We continue working towards creating an environment where EVERY student is successful. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to providing our students with the very best learning experiences and opportunities. We recognize that our children must be prepared as they transition to each grade level PreK-12 and beyond. In order to best serve our students, we provide everyone in the building with high expectations for their learning and deep engagement in every classroom.

Vision: Sulphur Springs STEAM Leaders are Empowered to Solve Problems.

Daily Actions: We are Respectful, Confident, Encouraging and Kind.

Alignment: PreK-12 Connections

Dear Families,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break and was able to relax and enjoy time with family. We were excited to welcome our students back to school this week, and they returned to some exciting upgrades.

Our cafeteria has been completely refreshed with new paint, flooring, and furniture, and it looks amazing. We are incredibly grateful to our school board for their support in making this vision a reality. In addition, a new roster board has been installed thanks to the generosity of Booster Club Athletics.

On Monday evening, we held our Beta Club Induction Ceremony. We are so proud of the students who were inducted, as well as those who helped lead and welcome new members. This organization recognizes students not only for academic achievement, but also for their character and leadership. A special thank you to Beta Club sponsor, Coach Fox, for the time and care you invest in our students.

On Wednesday, we hosted our second All-Pro Dads meeting. It continues to be a great opportunity for families to spend intentional time together and enjoy a few donuts.

Looking ahead to next week, we hope you will join us for a community meeting with Mr. Boyd on Monday at 5:30 PM in the Little Theatre. Mr. Boyd is eager to engage parents and community members in reviewing and providing feedback on our district’s strategic priorities.

We appreciate your continued support and involvement in our school community. Have a great weekend!

Krissi McInturff
Principal

Slime Bucket Updates:

Week 1: 

PreK–2:   Mrs. Sifford
3–5:  Mrs. Hensley & Mrs. Adams
6–8: Ms. Hamilton 

Week 2: 

PreK–2:   Mrs. Sifford (98.9%) and Ms. Hagy (98.9%)
3–5:  Mrs. Asbury (100%)
6–8: Mr. Campbell (100%) 

Remember, the more times your homeroom has the top attendance percentage, the more chances your class has to be the winning class on April 10 and get to slime the principals! Keep up the great work!

Beta Club induction ceremony

Newly-remodeled cafeteria!

Gym updates!

All Pro Dads

This week's Golden Star recipients

Families, please take the time to answer the 2026 Sulphur Springs Title I Parent and Family Needs Assessment Survey.

Name: Eric Campbell

Role: 6th and 7th Math

What do you enjoy most about working at Sulphur Springs?: Sulphur Springs is an amazing school.  I love the family atmosphere.  I am able to bring my two sons with me and everyone treats us like family.  

What inspired you to be a teacher? My 7th grade math teacher inspired me to teach.  Mr. Correll was able to make math enjoyable.  I hope I am able to impact my students lives like he impacted mine.

What’s a fun fact or hobby you enjoy?: My wife and I love to cruise.  We go on cruises on many of our school breaks.  I also enjoy watching my kids play sports.

Our youngest learners have stepped into the roles of mini-engineers, using their "Creative Thinking Caps" to design and build incredible structures.

Towers and royal castles to cozy garden areas and family homes, the students didn't just play—they followed the Engineering Design Process.

Here is what our little builders have been mastering:

Planning & Design: Before grabbing a single block, students shared their visions for what they wanted to create.

Teamwork: Building big requires helping hands! Students practiced sharing materials and communicating their ideas with their "construction crews."

Trial & Error: Not every tower stayed up on the first try. We saw amazing persistence as students analyzed why a structure tipped over and worked together to "fix the foundation."

It’s been inspiring to watch their problem-solving skills grow as they discover which shapes stack best and how to make their structures sturdy. These early lessons in physics and collaboration are laying the groundwork for a lifetime of innovation!

Selected 7th and 8th-grade students recently got a hands-on look at their future during a visit to Northeast State Community College for their Day of Programs. The event was an immersive dive into various career paths, trading traditional textbooks for high-tech simulations and creative experiments.

The day was packed with interactive sessions that challenged students to think like professionals:

Robotics & Engineering: Students put their technical skills to the test by building and racing their own robots, learning the basics of mechanical design and speed.

Industrial Arts: Using a simulated welding machine, students practiced precision and technique in a safe, virtual environment.

