Panther Press

🎃 October:

• October 21-25: National School Bus Safety Week, Read Aloud to a Child Week in Virginia
• October 23: School Bus Transportation Employees Appreciation Day
• October 24: Veterans Chorus Concert (4:15 pm)

Oct. 16-29th: 6 Week benchmark (Science/History/Civics)

Oct. 21-Nov. 1st: Year long courses (English and Math)

If your student(s) ride an IWCS school bus, please join our new Remind group by using this code: @smsbusinfo.

Through this group, SMS will begin sharing bus updates in the morning and afternoon as we receive them from transportation. Thank you!

Please use the link above to submit parent/guardian notes of absence.

Student attendance is very important to us at SMS. We want our students to be present everyday as student attendance is vital for success.

However, if your child is ever absent, please complete one of these options to prevent attendance plans and/or truancy:
- Complete the Google Form (included in weekly newsletter).
- Send in an excuse note to the front office.
- Email our front office staff (Mrs. Ashley Davidson at adavidson@iwcs.k12.va.us).

Families can only submit 5 parent/guardian written excuse notes per semester.

Some children stay home because of minor illnesses when they could be in school. For more information about when to keep your child home, check out the IWCS Sick Day Guidelines.

Students and staff from the Governor's School for the Arts will be at SMS during WIN on Thursday, October 17th. Please share this information with your child(ren), and here is the sign up link for interested students.

All students enrolled in Isle of Wight County Schools are given an opportunity to apply for free and reduced price meals. Applications may be completed privately and securely online at www.schoolcafe.com Forms can be obtained from your school's cafeteria or main office.