South Middle School
350 West Harbeck
541-474-5750
Back to School 2017
Dear Parents,
I am so happy to have the experience I had with our students, staff, and families last year. We experienced so many new things this past year and I truly believe we will be able to better serve our students based off of what we learned.
We are very excited to welcome our new and returning students. I hope your summer is going well and that you are able to spend some quality time with friends and family. We would like you to know how excited we are about this upcoming year. South prides itself on doing everything we can to provide your student with all the tools to be successful and well rounded. We have a tremendous staff and school that we are very proud of and we welcome the 2017-18 school year.
Listed below are some important dates to put on your calendar:
- 1st day of school for 6th graders is Tuesday, September 5, 2017. School begins at 8:30 a.m. and our doors open for students to enter the building at 8:10 a.m.
- 1st day of school for 7th and 8th graders is Wednesday, September 6, 2017. No late start on this 1st Wednesday. School will begin at 8:30 a.m. on this day.
- Open House will be Tuesday, September 19, 2017 @ 5:50 p.m.
Our school day begins @ 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Wednesday’s we have late start and school begins @ 9:30 a.m. The doors open for your student to enter the building at 8:10 a.m. M, T, TH, & F and 9:10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Online Registration!
Grants Pass School District 7 is excited to be using an online student registration/data validation system, powered by InfoSnap. This is the second year the district has used this online process to replace the paper forms that use to be sent home at the beginning of each school year. The system is a secure and green process, which also allows the district to verify all student demographic, emergency and medical information for your child prior to the start of the new school year.
On or around July 5th, CURRENT students received an email from GPSD with instructions on how to access the system. The email contains a link/instructions and a secure "snapcode" that links directly to your student's information.
Registration for NEW students began August 1, 2017.
Please keep watching our website for updated information regarding online registration.
New and returning students will need to come by school if you don’t have access to a computer or the internet. Please register online and complete registration packets before the 25th of August. Please go online to enroll your student by Friday, August 25th for your student to receive a schedule of classes the first day of school. Please do not delay your student’s entrance to classes that first day by missing the deadline of the 25th.
SMS will host our New Student BBQ on Thursday, August 31st from 5:00-6:00 p.m. We encourage all new students and all 6th graders to attend this event. The first day of school is for 6th grade students only, Tuesday, September 5th. Students may pick up their schedules in the main gym beginning at 8:10 a.m. Students who attended our BBQ received a schedule but they still need to get their official schedule in the Gym on September 5th. The first day of school is for our 6th grade students to get acquainted with their teachers and their new school surroundings. Students going into the 7th and 8th grades will be able to pick up their schedules in the main gym on their first day of school Wednesday, September 6thh beginning at 8:10 a.m.
You will also want to look at your student’s copy of the South Middle School Time Tracker. It gives a complete explanation of school guidelines and behavior expectations. Please purchase the Time Tracker and PE clothes in the front office.
One of our goals is to see that our parents/guardians feel comfortable at South and are notified of all events and activities. To accomplish that, Parent Newsletters are available electronically on our webpage. If you do not have access to the internet please let our front office personnel know and we will mail you a newsletter. Our newsletter provides information about events and activities. You are welcome to visit our district web site for current information at: www.grantspass.k12.or.us/south
We are glad to have you with us this year, and we want to assure you we will do our best to help your child experience academic, social, and emotional growth. With your help and cooperation, this should be an excellent school year.
Sincerely,
Jeff Weiss
Principal
We will be serving hotdogs, chips, fruit, cookies & drinks! This is a time for new students & parents to meet teachers, the Dean of Students, Assistant Principal and Principal, get schedules, locker assignments and enjoy a dinner at their new school. Free to all families of incoming NEW students to South Middle School!
Don’t miss out, be there!
PE Clothes and Time Trackers will be available to purchase in the office.
PE Shirt - $8.50
PE Shorts - $9.50
Time Tracker - $5.00
(All 3 $23)
SMS Gear Available!!!
