Sylvan Hills Middle School

A huge shout out to the SYLVAN HILLS HIGH Baseball Team for their incredible volunteer work at SYLVAN HILLS MIDDLE! We're proud to have such amazing student-athletes in our community. Keep up the great work, and thank you for being such positive role models! #pcssdproud #serveall

🎉 Check out Coach Nantze's Bear Success class in action! 🐻 These 6th graders kicked off the year by doing "Get to Know You" interviews, helping them build connections and friendships. Plus, they’ve been busy creating their Bear Success Contracts, setting goals for a fantastic year ahead! 📚✏️ We're so proud of the effort and enthusiasm they’re bringing to their transition to middle school. Keep up the great work, everyone! #BearSuccess #BearPride #SHMSGreat

Shoutout to our amazing Assistant Principal, Mr. Withers! 🎉 He turned an old drum harness into a portable desk so he can move right into classrooms and support our teachers and students wherever they need him! As a former drummer himself, Mr. Withers knows how to keep the rhythm going, whether it’s helping with lesson plans, working with students, or just bringing some extra fun into the day. He’s always thinking outside the box (or in this case, outside the drum kit 😉). We’re so lucky to have such a creative and dedicated leader at our school. Let’s hear it for Mr. Withers and his one-of-a-kind mobile workstation! 🥁📚

Coach Shepherd's 6th grade students kicked off the year with an exciting "Get to Know You" Collaborative Activity! 🗣️ Each student had just 20 seconds ⏱️to introduce themselves and ask/answer as many questions as possible before moving on to the next person in line. It was a great way to build connections and start the year on a high note! #TeamBuilding #SchoolCommunity #SHMSGreat #BearsAreBest

🎉 Ms. Aishman’s 7th grade students had an exciting day exploring the world of Family and Consumer Science! Through hands-on learning stations, they delved into various areas, with Foods & Nutrition and Child Development emerging as the crowd favorites. 🍎👶 It’s wonderful to see our students engaged and having fun while learning essential life skills! Keep up the great work, everyone! 👏 🐻#HandsOnLearning #FamilyAndConsumerScience #LifeSkills #BearPride #SHMSBest

🚌🎉 On the first day of school, our SHMS students surprised our bus drivers with special treats to show just how much we appreciate all they do! Our bus drivers play such an important role in getting us to and from school safely every day, and this was a wonderful way to say thank you. Here's to a fantastic year ahead, full of kindness and gratitude! #SHMSPride #ThankYouBusDrivers #KindnessMatters

📚✨ A warm welcome back to all our amazing students at SHMS! Our staff is thrilled to see you again and start this exciting new school year together. We've been waiting for you, and we can't wait to embark on this journey of learning, growth, and fun. Let's make this year the best one yet! #WelcomeBack #SHMSFamily #NewBeginnings

Happy First Day of School! Time for one of our favorite first-day-traditions...seeing all of our students' smiling faces. Just a reminder to send us your first day pics - communication@pcssd.org. We'll share them later this week! #pcssdproud #serveall

📚 **Back to School Update!** 📚 Hello everyone! As we prepare for another exciting school year, be sure to take a look at this week’s newsletter. It’s filled with all the latest updates, important dates, and handy tips for each week. Don’t miss the attached newsletter for everything you need to stay in the loop. Let’s make this school year the best one yet! #WelcomeBack #SHMSBears

'Twas the night before school starts, and all through the district Our teachers are feeling quite optimistic. The buses and classrooms were prepped with such care, Ready to welcome the students with fresh lessons to share. In Maumelle, stingers from five awesome school Will swarm the hallways and follow the rules. Always buzzing to play, to learn and to grow Excited to be back at the best school that they know! All the birds, bears and bobcats from our Sylvan Hills Feeder, Will be ready to go because they're so eager. They're quick to connect, joining hands, setting records Bringing smiles and pride to the city of Sherwood! Our Mills feeder students shine bright as they dream We’ve got dragons, big cats and birds on the team. Soaring to become Comets, brightening the sky As they work to graduate from Mills University Studies High. As Senators, Broncos, Gators and Panthers climb into bed Our Robinson students are resting their heads. This feeder is DRIVEN, they are ready to rock It’s time to sleep, no more watching the clock. The start of the 24-25 school year is looking so bright! Our teachers, admin and staff wish you all a good night! #pcssdproud #serveall

