Sylvan Hills Middle School

🏆💙 Big News from FBLA District V! 💙🏆

Our SHMS students showed up and showed out at the FBLA District V Spring Conference at UCA, competing against students in grades 6–9 from schools all across central Arkansas — and they did an incredible job!

🎉 State Qualifiers:
🥈 2nd Place – Exploring Website Design
Zynlee Anderson & Caiden Jakes

🥇 1st Place – Exploring Business Concepts
Griffin Harris

🥉 3rd Place – Exploring Business Ethics
Turner Choat & Zyler Hinson

🏅 5th Place – Parliamentary Procedure
Macee Laird

And we have even more exciting news…

👏 Turner Choat was elected as the District V Treasurer, where he will represent schools across central Arkansas. What an honor and a huge accomplishment!

We are so proud of the hard work, preparation, and confidence these students displayed. Competing at this level takes courage and commitment, and they represented SHMS so well.

Way to go, Bears! State, here they come! 💙🐻

#BearsAreBest #SHMSProud #FBLA

6 minutes ago, Janna Gibson

🛒💙 Real-Life Learning in Action! 💙🛒

Ms. Underwood’s Life Skills class has been busy doing some very important work… grocery shopping!

Our students created a shopping list, went to the store, found their items, checked out, and then came back and put their groceries away. Every step was intentional and meaningful. They practiced budgeting, decision-making, reading labels, following a list, handling money, and working together as a team.

These are the kinds of skills that build confidence and independence. It may look like a simple trip to the store, but it represents so much growth. For our students, these hands-on experiences help prepare them for real life in powerful ways.

We are so proud of the focus, responsibility, and teamwork they showed. This is what learning looks like beyond the classroom walls.

Way to go, Ms. Underwood and Life Skills crew! Your hard work matters, and our community is better because of it. 💙🐻

#BearsAreBest #LifeSkillsInAction #SHMSProud

about 11 hours ago, Janna Gibson

REMINDER: School is closed today for parent-teacher conferences. Parent teacher conferences will be held at each school from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Students will return to classes tomorrow. District offices will remain open.

2 days ago, PCSSD

📰 This Week at SHMS 🐻
Our latest newsletter is ready! Take a look to see what’s coming up, important reminders, and all the happenings this week.

Let’s make it a great week, Bears! 💙🤍

2 days ago, Mike Hudgeons, Principal

School will be out on Monday, February 16, for parent-teacher conferences. Parent teacher conferences will be held at each school from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. Students will return to classes on Tuesday, February 17. District offices will remain open.

4 days ago, PCSSD

Love is in the air at SHMS 💕 Ms. Wallace and Ms. Malloy outdid themselves with the cutest decorations in the front office. It’s bright, fun, and full of personality… just like them! And even though it’s Friday the 13th, there’s nothing spooky going on here. Just hearts, balloons, and lots of love for our Bears. 💗 We’re so thankful for staff who add those extra touches that make our school feel welcoming and fun. #BearsAreBest #SHMSFamily #SpreadTheLove #FridayThe13thButMakeItSweet #FrontOfficeFun #SHMSPride #AllHeart 💙🐻

5 days ago, Janna Gibson

We love celebrating kindness and friendship at SHMS! Valentine’s Day is always a fun time for our students.

Just a quick reminder that we will not be accepting Valentine’s Day gifts or deliveries at school. Please save flowers, balloons, candy, stuffed animals, and special treats for home.

Thank you for helping us keep the day running smoothly and focused on learning. We appreciate your support!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Bears! ❤️🐻

7 days ago, Janna Gibson

We’re wrapping up National School Counseling Week by celebrating our sixth grade counselor, Dr. David Stephens. SHMS is so lucky to have him, and our students are better because of the calm, steady support he gives every day. Something students might be surprised to learn about Dr. Stephens is that he’s a pretty good baker. What really makes his day, though, is something simple — students saying hi to him in the hallway. And when a student is having a rough day, he wants them to remember that they’re stronger than they think they are. Thank you, Dr. Stephens, for showing up for our students, building real relationships, and being a constant source of encouragement. 💙🐻

9 days ago, Janna Gibson

📰 This Week at SHMS 🐻
Our latest newsletter is ready! Take a look to see what’s coming up, important reminders, and all the happenings this week.

Let’s make it a great week, Bears! 💙🤍

10 days ago, Mike Hudgeons, Principal

📣 Calling all future SHMS cheerleaders! 📣 Sylvan Hills Cheerleading tryouts are coming up, and we’re looking for students who want to bring the energy, school spirit, and pride. If you are interested in cheering, this is the place to start. 📅 All dates and details are included in the flyer below, including the interest meeting, clinics, tryout day, and optional open gyms. Questions? Email Coach Malone at mmalone9822@pcssd.org We can’t wait to see our future cheerleaders! 💙🐻

13 days ago, Janna Gibson

💙 National School Counselor Appreciation Week 💙

Today we’re giving a huge SHMS shoutout to Ms. Wade, our amazing 7th grade school counselor.

Ms. Wade’s favorite part of her job says it all. She loves getting to walk alongside students as they grow into confident, healthy versions of themselves academically, socially, and emotionally. She notices the big wins and the small ones, and she celebrates them all.

What makes her day? The simple moments. A quick “hi” in the hallway. A student stopping by to share something exciting. Those connections matter, and she makes every student feel seen.

