South Middle School 350 West Harbeck 541-474-5750 December & January Newsletter
District Office Meetings
05/01/2014
by School District #7

School Board Meetings

2nd Tuesday of each month; 4:00pm,
Boardroom at
725 NE Dean Dr.

4th Tuesday of each month; 12:00pm,
Boardroom at 725 NE Dean Dr.

 

Principal's Letter
11/01/2014
by Jeff Weiss

Dear Parent/Guardian,

 

There are a few students we would like to recognize as being selected to represent South Middle School at the Oregon Music Education Association All-State event.  We had several of our students make the All State Orchestra:  Jacob Maier, Gabriel Masters, Zach Van Manen, Luke Simchuk, Ryan Rudd, and Dylan Foster.  We had two students make the All State Band:  Angela Delicino and Mark Smolinski and two students make the All State Choir:  Elaina Thompson and Cayden Butler.  We congratulate you all on this fabulous recognition.

 

Josephine County Foundation Teacher’s Fund Grant recognized Krista DeBolt for her contribution in bringing “A Bazaar Folk Music Show” to our students.  We would like to congratulate Mrs. DeBolt on a job well done.

 

With the event we experienced earlier this month in our evacuation of our building, we learned a great deal.  We know our evacuation system worked well but the second part of the plan is our reunification, and that became confusing for many.  We want you to know SAFETY for your students and our staff is our number one priority. We are reviewing our Reunification Plan and will send you the cover page of South Middle School’s Parent-Student Reunification Plan for you to review.  We want to thank everyone for their patience during this event.  The follow up to the event was a thorough investigation, a debriefing with Grants Pass Public Safety, and our District Office team on how best handle these types of situations in the future.

 

We are looking into and will be implementing a system called “Remind 101” that allows us to text message you regarding information that pertains to SMS.  We will get you this information after we have worked out all the kinks. This program will allow information from our school that pertains to snow days, school information, the school calendar reminder when school is not in session, and when we have a situation that needs to be communicated to you fast.

  

Happy Holidays to you all, I am wishing you nothing but joy and peace during this special time of the year.  It is busy time of the year for us as we head into the holidays.  Day of Caring, Holiday Concerts, keep our calendar busy for the next few weeks.  We appreciate all of our volunteers and involvement with our students and our programs.  Without your help and dedication to our school, many of these events would not take place or be successful.  On behalf of our entire South staff we would simply like to say thank you for all you do for us.

 

PTSA and some of our committees are always looking for new members.  If you are interested in joining our next meeting is scheduled for January 9th in the SMS Library at 5:30pm. 

 

With Winter time here, it is time for a review of our emergency school closure notification.  Any time there is a chance our school will be closed due to weather we will post the information on our district web site as well as our local radio and television stations.   I will always encourage you to check our web site for all information regarding South Middle School.

 

We want to wish everyone a very happy and safe holiday season. 

 

Jeff Weiss

Calling All DADS!
11/02/2014
by 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

 

 

Yearbook Sales
11/03/2014
by Brandi Wright

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!

 

Star Student is Back at South Middle School!
11/04/2014
by Heather Ransom

Please congratulate our Star Students of the Month for November!  These are students who have stand out in one of their classes for growth, improvement, and positive choices in their education.  Students and their families were invited to attend breakfast with their nominating staff member.

  • Mckenzie Holverson selected by Mrs. Wright
  • Michael Moss selected by Mrs. Gilbert
  • Patricia Sheets selected by Mrs. Kindrick
  • Lindsey Boozer selected by Mrs. Hull
  • Alycia White selected by Ms. Osborn-Koch
  • Lillianne Riccatone selected by Mr. Warner
  • Robert Buttram selected by Mr. Baertschiger
  • Campbell Paige selected by Mr. Wolford
  • Olivia Osborn selected by Ms. KJ
  • Peter Osipovich selected by Mr. Boldon
  • Charles Jarvis selected by Mr. Willaman

 

Again, congratulations to all of these incredible students!  Keep up the great work!

 

South Middle School Grows a Garden
11/16/2014
by Bethany Osborne-Koch

The idea of a school garden at South blossomed in the spring of 2014 with the support of teachers and administrators.  After comparing different possible garden sites on the campus we decided to construct a working vegetable, herb and flower garden in the abandoned rose garden in the middle of our school parking lot.  This project was designed with the goal of providing a beautiful, sustainable, and educational resource for our school community.  The garden will engage students in lessons on agriculture, health, art and science through our ELT class time and after school garden club.

