I hope everyone is having a great weekend! It is a four-day learning week for students, as there is no school on Friday. Additionally, students will have an extra day off on Monday, 4/6, as teachers will be engaged in professional learning on that day.

April marks School Library Month, a time to celebrate the critical importance of reading and the role our library plays in supporting student learning. Ms. Mainardi has truly transformed our library into an incredible space where students can learn, explore, and enjoy reading in a welcoming environment. As School Librarian Appreciation Day approaches on April 4th, we want to recognize how grateful we are for Ms. Mainardi, her passion for students, and her commitment to helping them discover the joy of reading.

Tuesday, April 1st marks Paraprofessional Appreciation Day, and we want to give a huge shoutout to the unsung heroes of our building, our paraprofessionals. We are fortunate to have some of the kindest and most supportive individuals in these roles, and their work is absolutely critical to the success of our students and staff each day. These ladies deserve so much appreciation, not just on this day but all year long. Thank you, Ms. Rita, Ms. Ashley, Ms. Emma, and Ms. Bridgett, for everything you do!

As we begin implementing our new RTI (Response to Intervention) process this week, much of it will feel familiar to students, though some may have questions as they adjust. Our staff will be ready to support them every step of the way. The goal of this system is to ensure all students receive the support, resources, and instruction they need to be successful. We are excited for our teachers to work more closely with students who need additional help in smaller group settings with a focused approach, and we believe this will have a meaningful impact on student learning and success.

Here's to another great week as 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.

Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Durr’s 7th and 8th grade Advanced Science students competed at the Regional Science Fair at MSSU on Tuesday. This year, the middle school category had a record 76 projects! SMS presented some high caliber projects and brought home several awards. 7 projects will advance to state competitions later this month. Congratulations to all of our students and teachers for their hard work!

State Qualifiers:

Junior Academy of Science State Competition:  

Aliya Morgan

Braleigh Stephens

Jansen Busby

Tameryn Davis-Smith

Braleigh Stephens and Sophia Kern

George Good and Colton Staples

Lily Reid

Sophia Kern and Braleigh Stephens placed 3rd overall, and advanced to the

These students created a slideshow about their experiment and presented it to an audience and panel of judges. They were given a rating of Excellent, Superior, or Highly Superior. The students who were rated Highly Superior advance to the State Competition in Springfield next month.

Eviana Kehrer

Emery Spencer

Rhodes McConnell

Brynlee Payne

Violet Lynch

George Good

Caleb Jasper 

Lauren Jones

Mariah Hagans 

Aliya Morgan

Braleigh Stephens

Jansen Busby

Tameryn Davis-Smith

Awards were given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category, as well as a few special awards. 

Plant Sciences:  

1st: Sophia Kern and Braleigh Stephens (Advances to State)

3rd: Meredith Pena and Corinne Newsom

        Lauren Jones

Human and Animal Sciences:

2nd: Emily Randolph. Zoe DeVaughn and Mariah Hagans (Advances to State)

3rd: Caleb Jasper

Earth and Environmental Sciences:

2nd: Jansen Busby and Devin Johnson

        Aliya Morgan

3rd: Landon Coyne and Blayden Smith 

Chemistry and Biochemistry:

2nd: Ellis Ringstaff and Hannah Walkenshaw

3rd: Eleanor Hernandez and Victoria Morales

Cellular, Molecular and Microbiology

2nd: Colton Staples and George Good (Advances to State)

Behavioral and Social Sciences:

2nd: Lily Reid (Advances to State)

3rd: Grace Liu and Rhodes McConnell

MAPS (Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students):

Brynlee Payne

Innovativeness and Scientific Excellence in the Geo-Sciences:

Olivia Howerton and Samantha Hobson

Science Coach Award: ($50)

Sophia Kern and Braleigh Stephens 

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.