FMS Parent SMORE Newsletter

OCTOBER

10/22 HOME Soccer ONLY vs Vance MS 4:30 pm

10/23 AWAY Football @ LMHS vs TLMS 5:30 pm

10/29 READING CHECK-IN #1 (testing schedule)

10/29 AWAY Football @ Hawley MS 4:00 pm

10/30 FMS BOOK CHARACTER DAY (see more info below)

10/31 LAST DAY OF QUARTER ONE!

NOVEMBER

11/3 Daylight Savings Time Ends

11/5 ELECTION DAY - GO VOTE! NO SCHOOL TODAY (Teacher Workday)

11/7 HOMECOMING/8th GRADE CELEBRATION Football vs Wake Prep 6:00 pm at FMS HOME field

11/8 FALL DANCE (INFORMAL) 6-8 PM AT THE GYM $5 CASH AT THE DOOR (Dress code still applies)

11/11 NO SCHOOL - VETERAN'S DAY

11/12 AWAY Football @ Vance MS 5:30 pm

11/20 MATH GRADE 6 & 7 NC CHECK-IN #1 (testing schedule)

11/20 HOME Football vs Butner Stem 5:30 pm

11/27 - 11/29 THANKSGIVING NO SCHOOL

Attention students! In celebration of our love for reading, we are excited to announce Book Character Day on October 30! This is your chance to come to school dressed as your favorite character from a book. Show off your creativity and share your love for literature!

Here are a few important reminders:

• Dress code still applies. No hoods, no face paint, and no weapons (including toy versions).

• Be sure to bring the book your character is from, or at least a piece of paper with the book’s title and author.

• Let's celebrate reading and inspire others to dive into new adventures through books!

We can't wait to see all your amazing costumes and discover the incredible stories behind them. Let’s make Book Character Day a fun and educational event!

Ms. Crudup, 6th Grade ELA

The FMS campus does NOT open until 8:00 am during school days. Students are not allowed to enter the school earlier than 8:00 am. PLEASE DO NOT DROP STUDENTS OFF BEFORE 8:00 AM.

Teachers are on duty at 8:00 am to supervise students in homerooms and on campus.

Please drop students off in the drop-off zone in the church parking lot between 8:00 am and 8:30 am to ensure that they are supervised and our campus remains a safe space. Thank you!

PURPOSE: To establish the appropriate and expected use of technology resources in Franklin County Schools.

The board provides its students and staff access to a variety of technological resources. These resources provide opportunities to enhance learning and improve communication within the school community and with the larger global community. Through the school system's technological resources, users can observe events as they occur around the world, interact with others on a variety of subjects, and acquire access to current and in-depth information.

No user of technological resources, including a person sending or receiving electronic communications, may engage in creating, intentionally viewing, accessing, downloading, storing, printing or transmitting images, graphics (including still or moving pictures), sound files, text files, documents, messages or other material that is obscene, defamatory, profane, pornographic, harassing, abusive or considered to be harmful to minors.

Article: What to do if your child is bullying

Article: What if your child is bullying

Article: What if my child is being bullied

Scroll down to see how to contact Ms. Gilbert and access lots of resources!

There is a connection between Domestic Violence and Bullying. Studies show that children exposed to violence at home tend to participate in higher levels of physical bullying than children who are not exposed to violent behavior. Domestic violence IS a form of child abuse! Read more here:

Article: The connection between domestic violence and bullying

Article: Domestic violence effects on children

Article: Alarming effects of children's exposure to domestic violence

Article: How to help your child get emotional support at school

NEED HELP?

Safe Space Services

NCDOJ.GOV Public Protection Domestic Violence

LegalAidNC.org

Teachers nominated these students for being kind, considerate, and helpful during the month of September. They were celebrated with recognition, certificates, and treats. Give these students an extra pat on the back for being positive role models for everyone at FMS!

SOCIAL STUDIES with MR. CALDERON:

Lesson Standards

6.C&G.1.3 - Compare the requirements for citizenship under various civilizations, empires, and societies.

6.H.1 - Understand the development of civilizations and societies from various perspectives.

