French Middle School

December 2nd- 6th-- FMS Book Fair

December 2nd- 4th-- Math MAP Testing

December 7th-- District Honor Orchestra

December 9th- 11th-- Reading MAP Testing

December 9th-- Band Winter Concert @ 6:30

December 9th-- Choir Winter Concert at Jardine @ 6:30

December 10th- 11th-- School Play @ 7

December 16th-- Art Show @ 4:00

December 18th-- Late Work Due

December 20th-- End of Quarter 2

December 23rd-January 3rd-- Winter Break

January 9th-- PTO Meeting @ 5:45

January 15th-6th gr Recognition Assembly

January 16th--7th gr Recognition Assembly

January 17th --8th gr Recognition Assembly

January 20th-- Martin Luther King Jr. Day/ No School

Our first semester is winding down quickly. December 20th marks our last day of semester 1 and quarter 2. Late work is due to teachers by December 18 at 3:30pm. Students will be on winter break from December 23 through January 3rd. Our report cards will be available to view in Synergy via your parent portal after January 10th. Students will receive updated schedules when they return to school in January. There will be some shifts in schedules in an effort to keep classes balanced and update second semester related arts classes.

On behalf of the French MS Faculty we want to thank all Falcon Families for a successful first semester. We wish you all a joyful holiday season and peaceful winter break. Happy New Year and see you in 2025!

~Mrs. Hoffman

The answer is a resounding YES! Our goal in Topeka Public Schools is to have a chronic absentee rate of less than 20%. A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of enrolled school days for any reason. Chronic absenteeism has drastic effects on student academic performance in a negative manner. Did you know missing 1-2 days a month is equivalent to 18 days–almost one month of instruction? If students are chronically absent from year to year, missing 1-2 days a month beginning in kindergarten is the equivalent of missing a full year of instruction by the 12th grade. Multiple absences have a ripple effect on…

• The student: missed instruction, relationships, social interactions

• Other students: Re-teaching slows down the entire class

• Student groups: Relationships and collaboration is delayed

• Teachers: Lost time explaining what was missed and re-teaching

• Schools: Decreased instructional time means decreased achievement and increased remedial classes

Research shows that middle school attendance and GPA provide the best indicator of how a student will perform in high school classes. When students miss more than 10% of the school year they are at high risk of delaying high school graduation and even dropping out of school. Missing instruction puts students at a disadvantage of not having all the skills and time to practice so they are prepared for high school content. How does your student’s attendance look?

In October, 92% of the families at French attended conferences. There were 800 conversations in addition to the meetings with AB teachers. THANK YOU! This level of participation allows us to be a team in celebrating student success and problem solvers in overcoming challenges. Thank you!

We will see you again in March for round 2.

French Middle School Choirs will have their Winter Concert at Jardine Middle School on December 9 at 6:30 pm in the JMS Commons. The French Choirs will combine with the Jardine 7th & 8th Grade Choir under the direction of Mr. Stipcak. They will present a few songs they have been working on throughout the semester along with some holiday favorites. The concert will also feature the Jardine 6th Grade Choir under the direction of Mrs. Tracy Rowe. Come along and hear the wonderful music our students have been working on!

The Beginning Band, 7th and 8th grade Band, and the 7th and 8th grade Percussion Ensemble will perform our Winter concert on December 9 at 6:30 p.m. The concert will feature incredible music and we will need help with audience participation. Please come and join us!

The French MS String, Concert, and Philharmonic Orchestras will perform winter and holiday selections on Monday, December 16th at 6:30 PM. All friends, family, and interested guests are invited to attend the concert for holiday cheer in the French MS Gymnasium!

If students are past the threshold of the door when the bell rings, they are considered present. If students aren’t present when the bell rings, they earn a tardy. When a student gets 3 or more tardies to the same class in a quarter, they earn a detention and possibly lose eligibility points. 3rd tardy = 15 min. detention

4th tardy = 15 min. detention & loss of one point

5th tardy = 30 min. detention & loss of one point

6th tardy = 45 min. detention & loss of one point

7th and any additional tardies to that class = Full Day of ISS, loss of 2 points.

