📚 TECH-FREE WEEK at SIMS! ✏️
This week, we pressed pause on the screens and got back to learning through doing, talking, reading, writing, creating, and problem-solving together!
Regardless of our student jokes, our teachers and students made the most of it!
Students extended an M&M percent lab by learning to use compasses and protractors, measuring angles, creating frequency charts, determining scale factors, and building pie charts by hand. There was plenty of erasing and plenty of learning along the way!
Students explored how scientific thinking is constantly revised as new knowledge is discovered. After piecing together a puzzle, they were given “new data” and had to rethink how that information fit with what they already knew.
Students took a deep dive into fiction books, analyzing how authors develop plot and characters through word choice and dialogue.
Others tackled tech-free word-part study, working together, talking through their thinking, and learning from one another instead of from a screen.
One class wrapped up its learning with a summative assessment in the form of a postcard from an ancient traveler visiting Mesopotamia. Students had a few minutes as a bell ringer to finish their postcards and demonstrate what they learned in a creative, meaningful way.
Tech-Free Week wasn’t about doing less, it was about engaging differently. More conversation. More collaboration. More productive struggle. More hands-on learning. More opportunities to think.
Sometimes pressing pause helps us be a little more present.
Congrats to these kiddos for receiving positive referrals this month. They are great friends and are doing GREAT things at SIMS! ❤️
2026-2027 Yearbook Info
It's Week SIX! Happy Reading!
It's Week Five; Happy reading!
We GET TO come to SIMS each day and be a good friend to others: seeing a need and filling that need- having GRIT to persevere!
Grateful
Realizing
Initiating
Taking
We are thankful for our District Mental Health Coordinator, her interns, and our guidance counselors for an excellent Quarter 1 Healthy Habits Assembly for all of our students and staff!
🐛🌱 There’s always something interesting happening in Ag class!
Mrs. Caldwell brought in a little “show and tell” straight from her garden at home: tobacco hornworms! Students used hand lenses to get an up-close look while learning the differences between tobacco and tomato hornworms.
They explored the hornworm life cycle, discussed why these caterpillars are considered garden pests and which plants they prefer, and students learned about their defenses against predators.
No lesson is complete without a new vocabulary word! Today’s word: “frass”-the scientific term for insect poop! 💩🐛😂
📖💃 POETRY IN MOTION AT SIMS! 💃📖
Ms. Smith’s English I students read “My Papa’s Waltz” as part of their poetry unit and then took their learning beyond the page by asking, “How do you waltz?” Of course, they had to find out!
We love seeing our teachers create opportunities that make learning engaging, meaningful, and memorable for our students. These are the lessons they’ll remember long after the unit is over!
🌿🔨 GROWING TOGETHER at SIMS! 🔨🌿 Mrs. Caldwell’s class was thrilled to receive new raised beds built and delivered by the Crescent Ag classes! We love partnering with other schools in our amazing district. 🤝 Our 6th graders also worked hard to dismantle and assemble coop panels. They had to be handy with a ratchet, and several students were very good at it! 🛠️
🌿🔬 SCIENCE IN NATURE at SIMS! 🔬🌿
Mrs. Meredith’s science students worked on making qualitative and quantitative observations during a nature walk last week! Students explored their surroundings, recorded details, and practiced using scientific observations in a hands-on learning experience. If you look closely, you may find an "insect-friend" like they did!
📚🏆 LUNCH TIME TRIVIA at SIMS! 🏆📚
Lunch time trivia is one of our favorite parts of our One Book, One School initiative! Our students are loving Restart, and we are having so much fun rewarding them for their participation and enthusiasm.
🕵️♀️🔬 TOP SECRET FILES at SIMS! 🔬🕵️♂️
Mrs. Peterson’s science students put their detective skills to work as they searched for crime clues while practicing the Scientific Method!
Students observed, investigated, gathered evidence, and used critical-thinking skills to crack the case. What a fun way to bring science to life with hands-on learning!
It's September, and here's Tiger Times to ensure you know what's going on at SIMS this month! Last month, our Core Value Focus was CREATIVITY, and this month, our Core Value Focus is FRIENDSHIP. Talk to your kiddos about what it means to be a good friend. We can't wait to highlight friendship this month at SIMS!
This past month, at a hydroponic gardening workshop at Clemson, Dr. McMillan realized that Dr. Layfield presented our SIMS hydroponic gardening club activities at a national conference.
Our staff and students are doing big things and getting recognized for their efforts!
August was all about CREATIVITY, and September's core value is: FRIENDSHIP. We will be focusing on it all month. Be sure to engage with your kiddos on how to choose good friends and how to be a good friend this month and always!
In August, our Core Value was CREATIVITY. These students were given positive referrals because of their creativity and/or because they just went above and beyond this month at SIMS. Check your email to see why your student received a positive referral!
Congratulations to Mrs. Russell for being our August Staff Spotlight!
Here's week THREE of Restart! Get engaged in the reading with us!
Band parents of SIMS students- please note the time change from 4pm-6pm tonight for rentals!
This month, our Guidance lessons are centered around one of our core values: CREATIVITY! 💡✨
Creativity is more than being artistic- it’s thinking differently, solving problems, sharing new ideas, and finding your own unique way to make a difference.
We are so thankful for the creative minds of our SIMS students and staff who bring fresh ideas, talents, and energy to our school each day. 🐯
