• 10/27 7th/8th Grade Boys Basketball Open Gym 1:30 - 3:00 PM.(Must have updated KHSAA Physical)

• 10/28-11/1 Red Ribbon/Spirit Week

• 10/29 Band Concert: 6th Grade @6:00 PM. 7th and 8th grade @7:00 PM.

• 10/30 SMS Trunk or Treat

• 10/30 SMS Volleyball vs Crawford @ SMS

• 10/24 SMS Football vs Beaumont @ PLD 6:00 PM

• 10/30 6th Grade Boys Basketball Open Gym 7:30 - 8:30 AM. (Must have updated KHSAA Physical)

• 11/7 SMS Choir Concert @ Tates Creek Presbyterian Church 7:00 PM

• 11/19 Picture Retake/Makeup in Library

• 11/21 College, Career, and Special Programs Night at SMS

• 11/27-11/29 Thanksgiving Break

• 12/11 Boys Basketball Tryouts (Must have updated KHSAA Physical)

• 12/23-1/6 Winter Break

• 1/16 Science Night at SMS

• 1/20 No School

• 1/21 Kona Ice

• 2/18 Multicultural Night at SMS

• 2/28 Kona Ice

• 3/21 Spartan Family Breakfast at SMS
  

• 3/21 SPARTAN DAY!

• 3/26 Wellness Night at SMS

• 4/25 Kona Ice

• 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.

• Intramurals: Second session (pickleball/volleyball) will run November 12- December 19

  Third sessions (basketball) will run January 21-April 2. Permission slips must be turned into Mr. Jerry Smith at room 404.

• 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.

• *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.

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

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 up 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

• 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

Is your Infinite Campus Contact Information Updated?

Please help us ensure your contact information is up-to-date in Campus Parent.

Campus Parent is a confidential, secure website where families can access real-time academic information. It also enables us to quickly send important messages to families about transportation impacts, school closures, safety, and more. Your student’s teachers can also use this tool to contact you directly about missed assignments or other classroom concerns.

To update your contact information and preferences, visit fcps.net/ic.

Calling all Spartan students and parents! Ever wanted to see the world and experience another culture firsthand? Well now you can! Pack your bags. We are off to ICELAND in Summer 2026! Come to my in-person information session on Tuesday October 29th in the SMS cafeteria at 7:30 p.m. to learn more about my tour to ICELAND and how you can be a part of it. For more details, RSVP here:www.eftours.com/2679416HP See you all soon! I’m excited to have something for us all to look forward to.

8th Grade- 10/11

7th Grade- 10/18

6th Grade- 10/28

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- Gratitude Lessons

7th Grade- Gratitude Lessons

8th Grade- Gratitude Lessons

Please meet Ms. Lopez, our 7th Grade Social Studies teacher on the Gladiator team. She is such an asset to Southern as she has 13 years in education, all here at Southern Middle. She started her teaching career as a 6th Grade Math teacher, then moved to Social Studies. She has been a 7th Grade Social Studies teacher, and team leader for 8 years. In her free time when she is not spending time with her three sons, she enjoys watching a good movie or reading a good book. She enjoys going on trips and the outdoors (camping, fishing). When asked why she loves being at SMS, Ms. Lopez says, "The students. Every year I get a new group of students with so much talent and personalities, seeing them move onto 8th grade is always bitter-sweet. I love what I do, because I love the kids here at Southern!" We are so lucky to have Ms. Lopez be a Spartan!

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