Sylvan Hills Middle School

We are proud to celebrate Chef Appreciation Week, a time to honor the chefs who bring passion, creativity, and care to every meal they prepare for our students. At PCSSD, we have a pair of chefs who transform food into celebration, comfort, connection, and community – Chartwells' Executive Chef King Joseph and Chef Sarah Montgomery, who prepare meals in our cafés & caterings for district staff; help train our kitchen staffs; conduct in-café programs with our students; and so much more. Thank you, Chef King & Chef Sarah, for all you do for the students of PCSSD!

Tomorrow, PCSSD students and staff—let’s turn the hallways into a runway of college and career readiness! Every shirt you wear tells your story of where you've been or where you want to be.
🎓 Rock your favorite college tee
💼 Suit up in your dream-job attire
📸 Snap a pic & tag us

What is AVID?
PCSSD is implementing AVID in every grade level at all elementary, middle and high schools across the district. Our AVID teams are eagerly promoting this system which increases student engagement, promotes classroom collaboration and activates deeper levels of learning in their classrooms with practical, immediately useful tools and instructional strategies. Teachers who participate in AVID professional learning begin to shift their beliefs about teaching and learning, allowing them to cultivate a growth mindset both for themselves and their students.

AVID Mission Statement

AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society.

AVID for Elementary Schools

Putting future leaders on an early path to success in school

AVID Elementary engages young learners and provides them with the critical skills to become confident, independent thinkers who have a thirst for learning. Teachers use AVID strategies to provide students with:

• Proven ways to succeed in school

• Writing to learn, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading to learn

• Note-taking and time management skills

• Best ways to work together inside and outside of the classroom

AVID for Secondary Schools

Moving future leaders toward college success and beyond

AVID’s teaching strategies and curriculum build positive teacher-student relationships to ensure student success schoolwide. AVID Elective students:

• Proven ways to succeed in school

• Enroll in advanced courses (AP®)

• Receive academic instruction and tutorial support

• Strengthen their writing skills

• Improve study and organization skills

• Gain “college knowledge”

• Visit colleges and explore careers

The AVID Advantage

• Reduces variation in classroom instruction.

• Leverages grit and determination of students.

• Emphasizes rigorous coursework, relevance of instruction and relationships.

• Raises expectations of educators, students and their families.

• Re-energizes the staff on campus and in the district.

🚀 Our incredible volunteers gave over 10,000 hours of their time to students last school year, and they’re ready to level up for 2025-2026!

📚 Today, ladies from the UAPB Alumni Association kicked off a monthly Book Club with our third graders at College Station and Harris Elementaries. Kids also had a friend scavenger hunt where they had to get signatures from the other school's scholars.

💖 Want in on the fun? Become a PCSSD volunteer and help spark young minds. Sign up here: https://securevolunteer.com/Pulaski-County-Special-School-District/home

🔒 Safety first: Anyone who wishes to volunteer at a PCSSD school must first complete a volunteer application. This includes a background check conducted online at no cost to the volunteer.
#PCSSDproud #ServeAll #CSESonFire #PantherProud #BetterTogether

📰 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! 💙🤍

🎉📐 Happy Birthday, Ms. Harris! 🎉

Wishing you a day filled with fun, laughter, and a little less math homework for yourself! Hope your birthday adds up to something amazing!

💙, Your SHMS Family

🎉🎨 Happy Birthday, Ms. Carson! 🖌️✨

Wishing you a day as bright and creative as the amazing art you share with our SHMS kids every day. Thank you for inspiring our students to explore, create, and express themselves—you make our school a more colorful place!

💙, Your SHMS Family

Not sure what to wear tomorrow? Pick a college or career shirt to join in on AVID Wednesday! What is AVID? AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college and career readiness and success in a global society. #PCSSDproud #ServeAll
👕 Rock your dream school tee
🩺 Don your future-career shirt
📸 Strike a pose & tag us in your pic

📰 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! 💙🤍

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

Let’s make it a great week, Bears! 💙🤍

Join us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to Dr. Houston! 🎉🥳

We are so grateful for all that you do for our school and our Bears. We hope your day is filled with joy, laughter, and all the appreciation you deserve!

Love,
Your SHMS Family💙🐻