As Ms. Wade reminds students on tough days: “Rough days happen — and honestly, they’re no fun. But they don’t last forever. Give yourself grace, get through today one step at a time, and remember tomorrow is a fresh start and a new chance to make it better.”

We are so grateful for Ms. Wade’s steady support, kind heart, and dedication to our SHMS Bears. 💙🐻

15 days ago, Janna Gibson

All PCSSD schools and offices will be open and operating on a normal schedule for Tuesday, February 3. After-school activities are expected to resume, but please contact your individual school for confirmation. We know that some students may still be unable to safely travel to school. If your student will be absent, you should contact the school registrar or attendance clerk.

Our maintenance and transportation teams have worked diligently for several days removing snow and ice at our facilities, as well as assessing neighborhood routes for our buses. We have identified several bus routes that will be impacted due to lingering hazardous road conditions. A separate communication will be shared at approximately 6 p.m. for families on impacted bus routes. All other transportation routes will operate normally. Thank you for your incredible support and patience during this latest round of winter weather.

16 days ago, PCSSD

Tuesday, February 3. Pulaski County. Schools and offices are OPEN.

All PCSSD schools will be closed on Monday, February 2. Our maintenance crews have made great strides in clearing walkways and parking lots at our facilities, as well as monitoring travel on city and county roadways, and we appreciate their hard work. Due to continued concerns about hazardous road conditions, schools will remain closed. PCSSD Central Office staff and some district employees will return to work. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make these difficult decisions. We plan to continue monitoring the weather and will provide future updates as needed.

17 days ago, PCSSD

Monday, February 2. Pulaski County. Schools will be closed. Central Office open.

All PCSSD schools and district offices will be closed on Friday, January 30, due to continued hazardous road and weather conditions. All events and activities are canceled or will be rescheduled. The increased temperatures and sunlight have helped to thaw roadways, and our maintenance crews continue to make progress clearing sidewalks and parking lots at our facilities. Even with these improvements, many of our students and employees would still face potentially dangerous travel conditions. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we make these difficult decisions. We plan to continue monitoring the weather and will provide future updates as needed.

20 days ago, PCSSD

Friday, January 30. Pulaski County. Continued Hazards. Closed.

All PCSSD schools and district offices will be closed on Thursday, January 29, due to continued hazardous road and weather conditions. All events and activities are canceled or will be rescheduled. While our maintenance crews have made significant progress on clearing sidewalks and parking lots, and main roads and arteries throughout the county have been cleared, many of our neighborhood streets and secondary roads are still covered in thick sheets of ice. These conditions create potentially dangerous travel conditions to our facilities. We will continue to monitor weather conditions and provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your continued support of PCSSD.

21 days ago, PCSSD

Thursday, January 29. Pulaski County. Hazardous Conditions. Closed.

All PCSSD schools and district offices will be closed on Wednesday, January 28, due to hazardous road and weather conditions. All events and activities are canceled or will be rescheduled. We will continue to provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your continued support of PCSSD.

22 days ago, PCSSD

Wednesday, January 28. Pulaski County. Inclement Weather. Closed.

All PCSSD schools and district offices are closed Monday and Tuesday, January 26, and January 27, 2026, due to inclement weather conditions. All events and activities are canceled or will be rescheduled. We will continue to provide updates as they become available. Thank you for your continued support of PCSSD.

24 days ago, PCSSD

Monday, January 26 and Tuesday, January 27. Inclement Weather. Closed.

Hiring Substitutes!
On Thursday, January 29, ESS will be hosting an informational session and training for anyone interested in becoming a substitute with PCSSD.

We’d love to have you join our team and make a difference in our classrooms.

Start your application at ESS.com and register in advance to attend the session. REGISTER NOW using the link below.
https://calendly.com/bhampton2013/hiring-substitutes-for-pcssd-01-29-2026?month=2026-01

26 days ago, PCSSD

Promotional flyer for substitute teacher hiring event at Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD), hosted by ESS. Features a smiling person holding a green tablet, with classroom imagery in the background. Event details include date (January 29, 2026), time (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM), and location (PCSSD Admin Building, 925 E. Dixon Rd). Logos for PCSSD and ESS are displayed, along with the ESS slogan “Every day counts.” Text encourages viewers to apply at ESS.com..

Based on the latest weather predictions, the winter storm is expected to move into our area Friday evening; therefore, PCSSD will operate on a regular schedule for Friday, January 23. All district after-school activities will not be held. A decision regarding school operations for Monday, January 26, will be made over the weekend. We will continue to share updates as decisions are made and more information becomes available. Thank you for your continued support of PCSSD.

27 days ago, PCSSD

Friday, January 23. Pulaski County. Schools will be open.

🎉🐻 HONOR ROLL SHOUTOUT! 🐻🎉

Big-time congratulations to our SHMS Bears who earned 2nd Quarter Honor Roll! 📚✨ Your hard work, focus, and determination paid off, and we could not be prouder of you.

Making honor roll takes commitment, perseverance, and showing up every day ready to learn. You set the bar high and showed what it means to be an SHMS Bear. Keep pushing, keep believing in yourself, and keep chasing those goals.

Way to make your school proud. We see you and we’re cheering you on! 💙👏

#SHMSProud #HonorRoll #BearStrong #HardWorkPaysOff #KeepShining 🐻💙

29 days ago, Janna Gibson