FMS SMORE PARENT NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 24-26

• NO SCHOOL - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

DECEMBER 7

• BASKETBALL FMS @ VANCE MS (boys and girls games are always on the same days)

DECEMBER 8

• EARLY RELEASE

DECEMBER 9

• BASKETBALL FMS @ BUNN MS

DECEMBER 13

• GRADES PULLED FOR ATHLETES - athletes not passing 3/4 core classes and 1/2 Elective classes will be put on academic probation (read more below)

DECEMBER 14

• BASKETBALL HOME GAME CEDAR CREEK VS FMS

DECEMBER 16

• BASKETBALL HOME GAME TERRELL LANE VS FMS

DECEMBER 20 - JANUARY 2

• NO SCHOOL - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

JANUARY 5

• BASKETBALL HOME GAME VANCE MS VS FMS

JANUARY 10

• BASKETBALL FMS @ NORTHERN GRANVILLE

JANUARY 12

• BASKETBALL FMS @ TERRELL LANE

JANUARY 14

• LAST DAY OF QUARTER

JANUARY 17-18

• NO SCHOOL

JANUARY 20

• BASKETBALL FMS @ CEDAR CREEK

JANUARY 25

• BASKETBALL FMS @ BUTNER STEM

We listened to our parents and players!

We made some changes to more closely align with our goal to ensure that athletes are eligible to play all year long. Instead of two grade pulls a quarter, once in the middle and once at the end, there will now be one grade pull per quarter, three weeks before the end of the quarter. We feel that this will help us to focus more intently on getting those grades to being eligible right before the end of the quarter.

I AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING EXPECTATIONS AS AN ATHLETE AT FRANKLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL:

DPI ELIGIBILITY (added so there is no confusion about eligibility vs FMS eligibility)

• Eligibility to become a member of an athletic team hinges on the DPI rules for eligibility.

• Regardless of the school organization pattern, a student who is promoted from the fifth grade to the sixth grade automatically meets the courses passed requirement for the first semester of the sixth grade.

• Regarding academics, DPI states “the student must pass at least one less course than the number of required core courses each semester and meet promotion standards.” This means passing 3 out of 4 core classes with at least a 60%.

• DPI also states, “if an athlete is academically eligible or academically ineligible at the beginning of any semester, that status is retained through the full semester.”

• That means that fall sports and winter sports eligibility is based on the second semester final grades from the previous year.

• That also means that when first semester report cards come out, athletes in winter sports can become ineligible to play during the season.

• Spring sports eligibility is based on the first semester final grades.

• Note from DPI: an athlete becomes eligible or ineligible on the first day of each new semester.

FMS ELIGIBILITY

• FMS strives to maintain high academic standards for athletes, paired with support for athletes to make sure that they are successful in both sports and academics.

• Grades will be pulled three weeks before the end of each quarter.

• When grades are pulled, if a student is not passing at least 3 out of 4 core classes and at least 1 out of 2 Elective classes, that student will be put on academic probation. *Exception: when first semester final grades are in, students will automatically become ineligible for the remainder of the year if they are not passing 3 out of 4 core classes and eligible if they are passing 3 out of 4 core classes.

• Any student on academic probation will have two weeks to get their grades to FMS eligibility standards. If they prove that their grades are going to meet standards for that quarter, they are fine until the next grade pull.

• Students are encouraged to ask their teachers to go to the Alternative Learning Center to get help from Ms. Perry to get caught up.

• At the end of two weeks, if a student on academic probation has not pulled up grades to meet the standards, the principal will recommend dismissal from the team unless there is a firm plan in place to address academic concerns.

• This ensures that our athletes are supported with the goal to be eligible year-round for any sports they are interested in.

ATTENDANCE & PAPERWORK EXPECTATIONS

• If the athlete is out of school for the full school day, they may not attend a practice or game scheduled for that day.

• Being in quarantine means the athlete can't engage with the team until the full quarantine is completed.

• Every athlete should have a physical exam on record clearing them to play.

• Every athlete should be up to date on immunizations.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

ISS or minor referral Alternative Learning Center (ALC) Time Out:

• 1st and 2nd referral resulting in serving at least one full day in ALC or ISS: no practice/game any day that the student is serving a full day.