At the end of the first quarter we held Recognition Assemblies to recognize students that earned Honor Roll and Citizenship. Students in each category received a card that offers additional rewards and a coupon. Honor Roll students got a Taco Bell certificate. Citizenship students got a Sonic drink coupon.

30 students or 6% earned Supeior Honors, 4.0 or all As.

105 students or 21% earned High Honors, 3.5 or higher.

144 or 29% of the school earned Honors, 3.0 to 3.499.

350 students or 73% kept all 10 eligibility points and earned the Citizenship Award.

Recognition Assemblies for 2nd quarter will be in January. All assemblies are in our gym starting at 7:50 AM. Hope you can join us!

6th grade January 15

7th grade January 16

8th grade January 17

Students are awarded 10 points at the beginning of each quarter. Points are lost when students receive a discipline referral to the office, have more than 4 tardies to a class, don’t serve detentions, have to check their phone into the office (for having it out of their locker during the day), in school and out of school suspensions.

When a student is ineligible, they are no longer able to have free seating at lunch, no longer able to have the privilege of a phone at lunch time, attend any extracurricular activities, assemblies or special programs for the remainder of the quarter.

8th Graders: End of the Semester Reward will be during Hour 8 on Friday, Dec. 20. However, in order to participate, you need to have at least one eligibility point left for the quarter and NO F's as of 3 pm Friday, Dec 13th. Keep working hard to keep your grades above passing these next few weeks. Don't wait until it's too late!!

Grade Check to determine eligibility will be December 13

If a student pays and is ineligible, we will refund the money.

Grade Check to determine eligibility will be December 13

If a student pays and is ineligible, we will refund the money.

Donor’s Choose

Ms. Keegan has written a project to help with math tables and easels for our classrooms, please share this information with friends, family or on your social media! Tell donors to double donations up to $50 by adding the promo code LIFTOFF at checkout for the next 5 days.

Sonic $5 Coupon Card

We have Sonic Coupon Cards available for $5 each. If you would like card(s), send $5 each to Ms. Keegan and cards will be sent home that afternoon.

When we return from Thanksgiving break, students (and families, if you’d like to stop in!) will find that the media center has become a pop up book store! The Scholastic Book Fair provides books, posters, writing utensils, and other gift items for sale. We’ll even have a table of items for younger readers–all make great gifts. All purchases benefit our school library.

-Don’t want to send cash or card to school? You can set up an eWallet (link below.)

-Online shopping will be available starting 11/21 (link below)

-12/2-6 Book Fair at school, 7:30-3:30 each day

Payment options:

Cash

Check (made out to French Middle School)

Credit card

E-wallet (instructions for depositing money in an e-wallet can be found at the link below.)

https://www.scholastic.com/bf/french

French School celebrated its 5th Annual Career Day, marking yet another year of engaging and inspiring our students. We are deeply grateful to the many community speakers who took the time to share their expertise and experiences with our Falcons. This year, we had the privilege of hearing from professionals representing 16 different national industries, offering a wide range of pathways to success.

In addition to the speakers, our 8th graders in the Career and Life Planning course led an interactive career activity with students of all grade levels, helping them explore different career options and learn about the skills needed to succeed in various fields.

The day wrapped up with a fun and informative "Life Hack" session, where teachers shared valuable tips and tricks with students to navigate everyday challenges and build practical life skills.

We are proud of the success of Career Day and grateful for the support of our community in making this event meaningful for our students.

Get ready for an evening of mystery, laughter, and suspense as we present "Murder at the Malt Shop," a captivating whodunit that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat! Join us on December 10 and 11 at 7 PM for an unforgettable performance that combines delightful characters with a tantalizing plot.

Set in a classic 1950s diner, this intriguing murder mystery unfolds as a local legend meets an untimely demise, and it's up to a quirky cast of characters to unravel the truth. Expect unexpected twists, comedic moments, and plenty of audience engagement as you help us solve the crime!

