Welcome to South Middle School  

 

Welcome to South Middle School and the 2016-2017 school year!

The middle years are time for growth, challenge and discovery. At South, we encourage and prepare students to participate fully, to take risks, to be self-advocates, and to create lasting memories and relationships with peers and staff. I am proud to be the principal of such an exciting and dynamic school.

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Our goal at South is to provide an enriching, engaging, and challenging curriculum that will prepare students for success. We believe that students, parents, and teachers all play a vital role in helping students reach their greatest potential. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the many resources and opportunities available to them including the library, computer labs, school spirit days, Club Day, student council, Peer Mediation, WSMS News, team building activities, after-school academic and athletic offerings, and teacher websites. Parents can check academic progress regularly via our parent portal and can access information about school events on our website.

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At South, we recognize that social/emotional development is as essential to student success as academics. This year we continue our advisory program, called Mustang Mentors. During Mustang Mentors, small groups of students meet monthly with a staff member to explore middle school topics like self-advocacy, respect, friendship, and kindness. Our goal is to provide a time for students to build connections with teachers and peers and to build a stronger sense of community and ownership at South Middle School. This year, all district middle school will be reading Pay It Forward (Young Reader’s Edition). Mustang Mentors activities for the 2016-2017 school year will evolve from our school theme – Your Future…Build It, with tie-ins to the story.

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South Middle is once again partnering with Winthrop University -Richard W. Riley College of Education. Teacher candidates share in the classroom experiences at South Middle. This collaboration between Winthrop and South is a Win-Win-Win. The biggest winners are the students who get the benefit of veteran teachers and the innovations of the teacher candidates.

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The foundation for our students’ success is based on the partnership among students, staff, and parents. Active parent participation is essential to our success. Please contact any member of your child's team or our dedicated PTO Executive Board for information on how you can support our work. Teachers provide a nurturing environment in which young adolescents can learn, take risks, and thrive. Their work, in partnership with our parent community, has and will continue to support us to fulfill our school mission: Preparing Students to Succeed in a Challenging World.

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I look forward to working with you and your children during the 2016-2017 school year and, as always, please know that you are always welcome at South Middle School. 

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Mrs. Joyce Crimminger, Principal