Dear Rocket Families, Are you ready for the start of school yet? We are - almost.
This week we welcomed our new teachers and staff to the Middle School, and next week we welcome the rest of our teaching staff back so they can set up their classrooms and work with each other to plan for the year.
As many of you are already aware, the middle school years are some of the most exciting and challenging for our students. Our students will go through more social, emotional, mental and physical changes during middle school than just about any other point during their academic years.
Working with our students through this time and staying educationally on track is our mission. We know it takes a special kind of teacher to balance a room full of students who are growing and learning as much as our students will. Luckily, we have a whole building full of these special teachers! We also have you, the people that know your child the best, to help us through this journey.
Though they'll never admit it, students need you more than ever during this time in their lives. We encourage you to be part of our team that cares for and guides your child throughout the year and we are excited to partner with you on this journey.
We value your insight and feedback. Please reach out to us with anything you'd like to share. We promise to do the same if we see a need.
I am honored to be the principal of South Milwaukee Middle School. It's going to be a great year. We are Rockets!
What to Expect on Your First Day, courtesy of your 8th Grade Guides
South Milwaukee Middle School believes all families want their children to be successful in school. We also recognize families are a critical source of knowledge. South Milwaukee Middle School is looking for parents who are willing to partner with us to help create a learning environment where all students can succeed.
Grade 6 Red House (Schlabach, Nirschl, Wawrzyniak, LaSota)
5:10-5:40 in the MPR
Grade 6 White House (Sodemann, Kulak, Lockard, Pruss)
5:10-5:40 in the Gym
Grade 7 all teachers
5:45-6:15 in the MPR
Grade 8 all teachers 6:30-7:00 pm in the MPR
We're excited to have Atwood Highway BBQ's food truck in the front parking lot before and during open house. Don't worry about dinner! Enjoy South Milwaukee's newest restaurant, and don't forget to check out their brick-and-mortar location on Madison Avenue!
What a Summer! Students in the Summer School Enrichment Program Spent July Learning
This summer 90 students spent their time building skills in classes like Artful Creations, Band Academy, Nature Interpretation, Video Production and more!
Supporting Your Child's Transition to Middle School
Kate Rix - US News World Report
During the first five years of life, the human brain is a growing dynamo. Every day, millions of new neural connections are made, making early childhood the most important time for brain development.
What's less well known is that the second most important time is adolescence. Experts say that a year before a child's body shows signs of puberty, the brain begins a massive growth process that doesn't end until young adulthood.
That means right when a child is starting middle school – around age 11 or 12 – they are beginning one of the most intense transformations of their lives, making these school years especially fraught.
But unlike, say, the transition to kindergarten, it's less obvious how parents can help. In middle school, peers take center stage. ....