South Middle School

Mr. Bartholow's Biking Class looks like a fun way to exercise!

Our Featured Stallion Staff is.... Mrs. Moore What is your job at South? School Counselor How long have you been at South? This is my 18th year at South. What is your favorite activity? My favorite activity this year has been hosting grade-level lunch groups and a variety of clubs. It's been really rewarding to see students in a more informal setting. Why did you pick this career? I started my career as a teacher and realized that my true passion was in supporting students beyond the classroom. I wanted to create a safe space for students and help them not only succeed academically but also navigate their emotional and personal challenges. That's what led me to further my education and become a school counselor.

Our Stallion Featured Staff is..... Ms. Underdonk! What is your job at South? I am a school counselor. How long have you been at South? I have been a school counselor since 2012. I have been in Mon County for 10 years and at South Middle for four years. What has been your favorite project or assignment you've worked on this year? I have worked closely with the WV Public Education Collaborative this year. We keep improving the program as the year progresses. We have had guest speakers like Nick Malone, who received an invitation to Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp, and Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr, who won season 6 of America's Got Talent. Why did you choose your career path? To help kids find their voices, to learn that it's okay to be different, and to help them grow.

Our Stallion Featured Teacher is..... Mrs. Rowan! What do you teach at South? I teach 8th grade Science. How long have you been at South? 10 years What has been your favorite project or assignment you've worked on this year? Having the students create DNA keychains and having the students create and carry out their own investigations is always very interesting to watch. Why did you choose your career path? I feel like I am good at teaching, and I enjoy feeling like I make a difference in the lives of many children.

Our Stallion Featured Teacher is..... Ms. Hribar! What do you teach? I teach 6th grade math. How long have you been at South? This is my 12th year at South. What has been your favorite project or assignment you've worked on this year? There have been several activities that I have enjoyed this year. Providing students with opportunities to work collaboratively and actively participate in real-world investigations such as 3 Act Tasks, digital escape rooms, and mini projects are some of my favorites. Why did you choose your career path? I knew I wanted to be a teacher at a very early age, and math has always been my favorite subject. I find joy in seeing students overcome challenges and grasp difficult concepts. These "lightbulb moments" not only boost students' confidence but also reinforce my love of teaching. It is my goal to create a supportive and safe learning environment to help lessen math anxiety and encourage all students to participate. Approaching teaching with compassion helps students feel valued and capable, fostering a positive attitude towards math.

Our Stallion Featured Teacher is..... Mr. Overstreet! What do you teach at South? I teach 7th grade math and 6th and 7th grade Discover Your Future. Discover Your Future is a career class that helps students plan and think about careers after high school. How long have you been at South? Finishing my 6th year. This is my 19th year in education, having 8 years in Kentucky and 11 years here in West Virginia. What has been your favorite project or assignment you've worked on this year? There's a lot of great projects that we've done. My favorite project/assignment has to be our garden. The students wanted something to call their own. We decided to work on the garden. To see the students really enjoying and really invested in this is something that I love to see students do. Why did you choose your career path? I had some amazing teachers in my schooling that challenged me to think independently and collectively. These teachers have had a lasting impact on my life. As a teacher, you feel that you are helping and molding students' lives, just like the former educators that have been an impact on my life. Some areas (whether math or career) are challenging, but those moments define who you are and what type of character you will have! Mr. Overstreet is also starting a School Garden Project. Thank you for introducing new projects to our South students!

We love our ELA/Reading Teams!

Our Stallion Math Teams! We appreciate you all!

Our Amazing Science Teachers!

Thank you to our Social Studies teams!

Our Stallion Featured Teacher is...... Ms. Conley What do you teach at South? WV Studies & History Bowl Advisor How long have you been at South? 10th year at South What has been your favorite project or assignment you've worked on this year? My favorite project is what we are currently working on which is a WV Exploratory project - where they research or create a place or places of interest to them. Why did you choose your career path? I became a teacher because I love history and I wanted every child that I could reach to know they always have a safe space if they needed it. Ms. Conley is one of our History Bowl Coaches and helps run our school PBIS program! Thank you for all you do to make our school a better place!

Our Stallion Featured Teacher is....... Mr. Ratliff! What do you teach at South? Gifted/ Academic Enrichment How long have you been at South? This is my 8th year. What has been your favorite project or assignment you've worked on this year? My students made miniature haunted houses out of cardboard. I always enjoy this activity because it allows the students to showcase their creativity. Why did you choose your career path? I became a teacher because I want to make learning enjoyable and meaningful for students. Building strong relationships and creating a fun, engaging classroom environment is at the heart of everything I do.