• Third referral resulting in serving at least one full day in ALC or ISS: the principal will recommend dismissal from the team.

Major referral with Out of School Suspension (OSS):

• Immediate dismissal from the team.

GRADE PULL DATES FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR:

• December 10

• February 28

• May 9

• The May 9th grade pull will be a general pull to remind students interested in participating in athletics next year that they need to focus on finishing the year as eligible to participate in athletics in the fall and winter.

• We are anticipating some large crowds this year for basketball
• Parking starts in the Athletic Facility parking lot
• The smaller parking lot on the way in can also be used
• The Franklinton Baptist Church parking lot (drop-off/pick-up parking lot) on Cheatham street can also be used (FCS owns that lot)
• You can also park on Hillsborough next to the school.
• Please don't park in "no parking" zones - you will likely get a ticket!

Ms. Gilbert’s Google Site: click here

Helpful Resources

NC211.org (or call 211)

Food Finder (FoodBank of Central NC)

Hope4NC (or call 1-855-587-3463)

TransitionsLifeCare.org (or call the Grief Line 919-719-7199)

National Domestic Violence Hotline (or call 800-799-7233)

SuicidePreventionLifeline.org (or call 800-273-8255)

National Alliance of Mental Illness/NC (or call 800-451-9682)

Cardinalinnovations.org (or call 800-939-5911)

How to Contact Ms. Gilbert:

Complete and submit this form: Counselor Request Form

Or send email to: marygilbert@fcschools.net

Or call FMS at 919-494-2971 ext. 298

FMS is participating in a service project called “20 Days of Giving” from Nov. 15th thru Dec. 15th. Each day, students and staff can bring in a designated food item for that day, and earn points for their homeroom. At the end of the project, the homeroom with the most points will win a party before winter break. Please take a look at the list here to plan daily contributions. All food collected will be donated here in Franklinton. This project is to celebrate the gratitude we have for the support we receive from the community all year, and to practice kindness by helping those in need.

Service Project for FMS!

Help FMS give back to our community by participating in “20 Days of Giving.”

Monday, November 15

Box/bag of cereal

Tuesday, November 16

Box/bag of stuffing mix

Wednesday, November 17

Canned fruit

Thursday, November 18

Jar of peanut butter

Friday, November 19

Package of pasta

Monday, November 22

Can of tomatoes

Tuesday, November 23

Box of macaroni and cheese

Monday, November 29

Cranberry sauce

Tuesday, November 30

Can/bag of beans

Wednesday, December 1

Can of chicken noodle soup

Thursday, December 2

Jar/can of spaghetti sauce

Friday, December 3

Package of rice

Monday, December 6

Canned chicken or tuna

Tuesday, December 7

Package of oatmeal

Wednesday, December 8

Box of crackers

Thursday, December 9

Boxed potatoes

Friday, December 10

Can of corn

Monday, December 13

Dessert mix

Tuesday, December 14

Can of tomato soup

Wednesday, December 15

Can of green beans

*The homeroom or staff team with the most items will win a party before winter break!!

To get credit for that day you must bring in the item listed for that day. For example, to be counted on 11/17, the item must be canned fruit, not a can of tomatoes.

**Please make sure donations have not expired and are unopened.

The Benefits of Gratitude

Science is proving that giving thanks, expressing gratitude, for something or someone, or something someone has done, can make you happier! Have you genuinely expressed gratitude today? Gratitude can help build stronger relationships at home, at work, and in the community. Making other people feel appreciated is so important to the spread of positive psychology. Try it with your spouse, your kids, your friends and family, your colleagues at work, and your neighbors.

