Puma News
September 17, 2023
Picture Day September 22nd!
Good morning,
As a reminder, South Meadow School Picture Day is Friday, 9/22/23.
Pictures can be ordered online by clicking here.
The Password is: 0034462IN
(Password does expire 24 hours after picture day.)
SMS Photo Information 23-24.png
Thank you!
What is Math Acceleration?
Math Acceleration is carefully crafted to empower students through small group instruction. It places a significant emphasis on enhancing students' confidence and skills by providing a valuable preview of upcoming material. This program offers us the opportunity to identify and address any gaps in their knowledge while simultaneously boosting their chances of success in their regular math classes.
At SMS, we anticipate introducing many students to the Acceleration program, with the goal of enabling over 60% of our students to participate. This program spans six weeks in duration, providing ample time for meaningful learning experiences.
Photos of the Week
This Week in Sports.
Huge thank you to Ruthanne Boice for her pictures from the GBS and SMS sporting events.
What's Coming Next?
September
October
New Staff Spotlight! 🔦
The New Staff Spotlight includes both new faces joining SMS and current SMS staff members who have assumed new roles within our school. We will feature these staff members in the next two newsletters.
Paraprofessional
Greg has had a long and winding professional career. His first stop was living and working at Odiyan, a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in Northern California. This led to his next stop at the Mayhew Program (based in Bristol, New Hampshire) as the Monadnock region Outreach Worker. Following four years of this work, he then became Mayhew’s Program Director. After stepping away for two years to take on the role of National Sales Director for Tree-Free Greetings, he became Mayhew’s Program Director for a handful of years once again. And right before joining South Meadow School, Greg was the Director of Programs for Special Olympics New Hampshire.
In his down time, Greg enjoys staying active by running, playing pick-up basketball, moving rocks around his yard, and by spending time with his family and two black labs.
5th Grade English Language Arts (ELA)
Hi, My name is Sandy Baker, I have been at SMS since 2015. I was a paraprofessional in the Emotional Support Program for 2 years, the grade 8 special educator for 3 years, and then taught language arts and math in 7th and 8th grade. During COVID I taught all four grade levels and I am so excited to be working with 5th graders this year. Before coming to SMS I taught my four sons at home. We had a lot of fun going on field trips and holding events such as a Mock Thanksgiving and a reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and Concord to name a few. Kayaking, biking, walking, and spending time with my family are some of my favorite past times. I love to laugh and had I not become a teacher my alternate career choice was to be a stand up comedian.
Teaching and having fun with the students is my goal for the year . I hope to instill in my students the desire to become a lifelong learner and to understand growth mindset. A favorite quote of mine is by the late educator Rita Pierson, “Every child deserves a champion—an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.” May we all work together to be your child's champion!
5th Grade Math Acceleration
My name is Jacob Watrous, and over the last decade or so, I have had the opportunity to work in a variety of academic roles. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration as well as a Master's Degree in Education. I am a lifelong learner and always strive to instill the value of education in our students. It has been my honor to work for South Middle School over the past four years. We have been very busy assembling the Math Acceleration program, and I will be working with the fifth-grade team.
My hobbies include nature photography, guitar, and exploring antique shops around scenic New England. Thank you for allowing me to continue to be part of the SMS family.
Best wishes,
Jacob Watrous, M.Ed.
Paraprofessional
“Sam was born and raised in Hancock, NH and will be joining South Meadow School as a paraprofessional. He is returning to the district he graduated from in 2007. Sam comes to the school with 8 years experience as Functional Support Staff at two different community mental health centers. He is also a Certified Athletic Trainer with experience at both the high school and collegiate levels. When Sam isn’t cheering on local sports teams, you can find him out on a hiking trail, mountain biking, or snowboarding.”
Sam Rounds
Paraprofessional
Hi, my name is Sarah Cooper. I have many years working as a SpEd Paraprofessional, first in Colorado and most recently in Jaffrey. A little about me....I live in Peterborough with my wife Morgan and our 2 kids (Kalena & Noah), our dog and 7 chickens. I enjoy camping, going to the beach, travelling to see family, reading, all different styles of music, and being outside. I am really looking forward to being at SMS!
