SMS School Newsletter

Congratulations of Brenna Prokop, our SMS Optimist Student of the Month for September!

In lieu of recent events around the country, we have had questions from parents about security measures in place at Seaman Unified School District. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff is our top priority and we wanted to take a moment to make you aware of the role our district security department plays in the day-to-day operations on campus.

Currently, our district employs six full-time school police officers year-round. Five of these officers are directly employed by USD 345, while one is contracted through the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office. All of our school police officers are sworn law enforcement professionals who are armed and stationed within our school buildings throughout the school day.

Officers are strategically stationed in our schools and support the safety of each school in our district. Each officer undergoes specialized training in youth interaction and is intimately familiar with the layout and dynamics of our school facilities. This ensures they are well-prepared to handle situations that may arise while prioritizing both safety and support for our students.

We remain committed to maintaining a secure environment where learning can thrive. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in keeping our schools safe.

The After School Assistance Program (ASAP) began on Monday, September 9 and will be held each Monday and Wednesday from 3:15-4:30 p.m. Teams will offer academic help to SMS students throughout the school year. Transportation will be provided for students who live in the district if they sign up by noon. Teams may request that a student stays for ASAP and will contact parents/guardians the day before.

Orders are due by September 29

The "FACS In Action" class is asking for donations of individualized snacks and drinks for our school store. This class runs & monitors our school store. The store is a part of the SMS behavior incentive program. Students earn Viking Bucks when caught being kind or making good choices. They then can spend their bucks on items purchased or donated to the school store. The Viking Store can use any donated items, fidgets, markers, jewelry items for teens, etc. The store also sells individual food snacks or drinks like juices, sodas, & sports drinks.

Our first Site Council and PTO meetings are schedule for next Monday, September 30!

Students, do you want to wear a hat to school or cuddle up with your blanket and slippers? All you have to do is have your parents attend the SMS Site Council Meeting at 5:30pm on September 30th. If your parent attends, you will get a card to either wear a hat or bring a blanket on a certain day.

Parents, do you want some tips and tricks to help your student be more organized and not have missing work? During the meeting we will show you how to navigate Schoology and PowerSchool, as well as share organizational habits that will set your student up for success.

Friday, October 4 is an early release day. In the morning, students will take part in the SMS Wacky Olympics. Academic Teams will provide information to students and organize them for different relay events. Dismissal is at 11:00 so that students may attend the Homecoming Parade in the afternoon.

Wacky Olympics is an exciting event and a highlight of Homecoming Week at SMS. Our new Behavior Management Plan includes a section on Probation, which states, "A student that has recently received Out of School Suspension (OSS) or has accumulated 5 days of In-School Suspension (ISS) will be placed on probation for a period of ten days. While on Probation, students may not attend 1) Wacky Olympics, 2) School Dances, 3) Class Trips, or 4) PTO Sponsored After-School Events. Students who are not passing at least five classes are also considered to be on probation (SMS Student-Parent Handbook Page 23)."

Parents, please take time to review the handbook, especially the behavior management section (beginning on page 16) with your student, if you have not done so already. We are looking forward to fun activities during Homecoming Week and want to ensure all students have the opportunity to participate.

Students' Right to Know information can be found using the link below to access the information on the district website.

• Tuesday, September 24: Girls Tennis V/JV at Washburn Rural at 3:00 pm. Cross Country at Shawnee Heights at 4:00 pm.
  
• Wednesday, September 25: 7th Volleyball at Washburn Rural and Silver Lake at 3:30 pm.
• Thursday, September 26: 7th Football at SMS at 3:30 pm, 8th Football at Emporia at 3:30 pm, 7th Volleyball at Emporia at 3:45 pm, 8th Volleyball at Manhattan-Eisenhower at 3:30 pm, Cross Country at Hoyt City Park at 4:00 pm.
• Saturday, September 28: 7th Volleyball at Junction City at 8:30 am, 8th Volleyball at Emporia at 8:30 am.
• Monday, September 30: Girls Tennis V/JV at Lawrence West at 3:00 pm, 7th Volleyball at Shawnee Heights at 3:30 pm, 8th Volleyball at SMS at 3:30 pm.
• Tuesday, October 1: 7th Grade Volleyball at Junction City at 3:30 pm, 8th Volleyball at SMS at 3:30 pm.

Email: kajohnson@usd345.com
Website: https://www.seamanschools.org/
Location: 5530 Northwest Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, KS, USA
Phone: 785-286-8400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeamanMiddleUSD345/