T-shirts - $10 Sweatshirts - $22 SMS Cinch Bag - $10
Annual Notifications
Directory Information
Grants Pass School District No. 7 holds all information about students as being confidential except for "Directory Information". This includes student/parent's legal name, address, telephone listing, electronic address, date and place of birth, photograph, participation in officially recognized activities, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance, dates entered and graduated from Grants Pass School District schools, degrees or award received, and most recent previous school or program attended. Directory information considered by the district to be detrimental will not be released. Requests for directory information to be used for commercial solicitations will be considered detrimental and denied. Except for parent class list or school support group (PTA, Booster Club, etc...) group contact list requests, group or comprehensive directory information requests for contact information for all students in the district, a school or a grade level will be limited to students' mailing addresses only. At no point will a student's social security number or student identification number be considered directory information.
Directory information will be released upon request to the news media and can be used for student directories, District web pages, sports programs, or activity programs unless parents or eligible students request the district withhold this information. Objections to releasing part or all of the Grants Pass School District directory information must be in writing and directed to the principal of the student's school within 15 days of annual public notice.
Student Records
The school records of your child are open to you. These records may be seen by making an appointment with your child's teacher or other staff members qualified to explain them. Records of student attendance, learning progress, and grades will be transferred to the new school if you should move.
Highly Qualified Teachers
Our elementary schools receive federal funds for Title 1 programs that are part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. You have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of your child's classroom teacher. If you request this information, our school will provide you with the following as soon as possible:
- if the teacher has met our state licensing requirements for the grade level and subjects in which the teacher is providing instruction;
- if the teacher is teaching under an emergency status for which state licensing requirements have been waived;
- the type of college degree major of the teacher and the field of discipline for any grade degree or certificate; and
- if your child is receiving Title 1 services from paraprofessionals and if so, his/her qualificaitions.
Special Education Services
Public law 108-446, also known as the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" requires school districts to use an ongoing system to locate, identify, and evaluate all children from birth to 21 years suspected of being eligible for special education services. Grants Pass School District No. 7 requests public assistance in identifying any developmentally disabled child who is not enrolled or currently receiving special education services. Further information is available through the Oregon Department of Education including and/or reviewing established Procedural Safeguards by at the following web address: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=261. If you know of a student needing services, please contact the District No. 7 Special Education Office at 474-5706.
Section 504 Non-discrimination
In compliance with state and federal law, the Grants Pass School District will provide to each protected student with a disability without discrimination or cost to the student or family, those related aids, services or accommodations which are needed to provide equal opportunity to participate in and obtain the benefits of the school program and extracurricular activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the student's abilities. In order to qualify as a protected student with a disability, the child must be of school age with a physical or mental disability that substantially limits or prohibits participation in or access to an aspect of the school program. These services and protections for "protected students who are disabled" are distinct from those applicable to all eligible or exceptional students enrolled (or seeking enrollment) in special education programs. For further information on the evaluation procedures and provision of services to protected disabled students, contact Todd Bloomquist, Director of Special Services, at 725 NE Dean Drive, Grants Pass, OR 97526 or by telephone at (541) 474-5706.
TAG Program
Grants Pass School District No. 7 actively searches for those students who are intellectually gifted or academically talented in reading and/or math. As stated by law (OR 581-022-1310(1)) to qualify, students must have supporting behavioral, learning, and/or performance information. Additionally, they must score in the 97th percentile on nationally standardized tests of intellectual ability or academic achievement in reading or math. Nominations are accepted from parents, students, or teachers. For more information, please contact your building principal.
EL Classes
If you know of a student who speaks English as a second language, please contact the District No. 7 EL Department at 474-5710, ext. 122. These students may be eligible for ESL services.
Si usted conoce a un estudiante que hable ingles como Segundo idioma, favor de llamar al Departamento de Ingles Como Segundo Idioma a 474-5710, ext 122. Es possible que el estudiante puede reciber servicios del Departamento de Ingles Como Sequndo Lengua.
Medication At School
All Prescription medications need to be brought to the school office by a parent/guardian and a permission form will need to be completed. We will not be able to give any student medication without this signed form. All medications must be in the original prescription bottle. District No. 7 and the State of Oregon discourage parents from asking the schools to dispense non-prescription medication and appreciate your support for this position.
If it is necessary to administer over the counter medication to students at school, the same requirements for prescription medication apply.
Support For Homeless Children
Grants Pass School District No. 7 seeks to identify students who are homeless. Homeless individuals are those who, due to a lack of permanent housing, live in inadequate or temporary settings, such as;
- Emergency or transitional shelters
- Motels, hotels, campgrounds
- Cars, parks or abandoned buildings
- Doubling up with relatives or friends.
