August 28, 2025

Dear Bullpup Families,

Wow – what great energy at the Open House last night!  Thanks to all who came to meet your teachers and check out your lockers.  If you didn’t make it last night, you can still stop by tomorrow, August 29th, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to pick up your schedule and pay any fees.  It will make the first day of school easier for everyone.

Our doors will open for the 2025-2026 school year at 7:45 a.m. next Tuesday, 9/2/25.  Classes start at 8:05.  It’s going to be a great year to be a Bullpup!

Some Answers to Common Questions from Open House:

1)  Homebase Classes:  Due to a technical glitch, Homebase classrooms and teachers did not print onto our schedules.  It has been fixed, but students will need to know that room number for the first day of school.  We encourage you to go to Schoology or PowerSchool Parent Portal – it will be listed there.  But, just to make sure, we will let each student know where to go for Homebase during their 3rd Period class, right before Homebase (8th) or Lunch (7th).

2)  School Lunches:  You can find both menus and a link to the online payment system (“Mealtime”) on the district Child Nutrition page.

3)  Supplies:  At the middle level and up, we don’t have schoolwide supplies lists.  Instead, students should bring typical school supplies for their personal use – notebooks/paper, pens/pencils, binders, etc.  If specific classes have supply requests, they will communicate that separately.

4)  Backpacks/Lockers:  We do not allow students to carry backpacks throughout the day for various reasons.  Small string bags are allowed.  Also, students must supply their own lock for their locker.  We encourage combination locks as sometimes middle schoolers can struggle a bit with hanging onto keys…

5)  Chromebook Protection: Optional Chromebook insurance must be paid for before your student takes possession of the Chromebook, which will be during 4th period on the first day of school.  After that, any damages will be charged to the student.  It is possible to pay online through your PowerSchool Parent Portal.

6)  Drop Off/Busses:  If you are driving your student to school, please drop them off on the NORTH side of the building, at the NE corner.  Bus riders and walkers enter through the SE, Main enterance.

Finally, let me take a moment to recognize and praise the countless hours and effort that the SMS staff is about to put into your students’ learning.  They are an outstanding, experienced, and caring group of professionals.  I hope you’ll join me throughout this year in supporting their good works.

Thanks!  Have a great school year!

Mr. Penrose