6.H.1.3 - Compare multiple perspectives of various historical events in civilizations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas using primary and secondary sources.

Dear Parents and guardians, ,

I’am excited to share what your child has been learning in my class.

Last Week:

• Unit 2: Ancient Civilizations began with an exploration of Mesopotamia. Students discovered the significance of the Fertile Crescent, the development of writing, and the impact of early city-states.

Recent Focus:

• We delved into Ancient Egypt, where students explored the rich culture, including the pyramids, pharaohs, and the Nile River’s role in civilization. They learned about hieroglyphics and the importance of the afterlife in Egyptian society.

Upcoming Chapter:

• Next, we will dive into the fascinating worlds of Kush and Phoenicia. Students will investigate the connections between these civilizations and their influences on trade and culture in the ancient world.

Important Reminder:

• Please note that all first quarter classwork needs to be finished by this Friday 10/25/2024. Grades will be sent out in November, so encourage your child to complete any outstanding assignments.

• If your child has any assignment that is on Canvas and already has been locked out send me an email and I will send you any missing work.

• Please ensure that your child is always ready for class (pencils, charged chromebook, class notebook). We find ourselves every day with students that are not ready and need some of the required items for class.

Thank you for your continued support in your child's learning journey!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I will do my best to respond within 24 hours. You can also call me during my office hours from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

Best regards,

Mr. Calderón

6th Grade Social Studies

SCIENCE with MS. TJULKINA:

Dear Parent and Guardians,

let me introdume myself, I’m Ms. T. This is my first year teaching here at FMS, and I’m very happy to be here. I hope your student is enjoying their science class just as much as I enjoy being their teacher.

Currently we are working on the waves unit. We had a lot of class discussion on Mechanical and Electromagnetic waves. Therefore, this week we are going to have multiple quizzes, please have your student review their vocabulary words.

Thank you for your support, please email me if you have any questions.

Jelenatjulkina@fmschools.net

MATH with MR. MITCHELL:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well! I wanted to take a moment to update you on the fantastic progress your students have made in math class.

We’ve just wrapped up Unit 2, which focused on finding the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and Least Common Multiple (LCM). I’m thrilled to report that the class performed exceptionally well on their Unit 2 test. In fact, the class averages were the highest I’ve ever seen! I’m so proud of the effort and hard work your children have put into mastering these foundational skills, which will serve them well as we continue through the school year.

Looking ahead, we are diving into Unit 3, where we’ll be exploring ratios and proportions. This unit is especially important as it’s a key component of the end-of-grade test, making up a significant portion of what students are expected to know. I’m confident that, with the momentum they’ve built so far, they’ll excel in understanding these new concepts.

As always, please encourage your child to ask questions if they’re feeling uncertain about any of the material. Your support at home, combined with the work we’re doing in class, is such a valuable part of their success.

Thank you for your continued support and involvement in your child’s education! If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Warm regards,

Mr Mitchell

6th Grade Math Teacher

ELA with MS. CRUDUP:

Greetings Families,

The first quarter has flown by, and we are already approaching the final days for grading. Please note that the last day for grades is October 30, 2024.

We are currently in Unit 2, where we will be reading an excerpt from the novel Pax by Sara Pennypacker. In this lesson, students will:

• Analyze the third-person point of view.

• Explore how authors use details to develop voice.

• Research connections between people and their pets.

• Write a story about an animal using newly acquired vocabulary.

• Present their story using both text and visuals.

• Expand their vocabulary by studying Latin roots.

• Analyze how writers use complex sentences.

• Discuss how to use words to describe images.

The next lesson in this unit will focus on collaboration and comparison. We will be discussing two articles: Wild Animals Aren’t Pets and Let People Own Exotic Animals. In this lesson, students will:

• Define and explain claims, evidence, arguments, fact, and opinion.

• Understand how authors support a claim.

• Write an argument taking a pro or con position.

• Compare arguments and participate in a formal debate.

• Use word origins to deepen their understanding of vocabulary.

• Practice spelling commonly misspelled words.

• Summarize a text to demonstrate comprehension.

