It is hard to believe we are wrapping up the third quarter this week. Please be sure to stay connected to Canvas so you can actively monitor your student’s most up-to-date grades. As always, our teachers are willing to work with students to help them find ways to be successful in the classroom.

Just a reminder, this is a four-day learning week for students. Teachers will be engaged in professional development on Friday.

This week, we are excited to celebrate reading with several fun activities designed to encourage a love of books and literacy!

Students may bring a gently used, middle-school-appropriate book to the library to exchange for a ticket. On Thursday, they will return to the library to select a “new-to-them” book to take home.

Students can submit either a written book review or a short video book review for a chance to win a $10 gift card.

On Thursday morning, South will join other schools across the district for 20 minutes of D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) time.

-Monday: We're Crazy About Reading - Wear Your Crazy Socks!

-Tuesday: Reading Buddies Are the Best - Wear Matching Clothes With Your Reading Buddies!

-Wednesday: COLOR WARS!!!

-Thursday: Cozy Up With a Good Book - Wear Your Most Comfy Outfit - Sweats or Pajamas

Just a reminder that Golden Apple Nomination will remain open through March 9th. Additional details and information can be found below.

Just a reminder, Track and Field practice begins Monday. All the information you will need to have your students ready for Track can be found HERE.

In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in students bringing personal items to school that can disrupt the learning environment, such as plush toys, slime, squishy cubes, and similar items. These items should remain at home during the school day. If a teacher sees these items being used during class, they may be collected and taken to the office to be picked up at a later time. Thank you for your understanding and support in helping us maintain a focused learning environment for all students.

I hope you have a great rest of your day! Looking forward to another fantastic 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.

Congratulations to our newest members of National Junior Honor Society! On Thursday, we were proud to recognize these students during our induction ceremony, celebrating their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence at SMS.

Their service to our school and the community truly reflects the values of NJHS, and we are excited to see the positive impact they will continue to make moving forward!

The 7th and 8th Grade Advanced Science students participated in our SMS Science Fair last Tuesday. There was a record 59 projects this year, and many outstanding projects will be advancing to the Regional Science Fair at MSSU next month.

Congratulations to all of our students who participated, and especially to our award winners for their outstanding work and dedication to scientific inquiry!

1st Place- Violet Lynch 'What Method of Handwashing is the Most Effective?"

2nd Place- Laney Gillen and Eviana Kehrer "Which Item in a Backpack Has the Most Bacteria?"

3rd Place- Ellis Ringstaff and Hannah Walkenshaw "Block Out the Burn: A Study of Sunscreen's UV-Blocking Abilities"

3rd Place- Lauren Jones "Colors of Growth: The Influence of LED Lights on Young Plants"

-Greyson Berry and Ethan Gurley "The Effect of Sight on Taste Perception"

-Max Amayo and Corbin Williams "Free Throw Accuracy"

-Drew Goade "Potato Battery v Lemon Battery: Which Lasts Longer?"

-Kiara Bradley "Helmet Materials and Concussion Prevention"

 

1st Place- Sophia Kern and Braleigh Stephens "Evaluating Microgreen Growth Characteristics in a Simulated Microgravity Environment Using a Clinostat"

2nd Place- Emery Spencer and Parker Davis: "Does Playing a Winter Sport Affect and 8th Grade Girl's Health?"

3rd Place- Colton Staples and George Good: "The Effect of Location on Shoal Creek on the Amount of Bacteria in the Water"

Landon Coyne and Blayden Smith: "How does the wind speed inside a tornado affect the width of the vortex?"

Aliya Morgan: "The Aqua-lympics: Can Your Filter Win?"

Olivia Howerton and Samantha Hobson: "The Effect of Water Source on Water Quality"

Emily Randolph and Zoe DeVaughn: "The Effect of Water Intake on Running Endurance in Female Athletes"

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.