Welcome to a brand-new school year! We’re so excited to kick off another amazing year of learning, growth, and connection at Simmons Middle. We’ve missed the buzz of the hallways, the laughter in classrooms, and most of all, the students who bring our building to life!

This summer brought some exciting updates to our school, including a fully renovated FACS room! We can’t wait for students to explore and learn in this beautiful new space.

We have a lot of important back-to-school information to share, so please take time to review this August newsletter carefully. You’ll also find our Back to School Guide linked inside. It’s especially helpful for new students and our incoming 6th graders.

We really hope to see you at our Back to School Open House on Thursday, August 14th (check below for the time your child should attend). This is a great chance to meet teachers, find classrooms, and get ready for an awesome year.

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, concerns, or ideas. We’re here to support you and your child every step of the way.

Here’s to a fantastic school year, we’re so glad you’re with us!

• Thursday, August 14th | 9:00am-11:00am

  • WEB Leader Training

  • Select 8th Graders

• Thursday, August 14th | 11:00am-3:00pm

  • Schedule & Chromebook Pick Up

  • All 7th & 8th Graders

• Thursday, August 14th | 3:00pm-5:00pm

  • Back to School Open House

  • Only 6th Graders

• Friday, August 15th | 9:00am-11:00am

  • WEB Orientation

  • All 6th Graders & select WEB Leaders

• Monday, August 18th | 8:00am-3:10pm

  • First Day of School

  • All 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders

The first day of school is Monday, August 18th, with classes starting at 8:00am and dismissing at 3:10pm.

Students should report directly to their homeroom teacher as listed on their schedule. Both breakfast and lunch will be served.

We strongly encourage all 6th graders to attend our WEB Orientation at SMS on Friday, August 15th from 9:00am to 11:00am. This event is designed to help students make a smooth and positive transition from elementary to middle school.

Our trained 8th grade WEB Leaders will serve as mentors, guiding students through activities and discussions to help them feel more comfortable and connected.

Students should attend on their own and wear comfortable clothing that allows for sitting, standing, and movement. No supplies are needed. Please leave backpacks, purses, money, and other items at home.

THIS IS A STUDENT ONLY EVENT!

For more information contact our counselor, Mrs. Angel Samson at 725-7900.

The Simmons Middle School supply list has been posted for the 2025-2026 school year!

Students are required to have an ID badge. Picking up a lanyard while you are out school supply shopping can help ensure they don’t lose their badge and keep it easily accessible. While students are not required to wear their badge at all times, they will need it for attendance purposes, checking out library books, and during lunch.

To make sure you are using the correct list, you can also view it here. It is also directly linked on our school website at https://www.aberdeen.k12.sd.us/o/sms.

We are thrilled to welcome several new staff members to our building this year! Please join us in giving them a warm welcome. We are excited to have them on board and look forward to working alongside them!

Annie Drees - 6th Grade Language Arts

Teresa Deuter - 7th Grade Language Arts

Laurel Foster - 6th & 8th Grade PE & Health

Jill Hermansen - 7th Grade Math

Lisa Clark - Office Secretary

Megan Unzen - Achieve Teacher

Lachelle Swanson - SPED Counselor

April Tollefson - Achieve EA

Click here to put faces to names and browse our SMS Staff Directory!

Students at the elementary and middle school are not allowed to self-administer prescription or nonprescription medication with the exception of insulin, cough drops or medication specifically referred to in board policy JLCD-R.

• Prescription medication must be delivered to the school office by the parent/guardian. The medication will be counted by school staff and the parent/guardian.

• Prescription medication shall be in pharmacy labeled containers, including the student’s name, name of the drug, dosage to be taken, name of the physician and date of the prescription.

• Non-prescription medication must be in the original container/package. Medication cannot be brought to school in envelopes or baggies.

The parent/guardian must complete the Parent Request for Assistance with Medication Form.

It is the responsibility of the student to come to the office to take the medication.

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to pick up unused medication. The Aberdeen School District recognizes that some students need to receive medication during the school day. The School Board permits the dispensation of medication in school when the student’s health and continuing attendance so requires and when the medication is administered in accordance with the School Board policy and regulations.

If your child needs to take medication during the school day, the following guidelines must be followed to ensure the safety on on or before the last day of school or one week after the last dose is given. If the medication is not picked up it will be destroyed.

If your child needs to leave during the school day for an appointment, please email one of our secretaries, call the school office in advance, or submit an Absence Request online through Parent Portal. Students are responsible for stopping at the office window and checking out at the appropriate time and they will remain inside the building until you arrive. To help us ensure a smooth and safe process, feel free to call the office when you're on your way.

Thank you for helping us keep your child safe!

We do not ask much of parents. Our PTA caters a dinner for our teachers on both conference nights, collects Ken’s and Kessler’s receipts, sells concessions at our middle school social, along with shows our teachers appreciation through out the school year.

• If you would like to take a more active role and get involved, please attend one of our monthly meetings, which take place on the 2nd Monday of every month at 6:30pm in our library.

• If you are unable to take an active role, please still consider becoming a member for $5. Your membership alone helps support the PTA, and you’re welcome to simply donate without any additional time commitments.

You can click here or scan the QR code below to register online.

