• SSMS students are expected to turn cell phones off and place them in their lockers each day before reporting to homeroom at 7:40 AM.
• Cell phones must remain in student lockers until dismissal at 2:45 PM. (There are times when a student may be allowed to use a personal device during a class activity. Staff will always communicate in advance with students and administrators in these situations.)
• Students are allowed to use the office phone at anytime if there is a need to contact parents during the school day.
• During the school day, students may not use personal devices to record, transmit, or post photographic images, audio, or video of any person while on WCS campus, during school activities, or on district transportation, unless permission is obtained from an authorized WCS employee.
• This also includes during morning gym supervision, in the car rider line, and while waiting in the cafe for late buses to arrive.

• We ask that all parents are respectful of the pick-up procedures and expectations that we have in place by picking up students in the front car rider line where we have staff in place to help supervise dismissal.
• Please remember that ALL car riders are to be picked up in the front car rider line.
• DO NOT ARRANGE FOR YOUR CHILD TO MEET YOU SOMEWHERE ON THE ROAD NEAR THE BUS PARKING LOT OR ON A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET NEAR THE SCHOOL.
• We have had several reports of students almost being hit by a vehicle while trying to cross the road or enter a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road where there are no staff members present to manage traffic.
• PARENTS SHOULD NOT PASS OTHER VEHICLES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE WAITING IN THE CAR RIDER LINE.
• Please be mindful of our students who walk or ride bikes while in the car-rider line.

Thank you in advance for your support and attention to these safety concerns for our students.

Ordering website: 
http://yearbookordercenter.com (Herff Jones) School code: 17524 or you can search Spring Station Middle School.

Eighth grade ads are available now through the beginning of March. Information can be found on the same website. This is also the place to check and see if you ordered a yearbook.

Yearbook questions? Please email Mrs. Smith. 

Here are some ways that you can help your student experience success each day at SSMS:

• Arrive at school by 7:38 AM (8:23 on Late Start Days).
• Fully charge Chromebooks each night and bring the Chromebook to school each day.
• Check Skyward with your child at least once each week.
• Become familiar with Schoology and check agendas daily.
• Download and frequently check the PBIS Family App. (Contact AP Ryan Lowry at ryanl@wcs.edu if you need your student's QR code.)
• Ensure that your student has all of their supplies and materials needed before leaving for school each day.
• If arriving to school as a car rider, leave home early enough for your student to enter the building by 7:38 AM.
• Check the weekly parent email or monthly parent newsletter for upcoming events and reminders.
• Contact your student's teachers if you have questions or concerns.

Mar. 8- SSMS PTO Lunch Sale 

Mar. 10- 3rd Nine Weeks PBIS Celebration

Mar. 10- 3rd Nine Weeks Grading Period Ends

Mar. 13-17 WCS Spring Break (No School for Students)

Mar. 20- WCS Late Start Day

Mar. 24- Report Cards (3rd Nine Weeks) Posted to Skyward Family Access

Mar. 27- WCS Late Start Day

Mar. 27- April 6 Middle School Drive Away Hunger Challenge

Communication between school staff and student families is vital to each child's success. Students greatly benefit when they know that teachers and parents have their best interests at heart. Effective communication helps establish a relationship of respect between teachers, parents, and students.

• We have set expectations for SSMS staff that their communication to parents/guardians be respectful and relevant to student safety and success.
• In return, we ask that communication from parents/guardians to SSMS staff be respectful and relevant to your child's safety and success.
• Follow the communication chain of command when possible.If a parent or family member has questions regarding their child, the first point of contact should be the child's teacher. Teachers know their students best and may be able to offer specific clarification or guidance in a timely manner.
• When possible, please contact your child's teacher to provide an opportunity to have questions answered/provide clarification and/or give administrators time to investigate a report before making decisions or assumptions.
• However, if a parent needs information the teacher cannot provide, reaching out to the school's principal or assistant principal is the next step. (6th/ Seago, 7th/ Lowry, 8th/Waits)
• The executive director of elementary or secondary education is the next level of contact, followed by the appropriate assistant superintendent and then the WCS superintendent.
• The final point of contact is the family’s School Board representative.
• In order to be consistent with our communication across all buildings, school-based personnel are expected to return parent/guardian communication in all forms within 48 hours during the school week when school is in session. ​
• Remember to communicate important details with your child’s teacher that may impact them on a day-to-day basis in the classroom. This will allow the teacher to be better prepared to support your child daily.
• When your child had a sleepless night, received bad news, or has something that is causing him/her stress or concern, sharing this with your child’s teacher allows them to provide supports to help them through the school day. This two-way communication is so important for your child’s success.

Hello Mustang Families!

As mentioned in last month's newsletter, our administrative team recently met with each grade level to celebrate successes from the first semester regarding SSMS behavior expectations of:

• Show Respect
• Act Responsibly
• Take Pride
• Stay Safe

At those grade level student meetings, we also shared reminders with students for areas in which our student body needed to show improvement to provide an orderly and successful environment for ALL students at SSMS. Students were respectful and receptive to these reminders and the majority of our students have shown great effort to improve in the areas of keeping their hands/feet to themselves. We have also observed a decrease in the number of behavior referrals in the area of classroom disruption. Way to go Mustangs!!

One area that we need your help with and will continue to focus on with all students is the expectation of showing respect to others at all times and treating one another with kindness and compassion. This includes being respectful of differences related to gender, race, ethnicity, age, or disability. Inappropriate comments made to or about another student will not be tolerated and consequences will be issued when these types of incidents are reported, investigated, and found to be true.

The emotional and physical safety of our students is deeply important to me, not only as a principal, but also as a parent. I look forward to working with all of our families as we continue to shape and mold Spring Station Middle School into the school we want it to be for all of our students.

Best regards,

Paula Waits, Ed.S.

Medication procedures are to be consistent with the state of Tennessee Law TCA 49-5-415 and are implemented in our schools district-wide:

• All student medications, except those exempted by law, should be stored in a secure or locked area (for WCS, this is in the school nurse clinic unless an exception has been worked out by the nurse).
• It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian or their designated responsible adult to deliver medication to either the school nurse or designated school personnel along with the completed authorization form.
• Students are not allowed to bring their own medication to school. This includes prescription and nonprescription medication

Joy Evenson, RN

School Nurse Spring Station Middle School

615-472-5088 (Clinic)

615-472-5735 (Clinic Fax)

joye@wcs.edu