FMS PARENT SMORE UPDATES
September 7th, 2022
REMINDER REGARDING ALL ATHLETES
- Athletes must adhere to the academic standards put in place by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
- If your child has been accepted on a sports team, they must prove that they are eligible under DPI rules.
- That means that if they are in 7th or 8th grade, they must have finished the final semester of the 2021-2022 school year passing 3 out of 4 core classes.
- Once coaches have selected their team, their academic history will be checked and those students who are not academically eligible will be let go.
The official version:
Academics
1. In grades six, seven and eight, the student must pass at least one less course than
the number of required core courses each semester and meet promotion standards
established by the LEA.
2. If an athlete is "academically eligible” or "academically ineligible” at the beginning
of any semester, that status is retained throughout the full semester.
3. It is the responsibility of the school principal to check the academic status of each
student/athlete enrolled in school at the beginning and close of a semester.
4. A principal shall prohibit any student known to be academically ineligible from
participating in any competitions. Within eight days (excluding Saturday and
Sunday) of the last day of the first semester, a principal shall verify the grades of
all students participating in interscholastic athletics. The principal may restore
eligibility to any debarred student after he or she has qualified at the end of a
semester. Any student who has his or her eligibility restored may participate the
day following the completion of the semester of ineligibility.
DECISIONS ABOUT ELIGIBILITY WILL HAPPEN NEXT WEEK
Statewide Summary:
• Results show that there was a negative impact for all students, for all grades, for almost every subject (except English II). These negative impacts were especially true for Math (5th-9th grades) and Science (Biology, 8th grade).
• Most students continued to progress during the pandemic but at a slower pace than they would have done otherwise.
Race/Ethnicity:
• Students of all races/ethnicities were negatively impacted by the pandemic.
• Pre-existing disparities have increased, however, the extent to which these disparities have changed varies by test.
Economically-Disadvantaged:
• Gaps widened between economically-disadvantaged students and the general population of students, especially in reading grade 4, math grade 5, and the sciences. (we've seen the outcomes here at the middle school)
Academically or Intellectually Gifted:
• Despite early predictions, AIG students were significantly negatively impacted too, especially for reading in grades 6-8 and math in grade 8.
WHAT FMS IS DOING TO HELP OUR STUDENTS TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS
- We will be pushing our AIG and Advanced students hard this year with increased rigor and more in-depth activities and lessons.
- We have expanded our Exceptional Children program to offer our students with IEPs top of the line support coupled with time to work on IEP goals.
- All of our Math, ELA, and Science teachers remained at FMS this year - no new teachers in these areas, which is a huge bonus!
- We have a robust Professional Learning Community program that includes weekly collaboration with administration and our instructional coach to maximize district resources and help our teachers to bring their best to the classroom.
- We are fully implementing our Second Step Social/Emotional program this year, which will help students to build those very important social/emotional skills. Students who can manage their emotions and interact well with others are more successful students than students who cannot manage their emotions or interact well with others.
- The entire teaching staff will be doing district-provided professional development call Learning Focused. This professional development gives teachers strategies that help to engage students, deepen learning, and push students to become active learners. We are excited to bring what we learn to the classroom!
- We are expanding our multi-tiered system of supports program to include more time working with grade level teams to collaborate and find solutions for each and every student in the grade. We strongly believe that each child deserves to be taught by teachers who care, and who know how to address each child's learning needs.
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO TO HELP CLOSE THE COVID GAP
- The number one thing parents can to help their child to be successful is to stay "in the know" about how their child is doing academically.
- Download the new FCS app and use it to check grades every day. Once you are in PowerSchool you can click on a current class grade and access all of the assignments and all of the grades your child has gotten on those assignments.
- If you see a zero in a grade for an assignment, that means that the assignment was never submitted or handed in. If you click on the notes section you will see if a teacher left a note regarding that assignment. You can get a lot of information this way sometimes!
- Children sometimes lie to their parents for the first time in middle school, especially about grades and work completed. This is a way for them to separate from their parents, try to keep from getting in trouble, or try to gain something positive. Stay vigilant, and understand that this is normal behavior at this stage of a child's development. If you feel like you don't know the whole story about grades or what your child is saying about something that happened in school, contact us.
- Another important thing for parents is to notice if your child is behaving differently, sleeping too much, or seems not like themselves. Check in with your child and ask them some questions. If you listen carefully you may be able to understand what they are experiencing, and help them to process it. This is hard work for a middle schooler, and they will often need adult help to process interpersonal conflict, how they feel about themselves or their friends, and how they feel about things at home. Keeping that connection with your children will help them to feel supported and able to focus on school. If you are concerned about your child's mental health don't hesitate to reach out - the school has excellent resources to help!
- Middle school students are expected to be more mature and able to be responsible for more academic expectations. However, they still need your help to manage all these new responsibilities! Keep track of their progress, hold them accountable when they slip up, and love them with your whole heart. They will get there, and so will you!
