SMS eNews

Bulldog Families,

• All current 6th graders should have received a letter and form detailing information about a free immunization clinic held by the Rappahannock Area Health Department here at Spotsylvania Middle School on Thursday, April 4th.

• If you would like your child to receive their required immunizations at the free clinic here at school, please complete the immunization form and return it to the school nurse by February 16th, 2024. No late forms will be accepted.

• If you have questions about immunizations or religious exemptions, please contact our school nurse, Ms. Kathleen Norris.

From February 12 through march 10th, the math department is holding an iReady ice cream challenge. Students earn ice cream and toppings based upon how many lessons they pass. See your child's math teacher for more information.

• February 12, 2024: Virtual Public Hearing

• February 16, 2024: Virtual Public Hearing

• February 21, 2024: Virtual Public Hearing

Courtland High School will have a Rising 9th Grade Cougars’ Night Thursday February 29th, from 6pm-8pm, with a presentation for all beginning at 6pm and self-guided tours starting around 6:45pm. Families should plan to attend even if they need to miss the main presentation.

The SMS Valentine’s Dance (sponsored by the NJHS) is this Friday, February 16th

• Ticket sales concluded last week.
• Student pickup will begin at 5:00 on the side of the building.
• There will be concessions available for purchase

Need help logging in to or navigating your ParentVue account? Join us for a free dinner, a ParentVUE overview, and a chance to win some great prizes. Please check out our flyer and sign up today!

Haga clic aquí para la versión en español

We are pleased to announce Aramark Student Nutrition’s cooking contest, Culinary Star! This year, middle school students will compete individually in this county-wide competition by developing, preparing, and plating a delicious and creative dish that includes every color of the rainbow! Eating fruits and vegetables from all color groups provides a variety of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, that are essential to growth and development. In celebration of National Nutrition Month this March, we are highlighting a fun, nutritious, and colorful culinary experience!

Students will register and submit their recipes using this form. The top 10-20 recipes will be published in a recipe book available for purchase. Proceeds from that book will go to the school of the winning student! Finalists will be announced on Tuesday, March 19th. They will compete on Wednesday, March 27th at Spotsylvania's Career and Technical Center.

Important Dates

-Thursday, March 7, 2024: Registration due (registration must include recipe and picture of dish submission)

-Tuesday, March 19, 2024: Finalist announced.

-Tuesday, March 26, 2024: Photo Release form due

-Wednesday, March 27, 2024: Live competition held at Spotsylvania CTC from 6pm to 8pm

Culinary Star Contest Rules:

• Use a minimum of three fruits or vegetables that are different colors of the rainbow. (The colors of the nutritious rainbow are red, orange, and yellow, blue and purple, white and brown, and green.)

• Recipes cannot include any tree nuts or peanuts due to allergy restrictions.

• Pre-made products can be part of an overall recipe but be specific on how they are used in your recipe.

• Recipes must be submitted using this form.

• Recipes should be your creation; do not copy a recipe from the internet.

• Include a photo of your prepared recipe.

• Students should enter the competition as an individual and not as a team.

• Contestants should be enrolled in a Spotsylvania County Public School.

• 8th graders can apply online for either Video Production or Drafting at the Career and Tech Center for their 9th grade year.
• Deadline: March 4th by 3:00 pm

• Applications are available in the SMS counseling department. Students should pick these up with plenty of time to request required teacher recommendations.
• Deadlines: February 24th for MHS and SHS students; March 8 for CHS, ChHS and RHS students
• Students should submit applications a few days prior to the deadline so that SMS may submit them by the deadline to the respective schools.

The SMS Boys Basketball team improved to 3-0 last week, winning against Post Oak Middle School and Chancellor Middle.

Tomorrow, Monday, February 12th, we will host the other undefeated team, Freedom Middle School, here at SMS. Students should come out and join the spirit club in cheering on our Bulldogs!

Any student staying for the game must have a signed permission slip (no emails or electronic copies) and $3 for a ticket. Students must have a ride to pick them up at 5:15 pm.

Congratulations to the SMS Wrestling team on a fine job last week, moving to 2-1 on the season.

On Monday, the wrestling team travels to Freedom Middle School and has a home meet on Thursday, February 8th against Ni River Middle School.

Way to go, wrestlers!

GoFan is an online ticketing service now available at most SCPS middle schools. Once the application is downloaded to your phone, you will be able to search Spotsylvania Middle School and purchase the event ticket which you are attending. When you get to the admission table, bring up GoFan, show tickets and press redeem.

GoFan URL: https://gofan.co/app/school/VA85307

Notes:

• The cost of each admission ticket through GoFan has a surcharge of $1.00.

• SMS will still be accepting cash at all events. Exact change would be greatly appreciated.

Admission prices for all regular season contests are as follows:

• Any ticket purchased through GoFan = $3.00 + $1.00 surcharge = $4.00

• Adults/Students (cash) = $3.00

• Pre-school/elementary students (10 years old or younger) = Free

• Senior citizens (60 years old or older) = Free

• Spotsylvania County Public School staff (or Spotsylvania County staff) and one guest are admitted FREE with current ID badge

• End of season playoff/tournament events are $5.00 (cash) or $6.00 (GoFan)

PONAX BASEBALL TRYOUT DATES: 02/19-02/21 (TIME PENDING)

LOCATION: Ponax Baseball Field

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Ponax Rising 9TH-12 GRADERS

Tryouts will consist of a day of hitting and running, fielding and pitching and the final day will be basic skills and cuts.

REQUIREMENTS: VHSL physical form dated after May 1, 2023, online concussion training completed, cardiac arrest training completed

Arrive 15 minutes early in proper baseball attire with all necessary equipment.

Please reach out to Sherry Hill at 540-295-5649 with questions.

For information on athletics, schedules, forms, and tryouts, including requirements, please visit the Athletics Page on the SMS Website.

All English Language Learners (ELLs) in the state of Virginia are required to take an annual test to evaluate their English proficiency. The purpose of the test is to measure the improvement and proficiency of each language domain (Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing) from one year to the next. Your child, if an ELL, will be taking part in this battery of tests. There are four components to the test: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. The test will take place during the weeks of January 22nd – March 7th.

If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding this test, please contact Ms. Donovan (ESOL teacher) or Ms. Newman (school testing coordinator).

To purchase a yearbook, please visit https://ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter the code 14251824.

Yearbooks are $35.

Each semester, all SCPS schools conduct safety drills in accordance with regulations and policies. These drills include HOLD, SECURE, LOCKDOWN, EVACUATE, and SHELTER in alignments with the Standard Response Protocol, SCPS policies, and our Crisis Response Plan. SMS will continue to conduct our mandated drills to ensure our students' ability to safely execute the actions. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Workman, Mr. Wilson, or Sargeant Davies.