Smith's Knightly News
Smith Middle School
Mission: The purpose of Smith Middle School is to ensure learning for all members of our school community.
Website: https://smith.troy.k12.mi.us/
Location: 5835 Donaldson Drive, Troy, MI 48085
Phone: (248) 823- 4700
FEBRUARY 18, 2024
SMITH PTO WINTER DANCE
Our PTO can use your help! Sign up here to donate refreshments or volunteer to chaperone: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B4EABAD22A4F49-smith2#/
MONDAY: 2/19
MID-WINTER BREAK
TUESDAY: 2/20
MID-WINTER BREAK
WEDNESDAY: 2/21
- 7:10am - IM Volleyball (Gym)
- 3:30 - 5:00pm - IM Wrestling Practice (Cafeteria)
- 3:45pm - 7th & 8th Volleyball vs Larson (Home)
THURSDAY: 2/22
- 7:10am - IM Volleyball (Gym)
- 3:10pm - 4:00pm Homework Help Club (Rm 28)
- 3:10pm - 7th & 8th Volleyball Practice
- 3:10pm - Model UN Meeting (Room 20)
- 3:10pm - STAND Club (Stage)
- 3:10pm - Chess Club (Rm 7)
- 3:30 - 5:00pm - IM Wrestling Practice
- 4:00pm - 7th & 8th Volleyball vs Avondale (Home)
FRIDAY: 2/23
- 3:15 - 4:30pm - SMITH WINTER DANCE
Mar 4: Court in Schools for 8th Graders
Mar 5: Troy High and Athens High Counselors will be visiting to discuss high school registration with our 8th graders.
Mar 6: Student Early Release Day (8:19am – 1:33pm) / Teacher PD
Mar 7: Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences – By Invitation
Mar 11: PTO Meeting (6:00 - 7:00pm)
Mar 13: Smith 6th and 7th Grades Band and Orchestra Performance (7:00pm)
Mar 19: Smith Festival of Cultures!
Mar 20: Pep Assembly 7 Period Day
Mar 21: End of Quarter 3
Mar 22-31: No School, Spring Break
SCHOOL OF CHARACTER
We are happy to announce that this year Smith Middle School was awarded a 2024 Honorable Mention as a State School of Character!
Smith Middle School continues to show a commitment to the growth of its character initiative. Identifying your core values through surveying all stakeholders set a strong foundation for your character work (P 1.1). There are a number of opportunities for students to demonstrate and live into core values, such as Knights+, WEB, International Club, LINKS and Student Council (P 2.2). It's clear that there is a focus of creating a caring community in which all students belong, as evidenced through the slogan "You Belong Here", as well as the survey data that shows students feel strongly connected to and respected by one another (P 4.2). Students are also presented with options for moral action, specifically through a number of community service experiences such as the Compassion Projects and participation in the Smith Caring Crew (P 5). The school provides a meaningful, challenging academic curriculum that respects all and helps students succeed. The MTSS team and DEI committee, in addition to a new problem-based math curriculum ensure that students are supported academically, social- emotionally, and challenged with real-world problem-solving skills (P 6). Staff, including the Administratos and Counselors, hold each other accountable in modeling ethical character, and show a commitment through continuous improvement as seen through the on-going restorative practives, Suite360, and SEL training (P 8.2).
ACTIVITY & CLUB PICTURES
XELLO
Greetings Smith Families!
You should have recently received an email from Mr. Brinks highlighting our Xello software application that we use to support students as they prepare for life after high school. TSD Students K–12 now have access to Xello and participate in grade level appropriate lessons each school year to help them think and prepare for college and career. The Xello application saves a student’s work from year to year. This allows students to look back on previous entries and make updates as their interests change, as they develop new skills and encounter new experiences. We want to increase awareness of the Xello application and encourage students to share their Education Plan information with their families. We want to make sure students and families know that Xello is available for use at home.
For more information, please feel free to view this introductory video and review the email Mr. Brinks sent home on Feb. 12.
SAVE THE DATE!
Our annual Smith Middle School Festival of Cultures is planned for the evening of March 19 from 6:00 - 8:00pm! If you are looking to host a table or perform at this year's Festival of Cultures, the sign-up form is now available! You will be able to sign up to host a table or perform until Monday, March 12. Last year, we hosted 65 different tables and five different performances. We are hoping to have even more this year! If you have any questions at all, please reach out to Ms. Hawks (shawks@troy.k12.mi.us)
Sign-Up to Host a Table or Perform: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftHVgk_8m7O6hN_9ttAbE658HMERQ3TeR4ypKSg0XaYiwt2w/viewform
MATH CLUB UPDATE
CONGRATULATIONS...
to our Smith Knights who participated in the Oakland Chapter Mathcounts Competition at Oakland University last weekend!
Our team ranked No. 5 in the county. Congratulations to Jun Kim for advancing into the state Individual competition as well.
Thank you to Smith's Math Club sponsors, Mrs. Xu and Ms. Zheng for organizing and chaperoning the event and Ethan Wang and Michael Li, Troy High students, who helped run the math club.
VALENTINES CARDS
Last week, 6th graders in Mrs. Minnella's writing classes made over 100 cards that were delivered to the Serene Gardens Assisted Living Center for Valentines Day.
BUILDING CELL MODELS
Sixth graders in Mrs. Peplinski's classes have been working in our library the past few days with some of our new Maker Space materials to build models of a cell. The models are made to look like a school with different components of the cell represented by different parts of a school building. They've been getting really creative and having a good time in the process!
STUDENT COUNCIL COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE
The Smith Student Council Community Service Committee visited Mrs. Glab's room on February 14th where students made Valentine's to share with loved ones and a fun fuzzy pom-pom craft. It was a fun day to connect and spread some love.
VALENTINES DAY IN 8TH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
The 8th grade Social Studies classes celebrated Valentine’s Day by updating their WordPress Learner Portfolios. All Troy students have a learning portfolio where they upload and save their best work from each of their classes from across all their years in school. Students then enjoyed some musical bingo with love song themes covering many decades. It was a fun day with treats at the end!
TROY SCHOOLS UNIFIED BASKETBALL
TSD INCLUSIVE NEWSLETTER
Check out this month's TSD Inclusive Newsletter with a special spotlight on the OneTroy Community Book Read on March 13th!
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...