Shelby City Schools - Middle School

Tim Tarvin
419.347.5451 Phone, 419.347.2095 Fax, (Click to email)

December 2008 ~ PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

It really makes no difference where you grew up or where you attended high school, we all had traditions that we hold near and dear to our hearts. Whether it’s walking to Willard in the dead of winter, attending a homecoming or prom dance or walking across the stage for graduation; these are all experiences that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Of course, my favorite tradition and memory of high school is saucy franks for lunch; man, I miss those things! Anyhow, I’m confident one of the most enduring memories and traditions that our students will take with them from middle school will be the annual 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. Hey, I know it’s only December, but May will be upon us before we know it so I want to start laying the groundwork for the trip now. In order to accomplish that I want you to stop reading my ramblings right now and go circle the 20th of January on the calendar hanging in your kitchen. Done? Good. The 20th of January is important because we are hosting a Washington D.C trip information meeting at 6:00 pm that night in the middle school auditorium. Now, my goal is to have every single 8th grade parent and student at this meeting so they can receive all of the vital information that pertains to the trip. As a matter of fact, I am so adamant about making sure that every parent and student is at the meeting on the 20th that I have included in this newsletter a one page insert detailing the D.C. trip. So no, you are not experiencing déjà vu when you start reading the insert. It’s just me and my obsessive compulsive behavior.

Continuing on the topic of tradition; all around the world the holidays are celebrated with meaningful and ingenious customs. Children in Belgium leave hay and carrots outside the house on Christmas Eve because they believe Saint Nicholas arrives by horse. In a festive display, folks in India adorn their homes with mango leaves and decorate banana trees. Interestingly, the first record of a decorated tree comes from a diary dated 1605 in what is now Strasbourg, France. In fact, many believe this tradition was later brought to England by Prince Albert who had roots in that region of Europe and missed the ritual of decorating a tree. You see, traditions exist everywhere and many of them are very similar. That’s what is unique about people…for all of our disagreements we still have more similarities than we have differences. So as you and your loved ones celebrate the holidays and all of your family traditions; whether it’s singing carols on a snowy night, baking cookies in a crowded kitchen, trimming the Griswold Christmas tree with ornaments passed from generation to generation, or just enjoying the company of loved ones, keep in mind; traditions, no matter how simple or how extravagant, are the ties that bind. From the Shelby Middle School staff, to all of you, have a safe and merry Christmas and a joyous New Year.

“A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm; we all go through it together.”
Garrison Keillor
“Youth is when you are allowed to stay up later on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.”
Bill Vaughn
“Christmas happens everywhere every time someone reaches out to touch another life with love.”
Carol Duerksen
“It came without ribbons, it came without tags, it came without packages, boxes or bags. Christmas can’t be bought from a store…maybe Christmas means a little more.”
Dr. Suess
A three-year-old gave this reaction to her Christmas dinner. “I don’t like the turkey, but I like the bread he ate.”
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
Winston Churchill
“What I don’t like about Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.”
Phyllis Diller
“May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope, the spirit of Christmas which is peace and the heart of Christmas which is love.”
Ada V. Hendricks

November 2008 ~ PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

Thanksgiving is not unique to American culture. As a matter of fact, for centuries societies around the world have celebrated and given thanks. Initially, giving thanks was for bountiful harvests but now it’s for many different reasons. This national holiday on the fourth Thursday in November, officially designated as such by Franklin Roosevelt in 1941, has evolved from being thankful for food in the pantry for some, to hoping that there is a good football game on TV after the feast for others. Yes, we all have our unique ways of “giving thanks”. Of course, sometimes in the very nature of giving thanks we are reminded of those very things in this world that give us pause such as paying bills, friends who are ill, or a relative who is in the service and in harm’s way. However, as we near the holiday season and our stress levels begin to register on the Richter scale, allow me to cast a silver lining around the students at Shelby Middle School. I know they don’t always get the grades you would like. Yes, there are times you have to continually remind them to do their homework. What’s more, I would be surprised if they always have their room spic and span. However, as you may know, at SMS we have been stressing community service to our students for the past few years. We believe it is important for our students, your children, to give back to our community. Guess what…they’re doing just that. Your children are raising money for the less fortunate in our community. Your children are volunteering at nursing homes and visiting shut-ins on Valentine’s Day. Your children are bringing in food and clothing for those in need. And it’s not just a handful of students who are involved. It’s entire classes and teams of students who are pitching in and helping those in our community who need it. I know they aren’t perfect; but the bottom line is this, you’ve given us some pretty darn good kids to work with at Shelby Middle School and for that, my staff and I are thankful this holiday season.

