Every day in class matters! Research shows that freshman attendance and grades are powerful predictors of high school graduation—even more so than eighth-grade test scores. Showing up today creates opportunities for tomorrow.
Be here. Be engaged. Be successful.
Be here. Be engaged. Be successful.
📚🌟 Celebrating our readers and creative minds!
Congratulations to our Accelerated Readers of the Month! We’re proud of your dedication to reading and the effort you’ve put into reaching your goals. Keep turning those pages! 📖👏
🎨 A special shout-out to our Accelerated Reader Logo Design Winners! Thank you for sharing your creativity and helping us celebrate reading at Swain Middle School!
Join us in congratulating these students on their accomplishments! 🎉
🥚⬇️ Putting engineering to the test!
Students in Mr. Cook’s Advanced Technology, Engineering, and Design class participated in an egg drop challenge, putting their creativity and problem-solving skills to work to protect an egg during a fall!
This activity connects to North Carolina’s Technology, Engineering, and Design Standard 2.00: “Understand the Engineering Design Process.” Designing and testing a protective solution helps students connect classroom concepts to a practical engineering challenge while considering materials, evaluating results, and identifying possible improvements.
We love seeing our students put their ideas into action! 👏
🍂 We had a wonderful time at our October Family Night last night at Swain Middle School!
Families enjoyed a delicious dinner from Anthony’s and took part in sessions that offered something for everyone:
📚 Tracking Your Progress: Understanding proficiency scales and following student learning with Heather Herron.
📱 UNPLUGGED: Teens, Social Media, and Finding Your Offline Time with Cierra Wiggins.
🌱 Semillas: Plantando Semillas para Sueños with Mae Duncan.
🦴 Fossils of the Future: A GEAR UP design activity with Taylor Dodge.
Thank you to all of our families who joined us and to our staff who hosted these engaging sessions and helped with dinner! A special thank-you to Anthony’s for preparing dinner for the evening! 🍽️
We loved spending time learning and connecting with our school community! ❤️
💭 Weekly Kindness Challenge: Pause Before You React!
Before you speak or act, ask yourself: Will this help or hurt? Will it make the situation better?
👀 Someone is always watching how you handle a difficult moment. Give them an example worth following!
💛 This week, choose a thoughtful, kind response each day—even when it’s hard. Own your mistakes, try again, and strive to be the best version of yourself!
October is National Principals Month, and we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible leaders who guide our schools every single day! Thank you to Lisa Sutton (Swain West Elementary), Mike Treadway (Swain East Elementary), Ryan McMahan (Swain Middle School), Michael Turner (Swain Academy), and Tyler Shuler (Swain County High School) for your dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to our students and staff across Swain County Public Schools! Drop a comment below to give your principal a shoutout and thank them for everything they do!
A Little Adds Up
Did you know that missing just 10% of the school year is considered chronic absenteeism?
In a typical 180-day school year, that's about 18 days — roughly one month of school.
And it doesn't take long to get there. Missing just two days per month can put a student in that range.
Every day counts!
Did you know that missing just 10% of the school year is considered chronic absenteeism?
In a typical 180-day school year, that's about 18 days — roughly one month of school.
And it doesn't take long to get there. Missing just two days per month can put a student in that range.
Every day counts!
💛 Weekly Act of Kindness 💛
✨ Do the right thing—even when no one is watching.
🤝 Help others and choose kindness because it’s right, without expecting attention or praise.
When you make a mistake:
✅ Own it.
💬 Be honest and apologize.
🛠️ Work to make it right.
🌱 We all make mistakes—what matters is learning and doing better!
From friend drama and social exclusion to the pressures of group chats, today's social world can feel complicated for kids and exhausting for parents. In this webinar, we'll explore what children and teens need from the adults in their lives to navigate friendship challenges, build resilience, and maintain healthy relationships.
About the Speaker:
Phyllis Fagell, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor, school counselor, author, and nationally recognized expert on child and adolescent development. She is the author of Middle School Matters and a frequent contributor to The Washington Post. Phyllis helps parents and educators support children's social, emotional, and academic wellbeing.
Visit the link below to register.
Attention Swain County Middle School families: It’s time to order your student's 2026–2027 yearbook! Don't miss out on preserving this incredible year of growth, friendships, and school spirit.
🎒 Why You'll Love It:
Custom Pages: Every purchase includes 2 FREE custom pages to fill with your own photos from your computer, Google Drive, Facebook, and more!
Personalized Memories: Answer fun memory questions directly in the app to help remember the highlights of the year.
Affordable Pricing: Grab your hardcover yearbook for just $24.21 (plus applicable sales tax). Need extra pages? Add them for just $1.99 per 2-page spread.
📅 Important Details to Remember:
Deadline: April 12
School Passcode: 1017416187982763
🛒 How to Order:
Scan the QR code on the flyer or head over to treering.com/validate
Enter the school passcode listed above.
Customize, purchase, and cherish forever!
Note: You must be a parent or a student aged 13 or older to purchase.
Standing Maroon Strong!
📣 We’d love your input! If you haven’t already, please take a moment to complete the survey. Your feedback helps our GEAR UP coordinators plan meaningful opportunities for our school community. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Attendance Matters!
