Jan 27, 2020

Bulldog

Newsbites

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Polar Bear Plunge .1-2

So County Event…….2

Harvest/Hungry……..3

Yearbook News……...3

Calendar………………..4

Counselor Corner .....4

PTA News ……………..5

Pics of the Week……..6

Introducing ............. ..7

Spirit Days ………..…..8

Encore News………….9

SMS Well Represented

at the Polar Bear

Plunge!!!

SMS Generosity Polar Bear Plunge a Huge Success Every year, our National Honor Society led by Ms. Swimm leads the SMS contingent to participate in the Polar Bear Plunge. It is a great fundraiser benefiting the Special Olympics in Maryland Ms. Swimm set a very challenging goal of collecting $15,ooo in donations. So how did SMS do? They collected over $22,000!! Last year we collected just over $9,000. What a great job by Ms. Swimm and other staff members as well as all our plungers! A fantastic showing by the whole SMS Community. We are proud of you!

Special South County Event—Smoking/Teens

Please see attached, the flyer for the February SoCo CAFÉ being held at the Edgewater Library located at 25 Stepney’s Lane, Edgewater, MD 21037, on February 12, 2020 from 3:00-4:30pm. The information session is titled

“Smoking Cessation and Nicotine Dependence Program.”

Adolescents and Teens in South County are the target audience.

*** Refreshments will be served. ***

Joanne Ebner, RN, BSN, OCN, NCTTP and Cherise Easton, BS, NCTTP from the DeCesaris Cancer Institute at Anne Arundel Medical Center will be address-ing the following subject areas:

Education on Tobacco Products

The Impact on the Young Brain

Avoidance techniques

Where to go for help.

Please register at https://aacpl.librarycalendar.com/events/soco-cafe-smoking-cessation-and-nicotine-dependence

SOUTHERN

MIDDLE’S

MISSION

TO PROVIDE QUALITY, AGE APPROPRIATE, CHALLENGING CURRICULUM AND ACTIVITIES THAT ALLOW EACH STUDENT TO ACHIEVE HIS/HER MAXIMUM INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL IN A SAFE AND ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT.

SMS Generosity…..cont.

We are proud to announce that SMS was one of

the top contributors to the Harvest for the

Hungry campaign. We finished in the top 10 in

both food and cash donations. Above is Eileen

Ponce-Garcia, Alissa Jacks and Iyanna Sapping-

ton accepting awards at county ceremony last

Order your yearbook now! All orders are done online at www.jostensyearbooks.com. Please be sure to choose Southern Middle School in Lothian, MD. Base cost of a yearbook is $36, personalization is available until January at an additional fee.

Calendar of

Events:

Jan 28-31—Grade 6/7

registration

Jan 28/29—2 Hr

Early Dismissal

Jan 30—No School

End of 2nd MP

Feb 6—PTA Mtg

Feb 12—2 Hr Early

Dismissal

Feb 17—No School

Presidents Day

THE BULLDOG PRIDE PLEDGE

I pledge to do my

BULLDOG BEST.

I will be PREPARED,

RESPECTFUL and

INDEPENDENT.

I will be DISCIPLINED

and do what’s right.

I will show EMPATHY

for all and make our

school

No Place For Hate.

4

STAR TIME—Every Tues/Thurs teachers are available to provide extra help or to redo/makeup assignments. Students are encouraged to take advantage of this extra support.

End of 2nd marking period—Jan 29

Attendance:

Parents please remember to bring in an absence note each time your child is absent. Otherwise it is listed as an illegal absence.

CAT-South On Line Applications for 8th grade who are interested are due March 15.

Students upon returning from being sick, please go to each one of your teachers to receive make-up work.

Scheduling Courses for Next Year

Registration for 8th grade students will be Mon-day and Tuesday January 13 and 14.

Registration for 6th and 7th grade students will be Tuesday and Wednesday January 28 and 29 and Friday Jan 31.

Parents, Please review your child’ options and selection before your child submits their choices.

Counselor corner cont. Welcome Back Ms. Martz

We are very please to share that Ms. Martz, our head of the Counseling office and the counselor for our 6th grade has returned! Ms. Martz has been on maternity leave since the summer with the birth of her twins. Ms. Thoman was serving as her replacement.

