Smith's Knightly News
September 16, 2023
Smith Middle School
Mission: The purpose of Smith Middle School is to ensure learning for all members of our school community.
Vision: Smith will be a safe environment where diversity is embraced, and the needs of the whole child are met through innovation and collaboration. With the resources available, the Smith community will strive to provide an engaging, challenging academic experience, while promoting a balance between emotional, academic, and social needs, contributing to the success of all students.
Email: rbrinks@troy.k12.mi.us
Website: https://smith.troy.k12.mi.us/
Location: 5835 Donaldson Drive, Troy, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 823- 4700
Message from the Principal
6th GRADE LEARNING COMMUNITIES
On Friday, we had the introduction of our 6th Grade Learning Communities! Beginning this year at Smith, our 6th graders have been assigned to one of two learning communites with 4-5 core classroom teachers. These teachers will share approximately 100 of our 6th grade students over the course of the day. This approach to learning communities and teacher teaming brings a number of significant benefits to our students including:
- Transition Support: As you know, the transition from elementary to middle school can be daunting for many students. Our learning communities offer a supportive environment that eases this transition. Your child will have a sense of continuity with familiar faces throughout the day, making the move to 6th grade less intimidating.
- Supportive Learning Environment: Teaming and learning communities create a sense of belonging and support for our 6th graders. Your child is a part of a smaller, close-knit group of teachers and students, fostering a strong sense of community and forming deeper connections with their peers and teachers. Teachers are more available to provide academic and emotional support when needed, helping students thrive academically and socially.
- Personalized Learning and Enhanced Communication: Within these smaller communities, we can better tailor instruction to meet the individual needs of your child. Communication between teachers as well as between home and teachers can be more streamlined and effective. Teachers will have time to collaborate around their shared students to identify and address each student's strengths, areas for growth, and supports that are needed.
We are very excited about this approach and the range of opportunities it is going to create for our 6th graders at Smith this school year! We will continue to share more from our learning communities throughout the year!
Lastly, to all those that celebrate, we'd like to wish you a Happy Rosh Hashanah!
Best,
Ryan
Thank you for attending Curriculum Night!
Pictures from our Knights+ Day!
In the Lab!
Monday - Sept 18
- Sideline Cheer Parent Meeting (5:30pm)
- Girls Basketball Game vs. Hart (Away)
- PTO Meeting (6:00 - 7:00pm)
Wednesday - Sept 20
- Football Game vs. Boulan Park (Away)
Thursday - Sept 21
- Girls Basketball Game vs. Reuther (Away)
- Sept 25: 7th Grade Health Curriculum Review (6:30 - 7:30pm)
- Sept 26: Pep Assembly, First Home Football Game! (vs. Larson) & First Home Basketball Game! (vs. Larson)
- Sept 27: Student Half Day (8:19 – 11:54am) / Teacher PD
- Sept 28: Girls Home Basketball Game vs. Avondale
- Sept 29: Fall Sports Pictures (after school)
CONGRATS!
Congratulations to 8th grader Christian Kassir, who was just announced as the Troy Public Library poetry contest winner for the middle school category! Mrs. Burt, his 7th ELA grade teacher considers Christian to be a very diligent and thoughtful writer, who spent a lot of time revising and thinking about this poem at the end of last school year.
You can see all the winners and read their poems at the TPL website: https://troypl.org/news_detail_T23_R14.php
Motivational Monday
Starting this week, we are going to be celebrating “Motivational Mondays” at Smith Middle School. Every Monday throughout the school year, staff and students are encouraged to wear t-shirts that feature inspiring messages. The intent is to start the week in an upbeat way and to reinforce the important role that positive self-talk plays in overall wellness. Thank you to our counseling team for getting this fun activity started!
COVID-19 GUIDELINES
Current Covid-19 guidance for a person who tests positive is as follows:
- Isolate at home for 5 days (day "0" is day symptoms begin or day test was taken for those without symptoms) and
- Leave isolation if it has been 5 days since symptoms began or 5 days since test date without symptoms, fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medication, and cough and shortness of breath have improved.
If your student does test positive for Covid-19, please let our office know since we are required to report total case numbers to the County. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our office.
FALL SPORTS PICTURES
SEPTEMBER 29TH
~ GIRLS BASKETBALL
~ CHEER
ORDER ONLINE USING THE INFO BELOW OR PICK UP A PAPER COPY IN THE MAIN OFFICE
Smith Middle School’s 6th Annual Color Fun Run/Walk: A FUNDRAISER FOR THE VETERANS
EVENT INFORMATION:
This color fun run/walk is designed to help raise funds for Veteran organizations. We are hoping to donate to the local VFW and/or the Honor Flight program in Mid-Michigan. We are are proud to be raising funds and generating awareness for veterans in our community. At the same time, we want to encourage our families to be active and to promote healthier lifestyles. The fun run/walk will be held on the back and side fields of Smith Middle School. The run/walk is available to all Smith families who complete the registration form and submit an entry fee. All K-5 students must be accompanied by an adult.
