Spartan Herald
February 2015
From the Desk of the Principal (Mr. Galiher)
Dear SMS Families,
As I update this opening message for SMS families, students and teachers are engaged in our second eLearning day. My hope is that all of our students and families are enjoying a positive experience with eLearning. The work assigned as a result of the snow day on Monday 2/2 is due to teachers on Monday 2/9.
We continue to discuss with students the ideas and research behind a growth mindset learning approach. Students have learned that their intelligence is malleable and through hard work and persistence, they can learn anything. We held class meetings this past week to celebrate our fall and winter teams/clubs and continue the Growth Mindset discussion with students. The sixth grade class meeting will occur this week on Tuesday. Our staff will continue to work towards the goal of ensuring that all of our students have the skills, strategies and mindset they need to persevere in any learning situation.
Check out the video below and learn how parents can help students develop a Growth Mindset. Stay safe and warm this month.
Sean Galiher
eLearning Feedback
Please click on the link below to provide feedback to us regarding eLearning.
Welcome Mrs. Pletcher
We welcome Mrs. Pletcher to the SMS family who started full time this week.
ISTEP: Applied Skills
http://www.doe.in.gov/assessment/istep-grades-3-8
Schmucker Video
Important Dates
02/03 - Basketball Girls 7/8th Grades vs. John Young MS
02/03 - Wrestling 6/7/8th vs. John Young MS
02/05 - PTO Meeting
02/05 - Basketball Girls 7/8th Grades vs. New Prairie
02/05 - Wrestling 6/7/8th vs. New Prairie
02/10 - Basketball Girls 7/8th Grades vs. North Side
02/10 - Wrestling 6/7/8th vs. North Side
02/12 - NJHS Meeting
02/12 - Basketball Girls 7/8th Grades vs. Discovery
02/12 - Wrestling 6/7/8th vs. Discovery
02/16 - No School (Recess Day)
02/17 - Basketball Girls 7/8th Grades vs. Northridge
02/17 - Wrestling 6/7/8th vs. Northridge
02/20 - 4.0 Breakfast - 2nd Quarter
02/24 - Basketball Girls 7/8th Grades vs. Concord
02/24 - Wrestling 6/7/8th vs. Concord
02/25 - 6th/7th Band ISSMA preview
02/26 - Basketball Girls 7/8th Grades vs. Pierre Moran
02/26 - Wrestling 6/7/8th vs. Pierre Moran
02/28 - Wrestling 6/7/8th - LaVille Invitational
National Junior Honor Society
From your Guidance Counselors
In January and February, Mrs. Yoder and Mrs. Hoover will meet individually with all 8th graders regarding Penn High School freshman class scheduling. Opportunities will be provided for parents to reserve a time to meet with counselors and students to finalize schedules.
Grade 7 Students
Save this date! The 7th Grade Class Trip to Medieval Times in Schaumburg, Illinois, will be on Thurs., Apr. 2, 2015 from 8:15am–4:45pm. Permission slips are due by Firday, February 6th. The cost is $50 per student. Please make checks/money orders out to "Schmucker Middle School". Be sure to fill out BOTH sides of the bright green permission slip form and return it with your payment in an envelope to your social studies teacher. We have room for 35 parent/guardians to attend as chaperons. Please note that if you attend as a chaperon your cost is also $50.00 and you need to have a criminal background check form on file in the SMS office, per PHM policy. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Scarbeck - JScarbeck@phm.k12.in.us
8th Graders – Washington, D.C. Trip
Final Payment for the Washington, D.C. trip is due March 27, 2015 and should be sent directly to Hemisphere Educational Travel. Hopefully, Schmucker will have a large number of travelers in late May. Remember that we will have fund raising opportunities throughout the year to help with the cost of this trip.
21st Century Scholars
We want to remind the 21st Century Scholars or their parents to contact the North Central Regional Support Program Office if there has been a change of address or phone number. This is necessary to help ensure that Scholars and parents do not miss opportunities such as: college campus visits, workshops, informational sessions or activities for parents. Most importantly, it will help ensure that Scholars do not miss their scholarship opportunity. A roster of the 21st Century Scholars will be forwarded to Schmucker’s Guidance Office. The 21st Century Scholars phone number is 574-239-2380.
Study Club and Rose-Hulman’s Homework Hotline
Students, if you are looking for extra help with your schoolwork, please feel free to attend Study Club on Tuesday and/or Thursday mornings from 8-8:50am in the IMC. This is a great opportunity to be proactive with your schoolwork and ask questions if needed. Also the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology offers a free Homework Hotline for help with math and science. Call 1-877-ASK-ROSE or visit www.AskRose.org. Pamphlets regarding this hotline are available on the counter in the main office.
From the Library
World Book online is now available at school AND at home. You can access this site by typing in the following URL: http://www.worldbookonline.com/?subacct=C8833. The log-in is schmucker, and the password is spartans. This link is also available on the Library home page within the Schmucker website home page. Enjoy!
Important links and resources
Lunch Menu
http://www.phmschools.org/middle-lunch-menu
PHM Foundation
Immunization Requirements
http://www.phmschools.org/immunization-requirements-2015-2016-school-year
Homework Requests
When a student is absent, we urge the student or parent to check the Home Access Center http://esphac1.phm.k12.in.us/homeaccess for information or call and listen to teachers’ voice mails, which often give the homework information for each day. If a student has been absent three days, and you still feel the need for a formal homework request, you may call the office to do so and then pick up the work at the end of the next school day. Please refer to p. 19 in the Student Handbook found in the front of the Student Planner for further information.
Transportation Policy
If your child is planning on going home on another bus with a friend, it is important to remember that the bus driver needs permission from the school office. The office will grant permission if we have a note from both parents (sending and receiving) and if the bus is not full as determined by the Transportation Center. We cannot, however, permit boys and girls to go home together even if they have parental permission. Parents would need to make these arrangements on their own after school hours.
Learn the SMS fight song
Social Media
Please "like" or "follow" one of these social media sites for SMS.