Please continue to encourage your student to stay on task and complete their assignments. Classroom expectations are regularly reinforced, and following them helps create a comfortable and productive learning environment. If you or your student have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

REMINDER: Book Character Day is on October 30, 2024—we look forward to seeing everyone’s creative costumes!

Warm regards,
Sharonda Crudup

sharondacrudup@fcschools.net
Grade 6 ELA

SCIENCE with MS. BRACKETT:

Subject: Upcoming Topics in 7th Grade Science

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. Over the next two weeks, our 7th grade science class will continue our exciting unit on weather and climate. Below is an overview of the key topics we will be covering:

1. Weather vs. Climate:

- We will compare and contrast the conditions of weather and climate, focusing on how location and time influence both.

2. Factors Affecting Temperature:

- Students will learn about the factors that influence temperature, such as distance from water, ocean currents, latitude, and altitude.

3. Factors Affecting Precipitation:

- We’ll explore how prevailing winds, seasonal changes, and the presence of mountains can impact precipitation patterns.

4. Climate Regions:

- Our class will identify and describe the five main climate regions: tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar. We will also discuss the characteristics of each, including temperature, precipitation, vegetation, and wildlife.

5. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Climate Change:

- Students will distinguish between short-term and long-term changes in climate and examine the roles of phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña in influencing short-term climate variations.

I encourage you to ask your child about what they are learning in class and engage in discussions about the different climate factors that affect our world. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Sherry Brackett

7th Grade Science Teacher

ELA with MS. FROST:

All Grades Are Up-To-Date

All grades are entered into PowerSchool. The end of the first nine weeks ends on October 25th. I am no longer accepting late assignments. Please ask your child to email me if he or she has completed an online late assignment that has not been graded. Be specific... title the assignment in the email.

Beginning of Unit 2 HMH Curriculum: (Standards of Focus)

Reading Standards

RI.8.1 Students carefully choose evidence that best supports their analyses of what the text directly and indirectly states explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RI.8.2 Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

RI.8.6 Determine an author’s point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how the author acknowledges and responds to conflicting evidence or viewpoints.

RL.8.1 Students carefully choose evidence that best supports their analyses of what the text directly and indirectly states explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RL.8.2 Determine a theme of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.

RL.8.3 Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.

✏️Writing Standards

W.8.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences. (Quick Writes)

Speaking and Listening Standards

SL.8.1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one on one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Language Standards

L.8.4 Determine and/or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple meaning words or phrases based on grade 8 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies: context clues, word parts, word relationships, and reference materials.

Learning Objectives For Unit 2: HMH Unit 2 “The Thrill of Horror”

• Cite evidence to support analysis of literary criticism and paraphrase and summarize text.

• Conduct research about horror stories and their authors.

• Write about horror story elements.

• Discuss the author's purpose and literary references.

• Create different verb tenses using suffixes.

• Analyze how writers use commas.

• Language Discuss a text using appropriate academic language.

Target Areas Based on the Exact Path Diagnostic Include:

• Continued Focus on Context Clues using the acronym (IDEAS)

• Making Inferences

• Identifying and Writing Theme Statements

• Character Traits

• Three Types of Irony

• Connotation / Denotation

Homework Reminder

Students are expected to read 30 minutes per night outside the school day in order to meet our Ultimate Reading Goal; Reading Standard 10. Students can access online novels via SORA under the Classlink Icon. The goal is to build background knowledge, vocabulary bank, and stamina to improve comprehension of complex / difficult texts. And, most importantly, building towards picking up a book based on self selected texts of student interest.

NOTE: Unfinished classwork may be assigned for homework.

Please feel free to contact me at annafrost@fcschools.net

CTE with MR. PIRRONE:

Paxton Patterson Career Labs:

This week, we’re continuing the personal finance module, diving deeper into practical money management skills. On Day 2, students will verify their transaction logs (check registers) by comparing them to a bank statement, reconciling the inputs to ensure that the ending balance matches. If any discrepancies are found, we’ll revisit the transactions to identify and correct errors. Day 3 will focus on understanding how credit cards work, including an in-depth look at hidden fees, interest rates, and how these charges can affect long-term financial health. By breaking down credit card statements, students will learn to spot these fees and better manage their credit. On Day 4, we’ll shift our focus to insurance. Students will engage in an investigative activity to find the cheapest insurance rates by comparing different providers, coverage options, and costs, all while understanding the factors that impact premiums.