6th Math Acceleration
Hello, everyone! Although I have officially retired from teaching, I will be joining SMS’s Acceleration Team several days a week. (Just can’t leave the classroom!) I have spent 36+ years in education! I spent the last 33 years in Bedford, NH. In the first half of my tenure, I was a fifth/sixth grade classroom math and science teacher. During the second half, I was a high school humanities teacher; I taught everything from Personal Finance to Psychology to AP Art History. I love to learn, and I love all subjects! And I am looking forward to returning to my math roots!
Four words to describe the “me” outside the classroom: family, baking, cats, and river.
Looking forward to being a member of SMS!
Laura Dreyer, M.S.Ed.
5th Grade Math Teacher
Hello South Meadow School. My name is Margaret Greene, Peggy to family and friends. I am so excited to be joining the team here at SMS as the 5th grade math teacher! I love math and can't wait to share that with my students. I have been teaching for 30 years. The last five years I have been teaching 6th grade math in Newport, NH. Prior to that I worked in the Jaffrey/Rindge Middle school. I live near Granite Lake and love the outdoors. We have a set of eagles on the island in the center of the lake. They are spectacular! I am a cat person, and have a Russian Forest Cat. She is a little 10 lbs. peanut. I don’t let her outside to tempt the eagle!
Special Education Teacher
My name is Kayla Rathburn, I am a Special Education Teacher in the ESP program at SMS. Last year I started my career at SMS as a paraprofessional in the ESP program while I worked to renew my teaching license. I have worked in the education field for the last ten years mostly in early childhood before moving to middle school. I am a mom of two boys who keep me on my toes. When I’m not at school I like to take walks with my dog and cross stitch. We love to go camping and travel any time we can.
6th Grade Math Teacher
My name is Ginny Kemp and I am so excited to spend my second year at SMS as the sixth grade math teacher, continuing the great math work we started last year in fifth grade. I’m beginning my 27th year in education, the majority of which was spent teaching sixth grade, and I’m so privileged to be back in this grade level again.
My hobbies include hiking, tennis, Zentangle and hanging out with my two grandchildren. I can’t wait to get started!
7th Grade Language Arts
Amy Iwanowicz has been a teacher in the Monadnock Region for over 20 years and has an MEd from Antioch University. She joined Conval 8 years ago as a 4th grade teacher at Peterborough Elementary School. She enjoys being part of the SMS community.
News that you might already know!
2023-2024 SMS Daily Schedule
Students that are Late to School
Students are expected to be on time for school. This means that they are at school and in their first class by 7:20 am. Students that arrive to class after 7:20 am are considered late. When a student is late they will have to report directly to the main office to record the time of arrival and receive a late pass that they will take to class. After a student is late more than 5 times a letter will be sent home. The goal of this notification is to improve the students' time of arrival so that they miss the least amount of class time possible and limit the number of interruptions. If there are an additional three days late to school then the following interventions could be implemented:
Loss of a privilege.
Parent notification.
Conference.
Other interventions from the Student Code of Conduct.
Exceptions for being late to school can include the following:
Medical or dental appointment.
Death in the family.
Court appointment.
Other things that align to the excused absence list (see below Policy JH).
Expanding Horizons Sign-Ups
This year there are three applications.
1: EHP Application 2023 - Returning Students This is for those students who have done EHP in the past and the due date is September 5. Classes will start later that week.
2: EHP Application VEX and Mind Puzzles This is for those who may have been in EHP or wanting to do EHP for VEX (grades 7 &8) or Mind Puzzles. Due date for this one is September 29th, and starts on the 10 of October.
3: EHP Application for New Students This is for everyone new to EHP other than those in VEX or Mind Puzzles especially for 5th grade. Deadline is October 25th and we will start the second day of the second quarter.
Email Mrs. Brezovec if you have any questions. mbrezovec@conval.edu
SMS Quick Links
Community News
Free Chess Account
Please fill in the request form below if you would like for your child to have a free ChessKid account for the remainder of the year. Once I receive the request I will add in their account using their school username and password. I will send them an email to let them know when they are set up. Click Here for the Request Form
About Us
Email: tconway@conval.edu
Website: https://sms.convalsd.net/
Location: 108 Hancock Road, Peterborough, NH, USA
Phone: (603) 924-7105