Southern Middle School Parent Teacher Organization, PTO

Welcome back to all our returning parents and welcome to all the new parents at Southern Middle. We hope that you will find your child’s tenure at Southern to be beneficial and rewarding. The PTO is here supporting the administration, staff, students, and families. Please look for the PTO News normally in conjunction with the school newsletter.

Please take the time to join the PTO and attend the monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm. We look forward to having you join us!

President: Julia Howes

Email Julia Howes | 443-871-4846

Vice President: Melissa Whetzel

Email Melissa Whetzel | 443-9955499

Treasurer: Loretta Bryant

Email Loretta Bryant | 443-481-0084

Secretary: Mandy Moreland

Email Mandy Moreland | 240-508-1549

Important Notice to Parents:

We can no longer accept emails for absent/early dismissal notes....We must have a signature. If you are unable to send a note, please fax to 410-867-0231. Student's are no longer permitted to ride another bus home unless an exceptional transportation request form has been filled out and approved by the Board of Education. 

Material drop off to students

Our school year is getting off to a great start and our students and teachers are working hard in the classrooms. We realize at times that students forget important materials at home, but in an effort to minimize interruptions to the learning environment, items brought to the school by parents will be distributed to the student during their lunchtime only. We greatly appreciate your cooperation and understanding in this matter.

Lunch times:

6th grade - 12:45 - 1:10

7th grade - 1:40 - 2:05

8th grade - 11:50 - 12:15

Make-Up Work Policy

If your child is absent for more than two days, you may request make up work. All requests for make-up work require 24-48 hours notice. Please call the School Counseling Office at 443-482-2785 to request this. You can then pick up your child’s make-up work in the School Counseling Office or have it sent home with a neighbor/relative (please call before coming to school to ensure we have received materials).

Please keep in mind that not all work can be sent home and some assignments must be completed with the teacher (such as science labs or exams).

Please remember to send in an absence note when your child returns to school. Attendance notes should be given to the student’s Bulldog Block or 1st period teacher.

If you are planning a vacation, requests must be in writing in advance and should go through your child’s Administrator. Once approved, the Attendance Secretary will give your child a notice to take to all of their teachers prior to the absence. 

Early Dismissal and Messages for Your Child During School

Sometimes it is only possible to schedule doctors and dentist appointments during the school day.  We can not call students down in advance. Please remember to bring a photo ID of yourself to sign out your child, once your ID is verified we will then call your child down to the main office.

There will be no students called down to the office for early dismissal after 3:55pm. Thank you for your understanding.

All students will, at one time or another, accidentally leave a lunch or assignment at home. If a parent needs to bring an item to school during school hours, the parent should drop off the labeled item in the office. The label should include the child’s name and grade. We will deliver the item to the student at the beginning of their lunch. It is not possible to call the students to the office, as this disrupts instruction in the classroom. It is also not possible to deliver telephone messages to students during the day. Should an emergency require immediate information to a student, the parent should request to speak with an administrator or guidance counselor, who will determine the best method to contact the child.

What to do about the Flu

About 55 million students and 7 million staff attend the more than 130,000 public and private schools in the United States each day. By implementing these recommendations, schools and health officials can help protect one-fifth of the country’s population from flu. Collaboration is essential: CDC, the U.S. Department of Education, state and local public health and education agencies, schools, students, staff, families, businesses, and communities all have active roles to play. Please visit this website for more information: Influenza (Flu)

Bullying

Bullying and cyberbullying, harassment and intimidation, hazing, and/or bias behaviors are unsafe behaviors that do not reflect respect for others as defined by the Code of Student Conduct. If your child is a target of one of these behaviors, you can report this using the Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation Reporting Form that is available on the school website or from the Main Office or the School Counseling Office. Students can also report directly to a staff member. When a situation that involves any of these behaviors is reported, staff members will respond quickly and will provide a practical, private and safe place to report.

How to Tell If Your Child/Student Is Being Bullied...

• Change in school performance

• Absenteeism

• Truancy/drop outPeer rejection

• Fear of social situations

• Alienation and loneliness

• Poor self-esteem

• Chronic illness

What Can You Do?

• If the bullying is occurring at school, contact the Teacher, School Counselor and/or Administrator.

• Ask your child’s Teacher questions about his or her interactions with other children.

• Look for help from the School Counselor with social skills, assertiveness or friendship skills training.

Administration investigates ALL reports of Bully, Harassment or Intimidation. If it is determined by an Administrator that bullying or cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, hazing, and/or bias behaviors have occurred, the students involved in these behaviors will receive support from a School Counselor, School Psychologist, School Social Worker, Pupil Personnel Worker, or School Health Staff to be sure that everyone involved in the incident feels safe and supported and understands how to avoid these situations in the future.

AACPS Magnet Programs

Magnet Programs, part of Anne Arundel County’s Programs of Choice, offer motivated students the opportunity to engage in a specialized course of study that differs from the traditional curriculum offered in AACPS. Eligible Magnet students will have the opportunity to gain rigorous and relevant learning experiences in subject areas in which they have great interest.

• A student’s Magnet School is determined by their home middle school. (Exception: a student’s PVA High School is determined by their Arts Major)

• These are public school programs and are offered at no cost to students. (Some programs may have lab, field trip, or exam fees).

• Transportation is provided from consolidated bus stops.