I aim to wrap up the personal finance module within the next two weeks, as it covers a wide range of essential financial concepts. After completing this module, we’ll transition into the flight and drone technology unit, where students will take a hands-on approach by building their own rockets. We’ll take these rockets to the football field for launch, using compressed air. If constructed correctly, they should travel anywhere from 50 to 100 yards. This will be an exciting opportunity for students to apply engineering and problem-solving skills as we dive into aerodynamics and propulsion.

Computer Science Discoveries 1 and 2:

CSD 2:

This week, we’re continuing with the design lab for the students' app projects, and they’re about to begin working on their digital prototypes in the design studio. After creating paper versions of their app ideas, the next step is moving those ideas into a digital format. In Lesson 15: Building a Digital Prototype, students will work in small groups, with each student responsible for developing part of their app using a tool called App Lab. This tool allows them to design and create interactive features, like buttons and text boxes, through a simple drag-and-drop method, so no coding experience is required. Each group member will create at least one page of their app, and by the end, they’ll combine all the pages to produce a fully functional digital prototype. This lesson focuses on both technical skills and the importance of teamwork and collaboration.

In Lesson 16: Adding Features and Navigation, students will advance their projects by learning how to add multiple screens to their apps and create smooth navigation between them. Additionally, they’ll be integrating the screens their teammates have created to ensure the entire group’s work comes together in one cohesive app. One of the key aspects of this lesson is learning basic programming concepts, specifically event-driven programming. This involves creating interactive commands, such as clicking a button to move to a different screen. These skills will help make their apps feel more dynamic and user-friendly.

By the end of this week’s lessons, students will not only have gained valuable experience in app design but also developed essential organizational and collaboration skills. They’ll work together to ensure all parts of their app fit seamlessly, making sure every detail is in place before they combine their work into one final product. This hands-on project not only strengthens their technical abilities but also teaches them how to work efficiently as a team, preparing them for future challenges in both technology and group settings.

CSD 1:

This week, we are continuing the web development of a client’s website, with a focus on understanding digital privacy and creating personalized web pages. In Lesson 4: Digital Footprint, students will take a break from coding to explore how personal information can appear on the internet, both intentionally and unintentionally. They will review several fictional social media profiles to see what they can learn about individuals from publicly available information. This activity will help them understand how much data can be gathered online without consent. Afterward, students will reflect on the best practices for protecting their own privacy and what guidelines they should follow when posting personal information online, which is especially important as they move forward in creating their own websites.

In Lesson 5: Mini-Project: HTML Web Page, students will put their web development skills to the test by designing and building a web page for a user. They’ll start by using the Problem Solving Process to carefully plan out what content is needed on the web page and decide which HTML tags will best implement their design. After completing their web page in Web Lab, students will engage in a formal feedback session where they can receive constructive critiques and make improvements to their design if needed. An optional review of HTML will also be provided to reinforce their understanding before they begin the building phase. By the end of this mini-project, students will have gained valuable experience in both web design and user-focused development.

Keyboarding Skills and Basic Word Processing:

This week in keyboarding, we’ll focus on learning and mastering the C, G, N, and T keys, along with the S, L, and A keys. These keys, though not part of the home row, are crucial for typing efficiency and accuracy. We’ll practice reaching these keys using the correct finger placement, ensuring students develop muscle memory while maintaining a steady rhythm. Accuracy is key, so we will begin with slower drills, gradually increasing speed as students become more comfortable with the layout. This systematic approach helps build confidence and ensures that students can type without looking at the keyboard, a critical skill for typing proficiency.

In addition to learning new keys, we will review the home row keys and reinforce proper posture and hand positioning. Good posture—sitting up straight, feet flat on the floor, elbows bent at a 90-degree angle, and wrists slightly elevated—prevents fatigue and injury while typing. Keeping fingers lightly resting on the home row (A, S, D, F, J, K, L, ;) allows for quicker and more accurate keystrokes. By integrating posture reminders with keyboard drills, students will develop habits that promote long-term typing health and efficiency. As we move forward, these foundations will serve as building blocks for increased typing speed and accuracy.

