Signal Mountain Middle High School

Weekly Parent Communication

Week 38

Celebrations

• Congratulations to everyone on completing a challenging, but amazing school year!  We are so thankful for the efforts of our teachers, staff, students, and families!
• Congratulations to our HS Girls Track and Field Team as they finished the season as State Champions!
• Congratulations to our HS Boys Tennis Team as they finished the season as State Runners-Up!
• Congratulations to our HS Boys Track and Field Team as they placed in the top 4 of the State Tournament!
• Congratulations to our HS Boys Soccer Team as they placed in the top 4 of the State Tournament!
• Congratulations to our HS Baseball Team as they had a great run in the State Tournament!
• Congratulations to Carter Romanek, Finley Holmes, Allison Horsman, Sophia Zotos, Zara Hossain, Michael Hutz, and Madison Shelton as they have been recognized for displaying our May IB Learner Profile Trait of being Reflective!
• Congratulations to Mr. Hillis as he is one of six state finalists for the 2021 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Math and Science!
• Congratulations to Mr. Greutzemacher, Mr. Ling, Ms. Hansen, Ms. DeFriese, Mrs. Harvey, and Mrs. Oliver for being recognized as IB Thinkers for the month of May!

New Information

Final Weekly Parent Communication for the 20-21 School Year

• This will be our final Weekly Parent Communication for the 20-21 school year.  As we near the beginning of the 21-22 school year, and as needed through the summer, parent communications will resume.
• For school-related information during the summer, please visit our SMMHS school website.

Textbook and Chromebook Turn-Ins

• Textbook Turn-Ins – If a student (in person or HCSatHome) still needs to turn in any textbooks, they must be turned in to the Main Office Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9:00 am and 12:00 pm.  A sticky note will be placed on each textbook with the student and teacher’s name.  Any textbooks not returned must be paid for or a hold will be placed on the student.
• Chromebook Turn-Ins – If a student (in person or HCSatHome) still needs to turn in their Chromebooks and chargers, they must be turned in to the Main Office Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9:00 am and 12:00 pm.  Per the information below, all HCSatHome students in grades 8 and 12 must turn their Chromebooks into Mrs. Roddy through the Main Office by this Thursday, May 27.  Families will be responsible for any lost or damaged Chromebooks AND/OR chargers.

HS Baseball Tryouts

• Tryouts for the 21-22 HS Baseball team will take place on June 14 and June 15 from 5:30 to 7:00.
• All participants must have an updated physical completed after April 15, 2021 and it must be uploaded to the Dragon Fly system.  For information on how to upload physicals to Dragon Fly, please visit our SMMHS school website.
• To add your student’s name to the tryout roster, or if you have questions, please email Coach Gandy at gandy_josh@hcde.org.

Chromebook Updates for 6-12 Students

• As of now, students who are currently in grades 6 through 7 and grades 9 through 11 will be allowed to take their school-issued Chromebooks home for the summer.  Students in grades 8 and 12 must turn their Chromebooks AND chargers in to the Main Office to avoid a hold.  All Chromebooks turned in will be checked for functionality with the family being responsible for any lost or damaged Chromebooks AND/OR chargers.  Students returning to SMMHS in 9^th grade and entering SMMHS in 6^th grade next year will be issued a new Chromebook and charger when we return to school for the 21-22 school year.
• If a family purchased insurance for the 20-21 school year, the insurance will cover the Chromebooks through the summer.  If a family did not purchase insurance this year, they are encouraged to do so prior to the last day of school.
• If a parent does not want their child to have their Chromebook at home during the summer, the student must turn the Chromebook AND charger into the Main Office.  Any Chromebooks turned in will be checked for functionality, stored at school over the summer, and re-issued to the student when we return to school.  Families will be responsible for any lost or damaged Chromebooks AND/OR chargers.
• If a family needs to file an insurance claim, or has insurance questions, the family can visit www.smarttechins.com/Hamilton or call (877) 307-6777. 

HCS Free Voluntary Pfizer COVID Vaccination Event at SMMHS

• In partnership with the district, we will be hosting a free voluntary Pfizer COVID vaccination event during the summer at SMMHS for all students ages 12 and above, any teachers and staff, and any family members of students, teachers, and staff ages 12 and older.
• The 1^st dose vaccinations will take place on Thursday, June 3 from 9:00 am to 4:00 am in the HS Gym and the 2^nd dose vaccinations will take place on Thursday, June 24 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in the HS Gym.  Information and other logistics for the vaccination events will be shared in a separate email communication, so please be on the lookout for this information and make plans to participate if you choose.
• As of now, contact tracing will still be in effect hopefully on a much smaller scale next school year, with fully vaccinated students and staff not being required to quarantine.