If you know of a student who is homeless and in need of services, please contact the District Family Advocate at 541-218-6508 or the District Homeless Liaison at 474-5706.
Volunteers
Citizens who voluntarily contribute their time and talents to the improvement and enrichment of the public schools' instructional and other programs are valuable assets. The Board encourages constructive participation of groups and individuals in the school to perform appropriate tasks during and after school hours under the direction and supervision of professional personnel. If you are interested in being a volunteer, please see your front office staff for application and information.
Volunteers returning to the service of our district are required to participate in annual training regarding confidentiality, child abuse, and sexual misconduct reporting. Training information is located on the district website under parent/community resources.
Parent Curriculum Council
The purpose of this "Curriculum Council" is to provide an opportunity for members of our school community to collaborate, where appropriate, in solving problems, defining goals and shaping the direction of the district. Parents have been selected to represent each school in the district and serve as voting members. The meeting is an open meeting and parents are invited to attend. Please call 474-5709 for more information. Meetings are on the first Thursday of each month at 9:00 a.m. in the Boardroom at 725 NE Dean Drive.
School Board Meetings
Meetings held on the second Tuesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. and on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 12:00 p.m. in the Boardroom located at 725 NE Dean Drive. Please call 474-5700 for more information.
Physcial Restraint and Seclusion
An annual report of Physical Restraint and Seclusion incidents for the Grants Pass SD is available on our website, www.grantspass.k12.or.us. The report is found within the Special Services Department section.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DISTRICT/SCHOOL PROCEDURES SEE YOUR SCHOOL'S PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK
The district web page has the same information located at:
Parent Resources -- Annual Notice -- Parent Information: http://grantspass.k12.or.us/Page.asp?NavID=609
REMINDERS
School Doors Open at 8:15am...
Parents & students, just a reminder that school doors open officially at 8:15am, so if students are arriving before 8:15am, there is not any supervision. Cafeteria doors open at 7:50am for breakfast. Thank you!
Bus Notes
Please send notes for your student riding a different bus home than normal. Bus drivers must have notes from parents or guardians in order for a student to ride a different bus. The student must then bring the notes to the office.
Medication At School
When your child must take prescription and/or non-prescription medicine at school, please follow these steps:
- The parent/guardian MUST bring the medicine, in person, to the office. It may not be sent with the child. Additionally, the parent/guardian must pick up the container when the child has completed the course of medication.
- The medicine must be in its original container.
- The parent/guardian must fill out the appropriate form with instructions/permission for the school to administer the medication.
- The parent/guardian must inform the school, in writing, of any changes in medication instructions.
Free Lunch & Breakfast
Cafeteria doors open at 7:50am on regular start days, 8:50am on Wednesdays for breakfast. Breakfast and Lunch are always free to all students!
Contact Information
Please write notes or visit the office in order to change contact information (phone numbers, addresses, email addresses). Unfortunately, we are not able to make these changes over the phone.
THANK YOU!
YOU CAN HELP SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL EARN DONATIONS
JUST BY SHOPPING WITH YOUR FRED MEYER REWARDS CARD!
Fred Meyer is donating $2.5 million per year to non-profits in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington, based on where their customers tell them to give. Here’s how the program works:
· Sign up for the Community Rewards program by linking your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to South Middle School at www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. You can search for us by our name or by our non-profit number
83257
· Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping South Middle School earn a donation!
· You still earn your Rewards Points, Fuel Points, and Rebates, just as you do today.
· If you do not have a Rewards Card, they are available at the Customer Service desk of any Fred Meyer store.
· For more information, please visit www.fredmeyer.com/communityrewards.
If you shop on Amazon, please consider shopping AmazonSmile and earning money for South Middle School!
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.
Students who are interested in participating in athletics will need to have a few items completed BEFORE they can begin practicing:
Medical/Emergency Consent Form
All Students must have a Medical/Emergency Consent Form (coaches card) completed to participate.
Sports Physicals
A physical examination must be on file for all students involved in middle school athletics. Athletes must renew their physical every two years.
Athletic Insurance
All students participating in sports must have insurance coverage. Insurance may be purchased through the school, if needed.
Sports Eligibility
To be eligible for athletics, students must be in regular attendance and passing all classes.