TikTok recently announced new youth safety features and steps they're taking to protect teens on the platform. Learn more on their Newsroom.

• Parent and Family Engagement Program -- PISD offers many in-person and virtual classes to parents.  Topics range from how to use the Parent Portal to Dealing with Sibling Rivalry and Adult ESL classes.  Check out the calendar of classes with the QR code or at: https://tinyurl.com/mzwjups or download the flyer here.
• The Plano ISD Board of Trustees held an Emergency Meeting on August 23rd in which they approved a measure to temporarily require indoor masking at all Plano ISD schools, facilities and district-provided transportation. This temporary measure will be effective through Friday, September 24, or until there is further guidance on GA-38 as a result of ongoing state and federal litigation or legislative action.  Parents were provided an option to request an exemption for their student and the results of those requests are shared via a Mask Exemptions Dashboard. Families who missed the August 25 deadline to request an exemption can work with their campuses to submit a request.
• Check the Plano ISD COVID Case Dashboard to keep up-to-date on reported cases.

September 5th, 6pm-9pm! This event is sponsored by Plano Council of PTAs. Tickets available for purchase at The Colony ticket window on Sunday, September 5th, 2021. 

Admission only $20

Admission+Meal+Unlimited Drinks $30

Day Cooler Passes available for $15

Mark your calendars!

Our first General Assembly Meeting and Coffee with Ms. Kinnard will take place on Thursday, September 2nd at 9:00 a.m.  Grab a cup of coffee and join SMS PTA and our guest speaker, Principal Kristin Kinnard, to vote on our budget, and discuss plans for this year!  Advance signup information will be available in next Monday's SMS PTA Newsletter. 

Schimelpfenig Middle School Virtual Open House is this Wednesday, August 25th!  Watch your inbox for further details from Schimelpfenig!  

PISD's Covid Dashboard launched on Friday, August 20th.  It will be updated every Tuesday morning. Find it at:  https://www.pisd.edu/coviddashboard

• Back to Class Virtual Town Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 1 at 12:00 p.m. CST -- National PTA is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control to host this event, which will be moderated by NBC correspondent Kate Snow and feature the Director of the CDC, U.S. Secretary of Education, as well as experts in mental health and social-emotional well-being and how to address missed instruction from this past year. Watch this special event live on NPTA Facebook page.
• Advocacy -- Action Alert! -- Every school day, nearly 50 million K-12 students and 6 million adults occupy close to 100,000 public school buildings in the United States. In more than 30% of public-school facilities, windows, plumbing and HVAC systems are considered in “fair” or “poor” condition. Given state budget shortfalls and the need for economic recovery, now is the time for the federal government to invest in school infrastructure.  National PTA recently participated in a letter to policymakers advocating for $100 billion in direct grants to improve the nation’s public school facilities, and is asking for help in advocating for schools to be included in infrastructure funding by contacting our Representative and Senator!

Becoming a member of our PTA does not require volunteering, though we love that, too!  When you join our PTA, you also join TX PTA and National PTA, adding members to organizations whose main focus is advocating for school children.  Your membership dues also directly benefit our school, and student members will get perks throughout the school year.  Join SMS PTA today!  Click Here to Join!

Picture Day is Thursday, August 19th. Students will take pictures during their Science class periods. These photos will be used in the SMS yearbook (if you have indicated so in your enrollment forms). No make-up day has been scheduled yet; we will keep you updated.

This year's photos will be taken through Legacy Studios. Students will receive a QR code on Picture Day that can be used to order photos online.

You can also contact Legacy Studios at customercare@legacystudios.com with student's name, grade, and school (Schimelpfenig), and they will send online order information directly to you.

At School Picture Day on Thursday, August 19th, students will be issued a student ID and lanyard immediately following their picture being taken. It is an expectation that students wear their school-issued ID on a lanyard around their necks every day while they are on campus.

Mrs. Kinnard, our principal, will be sharing more details and information regarding student IDs very soon!

It was great to see so many smiling, excited faces at Panther Preview and the Back-to-School picnic last week!  

It’s hard to believe that the first day of the 2021-2022 school-year is here!  Some students are new to Schimelpfenig this year, others are returning to the building after an extended absence learning @Home, and some 6^th grade students may be learning at home temporarily.  We welcome back everyone and have a few pointers for those who will be returning to the building tomorrow, August 11^th!

• Theme Days!  For the first three days of school, have fun and dress for the following:
  • Wednesday is Hawaiian Day!
  • Thursday is Sports Day!
  • Friday is Spirit Wear Day!
• School starts at 8:25, doors open at 7:50.
• No lockers this year.  Make sure your student can comfortably carry his/her belongings in a backpack.
• Bring a reusable water bottle.  Your student won’t have to use water fountains, and it’s good for the environment!
• Bring a jacket or hoodie.  The school can be cold in certain rooms!
• School breakfast and lunch are free due to a USDA grant.  Students can always bring lunch if they prefer!
• Masks are optional but recommended for those who are not vaccinated. 
• If you get lost – ask for help!  Don’t worry about being late those first few days.  

How can you help your student have a great year and yourself stay informed?

Join Schimelpfenig PTA!  Becoming a member of SMS PTA ensures we have the resources to support our school and also helps support Texas PTA.  Greater numbers mean a stronger voice for our children.  Help Texas PTA advocate for our students with the state government by joining PTA today.  

Join the Schimelpfenig PTA Board!  We have the following open board positions:  VP Ways & Means, Healthy Lifestyles, School Supplies, Panther Preview (for next year).  We would love to have you join us and share your ideas!

Stay Connected!  Follow us on Facebook – Schimelpfenig Middle School PTA.  Check our website regularly at www.smspta.org.  Keep an eye out for our weekly PTA Newsletter, which will arrive via email on Mondays this year.  Make sure to sign up for eNews with Schimelpfenig MS, PISD, and maybe even Clark HS (for parents of 8^th graders).

Should you have any questions, comments, ideas…or just want to join our fabulous Schimelpfenig PTA Board… please feel free to contact me any time at president@smspta.org.

Michele Rohleder 

SMS PTA President 2021-22

Visit the PISD website at:  https://www.pisd.edu/Page/17659 to find useful information about returning to school. Included are links to various resources, including a link to the Back to School Plan.

Our new spirit wear designs were a big hit and sold out quickly at Panther Preview -- so, we are going to have another on-line sale for spirit wear in early September!  Stay tuned for information on the sale through our Newsletter and FB page.