Smithsburg Middle School
March 2015
Volume 1, Number 7
Dates & Details
March 2 – S.I.T. Mtg. 3:40 PM
March 5 – PARCC Testing
March 8 – Archery Competition
At HCC ARCC – 8:00 AM
(SMS students shooting at
1:00 PM)
March 8 – Daylight Savings
Time Begins – Turn your
Clocks up 1 hour!
March 9 – PARCC Testing
March 10 – PTSA Mtg. 6:00 PM
March 12 – PARCC Testing
March 19 – PARCC Testing
March 19 – Music Department
Benefit Concert 7:00 PM @
Smithsburg High School
March 20 – Activity Night – 6:30
8:30 PM
March 23 – PARCC Testing
March 24 – Band Festival
March 24 – High School
scheduling information
presented to 8th grade
students
March 26 – Orchestra Festival
March 26 – Charity Basketball
Game at SHS at 7:00 PM
March 27 – Chorus Festival
March 27 – End of third marking
Period
March 30, 31 – Spring Break
begins
e…students at a minimal a.
From the Principal’s Desk…
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The testing season continues from March through May. PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of
Readiness for College and Career), Science MSA (Maryland State Assessments), and MAP
(Measure of Academic Progress) will be administered. All three grade levels take the PARCC and
MAP tests. Eighth grade students take the Science MSA. Staff and students are preparing for the
tests. We are working on test taking skills and specific objectives that our students are finding
challenging. We are also administering practice tests. We have identified students who will need
extra support and have placed them in appropriate interventions. Students should be ready for the
tests by getting a good night’s sleep and having a good breakfast. Your support will be greatly
appreciated.
The high school reviews eighth graders test scores along with grades and teacher
recommendations to place students in classes for grade nine. It is important for students to take
these tests seriously. We will work with the high school to properly schedule our students next year.
After testing we will begin planning our schedule for next year. We look forward to continue to
challenge our students at an even higher level. We look forward to having all of our students
properly placed for next year.
It is a pleasure working with you and your children. Thank you for your continued support.
Dr. Stephen Tarason,
Principal
I
LEOPARD’S PRIDE
Meet Ashley Laine
Service Dog in Training
SMS Vision
Smithsburg Middle School is a
professional learning community where all students
feel valued, safe, and will become
life long learners
Our School Newsletter is now available on our
school website Go to www.wcps.k12.md.us
Schools, Middle, More Info
Contact Us
Stephen Tarason, Principal
Dan Brennan, Asst. Principal
Phone – 301-766-8353
Fax – 301-824-5147
Address:
68 N. Main Street
Smithsburg, MD 21783
The Board of Education of Washington County does not discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, size, age, or disability in
employment or the provision of services. If you have a question about this
policy, call the Director of Human Resources at 301-766-2808.
www.wcboe.k12.md.us
Ms. Pam Ours, SMS Lead Teacher, is a
puppy parent/trainer for Ashley Laine, one of
nine puppies born on Thanksgiving morning.
Ashley Laine is part of “The Gratitude Litter.”
The puppies were named for service
members.
Ashley Laine is a service-dog-in-training for
the Warrior Canine Connection
(www.warriorcanineconnection.org). She has
been in training since birth and already knows
some basic obedience.
Ashley Laine will live with Ms. Ours, go to the
grocery store with Ms. Ours, and yes, come to
work with Ms. Ours.
We are proud and honored to have Ashley
Laine at SMS.
You can find more information regarding Ashley Laine
and the WCC inside the newsletter.
From the PTSA
STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS
We hope everyone is staying warm. We have decided to battle
the cold by brainstorming about our Spring Activity Night in May.
We would love ideas and input.
Advisor for this year’s Student Council: Mrs. Lisa Waters
[email protected]
Pride Schedule
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Friday, March 6
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Friday, March 20
Thank you very much to all who participated in our Dinner Night
Out Fundraisers. We will be at Greene Turtle on March 31. If
you are in town during Spring Break, please come out and
support us and the Smithsburg Middle School students. Also,
please mark your calendars for Sweet Frog on April 15. Flyers
and reminders will be forthcoming.
Smithsburg Pride
College Pride Day
Important Dates
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
Tuesday, March 10
WHMS
WCASC Meeting @
Permission Slips can be obtained from Mrs. Waters and must
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be signed and returned by March 5 . Please indicate whether or
not you are buying lunch on your form. You must let your
teachers know that you will be absent from class that day, and
you are Responsible for any work that you miss. No parent
notes accepted! This day is a PARCC testing Make-up day;
however, it is an important meeting where we elect our SM
Intern. Information for 2015-2016 WCASC officer elections will
be provided.