We are now nearly halfway through the second nine week grading period and parent/teacher conferences are right around the corner. Now, I recognize that many of you check your child’s grades on Progress Book, but there really is no substitute for a face-to-face with your son or daughter’s teachers. That’s why we would like to invite you to join us for conferences on December 3rd from 3:00-7:00. Hopefully you will be receiving conference information from your son or daughter’s team in the very near future, but if for some reason you have not received it by the end of November, please feel free to contact the middle school at 347-5451 to gather the information that you need.

Other Important Dates

*Nov. 21st through Dec. 1st, 2008*	SMS Candy Sale. Remember, your son or daughter can pay for his/her entire D.C. trip with this fundraiser!!
Dec. 2nd, 2008 Tuesday	2nd quarter interim reports will be distributed
Dec. 3rd, 2008 Wednesday	Parent/teacher conferences at SMS from 3:00-7:00 PM
Dec. 9th, 2008 Tuesday	SMS choir concert in auditorium at 7:30 PM
Dec. 10th, 2008 Wednesday	Early release. Your child will be dismissed from SMS at 12:30 PM
Dec. 19th, 2008 Friday	Last day of school prior to Christmas break beginning

As I leave you with a few quotes about Thanksgiving, have a safe and happy holiday season and thanks for supporting all we do at Shelby Middle School.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”	John Fitzgerald Kennedy
“An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day.”	Irv Kupcinet
“Grace isn’t a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It’s a way to live.”	Jackie Windspear
“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Halftimes take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.”	Erma Bombeck

October 2008 ~ PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

Have I mentioned that this is my favorite time of the year? Autumn is in full gear, leaves are doing their little dance from the heights as they blanket my backyard like a neon Jackson Pollack gone bad, and I walk around the house in a hoody; too cheap to turn on my heat. And get this; not only is Halloween just around the corner, but that also means that our first nine week grading period is winding down. That’s right; the first quarter ends on October 29 and we hope to pass out grade cards to your sons and daughters on Friday, November 7. Yes, that means that every student should bring home a grade card that night. If your son or daughter comes home empty handed something is definitely fishy in Denmark, so feel free to give us a call. Also, keep in mind that you can access your child’s grades whenever you wish by logging onto Progress Book.

Now, I know I’m preaching to the choir when I start talking about how tough it is to make ends meet in today’s society. Guess what though. If we start talking about the generosity of our kids, yes, we’re preaching to the same choir but it’s a totally different sermon. What I’m saying is, in spite of the fact that times are tough, your sons and daughters continue to put their self-interests behind them and give to those who are less fortunate. Recently Mrs. Ream and student council conducted stall day. Stall day is when students bring in change, dump it on their teacher’s desk and then the teacher must count all the change before the class can begin. Now really, how much could an event like that possibly raise? Well, how does the figure of $1,700 sound?! Of that amount, $1,200 will go to United Fund and $500 is earmarked for Angel Tree, a charity sponsored by Shelby Help Line that will directly benefit our middle school students. Parents, thanks for sending us such a great group of kids!

Now, speaking of money and great kids…I know that one of the things that drives a lot of parents absolutely bonkers is the constant fundraisers that seem to be going on, so I apologize for what I am about to say. We are having another fundraiser. But wait; it’s not that type of fundraiser! You know how most fundraisers are designed so that all of the money raised goes to an organization rather than to individuals? Well, the fundraiser we are having is designed to help students raise money that will be used by them specifically for the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. Here’s how it works. From Nov. 21 – Nov. 30 middle school students will be selling a variety of candy. Student John Doe sells each bag for $6; $3 of that goes straight to John Doe. Well, not actually straight into his pocket. I mean who is going to trust sticking that kind of money in a middle school kid’s pocket. Hey, we may be crazy, but we’re not stupid. A private account, maintained by the school, is actually set up for each student and the money goes straight into that. When May rolls around and we’re ready to leave on the D.C. trip we are able to access each student’s account. So…rather than Mom and Dad digging into their pockets, if John Doe has $100 dollars in his account, that money goes to pay for his trip. Now, how nice is that!? Hopefully it sounds good and makes some sense, but if it doesn’t or if you have questions, give me a call here at the middle school.

