Spartan Herald
February 2016
Dear Spartan Families,
ISTEP testing is approaching. Please read the important information shared in this newsletter regarding 2015/2016 testing dates.
Also, don't forget to visit our website regularly for important information about our school and check out our social media outlets to stay informed. Our website continues to improve with additional content added regularly. Enjoy the warmer weather we will all experience this weekend.
Go Spartans!
Sean Galiher
Principal
Website: https://schmucker.phmschools.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SMSSpartanPride
Important Dates
Feb 1 - 5th Grade Parent Meeting (6:00)
Feb 2 - 5th Grade Parent Meeting (6:00)
Feb 12 - Recess DayFeb 15 - President's Day Recess
Feb 24 - 6/7/8 Band Concerts
Check out all events on our Website calendar: SMS Calendar
ISTEP Update
We are approaching the beginning of the 2015/2016 ISTEP calendar that begins in March. Students will be testing during the week of February 29th. The Applied Skills ISTEP schedule is below. Please read this letter to learn more about how to prepare for ISTEP this year.
3/1: Language Arts (paper and pencil) 9:25-10:30
3/2: Language Arts (paper and pencil) 9:25-11:00
3/3: Math (paper and pencil) 9:25-10:30
3/4: 6th Grade Science and 7th Grade Social Studies (online) in classrooms
Project TBK #tbksms
eLearning
Message from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz
February Advisory Activities
1. 5 Star Lessons (Fridays)
2. Read Days
3. School-Wide ISTEP Lessons
5 Star Activities
Topics for February are listed below. Ask your student about these topics during the weekend. We show a video to all students on Fridays and teachers facilitate discussion questions relative to each topic.
1/29: Courage to Upgrade Academics
2/5: Bully Downgrade (Courage to "step-in" or "stand-with")
2/19: Responsibility Time Upgrade
3/4: Money Upgrade
Peer Buddies
National Junior Honor Society
It has been a busy couple of months for National Junior Honor Society! In December we organized a Candy Cane Gram Sale and it was a great success. We sold 300 candy canes! We also have been in the process of promoting kindness around SMS. Members took on the challenge of writing notes of kindness to every student that attends our school. We will continue this kindness initiative and document it on Twitter using the hashtags #TBKSMS and #SpartanPride2K16. January was also an exciting time in NJHS because we invited 56 new members into our NJHS chapter. The new member Induction Ceremony takes place at the end of January, each school year. Lastly, you may have noticed Mrs. Eck has been transitioning out of her sponsorship role in NJHS. She is going to miss the members and experiences greatly, but is thrilled that Mrs. Charnow will be the sponsor of NJHS beginning second semester. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Charnow with any questions you may have.
Guest Speaker
21st Century Scholars Registration
21st Century Scholars Registration
Scholars’ families must be at or below the 2015-16 income maximums at the time they apply (except for students placed in foster care).
If you think your student would qualify, please visit the website to register: https://studentaid.ssaci.in.gov/ScholarEnrollment/Enrollment/UI/GeneralQuery.aspx
School Resource Officer
SMS Sports
The girls basketball team and the wrestling team have begun their seasons full of many practices, hard work and dedication to their sport. Their actual games and meets will begin during the first week of February. Please plan on attending some of these events at Schmucker Middle School. All of these events occur on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each and every week through February and much of March. Come out and support our Spartan teams.
MathCounts
8th Grade - Washington, D.C. Trip
7th Grade - Save the Date
The 7th grade class will be taking their annual ​community outing on May 19th, 2016. Students will visit the campuses of Bethel College, and the University of Notre Dame.
Additional details will be shared soon.