Due to temperatures and continued icy conditions that are impacting side roads and driveways, Swain County Schools will not have school for students on January 14, 2025, and it will be an optional teacher workday for staff. These conditions are not only hindering bus transportation, but are also limiting the number of staff able to travel safely. Thank you for your understanding.
IMPORTANT PUBLIC NOTICE- PowerSchool Cybersecurity Incident
Recipients: Current and Former Parents, Staff and Students
On Tuesday, January 7, PowerSchool alerted North Carolina public schools to a cybersecurity incident impacting student and teacher data across their global client base, including school systems in multiple states. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) notified us on January 11 that PowerSchool confirmed that the threat had been contained and that the compromised data was not shared and had been destroyed. For additional information concerning the breach and measures to protect against identity theft, please see the memorandum on our website at https://www.swain.k12.nc.us/article/1962300
🌟 Weekly Act of Kindness Challenge 🌟
Message of the Week:
A new week is a new opportunity to make a difference—not just by your actions, but by how you prepare your mind and heart to be kind. Kindness doesn’t always happen by accident; it happens when you take the time to think about how you can make someone’s day better. By being intentional with your thoughts, you set the stage for a week filled with positive actions. Kindness starts in your mind and grows through your actions.
💡 Challenge for the Week:
This week, take 5 minutes each day to sit quietly and think on how you will show kindness:
Find a calm, quiet place.
Close your eyes and think about the people around you—your classmates, teachers, family, and friends.
Ask yourself:
-Who might need encouragement?
-Who could use a smile or a kind word?
-How can I help make their day better?
Set one small goal for yourself to act on that kindness.
There will be no school for students on January 10, 2025. It will be an Annual Leave day for 10 month employees.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE for Wednesday Jan 8th
11 o'clock start for schools
Swain County Schools will be closed for students on January 7, 2025 and it will be an Optional Teacher Workday for Staff.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE
🌟 Weekly Act of Kindness Challenge 🌟
A new year means new opportunities to grow, learn, and make a difference—not just for others, but for yourself. Starting fresh in 2025 is a gift, a chance to practice self-kindness and take control of the things you want to improve.
✅ If your grades weren’t where you wanted them to be, you can fix that.
✅ If you struggled to get assignments turned in, you can fix that.
✅ If there were moments when you weren’t as kind or supportive as you could have been, you can make that right.
Being kind to yourself means giving yourself the chance to grow, learn from the past, and take steps toward the future you want. Don’t waste this valuable time in your life. Act now. Be your best self this semester, this year. Want it! Everyone at Swain Middle School believes in you—but do you believe in yourself?
💡 Challenge for the Week:
This week, practice self-kindness by setting one meaningful goal for the second semester or for 2025.
Your Maroon Devil wrestlers finished 2nd in their conference meet on Wednesday. Congratulations to Ary Menaka 3rd place, Max Wells 3rd place, Elijah Pruitt 2nd place, Seaborn Bradley 1st place, Brooks Dietz 3rd place, Maddox Gunter 1st place, Magnus Clark 2nd place, Coleman Green 2nd place, George Willis 2nd place, Sebastian Hurst 4th place, Sam Brady 3rd place, Bentley Coday 1st place, Tyler Pipkin 4th place, Kam Pursley 1st place.
Good luck to our Maroon Devil wrestlers tonight as they travel to Andrews for their conference tournament. Start time is 5pm.
Congratulations to our Lady Devils wrestling as they are your tournament champions!!!
Leela Dejarnett 1st , Elsie Mae Clayton 2nd, Lundyn Hunt 2nd, Eliana Cutler 3rd, Madison Riley 2nd, Wadulisi Sluder 3rd, Genevieve Raya 2nd, Tyla Jackson 1st, Janelle Martinez 3rd, Izabella Ponton 1st, Lily Milsaps 2nd, Anela Hornbuckle 2nd, Alexis Tranter 1st
Staff enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate today🎄
Lady Devils basketball pick up a win last night against Andrews.
Join us tonight to watch your Lady Devils wrestling team take the mat. Matches start at 5.
Maroon Devil basketball travels to Andrews tonight to face the Wildcats. Game time is at 4.
Players of the week
Basketball: Brae Lambert and Brennley Ball
Wrestling: Coleman Green and Elsie Mae Clayton
Maroon Meeting Special Christmas Edition. Our wonderful admin brings laughter and joy to all the students!
Thank you PTO for the Hot Chocolate Bar. It was a nice treat on a rainy day!
Exciting News From Swain Middle School!
Last week, Mr. Cook's Introduction to Computer Science class achieved a 100% pass rate—a major milestone as they became the first group in Swain County, and possibly the region, to meet North Carolina's new computer science graduation requirement. Of the 17 students, 11 earned an "A," with 4 achieving perfect scores.
Congratulations to Mr. Cook and his students for setting the standard and getting a head start on this exciting new requirement!
As 2024 draws to a close, this week marks the last week of school in 2024. Before we enter 2025, take a moment to reflect on the year that has passed. Think about your interactions—with friends, family, coworkers, classmates, and even people you've just shared a brief moment with.
💭 Ask yourself:
Was I kind?
Was I a peacemaker or a drama-maker?
Did I lift someone up, or did I tear someone down?
🌟 This week’s challenge: Reflect on the kindness challenges we’ve shared throughout the first semester. Pick one, revisit it, and make it your mission to spread as much kindness as you can this week. Whether it’s writing a note of encouragement, helping someone in need, or offering a simple smile—let’s end 2024 strong by making kindness our legacy.
✨ Your actions today can shape someone’s tomorrow. Let’s make this week one of kindness and positivity to close out 2024!
