Please click here for a full explanation of how and when we will close out the 2019-2020 school year.

For safety and equitable access for special needs transportation, please do not pick up students in the front office between 3:00 p.m. and 3:50 p.m. each day.  Thank you for picking up your student in the designated car rider area, only.

For students to be considered "on-time" for each class, students are expected to be in the classroom prior to the ringing of the tardy bell.

The first tardy bell rings at 8:10 a.m. each morning. 

Students who are car riders in the morning will not arrive to class by 8:10 a.m. if they enter the car rider side doors after 8:05 a.m.  There is not enough time for students to proceed through metal detectors, pick up their Chromebooks from 6th period, and proceed to first period by 8:10 a.m.

Students who are not in class by the ringing of the tardy bell will earn consequences for repeated offenses.

Thank you so much for reinforcing these expectations with your students and for entering the car loop by 8:00 a.m. in order for students to have adequate time to complete morning procedures.

 

Congratulations to all our SJM athletes who participated in fall sports at SJHS on the varsity and JV levels.

Boys Cross Country
Christopher Gasca
Carter Jones
Hunter MacPherson
Logan Martinez
Broderick McCann
Colin Savitsky

 

Girls Cross Country
NaLani Dumler
Zoe Mason
Sage McAlister
Ainsley McCrummen
Hannah Risher
Lillian White

 

Girls Golf
Sarah Devers
Kyleigh Donner

 

 

Girls Tennis
Avery Hall

 

Swim
Vincenzo Coppola
Harrison Morris
Morgan Payne
Gracie Pifer
Ashton Little

 

Reservations are being accepted now!

Our new spirit rock is an awesome way to show school spirit or celebrate big events in your child’s life. Wish them a happy birthday or good luck, or cheer on a team or club. Reservations can be made online at signupgenius.com by clicking on the search icon and entering ptasjms@gmail.com. Cost is $25/day, and all rules and guidelines are posted.

Special thank you to Thompson Stone and Marble for donating and installing our beautiful spirit rock!

 

Save the date! The Shark Band and Orchestra will hold their Holiday Performance on Friday December 14th at 6:00 pm. Come out to support our students in the band program. They have been working so hard and are super excited for this performance! The event will be held in the gym.
 

Mark your calendars! You don’t want to miss the SJM Choral Holiday Program on Thursday, December 6th at 6:00 pm. Show your support of these students  and their hard working so hard! The event will be held in the gym.
 

The fall book fair will be here soon!

The SJM Library Learning Commons will host a Scholastic book fair from Monday, November 12 through Wednesday, November 21.  Each Shark Time class will have an opportunity to visit the fair during their library times. 

Parents are invited to come in during any hours the book fair is open.  Parents, guardians, or family members who plan to join students for the annual Thanksgiving luncheon on Thursday, November 15, will have a great opportunity to stop by the book fair while at SJM.  If you can’t make it to the school, you are encouraged to shop online at  http://www.scholastic.com/bf/stjamesmiddleschool1.  The online book fair will open November 2. 

The book fair is a wonderful opportunity to begin shopping for the holiday season, reward achievements, or purchase a “just because” gift, all while supporting the SJM Library Learning Commons! 

The schedule is as follows. 

Monday, 11/12:  7:45am to 3:45pm

Tuesday, 11/13:  7:30am to 4:30pm

Wednesday, 11/14:  7:45am to 4:00pm

Thursday, 11/15:  7:45am to 3:45pm

Friday, 11/16:  7:45am to 4:00pm

Monday, 11/19:  7:45am to 3:45pm

Tuesday, 11/20:  7:30am to 4:30pm

Wednesday, 11/21:  7:45am to 3:45pm

We look forward to seeing you at the book fair!

 

Our first Celebration of Success Assembly will be held on the morning of November 27, 2018. Invitations will be sent home by November 21st. We look forward to having our families attend our celebration.  
 

B-Team Basketball Tryouts will be held November 12th - 14th.  Updated physicals must be submitted online Arbiter Athlete in order to tryout. (See information page attached to this newsletter on how to submit physicals on Arbiter.)

November 12th      Boys: 3:30pm - 5:00pm           Girls:  5:00pm - 6:30pm
November 13th      Boys: 5:00pm - 6:30pm           Girls:  3:30pm - 5:00pm
November 14th      Boys: 3:30pm - 4:30pm           Girls:  4:30pm - 5:30pm
 
Please see Coach DeFord or Coach Simpson with any questions.
 

