South Middle School Family Newsletter - Februrary 2020

Check out the latest version of the South Middle School newsletter here!

From the Principal’s Desk

The new year is in full swing and now we are planning for the final two quarters of the 2019-2020 school year. You should have recently received your child’s report cards. The home/school connection is so important to making this family work. Ask your students about their learning and the experiences in the classroom, make sure they are staying engaged and making the right choices.

Focusing on your student’s academics and social emotional growth is a priority here at SMS in order to ensure the success for all our students. We are focusing on skill building so that students are more confident and prepared. As always, we are here to work with you in order to help our children grow, and we welcome any feedback or questions you may have. 

Important Dates:

• 13: Snow Ball Dance @ 6pm
• 27: Black History Month Celebration @ 6pm
• March 14: Books & Breakfast

In this Issue:

• See Me Soar Highlights
• Instructional Focus

Ladies in Lunch

Girls will be invited to participate in a girls’ discussion group during their lunch periods.  Look for information regarding this opportunity coming soon!

Black History Month Celebration

South Middle School will be holding its second annual Black History Month Celebration on February 27th from 6-8 PM. There will be performances and presentations by the NAACP, a local church choir, pastors, the NFA Step Team, the Newburgh Performing Arts Academy, My Brother's Keeper, Mayor Harvey, and more! Food will be provided, however, we need every family to bring a dish to share. Come enjoy art, music, dance, and the love of learning at the Black History Month Celebration at South Middle School!

Books & Breakfast - March 14, 8am-11am, SMS Cafeteria

Our annual Books & Breakfast community event is on Pi Day this year - March 14, 2020.  Please join us for a delicious breakfast prepared and cooked by our Home & Career teachers and students, get a free book, meet our community partners, and join in the fun!  Representatives from the Boys and Girls Club, Newburgh Clean Water Project, Paper Thoughts, Safe Homes of Orange County, We Are Newburgh, and many more will be present at the event.  There will also be a photobooth, face painting, bookmark designing, and other activities for families to enjoy, including a preview performance of our spring musical, Beauty and the Beast!

In addition to the breakfast, the Home and Careers students from J. Wenzel's class will be joining South in a fundraiser.  For this fundraiser we will be selling homemade apple pies!  These pies serve 6-8 people, must be pre-ordered and paid for two weeks in advance!  Pies are $12! The opportunity to pre-order a pie will be available until February 29.

Please use the following link to register for the event: smsgoldbacks.com/breakfast.

If you’d like to order a t-shirt for the event, please complete the order form HERE and turn it in to Ms. Greenop by February 21.  We are only accepting paper form and cash for the t-shirt orders.  Thank you for your cooperation.

At the same time, there will be an ELL information session taking place.  Registration to follow.

Attendance Policy Reminder:

Students with 3 unexcused absences or tardies so far in the 3rd quarter, ISS, OSS or two or more removals will prevent students from participating in this winter’s

Snow Ball - February 13th (date change)

This dance will be an incentive with the purpose of celebrating good behaviors, character and attendance.

February’s Quality: Friendship

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

- C.S. Lewis

This month, South Scholars are focusing on the concept of friendship.  True friendship is such a rewarding experience and an asset to a healthy lifestyle.  Middle school students, especially, crave acceptance from their peers, just because of the way their brain is developing.  Navigating through friendships at this age can be a challenge, so it is important that students learn strategies for working through their feelings and developing empathy for others.  Students can also be misguided into thinking someone is their friend when they aren’t. 

Here are a few simple reminders for students when they are having trouble navigating their relationships:

• True friends …
  • support one another
  • apologize when they’ve hurt your feelings
  • are not jealous
  • tell the truth (even when it hurts)
  • can be trusted
  • show respect
  • make an effort
  • are worth forgiving
  • inspire you to do and be better
  • accept you for who you are

Liberty Partnerships Program

Tutors from Liberty Partnerships Program will be working with some of our 8th grade scholars to support them in developing reading and math skills.  LPP focuses on the transition of middle and high school students into graduates who are fully prepared for the rigors of higher education and the competitive demands of the workplace.  We are lucky to have them supporting our scholars here at South. 

Test Preparation

ELA: March 25-26           Math: April 21-22

Why take the test:

Show progress towards mastery of standards & skills learned all year!

Used for scheduling & placement for next year

Practice test-taking skills for Regents, college-entrance exams, and civil service exams

Helpful Resources:

• Newsela - articles & quizzes
• Practice ELA & Math Exam
• Released Questions from past state exams
• Parent & Family Resources from EngageNY
• Top 10 Testing Tips for Students

   

   Check out the latest version of the South Middle School newsletter here!

   

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!