Letter From Principal Bedford

Hello Smallville!

I hope you had a great week and are looking forward to the weekend! Thank you again to all of our amazing teaching assistants. For Teacher Assistant Appreciation Week, we highlighted their positive impact on our campus and the joy they bring to all of us.

I love the fall season, it brings so many exciting events to our campus. Tonight, we’re kicking things off with our first dance of the year: Noche Latina! I’m sure our Cougars will have a blast dancing the night away.

Next Tuesday is Homecoming! We’ve got a pep rally planned, and that evening our Cougar Football team will take on the Paredes Pumas at Burger Stadium. Everyone’s excited about the fun spirit days we have planned to celebrate Homecoming. I’ll be dusting off my cowboy boots to join in on Monday!

Looking ahead, our annual Fall Festival is happening next Saturday! There will be games, food, and pumpkins, lots of pumpkins. We hope to see you there!

And we’ve got some exciting news, two new Cougars have joined the Smallville crew! Please help us welcome our newest cattle additions to campus. Right now, their names are Johnny and Howdy, but at the Fall Festival, you’ll have the chance to suggest names. Final names will be announced soon after! We’re always looking for ways to elevate and enrich our programming pathways, and we’re excited for the unique learning experiences our new friends will bring.

Enjoy the nice weather and have an amazing weekend!

Stay Present,
Bedford

Homecoming Game!

Homecoming Spirit Week

🐮 Welcome Our New Cows! 🐮

Our livestock family is growing, and we’re so excited to introduce two new adorable additions:

✨ A 1 1/2-year-old Miniature Highland
✨ A 3-month-old Miniature Longhorn

They’re sweet, curious, and ready to meet YOU!

But wait… they don’t have names yet! 🎉

Come to Fall Fest and enter our Name the Cows Drawing for a chance to officially name them!

📅 When: Next Saturday, October 4th from 10 t0 2 PM
📍 Where: Clint Small Football Field

Bring the family, enjoy the fun, and help us welcome our newest barnyard friends! See our preorder below!

Thank You for Supporting Our Teachers!

A huge thank you to all the parents and families who have been so generous in purchasing items from our teachers’ wishlists! Your support makes a big difference in helping our staff create the best possible learning environment for our students.

One quick favor: when donating, especially through Amazon or other delivery services, please be sure to include the teacher’s name (or program/department) in the gift note or order details. With over 80 teachers and multiple events happening at once, it can sometimes be hard for us to know who each item is meant for.

Your thoughtfulness and attention to this small detail helps us make sure every item gets to the right place quickly. Thank you again for your generosity and for continuing to support our amazing staff!

Soccer Tryouts

The boys' soccer season starts on Oct 21st. Tryouts will be held Oct 21-24, and we anticipate to have the squad finalized by Monday, Oct 27th. A completed physical is necessary to try out. New for this year is that the physical form needs to be uploaded by the parent to the Rank One portal -

Please contact coaches Ben Chiovaro or Tony Johansson for questions.

Pumpkin Pre-Sales Now Open!

🎃 Skip the Line – Pre-Buy Your Pumpkins & Tickets! 🎟️

Make Fall Fest day easy! Pre-purchase your pumpkins and game tickets now, and we’ll have a ready-to-go envelope waiting for you at the ticket booth. Just swing by, grab your packet, and head straight to the fun!

When you pre-buy, you’re not only saving time—you’re also helping us get a strong start by providing the funds we need to bring this event to life. 🌟

👉 Don’t wait—secure your pumpkins and tickets today and be part of making Fall Fest unforgettable!

Reminder this fundraiser is a no refund event

A Message from our Counselor's

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As your child navigates the middle school years, they’re experiencing one of the most transformative periods of life—physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively. These changes can be exciting, confusing, and sometimes challenging—for both teens and the adults who care for them. Teen behavior can feel like a whirlwind—sometimes thoughtful and mature, other times impulsive and unpredictable. But beneath it all is a brain and body undergoing massive transformation physically, emotionally, socially, and neurologically. It’s not just “growing up”; it’s a full-scale remodeling of their brain, identity, and relationships. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect, and how to interpret it through a developmental lens:

Cognitive Shifts: Abstract Thinking & Identity Formation: Teens begin to think more deeply about values, beliefs, and their place in the world. Expect questioning of rules, pushback on authority, and philosophical “what’s the point?” moments. They may test boundaries not to defy you, but to define themselves.
Emotional Intensity & Mood Swings: Hormonal changes amplify emotions—joy, anger, sadness, and anxiety can spike quickly. They may seem hypersensitive or withdrawn one moment, then silly and social the next. Validation and calm presence go further than correction during emotional storms.
Social Priorities & Peer Influence: Friends become central to their identity and decision-making. Peer approval often outweighs adult guidance, even when they know better. Expect shifts in language, style, and interests as they explore group belonging.
Executive Function Still Developing: Planning, time management, and impulse control are still under construction. Forgetting assignments, procrastinating, or making risky choices isn’t laziness—it’s neurological. Gentle scaffolding (reminders, routines, visual aids) helps build these skills.
Communication Style Blunt, Brief, or Silent: Teens may communicate in one-word answers or sarcasm—not necessarily disrespect, but discomfort. They often prefer texting or indirect communication over face-to-face talks. Creating low-pressure opportunities to talk (car rides, shared tasks) can open doors.
Values & Moral Reasoning: They begin forming their own ethical compass, often challenging family norms. Expect debates, strong opinions, and occasional contradictions. These are signs of growth, not rebellion.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time dedicated to breaking stigma, spreading hope, and connecting people to life-saving resources. It’s not just about raising awareness—it’s about fostering real conversations and building a culture of compassion and support. For guidance on how to support your child around the topic of suicide, this link offers helpful insights and resources.