Date, time, and location: The event will be held Thursday, October 5 from 3:30-4:30 PM (A short meeting will be held in the cafeteria to go over expectations at 3:10 PM in the cafeteria) at Smith Middle School, 5835 Donaldson, Troy, MI 48085.
Registration: Registration forms are available in room 21, the office, and it the Knighty News.
1. Make payment with cash. A completed registration from must accompany payment and be placed in a sealed envelope and addressed attention: Smith Color Run/Walk.
2. Place in Mrs. Casko’s mailbox or deliver to room 21.
Entry Fee: Entry deadline is Friday, September 22, 2023, for $10.00 per participant. Late registration up to October 4th is $15.00 per participant. Pre-registration is recommended. There are no refunds.
Course Description: The run/walk will be held in the back and side field at Smith Middle School. It will be marked with marking paint and the course should be easy to follow.
PRINTABLE COLOR RUN REGISTRATION FORM BELOW
The Smith Media Center needs your help!
We are looking for parent volunteers to help monitor our media center this year during lunch time on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 11:15 am to 1 pm. The responsibilities include supervising students, shelving books, and checking books in and out on the computer. Volunteers must be dependable and able to place books in numerical and alphabetical order. Some computer skills are required and will be taught during training.
If you would like to volunteer, please use this link to sign up to attend our volunteer training session on Thursday, September 28, from 10 -11 am:
Please bring with you a copy of your driver’s license and a completed Volunteer Background Form, which you can find here: https://www.troy.k12.mi.us/community-links/volunteer-background-form.
Returning Smith volunteers from previous years need not attend but should still turn in the background form to the office and contact Mrs. Chatel to stay on the volunteer list.
Any questions, please email Mrs. Chatel at cchatel@troy.k12.mi.us. If you are interested but can’t make the training, please let Mrs. Chatel know.
TROY HIGH HOMECOMING TAILGATE
BASKETBALL TRAINING
iPAD INSURANCE
Annual Accidental Damage Insurance Plan OPTIONAL COVERAGE
This annual insurance plan is designed to help students when there is an accident that causes damage to the device. When participating in the district’s insurance plan for $10 per year, any accidental damage reported will be covered based upon the schedule included in the link below. Please follow the link to Troy's Technology Department page for more details:
TSD CLERGY ADVISOR NEEDED
The Troy School District is looking for an active clergy member to serve on the district's Sex Education Advisory Board. If you or someone you know is interested in filling the position, please complete the application found at this link:
REPORTING STUDENT ABSENCES
If your student is going to be absent, please call our attendance line:
248-823-4701
Leave your name, your student’s full name, grade, duration of absence, and absence reason. Absences should be reported the same day or within 24 hours.
SIGNING IN & OUT OF SCHOOL
Late Drop-Off:
- Our 1st hour starts at 8:19am. If your student arrives after this time, please walk them into the main office and sign them in.
- Students will not be allowed to go to class if they arrive unaccompanied by an adult after 8:19am.
Early Dismissal:
- If you need to take your student out of school early, please do so prior to 2:45pm.
- You do not need to notify the office if you are picking up your students early. However, you will need to come into the office and sign the student out when you arrive to pick them up. At that time, we will call them out of class.
WHEN IS THE BUILDING OPEN?
Smith Middle School opens at 7:50am. Classes begin at 8:19am.
Classes end at 3:03pm on regular school days. Students not participating in athletics, club activities, or working directly with a teacher need to be out of the building by 3:15pm.
WE FORGOT SOMETHING! - SCHOOL DROP-OFF CART
Our drop-off cart for student items is located outside the main office doors. Please leave forgotten items there and fill out the information in the drop-off book located on the cart. We will call your student down to the office to pick up their item at the next passing time. You do not need to notify the front office of items dropped off as we check the cart hourly.
PARKING LOT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP
Our parking lot is a busy place before and after school! We appreciate your continued attention and patience during drop-off and pick-up.
- The lane closest to the school is for buses only.
- The middle lane is for quick drop-off and pick-up.
- If you need to get out of your vehicle or need time to unload or load, please use the 3rd row to take advantage of a parking spot.
SMITH 2023-2024 YEARBOOK ORDERING
TROY SCHOOL DISTRICT - BACK TO SCHOOL HUB
Whether you are brand new to the Troy School District or returning for another year, we hope this hub helps you start the school year strong. Welcome to OneTroy!
We have a great online spirit wear store with a number of new modern styles and items for purchase. You can either pick them up or utilize the option of having your orders delivered directly to your home for a small fee.
Click on the link below to check out the wide variety of styles and prints.
https://smithknights.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Below is a sample of the logo choices for most items...