Practicing Gratitude Daily:

improves physical health

improves psychological health

improves sleep

increases empathy & reduces aggression

builds social connections

enhances self esteem

improves mental strength

opens the door for new or improved relationships

strengthens family relationships

reduces materialism

makes us happier

Article: www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier

Article: positivepsychology.com/benefits-gratitude-research-questions/

Family Projects to Practice Gratitude:

Make a gratitude jar: www.primroseschools.com/blog/gratitude-jar-craft/

Keep a gratitude journal: ggia.berkeley.edu/practice/gratitude_journal

Get a gratitude rock: www.the-benefits-of-positive-thinking.com/gratitude-rock.html

Make a gratitude tree: youtu.be/WcNoq8GL6tY

MR. SMITH - BAND/CHORUS

Our 2021 Winter Concert has been scheduled! We are really excited to take the stage this year after being silenced for the past year and a half due to the pandemic. This concert will feature our Concert Band (7th and 8th combined) and our FMS Singers (Vocal music students). Flyers will be going home this week. Please review the syllabus regarding performances. The syllabus is located in Canvas and in Google Classroom.

Band 6: Students are learning to play their instruments together as an ensemble. I feel like we are starting to progress a bit and have encouraged students to keep practicing and stay focused in class. Unfortunately, having the 6th grade band perform for our winter concert this year will not happen. I hope to schedule a concert for this group when we return from winter break.

Band 7: We are diving deeper into our rehearsal cycle for our winter concert. This group has been working diligently and showing progress in each rehearsal. From here forward, we will begin moving a bit faster in our rehearsals to cover more music. Students will be responsible for preparing at home either by practicing the music on their instrument, or just reviewing notes and rhythms. There will be a few classwork and quiz grades taken throughout this rehearsal cycle to ensure that students are staying on top of their music.

Band 8: We are diving deeper into our rehearsal cycle for our winter concert. This group has been showing progress in each rehearsal. Now, I would like to pick up the pace so that we can get through more music during our class time. Students will be responsible for preparing at home by either practicing the music on their instrument, or just reviewing notes and rhythms. There will be a few classwork and quiz grades taken throughout this rehearsal cycle to ensure that students are staying on top of their music.

Vocal Music 6-8: I am very proud of the work that these students are putting into preparing for our winter concert. We have been working in class to make sure everyone knows their individual part and how it interacts with their counterparts. Recordings for these parts have been posted in Google Classroom and students are encouraged to listen to and sing along with their assigned part.

MS. HATTEN - DRAMA

8th Grade: We are working our way through a World Drama unit, complete with a 3 to 5 page research paper (no copy and paste here!) and stories from various time frames and places. We will complete this unit with a shadow puppet presentation in class this week or next week. Great job 8th grade!

7th Grade: Newsies! is a musical based on the story of the Newsboys Strike of 1899. We are studying what it means to be a child in NYC and working to make any kind of living selling papers and what those boys did to make things better (for everyone). Students are learning a little bit about New York City, journalism, strikes/protests, child labor, and of course, MUSICALS! I hope to finish this unit with a viewing of either the movie or the stage production.

6th Grade: We are having such a great time working on Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief! The Musical! This week students started bringing in boxes to make a diorama of a setting in the Percy Jackson story they are reading in ELA this semester (no peeking kiddos, we are sticking to what you have already covered for this one!) I will be posting the second slide show of their original Greek Monsters soon…. Keep watching! So far the dioramas are looking great! You guys have such great imaginations! Keep it up!

MS. DOWNUM - SCIENCE

Students are rocking and rolling with our unit on Waves (Forces and Motion). They have already finished the test for the first part of the unit and we are getting close to the test for the second part of the unit. The test date is the 18th of February, this Thursday. This will allow for students who need extra time on Friday.

The students are really eager to get into the cow eye dissection especially as we have started talking about the parts of the human eye. During the dissection they will be able to see the parts of the eye. Since it is a cow eye the parts will be bigger and easier to see. They will be able to see each part as they dissect the eye. Just a reminder that in order to participate in the lab students need to have all assignments turned in and need to follow lab safety regularly in class. These restrictions are to ensure the students have put in the work to better understand what they are looking at during the lab and also to keep everyone safe during the lab. Students will have an alternate assignment if they do not meet the requirements of the lab. Please check PowerSchool with your student to make sure they are all caught up. If there is a 0 that means the student is missing the assignment.

