WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL
NEWS CLIP FOR FEBRUARY 2026
All homework is located on Canvas
Please email teachers using their first name.last name@k12.sd.us
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
February 19, 4:00 – 7:30 p.m.
This conference will be in students’ individual classroom
TELEPHONE NUMBER CHANGES…Parents and guardians who have a change in work or home telephone numbers should immediately inform the school. If an emergency should arise during school hours, current telephone numbers are very important. Thank you for your consideration.
WMS FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT @ ELKS MOVIE THEATRE…
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23rd - THE FEATURE MOVIE IS TBD!!!
Doors open at 5:45, movie starts at 6:15.
ALL STUDENTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT.
Children dropped off without supervision will NOT BE ALLOWED into
the movie theatre.
THE MOVIE WILL BE FREE!!! ANY PURCHASE FROM THE CONCESSION STAND WILL BE AT YOUR COST.
Student drop-off…please remember in the morning before school, students are to be dropped off in the parking lot of the new gym and may enter the cafeteria through the back of the building. Please do not drop off your students in the back of the building or at any cross walks. There is a teacher on cafeteria duty at 7:30AM. If your student has a note to visit a teacher before school, they must also enter through the cafeteria or the long glass hallway at 7:30AM
Parents of 7th grade girls,
On Tuesday, March 17th, all 7th grade female students will be attending a full day of hands-on fun and learning about careers in Science at SDSM&T. Students will be bussed to and from the event and accompanied by WMS staff. The event is free and an exciting experience each year! More information will be provided as the event get closer.
***STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATIONAL NIGHT FOR UPCOMING FRESHMAN (8TH GRADERS) WILL BE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH AT 6:00PM IN THE STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE***
Page 2
February News Clips
ART NEWS……..
The Youth Art Month Flag contest is due to Mrs. Penfield by Friday, February 6th. The theme is “The World Needs Art”. Best wishes and have fun!
The 2025-2026 Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest is underway. If you are interested in participating, please email Mrs. Penfield for the informational link. (sarah.penfield@k12.sd.us) All duck stamp entries and permission forms need to be postmarked and sent to P.O. Box 1377 Huron, SD 57350 by March 15, 2026.
The Middle School Art Show, celebrating “Youth Arts Month”, will be displayed in the Bruce H. Lien Cultural Café’ and Gallery at the Dahl Arts Center from March 3-26th, 2026. Feel free to come see the fantastic work that our middle school students have created and vote for the people’s choice winner!
The following students will have their art on display: Ava Aguilar, Abbe Bell, Ava Marie Bragg, Kethry Burton,
Pailsi Darr, Daelynn Fenner, Sophia Inman, Lily Parkin, Embry Pollino, Kash Reddy, Tate Schmit, Emma Wake, Arianna Williams and Emma Willmes.
The artist’s reception is March 5th from 5-7pm in the Bruce H. Lien Cultural Café’ and Gallery in the Dahl Arts Center. The Teacher’s Choice award for each of the six participating middle schools will be announced at around 6pm. You may vote for your favorite piece for the people’s choice award to be revealed at the end of the show. The artists and their families will receive an invitation to attend this reception. Please visit with Mrs. Penfield in room 130 should you have any questions. The public is invited to view the artwork from March 3-26th. I hope to see you there! Congratulations art students!
Mrs. Penfield
LOST AND FOUND ITEMS ARE NUMEROUS ~ PLEASE REMIND YOUR STUDENTS TO CHECK THE OFFICE AND CUSTODIAL AREAS IF THEY HAVE LOST AN ITEM
STUDENT OF THE MONTH nominees chosen by the core teachers for the month of January are:
6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade
Elsie Cushman Liam Ankele Harper McDonnell
Aiden Jones Aliannah Jiron Corlena Toennis
Savannah Knisley Liberty Lundin Declan Weidenbach
Karter Schafer Kahle Olson Mark Werpy
Page 3
February News Clips
CONGRATULATIONS to the West Middle School band students who auditioned for the South Dakota Middle School All-State Band and made it in. These students will travel to Mitchell in March to join with other young musicians from across the state to rehearse and perform in a concert. We are so proud of these WMS musicians!
Eryn O’Loughlen – flute
Emma Martin - oboe
WMS Middle School choir student, Sadie Christensen, under the direction of Emily Muirhead, was selected to perform in the South Dakota Junior Honor Choir. It was held in Rapid City on January 23rd and 24th. South Dakota Junior Honor Choir is an auditioned choir made up of 7th, 8th, and 9th grade singers enrolled in their school's choral program. Teachers may encourage students to audition based upon their level of musicianship, citizenship, work ethic, and musical habits. There are two choirs that students may be placed in, a mixed choir (SATB) made of approximately 98 voices, or a treble choir (SSA) made of approximately 80 voices. Congratulations!
Thank you!
Emily Muirhead
Thank you to PAWS for the “yummy treats” brought for the staff on January 8, 2026. You are the best!!!
“REMINDERS”
February 3, 2026 PTA Meeting 5:30pm WMS room 106
February 5, 2026 FOB Auditions 3:30-6:00pm
February 6, 2026 EARLY RELEASE FRIDAY – 1:00
February 11, 2026 8th grade NAEP testing
February 14, 2026 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY 
February 16, 2026 NO SCHOOL – President’s Day
February 19, 2026 Parent/Teacher Conferences 4-7:30pm Classrooms
February 20&21, 2026 Middle School All State Orchestra in RC
February 23, 2026 PTA Family Movie Night – Movie TBD
(doors open at 5:45, movie starts at 6:15. Students must be
accompanied by an adult)
February 24, 2026 Stevens High School Informational Night (incoming freshman)
6:00PM in the SHS Theatre
February 27, 2026 Incentive Day at school