NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 2013

Thank you for your support of the coupon book sales.

We still have several books that have not been returned. Please send in payment of $20 for the book and enjoy the great coupons, or return the book.

UPCOMING DATES
OCTOBER 4 PTO Meeting, 9.am., SDR 2 Softball Tryouts, 3:17-5:30 Simmons Football @ Thompson, 58:00 p.m. PBS (Positive Behavior Support) Celebration Parent EXPLORE Meeting 5:30 p.m.6:15 p.m., library 8:309:15 a.m. Staff Development Room

Join! Simmons PTO needs you!

Our membership goal is to have 100% participation of teachers and parents. Dues are only $10.00. Joining PTO is a great way to show your commitment to and support for your childs education. PTO members will be given a free student telephone directory.

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Bucs Boy Basketball Tryouts

Are you interested in playing basketball for SMS this year? If so, tryouts will be held for all 7th and 8th grade boys on Monday, October 21st through Wednesday October 23rd from 3:305:30 p.m. Please note: You must have an updated physical and all necessary paperwork to participate. Please see Coach Williams or Coach Banks for more details.

Hoover City Schools Survey

In an effort to improve system practices, the Hoover City Board of Education is conducting a Parent Survey. In order to complete the survey, please go to www.advanc-ed. org/survey/public/4742128. Please be assured that your responses to this survey will be anonymous. Your honest opinion is appreciated.

Report Cards go home Team 7-2 American Village 2226 8th Grade EXPLORE Testing 28 Band Costume Concert/ Trunk or Treat, 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER 1 PTO Meeting, 9.am., SDR 2 6th Grade Honor Roll Field Trip 11:15 a.m. 2 CHOIR Pancake Breakfast at Southern Legacy BBQ 810:00 a.m. SAC Canned Food Drive All State Choir Auditions Northport, AL 7th Grade Honor Roll Field Trip 1:00 p.m. Synergy Mini Retreat Choir Room, 3:309:00 p.m. Progress Reports 6th Grade Fall Dance Lower Gym, 6:308:30 p.m.

Parent Volunteers
Every year parents give thousands of volunteer hours to the school. Volunteer support is vital to the success of Simmons Middle School. Our goal this year is to have every parent volunteer at least one hour. Please visit smspto.wiki.hoover.k12. al.us/Volunteer+Opportunties for available opportunities.

Chromebook Care
Please continute to talk with your child about the importance of taking care of their Chromebooks. Some have been left on hallway oors and the gym. Chromebooks are very sensitive and will break if stepped on, crammed in an already lled backpack or left in the bottom of a locker.

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smspto.wiki.hoover.k12.al.us | www.facebook.com/SimmonsBucs Karen Cochrane, 2013-2014 PTO President | simmonspto@gmail.com simmonsmiddle.al.hcm.schoolinsites.com | 439.2100

ATTENTION ALL 8TH GRADE SIMMONS PARENTS EXPLORE TEST OCTOBER 22

Past Students & Faculty are invited to celebrate Green Valley Elementary Schools 50th Anniversary Homecoming
THE 8TH GRADE STUDENTS WILL TAKE THE EXPLORE TEST ON OCTOBER 22. This test is the rst of three college readiness assessments in the EXPLORE Program: EXPLORE (8th grade) | PLAN (10th grade) | ACT (college entrance). The EXPLORE program is a curriculum-based assessment program designed to help 8th and 9th grade students gain an understanding of their readiness for college, make the most of their opportunities in high school and beyond, and guide them as they start thinking about future educational and career planning. Like all the assessment programs offered by ACT, EXPLORE is based on the belief that young people will make more productive plans and decisions if they have organized, relevant information available when they need it most. EXPLORE assesses academic progress, provides an early indicator of college readiness, helps students understand and begin to explore the wide range of career options open to them, and assists them in developing a high school coursework plan that prepares them to achieve their post-high school goals. MOST IMPORTANT THING: Parents, emphasize the importance of doing as well as possible on the test to ensure accurate information for developing future plans. Make sure your child gets a good nights sleep, a complete breakfast, and be on time the day of the test. ACT Explore includes four 30-minute multiple-choice tests focusing on English, Math, Reading, and Science. The ACT Explore score report will identify your childs weaknesses and strengths.

saturday october 12 11 a.m.3 p.m.