MR. MITCHELL - MATH

Math is moving forward at full speed! We are cruising through Unit 3 with hopes of testing before the Thanksgiving break. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions. brandonmitchell@fcschools.net

MS. BROOKS - SOCIAL STUDIES

In social studies, we are learning about the geography of ancient India. Later in this unit, we will explore religion and the empires of ancient India. If you have any questions you can email me jericabrooks@fcschools.net.

MS. MCINTOSH - ELA

• We will continue reading “Percy Jackson, The lightning Thief”. Chapters 18-22. Please continue to look on google classroom for your assignments for each chapter.

• We will also take a schoolnet test this Friday.

• Please continue to work on i-Ready in the mornings and evenings.

Get at last 45 minutes and 70% passing rate in both math and reading lessons.

• We will be finishing up Data Talks for the next few days!

• NEED HELP? Every Thursday: Office Hours 3:30-4:00 with 6th grade teachers

(google meet code is 6thgradeteachersfms)

Please contact me at chasitymcintosh@fcschools.net if you have any questions.

MS. NEUJAHR - SCIENCE

Science is wrapping up parts of a cell and we are making our way into learning genetics and types of reproduction in class. As always, students should always be working on their research paper for the nine weeks, which is due January 7th. Please make sure students are completing I-Ready at home as well as completing work on time. As parents, if you can check your child's progress and grades in PowerSchools, that would be really beneficial as well. With break coming up around the corner, we have tons of things to cover before the holiday season!

See below the rubric for the Disease Research Paper

Q2 Research Paper on Disease

MS. JENKINS - MATH

Last week in math, students learned to calculate simple interest using the formula, I=PRT. We continue our study of solving real world problems involving percentage. This week in math, students are learning to interpret Circle Graphs. We are using what we have learned to determine how a percent of a circle is identified as a degree measurement. Students should continue to come to class prepared, take good notes, ask questions and remain on task during class. Remember that you have to complete 45 minutes of productive I-Ready time each week. Keep up the good work!

MR. LEMONS - SOCIAL STUDIES

Hello, over the next two weeks, we will be studying indeginous cultures. We will be looking at South America, Africa and Asia. Students should also be finishing up their research projects. We will be starting the next research project next Wednesday and it will be due at the end of the quarter. Also make sure that students are working on I-Ready at home. The seventh grade dropped from some classes having 90% completion to only having 20%.

MS. BAECHLE - ELA

Happy Thankful Season everyone! We are coming to a close with our first text of “Lyddie.” The next couple of weeks the students will be focusing on a social issue in the text in connection to 2021 to help prepare them for a larger Q3 research essay and project. This assignment will be completed in the form of a four paragraph compare and contrast essay. The essay will be scaffolded and modeled on a daily basis in class to break down the content, while completing the end of the text “Lyddie.” The essay outline is included below.

Compare and Contrast “Lyddie” Essay: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p4bgr7wJOqohquQ40aJjdJk87qsRpWF9SDOXYDdCt44/edit?usp=sharing

In addition, we will be going over the mini-social issues project the students will be working on following the Holiday break. Again, the outline is included below.

Q2 Mini-Social Issues Project:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/150pw5o79nhWvVfjToHCHS1fMmcDSbV-Uo-SRoglpUJY/edit?usp=sharing

Please make sure your student is checking Powerschool and Google classroom on a regular basis to see if they are missing any work. Work can be made up for full credit at any time during the quarter. Congrats to our 7th grade students for their I-Ready completion this past week, as my Homeroom were the highest achievers for both the school and our grade level. Students should be completing 45 mins per ELA and Math each week, and passing at least one lesson on their pathway with a 70%

I am very proud of their accomplishments and want to see them be successful in all they do. Thank you to ALL of our students' parents/guardians for their continued support with your students' education! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions at kimberlybaechle@fcschools.net

MS. HEAD - SCIENCE

We are continuing our unit on hydrology with a focus on water quality. Some topics already looked at include river basins, a review of the water cycle, and water distribution. Topics at the present include a review of water properties and fresh water quality (water pollution). Topics coming up include the ocean, estuaries, and overall water quality. We will have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow 11/17 and another quiz after the Thanksgiving break. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of November and the short break!

