Sunset Middle

School Website

School Colors
Navy Blue, Titan Blue, Orange

School Mascot
Saber

Principal
Dr. Jason Pearson

Assistant Principal/Administrative Assistant
Ms. Nancy C. Weatherman

Enrollment 661
6th - 228
7th - 230
8th - 203

Zoning Maps

School History
Sunset Middle School is a public school in Williamson County which opened for the 2006/2007 school year with students in grades six and seven.  Sunset Middle School was built to meet the needs of the growing student population, and will include grades six through eight beginning with the 2007/2008 school year.  Sunset Middle’s current enrollment is 387.

Community
Sunset Middle School services the communities of Nolensville and Brentwood.  The area encompasses community subdivisions, rural single family homes, apartments, and gated communities.  The residents are predominantly professional people classified in the middle to upper income brackets.  Parents are extremely supportive and involved in the Sunset Middle School Community.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parents will receive a progress report during the middle of each quarter. Parents who have questions can address their concern(s) with the teacher or the guidance counselors. Teachers will schedule parent-teacher conferences each semester. All other parent conferences are held at mutually convenient times.

Parent Support Organization
Parents and faculty are committed to working together to benefit our students.  Sunset Middle has a very active PTO that supports all aspects of student life.

Library/Media Center

The Sunset Middle School Library and Technology Center offers library services and maximum access to books, media, technology, and resources based on the needs of students, faculty, administration, and staff centered on student mastery of information literacy, independent learning, and social responsibility and to meet demands of the curriculum, individual assignments, and developmental needs of our diverse student population . . .

• by providing intellectual and physical access to materials in all formats,
• by providing instruction to foster competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, and using information and ideas,
• by collaborating with educators to design learning strategies and to choose resources to meet the needs of individual students,
• and by encouraging students to seek information and enjoy reading for assignments and lifelong learning.

Rhonda Watson, SSMS Librarian, and Mrs. Barbara Pigg, Library Assistant, with the help of several volunteers, provide library services and maintain operation of the SSMS Library and Technology Center from 7:20 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. or later as needs arise on school days.  Schedules are maintained to promote maximum use of resources and technology within the school.  Our staff is committed to providing enthusiastic support of reading in all formats as a means of lifelong learning, enjoyment, a penchant for discovery, and success in the classroom and in life. 

The SSMS Library and Technology Center proudly provides access to 11,000 books and professional books, 48 periodicals, 24 professional journals, 125 computers with access to many databases and online resources for students and teachers from WCS Network, 3 printers, projectors, speakers, TVs, cameras, DVD players, 4 SmartBoards, 12 whiteboards, and other resources.   

Academics
The curriculum at Sunset Middle School includes the following: Communication Arts; Math; Social Studies; and Science.  Sunset Middle School uses the “team” concept, which divides grades into academic teams of teacher and students.  Teaming creates a feeling of membership in a smaller setting.  Better communication and collaboration between faculty, students, and parents are other benefits of using the team format.  Furthermore, all special education students are included in the general education and enrichment classes. The day consists of three 90 minutes academic blocks and two 45 minute related arts block.  Over the course of the middle school experience, students participate in the following related arts classes: life skills, art, music, Spanish, multi-media, and physical education.  Students may opt to spend one of their 45 minute blocks to participate in a year long course study in band or chorus. 

Tutoring
Several teachers offer tutoring at no cost to the students before and after school. This program typically begins in October.  Please contact your student’s teacher for specific information.

Guidance
The counseling department at Sunset Middle School has one full time counselor working with the student population.  Our school counselor is a trained professional with a Master’s degree plus thirty hours with twenty four years of experience, who advocates for students and supports parents, staff, and the community. She provides services to students focusing on the students’ needs in three areas: academic development, personal/social development, and career development. The counselor helps students choose positive behaviors through counseling, consulting, and coordinating.

Special Education Services
Sunset Middle School has a variety of support services designed to meet the needs of students at risk in the learning environment.  In addition to one school counselor, a range of services are provided by a school psychologist and psychologist intern, a speech/language pathologist, a gifted consultant, a school nurse, an ELL teacher, and a  STARS (Students Taking Right Stand) counselor.  A process is in place for teachers and parents to access needed support for direct consultation and intervention as needed. 

Sunset Middle School has one part-time ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher that serves seventeen ELL (English Language Learner) students.  The district total of limited English proficient students is 419 (1.7%)

STARS
Sunset Middle School offers an assistance program, Students Taking a Right Stand (STARS) against drugs, alcohol, and violence.  This program helps students make positive life choices as they enter adolescence.  

Athletics
In addition to academic curriculum, Sunset Middle School offers students a variety of co-curricular activities.  Sunset Middle School offers the following major sports: football, volleyball, cross-country, tennis, soccer, wrestling, basketball, baseball, softball, track and field, dance team, and cheerleading. 

Extra Curricular Activities
Sunset Middle School also offers the following clubs and activities: yearbook, science club, art club, student council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), drama, reading club, Destination Imagination and Geography Bee.