Creative Technology: The boundaries of music and science blurred as students used play dough to create a working piano, exploring how circuits and conductivity work.

Augmented Reality (AR) Exploration: Using AR headsets, our learners "stepped inside" the human heart to explore its anatomy, experimented with culinary arts in a virtual kitchen, and more.

Entertainment Technology: The college's Entertainment Department provided a behind-the-scenes look at sound and lighting production, even featuring a showcase of some of our very own talented students!

The experience gave our students a valuable opportunity to connect what they learn in the classroom to real-world careers. Whether they are interested in healthcare, engineering, or the arts, the "Day of Programs" proved that the future is full of hands-on possibilities!

If you walked by our 6th-grade classroom this week, you might have thought you were looking at a vintage arcade. Students were huddled over what appeared to be pinball machines, but looks can be deceiving! These students weren't just playing a game—they were walking in the footsteps of Alan Turing, the father of modern computing.

Our 6th graders have been using specialized mechanical puzzles that mimic the logic and techniques Turing used to break "unbreakable" codes during World War II. By manipulating components to guide a path through the machine, students are essentially building the foundations of a computer program without even touching a screen.

The Challenge:
Each student is presented with a specific "set up" and a basic goal. To succeed, they must:

Analyze the Logic: Arrange mechanical components so the output matches the expected result.
Problem Solve: When the path fails, they must "debug" their arrangement, figuring out exactly where the logic broke down.
Collaborate: Students are working in small teams, bouncing creative ideas off one another to solve increasingly complex "encryption" puzzles.

It is amazing to see our students connect history with high-level problem-solving and creative thinking. They aren't just learning about the past; they are mastering the logic that powers the technology of the future!

If you can make it, come support our 3rd grade RDL Jr. team this Saturday at ETSU! Our team is named Gamecocks #340.

Johnson City, TN – 2026

What: RDL | RDL Jr. Championship

Who: Advancing Regional RDL | RDL Jr. Teams

Where: East Tennessee State University,  Johnson City, Tennessee

When: March 27th, 3 - 7 PM; and  28th, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

This exciting event will bring together students from diverse backgrounds to compete in a collaborative Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) game format. Admission is free for the general public.

• March 28: Robot Drone League Jr. Championship @ ETSU 8 am-4 pm
• March 30: Stakeholder Meeting with Mr. Boyd at SS 5:30 pm
• April 3: Good Friday: No School
• April 6: Easter Monday: No School
• April 9: Washington County Art Show @ McKinney Center 5-7 pm
• April 14: Kindergarten Grad Pictures
• April 20: TCAP Testing Begins
• April 29: All Pro Dads 7:30 am
• May 4: Kindergarten Registration (see flyer below)
• May 7: STEAM Night
• May 15: Field Day
• May 20: Awards Day
• May 21: Last Day of School (Abbreviated Day)

Flu and cold season is quickly approaching! Please make sure your kiddos are getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluids and encourage them to wash their hands frequently throughout the school day. I'm always here if you have any questions or concerns. 

Nurse Amy

Upcoming Games

Baseball and Softball

Track

Boys Soccer

School Website

Parents and Students Page

Lunch Menu and Free and Reduced Lunch Form

Sulphur Springs Elementary School

Website: https://www.wcde.org/o/sse
Location: 1518 Gray Station-Sulphur Springs Road; Jonesborough, TN 37659
Phone: 423.753.1140

Q: What are school start and end times?

A: The first bell rings at 8:00. The dismissal bell rings at 3:00.

Q: What school supplies will my child need to provide?

A: Supply lists are posted on our website.

Q: Can my child ride a bus to school?

A: Yes! We have bus routes for SSES which can be found on our district website. Please contact our director of transportation, Tony Roberts, for any questions or for more information at 423.753.1172.

Q: What kind of technology will my child have access to?

A: All students at SSES will have access to their own Chromebook. Grades 6-8 are allowed to take their Chromebooks home with them. Students must submit a completed Chromebook permission form to receive a Chromebook.

Q: I didn't see my question here, who do I ask?

A: You are always welcome to call our office at 423.753.1140. You are also always welcome to reach out to our school principal, Mrs. Krissi McInturff via email (mcinturffk@wcde.org) and she will get back to you as soon as possible.