SMS Spooky Scoop
October 28, 2019
Read on if you dare...
Horror #1- Getting VAPE-orized!
We'll repeat these ten facts that were presented in the September 3rd Scoop:
1) Vaping is the inhalation of vapor created by an electronic cigarette.
2) Vaping puts nicotine and other chemicals into the body.
3) Nicotine is highly addictive and negatively impacts adolescent brain development.
4) The few vape products that do not have nicotine still release chemicals into the body.
5) Addiction to nicotine is very difficult to overcome. Withdrawal symptoms include headaches, crankiness, depression, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping, hunger, and restlessness.
6) Vaping devices are often camouflaged to look like other things.
7) It is illegal to sell vaping devices and their components to Indiana residents under the age of 18.
8) Possession of vaping devices/components is illegal for Indiana residents under the age of 18.
9) Possession of or use of vaping devices at SMS is a violation of school rules resulting in a demerit suspension, a police report, and completion of a mandatory tobacco education course.
10) Don't vape. Seriously. Don't even start.
Since the publication of this article, there have been multiple health warnings about lung damage and even death related to use of these uncontrolled, unlabeled products. Government agencies are beginning to ban the use and sale of e-cigarettes. They were designed to help addicted smokers quit smoking. They were not designed for casual, ongoing use by teens!
Fruit flavor does not make something healthy.
Fruit flavor does not make something legal.
Stay away from vape.
Horror #2 - Risky Health Decisions
This week is Red Ribbon Week. SMS will join schools across the country celebrating staying drug and alcohol free. Each day we will be dressing up in fun ways to remember important facts about drugs and alcohol. These facts will be shared during daily announcements all week to help inform us all about making good choices as opposed to risky health decisions.
Monday - Red day
Tuesday - Camo day
Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday (within dress code)
Thursday - Throwback Thursday (dress from your favorite decade)
Friday - Character day (dress as your favorite character or role model)
Monday we are wearing red to kick off Red Ribbon Week. Students will also get a Drug Free Pledge during homeroom Monday. If you and your guardian sign this and bring it back by the end of this week, you will get into the fall dance for free!
Horror #3 - Limited Reading Skills
Plan to study for a drivers' license? Plan to take the ASVAB military admission exam? Plan to take the SAT or ACT for college? Plan to study for cosmetology board exams? Plan to take the LSAT test for law school admission? Plan to sign an NBA contract? Plan to apply for a small business loan to open your new business? If you might do any of these things... you need to be a good reader. And that means being a better reader than you are today.
SMS is starting a new program to support lexile growth for all of our students. We're using the subscription Newsela service to access informational text (non-fiction articles) to support our learning across the subject areas AND to help us improve as readers. We've explored our first few articles. Thanks to all of the students and teachers that helped us launch the program. Right now, every student should know his or her lexile. What is YOUR lexile?
Once you know your lexile, it's time to GROW your lexile. No matter what your reading level is today, it can get better with practice. So let's GROW, SMS. Let's get serious with reading assigned by our teachers, assigned in Newsela, and in our Book Challenge and other personal reading.
Horror #4 - Not Having a Plan for High School
The SHS Class of 2024 is embarking on their next educational adventure next week! Eighth graders are beginning the formal transition activities that will launch them into freshman year at SHS! Here is a rundown on the plan that has been created by SHS and SMS administrators and guidance counselors:
- Mrs. Mount (SCSD2 College and Career Coordinator) will outline how high school works (career pathways, diploma options, etc.) in all Guided Study Hall classes on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.
- SHS Principal Mr. Routt will give a presentation to each 8th grade team on November 19th.
- Eighth graders will participate in SHS campus tours on November 25th and 26th.
- Eighth graders and their parents/guardians are invited to a presentation and spaghetti dinner at SHS on Wednesday, December 4th (more info to come).
- SHS Guidance Counselors will conduct individual scheduling conferences with each 8th grader starting the second week of December.
This is an exciting season for the Class of 2024! Pathway decisions matter! Make sure you attend all transition activities and have home discussions about college and career aspirations! Don't sit down with a course selection paper without some idea of what you want from your time at Scottsburg High School! Not having a plan is S-C-A-R-Y!
Horror #5 - Frenemies
Do you have friends that sometimes act like enemies? Let's see what our friends at pacerteensagainstbullying.com have to say about this!
Is it possible that someone we call a friend, or even a best friend, is the very person that treats us the worst? How can the person with whom we share jokes, snacks, and secrets be someone who hurts us?