Tuesday, March 17
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Saint Patrick’s Day
.
Permission Slips can be obtained from Mrs. Waters and must
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be signed and returned by April 9 . Please indicate whether or
not you are buying lunch on your form. You must let your
teachers know that you will be absent from class that day, and
you are Responsible for any work that you miss. No parent
notes accepted!
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FFA News for March
PM.
Looking Ahead
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
Tuesday, April 14 Student Council Meeting @ CES
Sunday, May 10
Our meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month in
the Media Center. Please join us on March 10 from 6:00-7:00
PM.
Meeting dates for March are: 2, 9, and 16 from 3:40 – 4:30
“Green Out” for St. Patrick’s Day – show your Irish spirit.

We have been so fortunate and have several volunteers for the
Talent Show. If you are interested in helping out, please let us
know.
FFA will plant seeds all month long. Look for plants in late April.
Members will sell movie tickets once again! Orders and
payment are due by March 20th. Tickets will be delivered the
rd
week of March 23 . Movie ticket prices have gone up slightly
but it’s still a great deal!

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Annual Mother’s Day 5k
Concession ticket (soda & popcorn) - $5.75
Regular movie ticket - $6.75
VIP movie ticket - $9.75
8th Grade Scheduling
The race will be held on Mother’s Day in Marty Snook Park. We
will need students to help us get sponsors and plan and staff the
race. We will hold an open officers meeting in March for anyone
interested. Anything you or your student government
organization can do to support this county wide event would be
appreciated.
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PLEASE NOTE: The Anti-Bullying event planned for March 18
in Towson has been cancelled. This event will not be
rescheduled. In the event that something more local is planned,
you will be informed.
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Smithsburg High School counselors will visit 8 grade ELA
st
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classrooms on March 24 . Counselors will explain the 9 grade
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schedule with our 8 grade students and share important
information regarding graduation requirements. Please try to
have your student in attendance on that day.
Attention 8th Grade Students
Eighth grade students will participate in a Student Service
Learning project during the month of March. Please be looking
th
for information from the 8 grade ELA teachers in March.
Special Permission Request Forms
Reminders from the Attendance Office
If your child currently receives special permission to attend a
school outside of your regular attendance area, now is the time
to complete a request form for the 2015-2016 school year.
Please be reminded that special permission is granted on a one
year basis and must be renewed each year.
Please contact our school office if you need a 2015-2016 form.
All absences require a note on the day that the student returns
to school, either from a physician or a parent. Please make
sure your note includes the student’s full name (first and last),
the date of absence and the reason for the absence. For more
detailed information regarding student attendance, please see
page 2 of the Smithsburg Middle School Student & Family
Handbook/Planner. If you have any further questions regarding
attendance, please feel free to contact the attendance office or
Mr. Kyle Lingg, Assistant Principal.
More on Ashley Laine
From the Health Room
Ms. Ours, our school’s Lead Teacher, will be a puppy
parent/trainer for a service-dog-in-training for the Warrior
Canine Connection (www.warriorcanineconnection.org) during
the next two years. WCC is a nonprofit organization that uses
the healing power of the human-animal bond in the treatment of
wounded soldiers with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ultimately, the fully trained
service dogs are awarded to disabled veterans.
We are over half way through this school year! The Health
Office would like to take this opportunity to let you know about
some new vaccinations that will be newly required for next
school year. All 7th grade students will be required to have a
recent Tdap and meningococcal vaccination. We wanted to
give you all a "heads up" in case you wanted to take care of the
vaccinations over the summer so you are compliant for the start
of the next school year.
st
Ashley Laine was named for 1 Lieutenant Ashley Laine
Henderson Huff who went to the University of Georgia and
chose military service after watching the 9/11 terrorist attacks on
television. After graduation, Huff was commissioned as a
second lieutenant and chose the Military Police Corps. She was
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assigned to the 549 Military Police Company and was
stationed in the restive northern city of Mosul, training the
fledgling Iraqi police. On September 9, 2006, Huff was on patrol
in Mosul with an Iraqi police unit when a suicide car bomber
pulled up and detonated explosives. Huff was killed, and two
other soldiers were injured.
Ashley Laine has been in training since birth and already knows
some basic obedience. What she needs now is to learn the
ropes of what will be her future job as companion to a veteran –
and that means going everywhere with Ms. Ours and becoming
fully socialized in virtually every scenario. To that end, Ashley
Laine will live with Ms. Ours; go to the grocery store with Ms.
Ours, and yes, come to work with Ms. Ours.