September 2008 ~ PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

Hmmm, I don’t want to jinx myself, but…here we are four weeks into the new school year and we are cruising through the first nine week grading period. Kids are working hard in the classroom, our athletic teams are better than good, and our teachers are finding new and creative ways to lead instruction. Now, I don’t want to say I’m old but I’ve been around long enough to know that this sort of thing doesn’t just happen. It occurs because of good parenting, community support, and teachers and kids working together towards common goals. So, thank you. Thank you for helping us get this school year off to a great start by providing us with a fantastic group of kids to work with, as well as your continued support at home.

For those of you new to the whole middle experience allow me to shed some light on how our students and teachers are organized into teams here at SMS. First of all, we have three core academic teams made up of five teachers, each of whom is responsible for instruction in either: language arts, math, reading, science or social studies. The Mustangs is our pure 7th grade team, the Eagles, our pure 8th grade team, and the Sharks, our split 7th/8th grade team. Now, each of these teams has between 120-130 students who simply rotate between the five team teachers for their core classes. But hold on, if you are not confused yet, you may be soon. Each student also attends three classes a day that are independent from his or her team. These are elective classes and consist of: art, band, choir, computers, family and consumer science, French, health, physical education, pop culture, read 180, sci-tech and Spanish. Throw in a period for lunch and there you have your child’s day at Shelby Middle School.

Throughout this school year your son and/or daughter will have a bazillion opportunities to immerse him or herself in a variety of middle school activities. And when I say variety, I mean variety. Of course, the fall sports season is nearly over, but students at SMS can still get involved in power of the pen, basketball, student council, wrestling, Paws Press, cheerleading, quiz bowl, Destination to Stardom, FCCLA, track, the 8th grade trip to Washington D.C., and many other pursuits as well. Now, my advice to kids has gone unchanged for many years. It’s quite simple really; get involved in as many activities as possible so long as your grades and homework can be maintained and your responsibilities at home are not forgotten. Oh, and enjoy yourself.

Parents, with all of these activities going on throughout the year I want to extend an open invitation on behalf of Shelby Middle School. That is, whether you have a concern, a comment, or a question for me, or for any of our staff members, please do not hesitate to give us a call, email or just stop by so we can work together to help your child be successful.

As always, be safe and we hope to see you at one of our numerous middle school events in the near future.

August 2008 ~ Principal's Corner

Well, the Olympics are finally over, the Whippets have already kicked off the football season and the 2008-2009 school year is ready to begin. Yep, summer is essentially over and it is time to get down to business. Uh oh; that also means that I need to hunt and peck a welcome back message for the district website. Hmmm; what to say, what to say?

Well, here’s a novel thought. Let me start by saying that I certainly hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable summer; one that was hopefully filled with family, friends, picnics, sun and lots of hotdogs. Of course, all of these sites and sounds of summer eventually give way to band and athletic practices, the county fair, back-to-school shopping and that much anticipated first day of school. When your sons and daughter hit the halls of the middle school I can assure you that they will be welcomed into a building that has been buffed and waxed from the dungeon to the third floor and the old dame looks great! Furthermore, I can also attest that the middle school staff has been busy planning for 2008-2009 and they are ready to have a fantastic year with your sons and daughters.

Of course, once the school year gets into full swing everyone will be busy with school activities, homework, magazine sales and the like. When that happens and you find that you have a question or concern about your child’s progress or some other issue, please feel free to call, email or just stop by. Our doors are always open and we want to do whatever we can to make this a successful school year for your sons and daughters.

In the meantime, be safe and we hope to see you at a middle school event in the near future.

