SSMS Weekly Update
October 15, 2021
Dear SSMS Families,
Tonight is Middle School Night at the DSHS Tiger Football Game. Come out and support our SSMS band, colorguard, cheer, and dance students as they participate side by side with the high school students.
Go Tigers!
Dan Diehl
Principal
Sycamore Springs Middle School
Check Out This Week's SSMS News Student Broadcast
CLOSE UP IS BACK! STUDENT TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
We are so excited to be sharing this opportunity with our students again this year! Because of the travel restrictions of the last couple of years, we are opening the trip to all 7th AND 8th graders. After this year, however, only 7th grade students will be invited to attend.
There will be a parent information meeting on October 27th at 6:30 p.m. in the 8th grade pod.
Here are Frequently Asked Questions about the trip - if you would like to sign up, there is a link at the bottom of the FAQ document. Your enrollment coupon will be sent home with your child beginning next week.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to rebecca.smart@dsisdtx.us or kristin.wright@dsisdtx.us
Counselor Corner
Hello SSMS!!
We have great news from the Counseling Department, our new counselor, Jennifer Burks will be starting on Monday, October 18th, 2021. We will be working next week to decide how we will divide responsibilities but we do know that lead counselor responsibilities will be divided as follows:
Jennifer Burks: All 8th grade and L-Z 6th grade
LaDonna Caroselli: All 7th grade and A-K 6th grade.
Here is a word from our new counselor Jennifer Burks:
“Hello! I’m Jennifer and I am excited to be joining the Sycamore Springs Middle School team as the new Licensed Mental Health professional! I am a Texas native, and I have called Austin my home since graduating with my Master’s in Counseling in 2014. Since then, I have had the pleasure of working with children and families at each age level and I am looking forward to putting down my roots at SSMS. I enjoy cooking, reading, traveling, and occasionally trying my hand at gardening. On the weekends my husband, Spencer, and I have been exploring all of the local parks with our 17-month-old son Callum and our Kelpie mix “Jax.”
New Program “Tigers Got Talent”: This is for all 7th grade students. It is not a talent show. :)
Last year we worked hard with a community partner “Project Connect” to raise funds for a new program called “Tigers Got Talent”. A big shout out to “Project Connect” and Erin Jackson for helping us to raise the funds for the program!! Because of this community support, we are able to offer this free of charge to our students. We had hoped to start the project last year but due to technical issues we were not able to get the project off the ground. The good news is we are able to hit the ground running on the project this year. The first step of the program is to have all of the 7th grade students complete the Clifton Strengths Explorers Assessment. The assessment will give students a description of their top three strengths. We will use this information to help students set goals for future planning. You can find more information on the Clifton Strengths Explorer here. We will be sending out more information to 7th grade families on Monday in a separate email. Strength assessments will be conducted in 7th grade Social Studies classes the week of October 25th.
The SSMS Book Fair is Coming
By the pricking of my thumbs, our WICKED Book Fair this way comes!
Come into the witch's den (CL&I), my little pretties, from 8:30 AM Monday 10/25 - 12:00 PM Friday 10/29. If you're too scared the online fair will be available from 10/25-11/7. Please pay with cash, checks, credit, or set up your student's Scholastic eWallet before the books vanish!
News from SSMS PTA
It's that time again . . . . let's make this the best yet! October 29th will be our Third Annual SSMS Chili / Soup Cook-off! Let's treat our teachers & staff to a heartwarming lunch again this year...AND possibly win the title of best soup or chili in the entire SSMS Region (lots of smaller items to bring too)! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4EA5AE2DA4FF2-first Submissions will be rated for taste, smell and overall delicious-ness. Hoping this year that we can include the entire staff in the judging, rest assured if we can't, the selected panel will find a champion. The winner will receive bragging rights allllll year through! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR TEACHERS and STAFF!
REFLECTIONS SUBMISSION DATE is sneaking up on us! Watch the video below and then click here: https://www.ssmspta.org/ssmsreflections to find out more. Any student can enter in any category: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. email reflections@ssmspta.org with questions!
Submissions due 10/29 in the vestibule! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1BkCQkRwNs
Our AMAZING and WONDERFUL Mrs. Maxwell is planning a Wicked Book Fair - October 25-29! She is asking for help in manning the register and general help keeping it flowing nicely. PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to get on campus and help at the same time! Let's show her some love by filling up this sign up genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4EA5AE2DA4FF2-ssms6 Slots are divided into hour slots, take one, take two, stay the day!
We’ve put together a list of SSMS teachers/staff favorites. Go to https://docs.google.com/.../1FjzLO.../edit... to see if your student's teacher has submitted yet! We love our SSMS staff! Let’s show them some love!
DSISD Annual Dyslexia Parent Information Night
The DSISD Dyslexia team will be hosting our Annual Dyslexia Parent Information night on Wednesday, Oct. 27 from 5:30 to 7. This will be a virtual event for anyone interested in learning more about dyslexia and tips for supporting their children with dyslexia at home. Everyone is welcome to attend and no registration is required.
Events of the Week
10/18 - 10/22 Bye Week for Football and Volleyball
10/21 - Volleyball Pictures
10/23 - Volleyball B Team Tournament
Upcoming Events
10/25 - 10/29 - Book Fair in CL&I
10/25 Volleyball vs. DSMS (@DSMS) 5:15 p.m.
10/25 7th Grade Football vs. DSMS (@DSMS) 5:00 p.m.
10/26 Fall Picture Retakes
10/26 8th Grade Football vs. DSMS (@DSHS) 5:00 p.m.
10/27 Close Up Washington D.C. Parent Meeting 6:30 pm.
10/29 PTA Chili Cook-off 11:00 a.m.
10/30 A Team District Volleyball Tournament
Staff Birthdays
Karen McCollum - 10/16
Callie McIver - 10/29
Sycamore Springs Middle School
Website: https://www.dsisdtx.us/domain/12
Location: 4451 Sawyer Ranch Rd, Austin, TX 78737, USA
Phone: 512-858-3600