If you do not yet have access to Parent Portal, please contact the school office for assistance in setting up your account. Parent Portal is essential for signing required documents, viewing your child’s assignments, attendance, and grades, and completing all forms online. You can also use it to register your child for athletic and fine arts activities, submit absences, deposit lunch money, and view or pay any technology fees or fines—all in one convenient place!

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in any program receiving federal financial assistance. Section 504 defines a person with a disability as anyone who:

1. has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activity such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working.

2. has a record of such impairment; or

3. is regarded as having such an impairment.

Aberdeen Public Schools acknowledges its responsibility under Section 504 to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding students and personnel. No discrimination against any person with a disability shall knowingly be permitted in programs or practices in the school district.

Under Section 504, the school district has the responsibility to provide notice to parents, to identify, to evaluate, and, if the student is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to provide access to appropriate educational services.

If the parent or person in parental relationship disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, he/she has a right to file a grievance or request a due process hearing with and impartial hearing officer.

Middle School Students

Breakfast: $3.00 (full) 30¢ (reduced)

Lunch: $4.10 (full) 40¢ (reduced)

Adults

Breakfast: $3.65 | Lunch: $5.50

View our breakfast & lunch menus at My School Menus!

Why should you complete a FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATION?

• Free or reduced meal prices for healthy, nutritious student meals

• Resources for classrooms, teachers, and children

• Fee waivers for college applications and admissions tests

• Health and wellness services

• Before and after school academic and enrichment programs

IT TAKES LESS TIME THAN PACKING A LUNCH!

While an approved Free & Reduced Lunch Application is not always necessary for students to receive free meals, it is still critically important for you to complete your free and reduced lunch application in order for your child's school to receive important federal funding.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY OR SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW.

Questions? Contact Lara Werner at 605-725-7105 or by email at Lara.Werner@k12.sd.us

Please note that the school district does not provide health or accident insurance for injuries that occur at school.

Because children are more prone to injury, we recommend reviewing your current insurance coverage to ensure it meets your needs. If you do not have insurance or feel your coverage is limited due to deductibles or co-pays, you may want to consider the optional student insurance plan. Details about costs and coverage are included with the premium envelope.

This plan is underwritten by Security Life Insurance Company of America and administered by Student Assurance Services, Inc.

Information will be sent home with students on the first day of school. If interested, please return the completed form to the school office or register online at http://www.sas-mn.com/. 

Delta Dental will also provide their dental accident plan to our students. If you are interested in applying for dental coverage you may access their application online at www.deltadentalsd.com.

There is no school on the following dates:

• Monday, September 1st - Labor Day

• Friday, October 10th - Staff Development

• Monday, October 13th - Native American's Day

• Friday, October 24th - P/T Conferences

• Wednesday, November 26th - Staff Development

• Thursday, November 27th - Thanksgiving Break

• Friday, November 28th - Thanksgiving Break

• Wednesday, December 24th to Thursday, January 1st - Winter Break

• Friday, January 2nd - Staff Development

• Monday, January 19th - Staff Development

• Friday, February 13th - Staff Development

• Monday, February 16th - Presidents' Day

• Friday, March 6th - P/T Conferences

• Thursday, March 12th - Staff Development

• Friday, March 13th - Spring Break

• Thursday, March 19th - Spring Break

• Friday , March 20th - Spring Break

• Friday, April 3rd - Good Friday

• Monday, April 6th - Easter Monday

• Friday, May 15th - 11:45am dismissal

Highly Qualified Staff

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires that all teachers are highly qualified for their teaching assignments.  It is our district’s policy to hire only highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals.  If you would like information regarding the professional qualifications of your student’s teacher, please contact the school principal.

Complaint Policies

In accordance with federal Title regulations, the Aberdeen School District must inform students and parents of Policy KLB (Public Complaints about the Curriculum or Classroom Instructional Materials),  Policy KLD (Public Complaints about School Personnel), and Policy KED (Public Complaints about Federal Programs). 

The Aberdeen School District welcomes constructive criticism of the schools when it is motivated by a sincere desire to improve the quality of the educational program and to help the school personnel in performing their tasks more effectively.  The policies provide the specific procedures for contacting district personnel with this feedback.  The policies are available on the district’s website and can also be obtained in all district buildings.

District and School Report Card

The state of South Dakota has recently changed the way student achievement is calculated and considered. More emphasis has been placed on how students are growing academically through the entire school year, instead of how they perform on a test one time a year. This new system is being put in place a piece at a time with input from the United States Department of Education and other educational groups. Student test scores, along with other information, are being used to help determine a School Performance Index or SPI that allows our schools to be compared to others in the state to see how we are doing. Detailed reports of how all students in South Dakota scored may be found by going to the Department of Education’s Webpage at: http://doe.sd.gov/reportcard/index.aspx, and by looking at the State Level Reports. District and School Level Reports may also be found on the same web site by selecting the school year and the type of report you would like to view.

For help in getting to these reports or understanding what is in these reports, please call your child’s school and talk to the Principal.

Click the links below or scan the QR codes to follow us and stay updated on all the exciting things happening at our school!

Click here to view our SMS Calendar of Events

Click here to view our Grade Level Class Schedule

Click here to view the Aberdeen School District 25-26 Calendar

All school events can be always be viewed here throughout the school year on our webpage.

The calendars above will not be distributed to students, so please be sure to save the links or print your own copies for reference.