May 2008 ~ Principal's Corner

How on earth could 215 individuals all develop shin splints, blisters or sore muscles on top of sore muscles over the course of forty-eight hours and still have a great time? Well, it’s easy if you were a part of the annual 8th grade class trip to Washington, D.C., of course. Yes, 170 of our 8th graders and 45 chaperones recently returned from our nation’s capital, experiencing two days packed with sightseeing, visiting national memorials and exploring museums. To give you a brief overview of the trip; our four charter buses left Shelby at 9:30 Wednesday night and arrived at the Lincoln Memorial at 6:45 in the morning. Now that may sound early, but with the sun peaking over the Washington Monument, bathing the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with sunshine, that is an ideal time to start a tour. Aside from a stray jogger or two, our group had the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam War Memorial pretty much to ourselves as we strolled through the dew covered grass reading inscriptions dedicated to those who gave their lives for our country. We then capped off the morning visit by placing eight plaques at various spots along the base of the Vietnam Wall. Each plaque was dedicated to a young man from Shelby, or one who had ties to the community, whose life was lost in Vietnam.

Breakfast at the Ronald Reagan Building was our next stop and then it was on to the National Zoo to visit the pandas, Komodo dragons and many other exotic animals. A quick lunch at the Zoo was followed by a trip across D.C. and a tour of the Pentagon. Walking through the halls of the Pentagon is a privilege and an honor and we were fortunate to be given access to this incredible complex because of our educational status. Being led by a member of one of our military branches throughout the maze of hallways was a tremendous opportunity and the walk concluded with a stop at the memorial chapel where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed through the walls on September 11, 2001. Goose bumps and misty eyes are not uncommon for visitors to the Pentagon as soldiers describe the flight path of the airliner that fateful morning. Truly, it was an unforgettable experience.

From the Pentagon it was on to the Jefferson and FDR Memorials, two beautiful monuments honoring our third and thirty-second Presidents. By now it was late in the afternoon, but we were not done with our day. It was on to Arlington National Cemetery to witness the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a solemn ceremony that takes place looking out over D.C. Of course, before returning to our buses many in our group also visited JFK’s gravesite, Robert E. Lee’s mansion, the memorial to the Challenger crew, as well as many other memorials in the cemetery.

Dinner at the Pentagon City Mall and the bus ride to our hotel in Rockville, Maryland concluded our day of activities. It was 9:30 in the evening when we checked into our hotel and that 6:00 a.m. breakfast call would be coming way too quickly.

We awoke to a dreary, raining Friday morning, but by the time we arrived at the U.S. Capitol Building at 8:30 the rain had nearly subsided and we poured off our buses ready to scour the National Mall and see more of the sites that D.C. had to offer. Now, I should clarify that on Thursday we spent the entire day touring as a group, but on Friday we split into smaller groups ranging in size from five to twenty people, each with chaperones of course. This allows the small groups to personalize the trip somewhat and they can visit whatever sites and museums interest them. For example, some of the places groups visited during the day were: the Capitol Building, the White House, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the Holocaust Museum, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Washington Monument, the Old Post Office, Chinatown and of course any of the Smithsonian museums along the National Mall.

At 4:30 in the afternoon all of the groups met at the WWII Memorial, an architecturally beautiful monument, which honors the men and women who gave their lives during the war. From there we boarded our buses and headed north to Georgetown to begin our forty-five minute cruise down the Potomac River which afforded us a unique view of the monuments and memorials that we had been visiting the past two days.

It was 8:00 in the evening as we climbed aboard our buses one more time, but before we left D.C. we made one more stop; this time at the Iwo Jima Memorial. The monument, perched on a hill with the sun setting behind it, was an awe-inspiring sight and was the perfect ending to a fantastic trip.

Dusk blanketed the countryside as our four charter buses rolled out of D.C., heading north for the Pennsylvania turnpike and a safe and quiet journey home. It was 5:00 a.m. on Saturday morning when our buses finally rolled into Shelby. Kids and adults were exhausted. However, it was that good kind of tired. You know the kind, when you do something really good or really cool and you don’t really care if you’re tired because you know in your heart it was all worth it.

March 2008 ~ Principal's Corner

Accountability. Doesn’t that word just make you cringe? Growing up I had that word pounded into my head so many times I felt like that gopher in the game at the county fair. You know the one; you plunk down your two bits and try to hammer that gopher on its noggin every time he pops his head out of a hole. Well as we all know, accountability doesn’t diminish as we grow older; it actually multiplies, just like that little gopher. Before you know it there are gophers popping up out of all of those holes at the same time and pretty soon you’re just swinging your hammer at empty air. Hey, that’s what happens when you don’t keep up with accountability…it tends to overwhelm you. That’s why at Shelby Middle School we have been planning for our state achievement test accountability since the first day of school.

