Welcome back! We hope everyone had a chance to relax and enjoy the summer. It is hard to believe another school year is already here. We are looking forward to seeing familiar faces, meeting our new students, and getting our athletic programs back in action.
I am honored to be starting my fourth year as principal of Snell Middle School. Over the past three years, our students and staff have made great gains in academics, attendance, and behavior. Mrs. Wecks and I would like to highlight a few changes for this upcoming school year.
Clear Backpack Policy
Beginning this school year, all students will be required to carry a clear backpack. This change supports several important goals:
• Student cell phones may only be carried inside the clear backpack.
• Preventing contraband, including vapes, knives, and other items that would disrupt the learning environment.
• Supporting student and staff safety by ensuring the contents of backpacks can be easily viewed.
• During the first nine to twelve weeks, Chromebooks will remain in classrooms so students will not need to carry devices to and from class.
Student lockers at SMS are nearly 35 years old, and the district does not currently have funding to replace them. We ask that all students follow these new guidelines to help us maintain a safe school environment.
How to Reach Us
We want parents to feel comfortable reaching out to us about any concerns regarding academics, bullying, or other issues involving staff. To honor the chain of command, please first meet with your student's teacher; if the concern remains unresolved, we welcome you to bring it to administration.
Whether your student is stepping onto the field or finding their way to class, we are here to support them. Mrs. Wecks, our Athletic Coordinator, is your point of contact for anything sports-related – please reach out to her with any sports questions or concerns. As Dean of Students, she also looks forward to supporting parent engagement and helping our students succeed.
I would be happy to meet with you if you have further questions, and I welcome you to join our CARES committee (Community of Advocates Raising and Empowering Students), our first meeting will be on Tuesday, August 25th at 4:30pm in the Wellness Room at SMS.
Finally, our Open House this year will be on Tuesday, August 18th at 5:00pm-6:00pm at the SMS gym.
Margaret Flores-Begay, Principal – 575-590-3552
Hannah Wecks, Dean of Students – 575-537-4030, Ext. 1302
Here's to a great school year. Go Miners!