Congratulations to all of the students who auditioned for All County Chorus!  We had 38 out of 47 students make it into All County Chorus this year.  Way to go SJMS Chorus!  We are so proud of you!

Tenors

Tanner Buck

Alex Knight

Mack Lewandoski

Altos

Kyra Martinez

Rhianna Phillips

Sofia Cioce

Mya Waters-Bartlett

Kristin Todd

Jenna Catoe           

Taylor Trussell

Lila Taylor

Mary Hankins

Savannah Giminez

 Alexia Geathers

Lindsey Dangelmaier

Sopranos

Marlen Rubi-Sanchez

McKenzie Jenne

Lola Bellah

Mattie Washburn

Josephina Moore

Syndel Moody

Lorelai Menard

Aryanna Bryant

Harper Ewing

Cayleigh Van Cleave

Ashlee Calderiso

McKenzie Kight

Shianna Freeman

Alyssa Messall

Rhiannon Louth

Stella Smith

Tessa Coy

Caroline Richardson

Hannah Caldwell

Tris Pasnik

Ciara Hamlin

Hannah McDonough

 

Mark your calendars! School Picture Make-Up Day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16th. 

 

We want to thank all of the students, parents, community members, and staff who helped us feed children and fill countless sandbags in the weeks following Hurricane Florence . With your donations and your help, we were able to make over 2000 lunches on Tuesday and 3500 lunches on Wednesday. This helped us feed children in the St. James and Socastee clusters, along with feeding flood victims staying in hotels and assisting churches and homeless shelters caring for children and protect many homes in the community from the rising waters.

 

On Thursday, October 18, 2018, from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m. SJM had its second annual English Spoken as Other Language (ESOL) parent night.

The event was well attended and the program was conducted in English and in Spanish, a feature for which all parents expressed deep appreciation.

Mrs. Toggas and Mr. Vega were able to present to parents the important items on        the agenda as well as answer numerous questions. All of the parents were highly inquisitive and eager to learn how to use PowerSchool.

Agenda

The following Agenda items were discussed:

An overview of the curriculum resources this year (Inside)

The importance of maintaining accurate contact information updated at school (phone numbers and emails)

How to access and read PowerSchool for attendance, grades, missed assignments, tardies to class

The importance of the attendance policy and how to request Principal Approved forms for absences due to hardship or educational trip

Resources for acquiring immunizations

Tutoring opportunities and bus transportation

Messages and emails received from the school and the role of Pacific Translators

Accessing resources such a Khan Academy (available in Spanish) to assist with math instruction

Parents participation in the Multicultural Fair on February 28th

District sponsored free English language learning classes for adults.

 

On Tuesday, October 30th, our SJM Sharks B-Team Football took on the Forestbrook Middle Gators in the Battle of the Waterway. The Sharks won in a  26 – 6 victory over our rivals from across the Waterway for the second year in a row, keeping the Waterway Trophy home at SJM! Congratulations to the players and coaches!
 

Boys Lacrosse information can be picked up in the front office.  Conditioning will begin November 5th. All students must have a physical and Arbiter completed online before you will be allowed to participate. (See information page attached to this newsletter on how to submit physicals on Arbiter.) Notification from the coach and the bus office along with a note from your parent are required before an athletic bus pass will be approved.  A new bus pass is required for each sport.
 

8th Grade Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) Conferences begin!  In late November, counselors will begin scheduling our IGP conferences with all 8th graders to discuss and review their academic and career interests in preparation for their IGP conferences.  Parents will be sent an email that will allow you an opportunity to sign up for an IGP conference.  The conference will last about 30 minutes.  The IGP Conference will focus on academic and career assessments, career clusters of interest, individual career goals and high school course selections that will meet graduation requirements and support their career goals.  We look forward to working with you as we continue preparing your 8th grade student(s) for the high school transition!  IGP conferences will continue through March. 

High School Options Informational Meetings  Postcards were mailed home to all 8th graders on Monday, October 22nd.  You can also access this information on our district website.  The meeting for the St. James Cluster will be held at 6 PM a St. James High School on November 8th. 

7th Grade Goal Setting Conferences  In late December, counselors will begin inviting our 7th grade parents in for an individual goal setting conference.  Students will have an opportunity to share their Digital Portfolio. 