We had a great 1st day of Math GSA testing! Keep up the good work Stallions! May 6 & 7 WVGSA Math May 8 & 9 WVGSA Reading/ELA May 13 & 14 WVGSA Science (8th grade only)

Our Stallion Featured Teacher is............. Ms. Farley What do you teach at South? Enrichment and English Language Arts 8 How long have you been at South? This is my 4th year full-time and my 5th year altogether. What has been your favorite project or assignment you've worked on this year? My favorite project this year has been either World-Building in Academic Enrichment or character soundtracks in ELA. Why did you choose your career path? Early in my career in journalism, I worked two part-time jobs at the same time: one as a proofreader correcting the grammar of middle-aged men and another developing and implementing summer learning programs at a recreational youth center. I soon realized that one of those jobs was MUCH more rewarding and enjoyable than the other! As soon as I had the chance, I went back to school to get the education credits I needed to add to my English degree to secure my teaching certification. Ms. Farley coaches our South Drone Team and is also a coach for our History Bowl Team. Thank you for all!

Our Stallion Featured Teacher is ...... Ms. DeLuca Nestor! I teach 8th-grade science, but my true passion lies in building relationships, guiding students, and creating meaningful opportunities for their growth. I strive to prepare them for careers that don’t yet exist by helping them become lifelong learners and equipping them with a toolbox of skills to think critically and solve problems. I have been a teacher at South Middle since 2010. Before coming to South, I taught for eight years in Tucker County. One of my favorite assignments came at the beginning of the year when students designed an 'About Me' hoodie to share their personal stories. I held individual conferences with each student during the project, which allowed me to build strong connections and learn about their unique backgrounds. It was a great way to kick off the school year. I also enjoy when students play the 'Let It Flow' game, where they take on the role of organisms in an ecosystem to demonstrate how energy is transferred. Through interactive play, they experience the balance of survival; some organisms thrive while others die, bringing science to life in a fun and memorable way. I also love working with my student council and delivering Stomps to celebrate others. I come from a long line of educators and have always felt called to serve others. For me,     there’s no better way to do that than by creating opportunities for future generations.        Nothing brings me more joy than seeing former students happy, thriving, and living their best lives. I believe in my students and am committed to helping them build brighter, more      meaningful futures. Ms. DeLuca Nestor also runs our Student Council program. She helps organize all those Stallion Stomps. Thank you for all you do for students!

Our Stallion Featured Teacher is....... What do you teach at South? I am the Media Coordinator, and I co-teach STEM and Girl's STEM with Mr. McIntyre. How long have you been at South? I have taught at South for a little over 10 years. What has been your favorite project or assignment you've worked on this year? Picking favorites is hard!! In Library Skills, I really love showing kids how you can use Google Maps as a research tool. For STEM classes, my favorite project is whatever one helps a student to feel successful, smart, and intuitive. For example, if a student, who sees mathematics as useless, feels successful using measurements and finding area during a build project, then that is my favorite project. Their success and accomplishment are my favorite projects. Why did you choose your career path? The library is one of the areas of the school that reaches a large number of students. You get to share your enthusiasm for a book, and hope that they read it and like it as well. I even appreciate it when they DON'T like a book. We can talk about why they don't like it, and reach common ground and understanding of one another. I get to talk to them about the book, the characters, the events, the lessons learned, etc. Libraries serve as a hub for a school, just as Public Libraries serve a community. I am honored to be the librarian for my students!

Our Stallion Featured Teacher is..... What do you teach at South? I teach STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). How long have you been at South? I am finishing up my 12th year of teaching at South Middle School this year. What has been your favorite project or assignment you've worked on this year? Some of my favorite projects that I have done this year have been dissecting sheep brains and pig hearts, flying drones and launching rockets, and having students create their own inventions. It's great to see students get excited about learning. Currently, we are prepping to dissect sharks, so that could top my list after next week! Why did you choose your career path? I am a lifelong learner. Education gives me the opportunity to continuously learn, and hopefully inspire others to do the same!

🍎Start planning for next year! The new 2025-26 Monongalia County Schools' calendar is now available at this link: https://5il.co/2q3ct

A big thank you to our County Chorus students!

State Testing will begin next week. Make sure to come to school on time, charge your Chromebook, and get plenty of rest.