MARCH 2014
ALL SCHOOL FEES MUST BE PAID OR STUDENTS WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN FIELD DAY OR OTHER END OF THE YEAR FIELD TRIPS>please call the office with questions!
How can I help my child prepare for the OAA?
As always, please feel free to contact your child’s classroom teacher for more information. Additionally, you will find sample test questions from previously released tests at the Ohio Department of Education’s website at
Additional information can be found by visiting the Ohio Department of Education’s homepage at keyword search:
achievement assessments
• Pep Assemblies for the OAA Testing
We will be encouraging students to pledge to do their best on the test through assemblies in the weeks leading up to the test. The kickoff will begin on Tuesday, March 18th with an all-school assembly at Memorial Hall from 12:30 – 1:20 with Joel Penton, former OSU football player and motivational speaker. Schedule for that date will be found on the calendar soon. Then, on the following Fridays (April 4, 11, and 25) we will hold brief 15-20 minute assemblies by grade level in the gym in the afternoon. Schedule for these days will also be forthcoming on the calendar as well as names of the assembly guests as soon as they are definitely set.
We are committed at SMS
to be the difference others see!!
AT LUNCH WE PLEDGE TO IMPROVE OUR BEHAVIOR!!
*Beginning March 3rd, students will be presented with an incentive and reward for demonstrating WAVE expectations in the cafeteria. For each day the lunch period demonstrates WAVE expectations, students will earn a letter to spell out LUNCH> Once the lunch period spells the word LUNCH, they will earn 5 extra minutes of lunch and intramurals. We make a pledge to demonstrate WAVE expectations in the cafeteria!
We are positive about Good Behavior!
Students, have you pledged to demonstrate Wave expectations? When you demonstrate Wave expectations in an outstanding way, you may be rewarded with a BUG award. You may have noticed that in the office you now turn your BUG awards in a basket for your grade level. That is because every Friday, fifth grade and sixth grade BUG award winners are drawn to have lunch with a special guest. The special lunches will be on Fridays. Students will eat their regular lunch, but will sit at a specially decorated table and will be joined by a special guest. Guests have included; Greenville Fire Dept, Greenville Police Dept, Darke County Sheriff’s Dept, High School student leaders and local leaders.
Our WAVE Expectations; We are respectful, Always responsible, Very kind and Excited and ready to learn!!
CHICAGO TRIP NEWS
Our annual Chicago trip will include 120 of the 6th graders on March 27th and 28th. The 6th graders not on the field trip will be expected to attend school. There will be classes and activities planned for those students.
Our Itinerary:
Thursday7:00aDepart school
March 27 9:15aRest stop 148 mm I-65 rest area
2014CST! 11:30aMUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY
Lunch – Students will bring a sack lunch
3:00pTBD
6:00pDinner – Chicago Pizza – Giordano’s
8:00pSEARS SKYDECK TOWER
9:00pCheck into the Best Western Inn - Countryside
11:00pLights out - Night Supervision on duty
Friday7:15aContinental breakfast at the hotel
March 288:15aRoom inspections - load motorcoach - depart hotel
9:20a SHEDD AQUARIUM AND
10:30aOCEANARIUM Aquatic Show
11:45aFIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
12:00pLunch* - Field Museum – McDonald’s
2:00pLINCOLN PARK ZOO
5:00pDinner – Hard Rock Cafe
CST! 6:00pDepart for home
EST!9:15pRest stop - 196 mm I-65 rest area
11:45pApproximate arrival back at school
Attendance
We are promoting an incentive for April!!
Please call the office at 548-3525 and let Kathy know if your child will be absent.
• Attendance Incentive and Reward
In the weeks leading up to testing and the days of testing, we want to encourage every student to be in attendance. In order to do this, we will give away 2 hoodies each week the four weeks before testing at the assemblies (1 per grade level on March 28, April 4, 11, and 25) and four hoodies (2 per grade level) for attendance on testing days. Students who have perfect attendance for the week will have their name in a drawing for the hoodies.
Mark your calendar
March 11: 4-7pm P-T Conferences
March 15: GTI work day
March 17: 8am 5th Gr ‘Mr. Blue Shoes’=here
March 18: 12-2p all School Joel Penton Assembly @ MH
March 18 6 pm PTA mtg rm 108
March 25 2:30pm Wave Leaders to BRH
March 27 6pm Waves of Pride
March 27-8 Chicago Trip
PTA News
South middle PTA is working to assist in providing a great education experience for the MS level students of Greenville. Please contact Shawna for a membership form and to turn in your $5 membership fee. PTA meetings are held the 3rd Tues every month at South School and we welcome all to attend. Our next meeting is March 18 at 6 pm in room 108 at South.
This year we have partnered with Marco's Pizza to have a pizza day once a month to generate funds for the PTA. Our day of fundraising falls on the first Thurs of every month. So make sure when you call in to order your pizza you let them know it's to support South Middle School PTA. Marco’s Pizza night for SMS is March 6th. Thanks for supporting your child’s PTA!!
The officers for the 2013-2014 year are President-Shawna Leigeber, Vice President- Julie Strait, Secretary- Melissa Bruney, Treasurer-Susan Gettinger, Fundraising Rep-Stacey Galloway, Parent Rep-Juanita Maloon, and Council Rep- Misty Werling.
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to working with all of you through the school year.
Madam President, Shawna Leigeber
Principal’s Ponderings
By Mrs. Schaar
We need your help and support. The faculty and staff of South MS request your help in monitoring your child’s progress and success in the classroom. It has been the expectation the agenda book is used as a communication tool between the home and school. Unfortunately we’ve had limited use of the agenda by many students this year. All fifth graders are checked in their homeroom weekly for parent signature and rewarded for parent initialization of the agenda. Sixth grade teachers use the agenda to assist the students in organization of their schedules and assignments. Our request is for parents to use the tools we have available including email, Progress Book grade viewer, as well as the agenda for communication to ensure your child’s success at school.
A great resource to help us work together!!
“Parent-teacher communication plays a big role in helping your child to have a successful academic career. Since parents and teachers know different aspects of a child's personality, they must work together to solve problems or celebrate gains.”
As always, thanks for sharing your most precious commodity with us!
RHONDA SCHAAR, Principal