While Ashely Laine is in training there are some important
details and general rules of engagement for a service-dog-intraining that Ms. Ours will ask both students and staff to follow:




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Ashley Laine will wear her service dog vest, harness,
and leash at all times and she will likely be under Ms.
Ours’ desk while she is working or attached to Ms.
Ours while walking through the school.
During the work day, Ashley Laine will accompany Ms.
Ours anywhere that she has to go, including computer
labs, conference rooms, and classrooms.
One of the biggest concerns about such a situation is
allergies. Most allergies are enhanced through the
transfer of dander by playing and/or petting the animal.
Since Ashley Laine is a working dog and is not a pet or
school mascot in our school, students and staff will not
be playing or petting Ashley Laine. Just as if you
would encounter a service dog in a restaurant or the
grocery store, the dog is working.
If you encounter Ashley Laine when she is with Ms.
Ours, you should always ask Ms. Ours’ permission to
greet her. In most cases, the answer will be “Yes,”
except during times when Ashley Laine is being trained
on a particular skill or the time is not appropriate.
If you are not a dog lover or you are allergic, you can
opt to ignore Ashley Laine completely as service dogs
are very good at making themselves invisible.
Please bring a copy of the immunizations form from your child’s
doctor so that we can update your child’s immunization records
at school.
MUSIC
All-County Band
Congratulations to the following 8th Grade Band students
who participated in the All-County Middle School Band
Concert on Saturday, February 7th at North Hagerstown High
School. The All-County Band was comprised of mostly 8th
grade students from all of the middle schools in the county.
Bravo to their outstanding performance!!!
Flute: Emily Kellogg, Julianna Taylor
Clarinet: Renee Dupre, Abigail McDougal, Piper Partlow,
Alicia Proctor
Alto Saxophone: Keira Billings, Katelyn Meyer
Trumpet: John Kalons, Konrad Mongan
Percussion: Hailey Huff
The SMS Music Department is getting ready for an
exciting concert season!
Benefit Concert
Band Festival
Orchestra Festival
Chorus Festival
Chorus Concerts
Band Concert
Band Concerts
Orchestra Concert
Thursday, March 19th @ 7:00 PM at
Smithsburg High School 8th Grade Band, 8th Grade Chorus,
Festival Orchestra Tuesday, March 24th (during the
school
Day) 8th Grade Band
Thursday, March 26th (during the
school day). 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade
Orchestra
Friday, March 27th (during the school
Day) 8th Grade Chorus
Tuesday, May 12th – 6th Grade
Chorus–6:00 PM, 7th Grade Chorus –
7:00 PM8th Grade Chorus – 8:00 PM
Monday, May 18th - 6th Grade Band
Tuesday, May 19th – 7th Grade Band –
6:00 PM, 8th Grade Band – 8:00 PM
Tuesday, May 26th – 7:00 PM at
Smithsburg High School – 6th, 7th, and
8th Grade Orchestra
Physical Education News
The SMS Physical Education Department recently completed their basketball unit which concluded with the school wide
Hot Shot Contest and 3 on 3 Tournament. We would like to thank all faculty members, administrators, parents, and
participants for their support. All proceeds from the tournament were donated to the Smithsburg Veterans Park Fund.
Hot Shot Champions
Daniel Walter
Austin Martin
Clinton Stotlemeyer
3 on 3 Champions
Bailey Gove
Lexi Henderson
Hannah Spinks
Logan Rummel
Chase Miller
Connor Mazenko
Colin Curtis
Noah George
Corey Jackson
THE GREATEST PI DAY OF OUR LIVES
LEARN ABOUT PI
Pi (π) is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi is a constant number, meaning that for all circles of any size, Pi will be the same. By
measuring circular objects, it has always turned out that a circle is a little more than 3 times its width around. The mathematician Archimedes used
polygons with many sides to approximate circles and determined that Pi was approximately 22/7. The symbol (Greek letter “π”) was first used in 1706 by
William Jones. A ‘p’ was chosen for ‘perimeter’ of circles, and the use of π became popular after it was adopted by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard
Euler in 1737. In recent years, Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits past its decimal. Only 39 digits past the decimal are needed to accurately
calculate the spherical volume of our entire universe, but because of Pi’s infinite & patternless nature, it’s a fun challenge to memorize, and to
computationally calculate more and more digits.
PI DAY IN 2015
2015 will be no ordinary Pi Day. It will be the Pi Day of the Century, a Pi Day so rare it won't happen again until 2115. That's because the first 10 digits of
the infinite series of digits that make up pi looks like this, when written in date and time form: 3.14.15 9:26:53. To be clear, that's March 14, 2015, at
9:26:53 a.m.