Our talented cast has been working tirelessly to bring this thrilling story to life, and we can’t wait for you to experience their hard work and dedication. Whether you're a fan of mysteries or just looking for a fun night out, this show is perfect for everyone.

Performance Details:

• Dates: December 10 & 11

• Time: 7 PM

• Location: French Middle School

Don’t miss your chance to enjoy this delightful production! Tickets are available for purchase at the door for $5. Gather your friends and family for a night filled with intrigue and entertainment. We look forward to seeing you at the Malt Shop—where the only thing cooler than the ice cream is the mystery waiting to be solved!

The winter art show is upon us! December 16th 4:00pm to 5:30pm in the commons at French Middle School. Come see the hard work that your artists created and enjoy a glow show as well!

8th graders will be getting ready for high school in January. Mrs. Barnett and Ms. Ryan will be talking to all 8th graders to start the high school enrollment process. Students will learn what high school will be like, what classes are offered, what credits are, and how many credits they need to graduate. Students will select classes they want to take in high school and complete a 4 year plan of study through Xello (our college and career exploration program). On February 11th and 12th students and parents/guardians will meet with counselors to review (IPS) individual plans of study and review 4 year course plans. On February 18th, high school counselors will review 9th grade enrollment choices and answer questions they have about high school. Students will pre-enroll with the high school they are scheduled to attend based on their address. If you are wanting a transfer to a different high school you can fill out the district transfer application starting after the 1st of January until March 31st. During the enrollment process students will explore the program of studies, which is full of important information about high school. You can review the program of studies on the Topeka Public Schools website. It is important for students to keep track of classes they take in high school, so they will be on schedule to graduate. We encourage students to update 4 year plans, and to keep the high school program of studies bookmarked for easy access, so that they can keep track of classes they take and need to take.. If you have any questions regarding the high school enrollment process, please contact Mrs. Barnett (students last name A-K)at 438-5821 or Ms. Ryan (students last name L-Z) 438-5879.

Highland Park January 22nd 2025 6-7pm

Topeka West January 28th 2025 6-7pm

Topeka High January 29th 2025 6-7pm

February 11th (student last names A-K) 6-7 pm

February 12th (students last names L-Z) 6-7 pm

Check these groups for daily posts that share sales, Black Friday deals, and coupon codes.

• Bullseye on the Bargain
• The Christmas Bargain Bin

TARC’s Winter Wonderland

Two mile scenic drive with a view of holiday lights at Shawnee Lake

Starting in late November through December 31

Zoolights

Walk through the Topeka Zoo and view the holiday lights

Event runs nightly starting in late November through December

Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade

December 7th at 6pm

The Nutcracker Ballet

Ballet Midwest and Kansas Ballet put on shows each holiday season.

Catch their performances at the Topeka Performing Arts Center!

“Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” John Wooden UCLA

The varsity girls basketball team is currently sitting in 2nd place and has the potential to play in the city championship, which is Dec. 18th at Highland Park High School. All levels of play are finding great success on the court this season with the JV currently undefeated and the B team winning multiple games as well.

Boys Basketball will start the week of Jan. 6th (sign up will be before break) with tryouts after school from 3:00- 5:00. Teams will be finalized during the first week so it is important to have your physicals ready by then. Teams will be broken up by skill level and classified by Varsity, JV, and B team. The Varsity and JV will practice after school from 3:00- 5:00, while the B team will practice after from 5:00- 6:00. The games will be held on Mondays and Thursdays, starting on January 23rd. All games start at 3:15 and cost 2.00 to enter, most are finished by 5:30, but may be earlier or later depending on the speed of the games.

Failure Policy

Just a reminder that a district wide grade policy is in effect. Any student with an F on their grade checks will be ineligible for the next game until the F is brought up. An F list will be created every Friday, with student athletes informed that day if they are on the report. It is then their responsibility to bring that grade up and communicate with the coach when that has happened with a note from the teacher.

