The journey to the National Spelling Bee begins each year with millions of students competing in schools across the country. In Seminole County, students advance through grade-level, schoolwide, and countywide contests to determine our region finalist.
Congratulations to Grayson Benefield, the 2025–26 Seminole County Spelling Bee Champion, and to Emerson Roland, this year’s region alternate. Grayson will represent Seminole County at the region bee in March.
We are proud of both students for their hard work and dedication!
Our Youth Leadership group joined youth leaders from Miller County today for a joint leadership session featuring a panel of local and state leaders. Students had the opportunity to ask questions, engage in meaningful conversation, and learn more about the roles, responsibilities, and impact of each position represented.
Panelists included:
Sam Watson – Georgia State Senate
Gerald Greene – Georgia State Representative
Mark Earnest – Seminole County Superintendent
Michael Keown – Miller County Superintendent
Michael Kirkland – Facilitator
This collaborative experience allowed students to deepen their understanding of government, education leadership, and civic engagement. We are proud of how confidently and thoughtfully our students represented Seminole County.
On November 20th, the McFadden Nature Center welcomed the 7th grade class for an exciting day of hands-on exploration and outdoor learning. As students arrived, the Center staff had multiple interactive learning stations prepared, each designed to spark curiosity and deepen scientific understanding.
Students rotated through three engaging activities: a wildlife station, a density station, and a wetland walk. At the wildlife station, students examined skulls and animal furs up close and even participated in an invasive species game that demonstrated how non-native organisms can overpower an ecosystem. The density station offered a surprising challenge—students tested buoyancy by floating objects such as bowling balls and feathers, prompting great discussions and even more amazement.
The wetland walk was a highlight for many. Along the trail, students identified native birds, observed a small alligator, and studied the trees and habitats that support life in the wetland ecosystem.
After lunch, the afternoon brought a new round of adventure as students practiced shooting magnetic arrows and tried their hand at disc golf. Before departing, the McFadden Nature Center surprised everyone with stickers and pencils—a fun souvenir of a day well spent outdoors.
This memorable field experience offered students a chance to connect classroom learning with the natural world, all while exploring, asking questions, and getting their hands a little muddy. A wonderful day of science in action!
Seminole County Middle School Spelling Bee
Congratulations to all the grade-level and schoolwide winners of the 2025-26 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Eighth grader Grayson Benefield is the new SCMS Spelling Bee Champion and will compete later this week in the county-wide spelling bee. The Seminole County Spelling Bee champion will advance to the region competition in March. Good luck to Grayson in the county-wide bee!
i-Ready Diagnostic Results
Our students are making strong strides in both math and reading. In math, 55% of students have already met their Typical Growth target—a benchmark they are expected to reach by the end of the school year. That’s a powerful indicator that our instruction, interventions, and daily student effort are pushing growth in the right direction.
Reading is also moving in a positive direction. So far, 41% of assessed students have already met their Typical Growth target, with additional students still completing diagnostics. While we have more work ahead, this early momentum shows real promise.
Overall, these results reflect thoughtful instruction, consistent expectations, and a whole lot of perseverance from our students.
The SCMHS Band and Chorus will present a Christmas Concert on December 11, 2025 at 6:30 at the Middle High School cafeteria. The cost is $5 per person. Come and enjoy some Holiday Harmonies from our SCMHS students!
Help the Student Council make a difference this Christmas!
Starting December 8, bring canned food items to your Tribe teacher.
The Tribe with the highest total will earn Nations Points and bragging rights!
Let’s come together as Seminole County Middle High School and brighten the holidays for families in need!
The tournament scheduled for this Saturday, December 5, has been rescheduled for Saturday, December 20
Seminole vs Miller Basketball
We will host our first home basketball game on Friday, December 5, 2025. The girls' game starts at 6:00 PM. We will have a special gym dedication ceremony between the girls' and boys' games around 7:00 PM. This game is against our rivals, the Miller County Pirates. Students can purchase $1 tickets from the front office on Friday. We want to "GREEN OUT" the gymnasium, so come on out, wear your green, and support your Indians!
Our Fall Esports Team wrapped up an impressive postseason run after an exceptional season that carried them all the way to the Sweet Sixteen of the state playoffs—an outstanding accomplishment for both our program and Seminole County High School.
During their playoff match, the team was performing at a high level and was on track to defeat the number-two ranked team in Georgia. Unfortunately, a sudden power outage at the school caused an unexpected loss of connection. Despite efforts to reconnect, league rules required an automatic forfeit.
Although the ending was disappointing, our players demonstrated remarkable skill, dedication, and sportsmanship from start to finish. They represented SCHS with pride and proved that our Esports program can stand toe-to-toe with the top teams in the state. We are extremely proud of their hard work and accomplishments this season.
School Resource Officer Lawson & K-9 Magic Bring Home Top Honors
Seminole County Middle High School is proud to recognize School Resource Officer Jeffrey Lawson and his K-9 partner, Magic, for their outstanding performance at the South Georgia K-9 Workshop, hosted by the Dooly and Houston County Sheriff’s Offices. This event brought together highly trained K-9 units from across the region for intensive training, collaboration, and skill-based competitions.
Officer Lawson and Magic represented Seminole County with excellence, participating in a variety of detection and handling exercises throughout the workshop. Magic impressed everyone with his exceptional scent-tracking abilities, earning 1st Place Top Nose—the highest recognition for detection work at the event. This award highlights Magic’s sharp skills, strong work ethic, and the dedication Officer Lawson puts into training and partnership.
We are incredibly proud of Officer Lawson and Magic for their commitment to keeping our campus and community safe. Their success at this regional workshop is a testament to the professionalism and dedication they bring to Seminole County every day. Congratulations to SRO Lawson and K-9 Magic on this impressive achievement!
The annual fall leadership competition conference training gives students the opportunity to learn vital leadership, work readiness, employability, and communication skills. Students compete in an Academic Quiz Bowl, which incorporates core classes, helping students practice effective test-taking skills. FLC includes a formal dinner in the beautiful grand ballroom, where students learn and explore social skills and business etiquette needed for a helpful transition after high school. The training offers access to business and industry tours, connections to post-secondary education, and numerous breakout sessions covering topics such as dress for success, financial management, interviewing skills, self-advocacy, self-regulation tools, and much more.
