Dear Parent/Guardian,

We are off and running with a new school year. Opening the doors for the first day of school is awesome. Few things compare to the excitement and energy that circulate through the school. Thank you for letting us be a part of your child’s life. I hear great things from our staff about the students we have this year.  Currently, we have 637 students enrolled; 204 6^th graders, 230 7^th graders, and 203 8^th graders which is approximately 25 students higher than last year .Thank you for your patience as we went through the balancing of classes and the changing of schedules.

We would like to thank you for making our drop off and pick up safe for all concerned.  I know it is an inconvenience not to park on the driveway entering the parking lot where the buses come and go, but it makes for a smooth entry and exit for everyone.

We had a wonderful turnout for our Back to School Night and we would like to thank you for attending.  Anytime you are able to connect with your student’s teachers is a good way to have open lines of communication.  We will have our first progress report available by mid-October.  There has been a slight change in our school calendar for October.  We will be conducting Parent/Teacher Conferences on Wednesday, 10/29/14 & Thursday, 10/30/14 from 4:00-7:30 p.m.  Friday, 10/31/14 there is no school for students.  There will be a separate email on conferences as we get closer to these dates.

We began our first Extended Learning Time on Monday, September 29^th and each ELT runs three weeks.  We use our ELT to help support students in their academics and also to encourage them to broaden their horizons with some fun explorations.  Any student who is not proficient in their academics will be assigned to an intervention class to help them improve their skills and grades.

We encourage all of our parents to please log onto our school’s website.  It is located on our district website; www.grantspass.k12.or.us if you click on schools and then click on South Middle School, our webpage will appear.  We have all of our information about SMS on this site, along with our staff web pages which will allow you to know what is going on within the classroom. 

The middle school years bring a challenging time in adolescent development.  It is an exciting stage, and I want you to know I am committed to working with you to make these years as successful as possible. In partnership, we can accomplish a great deal in the areas of academic and social development. I hope to see you at our school activities and PTSA meetings. 

Thank you for allowing your students to be involved in all of our co-curricular and extra-curricular teams, classes, and clubs.  The more our students are involved in our school the more well-rounded they become.  We are very fortunate that our district provides these programs for all of our students and we love the fact we have great representation.

Jeff Weiss

SMS Principal

Hello South Parents!

My name is Anne Gross, and I will be teaching your sixth grade kids about nutrition and healthy eating habits during their Health/PE classes in either October or April, depending on their class period. This program will be twice a week for 6 sessions and is funded by Oregon State University Extension and SNAP-ED. I work for their office right here in Josephine County. If you have any questions you can reach me at: anne.gross@oregonstate.edu.

The curriculum I am using is called Exercise Your Options and it is designed to help middle school students make healthier food and physical-activity choices on a daily basis. This program is skills-based to help students apply problem-solving, reasoning and critical-thinking skills as it applies to personal responsibilities in their lives. We will be learning about the food groups, the importance of eating breakfast, external influences on food choices, food label reading and so much more.

It would be ideal if we could partner together to produce greater results. Some of the ways you could do this are by:

• Asking your child what they learned about in Nutrition Ed
• Exploring healthy food choices together in your kitchen or grocery store
• Offering of healthy snacks/foods in your kitchens
• Eating a variety of vegetables & fruits every day
• Eating more whole grains, such as oatmeal, brown rice, & whole-grain bread
• Limiting sugary drinks such as soda, sports drinks and fruit-flavored drinks

When you make healthy eating a family affair, everyone benefits. There are some great web sites available to help with information, tips and recipes. Some of these are: FoodHero.org; ChooseMyPlate.gov; eatright.org; and kidseatright.org.

Happy Eating!

The ultimate goal of a school is to broaden the horizons of their students, moving them from not just a concern of the self, but to an awareness needs, views and rights of others so that every student can make a difference in the world. Fortunately, the study of American History, there is at the ready people, events and documents that open up a students’ world not only to the joy of exploration, but can inspire generosity and commitment to one’s local community, state and nation. Moreover, when the study of American History is coupled with service learning, a genuine civic commitment to those from the past and the present can blossom. The Bayard Wilkeson Project created by South Middle School students has done just that.

As part of South’s extended learning time (ELT) and using Google Cultural Institute, thirty-four students studied Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. This interactive teaching tool introduced the seven documents that surrounded the Gettysburg Address. The first document was a dramatic newspaper dispatch from Sam Wilkeson, the father of a fallen son.

Bayard Wilkeson was an artillery officer in the Civil War that died on the first day of Gettysburg. His bravery and courage was displayed hours before his death when he amputated his own leg in efforts to save his own life. His father, a war correspondent for the NY Times, was also at the battle of Gettysburg and found his son on July 4^th, 1863, the day after the end of the battle. In his editorial the father wrote: “Who can write the history of a battle whose eyes are immovably fastened upon a central figure of transcendently absorbing interest—the dead body of an oldest born…My pen is heavy. Oh, you dead, who at Gettysburgh have baptised with your blood the second birth of Freedom in America, how you are to be envied!” Just over four months later, standing on a hill not far from where young Bayard Wilkeson had died, Abraham Lincoln invoked a similar sentiment: “We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom.”

Being moved by the unimaginable pain of a son’s death and inspired by Lincoln’s words, Alyssa Etheridge and Lauren Lonas created the Bayard Wilkeson Project. In memory of “these honor dead”, these middle school historians worked every day since the end of October to honor all of the 142 soldiers from Oregon that have died in Afghanistan and Iraq so that Oregonians know that they “shall not have died in vain.” The Bayard Wilkeson Project website (www.bayardwilkesonproject.org) and interactive map has a picture of each fallen Oregonian, a brief biography, and a hyperlink to each soldier’s obituary. “The unfinished work remaining before us” is to present the “gift of honor” next fall to the parents of Oregon’s fallen. Our four year plan is to have students from the other forty-nine states create interactive Google maps of their fallen soldier for our website so that we “take increased devotion to that cause for which they her gave the last full measure of devotion.”

