SMS Raider News
Newsletter for the staff and families of Sunnyvale MS
RISE...Relate, Inspire, Serve, Excel
SMS Raider Family,
We are now well into our second quarter and going strong at SMS. This time of the year becomes really busy with multiple events happening both on and off campus. Please make sure to read and look below for all the things going on in and around SMS.
As many of you have probably heard there are some exciting changes coming to SISD this year. Our bond projects are coming along nicely and we look forward to opening the Auditorium at SHS in the coming weeks. We also have announced that Mrs. Staley (current Elementary Principal) has been named the Sunnyvale Intermediate Principal. Our very own Mrs. Dlabaj has been named the new Sunnyvale Elementary Principal and will be taking over in January. We will miss hear dearly at SMS but we are excited for her and her family for this amazing opportunity. So when you see both of them around please congratulate them and wish them well.
Due to the above changes we will be hiring an interim Assistant Principal, from within SISD, for the remainder of the school year. This will allow things to continue as always, which is to focus on the needs and support that our students, staff and families have here at SMS.
As we get closer to the end of the first semester, it is hard to think that we are already getting close to the midway point of the school year. While many amazing learning opportunities and experiences have already happened, it is exciting to know that we will continue to grow, learn, explore new things in the upcoming year.
We hope that you all have a wonderful December and a fantastic Winter Break!
Have a great week! And as always...Go Raiders!
Brandon Tunnell
Principal
#smsRISE @smslearns
Upcoming Events
Academic UIL (Dec. 5th)
With us hosting this year, our PTA is asking for some help in providing the approximate 150 teachers, coaches and workers that will be running the UIL meet on December 5th with food and refreshments. If you are interested in helping out, please see this sign up link to help. http://signup.com/go/VZnBVvJ
If everything fills up and you still want to help please email Mr. Tunnell at brandon.tunnell@sunnyvaleisd.com.
5th grade presents "Holidays Around the World" on December 13th
End of Semester
Nov. 29th- SMS Band All Region Auditions
Nov. 30th- SMS Theatre One Act Play competition
Dec. 5th- UIL Meet at SMS
Dec. 5th- Early Release
Dec. 6th- SMS Choir Winter Performance
Dec. 7th and 8th- SMS Theatre One Act Play public performances
Dec. 11th- SMS Theatre Holiday Carol Plays
Dec. 13th- 5th grade "Holidays around the world", SISD Auditorium Grand Opening
Dec. 18th and 19th- MAP testing
Dec. 20th- Early Release, Pep Rally, Holiday Parties
Dec. 20th through Jan. 8th- Holiday Break
*Different this year is we will not be having Semester Exams for 7th and 8th graders (except for High School level courses). During the last week of the semester we will be having our Unit Assessments, MAP testing, and end of semester projects, etc. The bell schedules will be sent out soon for December 18th, 19th and 20th.
Cool Things Happening @ SMS
5th Quarter Volleyball Champs
5th Grade trip to the AAC
Quizlet fun with Mrs. Monaghan
Raider Nation helping with Angel Tree
They got an offer in Mr. Camacho's Shark Tank
Winners of positive office referrals
Award winners for PTA Reflections
Coach Prince and his Shark Tank Entrepeneurs
2nd Place in our first year in 4A! Congrats SMS OAP!
Kick off for 5th grade ELU "Holidays around the World"
Shark Week anyone??
Winners of November "Amazing Lesson" awards
SMS Band members who made All Region!
Students published a book & dedicated it to Coach Gomez
#ThankfulThursday for our staff. We are thankful for our students!
We love our support staff at SMS!
Give Back baskets
We love our support staff at SMS!
Shout Outs!
SEF Grant Award Winners!
There were 42 grants submitted from SISD staff and teachers this year for the SEF Grants. After looking at all the grants, SEF has awarded $89,844 to SISD! Isn't that amazing! This will impact so many classrooms and students! We want to thank SEF for working so hard for our students and district. Thank you!
SMS received a record setting amount of grant money this year, $39,771!!! Thank you to all the sponsors and community members that have donated to SEF to make this possible for our teachers and students!
Congrats to SEF Grant recipients:
Mrs. Hallam
Mrs. Teel
Mrs. Henderson
Mrs. Miller
Mrs. Connel
Coach Prince
Mrs. Walker
Mr. Camacho
Mrs. Cowden
Mr. Tunnell
Mrs. Huchingson
Mrs. Harvill
Mrs. Baker
Mrs. Wester
Dr. Stovall
Mrs. Rinestine
Mrs. Neff
Mrs. Clayton
Mrs. Monaghan
Reminders:
Attendance Laws and Guidelines
Parents will receive communication from the school, in the form of mailed letters, when a student begins to accrue too many absences that may place them in danger of violating one of the above mentioned laws.
Bottom line: Attendance is vital to a student's education and we must abide by state and local attendance laws.
PTA Write One Check
*Twitter: @smslearns and @BTunnell_SMS
*Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smslearns/