#sparkinfo. Monthly News Dec. 2019
May your days be Merry and Bright!
Building the Whole Student
Last week, students, faculty, and administration shared things for which they are thankful at morning assembly. I shared that I was sincerely grateful to work with the best students and staff in Pickens County. On a daily basis, I see so many examples of students looking out for each other, and teachers looking out for their students and their colleagues. I will tell you that this is not always the case in a place of work, or in a school setting. As we move into the holiday season, I would encourage our families to help students have a growth mindset when it comes to not only academics, but also how we serve and care for each other.
The best relationships on our campus show a collaboration between home and school for our students' well being. Please let us know about good things that you hear about as we try and let you know through good news and other contacts. Also, please let us know when you have concerns or things that you think the school needs to know. We always want to encourage growth. In the middle level, students learn so much about how to interact appropriately with others. The frontal part of the brain is still in development. This is the decision-making part of the brain. It is easy to impulsively do things and that is why even good students will sometimes surprise us.
Our ultimate goal is for our students to be successful not only in school but in life. In December and in the spring, we will have opportunities for parents and guardians to be on campus for seminars which will provide insight in helping our adolescents navigate the obstacles of life. We encourage you to join us.
Our first of this series happened in October and focused on digital parenting. Our next one will be December 9th and will focus on the epidemic of vaping which has impacted youth across the country. Juuling has been seen as a safe alternative to smoking, but there is much research that shows this is not the case. We hope you will join us.
Thank you for sharing your students with us on a daily basis. Their safety will always be our top priority followed by student success. Once again, success in the classroom will aid in success, but as important we want them to be successful in life. This is certainly a village need.
Happy Holidays!
They Won Gowan's Gold
Our very own marching band rockstars!
Robotics Tournament Champions!
Our students at their first DECA competition!
Natalie Turner represented SparkNation well in Hilton Head!
There's a lot of learning going on!
What's New At Pickens Middle?
Basketball Starts Soon!
#sparkcelebrations
SPARK Celebrations (SPARKS Finest!)
#sparkcelebrations
SPARK Celebrations
On November 4th, we will recognize our first recipients of SPARKS finest! If your child qualified for the honor, you should have received a letter on Tuesday. If your child did not qualify for the first nine weeks, we will recognize a new group each nine weeks! Please encourage them to seek this honor!
SPARK Celebrations concentrate on four components of student life: Academics , Respect, Knowledge, and Service.SPARK Celebrations will concentrate on four components of student life:
Academics (Maintain a C average to be eligible for #sparkcelebrations. Maintain an A or B average for SPARKS finest.)
Attendance (No Unexcused Absences for the nine weeks.)
Community/Service (Students need five hours of service per nine weeks. This may be logged online with a teacher or using a SPARKS service sheet to be SPARKS Finest)
Discipline (No Discipline Referrals and a maximum of two detentions.)
Students will have the ability to be involved in various celebrations, rewards, and activities based on their accomplishments in the four areas of student life. Each element will be recognized every nine weeks with the hope of students excelling in all areas and becoming a SPARKS Finest: Students Promoting Attendance, Respect, Knowledge, and Service.
The Miss Torch Pageant is just around the corner!
Behavioral Health Services- Do You Know What This Is?
Community Night- December 9th!
PTO!
We need you in our PTO this year! We would love to have you join! Involvement may be simple monetary support through a membership all the way to directly serving in the school! Stay tuned for more information! If you would like to join, you can download and print the membership form by clicking on the PTO photo.
What's Happening in November?
Fr., Dec. 6th-
Science Club Meeting
String Concert @ PHS 6:30 PM
Sat., Dec.7th-
SPARKS VEX Qualifier (8AM-5PM)
Mon., Dec. 9th-
Basketball @ Gettys
Wed., Dec. 11th-
Robotics Team Meeting Afterschool
Th., Dec. 12th-
Band Winter Concert @ PHS 6:30 PM
Fr., Dec. 13th-
SPARKS Finest Movie Day
Pep Rally
Sat., Dec. 14th-
Basketball-Dacusville
Mon., Dec. 16th-
Basketball @ Walhalla
Tues.Dec., 17-
1st Semester Exams Begin
Wed., Dec. 18th-
1st Semester Exams
Robotics Team Meeting Afterschool
Th., Dec. 19th-
1st Semester Exams
Basketball @ Wren
Fr., Dec. 20th-
Half Day for Students (Dismissal 11:20)
2nd Nine Weeks #sparkcelebration (#sparkfun schedule)
Sat.
Dec.
21
Christmas Holidays!!!
Pick-Up and Drop-Off
Please remember that in the morning, the lane which comes straight to the school will close at seven. All vehicles should approach the school through the car loop. Please pull forward and fill in all available space to ensure that we can unload as many students as we can and keep the line as short as possible. This is a single lane in the morning. Students should be dropped off in plenty of time to ensure they are in the gym for assembly by 7:55.
P.M. Pick-UP
For the safety of our students in our carline, Pickens Middle will not allow signing out of students after 2:30 PM. Please pick up your student prior to that time for any appointments or events which require early pick up. The barrier to the straight left lane will close at 2:30 and we do not want cars coming around the barrier into oncoming traffic. All vehicles must use the car loop after that time. Parents/guardians who arrive before 2:30 for afternoon pickup may wait in the car loop at the final stop sign at the top of the hill until dismissal. Please see the video below for car pickup instructions. Please be courteous and merge every other car if it is a need before the merger arrives. Thank you!
*Students with parent/guardian permission must have a walker's pass to leave campus on foot. Students will not be permitted to walk in severe weather.
If you have any questions about this procedure, please let us know.
This year's regular bell schedule has some minor changes.
Students report to assembly- 7:53 (All students should be seated by 8:00 at the latest.)
Morning Assembly Drawings, Icebreakers, and announcements- 8:00-8:03
Morning Assembly8:03-8:13Day officially begins
1st period- 8:20-9:15
2nd period- 9:19-10:14
3rd period- 10:18-11:13
4th period– Lunch & Extension Classes11:17 -- 12:19
8th grade lunch11:17-11:47
8th grade will be in instructional time from 11:47-12:19
7th grade lunch11:33-12:03
7th grade will be in instructional time from 11:17-11:33 and 12:03- 12:19
6th grade lunch11:49-12:19
6th grade will be in instructional time from 11:17- 11:49
5th period12:23-1:18
6th period1:22-2:17
7th period2:21-3:15
Afternoon Announcements (Beginning) 6th grade dismissed at 3:13
55 minute classes
30 minute lunches
4 minutes between classes
From Sparks of Knowledge Grow Flames of Success
Email: jamesking@pickens.k12.sc.us
Website: http://pms.pickens.k12.sc.us/
Location: 140 Torch Lane, Pickens, SC, 29671
Phone: (864) 397-4100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pickensms/?scrlybrkr=85865011
Twitter: @pmssparks