We would like to remind spectators that French Middle School is a member school of the Kansas State High School Athletic Association (KSHSAA) and is governed by their rules. One of those rules which, we completely support is Rule 52 which states:

ALL ACTIONS are to be FOR, NOT AGAINST; POSITIVE, NOT NEGATIVE or DISRESPECTFUL

Section 1: General Regulations (apply to grades 7-12)

Art. 1: SPORTSMANSHIP is a general way of thinking and behaving. The following sportsmanship policy items are listed below for clarification:

a. Be courteous to all. (participants, coaches, officials, staff and fans)

b. Know the rules, abide by and respect the official’s decisions.

c. Win with character and lose with dignity.

d. Display appreciation for good performance regardless of the team.

e. Exercise self-control and reflect positively upon yourself, team and school.

f. Permit only positive sportsmanlike behavior to reflect on your school or its activities.

We hope that you can attend the games this year to cheer on the Falcons!

As the weather begins to cool, we want to remind families and staff of school closing notification procedures.

As we make decisions about closing school, a number of factors come into play, including the safety of travel but also the safety of students who will be home during the day.

Should school be canceled, we will:

• Send a text, email, and/or phone call via SchoolMessenger
• Update the district social media pages
• Update the district website
• Contact our local media partners

To sign up for text message updates, text Y to 67587. To learn more about school delays and closures, please review our How We Communicate With Families document.

TPS Weather Notifications

As the weather begins to cool, we want to remind families and staff of school closing notification procedures.

As we make decisions about closing school, a number of factors come into play, including the safety of travel but also the safety of students who will be home during the day.

Should school be canceled, we will:

• Send a text, email, and/or phone call via SchoolMessenger
• Update the district social media pages
• Update the district website
• Contact our local media partners

To sign up for text message updates, text Y to 67587. To learn more about school delays and closures, please review our How We Communicate With Families document.

Students learn best when they are healthy and alert in school. Keeping your student home when they are sick promotes a quicker recovery and helps prevent illness for classmates. Below is the district exclusion policy for keeping/sending students home when they are ill, and conditions for when they should return.

Students are not allowed to carry medications with them during the school day. All medication including prescription and over the counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen must have proper paperwork in place and all medications must be kept in the school nurse's office. (This includes cough drops.) Exceptions can be made for Inhalers and Epi-Pens, with an additional form. If you have questions please contact Nurse Besenyi for the appropriate forms. MEDICATION GUIDELINES

Students who did not pass their hearing or vision screening will receive a referral notice by mail. Please update the school nurse once your student has been seen by the appropriate provider and the results of that referral.

BULLYING POLICY

French Middle School will not tolerate bullying of any kind. Bullying is defined as any ongoing verbal or physical mistreatment where there is an imbalance of power, and the target/victim is exposed repeatedly to negative actions by one or more students. Bullying can be direct (physical or verbal), or indirect (exclusion, cyber-bullying, emotional). In order for everyone to feel safe and secure at school, every Topeka Public School has adopted the following rules against bullying. “I will not bully others. I will try to help students who are bullied. I will do my best to include students who are easily left out. When I know somebody is being bullied, I will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.” Students, staff, and parents should report any bullying that they are aware of to administration through the on-line bully report link on the French website. Students who bully others will receive consequences. Our counselors will be visiting 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes in August and September to remind students what bullying is, what we can do to prevent bullying, and what students should do if they or someone else is being bullied.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Topeka Public Schools, Unified School District No. 501 is committed to affirmative action and equal opportunity. No person shall, on the basis of age, race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, national origin or ancestry be denied lawful access to any appropriate educational service, program or activity provided by the school district. The Title VI and Title IX compliance coordinator is the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching/Learning/Administration. The Section 504/Title II compliance coordinator is the Coordinator of College and Career Ready Services. For employment, the EEO/AA officer is the General Director of Human Resources. All compliance coordinators may be contacted at 624 SW 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294, (785) 295-3000. The clerk of the Board of Education has been designated to receive and redirect or handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies, regulations and procedures. The clerk may be contacted by calling (785) 295-3045 or by writing to 624 SW 24th Street, Topeka, KS 66611-1294.