That’s right, the tests are back and once again our 7th graders will be taking three tests and our 8th graders four. Not to worry though. I can assure you that all of our teachers have been working since August to prepare your children for these tests. And yes, although we are optimistic that our students will do well we still must consider this fact; some students will approach the tests with a fairly high level of comfort while others will approach them with a sense of dread. So, I am asking for your assistance. We’re fortunate in Shelby to have great parents; parents who are concerned about their sons and daughters and who are active in their lives. During the next six to seven weeks leading up to these tests please continue the great job you all do in monitoring your child’s progress in all of his or her classes. With our teachers’ guidance at school and your watchful eye at home we can help ensure that our children have an excellent opportunity to be successful on these tests. That’s right; we’re planning on walloping that accountability gopher on the head each time he pops up out of one of those holes…and passing all seven achievement tests.

Now, if you would please mark these dates on your calendar.

7th Grade	8th Grade
Reading – Monday, April 21	Reading – Monday, April 21
Math – Wednesday, April 23	Math – Thursday, April 24
Writing – Monday, April 28	Science – Tuesday, April 29
(blank)	Social Studies – Thursday, May 1

Erin go bragh. Yes, this centuries old saying meaning “Ireland forever” will be repeated many times in just a few weeks when St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated. So get your green outfits ready, brush up on some famous Irish blessings and we hope to see you at a middle school event in the very near future.

May the roof above us never fall in and may the friends gathered below it never fall out.

May you live all the days of your life.

May your troubles be less, your blessings be more and nothing but happiness come through your door.

May the Lord keep you in his hand and never close his fist too tight.

May I see you gray and combing the hair of your grandchildren.

As you slide down the banister of life may the splinters never point the wrong way.

May the Lord take a liking to you…but not too soon.

May your troubles be as few and as far apart as my grandmother’s teeth.

May those who love us, love us, and those that don’t love us, God turn their hearts. And if He doesn’t turn their hearts, may He turn their ankles so we’ll know them by their limping.

February 2008 ~ Principal's Corner

As you begin reading this article you will probably think one of three things. One, you’re experiencing a severe case of déjà vu. Two, I’m being redundant. Or three, Tarvin has really lost it, again. Of course, you could be thinking all three of these options, but you would be wrong; I usually don’t “lose” it until about May. Ironically, the month of May is why I am repeating some of the information in this newsletter from January. Yes the information is that crucial, and I was having a difficult time coming up with an original thought. Anyhow, please finish reading this article, and then if you have any questions about our trip to D.C., give us a call.

As I mentioned in January’s newsletter, our trip last spring was a remarkable experience for everyone, and we are anticipating an even more successful trip this May. However, in order to make that happen again we need to get as much information as possible to families, so they can make the appropriate plans for the trip. Now the easiest, most efficient method of getting D.C. information to 190 students and 384 parents would be to have one big, humungous meeting where we can talk about the trip and the parents can ask questions. Great idea, right? Well, let’s hope so because that is precisely what we are going to do. At 6:00 pm on Monday, February 11th, we are going to have a Washington D.C. trip information meeting in the SMS auditorium. We really do need every single parent and his or her child at this meeting, so please circle that date on your calendar. Also as a reminder to parents, we sent home a letter with your son or daughter just prior to Christmas that gave a tentative overview of the trip. If your child did not bring this letter home, please give us a call and we will get one sent to you.

TRIP INFORMATION ~ Critical Dates and other information!
Wed., May 14, 2008	Leave Shelby at 9:00 pm, arriving in DC at approximately 7:00 am on Thursday
Thurs., May 15, 2008	Tour DC the entire day, checking into the hotel around 9:00 pm
Fri., May 16, 2008	Continue touring DC, departing for Shelby at approximately 9:00 pm
Sat., May 17, 2008	Arrive in Shelby at approximately 7:00 am
FINANCIAL INFORMATION ~ Cost to each student is $150. $75 is due by February 11th; the remaining $75 is due by March 17th
Mon., February 11, 2008	First payment of $75 is due
Mon., March 17, 2008	Final remaining $75 of balance is due

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”. We recently honored Dr. Martin Luther King in this country and this wonderful notion regarding his children piqued my curiosity about other quotes regarding children. Perhaps one will trigger a special thought or memory for each of you.

