MAY
2024
Southern Middle School
Principal: Melissa Bell, Ed. D. ~ melissa.bell@sycsd.org
Assistant Principal: Ryan Updike ~ ryan.updike@sycsd.org
SMS Main Office ~ (717) 235-4811 x3500 ~ smsattendance@sycsd.org
great job leaving space for students to walk in both directions, they are walking, and demonstrating care toward one another as they move about. For many students, having 500 students
SMS Families:
Thank you for a wonderful 2023-24 school year. We wish our eighth-graders well on their journey and transition to ninth grade, and we are excited for our seventh-graders who will be returning as eighth-graders. We hope everyone has a safe and happy summer.
Please take a moment and consider recognizing a staff member
who has made a difference in your child’s life by clicking
SMS Staff Shout Out. Every teacher desires to make a positive
impact in a child’s life; a few kind words can go a long way.
Melissa S. Bell, Ed. D.
SMS Principal
Para acceder al boletín en un idioma diferente, haga clic en el enlace y copie la URL en Google Translate.
great job leaving space for students to walk in both directions, they are walking, and demonstrating care toward one another as they move about. For many students, having 500 students
May 1 - May 2: PSSA 8th Grade Science
May 3: 8th Grade Field Trip
May 7: York County Middle School Envirothon Competition
May 8: 6th Grade and SMS Spring Orchestra Concert 7 p.m.
May 14-15: Keystone Algebra Exams
May 15: SMS Spring Band Concert 7 p.m.
May 16, 20, 21: 7th Grade Field Trips (Team Based)
May 23: Last Day of School/Half Day
4th Marking Period Ends
May 30th: Report Cards Available
End of the School Year
The last day of the 2023-2024 school year will be Thursday, May 23rd. It will be a half-day.
Volunteer Opportunity!
Many volunteer opportunities, for youth ages 13+, are available at your local library, Arthur Hufnagel Public Library of Glen Rock, this summer beginning June 1st!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
As a weekly library volunteer, you will have the opportunity to promote the summer reading program, benefit our local non-profit organizations through outreach projects, and instill a love of literacy and community to all ages.
SMS Calendar of Events
Apply today at https://www.yorklibraries.org/support-york-libraries/volunteer/application/ and be sure to choose Glen Rock as your volunteer location.
great job leaving space for students to walk in both directions, they are walking, and demonstrating care toward one another as they move about. For many students, having 500 students
Rotary Students of the Spring Semester
Please congratulate our Cooper Myers and Emma O’Connell, who were nominated as the Rotary Students of the Spring Semester. Students were nominated by teachers and staff based on their grades and their commitment to PRIDE ethics - PREPARED, RESPECT, INTEGRITY, DOING YOUR BEST, and ENGAGED. The students will be celebrated at the upcoming breakfast with the Rotary Club and Dr. Bell and Dr. Reppert.
Teacher Appreciation Week
Mon, May 6, 2024 – Fri, May 10, 2024
Teacher Appreciation Week is a national holiday celebrated in United States of America which takes place in the first full week of May.
We hope you’ll take some time during Teacher Appreciation Week to show our hardworking and dedicated educators how much you appreciate them!
8th Grade Field Trip
The 8th Grade Field Trip to Codorus State Park will be held on May 3rd. Students will report to school at normal time and be back in time for afternoon buses. Students will be responsible for their own lunch that day.
Employment at SYCSD
It’s always been challenging for schools to hire enough qualified teachers, substitute teachers, instructional aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and the other staff members who keep a school day humming. But those challenges have never been more daunting.
Ready for Summer!
These “tourists” have the SMS spirit! Mrs. Sherman and Mrs. Valentin brought a spark of tropical fun to the main office for Spirit Week. Summer vacation is right around the corner!
EmpowerHER Engineering Workshop
Explore sustainable engineering with renewable energy.
Learn about robotics and drones and build your own.
Challenge yourself in competition.
Meet engineering faculty and students.
For girls entering grades 7, 8, and 9
Friday, July 19,2024 8:30am - 4:00pm
Saturday, July 20, 2024 8:30am - 4:00pm
Kinsley Engineering Center
$50 registration fee, by June 15th
STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to our April Students of the Month, who have exhibited PRIDE (Prepared—Respect—Integrity—Doing Your Best—Engaged) in their behavior at SMS. Two students are selected from each team.
Please congratulate: Samantha Depew, Nicholas Conway, Lucy Black,
Westin Wanderer, Hayden Pierce, Taylor Beckett, Maddie Barnaba,
Emma O'Connell
Thank you!