It’s National Immunization Awareness Month and this handy chart from the CDC will help you keep your child’s vaccines on track between birth and age 6. Check it out here: https://trst.in/nEQibd #pcssdproud #serveall

We are excited to introduce Ms. Hayden as the newest member of the SHMS Family! Hello Everyone! I'm Jan Hayden, and I'm thrilled to be your School Test Coordinator here at SHMS. It's wonderful to be part of a community that truly fosters a sense of belonging and encourages a positive learning environment. The administrators, teachers, and staff are incredibly welcoming and always ready to lend a hand. I really enjoy the challenges that come with being a test coordinator, and I particularly love interacting with our students. I can't wait to see my former 1st graders from Oakbrooke who are now at SHMS! When I'm not working, you can usually find me gardening, reading, decorating my home, antiquing, or spending quality time with my family. I'm married and have two children, along with a delightful grandson and another on the way in November. My goal this year is to make testing as smooth as possible for everyone involved while being a positive influence on those around me.

📢 A huge shoutout and heartfelt thanks to the SHHS Baseball Team for their incredible volunteer work at SHMS before school! 🙌⚾️ Your dedication and support have made a world of difference for our teachers, helping them prepare for a successful school year. We're proud to have such amazing student-athletes in our community. Keep up the great work, and thank you for being such positive role models! 💪 #SHHSBaseball #CommunitySupport #ThankYou #BearsAreBest

Please help us wish Ms. Siegfried a very Happy Birthday! 🎂 💙, Your SHMS Family 🐻

We are excited to introduce Ms. Espinda as the newest member of the SHMS Family! Aloha SHMS Community! I'm Marylouisa Espinda, but please feel free to call me Mary. I’m genuinely excited to join SHMS as a new 7th-grade Social Studies teacher! Being part of this vibrant school community is truly rewarding, and I can't wait to develop meaningful connections with students, colleagues, and parents that will support student growth and well-being. My goal is to inspire curiosity and celebrate each student’s journey while working together with my fellow teachers to bring innovation and creativity into our classrooms. I believe that partnering with parents through open communication and trust is essential to helping our students thrive. One of my favorite parts of teaching is exploring historical events with my students and witnessing their enthusiasm as they connect the past to the present. Growing up in Hawaii has given me insights into different cultures and how their histories shape our identities. When I’m not teaching, you can usually find me enjoying time with my family, researching my genealogy, traveling, and learning about various cultures and languages. This year, I’m excited to blend my experience as an ELA teacher into Social Studies, aiming to spark a love for history in my students and help them develop critical thinking skills. I want to make sure they feel empowered and engaged on their learning journey while building strong relationships. Here’s to an amazing year ahead! Mahalo, Mary

We can't wait to see all of our students' back to school smiles! Here's a photo safety tip: limit the student's personal information like your student's last name and teacher. Don't forget to send us your picture so we can share! communication@pcssd.org #pcssdproud #serveall

Back to School Tip #9: Register for After Care We partner with Right at School to offer after-care programs at 10 of our campuses throughout the district. Learn more and enroll here: https://trst.in/7AqZj2 #pcssdproud #serveall

Back to School Tip #8: Know your Route 🚍Bus riders can review bus numbers and stop times/location, plus find important transportation contact information here: https://trst.in/bmbo7w #pcssdproud #serveall

Please help us wish Ms. Hemphill a very Happy Birthday! 🎂 💙, Your SHMS Family 🐻

Back to School Tip #7: Tackle Tech To-Dos ✍️ Make sure to sign our 24-25 📸 media release (https://bit.ly/PCSSDmedia) and data privacy 💻 (https://bit.ly/PCSSDedtech) forms. 👩‍💻 Connect with the district and your student’s school on social media, too! #pcssdproud #serveall