South Spartan News
Est. 1932 The Spartan tradition continues…
Vision:
We provide diverse and meaningful experiences for all learners in a safe and supportive environment by fostering curiosity, inquiry, and innovation. We grow and learn together by embracing change and taking risks.
Mission:
Every Learner, Every Day
Beliefs:
We imagine a school in which ALL learners find joy in coming to school every day in a caring and personalized learning environment embedded with critical thinking, communication, citizenship, and empathy.
DECEMBER 2022
Spartan Families,
It’s hard to believe that we are already coming to the end 2022! We have had a wonderful start to the school year as students have been very involved and active in many different opportunities that we offer here at South.
6th graders have had the opportunity to participate in intramurals, choir, and robotics. 7th and 8th grade have been involved in Block I and II sports as well as robotics. We have also entered concert season as we have had 6-8 graders participate in amazing Band, Orchestra and Choir concerts the last couple of weeks. Thank you for your support as parents so that we can continue to have thriving and successful arts, athletics, and activities here at South Middle School! Also, thank you to all of our staff members that work so hard to make these things happen for students! If you are interested in getting your child involved in any of these activities please reach out to the office or your students Prime-Time teacher.
It was wonderful to see many of you at our Family STEM Night on November 29th. South Staff had some very engaging activities for all, we had a great turnout. It was fun to see so many families in the building participating!
I hope that you all have a great rest of your 2022, and a restful holiday break. We appreciate all you have done to help make South a great place for all. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I would love to hear from you!
Best Wishes,
Brian Loe
Associate Principal
South HRS Parent Survey 2022-2023
Spartan Families,
South Middle School, as well as all GFPS schools, were certified as Level 1 (Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative) High Reliability Schools in 2019. We are now in the process of seeking Level 2 (Highly Effective Teaching in Every Classroom) certification which will be evaluated in the spring of 2023. As part of the process, we are in need of feedback from our Spartan families, staff, and students in grades 6-8. The parent survey linked below is short and contains questions about our school environment (sustaining Level 1) and the teaching and learning environment (achieving Level 2) at South Middle School. Please consider taking the time to complete the survey. The results will be used to help us to celebrate our areas of strength and grow in areas where improvement is needed.
If you have any questions regarding the HRS accreditation process, please do not hesitate to contact me at 701.746.2345 or tneil280@mygfschools.org. The deadline to submit responses will be on December 9th, 2022.
South HRS Parent Survey 2022-2023
Thank you,
Travis Neil
Principal
South Middle School
South Middle School Updated Tardy Policy
Please see the letter below outlining the new tardy policy taking effect on October 31, 2022. Also, please note that the automated attendance notification email will now go out daily at 10:00am.
Attention 8th Grade Parents!
The deadline for the 9th grade in-district transfer requests for the incoming 9th graders is January 6, 2023. Please stop by the front office in order to fill out the transfer request form.
Dates to remember:
November 30th: Early Release 1:00p.m.
December 6th: South Middle School Choir Concert 7:00 p.m.
December 12th: PTO Meeting 5:30 p.m. in the South Library
December 14th: Early Release 1:00 p.m.
December 15th: South Middle School Art Show- Myra Museum
December 21st: Sun Rise Dance
December 22nd: Winter break
School Resumes January 3, 2023
AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM
DAY 1/ DAY 2 Schedule
2022-2023 7th & 8th Grade Basketball
Boys and Girls Basketball will begin on December 14th and the season will run until February 24th. We will have 5 practices prior to winter break (December 14-20 )
- The deadline to sign up is Wednesday January 4, 2023.
- This is to insure that students have enough practices in and are able to play in all of the seasons games.
Fill out the form below and watch your email and our website for more information regarding practice times and game schedules. Cost is 50$.
Here is the link to pay: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain.action or you may send a check made out to GFPS or EXACT cash to the school office.