 

This week has been particularly exciting in the garden.  With the generous help of the Grounds Guys the garden has risen to a whole new level.  In just four hours the crew of about 20 (including children helpers!) dug in and got to work building and placing 14 new raised vegetable beds, flush with a new drip irrigation system.  The volunteer project also included decomposed granite pathways throughout the garden to help maintain mud free gardening year round!  With all of this fabulous space and soil to grow in we are ready to start our winter garden off right with some winter veggies like onions, garlic and kale, as well as a cover crop to prepare the soil for spring planting.  We are so excited here at school about the progress this garden is making and cannot thank the Grounds Guys enough for their amazing support!

 

For more information about the garden check out the garden site at:

http://southschoolgarden.weebly.com/

Emergency School Closures
11/18/2014
by Jennifer Thomason

Emergency School Closures

The District is implementing a Snow Route protocol this year that would affect only certain locations North and South of the Rogue River.  In addition, a           document that explains how the district makes emergency closure  decisions and an Emergency Closure Frequently Asked Questions section will be added that   answers common questions that the District receives about emergency closures.  This  information will be posted on the Home page of the  District's website. Please check the District website for further updates.

 

South Wrestling
11/20/2014
by Jennifer Thomason

Attention Wrestlers:

Practice begins Tuesday, January 5th  right after school.  Any 6th, 7th or 8th grade student can sign up.  Make sure you get your Coaches Card, physical and payment or arrangements made before then.  Enjoy your vacation and come back ready to wrestle.  GO SOUTH WRESTLING!

 

SMS Annual Holiday Music Concert
11/20/2014
by Jennifer Thomason

SMS ANNUAL WINTER MUSIC CONCERT!
Mark your calendars for Monday, December 8th at 7:00 pm for our annual music concert in the Grants Pass High School Performing Arts center. This is one of only 2 concerts per year that the music department presents in this format at the high school auditorium. All of the choir, band and orchestra students have been working very hard and will be wearing their special concert attire that evening.  Performers will need to arrive early. See you there!

                                                                                                 

 

Day of Caring
11/20/2014
by Brouillette, Jennifer

Day of Caring

Carrying on South’s long running tradition, the students will participate in a “Day of Caring” on Tuesday, November 25th.  Giving back to the school and community with cleanup efforts at Reinhart Volunteer Park, Riverside Park and the school as well as other activities organized.

While at Reinhart Park, 8th grade students will be helping spread new bark chips, clear walking paths and clean up trash & debris.  Parks & recreation employees give direction to students and provide necessary equipment to complete the task. 

Seventh grade students will be traveling to Riverside Park.  While at the park students will be helping with cleanup around the new play structure as well as spreading woodchips in the playground area.  Groups of students will also be helping with leaf cleanup and spreading woodchips around trees. 

Sixth grade students will be recording Christmas carols to share on the School District webpage as well as cleaning up the exterior and interior of the school.  Students will work on the new school garden, spreading rock on the walking paths.  Groups of students will also be working on creating children’s project kits for an upcoming Rogue Winterfest community event and making blankets for our local Women’s shelter. 

The lesson learned from giving back to the community is priceless. 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead

Middle School Winterguard
11/24/2014
by Brouillette, Jennifer

Middle School Winterguard

Do you like to dance & perfrom?  Check out Middle School Winterguard!  Learn how to dance & spin equipment including flag and rifle.  The season will include school and community performances and a clinic with the High School Winterguard team members. 

Practices will be Tuesday's 6pm-8:30pm at North Middle School in the cafeteria & Thursday's 6pm-8:30pm at South Middle School in the small gym.  Students from both North & South practice together on both days.  The season will begin December 9, 2014 through April 9, 2015.

Middle School Winterguard is an activity open to all Middle School students. 

Questions? Contact Jeni Brouillette at jbrouillette@grantspass.k12.or.us or call 541-474-5750.

 

 

 

Winter Sports
11/30/2014
by Jennifer Thomason

Attention Winter Sport Athletes:

Over the break make sure that your physicals are up to date and get your    coaches card and participation fees together.  You can pick up a physical form and coaches card in the office.  Wrestling practice starts right after we get back from Christmas break!  Girls Basketball practice will begin on Jan 5th so make sure you have everything you need.   GO SOUTH!