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
Separation Anxiety
It is normal for children to experience a little anxiety when returning to school, especially if it’s a new school or new day care. However, if it doesn’t resolve within the first few weeks, separation anxiety can get in the way of school attendance, learning, and daily life activities.
Signs of separation anxiety can include:
Child is emotional or clingy when saying goodbye to parents
Fear that something bad will happen to a family member during separation
Young children may have tantrums when they have to leave parents or caregivers
Older children may display signs of a panic attack
Overwhelming need to know where parents are, and be in touch with them by phone or texting (which
distracting at school and work)
Physical symptoms like stomach aches, headaches, and dizziness
Older kids can get anxious when they think about an upcoming separation
All of this can lead to refusing to go to school
How parents can ease separation anxiety:
Develop a quick “goodbye” ritual. Keep things quick, like a wave or quick kiss, so you can leave without fanfare. Tell your child you are leaving and then go—don’t stall or make it a bigger deal than it is.
Minimize scary television. Your child is less likely to be fearful if the shows you watch are not frightening.
Try not to give in. Reassure your child that they will be just fine—setting consistent limits will help your child’s adjustment to separation.
Educate yourself about separation anxiety disorder.
Listen to and respect your child’s feelings.
Talk about the issue. It’s healthier for children to talk about their feelings—they don’t benefit from “not thinking about it.” Be empathetic, but also remind your child—gently—that they survived the last separation.
Keep calm during separation. If your child sees that you can stay cool, they are more likely to be calm, too.
Support the child’s participation in activities. Encourage your child to participate in healthy social and physical activities. They’re great ways to ease anxiety and help your child develop friendships.
Provide a consistent pattern for the day. Routines provide children with a sense of security and help to eliminate their fear of the unknown. Try to be consistent with mealtimes, bedtimes and the like. If your family’s schedule is going to change, discuss it ahead of time with your child. Change is easier on kids if it’s expected.
More on how to help your child handle separations, anxiety, & stress, click here. Another good article is here.
SCIENCE: MS. DOWNUM
Good afternoon! We made it through our first week of school. The students have been doing a great job learning the expectations. The students have done an amazing job taking it all in stride. I want to thank all of the parents who sent in lab supplies and student supplies. They are all greatly appreciated.
This week in Science we are starting our first module called, Structures and Functions of Living Organisms or Plants for short. We will learn about pollination and photosynthesis. The test date is tentatively set for September 22nd. We will have two review days prior to the test to help students prepare for the test. I also have a study guide they are able to use to help them target their studying as well. Most tests will have the same practices.
SOCIAL STUDIES: MS. BROOKS
In social studies, we are working on the unit called Thinking Like a Historian. Students are learning about why history is important, what history tells us, and what historians look for. In the upcoming days students will also learn about what evidence historians use to learn about the past. Students should bring their social studies notebook and their fully charged chromebook to class everyday. If you have any questions please email me at jericabrooks@fcschools.net
ELA: MS. MCINTOSH
We have had a great first week. Thank you working so hard! Keep up the great work!
I also wanted to say thank you to all parents that sent in classroom supply.
Standards for this week:
I can cite text-based evidence to support an analysis of literary text. (RL.6.1)
I can effectively engage in discussions with diverse partners about sixth-grade topics, texts, and issues. (SL.6.1)
The first two lessons are designed to engage students in the world of mythology before they begin our first novel The Lighting Thief.
In class we will also introduces close reading practices that will be built on throughout this module. These include: reading to get the gist, annotating the text, chunking a text, and recognizing unfamiliar vocabulary.
ELA: MS. BAECHLE
Welcome back students and families to the 2022-2023 school year at FMS! Last week we began our year with expectations in the classroom and discussed them in further detail in several school assemblies. The students were open to the new rules and expectations and settled in nicely last week. I sent home a syllabus for parents/guardians to sign last week so we are all on the same page and asked students to get a few supplies including: a binder with tabs, a homework folder and a spiral notebook. Please see syllabus below for any further questions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1e6hwQW62bGlcj982OAAfZ2sTPolpS43jGzTRCcLBPDE/edit?usp=sharing
This week students will be taking a pre-assessment to see what they know and which skills need to be worked on to further enhance their overall comprehension. This week and next the first text “Lyddie” will be introduced with some background knowledge and topics that will be covered throughout the first unit including: The Industrial Revolution, Factory Life, Women's Rights, Identity, and our overarching EQ of “What is Survival.” Students will engage in class discussions, fill out graphic organizers and work in pairs/small groups to familiarize themselves with the new unit.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions at: kimberlybaechle@fcschols.net
SCIENCE: MS. NEUJAHR
Welcome to science class! Students last week reviewed safety procedures and lab safety along with the scientific method. This week, we are jumping into LIVING ORGANISMS! Students will observe living protists underneath a microscope in the lab this week and should be able to identify the differences and similarities between the 4 main protists being taught. Students have access to all my powerpoint notes in the event that they are absent from school. Without a signed PARENT / GUARDIAN Lab Safety contract, students CANNOT participate in the lab. Please be sure to ask your student where this contract is in case you haven't signed it yet. Feel free to email me with any questions at danielleneujahr@fcschools.net
SOCIAL STUDIES: MR. JONES
Welcome to 7th Grade Social Studies! During the first week we went over the rights that all US citizens are given by the Constitution. This week we will continue learning about the Constitution and where we were as a country and society when amendments were made. We will go over the Bill of Rights and touch on why it is so important to the United States. Students have access to the powerpoints through Google Classroom and will be able to catch up on what they missed in class at home. Each student has been asked to have a spiral notebook and a pen or pencil to write with for their class materials. My email is hunterjones@fcschools.net if you have any questions or concerns about my class.