The Bayard Wilkeson Project was posted on Facebook to recruit other states to their mission to honor fallen soldiers. It was picked up by a partner of the Civic Renewal Network, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and was subsequently chosen to represent Oregon’s representative on Constitution Day in Washington D.C. Alyssa Etheridge and Ms. Lois MacMillan presented the project to Congressman Greg Walden on Capitol Hill. Senator Ron Wyden missed the meeting on Capitol Hill, so he visited South Middle School to honor Alyssa and Lauren to honor their civic project. This project has not only broaden the horizons of South Middle School, but is an example of how the study of history can inspire students to serve their nation.

Parent/Teacher  Conferences

Wednesday, October 29th:  4pm-7:30pm

Thursday, October 30th:  4pm-7:30pm

Please check in at the office to pick up your student’s report card, and make sure to stop by the lost and found and bring home your student’s long lost items.
We look forward to seeing you there!

South’s Annual Fundraiser Kick Off
We feel it is important to recognize students who demonstrate good citizenship, improve and excel in  academics/extracurricular activities and do their personal best. Last month South Middle School started our annual Magazine Drive & Cookie Dough sale with an assembly to finance a reward program for our students. This fund raiser will provide thousands of dollars for our school programs, assemblies, activities and student government.
If you have magazine subscriptions that need to be renewed and/or you would like to order a new one, PLEASE save your orders for our fundraiser!
Several parents will be needed during the fundraiser to make this effort successful. Please contact Mrs. Chamberlain, in the Counseling office, if you are interested in helping.
South’s annual magazine drive & cookie dough sale officially kicked off on September 25th. The Money turn in day will be October 15th. Students  received information about the prizes they can earn at the assembly on September 25th.  Extra order forms and packets will be available in the front office.  Thank you for helping support our school!

Brain Bowl Tryouts October 6^th after school starting at 3:20 – 4:00.  Students will need a ride by 4:00 and October 7^th during 7/8^th grades meet Mrs. Wright at lunch in room 8.

Good Luck!

Fall Strings Play-In

GPHS Main gym 7pm  on Oct. 27

Features all district #7 elementary and middle school string players and a special performance by the GPHS Chamber Orchestra.  See you there!

Caveman Mat Club
Wrestling has begun! Last day for sign-ups is October 9^th.

Contact Mandi Coulter (541) 840-5860 or mandicoulter@yahoo.com

or Cameron Whipp (541) 226-8541 or coachwhipp@gmail.com

The cost is $50 for middle schoolers.  Flyers are available in the front office with more info.

SMS Cross Country team presents CAR WASH FEVER! Please support your energetic, focused athletes by purchasing a ticket for only $5.00.  Fundraiser is Saturday, October 4th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Abby's located on Williams Hwy.

See you there! :)
Coach Lellis & Coach Baer

South PTSA Needs YOU!

Would you like to keep a pulse on what is going on in our School, School District and Community? Would you like to help students, parents and teachers succeed? South's PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) would love to have you join them! We are looking for leadership to take us into the next school year and beyond. PTSA is a non-partisan national organization that supports ALL students. Nominations are now being accepted for our 2014/15 School Year. President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer all need to be filled. Submit your nominations to the Front Office,

or Lisa Gavlik (541) 226-6407 or lisa.gavlik@gmail.com.

We are pleased to inform you that GRANTS PASS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 7

will implement a new option available to schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for School Year 2014-2015.

What does this mean for you and your children attending the school(s) identified above?

Great news for you and your students! All enrolled students of GRANTS PASS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 7 are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2014-2015 school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit an application.

If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us at
The Food and Nutrition Services.

Michael Morris - Supervisor 541-474-5716  mmorris@grantspass.k12.or.us

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.

At no time may a student be in possession of either prescription or non-prescription medications while at school.  All medications must be administered through the office, following the procedure explained above.  The only exceptions to this policy are students who must have inhalers, insulin and  epinephrine (bee- sting) medications with them  because of life-threatening conditions. The office must be notified if your child is in this category.  The District and State discourage parents from asking the schools to dispense  non-prescription medication

South Middle School Collects Box Tops in the school Office and Library, all money collected goes back to helping improve our school! So keep those box tops coming in!

Thanks

~SMS PTSA

Calling all Dads!
Be a positive Dad at South, be a Watch Dogs Volunteer! (Dads Of Great Students)

For more information call:

Mike Gavlik - Volunteer Coordinator

541-226-6407 mike.gavlik@gmail.com

Get Your Yearbook Get your Yearbook Get Your Yearbook

Yearbooks are on sale for $30.00! Make sure and purchase your copy from the office today! Yearbooks will be passed out the last week of school and time will be allotted for students to sign each other’s books.  So don’t miss out, reserve your’s today in the front office!

Save the date! South Middle School will be hosting their Annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 22, 2014 from 9am-3pm.  Proceeds from this event go to help with the success of the Christmas for Kids program at South. 

Booths will have hand crafted items, holiday décor, baked goods, gift wrapping, face painting and much more! Santa will also be present for the kids to visit and a photo booth available for capturing memories.  Your Wing Man food vendor and other concessions will be available to purchase on site, so come hungry!  The Bazaar has over 60 booths this year, the largest in years!  Come get your Holiday shop on!!

Questions? Contact South Middle at 541-474-5750 between 7am-4pm.