SMS Families,

We have had a terrific first week of school. Let me begin by saying "thank you" for choosing to send us your students everyday. It is a joy to work and learn with them.

We appreciate your support and patience as we have made the district shift in how buses run routes this year. Mrs. Correll and our drivers have done excellent work in providing safe routes and rides to and from school for almost 300 students each day. Thank you to parents who have helped our car line of about 300 cars (transporting about 350 students) pick up speed each day both in the morning and in the afternoon. Mrs. Armstrong, who works in our Learning Commons (media center), has given out right at 700 chromebooks and our cafeteria team is offering 2 meals everyday to all students. Our custodial team has worked diligently to clean halls, classroom, restrooms and all the spaces in between. Our office staff has answered many questions and help greet new families. Our student support team has already begun meeting with and providing services to students. Your students have been engaged in their classes. Our teachers have worked diligently to get our year off to a strong start. Thank you for sending in general supplies to help out our teachers and your students. Thank you PTO for organizing and dispersing those items.

It is an honor and privilege to spend the middle school years with your students. Thank you for allowing us to do so each day.

Aug. 30 - Softball@SMS

Aug. 30 - Science Fair and Envirothon Interest Meeting afterschool until 4:30 (students who can't attend can see Mrs. Baxter in the Learning Commons for Info)

Sept. 1 - iReady Beginning of Year Diagnostic window opens in ELA and Math

Sept. 2 - Softball@York Chester

Sept. 6 - Labor Day holiday

Sept. 7- Softball@SW

Sept. 8- Football@Belmont

Sept. 9- Softball@SMS

Sept. 13- Softball@WCF

Sept. 14 - SMS PTO Meeting

Sept. 15 - Football@WCF

Sept. 16 - Softball@SMS
Sept. 20 - Softball@SMS

Sept. 22 - Football@YC

Sept. 23 - School Pictures

Sept. 23 - Interims home

Sept. 27 - Softball @Mt Holly

Sept. 29 - Football@SMS

Sept. 30 - Softball@SMS

(golf will be added when course dates confirmed)

New Online Athletic Forms

Gaston County Schools has a new new online system for gathering all required athletic forms for your student-athlete. It is DragonFly Max. You can get started at dragonflymax.com. There is also an app which you can download and use as well. Create your free account for your student-athlete today. It is simple and will help with completing and submitting all required forms for your student athlete. This does NOT need to be completed prior to try-outs for golf, cheer, softball and football.

Physical Form

Based on my exploration in the program, students will still need to have the hard copy of the physical completed and then uploaded into DragonFly.Max. Instructions for form completion is on the first page of the document.

Click the link to the current physical form (7/26/2021) from the GCS athletics website if you need a form for your doctor to complete.

If a student is exposed to someone who tests positive for COVID, is experiencing symptoms of COVID or tests positive for COVID, please so not send your student to school. You can call the school and ask for our school nurse and she will walk you through next steps. Students will be able to find work on Canvas for each of their courses. Thank you for your help and support.