November is National Career Development Month!  Our counselors are working with our 7th and 8th graders to get everyone signed up for our career exploration system called KUDER.  Please ask your son/daughter about how to access this informational tool.  

 

You’re invited to SJM Parent Paint Night on November 15th!

Sign up and enjoy a night with your student creating a paint pour painting to celebrate 30 years of SJM. To reserve your spot, please email Rebecca Wengel at   rlindblade@horrycountyschools.net and send in $25 supply fee to Mrs. Wengel in E9. Checks should be made payable to St. James Middle and MUST have 2 valid phone numbers on it. Fees are due by November 9th. Only 40 spots are available on a first come, first served basis! Reserve your spot today! All proceeds go towards the SJM Art Department.

Light refreshments will be served.
 

On November 9 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm, SJM will be celebrating Veteran's Day with an assembly in our gymnasium.  All Veterans are welcome. Please contact our coordinator, Stephanie Shirley, to RSVP by Wednesday, November 7th.

 

The St. James Middle School has now officially changed from a PTO to a PTA! Our elected officers are:

        President- Anita Gadd      

        Vice President- Karen Oberlander

        Secretary- Jackie Thompson

        Treasurers- Angel Mack and Rebecca Kaneiwa

Our Standing Committee Chair members are:

        Fundraising- Susan Kabore

        Hospitality- Brittney Chajon

        Teacher Liaison- Emily Moris

        Volunteer Coordinator- Susan Fullrod

Please consider becoming a member of our PTA. The cost is only $5.00 per member and helps the SJM PTA to be able to fund clubs and events for our students. The PTA has also created a remind group. Please consider adding the SJMS PTA and SJMS Volunteers to your remind groups by the app, email, or text to stay up to date on all the opportunities and events that will be happening for the students this year! 

Next meeting: Thurday, November 8th - 7:30am - 8:00am in the OCR

 

New Fast Pass Opportunity

Hate going through the car line everyday? Well we have the perfect solution for you! The Fast Pass for the Car Rider line for the second term has begun! This pass will allow you to skip, that’s right SKIP, the car line and park in a designated parking spot towards the front entrance of the school to drop off/pick up your child! There will be two passes drawn, one for AM drop off and another for PM pick up and the winner will receive these privileges through the second quarter grading period. All you need to do is fill out the flyer and send it, along with your entry fee to school to be entered for the drawing. The last day for entry will be November 26th and we will be announcing the winner at the academic celebration on November 27th. 

 

Fundraisers Coming Soon

Look for flyers coming home soon regarding our next fundraising event!

  

American Education Week

American Education Week will be celebrated November 12-16th at SJM and the PTA is joining in on celebrating those who do such an amazing job teaching our future generations each and every day. The PTA will be providing the SJMS staff lunch on November 14th and breakfast on November 16th as a very special thanks and appreciation for everything they do!  

 

Gear Up, Sharks!

We have shark swag on order! The PTA will be opening a shark store very soon with all necessary school spirit gear! Details and a list of items that will be available for purchase will be coming soon

Hello, Shark family!

We have so many things to be thankful for throughout the year. Thanksgiving is a time for us to share our thanks with our loved ones who do much for us each day so that we are happy and thriving members of our community. Showing our thanks is what makes us a family here at school and in our community. The outpouring of support from students, parents, and staff during the month of September with food donations, with sandbag help, and with moving those in need was amazing! We work together like family by reaching out to support one another, by respecting each other, and by continuing to have our students' best interests at heart. Shark family members, we share our thanks for all of your hard work and support to make St. James Middle School successful.

We felt blessed to have you join us during Goodies for Grands, Muffins for Moms, Doughnuts for Dads.  Thank you to the members of the SJM PTA for making this happen for us!

We look forward to seeing you on November 9th during our Veteran's Day Assembly, during our Thanksgiving Luncheon on November 15th, during our Parent Paint Night on November 15th, and during our First Quarter Awards Ceremony on November 27th.

The students did an amazing job in October honoring their character traits during Character Counts Week, pledging their fight against drugs during Red Ribbon Week, learning about ways to stand-up for each other during Bullying Prevention month, and they took time to share their appreciation with our custodial staff, cafeteria staff, and transportation drivers during each of their specialized recognition weeks. We are grateful to our Shark family members for the many special celebrations that we get to share with each of you, and we will continue to work hard to be the best that we can be for our students.

Sincerely,

Olga G. Toggas