Thank you to all the parents and guardians who chaperoned the 8th Grade Spring Formal. We appreciated the help and hope you had a fun time too!
The PTSO is looking for a volunteer to be the secretary for the 24-25 school year. If you are interested, please contact Jenn Clements at policejenn@gmail.com. Thank you for all who gave their time and effort this year!
Southern Middle School PTSO
President: Jenn Clements ~Secretary: Tara Welsh Treasurer: Kelley Fisher ~ Hospitality: Lisa Russell, Erin Saenz
Work Permits
If your child is thinking about getting a summer
job and needs a work permit, the sooner the better.
The end of May is very busy at the middle school and high school, so please encourage your child to start the work permit application process now.
Just have your child stop by the SMS Guidance office to get the necessary paperwork. Note that the student must be 14…we cannot issue work permits ahead of their 14th birthday.
If you would like to obtain a work permit over the summer, download the Work Permit Application and bring the completed application and supporting documentation to the SHS office for processing. The SHS office will be open Mon-Thurs from 7 am - 3 pm during the summer.
OVERDUE LIBRARY BOOKS
Parents, as the school year wraps up, please remind your students to return their library books when they are due and to make sure to turn in currently overdue books as soon as possible.
7th Grade Field Trip in May
Each 7th grade team will travel to The Oakes Museum. Mr. Oswald sent home details about the trip and a permission slip in March. The trip will include:
- A guided tour of Messiah University's Museum of
Natural History (Oakes Museum)
- A plant hike to learn how to identify native plant species
- A creek study (collect and identify macroinvertebrates)
Music
Department
String Fest
Five SMS Orchestra students participated in the PMEA District 7 String Fest this past Saturday, April 27th. These 5 students were among 94 other 7th and 8th graders from the surrounding counties and the concert took place at Central Dauphin Middle School.
Congratulations to: Ally Knauff, Jade Kraus, Kato Nguyen, Layla Omopariola, Natalie Schanberger
SMS Spring Orchestra Concert
The SMS Spring Orchestra Concert will be May 8th at 7:00pm. This concert will be held at Southern Middle School and will feature a side by side with the 6th grade orchestra.
We look forward to sharing the stage with our 6th grade orchestra members and we hope to see you there.
Honors Band Festival
Six SMS students participated in the annual York County Middle School Honors Band Festival on Saturday, March 23rd. The festival is a performance given by selected band students from 18 York County Middle Schools.
Participating SMS students included (pictured left to right): Emily Saumenig (Alto Saxophone), Kalle Magaha (Clarinet), Emma Neitzel (Percussion), Adalyn Heineman (Clarinet), Olivia Mohney (Tuba), and Chase Johns (Tenor Saxophone).
The Spring Band Concert
The Spring Band Concert is Wednesday, May 15th at 7:00 pm in the Middle School Auditorium. It will feature the Concert Band, Jazz Band, Drumline, and Small Ensembles.
Guest Orchestra Conductor
Orchestra students welcomed Guest Conductor Rebekah O'Brien in early April. She was really impressed with the middle school students.
Counseling Department
Mrs. Lisa Hall School Counselor 7th Grade lisa.hall@sycsd.org (717) 235-4811 x 3522
Mr. Jason Katz School Counselor 8th Grade jason.katz@sycsd.org (717) 235-4811 x 3523
PCBH School-Based Counseling Program
The SYCSD/PCBH School-Based Counseling Program utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to bridge the gap for young people who need mental health care and young people who receive mental health care.
The PCBH program provides coordinated mental health services at a licensed satellite office of PCBH in the familiar environment of the school setting. Please contact Mrs. Hall or Mr. Katz for more information.
May Counseling Spotlight Article:
Student Assistance Program (SAP)
The Student Assistance Program (SAP) continues to actively function in the middle school. The SAP team is a group of trained staff members who work to identify, intervene and refer students who are having difficulties due to a variety of possibilities.
The program is available to all students at SMS (except anyone already receiving drug/alcohol or mental health counseling). To make a referral, please contact the guidance office or fill out this form SMS SAP Info Request.
Introducing Check and Connect
Check and Connect is a newly offered data driven program at Southern Middle School developed by the University of Minnesota. For most students, it will not be necessary, but for some it can mean the difference in a successful experience at school.
Check and Connect is a voluntary program that uses attendance, grade, and behavior data to look at a student’s ability to succeed in school. To sum it up, the Check and Connect program is designed to better the student’s success by helping them to improve their routines around the academic setting.
