Nominate your favorite Schimelpfenig teacher for the RoughRiders Foundation and CoServe Teacher of the Month Program. School staff, parents and community members can nominate deserving educators that stand out for their excellence in the classroom, school, and community. During the 2022 season, the RoughRiders will host the winning educators at a ballgame each month, and each teacher will be honored on the field with a $500 check split between the School District Education Foundation and the teacher’s school. Find more details here: RoughRiders Teacher Appreciation | RoughRiders (milb.com)
JOIN THE AWARD-WINNING SMS PTA FOR 2024-2025!
Support the SMS students and teachers by showing that you value your child’s education by joining the PTA. Memberships start at $12 and students are only $6 with a parent membership! As a benefit to members only, you will have access to an online directory as well as PTA member discounts. Student members receive special discounts during our spring and fall socials and have the opportunity to be involved in leadership opportunities. 
The City of Plano wants to hear from residents! Please join for a session of the 2022 Plano Listening Tour. Your input will provide guidance to the City Council and City leadership as they develop a long-range vision for Plano. The 2022 Plano Listening Tour has more than 20 stops throughout the city, including virtual sessions, during the month of February. You can register yourself at Recreation Online for one session of your choice.
Texas lawmakers have redrawn political maps for the state’s congressional, House, Senate, and Board of Education districts. Plano ISD went from 3 to 5 state house representatives. Check here to see if your voting district has changed: Texas redistricting map: Find your new districts | The Texas Tribune. Early voting for March 1 primaries will be February 14-25
2022 Virtual Reflections Student Art Showcase. U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona, will be joining the celebration of the 2020-2021 I Matter Because... national Reflections winners Tuesday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. EST. RSVP today for event reminders and a BINGO card for playing during the event.
Do My Child’s Test Scores Really Matter?
Parents can often feel overwhelmed when they receive their child’s test scores. What do the scores mean and do they even matter? Listen to the episode to discover what you need to know about standardized testing.
On Jan. 11, 2022, National PTA released findings of a national survey on how parents’ mindsets, expectations and concerns around COVID-19 safety guidance and protocols have evolved since their children’s return to school. Overall, parents reported an increase in their child’s positive emotions and a decrease in negative ones since August.
Video Competitions
Take Care of Texas Video Contest
The public is welcome to vote on the submissions for this contest January 18-29. Check out the website during those dates and see what clever videos Texas teens created.
World of 7 Billion Student Video Competition
Through the World of 7 Billion student video contest, hosted by Population Connection, middle and high schoolers are given the platform to think critically about global challenges related to population and share what they think we should do to fix it. Each entry must focus on one of the following global challenges as it relates to population growth: Ocean Health, Urbanization, or Agriculture and Food. The maximum video length is 60 seconds. The deadline for submissions is February 22.
Hello Panther Families!
Today is a day off for students and teachers because it is Martin Luther King Day, a federal holiday established 27 years ago as a national day of service. This day was established to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. Dr. King is remembered as a husband, father, friend, and fierce advocate for the betterment of all people. Honor his memory by organizing, volunteering, and spreading the word.
This year, Plano ISD planned its 35th annual tribute event celebrating the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the diverse Plano ISD community with the theme: Together We Honor the Past, Inspire the Present and Change the Future. This event has been postponed and now will be held as a virtual celebration at a date still to be determined. It will include highlights from the winners of the student writing contest, the Diversity Leadership Award nominees and winners, top artwork selected from the student art contest, and more.
Our next General Assembly Meeting will also now be virtual. Please mark your calendars and join us at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 25th for a virtual SMS PTA General Assembly Meeting and Coffee with Ms. Kinnard. Please sign up in advance for this meeting HERE; login information, an Agenda, and other information will be sent out the night before. We will be voting on budget amendments and electing a Nominating Committee. Please consider serving on this very important committee that will be vetting and selecting candidates for your SMS PTA Executive Board for the 2022-23 school year, and email me if you are interested. Thank you!
Michele Rohleder,
SMS PTA President
Congratulations to the Schimelpfenig Teacher of the Year: Shelby Rose! Ms. Rose is a 6th grade Math teacher, 6th grade Team Leader, and NJHS teacher sponsor, among other things. She now becomes Schimelpfenig Middle School's nominee for the PISD Secondary Teacher of the Year, which will be awarded in May. Good luck to her from all of us at Schimelpfenig!
8th Grade Parent Information Session now is virtual, on Tuesday, January 18th at 6:00 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 964 2406 6144
Passcode: 152259
Notes from the Backpack Episode #52, Families in Transition: Lessons from the Military. Whether your child is transitioning to a new school or a new country, change can be hard. We can learn a lot from military families who experience these types of transitions more frequently than most. Dr. Keith Mispagel, superintendent of Fort Leavenworth Unified School District, talks with our hosts about helping children adjust to new environments. Families in Transition - Lessons from the Military - Podcast | National PTA
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Town Hall meeting
Tuesday, January 18 - 11:30am.
This is the first official event of the newly forming Texas SHAC network. TX Action for Healthy Kids is asking state leaders to participate on a panel to discuss the importance of SHACs, the challenges SHACs are facing and how we can better support SHACs moving forward. Register to attend at: Join us Jan 18 at 11:30 am for our School Health Advisory Council Town Hall Event! Zoom link will be sent the week prior. Survey (surveymonkey.com).
Upcoming Events
- Monday, November 25
- Tuesday, November 26
- Wednesday, November 27
- Thursday, November 28
- Friday, November 29
- Monday, December 2
- Tuesday, December 3
- Friday, December 6
- Saturday, December 7
The mission of Plano ISD's Family Education and Guidance Services is to strengthen all families in the community by providing education, resources and services which support raising responsible, self-confident, emotionally healthy children in today's complex society. Please visit HERE to gain access to PISD supports that you and your family may wish to utilize throughout the year!
DISCLAIMER: The Schimelpfenig Middle School PTA is a noncommercial, nonsectarian, nonpartisan association that does not endorse any candidate or political party. This PTA does not endorse non-PTA products or services. If you have a concern, please contact a member of the PTA Executive Board.