MATH: MS. JENKINS
We are off to a great start to the 2022-2023 school year. The first week focus was on classroom rules and expectations. Our students are doing a great job adjusting to 7th grade. This week we will continue to review operations with fractions and mixed numbers and integers. Please encourage your students to take good notes and review them frequently. Unit 1 will focus on proportional relationships. Keep up the good work.
SCIENCE: MS. HEAD
Welcome! We are starting the year off well with a review of class expectations, social and emotional learning lessons, and the scientific method. The biggest changes to expectations this year are putting cell phones in the cell phone holder when entering class and no hats/hoods/or earbuds. This year students will start our social and emotional learning curriculum called Second Step in science class once a week. So far in Second Step we have looked at class norms, what makes us unique, and important aspects of our identities. For Science we have reviewed observation/inferences and the scientific method. This week we have a vocabulary quiz Thursday 9/8 and a pre-test for our first unit on Chemistry Friday 9/9.
SOCIAL STUDIES: MR. DOWNUM
First off, welcome back to all the students to the 22-23 school year. We had a busy first week getting to know each other and the expectations for the eighth grade. The only issue we are having is a problem with cell phones, I have not had to take any but many students have had them taken, so we need to be vigilant. This week we are working on a DBQ (document based question, and the students will struggle with this, as there is a lot of writing. I need them to ensure that they are asking a lot of questions and putting in their best effort. I do not expect perfection the first time but I would like for them to put forth a good faith effort. I am very proud of the students this week, and am looking forward to a great year.
MATH: MR. HURD
Hello all, this first week was a good start to the year. Now we will start to get into Math a bit more heavily. This first unit should be a review of last year, starting with square roots and irrational numbers. This week students will also be signing up for clubs, there are many great clubs this year and we are excited to see what everyone signs up for. Hope everyone had a good Labor Day weekend and is ready to learn more this week.
ELA: MS. FROST
We are off to a great start to the new school year. As a team, we have established team expectations that apply to all four classes (ELA, Math, Social Studies, and Science). Expectations will continue to be revisited in each classroom to ensure all students are on the same page thus avoiding disruptions in and outside the classroom. I am proud of adherence to the expectations overall. And, earbuds and hoodies continue to be a small issue. Please remind your child that earbuds are not allowed and hoodies / hats are not to be worn.
This past week, we focused on email etiquette; a very important skill to acquire in school and in preparation for college and the workforce. Please encourage your child to practice the 20 tips when composing emails to maintain professionalism. This week, we are shifting to reading both informational and literary texts with a focus on citing text evidence and making inferences. Next week, students will take the I Ready Reading Diagnostic Assessment to determine placement on your child’s learning pathway. It is so important that students take their time, take the assessment seriously, and try their very best otherwise the results will not accurately reflect what your child knows and is able to accomplish in reading. More information is forthcoming. Again, we are off to a great start and please reach out to me with questions at anna.frost@fcschools.net.
DRAMA: MS. HATTEN
Students have been working on a VISION BOARD for the school year. This is their first graded assignment this year. Please talk to your student about completing their work in the classroom. They are in Drama for 90 minutes, and I have given them a few days to get these completed. Grades will be going in this week.
Students should join my Google Classroom. They have an invitation in their email, if they have not joined the class, I would encourage them to do so as soon as possible. If they do not have the link, please let me know and I can resend the link. PARENTS… you can join as a guardian, please email me if you would like me to add you to the classroom. You will recieve weekly reports on assignments and grades.
Please check PowerSchool often. I try to put grades in weekly.
8th grade: We will begin working on playwriting next week. We will be entering our completed works to a statewide competition! I look forward to seeing some amazing work from 8th grade!
7th grade: We will begin storytelling next week. We will also be working with fracturing stories and changing characters and plotlines.
6th grade: We will begin Theatre History next week. I know that my students have some great stories! I’ve heard a few already!