MR. HURD - MATH

We are finishing up Unit 2B, which is our introduction to early trigonometry. Trigonometry is a required section of high school math and will be brought up again later in the year when we work on the Pythagorean theorem. So far it is nothing more than understanding angles and ways to find more angles’ value. Because we have almost finished the unit, even though we only started this unit last week, we need to prepare for a test in the upcoming days. This test should be easier due to most of this unit being covered in the previous year and should feel like a review for most students.

MR. DOWNUM - SOCIAL STUDIES

This week the students took the exam on The American Revolution. We did review on this yesterday so the kids should be prepared for the quiz and ready to go. Since we have ended one unit we will start the next unit, which concerns The formation of a new country. We will be covering topics such as The Articles of Confederation and The Constitution for this unit. I want to wish all of you a nice Thanksgiving break. We have all had a rough year and we could really use the break, at this stressful time.

MS. FROST - ELA

We are currently engaged in a novel study titled Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. It is a nonfiction narrative that is both compelling and educational. An inspiring and chilling account of an extraordinary man, Unbroken is a perfect nonfiction book for middle schoolers interested in war stories, history, running, and incredible feats of bravery and perseverance. The photos are particularly poignant, showing snapshots of everything from Zamperini's childhood and family to the various bomber planes of the era to the American soldiers who survived Japanese POW camps.

It is a nonfiction story of survival, resilience, and redemption. Please encourage your child to read this novel at home. Students can access the novel via Sora. It is free and all students have downloaded the book to read at school and at home.

Novel Studies meet our ultimate reading goal; Reading Standard 10 per the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Grade 8…

Our Middle School AIG Vision statement is “To facilitate and foster student discovery through rigor, relevance, and relationships. We hope that your child is enjoying their advanced class both academically and socially.

Now that we have tackled the first nine weeks, we want to reflect on this quarter using a document called the Differentiated Education Plan. Students in the 6th and 7th grade advanced classrooms will have the DEP placed in their Google Classroom for each student to complete. You can see a copy of it HERE. You can check your child’s DEP anytime by asking them to log into their ELA or Math Google Classroom. Eighth grade students who have an AIG label were given a paper copy to complete by Mrs. Frost.

Part of the DEP includes asking the student if they are taking advantage of enrichment activities/talent development outside of the classroom. These are often led by AIG staff, but not always. We offer students opportunities to enter outside contests, compete in reading challenges, and join academic teams such as Battle of the Books. We hope that your child will keep an eye out for any of these activities that interest them.

Your Partner In Education,

Valerie Hawthorne
AIG Facilitator

Battle of the Book List

**We now have copies of all the titles.

SORA

*watch the video to see how to access SORA!!

The Dewey Dare

**We are still having the competition. Encourage your child to start reading across “Dewey!”

Faulkners Bitmoji Classroom

• Meets every 2nd Tuesday from 3:30-5:00pm

• Need one parent on the team - more than that are welcome!

• Works on implementing the school improvement plan

• Deals with big picture FMS initiatives and changes (years long)

Interested? Email heidiboardman@fcschools.net

Our dream is to have a parent group that is engaged with FMS is some way. We would love to have more parent input, and we would love to have parents who have a direct line to the principal on issues that matter most to parents.

If you are interested in being a part of a new parent group, please click on the button below and sign up to be a facilitator, a member who attends meetings, or a helper who helps out once in a while. No matter what, we are glad to have you!

FMS VISION: WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF CHOICE!

R - Respectful

A - Accountable

M - Motivated

S - Safe

C - Character

H - Honor

O - Opportunity

I - Inclusivity

C - Compassion

E - Excellence

FMS MISSION:

FMS is a vibrant and caring school that empowers students to become lifelong learners and responsible citizens who are college and career ready.

FMS VALUES:

• All children, regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic circumstances, or cognitive level, can grow and achieve.
• Strong collaborative teams with a shared vision can reduce achievement gaps and raise growth levels for all students.
• Forging strong relationships between the school, the parents, and the community is crucial in achieving a well-rounded education that addresses each student’s needs.
• A learning environment based on trust, integrity, and commitment is vital for student success.
• Discipline, safety, and accountability are important parts of a school culture that reflects intellectual, emotional, and social growth.