Weekly Roundup 6
Information from SMS
Principal's Note
This week is our Start With Hello Week. If you are interested in reading about the background of this week, please visit this website: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/our-programs/start-with-hello/. The idea of "Start with Hello Week" is to promote how easy it is to be kind to others by simply starting with saying "Hello" to people as you pass them. A simple smile and "Hello" can truly make someone's day if they are feeling unseen or are having a bad day. We have small activities planned each day to engage our students to look around them and notice people that need a smile and and "Hello." The color for this week is green and we are asking all students to wear green on Wednesday. Green goes along with Start With Hello Week, but we also wear green to remember those we have lost to senseless violence in our schools and to bring awareness to "See Something, Say Something" so that we can keep our own school community safe. Thank you for using this week to talk to your children about being kind in small ways, noticing if something doesn't seem right, and then saying something to someone that can help.
This school year we are keeping a close watch on our attendance data, early release data, and tardy data. Knowing the effect the past years have had on students mentally and academically, we know that attendance at school for the entire day is extremely important. Even on days where we have incentive time that may cut class time a little short, it is important for students to learn how to have fun and socialize in person with others their age without a screen in front of them. Students in the middle level learn so much in school beyond academics.
At this point in the school year, I can report that we are down about 90 early releases from where we were last year. Thank you for keeping your child in school! I will have a report next week on where we stand with our overall attendance. Our tardies to school in the morning are up just a little, so please make sure you are aiming for 8:05. Our morning car rider line has cleared out by 7:55 or 8:00. There is plenty of time for students to make it to school and into class on time.
As a reminder, you are allowed five parent notes during the school year to have an absence excused. If you have kept your child home because of sickness, but didn't go to the doctor, you have five times that those absences can be excused without a doctor's note. Send in a note with your child to give to the homeroom teacher. Parent notes for vacations and sporting events will not turn an unexcused absence into excused. Those will remain unexcused absences.
The end of September and most of October are extremely busy! There are many fun, interesting activities planned for your child, but it will be a busy time at Springfield. Please continue to watch your child's assignments and due dates. We might begin to see a small decline in work completion in the month of October, and we want to continue to work to help our students learn time management skills. Please stay in contact with teachers if you start to notice any declines. We want to work with you! We just passed Progress Report time. Before you know it, the week of nine weeks' exams will be here and the quarter will be over! See below for all important dates coming up.
Together in Education,
Mrs. Matkovich
This edition includes:
- Important Dates
- Start with Hello Week
- Day of Service
- Lost and Found
- 8th Grade PSAT
- Volunteering to Read Aloud to a Group
- Let Me Run (Registration Is Open)
- Yearbook
- Early Dismissal Procedure Reminder
Important Dates
- September 19th - 23rd: Start With Hello Week ; Sandy Hook Promise
- September 24th (Saturday) - Band Field Trip
- September 26th - Kick Off for our School Fundraiser-- Our Fundraiser will begin next Monday and go for two weeks. We will be sending out communication and your students will be coming home with information from their assembly!
- September 27th - 1st SIC Meeting. Those on the SIC board will be there. However, all are invited to attend.
- September 30th - Our first early release day. Remember that school will end at 1:10 PM.
- October 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 12th -- Spirit Week for our last home football game.
- October 10th - 14th -- Nine Weeks Exams
- October 12th - PSAT for 8th Graders
DAY OF SERVICE: NOVEMBER 21ST
LOST AND FOUND
Helping Our Students Read
GIRLS WHO CODE- ANY GRADE LEVEL!
https://forms.gle/rweG9ZesRmDLBw569
Come build coding skills and community as you complete fun coding projects! No prior coding experience necessary. Girls Who Code is open to grades 6-8 and will meet in the Media Center twice a month before school from 7:40-8:05 AM. Fall Meeting dates are as follows:
- October 14th
- October 28th
- November 11th
- November 25th
- December 9th
The sign-up site to sign up your son is https://www.pinwheel.us/register/index/UP-F22?sid=775c93fd44f14949904712c3f57454cc
It is a fantastic program! Any grade can be involved. Please reach out if you are able to help coach. The season ends in December with a 5K race. Seeing the faces on the boys when they cross the finish line is priceless.
EARLY DISMISSAL PROCEDURE
Class time is valued and we strive to interrupt class periods as little as possible.
- When your child requires early dismissal, on the day of dismissal, send a signed, handwritten NOTE to school with your child that includes date and dismissal time.
- When your child arrives at school, he/she should bring the note to Mrs. Kilyanek’s (Miss K) room and she will mark your child’s agenda with the dismissal time.
- At dismissal time, your child will meet you in our front office - please sign your child out on the front office computer.
- If your child must leave early and has not brought in a note, we will call your child to the office during the next class change. You are welcome to wait in our front office lobby.
- We realize emergencies happen - if you have one and must interrupt class time, we will ask that you first speak with an administrator.
- Students will not be dismissed after 2:40 PM. They must wait for the 3:10 dismissal bell.
Contact Information
Email: matkovichc@fortmillschools.org
Website: https://www.fortmillschools.org/sfms
Location: 1711 Springfield Parkway, Fort Mill, SC, USA
Phone: 803-548-8199
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smsmustangslevelup
Twitter: @SMSMustangs