It is an exciting time at SMS. There are many positive things happening throughout our school, with even more opportunities and events ahead.

As we enter the 8th week of the quarter, with only two weeks remaining in Quarter 3, it is not too late for students to make progress. Additional support is available, including tutoring opportunities after school and the ability to work with teachers during Advisory. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your student’s teachers or the school office if you have questions or need assistance, we are here to help support your child’s success.

Don’t forget!! We are celebrating Winter Spirit Week and hosting a pep rally this week! We hope students have fun participating in the daily themes and enjoying the excitement throughout the week. You can find detailed information about each day and the spirit week themes below.

Just a reminder that Golden Apple Nomination remain open for a few weeks. You can find more information below.

We are thrilled to announce that Mrs. Smith has been chosen as South Middle School’s Teacher of the Year! She was nominated by students and parents, and selected by her peers to represent SMS for this honor. Mrs. Smith is incredibly deserving of this recognition for her hard work, dedication, and the positive impact she has on her students every day. Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Smith on this well-earned achievement!

Ms. Alison has been recognized as the Support Staff Star for the entire Joplin School District for the month of February! Many of you know her as the welcoming face of South Middle School, the quiet and humble heartbeat of our building. I could not possibly begin to list all of the tasks and responsibilities she takes care of each and every day, but her hard work, dedication, and positive presence touch every corner of our school. She is truly deserving of this recognition, and we are so grateful for all that she does to support our students, staff, and school community. Congratulation Ms. Alison!

As a reminder, spring sports will begin this week with Softball tryouts. All the information you will need to have your students ready for these activities can be found HERE.

Here's to another great week at SMS!

Warm Regards,

Mr. Williams

Principal

South Middle School

We're excited to celebrate the amazing work our staff does every day, and we want to hear from you! Share a special shout-out for a staff member who has made a positive impact on your student's life by using the link below. We'll be featuring nominated staff in our weekly communications and on our Facebook page to recognize and honor the dedication and passion our educators bring to the classroom.

Parents, Guardians, and Students, we hope that you will consider nominating a teacher for this year's Golden Apple Awards, hosted by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce! Nominations are open from Monday, Feb. 9 through 5pm Monday, March 9 at https://joplincc.com/goldenapple/. Nominations must be accompanied by a parent and student letter of recommendation. 

As you know, Chromebooks were checked out to students last week. During our class meetings, we also discussed expectations for care and responsible use. These devices are an essential learning tool in the classroom, and it is critical that students have them charged and ready to use every single day.

Thank you for helping your student build strong habits of responsibility and preparedness, skills that will support both their learning and independence.