“Children are likely to live up to what we believe of them.”	Lady Bird Johnson
“Human beings are the only creatures on earth that allow their children to come back home.”	Bill Cosby
“Children are in more need of models than of critics.”	Carolyn Coates
“Any child can tell you that the sole purpose of a middle name is so he can tell when he is in trouble.”	Dennis Fakes
“The best inheritance a parent can give his or her children is a few minutes of time each day.”	O.A. Batista

Whether we’re parents or educators, we’re all in the same business, the business of preparing our children to be successful, caring, charitable adults. As parents you are doing a fantastic job, and as educators I would like to think that we are holding up our end of the bargain as well. With regard to your son or daughter’s education we may not always agree on everything, but perhaps we could always agree on one thing: let’s agree that we will always be diligent about making your children our highest priority so we can enjoy the success of our students…together.

December 2007 ~ Principal's Corner

Randy Watson said it best, “Children indeed are our future.” And parents I have to tell you, from what I have seen so far this school year, your children are going to do very well as they mature into young adults. My opinion is not based on one specific incident or achievement report, rather it is based on a number of circumstances. I am proud to say that I have been approached numerous times outside of school by people in the community who have complimented the behavior, character and accomplishments of your sons and daughters. Now, where am I going with this? Well, as we approach the holiday season we sometimes lose focus of what is really important in our daily lives. We all know that time is at a premium and we’re running from here to there as fast as we can. Patience is wearing thin and we wish there were about three more hours in each day. If and when you get bogged down in the hectic pace of life between now and New Year’s Day, know one thing; your children are doing great. They really are! Each and every day I see your sons and daughters represent you very well. Whether it is a genuine concern for their classmates, a friendliness that is very contagious, or a willingness to help those who are less fortunate, your children are making choices that impact others in a positive manner. For example, our student council recently sponsored a Stall Day, which is a competition between academic teams to raise money that goes to the United Fund. This year your sons and daughters raised $2,300! That’s money that will stay here in Shelby and help those who need it most. Also, over the course of the next few weeks our students will be collecting non-perishable food items, clothing, blankets and many other items that will go to those who are less fortunate in our community. Of course, all of these charitable activities don’t “just happen.” It starts at home and you, the parents of our middle school students, have laid a fantastic foundation for your child’s success. Thank you!

Now, I just got done bragging on your sons and daughters, but you and I know they are not perfect and sometimes their grades are not always what you would like. If you are concerned about your child’s academic progress or just want to sit down and have a conversation with his or her teachers, December 4th is the date for you. We are going to be conducting parent/teacher conferences on that Tuesday from 3:00-7:15. You should be receiving conference information from your son or daughter’s team in the very near future. However, if you have not received that letter by the 30th of November, please feel free to contact the middle school at 347-5451 to gather the information that you need.

As we enter the holiday season we have much for which to be grateful and thankful. We live in a wonderful community that supports our children and in turn, your sons and daughters are giving back to Shelby. I feel fortunate that I have the opportunity to work with your children on a daily basis and I am looking forward to the rest of the school year and all that we can accomplish. From our staff here at Shelby Middle School to your family, have a safe and happy holiday season.

November 2007 ~ Principal's Corner

The leaves are awash in their autumn colors, there’s a nip in the evening air and our athletic teams are gearing up for the winter season. Yes, once again the school year is in full tilt as we near the end of the first nine week grading period and I must say, it is going very well. Of course, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that the good start to our school year is a direct reflection of the fine group of students we have at SMS. Indeed, both the 7th and 8th grade classes are composed of excellent kids who are making a positive impact in many different facets of our middle school family.

For example; kudos, congratulations and a pat on the back to all of our kids for a job well done during our annual magazine drive! As you may know, the middle school receives 40% of the money raised in this drive, and that is money that will go toward programs that will directly benefit your children. So parents, thank you very much for your patience and support during the magazine sale. The middle school staff and I recognize the extraordinary time and effort that all of you put forth to help make the drive successful and we appreciate it very, very much.

