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. 
Hello Panther Families!
We need you to be part of the 2022-23 Nominating Committee!
At our General Assembly Meeting on January 25th, we will be electing a Nominating Committee consisting of five members and two alternates. The Nominating Committee will be selecting officers to lead your SMS PTA next year.
To learn more about the importance of being on the Nominating Committee, any interested PTA member can sign up for the virtual PTA Power Hour: Nominating Committee on Tuesday, January 11th at 7:00 pm, hosted by PISD Council of PTAs. The link to register is: https://us06web.zoom.us/
If you would like to be part of our Nominating Committee, please contact me at president@smspta.org
Donations for our "Shop Local" basket to be donated to SKI Plano for their annual auction are still being accepted! Please contact me at president@smspta.org if you own a local business and have a gift certificate or item to donate.
Michele Rohleder,
SMS PTA President
- On Friday, January 7th, PISD sent out revised guidelines covering school-wide activities and events. The revised guidelines can be found here: News / District Updates (pisd.edu). PISD Covid Response information can be found here: COVID Response / COVID Response (pisd.edu)
- Parent Ed Programs -- PISD is offering two virtual programs on Tuesday, January 11th. Sign up for these and other programs at: Family & Adult Education / Parent Education and Engagement Program (pisd.edu)
- Family Financial Literacy 101 at 10:00 a.m.
- Facebook Live Lunch & Learn: No Drama Discipline, Part 1 from 12:30-1:00 (Part 2 will be on January 18)
Winter Waterways Cleanup
Saturday, January 15, 10am-12pm
Live Green in Plano hosts monthly waterways cleanups in the winter. Kick off 2022 by cleaning up the creek along Legacy Trail near Dalrock Drive. Register here.
Want to organize your own litter cleanup instead? Request supplies at least a week in advance.
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.
Happy New Year to all our Panther Families!
Today is the first day of the Spring Semester -- half-way through the 2021-22 school year! We hope that your students had a wonderful winter break and are ready to start the semester rested and healthy.
In the interests of keeping our school community as healthy and safe as possible, your PTA Board has made the difficult decision to cancel the Winter Social that was planned for Friday, January 14th. In the past week or so, Covid cases have increased daily, locally and throughout Texas and the United States, and the prospect of gathering together 100s of students plus volunteers for a party in less than 10 days does not seem advisable under these circumstances. We will continue to plan events for this year, hoping that the Omicron strain will pass quickly and that it will be safe to hold in-person events for our students later in the semester.
Nominating Committee -- In April, we will elect new PTA officers for the 2022-23 school year. Last year, due to Covid, Texas PTA rules allowed us to roll-over our board without an election. This year, we are back to the normal rules, and we need your help! At our January 25th General Assembly Meeting, the membership will be voting on a nominating committee consisting of 5 members and 2 alternatives. The nominating committee will meet in the coming months to choose a slate of officers to be presented and voted on at the April 20th General Assembly meeting. If you are interested in being on the nominating committee, please contact me ASAP at president@smspta.org.
SKI Plano -- Schimelpfenig PTA is donating a basket to be auctioned off at the SKI Plano event on February 5, 2022. Our basket theme is "Shop Local". If you own and/or operate a local company and would like to donate an item or gift certificate to include in the basket, please send an email to me at president@smspta.org.
Thank you for your help and understanding throughout what continue to be challenging circumstances!
Michele Rohleder,
SMS PTA President
To meet District guidelines, Calling all Cats will be postponed to sometime in February. DATE = TBD. We will share updated information as soon as it is available.
It's hard to believe that we are half-way through the school year! We've had to remain in a flexible mode so far this year and want to thank everyone for your support of the students, staff, and PTA through it all. We are looking forward to the spring semester, starting with a Winter Social on Friday, January 14th, and a PTA General Assembly Meeting & Coffee with the Principal on Tuesday, January 25th.
Good luck to students this week with MAP testing and year-end exams! We wish you all a happy, restful, and joyous holiday season!
Michele Rohleder, SMS PTA President
Thank you to all the Hospitality volunteers and bakers who helped create a beautiful Holiday Luncheon for our wonderful Schimelpfenig staff on Friday!
One more week and this semester is over -- time for Winter Break! For this last week of the fall semester, students will be following a special schedule for MAP testing and end-of-semester tests in high-school level classes. See the schedule here:
Students and staff will celebrate this week by dressing up as follows:
- Monday: Dreaming of a Snowy Break. Wear blue & white.
- Tuesday: Have a Holly Jolly Plaid Winter Break. Wear plaid.
- Wednesday: Fashionably Festive Day. Wear an ugly sweater.
- Thursday: Sockin' Round Winter Break. Wear holiday socks.
- Friday: Polar Express Day. Wear flannel pants. And, have an early dismissal at 12:40!
The PALS sock drive ends tomorrow! Bring some unused socks to school tomorrow and drop them in the bin in the front hallway to help local shelters keep everyone's toes toasty and warm!
Schimelpfenig is collecting items for the Children's Advocacy Center. Donation bins have been placed in grade level common areas. The grade level collecting the most items will win a popcorn party on Friday, December 17th!
For parents of current 6th and 7th grade students. This Thursday, December 16th at 6:30 p.m., join Schimelpfenig counselors Shealine Burks and John Schlosser to learn about schedule options for next year.
The Texas PTA Lifetime Membership award is the highest honor given to volunteers, staff and community members who are committed to making a difference in students' lives. Please nominate a person from our Schimelpfenig community by filling out the form. Nominations are due Friday, December 17, 2021. Questions? Contact Karen Gournay, VP Membership at membership@smspta.org.
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.