Sponsors NEEDED

🍂🎃 We Need Your Help to Make Fall Fest Amazing! 🎃🍂

As many of you know, the current district budget deficit has affected our school in a lot of small (but important!) ways. Things the district used to cover are no longer funded—so if we want to keep them, we have to raise the money ourselves.

That’s where Fall Fest comes in! 💛

This fundraiser directly supports every department that participates—Math, Science, Language Arts, Life Skills, Art, Library, Green, and more. The more successful the event, the more money goes right back into classrooms and programs that support your kids. 🙌

✨ How you can help:

🎃 Join us Oct. 4 | 10–2 → Buy pumpkins, play games, enjoy food & fun! Tell your friends this is a community event. Presales OPEN NOW, buy your Pumpkins and Tickets TODAY!
💪 Volunteer → Help run booths, games, or activities. Sign-up Here
🛒 Shop our Amazon Wishlist → Donate prizes & supplies to keep our costs low. https://a.co/5YBeYaP
🌟 Be a Big Sponsor → Cover the cost of pumpkins, an inflatable, or other big-ticket items to make the event a success. https://clint-small-fall-fest-saturday-oct-4th-10-am-2-pm-c.cheddarup.com

Every bit of support—big or small—makes a huge difference. Together, we can make this the best Fall Fest yet and give our kids the resources they deserve.

👉 Want to sponsor or learn more? Click the links above, or Email us at president@clintsmallmspta.org.

Let’s do this, Small families! 💚

Gifted and Talented

Art Dept Fundraiser

Cougar Community! Please consider contributing a donation to the Clint Small Middle School Snap! Raise crowdfunding campaign. Access to funds is made infinitely easier through this platform. Snap! Raise continues to be an essential tool as we navigate into times where having access to meaningful materials for significant art experiences becomes more and more challenged by access to funding. This campaign benefits the 600 or so students who are currently enrolled in 18 art classes shared by art teachers Andrea Levine, Janelle Mendoza, and Fred Tabares. All amounts great or Small are appreciated and can be contributed at the following link: https://raise.snap.app/donate/small-middle-school-art-2025 Thank you all for your support, and- Go Cougars!

PTA News

Fall Fest Volunteers

Fall Fest is just one week away and we still are in need of many volunteers to help with the event! We can't do it without you- our volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization.

Please look at the SIGN UP and help with a shift where you are able.

Cougar Cage Trainers Needed!

We have quite a few days coming up that only have a volunteer without experience signed up and we would love to get all these new volunteers trained and helping in the cage!

Even if you can only volunteer during sixth grade lunch (11:15- 12:00), that would be a great way to still show new volunteers the whole process and get them trained.

If you are already signed up with a buddy but would be willing to add another slot for a trainee, please let our Volunteer Coordinator Lauren know and she can add space for another person: renhagg@gmail.com.

The dates we are looking for help are: 10/1, 10/3, 10/9, 10/14, 10/17

Connect with the PTA

Our PTA Facebook, Instagram and Linktree pages are a great way to stay up to date and make sure you never miss volunteer opportunities, event details, meeting info and more! Be sure to like us on your social platforms so you see everything we're sharing that's PTA related.

https://www.facebook.com/smallmspta

https://www.instagram.com/smallmspta

https://linktr.ee/smallmspta

Join the PTA!

Become a member of our amazing CSMS PTA today!

Cougars Traveling the World

Educational Travel Programs at Small

At Clint Small Middle School, we are proud to have multiple teachers who sponsor Educational Travel Programs each year. These programs are structured group trips for students, organized in partnership with professional travel providers. The providers take care of the big details—like flights, hotels, meals, guides, and safety—while our teachers lead the learning side of the experience.

What is an Educational Travel Program?
An Educational Travel Program is more than just a trip. It’s an opportunity for students to step outside the classroom and experience history, culture, and language firsthand. Whether exploring another U.S. city or traveling abroad, students gain independence, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the world.

Why might families be interested?

Students experience hands-on learning tied to classroom topics.
Travel builds maturity, problem-solving, and independence.
Professional travel companies provide safety, structure, and support 24/7.
Payment plans and group arrangements make these experiences more accessible than traveling on your own.

👉 With multiple teachers sponsoring programs, families can choose from a variety of destinations and opportunities that best fit their student’s interests.

Here is a list of upcoming opportunities

Trips in 2026

Trips in 2027