Speaking of our students’ success, it was nice to see so many parents at our recent parent/teacher conferences. All of our teams use student-led conferences, which allow our students to display their work in a portfolio. It really is a unique experience for a parent to sit down with their child and have them explain some of the work they have been doing at SMS. And of course, as a parent you also have the opportunity at the conferences to ask your child’s teachers specific questions that deal with your son or daughter’s education. Our next conference date is set for Thursday, December 6 from 3:00-7:15 and I encourage you all to attend if at all possible. Of course, you don’t have to wait until conferences to check on your child’s work. Every parent of a middle school student should have received a form that will allow you to access Progress Book so that you can monitor your child’s progress daily if you so choose. Also, on the Shelby City School’s website you can access iCal which is an electronic calendar that we use to post important middle school info. iCal allows you to check classes for assignments, projects, deadlines, etc. and is another wonderful tool at your fingertips to help you stay current of your child’s assignments at SMS.

If you have been in and out of Auburn, Central, Dowds or the middle school during the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed that some minor construction projects are going on at the building entrances. The safety of your sons and daughters is of paramount importance to all of us in this community, and as a result the Shelby City Schools are in the process of installing a new security system on the front doors of SMS. In the very near future you will have to identify yourself before being buzzed in to the building by Mrs. Schroeder or Mrs. Swigart. I apologize beforehand for any inconvenience this may cause, but again, this is being done with your child’s safety in my mind.

How can anyone not enjoy this time of year? Friday night football games, crisp Saturday mornings at a cross country meet, and the leaves changing all sorts of colors like a bad case of poison sumac. Autumn is easily my favorite season of the year; please enjoy it and the time you have to spend with your loved ones. As always, give us a call if you have any questions or concerns about your son or daughter and thanks for everything you do for the Shelby City Schools.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”	Albert Camus
“Autumn arrives in the early morning, but spring at the close of a winter day.”	Elizabeth Bowen
“Autumn is a season followed immediately by looking forward to spring.”	Doug Larson
“Autumn…the year’s last, loveliest smile.”	William Cullen Bryant
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.”	Stanley Horowitz

September 17, 2007 ~ Principal's Corner

Before I begin my traditional ramble, please allow me to offer one more thank you to all of those in this remarkable community who lent their time and energy to the clean-up process after the recent flooding. Because of the Herculean effort of parents, staff, students and the citizens of Shelby we were able to open our doors as scheduled on the 27th of August. Words may never be able to express our extraordinary gratitude, but on behalf of the staff and students of Shelby Middle School, please accept my heartfelt appreciation and thanks for your incredible support.

For those of you new to the whole middle school experience allow me to give you a quick overview of how our students and teachers are organized into teams here at SMS. First of all, we have three core academic teams made up of five teachers, each of whom is responsible for instruction in either; language arts, math, reading, science, or social studies. The Mustangs is our pure 7th grade team, the Eagles, our pure 8th grade team, and the Sharks, our split 7th/8th grade team. Now, each of these teams has between 120-130 students who simply rotate between the five team teachers for their core classes. But hold on, if you are not confused yet you may be soon. Each student also attends three classes a day that are independent from his or her team. These are elective classes and consist of: art, band, choir, computers, family and consumer science, health, physical educational, sci-tech, read 180, and Spanish. Throw in a period for lunch and there you have your child’s day at Shelby Middle School.

We did have a few changes on our staff this year. On the Mustangs, Shelly Danko, a recent graduate from BGSU is teaching language arts. Also from BGSU, Brittany Wallace is an intervention specialist on the Sharks team. Gwen Schwemley, who most recently taught at John Simpson Middle School, is our new family and consumer science teacher. And finally, Debbie Yuschak comes to us from Pioneer and is an aide on the Sharks team. Parents, these are quality individuals who also happen to be excellent teachers and they will make a wonderful addition to our staff.

If I asked parents of former middle school students, “what is synonymous with SMS and the beginning of the school year”, many people might think football games, homework, dances, and all the other traditional activities associated with school would be the most common answers. But not so fast my friend. It’s the end of September and that means…it’s magazine sale time!! Parents, I know all too well that the magazine sale can be a headache, but…and this a big but, the magazine sale is a vitally important aspect of the middle school year. All the money we raise goes into a special “middle school only account” and that money can only be spent on SMS students and needs. The money we raise helps offset field trips, assemblies, dances, honor roll banquets, the DC trip, and many other special events. We are currently in the midst of this year’s sale, but even before its conclusion I want to thank the staff, students and parents for their hard work and support. Without the effort of all of you we would have very limited success, so thank you for your tremendous assistance in this endeavor.