One of the strongest predictors of success in school is also one of the simplest: showing up.
Research consistently links regular attendance with stronger academic performance, staying on track for graduation, and greater connection to school.
Every day at school is an opportunity to learn, connect with teachers and friends, and take another step toward graduation.
Be here. Be engaged. Be successful.
💛 Weekly Act of Kindness Challenge: Lead With Empathy!
Everyone you meet is going through something. Sometimes we can see it, but often we can’t.
Before you judge, react, or say something hurtful, remember—you may not know the whole story.
This week, be a little more patient, understanding, and kind. Give someone grace, check on someone who seems down, and choose kindness even when you’re frustrated.
💛 You may never know what someone is going through, so always lead with empathy!
Make a difference in our students' day!
Swain County Schools is looking for Cafeteria Assistants and Cafeteria Subs to join our team. Whether you only have 2 hours a day or 1 day a week to spare, we will work with you to create a flexible schedule!
Earn extra money while making an immediate, positive impact in our schools.
Apply Online: Visit https://swain.schoolspring.com/
Apply In-Person / Get More Info: Call Lavonda Woodring, Human Resources Coordinator, at 828-488-3129 ext. 5128.
Swain County Schools is looking for Cafeteria Assistants and Cafeteria Subs to join our team. Whether you only have 2 hours a day or 1 day a week to spare, we will work with you to create a flexible schedule!
Earn extra money while making an immediate, positive impact in our schools.
Apply Online: Visit https://swain.schoolspring.com/
Apply In-Person / Get More Info: Call Lavonda Woodring, Human Resources Coordinator, at 828-488-3129 ext. 5128.
The lockdown at Swain County High School has been lifted and the perimeter lockdowns at the other locations have also been lifted.
The lockdown occurred at approximately 11:25 am due to a perceived threat by a staff member. Other school locations were placed on a perimeter lockdown as a precaution.
Local law enforcement responded quickly, conducted a search of the area, and determined that there was no threat at 11:59 am. At no time were students in danger.
Thank you to everyone for following the established emergency procedures.
As the district debriefs with law enforcement, additional details will be provided.
Weekly Act of Kindness: Find Your Peace
This week, our challenge is to find peace in every interaction.
Every day brings moments when things don’t go our way, someone says something we don’t like, or we feel frustrated. In those moments, we can choose how we respond.
Be patient. Give others grace. Look for ways to bring calm, kindness, and understanding into the situation.
Before you respond, ask yourself: “How can I bring more peace to this moment?”
This week, find your peace and share it with others.
📢 IMPORTANT: Impact Aid Surveys Coming Home Monday!
Parents and guardians, please be on the lookout for an Impact Aid Survey coming home with your child on Monday.
Completing and returning this survey is very important to our school district. The information collected helps determine federal Impact Aid funding available to support our schools and students.
✅ Check your child’s backpack Monday
✅ Complete the survey
✅ Sign it
✅ Return it to school as soon as possible
Every survey matters! A few minutes of your time can help ensure our schools receive the federal funding for which they are eligible.
Thank you for helping support our students and schools!
📣 REMINDER: Swain Middle School Parent Night is Tonight!
Join us Tonight, September 14, from 5:30–6:45 PM for an evening of food, information, and connection with our SMS families!
🍕 Dinner provided by Anthony’s Pizza & Pasta
👩🏫 Grade-level parent meetings
🚌 Important 8th Grade Trip information
📅 Upcoming events and future Parent Nights
🤝 Ways to stay connected and involved at SMS
📲 Please RSVP so we can plan for dinner!
RSVP HERE!
We’re looking forward to seeing our SMS families tonight!
💛 Weekly Act of Kindness: Choose Kind Words!
Words matter! Before you speak, ask yourself: Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Mean comments, hurtful jokes, and gossip don’t do anyone any good.
Choose words that build others up—or remember: If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
Let’s keep SMS a place of kindness, one word at a time! 💛
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and Swain County Schools is hosting activities the week of September 14th to raise awareness and help break the stigma around mental health.
East Elementary ("Every Heart Matters Week")
Monday ("Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin"): Pajama or comfy clothes
Tuesday ("Brighten the World"): Tie-dye or neon clothing
Wednesday ("Wellness Wednesday"): Athletic or workout gear
Thursday ("We're in This Together"): Twin day or matching with a trusted friend
Friday ("Show Your Support"): Wear Maroon Gear
West Elementary
Distributing positive affirmation statement bracelets for all students and staff.
Morning announcements featuring "You belong" here at West.
Daily reminders of the services available to students.
Swain Middle
Positive quotes on morning announcements.
Focus in the Maroon Meetings.
Friday - Hat Day for $1 (Proceeds to go towards a memorial tree on campus for Aiden Johnson).
Teal and Purple Day.
Swain High & Swain Academy
Daily messages during morning announcements.
Blue & Teal Pinwheels and ribbons distributed at JV Football Game.
Support Resources
Help is available at school through counselors and other trusted adults. You can also call or text 988 at any time to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
There is help. There is hope. And EVERY life matters.