Boys Basketball Link: https://forms.gle/gkTyBKhiSMgqrFEc9
Girls Basketball Link: https://forms.gle/E3hVWUPKXQmb2vKY6
Parents Lead
Influential Factors
One of the most influential factors during a child’s adolescence is maintaining a strong, open relationship with a parent/guardian. When we each create supportive and nurturing environments, children make better decisions. Though it may not always seem like it, children hear concerns, which is why it’s important that parents/guardians discuss the risks of using alcohol and other drugs. How do you start the conversation? Visit www.parentslead.org.
PTO Meeting
- Thank you to everyone who participated in the Ole & Lena's Pizza fundraiser!
6th Grade Choir
All sixth grade students are invited to join the 6th grade choir! Practices will be on Monday's after school from 3:40-4:20 in Mrs. Mercer's Music Room 604. I hope to see you there!
South Middle School Orchestra Update!
8th grade orchestra students will bus to Red River High School on Monday morning, December 5 for the annual Holiday Orchestra Festival with students from Red River HS and Schroeder MS orchestras. They will perform a mini concert at 10:50am in the Red River High School Performance Hall.
This concert is open to anyone able to attend! It will be short and done by 11:20am. We will bus back to South around lunchtime, and will eat pizza in the music department. Students wishing to eat pizza should bring $5 to Mrs. McFarlane. Students should talk to period 1, 2 & 3 teachers to make arrangements for any work they will miss that morning. We will be back in class for period 4. No special attire is needed, but students are invited to wear something “holiday festive” (which is what RRHS orchestra students will be wearing that day)!
Spartan Salute 👏👏👏
The Girls Red River HS Cross Country team finished 2nd at the state meet.
Kaia was voted Rookie of the Year at the annual XC Banquet on November 7th.
Holiday Assistance links from Mrs. Keller
MySchoolBucks Store
Rereading and Rereading and Rereading…It’s Not a Waste of Time
The battle over rereading is one that I see played out often in the library; I have participated in many of these rereading battles as well. A student is happy to continue rereading a book and/or series that they have already read numerous times and is reluctant to try something new. Perhaps this is a battle that happens regularly in your home as well. While the fight over rereading should not be abandoned completely, it may not necessitate an all out war either.
There are many benefits to rereading, especially for beginning and developing readers. However, I would argue that many middle school students are still developing as readers and that rereading may offer some of the same benefits to them as to younger readers. Some of the benefits of rereading include:
Building fluency: Familiarity with the story takes some of the cognitive load off of readers and allows them to focus on fluency, which includes speed and flow, in their reading.
Deepening understanding: As with building fluency, a deeper understanding of the vocabulary and story events may emerge upon a second or third reading.
Recognizing clues: When the outcome of the story is known, rereading provides an opportunity for readers to identify clues or foreshadowing that went previously unnoticed.
Growing confidence: Rereading may grow a reader’s confidence in both decoding and comprehension.
Providing comfort: Rereading a book or series may provide the reader with a sense of comfort as it is familiar and predictable. Middle school can be a time of upheaval and I think that rereading old favorites, like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, may provide a sense of having an old friend nearby.
Keeping them reading: For those who are rereading because they haven’t found anything new to read, rereading keeps them reading while they look for something new to read.
While we shouldn’t stop encouraging our readers to try something new, rereading has its benefits, especially when it provides a bridge to better reading overall.
If you have questions or concerns about rereading or anything else book or library related, please reach out as I am always happy to talk about books!
Aimee Rogers, South Library Media Specialist, arogers300@mygfschools.org, (701) 746-2209
Spartan Media!
Yearbook Orders
2022-2023
Sept. 16 - Dec. 31 cost will be $21 and after January 1, 2023 the cost will be $25
All-Color Yearbooks
Personalization and Icons are available through ONLINE SALES ONLY at
- Personalization & Icons end February 15, 2023.
NOTE: South has a limited number of 2021-22 Yearbooks left. If you are interested in purchasing one of the remaining books, you may do so at registration. The cost is $10.