$5 admission (3 & under free)
LUNCH: HAMBURGER OR HOTDOG, CHIPS & DRINK
(WHILE SUPPLIES LAST)

GAMES AND RIDES TIME CAPSULE CEREMONY SILENT AUCTION LIVE MUSIC

SYNERGY @ 12:30
HOOVER HIGHS DANCE TEAM @ 1:30

RSVP: gveshoover@gmail.com

questions

40

ENGLISH

questions

30

MATH

questions

30

READING

questions

28

SCIENCE

You can see a sample student report at media.act.org/documents/EXPLORESampleStudentScoreRpt.pdf.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLERS

Interested in community service hours? Come volunteer at the GVES 50th Celebration. Times begin at 9 a.m. and will run in hourly increments until 3 p.m. Please contact Carol Spence at clocspence@yahoo.com. Please make sure to provide a contact number and hours available to work. Volunteers will receive a free water or soft drink after they are done working. Make sure they bring their community service card to the event to get signed.

Principal Brian Cain and Jane Cunningham, 8th grade counselor, will be hosting an informational session for Simmons parents regarding the EXPLORE test. The purpose of the meeting is to educate parents in regards to the progression of the three college readiness assessments in Hoover, as well as to provide parents with specic ways to gauge their childs strengths and weaknesses through these assessments. All parents of current 8th grade students are encouraged to attend!

PARENT MEETING SESSIONS (ATTEND ONLY ONE):

MONDAY, OCTOBER 14 5:306:15 PM LIBRARY

OR

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15 8:309:15 A.M. STAFF DEVELOPMENT ROOM

Please call or email Brian Cain (439-2110, bcain@hoover.k12.al.us) or Jane Cunningham (jcunning@hoover.k12.al.us, 439-2123) with any questions. If you dont come to either of these sessions, your child will move back in with you after college. We will show you how to make this not happen.

201314 MEMBERSHIP FORM

JOIN THE PTO TODAY!

The Simmons Parent Teacher Organization needs you!
:: The PTO is every mom, dad, grandparent and guardian of every child at Simmons Middle School. :: The PTO is every teacher and administrator at Simmons. :: The PTO is you!

Help us reach our goal of 100% participation from parents and teachers! Membership dues are only $10.00 and 100% of your money stays at Simmons Middle School. Joining PTO is a simple yet powerful way to demonstrate your commitment and support of your childs education. With your PTO membership, you will receive a free copy of the 201314 Student Directory. PTO members can also access eNews for the latest news and updates from Simmons. Sign up for eNews by following the link on the PTO wiki: smspto.wiki.hoover.k12.al.us.

Think your kids are too old to need your help at school? When parents are involved
:: :: :: :: Grades and test scores improve There are fewer discipline problems at home and school Kids are less likely to use tobacco, drugs or alcohol Middle school students are more likely to continue on and graduate from high school

If you would like to become a member of the Simmons PTO but have nancial limitations, please contact Karen Cochrane, PTO President, simmonspto@gmail.com.

SIMMONS PTO MEMBERSHIP 201314 Student Name Parent/Guardian Name(s) Phone(s) Email(s) Grade

Yes, I would like to show my commitment to Simmons Middle School. I will join PTO. $10.00 enclosed. Yes, I would like to sign-up to receive eNewsthe Simmons PTO email newsletter. Yes, I would like to volunteer with Simmons PTO.

Dear Simmons Middle School Parent, Business-Owner or Entrepreneur: Do you work for a company that would like to advertise in our Student Directory? Do you own your own business? Are you a photographer, seamstress, piano teacher, builder, landscaper, etc.? The Simmons Middle School Student Directory is a great way to reach your audience and support our school. More than 900 students, parents and faculty receive a copy of the Student Directory. Your advertisement is tax-deductible and helps to subsidize the cost of printing, so our PTO can continue to donate funds to the school for educational purposes.
2013-14 Directory Ad Prices Back Cover (4/C) Inside Covers (4/C) Full Page (B/W) Page (B/W) $ 350 $ 325 $ 300 $ 200
Full Page Nonbleed 4.75" x 7.75"
1/2 Page 4.75" x 3.8125" 1/4 Page 2.3125" x 3.8125"

Page/Business Card (B/W) $ 100

Support Simmons Middle School with your business ad in our Student Directory. Please provide the information below and submit it with your check and ad copy to:
Simmons Middle School PTOStudent Directory Attn: Kristi Phillips 1575 Patton Chapel Road Hoover, AL 35226 mom3byz@gmail.com

Contact Name Email Phone Number Address Business Name Ad Size: Back Cover 1/2 Page Inside Front Cover 1/4 Page/Business Card Inside Back Cover Full Page

Deadline for your check & ad copy is October 4, 2013.

If you have any further questions, please contact Kristi Phillips, mom3byz@gmail.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Simmons Middle School Parent Teacher Organization