We are excited to have Ms. Martz returning to us.

Feb 6- Next PTA meeting, 6:30pm in the media center.

We are still accepting PTA Memberships!!! If you have not had a chance to send in your membership form and dues please do so today. Remember, 100% of funds raised go directly to our stu-dents and staff!

https://www.aacps.org/cms/lib/MD02215556/Centricity/Domain/1380/SMS%20PTA%20Membership%20Application.pdf

Parent Involvement Pays – Join the SMS PTA Today!

Parent Involvement Pays – Join the SMS PTA Today! Successful schools have involved parents. Become involved and join the South-ern Middle School PTA. Your PTA membership shows you care about your child’s school and education.

PTA NEWS

5

PICS OF THE WEEK

LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO…...

SMS is very lucky to have Ms. Laszewski

Physical

Education

Where did you grow

up?

Medina, NY

Attended college

where?

What major?

Bachelor of Science

from Canisius College

[Buffalo, NY]

Master of Science from University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse [LaCrosse, WI]

Any family info you

wish to share?

I am one of four girls in my family and we are all very close and look the same (blonde hair and blue eyes)

When/Why did you decide to become a teacher?

I became a teacher because being a full time summer camp

counselor didn’t pay the bills. I also became a teacher be-

cause I love watching the joy that children bring to the

world. Teaching is fun!

In middle school I was ……… I enjoyed……..

In middle school I was involved with sports and all things music; band and chorus. The pool was in our school so I was there all the time swimming….even during home room. [woops!] I was also a part of student council and

advanced classes where I went to the high school.

When I am not teaching, I am the Head Women’s Coach for Annapolis Juniors Rowing Club! I love being on the

water each day. �

Bridget Laszewski

March 17th St. Paddy’s Day

April 24th Dress for Success

May 15th Hawaiian Day

June-8th grade dance TBD

Next School Dance: TBA

SMS Spirit Days

Encore News Band and Strings News

SMS has a record 13 students auditioning for the AACPS All-county Band this year!

Good luck to the following students: Alto Saxophones: Charlotte Crabtree, Scott Opert, Iyana Sappington Trumpets: Colton Ramey, Zach Meunier, Tyler Shea Clarinets: Molly Dowling, Elsa Gustafson, Lillian Martin Horn: Gabrial Moreland Tuba: Mason Whitley - Marcey Percussion: Sam Moreland Flute: Allison Dunn • SMS Jazz Band, Rock Band and Chamber Orchestra had an outstanding performance at their annual "SoCo Tour" at Deale, Tracey's and Lothian Elementary Schools on January 22nd! Good well done to these students. • The SMS Jazz Band will be performing at the AACPS Jazz Festival at Magothy River MS on January 28th 24 band and strings students will be performing at the AACPS Solo & Ensemble Festival on Feb. 1st. These students will have a chance to qualify for state if they receive a superior score.

Bulldog Spelling Bee winner and runner up Winner: Linda Johnson Runner up: Ransom Plaster Linda will compete in the County Bee on Feb 29. Good luck Linda, SMS is proud to have you represent our school!

Chorus News: In December, our Chorus students had a wonderful Winter Concert! Since our concert, we have been concentrating on Sight-Reading Rhythmic and Melodic in all Chorus classes. Please wish our 7th and 8th chorus members good luck as we prepare for the AACPS Choral Festival in early March. Music Goes Global News: Our 7th grade students have been studying Mu-sicals and learning about The Lion King Broadway Musical. Our 6th grade students have been studying the Grand Staff and learning to play piano. The Art Department is so excited to announce that we will be offering a Digital Palette class for next year's incoming 6th grade! 7th and 8th grade students will be able to sign up for Beginning and Intermediate Digital Palette as well. Please stay tuned for information on our upcom-ing Spring Art Gala! AVID News: All three AVID levels are now fully into looking into colleges and careers. AVID 8 was selected to participate in UMBC’s Midday Mad-ness event on January 22

nd which includes a tour, pep rally, and basket-

ball game. Way to go!