Returning Student Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year

• For the 21-22 school year, all returning students in grades 6 through 12 (including all of our rising 6^th grade students joining us from Nolan and Thrasher) MUST BE REGISTERED THROUGH THE ONLINE REGISTRATION PROCESS.  Only our students new to SMMHS (pre-registered online or not) will complete registration and orientation activities in person on our August 5 registration date.  Please note that a separate Rising 6^th Grade Orientation event will be taking place for all rising 6^th graders (from Nolan, Thrasher, Signal Mountain Christian School, and new to Signal Mountain) on a separate date with additional information to be shared soon.
• To register a returning student (including any rising 6^th grade students joining us from Nolan and Thrasher), parents will have two parts to complete:  Updating student information in Power School, and providing 2 approved proofs of residence within the SMMHS zone.  Approved proofs of residency must be dated June 1 or after and may include mortgage or lease bills, utility bills, agency or court documentation (IRS, SS Disability, etc.), insurance statement (medical, life, auto, or home), or current bank statement or employment check stub.
• To complete the requirement of updating Power School information for all students returning to SMMHS, parents will log into their Power School Parent Portal between May 3 and May 31 by clicking here.  Please note that the Parent Portal will close on July 1 and re-open on July 19, so please go ahead and complete this first step in the registration process soon.
• After completing the student information updating through the Power School Parent Portal, parents must provide 2 approved proofs of residency within the SMMHS zone to complete the registration process.  Approved proofs of residency must be dated June 1 or after and may include mortgage or lease bills, utility bills, agency or court documentation (IRS, SS Disability, etc.), insurance statement (medical, life, auto, or home), or current bank statement or employment check stub.
• Parents of returning students can begin on June 1 emailing copies of their 2 proofs of residency (dated June 1 or after) to Kim Adams at adams_melissa@hcde.org or Susan Patton at patton_s@hcde.org.  The documents must show the parent/guardian name and address within the SMMHS zone and parents must note their student’s name and grade level on the proof of residency copies or in the email.
• Once received, Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Patton will review the submissions and will only reach out to parents if the residency submissions are not in order and if different or additional residency documentation is needed.
• Prior to the first day of school, we will have a list of all returning students noting whether or not their residency verifications have taken place.  If a family has not started, or has not completed the registration process including submitting 2 approved proofs of residency, those families will be contacted and the student will not be allowed to attend until the required online process and verification of 2 approved proofs of residency within the SMMHS zone is completed.  Approved proofs of residency must be dated June 1 or after and may include mortgage or lease bills, utility bills, agency or court documentation (IRS, SS Disability, etc.), insurance statement (medical, life, auto, or home), or current bank statement or employment check stub.
• Any family needing to apply for hardship consideration can contact Mrs. Patton for the application that must be submitted to the district before May 31, 2021.
• If you have any registration questions, please contact Susan Patton at patton_s@hcde.org.

New Student Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year

• For the 21-22 school year, only our students new to SMMHS (pre-registered online or not) will complete registration and orientation activities in person on our August 5 registration date.  Please note that a separate Rising 6^th Grade Orientation event will be taking place for all rising 6^th graders (from Nolan, Thrasher, Signal Mountain Christian School, and new to Signal Mountain) on a separate date with additional information to be shared soon.
• To register a new student, parents will have two parts to complete:  Completing online registration through Power School, and providing 2 approved proofs of residence within the SMMHS zone.  Approved proofs of residency must be dated June 1 or after and may include mortgage or lease bills, utility bills, agency or court documentation (IRS, SS Disability, etc.), insurance statement (medical, life, auto, or home), or current bank statement or employment check stub.
• New student online registration is tentatively scheduled to open on June 1, 2021 for students who will be new to SMMHS in the fall in grades 6-12.  To begin the online process for a new student, click here.
• To avoid the lines on registration day, parents of new students can begin on June 1 emailing copies of their 2 proofs of residency (dated June 1 or after) to Susan Patton at patton_s@hcde.org.  The documents must show the parent/guardian name and address within the SMMHS zone and parents must note their student’s name and grade level on the proof of residency copies or in the email.
• Once received, Mrs. Patton will review the submissions and will only reach out to parents if the residency submissions are not in order and if different or additional residency documentation is needed.
• On registration day, we will have a list of all new students whose families have completed both the online registration process and has had their 2 proofs of residency approved.  If both steps have successfully taken place, then this will be noted and the student and family will move quickly along to complete their registration, pay fees, pick up schedules, etc.  If a family has not started, or has not completed the registration process including submitting 2 approved proofs of residency, we will have a designated area for families to complete the required online process and verification of 2 approved proofs of residency within the SMMHS zone.  Approved proofs of residency must be dated June 1 or after and may include mortgage or lease bills, utility bills, agency or court documentation (IRS, SS Disability, etc.), insurance statement (medical, life, auto, or home), or current bank statement or employment check stub.
• Any family needing to apply for hardship consideration can contact Mrs. Patton for the application that must be submitted to the district before May 31, 2021.
• If you have any registration questions, please contact Susan Patton at patton_s@hcde.org.

HCS Virtual School Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year

• During the upcoming 21-22 school year, schools will not be providing a virtual online or at-home learning option for students.
• If families have participated successfully as an HCSatHome student this year, meet certain admission requirements, and are interested in their student continuing to learn remotely from home through HCS, then a student must withdraw from their zoned school and register with the HCS Virtual School.
• Families interested in the HCS Virtual School option should visit www.hcde.org/choosehamilton to submit a choice application.  With a limited number of seats available, a lottery system may be used.
• For more information, please visit www.virtualschool.hcde.org or contact the program coordinator, Kelly Coffelt, at coffelt_kelly@hcde.org or Kelley Weiss at weiss_kelley@hcde.org.

August 6 In-Person Registration Day for New Students

• With registration for returning students taking place again online this year, we will host an in person registration day for new students on Friday, August 6.  Additional information will be shared over the summer on our SMMHS school website, so please share this information with any new families you know!

Reminder Information

Mountain Education Foundation (MEF) Information and News

• We want to remind everyone of the important role that the Mountain Education Foundation (MEF) plays in the success of our Signal Mountain Schools!
• If you have not yet become a monthly donor, or would like to make a one-time gift, please visit www.meftoday.org or email Hilarie Robison at hrobison@meftoday.org. Every donation is appreciated and much needed!

Calendar Items

Monday, May 31 through Wednesday, August 11 – No School – Summer Break

Thursday, August 5 – Teachers Return to School

Friday, August 6 – In Person Registration Day for New SMMHS Students

Thursday, August 12 – First Day of School for Students