Mission: The purpose of Smith Middle School is to ensure learning for all members of our school community.

Website: https://smith.troy.k12.mi.us/
Location: 5835 Donaldson Drive, Troy, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 823- 4700

Smith Families,

We had fun-filled return to school and I hope your child had a great week! A major focus of the first week of school at Smith is on building community in our classrooms and helping students get acclimated to what can feel like a fast-paced middle school schedule. Our 6th graders ended the week with an assembly featuring "Basketball Jones". Check out a few pictures of the week below.

Included in this newsletter are several back-to-school reminders. Please take a few minutes to review them.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Best,

Ryan Brinks, Principal

Smith Middle School

If your student is going to be absent, please call our attendance line: 248-823-4701

Leave your name, your student’s full name, grade, duration of absence, and absence reason. Absences should be reported the same day or within 24 hours.

Smith Middle School opens at 7:50am. Classes begin at 8:17am.

Classes end at 3:05pm on regular school days. Students not participating in athletics or club activities need to be out of the building by 3:20pm.

Late Drop-Off:

• Our 1st hour starts at 8:17am. If your student arrives after this time, please walk them into the main office and sign them in.
  
• Students will not be allowed to go to class if they arrive unaccompanied by an adult after 8:17am.
  

Early Dismissal:

• If you need to take your student out of school early, please do so prior to 2:45pm.

You do not need to notify the office if you are picking up your students early. However, you will need to come into the office and sign the student out when you arrive to pick them up. At that time, we will call them out of class.

Our drop off cart for student items is located outside the main office doors. Please leave forgotten items there (including iPads) and fill out the information in the drop-off book located on the cart. We will call your student down to the office to pick up their item at the next passing time. You do not need to notify the front office of items dropped off as we check the cart hourly.

We are working to build independence and responsibility with our students. Often, they can make do for the day without small items. Please use your best judgement when bringing up forgotten items to school.

Breakfast and Lunch are free again this year for all Michigan public schools. Breakfast is served from 8:00 - 8:15am. For lunch, students may select one main item, one side (fruit or vegetable), and a milk. Additional items such as an extra slice of pizza, pretzel, yogurt parfait, or bottle of water can be purchased separately. The easiest way to do this is by putting money on your student's account. Details can be found below.

Students do need to bring their student ID to the cafeteria each day when they purchase a breakfast or lunch. This aids in speeding up the lunch lines and check-out process. Students without an ID will be asked to wait until the students with IDs have gone through the line. Picture make-up day will be September 13 and students without an ID will be able to get a new one at that time.

Link to TSD Food & Nutrition Department: https://www.troy.k12.mi.us/departments/food-nutrition

• Daily Breakfast and Lunch Menus
• Nutrition Information
• Link to add funds to MySchoolBucks

• No School - Labor Day
  

• 3:20 - 5:30pm - Football Practice

• 3:10 - 5:00pm - Girls Basketball Tryouts
• 3:20 - 5:30pm - Football Practice

• 3:10 - 5:00pm - Girls Basketball Tryouts
• 3:20 - 5:30pm - Football Practice

• 3:10 - 5:00pm - Girls Basketball Tryouts
• 3:20 - 5:30pm - Football Practice

The Smith PTO is made of parents dedicated to enhancing students' experiences during their middle school years. Teacher grants, school dances, Media Center materials, and our annual Field Day are just a few things the PTO helps bring to life.

The PTO exists because of your help and effort. Please consider making a one-time contribution of $30 to the Smith PTO. If you're a Venmo user, find the PTO @SmithKnightsPTO; if you're not a Venmo user, please make a check out to Smith PTO and send it to the school office.

If you're keen on contributing your time or energy to the PTO, we'd love to make you a part of the group. Please email Scott Timmreck (scott.timmreck@gmail.com) for more information on how you can help. Or...come to a meeting to see what we're about! The first gathering is Wednesday, September 11, and the schedule for the rest of the school year is:

September 11
October 9
November 6
December 11
February 5
March 5
April 9
May 7
May 28

Meetings are in the Smith Media Center, start at 6:30pm, and last approximately one hour. We hope you can join us!

September 9: First Smith Caring Crew Club Meeting - Media Center (3:10 - 4:10pm)

September 10: 1st Smith Advisory Day

September 10: Girls Basketball Parent Meeting (5:00pm)

September 11: PTO Meeting in the Media Center (6:30 - 7:30pm)

September 12: Smith Open House / Curriculum Night (7:00 - 8:30pm)

September 13: Makeup Picture Day for students that missed August 15

September 23: 6th Grade Parent Night @ Smith (7:00 - 8:00pm)

We have a great online spirit wear store with a number of new modern styles and items for purchase. You can either pick them up or utilize the option of having your orders delivered directly to your home for a small fee.

Below is a sample of the logo choices for most items...

