Check out Winter 2019 edition of the South Middle School newsletter

Check out the latest version of the South Middle School newsletter here!

From the principal's desk:

Greetings South Middle School Families, December is upon us and with it comes all the excitement that the season brings. Whatever your beliefs or traditions are, I hope that you are able to spend some quality time with your loved ones. SMS students and staff alike have worked very hard right up to the last day and all deserve some time to relax. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff, students and parents for their continued support. Our school is truly a community school and it is at this time of year when the relationships are supported by love and understanding. The New Year will bring new learning experiences, new challenges and new fun. I look forward to what lies ahead for us as a school community in 2020. I wish you all Peace, Joy, Hope and Happiness during this Holiday season and throughout the New Year! -Principal Brooks #SeeMeSoar #ShoulderUP

December Highlights:

December’s Quality: Generosity Maya Angelou once wrote, “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” Establishing a culture of helping others and being supportive helps adolescents to feel empathy for others and develop their social-emotional health. At South this month, we are focusing on the quality of generosity and fostering an atmosphere of sharing, kindness, service, and respect. As part of this initiative, students will be participating in Pennies for Peace, a service-learning program that “brings cultural and philanthropic education to students and educators all over the world.” Participating is simple: all donations of pennies will be used to supply schools in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Tajikistan with much needed educational supplies. Donations will be collected in the main office, guidance office, and cafeteria from December 10, 2019 to January 24, 2020 to celebrate the National Day of Service (January 20, 2020). For more information regarding this initiative, please contact Mrs. Bisti at jbist@necsd.net. Thank you for your support and generosity

Winter Concert Congratulations to all participants in the winter concert! What a joyful sound from our South Middle School Scholars!

Instructional Focus:

Questioning & Discussion: Collaboration In many jobs around the world, people are being asked to work on and as a team. Work is no longer a solitary activity, but rather a group effort where people need to be able to collaborate in order to solve a problem and/or achieve a task. One of the ways we help students prepare for the working world (and for further education) is to teach students how to collaborate with one another. This is why in many classrooms, students practice working in groups or with partners. They are not only learning the material, but also learning how to work with others, develop communication skills, and problem-solve. One way to help students develop these skills at home is to provide opportunities for your family to work together solving a problem. This can be solving a puzzle together, playing a board game, or having a fun night out at an Escape Room activity. What’s important in any of these problem-solving situations is that there is a clear goal, there is a leader who is able to delegate responsibilities (this shouldn’t be the adult!), there’s effective communication throughout, a chance to reflect on the process of solving the problem, and, of course, celebration on a job well done! These activities will not only help students develop this important skill, but can also provide for some fun family time!

ATTENTION: Are your scholars or colleagues doing something great? Please contact the district Communications Team at communications@necsd.net. We’d love to visit your class or event and/or post your pictures and recap to highlight the amazing accomplishments throughout our district!