Autumn is jam packed with middle school activities and I want to extend to all of you an open invitation to Shelby Middle School. Whether you have a concern, a comment, or a question for me or any of our staff members, please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call or stop by and talk to us in person. Your children and your concerns are important to us here at SMS, so as we work our way through the school year I hope all of you will take the opportunity to get involved as much as possible in your child’s career at Shelby Middle School.

August 29, 2007 ~ Flood Update

As we start the 2007-2008 school year, I want to thank everyone in this wonderful community for the tremendous support after the recent flooding. When the flood waters filled the first floor with nearly two feet of water, getting our building cleaned and ready for opening day seemed like an insurmountable task. However as the waters receded and dozens and dozens of parents, students and staff members began scouring the middle school in a massive cleanup effort, it quickly became evident that we were making great progress. Indeed just three days after the flood waters had so abruptly impacted the city of Shelby, the middle school was given the okay to open as scheduled on the 27th of August. Again, this feat could not have been accomplished without the unbelievable support and dedication of our parents, students and staff, and I realize that there is no way we can ever properly thank them all for their efforts. I hope they all realize that we hold in our hearts a sincere appreciation and gratitude for everything they have done for us.

From myself and the staff at Shelby Middle School, please allow me to offer a heartfelt thank you!

August 2007 ~ Back-To-School Article

Steamy summer mornings and kids drenched from the heat walking home from practice; the cadence of a snare drum riding the wind through your open windows as the marching band rehearses. Ah, the familiar sights and sounds of August and a new school year ready to begin. As we ready for the first day of school at Shelby Middle School I want to take this opportunity to share some thoughts concerning the upcoming school year.

We have not made any major changes to speak of this year. Oh, we’ve tweaked some things here and there in our schedule, but for the most part we’re business as usual. And that business, of course, is working with the youth of Shelby to help them reach their full potential as students and citizens of this community. To help ensure your child’s success we have a number of points of emphasis at SMS but, as always, academics are our primary focus day in and day out. As most of you probably know, students at the middle school are required by the state to take achievement tests each year, and we have traditionally done very well on these tests. Of course, now we need to continue that success and keep that momentum moving in the right direction so I will ask for your assistance now, nine months in advance; please be aware that during the first week in May your child will be taking these tests, so whatever support you can lend over the coming school year to help us maintain our success would be greatly appreciated.

Our second point of emphasis at SMS is community service. The citizens of Shelby have given our children a wonderful community in which to grow up. Consequently, the middle school staff believes it is our responsibility to give back when and where we can. Therefore, throughout the school year SMS students will be busy organizing and leading activities that give back to the fine people of Shelby. Activities such as raking leaves, collecting food and clothing for the less fortunate, shoveling snow, raising money for cystic fibrosis, plus many more are all on the agenda for our 7th and 8th graders this school year.

Another area in which we will continue to concentrate our efforts is PSI (positive student interaction). PSI is very simple in context, but anyone who can remember what it is actually like to be a teenager can also remember how difficult school and life can be at that age. In short, the staff at the middle school works diligently to make sure that all students can spend their days at SMS free from some of the worries of adolescence, such as bullying and harassment. Over the course of the past three years SMS has made PSI a high priority and I think you will find that the environment of the middle school is one in which your children will feel safe and comfortable so that they can make new friends, experience new cultures, and concentrate on their academics.

As always, we do have some dates and times that you can mark on your calendars for the upcoming school year. Seventh grade orientation is at 6:00 pm on Monday, August 20 and the 8th graders will meet at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, the 21st. These two evenings will give SMS students the opportunity to meet their teachers, receive their schedules and tour the school. And of course, the traditional cookout will follow at approximately 7:00. The other date that you need to put on your calendar and circle four times in red ink is May 14-17. That’s right; our annual 8th grade trip to DC is scheduled to pull out at 9:00 pm on the 14th of May and will be returning at 6:00 am on the 17th. Start resting up now.

Finally, those of us at Shelby Middle School are looking forward to a successful and rewarding school year and I would like to extend an invitation to all the folks of Shelby; feel free to stop by the middle school anytime to catch a game, or a choir concert, or to see what is happening in our classrooms. I think you will be pleased with what you see. Until then, be safe and I hope to see you soon at an SMS event.

16 Park Avenue Shelby, OH 44875 / 419.347.5451

16 Park Avenue
Shelby, OH 44875 / 419.347.5451