✏️ Sign Up to Host a Spring Mixer and Support SMS!

2/16/2026 11:43 am

Mixers are one of our most impactful (and fun!) fundraisers of the year. Hosted by SMS families, these small gatherings bring our community together while raising critical funds for our school.

Whether it’s a kids’ pizza party, family movie night, or adults-only trivia or dinner, Mixers are flexible, creative, and meaningful. Hosts cover event costs as their donation, and ticket sales go directly to the PTA.

Mixers run from mid-March through early June—and anyone can participate.

Interested in hosting or learning more? Click here to sign up or reach out to April Atherton (april.atherton@gmail.com) and Liz Meny (elizabeth.meny@gmail.com).

Get Ready for World Fest 2026!

2/16/2026 11:43 am

We are excitedly beginning to plan World Fest 2026 (April 23, 5:30-7:30 pm, the Annex).  It’s our biennial celebration of the kaleidoscope of cultures in our community through food, live performance, and other activities.  

The event is entirely volunteer-driven: we rely on families to bring food, or games or crafts, representing their or another culture or tradition to share, and seek performers from within the school and local community to present a cultural art or talent. The goal is to bring our community together to honor its diversity, promote understanding, and foster a strong sense of belonging for all of its members. 

We need your help!  Here’s how you can participate:

• Sign up to bring a dish or a game or craft to share

• Volunteer to sing, play music, dance, or present another aspect of traditional culture 

• Help us find amateur or other performers who would be willing to perform on a volunteer basis and secure donated food from local restaurants to supplement the contributions of SMS families

Email us at ptasouthmountain@gmail.com if you are interested or can assist.

We hope you will help us create a fun and meaningful celebration!

Green Team Updates

1/21/2026 5:49 pm

Compost Volunteers Needed

Thanks to all who have volunteered for the composting program!  Our students have diverted over 2,400 lbs of food waste from landfills since we launched composting in October  That's a lot of sandwich crusts and orange peels! 

Because the kids largely have the hang of it, we will be reducing our volunteer coverage to 1 volunteer per time slot.  Please consider signing up to support this important sustainability effort (bonus perk: a midday sighting of your student in their natural habitat). Slots are now open through the end of April:

Big School Sign Up

Annex Sign Up

Upcoming Green Team Meetings (Big School)

Friday, February 27, 8:15-9 am

Friday, March 27, 8:15-9 am

Friday, April 17, 8:15-9 am

Friday, May 15, 8:15-9 am

Friday, June 12, 8:15-9 am

Important Tips & Reminders

PTA Homepage:  Please bookmark: https://smsuperstars.com.  Here you'll find school supply lists, volunteer opportunities, contact information for school staff, and the school calendar.  If you sign up to receive calendar updates, you can arrange for your personal calendar to be autopopulated with the school district and/or SMS calendar, including days off and school events.

PowerSchool:  https://somsd.powerschool.com/public.  The school district transmits teacher assignments, report cards and forms via the PowerSchool parent portal.

Changes in dismissal:  If you plan to vary your normal dismissal method on a given day, such as having your child picked up early or by someone else, notify the school of the change by emailing smsASAP@somsd.k12.nj.us and your child's teacher.

Absences:  Report your child absent by calling the school and leaving a detailed message per the prompts.  Reach the Annex at 973-378-2801 and the Big School at 973-378-5216.

Update Your Account Information

Don't forget to update your family's account information for this school year on our homepage.  Even if you registered in the past, you must update your account each year in order to activate your account status and to ensure that you receive the most up-to-date and relevant information from us.

To update and activate your account, sign in to My Account and complete the Parent/Guardian and Student Information.

Join the PTA!

The South Mountain School (SMS) PTA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization that fosters a partnership between SMS families, teachers, and staff to support student growth.

We encourage every family to join and help us build a strong, inclusive community. Membership shows your commitment to SMS and offers a chance to connect with others.

Join Now and become a member today!

Volunteer at SMS

We’re always looking for helping hands! Volunteering at PTA events is a fun, easy way to connect with other families and make a big difference for our kids. Whether you have an hour or a whole afternoon, there’s a place for you. Take a look at our Volunteer Interest Form.