FinalForms

All 7th and 8th graders participating in interscholastic athletics in 2024-2025 will need to register in FinalForms, where all athletics-related forms will be signed by a parent for the upcoming school year.

• Returning Parents: simply log in to your account and choose to update for 2024-2025.
  
• Parents new to FinalForms: the Parent Playbook provides instructions on registering.
  

Sports Physicals

ALL student-athletes are required to get a sports physical dated April 15, 2024, or later for the 2024-2025 school year. Prior to getting a physical, please update your information in FinalForms, print out the physical form and medical information, and take these documents with you to the doctor. Only the last page, the Preparticipation Physical Evaluation Form, needs to be signed and uploaded to FinalForms.

Pay-to-Participate Athletic Fees

There will be a slight increase in the Pay to Participate fee. Each of the first two sports will cost
$100 per sport (must be paid before participating in a scrimmage or game), and the third sport is
free. Please do not pay this fee until you have confirmed that your child has made the team.

The household max remains at $600. You will be able to make the Pay to Participate payment
directly in Final Forms; just follow the prompts.

Pay-to-Participate Fee Waiver
Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch are eligible for a waiver from the Pay to Participate fee. Parents must complete and submit the 2024-25 application for free/reduced lunch. This form can be found in your school's main office or online here.

Parents who check off the waiver box in FinalForms can upload a copy of the verification letter from Food Services to receive the free/reduced fee. Verification forms can also be emailed to Camille Marbury in District Athletics at cmarbury@troy.k12.mi.us. A copy of this verification letter must be received in order to grant the waiver.

There is no cost for admission to middle school athletic contests.

• All 7th and 8th graders are welcome to play, there are no tryouts.
  
• You must have an athletic physical completed for the 2024/25 school year before you can practice.
• Practice runs every day after school from 3:20-5:30pm. The 1st practice will be Wednesday, August 28. No practice on August 29.
  
• A full schedule with more information will be available beginning August 15.
  
• Contact Coach Hughes @ bhughes@troy.k12.mi.us if you have additional questions.
  

• Tryouts for Girls Basketball will be held after school Sept. 4, 5, and 6 until 5:00pm.
  
• Additional details, season schedules, and specific tryout information will be available the first week of school.
• You must have an athletic physical completed for the 2024/25 school year before you can tryout.
• 8th Grade Coach - Mr. Koneval; 7th Grade Coach - Mr. Morris
  

We will start September 5th.

• Parent meeting will be September 10th, after practice at 5:30pm.

• We will practice Tuesday & Thursdays from 4-5:30pm.
  
• We welcome all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls, no cuts!
• It’s a great place to make and build friendships. You will learn so much about yourself, others, and the sport!
• We practice 2-3 days a week for about 2 hours and have 3 football home games we attend.
• We do fun activities that involve our Troy High Varsity Cheerleaders!!!
• Register with us: https://forms.gle/spaWyRWEKrWMmETT6

If you have any questions you would like answered before we have our season begin please feel free to contact Coach Aleah: cheer.coachaleah@gmail.com

Troy Schools is utilizing the Arbiter Sports app to keep you informed on Smith's sports. You will find all 7th & 8th grade sports, rosters, schedules, and game information.

Fall Sports:
Cross Country (6th,7th,8th Grade)
Flag Football
Girl's Basketball (6th Grade)

Winter Sports:
Boy's BasketballBoy's Basketball
Volleyball (6th Grade)
Wrestling (6th,7th,8th Grade)

Spring Sports:
Track (6th Grade)

Once the school year begins, more information will be shared with students on how to sign up and get involved.

With the exception of wrestling, intramural sports do not require a physical.

Club Fee can be paid at https://parent.payschools.com

WEB…………………………………...……..………………...............................….Mrs. Walls, & Mrs. Peplinski

STAND Club..……………………………………...........................................Mrs. Bell

Green Team....………………………..……………..…….…...........………...………Mrs. Peplinski

History Club.. ……………………………………………..………..…...…..........……Mrs. Casko

International Club..…………………………...………..….……………..…......…..TBD

Math Competition (additional club fees may apply)..………..….TBD

Coding Club.. ……………………………………………………….…………..….........Mr. Eve

Quiz Bowl (additional club fees may apply) ………………..………….Mr. Hughes

Robotics Club ($150 one-time additional club fee)…………...….Parent Led

Student Council…..…………………..…………...................................…...Mrs. Casko & Mr. Koneval

Young Engineers.. ……………………………………........………..………………..Mr. Eve

Model UN …………………………………...................………………………...…….Mrs. Sebastian

Science Olympiad (additional club fees may apply)……………….Parent Led

Chess Club ………………………………………………...........………………………..Mr. Eve

Drama Club..................................................................................Ms. Jain & Ms. Taylor

Care Club......................................................................................Michelle Phillips