With relationships, it’s natural to have conflict as we learn how to be friends and communicate. Sometimes we make mistakes with friends, hurt their feelings, apologize for what we’ve done, and move on. Through making mistakes in our relationships, we learn what to do with the people around us — as well as what not to do. It’s normal to have conflicts or disagreements with friends as we grow up; that’s how we learn to be better friends and communicators.
What’s not okay — and is never deserved — is when someone we are close to decides to threaten us, to hurt our feelings intentionally, misuse our trust, or make us feel less than who we are. If someone we call a friend repeatedly uses bullying behavior — such as belittling who we are, trying to control us, or attempting to tell us who we can be friends with — that’s no longer a friend. That type of behavior is outside of friendship in every way and has to be called what it is: bullying.
This is a painful and sometimes unacknowledged type of bullying that is hard to understand and even harder to endure. Here’s how to recognize when those we are close to are bullying us, even though we call them “friends.” Below are some examples to help recognize if bullying is happening in your relationships:
- You are made fun of, called names, or teased for your appearance or what you wear
- You are mocked or mimicked for what you say or how you act
- You are laughed at when people know you’re hurting from being teased or physically abused
- You are told who you can be friends with or what you can and can’t do
- You are purposefully excluded from events or get-togethers in which other friends are invited
- You have told your friends to stop the negative behavior and they continue anyway
- You are made to feel that you don’t live up to the standards of the friend group.
Don’t hesitate for too long when someone you call a friend is repeatedly disrespectful to you and causes you pain when you’ve asked them to stop. If you find you’re always nervous and anxious around a friend because you’re worried about what they might say or do to you, talk to an adult and work out what’s happening. Sometimes it will be a normal consequence of learning to be friends, and sometimes it will be bullying. If it’s bullying, that’s not friendship and it probably never will be. You have the right to be around people who treat you like a friend, and that you can respect and trust.
Horror #6 - Missing Out on Special Events at SMS
The Fall Dodgeball Tournament is Tuesday, October 29th! Registered players need to be dressed and ready for the player meeting at 3:15 in the west gym. Spectator students will wait in the main hall until the ticket booth opens at 3:20. Spectator tickets are $3.00. Refreshments will be available. Games will be held in both gyms and the tournament should end about 6:00 PM. Family members are invited to join us!
The Fall Dance is Friday, November 15th from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. The dance theme is Tie-Dye so start planning your groovy apparel now! Parents and staff will serve as chaperones. More details will be in the next two issues of the Scoop. Dance eligibility: students must attend SMS, must attend class all day Nov. 15th, must not be assigned a detention on Nov. 15th, and must not have any demerits for fighting, intimidation or bullying for the year.
Horror #7 - Missing the BOOk Fair!
Reading can increase your skills, knowledge, and vocabulary. It can also lower stress and widen your perspective on the world. So, missing the opportunity to find your next great read at the book fair would be horrible!
SMS will host a Scholastic Book Fair from October 31st to November 5th. Students will visit the fair according to this plan: Thursday Band and Choir, Friday GSH, Monday Lab and AG, and Tuesday return trips for those wanting to buy books. Buying books during the fair is convenient for you and beneficial for our school.
Be sure to check out the SMS Community for more information about the fair, including the author and book highlight video. We can’t wait to see you at the fair!
Check out our online store: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/scottsburgmiddleschool1
Horror #8 - Missing the Archery Target!
Team of the Week: Office Staff
This Week...
Mon. Oct. 28: A day, Science Olympiad, Spell Bowl
Tue. Oct. 29: B day, Dodgeball Tournament 3:15-6:00 PM, School Board Meeting @ SMS Band Room at 6:30 PM
Wed. Oct. 30: A day, Cross, Science Olympiad, Spell Bowl, Builders Club
Thu. Oct. 31: B day, SHS/Mrs. Mount presentation in 8th GSH, Robotics, Book Fair Band/Choir
Fri. Nov. 1: A day, SHS/Mrs. Mount presentation in 8th GSH, Book Fair GSH
Scottsburg Middle School
Email: knass@scsd2.k12.in.us
Website: www.sms.scsd2.k12.in.us
Location: 425 South 3rd Street, Scottsburg, IN, United States
Phone: 812-752-8926
Facebook: facebook.com/ScottsburgMiddleSchool/
Twitter: @ScottsburgMS