By using weekly check-ins, the Check and Connect Mentor helps the student see their potential success. Often times, the Mentor can act as a secondary counselor, a tutor, and an additional person who holds the student accountable for their actions.
Check and Connect is not just for students. The program mentor works with teachers, administrators, and caregivers to find ways to help the student. It is a team effort to help the student succeed.
If you believe your child is not finding success at school, Check and Connect may be a way of helping them forward. Please contact your child’s counselor or an administrator if you would like to learn more about the program or are interested in signing them up.
Aevidum Newsletter
Club Advisors: Mr. Katz & Mr. Snare
The SMS Aevidum Club conducted a Glow a Go fundraising sale at the 8th-grade Student Council Spring Formal. The club thanks the Student Council for allowing the club to partake in the festivities. Everyone had a great time! Funds raised by the club will go towards future programming opportunities.
The club is also finalizing a few larger-scale projects. The first is a special 6th to 7th-grade transition project for our incoming middle school students. This will include a Google Slides presentation featuring video clips and tours of the building so that our soon-to-be new students can get a sense of what Southern Middle School is like.
This project will be sent to elementary students in the second week of May. Our next podcast highlighting the tips needed to be successful in the world of middle school will be included with the presentation. Our 7th graders will share their expertise of having a year of middle school almost behind them.
This will not also benefit only the students in our three elementary buildings in the district, but also other current 6th graders nationwide. (Previous episodes can be found by clicking here)
The club will also host our first-ever wellness fair for students during the lunch periods on Friday, May 17, 2024, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. The following community organizations will be attending:
The SMS Counseling Department, SHS Aevidum Club, Bartz Brigade, Bodhi Yoga, Building Bridges for Brianna, Byrnes Health Education Center, Highmark Caring Place, Kin’s Karate, Pathfinders for Autism, Pennsylvania Comprehensive Behavioral Health, Safe2SaySomething, Suicide Prevention of York, SYC Youth Club Comp Cheer, Titanium Athletics, TrueNorth Wellness, and York/Adams MH-IDD Program.
These local companies will provide information on how they serve in the area of mental health and/or overall wellness.
We will also recognize Mollie Boehm, SMS club vice-president, whose drawing (pictured to the right) came in second place in the “Shine the Light” on mental health logo contest. This month, schools, businesses, and homes are encouraged to light up with green lights. There will be many events occurring throughout the county, with the hope of erasing the stigma of mental health.
York County School of Technology
First-round acceptances for the 2024-2025 school year were recently sent out by York County School of Technology. A new student orientation will occur on May 2, 2024, from 6-8 pm.
Families will receive information regarding the new student orientation closer to that date. York Tech will continue to accept students into programs as openings become available according to their admissions policy.
The acceptance process from the waiting list often extends into the summer months. Please contact Mr. Katz at jason.katz@sycsd.org if you have any questions or concerns.
STAFF RECOGNITION
SMS strives to be student-centered and customer service focused. We would like to know if a staff member, including all support staff, (teacher, custodian, instructional aid, secretary, or bus driver) has gone over and above to assist you and/or child.
To send a shout out, simply complete this Google Form and a shout out will be automatically generated and sent to the staff member at the end of the calendar month. Our goal is to let staff know they had a positive impact and to measure our overall commitment to being student-centered and customer service oriented.
If you have had such an interaction with a staff member, please consider sending that staff member a shout out.
SAFE TO SAY
At SYCSD we are committed to implementing programs that involve and/or educate students, parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, local law enforcement, mental health and wellness professionals, and elected officials to protect our students, staff, and community.
The Safe2Say Something (S2SS) program is an anonymous reporting system, mandated by PA state law, designed to help students and staff recognize the warning signs and signals (especially on social media) of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others.
S2SS trains students and school staff to treat every warning sign seriously and to act quickly to get help by talking to a trusted adult and/or by reporting it anonymously via telephone, mobile device, or website to the S2SS Crisis Center.
District staff members have been trained to respond to and manage tips that are submitted in coordination with state and local law enforcement officials. The curriculum is designed to be age-appropriate and research-based.
Smart Snack Price List
Pop Tarts $.85 ~ Fresh Baked Cookies $1.00
Fruit snacks/Fruit roll-ups $.85 ~ Granola Bar $.85
Ice Cream $1.00 ~ Rice Crispy Treat $1.25
Frito Lay Snacks $1.00 ~ Bottled Water $.75
Naked Juice $2.50 ~ Snapple 100% Juice 1.25
Izzi Beverage $1.50
Summer Vacation Winners
1st Place
Izabella Franklin
2nd Place
Fallon Doyle
3rd Place
John Wallace