BAND with MS. RIPPE:

Instaraise Fundraiser!!! Thank you so much for all your support!! This is the last week the fundraiser will be running! As I type this we have already reached 97% of our goal of $5000!! Please push hard to the end of the week so we can make our goal!

We are ramping up for what is going to be a busy next few weeks of performances!

November 1st - Middle School Night at Franklinton HS 8th grade only

November 7th - Homecoming for us! We will be participating in the pep rally and playing in the stands for this event! 7th and 8th grade - with help from some of the 6th graders!

December 10th - Winter Concert! Starting at 6 6:00pm. All Grades!

8th Grade: Have been working on the music for M.S. Night and Homecoming! They have learned many of the pep tunes and worked on the Star Spangled Banner. By the end of the week we will start looking at music for the winter concert. We have been continuing to review beginning notes and concepts to be fully prepared for our performances. We have also started playing through our 1st scale, the Bb concert scale, in different rhythm patterns.

7th Grade: Has also been working on the music for Homecoming! They have made it through many of the pep tunes and should be in good shape for the event. We have also started working on our 1st piece for the Winter Concert. And we are continuing to review beginning notes and concepts to be fully prepared for our performances.

6th Grade: Are really doing well!! They have 4 different pitches learned and working on their 5th pitch! This is so exciting as our Winter Concert is coming up and they will be getting their pieces starting this week! They have shown they have good working knowledge of beginning rhythms and are almost caught up to where the 7th and 8th graders are reviewing!

In general all classes are working hard and pushing to do the best they can! Please remember to practice or study your music at home! This way we can move faster and farther during class rehearsal!

DRAMA with MS. HATTEN:

Please remind your students to be on task in class. Almost all my classes are in a waiting pattern for someone to finish their work so we can move on to the rest of the lesson. Students have 90 minutes in Drama to complete their work, and I try to have reasonable expectations for deadlines, however, when students spend their time talking and not working or avoiding work, we get behind.

Also, the end of the 9 weeks is almost here! Check PowerSchool with your students to see what they might be missing in my class. Grades are updated daily and I try to be sure everything is put in by the end of the week.

HEALTH/PE with MR. HARTSFIELD:

Students in Health and PE are doing the following for the week:

Health 6th- Classes are discussing the importance of building healthy relationships with Family and Friends.

Health 7th - Students are discussing how to communicate properly with others. Being able to express their thoughts and messages for better understanding. How their emotions effect their communication.

Health 8th: Classes are discussing the importance of building healthy relationships with Family, friends and “special ones”. Students are exploring how they communicate, relate, set boundaries and consequences inside of relationships. Students will discuss parent/child relationships and how they bond with others.

PE 6-8th- Classes are finishing Unit on Flag Football and entering “battleball”

• What is portrait photography?

  Portrait photography gained popularity in the mid 19th century, it was cheaper and took less time than painted portraits.

  A traditional portrait focuses on the subject’s face, often with an emphasis on the eyes.

  Portrait photography can include props, be candid, staged or include multiple people.

  
  

  Students learned about portraits and are now creating their own portraits. I brought in a backdrop and lighting and let the students be the photographers. They took each other's portraits and then dressed up and took more portraits. They have done a FANTASTIC job with this assignments.

PARENT SUMMIT: Joanne Allen, Vanessa Bell, Twyla Isreal

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM: Vanessa Barrier, Claire Brigner, Shanita Bumpers

DISTRICT PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL: Allan Barrier, Antonia Autrey, Jason Myers

Ms. Gilbert's Virtual Office

Complete and submit this form: Counselor Request Form

Or send email to: marygilbert@fcschools.net

Or call FMS at 919-494-2971 ext. 324212

NC211.org (or call 211)

besmartforkids.org Be SMART: Firearm safety

Crisis Text Line text HOME to 741741

Food Finder (FoodBank of Central NC)

Food Pantries in Franklin County

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

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

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

SuicideCrisisLifeline.org (or call 988)

Vaya Health (or call their Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 800-849-6127)