378-2430. If you have a hard copy of the excuse, please send your child to school with the hard copy (to turn into the office) or you can take a picture of it and email the picture to ewilliams@k12k.com. Student will be marked unexcused until the doctors note has been received.
• If your child is going to be absent (without a doctors excuse), you are not required to contact the school (but if you are choosing to use a parent day and your child has those remaining, you can call to request that their absence is recorded as a 'parent day').
• If you are wanting to use a 'parent day' (max of 3 per semester), the guardian will need to notify the school requesting this (we are not allowed to code the absence this way without the guardian requesting it). You can make this request one of the following ways: call the office, or email ewilliams@k12k.com, or send a note to the office requesting a parent day for the absence on _____ (add the date). Student will be marked as 'unexcused' until this communication has been received.

• We suggest the student/guardian communicate directly to the teachers via email/Canvas regarding any missed assignments.

A big THANK YOU to the families that went in and completed the short google doc about medical care and counseling support. We have less than 150 that are still needed. Reminder, it is very important to get everyone to get this complete so we can help provide services to your child (or even just a band-aid).

Yearbook orders can now be placed.

Below are ways you can help/volunteer/get involved:

• reach out to our Family & Community Liaison, Robin Kerkhoff, rkerkhoff@k12k.com or call her at 423.378.2406
• we have a variety of volunteer opportunities such as helping go through clothes donations and organizing them in the clothes closet, assist a student with before or after school homework, ask to be partnered with a student as a mentor, and much more! You can choose what interests you most and the amount of time that you would like to volunteer (ex: once a month for an hour).
• You can email the PTO at JohnSevierMSPTO@gmail.com to ask how you can volunteer/assist with a variety of activities.

We are blessed to have several water bottle filling stations located throughout the school. It is encouraged for students to bring a water bottle with them to stay hydrated. Also, this helps students from missing class time if they have water with them rather than making trips to the water fountain.

• Please keep your contact information updated. This can be done through your Aspen Parent Portal or by contacting LeAnn Franklin 378-2435 in the counseling office. It's vitally important that we have current contact phone numbers and a correct address for each student. If your email changes be sure to let us know that as well since that is how many different types of information is sent to you via email.

• You MUST present an ID when visiting Sevier or checking out your student.

• Please try to have after school arrangements communicated with your child prior to them arriving to school.

• Students attending sporting events need to remain with their guardian. Students that are dropped off without an adult with them will not be allowed to enter the sporting event.

Food bags are offered every other week. You can call the office 378-2450 or contact Robin Kerkhoff (rkerkhoff@k12k.com) to get on the distribution list. Each bag has a variety of non-perishable items such as (not all of these are included): oatmeal, peanut butter, pasta, pasta sauce, fruit cups, mac n chz, rice, soup.

• If your child is in need of gently used clothing/shoes or hygiene products, please let them know to visit Mrs. Kerkhoff in the office. She can assist in gathering items for them.
• KCS has a Family Resource Center (FRC) that will assist families with a variety of needs...Mrs. Kerkhoff can help connect you to their services.

Families can login into your foodcity.com account, click on account, and then select John Sevier Middle School. This will link your ValuCard to our school! This is a great way to be a part of a wonderful funding source at

See flyer for more information.

Please click here for detailed parent information.

Students’ cell phones and other electronic devices are to be turned off and not visible upon a student’s arrival to school (upon entering the building) until the end of the student’s school day. Students must store their cell phones and other electronic devices in their backpacks (exceptions may be granted for medical or other extraordinary circumstances as determined by the building principal or designee). Cell phones may be confiscated if this rule is violated. When confiscated from students, parents will be asked to retrieve the cell phone from the school administration.

• 1st offense - The item will be confiscated and kept at the school for a minimum of five (5) consecutive school days. To retrieve the confiscated item, a parent or guardian must contact the appropriate administrator.

• 2nd offense - When a student has a second offense during the current semester, the item will be confiscated for a minimum of ten (10) school days. A parent or guardian must retrieve the confiscated item from the front office.

• 3rd offense - When a student has a third offense during the current semester, the item may be confiscated for the remainder of the school year. A parent or guardian may retrieve the confiscated item at the end of the school day on the last day of the school year.

See below for Code of Conduct.

If you are interested in additional information on any of the below items, please reach out to Robin Kerkhoff, 378-2406 or rkerkhoff@k12k.com

• KATS is the public transit system in our area. Reach out to us if you need help getting information about routes, times, or ticket/booklet purchase.

• Our community has an outreach that offers FREE haircuts at a local church (First Methodist, located at Church Circle). These are typically offered every other Monday. They begin at 9am and finish after their last haircut. If you would like for your child to go get his/her haircut please email, call, or send a note to Mrs. Kerkhoff and she will plan to take them in the school van. (Parents/guardians, You can enjoy the community outreach as well. If you're in need of a haircut, go check out this wonderful resource that is available for our community (if transportation is an issue, we can assist you as well. Let us know). ***Upcoming dates are: October 21, November 4, November 18, December 9.

Sign up for this opportunity using this link.

Many fun events are happening at our local library. Check it out!

Monday, October 14

• Teacher In-Service Day (No Students)

Tuesday, October 15

• DBHS Homecoming Week Dress Up Day 1: USA Day
• Jazz Band 7:15-8:00am
  
• All Cross Country uniforms need to be turniing into Coach Potts by Wednesday the 16th
• LEGO Robotics until 4 in the Library
• Girls Basketball Tryouts: Tuesday, Oct. 15th and Wednesday, Oct. 16th from 3:00-5:00
  
• Boys Basketball tryouts. Final cuts will be made today
• Cheer Practice 6-8
• Prayer Warriors meeting in the library Wednesday at 7:15
  

Wednesday, October 16

• DBHS Homecoming Week Dress Up Day 2: Camo vs. Pink Day
• Cross Country uniforms are due to Coach Potts today!
• Orchestra Practice Club Wednesday 3-4pm
• Girls Basketball Tryouts: Wednesday, Oct. 16th from 3:00-5:00
  
• Baseball Tryouts will be October 16 - 18 from 3:00 until 5:00 at Sevier. Male athletes who made the basketball team will try out on Friday October 18th.

Thursday, October 17

• DBHS Homecoming Week Dress Up Day 3: Sevier Colors Day
• LEGO Robotics until 4 in the Library
• Baseball Tryouts will be from 3:00 until 5:00 at Sevier. Male athletes who made the basketball team will try out on Friday October 18th.

Friday, October 18

• DBHS Homecoming Week Dress Up Day 4: Hawaiian Day or Maroon and Grey
  
• Jazz Band 7:15-8:00am
• Softball Lunch meet and great with Coach Lingerfelt. If you are interested in softball please see Coach Lingerfelt during your lunch to get information/paperwork.
• Baseball Tryouts will be from 3:00 until 5:00 at Sevier. Male athletes who made the basketball team will try out on Friday October 18th.

Save The Date:

• Picture Makeup day will be October 22nd.

• Boys soccer tryouts will be on Wednesday October 23 through Friday October 25 from 3:00 - 5:15 at Indian Highland Park (Dobyns-Bennett). If you are playing basketball or participating in wrestling, you will only need to attend Wednesday, October 23.

Email: kloudermilk@k12k.com
Website: https://sevier.k12k.com/
Location: 1200 Wateree Street, Kingsport, TN, USA
Phone: 423-378-2450
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCSSevier
Twitter: @KCS_Sevier