SMS

1) Build Positive Relationships

2) Celebrate Diversity

3) Strive for Academic Excellence Every day

4) Equity for All students

• Link to our Link Tree Account
• Link to Homework Calendars

• Principal's Note
• This week in Sports for Basketball
• Spring Sports Information
• Track Information
• 8th Grade Parents- Sign Up to attend the February 6th IGP Parent Night
• Parent's Night Out
• Important Dates Coming Up
• Dates for End of Year Testing and 8th Grade Recognition
• Archery Team Information (beginning this week)

Continued Information for New Families

• Link to Student School Pictures

• Celebrating Student's Accomplishments

• What is a Grade?
• Yearbook Purchases

• Car Rider Line
• Check out Procedures
• Cell Phones
• School Supplies

How to find the weekly homework calendars!

1. To see the calendars, go to our school website: https://sfms.fortmillschools.org/
2. Click on "For Students"
3. On the right side you will see a link for each grade level's Calendar. Click on the link for your grade level and make sure you are on the correct week.

Our eighth graders have begun a Car Wash Gift Card sell to help raise money for their trip. We are getting close to being able to support all of the students that have requested assistance. When you go to purchase a card, you will see a list of names of students raising money. There is also an SMS Donations option you can use and that money will be distributed amongst the participants evenly.

Everyone will need a car wash soon!! https://wlink.live/2024_springfield

This week is considered our Progress Report week for 3rd quarter. Please check your child's grades in Parent Portal. Make sure to click on each grade and look at individual assignments to see if they are missing anything. You should have received ECU notices to let you know what is missing. We have hit a little bit of the "Third Quarter Slump" as we call it each year. Our ECU list has grown tremendously this past week. Please work with your child and their teacher to make sure the work is being completed and turned in. Assignments should be listed on the homework calendars so parents, teachers, and students can work together to ensure the best possible learning outcomes for your child.

Eighth grade parents, you should have received the IGP packet your child was given during Social Studies Class on Thursday. At the bottom of the letter, it tells you the place and time to meet. However, it doesn't give a date. The date for all IGPs is February 21st. We are excited to see everyone on the 21st as you begin to plan the next stage of your child's life.

Have a wonderful week!

Our undefeated 7th grade girls basketball team will be playing at home Monday night at 5:00 for the semi-final round of the playoffs. Please come out and cheer them on!

**7th & 8th Graders –> Do you have ALL Physical Exam Paperwork uploaded to BigTeams prior to conditioning/tryouts/practice?**

Baseball Tryouts – Begin 1/30 @ 3:30-5PM on the Baseball Field
Track/Field Practice – Begins 2/5 @ 3:30-5PM on the Track (There are no try-outs for Track)

**7th & 8th Graders –> Do you have ALL Physical Exam Paperwork uploaded to BigTeams prior to conditioning/tryouts/practice? **

Our Beta Club does some amazing community service throughout the year. They are a very active club that is making a large impact. They are hosting two Parent's Night Out! Please see the flyer attached.

• February 6th - 6:00 Parent Night for 8th Grade Parents to go over IGP information and answer any questions.
• February 6th -- Archery Club after school begins! See advertisement below
• February 8th- Next SIC Meeting 5:30 is dinner 6:00-7:00 is the meeting
• February 16th - Teacher Workday
• February 19th - Holiday
• February 21st - IGP Day for 8th Graders and their parents
• February 23rd- African American Heritage Assembly
• March 8th - Seventh Grade Social Event from 3:30 - 5:30 (Information will be out soon about paying for the Social Event)

Testing Dates: Please take note of these very important testing dates. It is extremely important that your child is present on these days.

April 17 and 18-- STAR Testing

April 30 -- TDA Writing Field Test

May 7th - SCREADY Reading Test

May 9th - SCREADY Writing Test

May 14th - SCREADY Math Test

May 23rd - Algebra EOC (8th Grade Algebra 1 students only)

End of Year Dates:

May 24th - Field Day

May 30th - 8th Grade Recognition Practice and Breakfast (During the day, no parents)

May 31st - 8th Grade Recognition beginning at 9:00 AM in the Gym

If you have not seen your child's school pictures, you can follow the links below:

• www.jostenspix.com
• Event code: FE85123

2023-2024 yearbooks are still on sale!

https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/2679852/Springfield-Middle-School/2024-Yearbook/2023071604153675766/CATALOG_SHOP/

If you are dropping your child off in the morning, students may exit their cars at 7:40 AM. You will hear the bell for students to begin entering the building. We will be doing a zipper merge like last year. The zipper merge occurs at the location where the sign is located. Once you are past the merge sign, you should be in the right hand lane of the car rider line. Students are to be dropped off from the right hand lane only (lane closest to the sidewalk). The car rider line typically has to zipper merge until about 7:50. Around 7:50 the line is typically short enough that parents can pull up and let their child out. The first couple of days may take longer, but please be patient with us and we will soon be flowing quickly.

This year, at 8:05 the sign in the front of the school will be turned around asking parents to come in and sign their child in. All students should be in the building by 8:05. They should be sitting in their homeroom by 8:10. If you arrive after the sign has been turned around, please come in and sign your child in. A student cannot sign themselves in. We do ask that you pay attention to the 8:05 time this year. Plan your morning routine and commute so that tardies do not become an issue. If it may be a problem for your family, students can always ride the school bus.

Car Rider Line procedures are the same in the afternoons. Please make sure you pull forward as much as possible before allowing your child to either exit or enter the car. It helps our car rider line go much quicker. You may need to pull up past where your child is standing. If so he/she will walk to you.

If you have not ready this policy, please pay close attention to the information below. We have given grace and reminders the first two weeks of school. We will be following this policy moving forward. Thank you!

Class time is valued, and we strive to interrupt class periods as little as possible. Early dismissal procedure: When you know in advance that your child must be dismissed early, SEND A NOTE to the school with your child, including the date and dismissal time. When your child arrives, he/she should bring the note to Ms. K, and your child’s agenda will be marked with the dismissal time. (We will make sure your child knows where to turn their note in. If you are new, they can come to the front office and we will direct them on where to go).

Your child will meet you in our front office at the scheduled dismissal time and sign out at the front office computer. If your child must leave early and has not brought in a note, you will be asked to wait in the front office until the change of class periods. Please speak with an administrator in case of an emergency. There will be no early dismissals after 2:40 PM.

SMS is an "Away for the Day" school, meaning no access to phones, wireless earbuds, and smartwatches during our school day. Electronic devices, including cell phones, may be brought to school and used before 7:40 or after 3:10 to communicate with parents.

Cell phones must be turned off and left in the student’s locker from 7:40 AM until 3:10 PM. Sick students should visit the nurse, not call home. (The nurse will call home if necessary).

This year we will be asking students to put their smartwatches away as well. That was in our policy last year, and we will be making sure that is enforced consistently this year across the school.

Students with medical situations that require the use of an app will be allowed to have phones for the purpose of monitoring their medical needs.

The student handbook is online and will be in your child's agenda coming home the first day. You can read more about this policy in their handbook.

All students will use a three ring zipper binder this year to use for all of their classes.

Please check out our website for the supply lists. Click the link below and you will see a blue button to click on for the supply list. https://sites.google.com/fmsdmail.org/parents/home

If your family needs help with school supplies, we have several business donors that have generously donated supplies. Reach out to our guidance department if your child needs help with supplies for the year. We want to make sure everyone is ready to go on day one. We will help them set up their binders during our homeroom time and teach them how to keep their papers organized so they can find them when they need to.