Friday, September 26, 2014

It's October Next Week?


This school year is certainly flying by.  We have another exciting week of activities at SMS on tap. All of the fun times next week can be found on the weekly activities calendar below.  This week we could use some help with concessions and on the chain gang.  More information regarding upcoming volunteer opportunities is also below and on my website.

For those of you that like to plan ahead, there has been a change to the 8th grade football schedule. The game versus Rapid City North on Thursday, October 9th has been moved to Southwest Middle School.


SMS Weekly Activity Schedule
 Week of: 9/29/14-10/4/14

Day
Event
Opponent
Location
Dismiss
Bus
Time
Monday
7/8 Volleyball
Custer
SMS Gym


4:00
Tuesday
Middle School Booster Club Meeting

SMS Library


6:00
Wednesday
ER SLL

Governor’s Lab


1:00
Thursday
Cross Country

Sturgis
12:35
12:45
2:20
Thursday
7/8 Volleyball
Lead/Deadwood
Lead
2:50
3:00
4:00
Saturday
Saturday SLL

ALAC Room


8:00
Saturday
Knowledge Bowl

Sturgis


9:00
Saturday
7/8 Football
Belle Fourche
SMS Field


9:00










Volunteer Opportunities
  • Volleyball Concessions, Monday, September 29th.  First match at 4:00.
  • Football Concessions, Saturday, October 4th.  First game at 9:00
  • Football Chain Crew, Saturday, October 4th.  First game at 9:00
Booster Club Meeting

If you are interested in participating in the SMS Booster Club, we will be meeting on Tuesday, September 30th at 6:00 pm in the middle school library to discuss:
  1. Role and purpose of the SMS Booster Club
  2. Organizational structure
  3. Regular meeting schedule (if any)
  4. Activities and goals for the 2014-2015 school year
All interested parties are encouraged to attend. 

Expect Respect

At Spearfish Middle School are developing a community of respect and excellence.  To this end we support learning and appropriate student behavior through the elucidation of community core values.  You’ve probably noticed that when you visit SMS you see “PRIDE” banners and posters in every area.  “PRIDE” stands for the community core values of Preparedness, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Excellence.

This year as part of our continued implementation of Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS), there will be extra focus on the core value of “R”- respect.  In order to help students develop the tools and capacity necessary to build our desired community, we are utilizing the Expect Respect program.  Through this program every student will receive instruction throughout the school year on how to respond to disrespectful behavior whether they are the recipient, the perpetrator, or a by-stander.  Students will be trained in responding to disrespectful behavior using a school-wide stop phrase, how to respond when there receive the stop phrase, and helping their fellow students confront disrespectful behavior appropriately when they witness it.  All students play a role in eliminating negative behaviors and this program is part of an integrated effort to give them the skills necessary to do so.


In addition to the Expect Respect training all students will receive, a core group of students will have specific training so they can mentor and model methods of recognizing and appropriately handling disrespectful behavior. On December 1st and 2nd, a program called A Day of Understand will be held.  The program includes a large group session and small group sessions on December 2nd that will be led by student leaders that were trained on December 1st.   In the spring, selected 7th grade students will participate in training for a peer mentoring program that will be launched in the fall of 2015.  By giving students the skills they need to be successful and to build a community respect and excellence. 

Friday, September 12, 2014

Weekly Activities Update


Belle Fourche Jamboree Update
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the schedule for the Belle Fourche Jamboree tomorrow has changed again.  The updated schedule is below.  The 7th grade team will depart Spearfish at 7:45. The bus will return to pick up the 8th grade team.  The 7th grade team will return to Spearfish after their 9:55 match up with Sturgis.  The bus will return to Belle Fourche to collect the 8th grade team after their 11:45 scrimmage with STM.  I apologize for any confusion the schedule changes have created.

7th Grade: 9:00 am vs. Belle Fourche and 9:55 am vs. Sturgis
8th Grade: 9:55 am vs. Belle Fourche and 11:45 am vs. STM

Looking forward, we have another busy week of activities at SMS as football, volleyball, cross country, marching band and knowledge bowl all see action.  Please come out and support the Spartans.  A complete listing of next week's activities can be found below.

Week of: 9/15/14-9/20/14

Day
Event
Opponent
Location
Dismiss
Bus
Time
Monday
Volleyball Pictures




3:15
Tuesday
Volleyball
Twin Spruce
7th: SHS Aux Gym
8th: SMS Gym


4:00
Tuesday
Cross Country

Douglas
1:35
1:45
4:00
Thursday
Volleyball
Sturgis
7th: Community Center
8th: Grunwald Auditorium
2:50
3:00
4:00
Saturday
Knowledge Bowl
Belle Fourche



9:00
Saturday
Marching Band

BHSU Parade


10:00
Saturday
7th Football
Jamboree



9:00
Saturday
8th Football
Hot Springs
Hot Springs

7:15
10:00


Concession Opportunities
  • 4:00, Tuesday, September 16th 8th grade volleyball.  
  • 9:00, Saturday, September 20th.  7th Football Jamboree
Please contact Kevin O'Dea if you are interested in volunteering for either of these dates.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

CROSS COUNTRY CANCELED

Due to adverse course and weather conditions, the cross country meet in Belle Fourche scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, September 11th has been canceled.  It will not be rescheduled.  The cross country team will have practice at the normal time.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Week Two Complete!



As we finish up the second week of the school year, I'm reminded as to why I work at SMS.  This is a great school. We have great students and a fantastic staff.  Thank you for sharing your students will us.  They are truly special.

Activities are in full swing.  The 8th grade football team will be heading to Rapid City tomorrow morning for our first competition of the year.  Volleyball, cross country, and 7th grade football will be winding up in the coming week.

Some schedules have changed already.  The cross country meet on Thursday starts at 3:00 instead of 3:30 and unfortunately Belle Fourche doesn't have great 7th grade volleyball numbers this year so we will only have two matches in the 7th grade when we play them this year.  Please maintain open communication with your student and keep an eye on the activities calendar.

Our first eligibility check of the year was today at noon.  These grades determine eligibility for the the following Monday through Saturday.  So if a student was failing a class at noon today, they cannot compete next Monday, September 8th through Saturday, September 13th.  They can still practice but they cannot travel or compete.  If your student is ineligible, you will receive a school reach call and your student will receive a notice from their coach.

SMS Weekly Activity Schedule
Week of: 9/8/14-9/13/14

Day
Event
Opponent
Location
Dismiss
Bus
Time
Tuesday
Cross Country Pictures




3:15
Thursday
Cross Country

Belle Fourche
1:40
1:50
3:00
Thursday
7th Volleyball
Belle Fourche
Belle Fourche

3:45
4:30
Thursday
8th Volleyball
Belle Fourche
Spartan Dome


4:30
Friday
Football Pictures




3:15
Saturday
7th Volleyball
Tournament
Newell

7:30

Saturday
7/8 Football
Jamboree
Belle Fourche

7:45
9:00