FMS Parent SMORE Newsletter

SEPTEMBER

9/9 - 9/13 Exact Path Diagnostic testing for Math and ELA

9/10 Band Rental Night 6pm in the Band Room (park on Hillsborough Street go in the back door to the 8th grade building behind the main building)

9/12 AWAY Volleyball/Soccer @ North Granville 4:30 pm

9/14 SATURDAY: FMS @ FHS Football Jamboree fundraiser (FHS address is 910 Cedar Creek Rd, Franklinton - go in the second parking lot next to the football field)

9/17 PARENT SUMMIT @ Faith Youngsville (9:00am - 1:30pm) *District invitation only

9/17 AWAY Football @ Butner Stem 4:00 pm

9/18 AWAY Volleyball/Soccer @ Bunn MS 4:30 pm

9/19 EARLY RELEASE student released at 12:30 pm

9/19 VACCINE CLINIC TODAY AT FRANKLIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPT. (7th grade shots must be done by September 24th)

9/20 NO SCHOOL TODAY (Teacher Workday)

9/22 FIRST DAY OF FALL

9/23 HOME Volleyball/Soccer VS CCMS 4:30 pm

9/25 HOME Football VS Bunn MS 5:30 pm

9/26 HOME Volleyball/Soccer VS Vance MS 4:30 pm

OCTOBER

10/1 FMS TITLE I PARENT NIGHT (more info coming soon!)

10/1 AWAY Volleyball/Soccer @ Hawley MS 4:30 pm

10/2 HOME Football VS CCMS 5:30 pm

10/2 Custodian Appreciation Day

10/3 HOME Volleyball/Soccer VS Butner Stem

10/7-10/10 Science 8 Remediation Week

10/8 AWAY Volleyball/Soccer @ Crosscreek Charter 4:30 pm

10/9 HOME Football VS Northern Granville MS 5:30 pm

10/10 HOME Volleyball/Soccer VS TLMS 4:30 pm

10/11 SCIENCE 8 NC CHECK-IN #1 (8th grade on separate testing schedule)

10/16 UNITY DAY - WEAR ORANGE TO STAND AGAINST BULLYING

10/17 EARLY RELEASE - students released at 12:30 pm

10/18 NO SCHOOL TODAY (Teacher Workday)

10/22 AWAY Football @ TLMS 5:30 pm

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

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 HOME Football VS Wake Prep 6:00 pm

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)

11/27 - 11/29 THANKSGIVING NO SCHOOL

**GRADE ALERT FORMS WILL BE EMAILED OUT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER FOR ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE FAILING ANY CLASSES

PURPOSE: To declare unauthorized or illegal drugs and alcohol as a threat to safe and orderly schools and will not be tolerated.

Unauthorized or illegal drugs and alcohol are a threat to safe and orderly schools and will not be tolerated. The superintendent is responsible for ensuring that this policy is consistently applied throughout the school system.

3. Students are prohibited from possessing, using, selling, delivering, or manufacturing drug paraphernalia, including but not limited to rolling papers, roach clips, lighters, matches, vaping devices, vape liquid containers, pipes, syringes, and other delivery devices for prohibited substances.

**This policy applies to possession of any of the above items, including lighters and matches! Encourage your child to never hold on to items for another student**

Back to School Sleep Habits!

What is the most important thing you can do to help your child succeed in school? Ensure they are getting enough sleep EVERY night. Good sleep helps the brain remember what is learned during the day. Sleep helps us manage stress and emotions, and how we react to others. Sleep helps improve our immune systems so we can stay healthy. Sleep regulates our appetite and metabolism. Sleep improves focus (learning), decision making (choices), and time management(getting things done on time).

Every year students tell me they go to bed at a decent time, but they’re on their devices and stay awake until the wee hours of the night. For the most part, students (and their adults) are tired, and they would all benefit from a consistent pattern of sleep every night. What could your family do to improve the amount and quality of sleep you and your children are getting?

Click here to read tips for good sleep hygiene from the Sleep Foundation.

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Read more about suicide prevention at the National Institute for Mental Health here.

Reaching out for help has been made easier.

Just call 988 and you’ll be connected with a mental health professional at the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

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

1.This Friday will be the last day that Technology will be taking paper copies of the technology agreement. Agreements will need to be completed digitally by using one of the two following options:

1) 1:1 Plus- bit.ly/1to1FCSAUP will provide directions on how this is to be completed and parents will need to have their student's username and password. It has to be completed individually if you have multiple students in the district.

2) Google Form- for those that are having issues logging into 1:1, just fill out this Google form: https://forms.gle/2haosUZEWGVEmNLL7 this is identical to the information you will see on the 1:1 Plus site but it does not require a username to access just the parent's email address.

Paper copies - can only be used until Friday!

Tech Usage - English Spanish *you have to sign this one

Chromecare warranty - English Spanish *sign this one if you want insurance ($26)

2. Give your child $10 and tell them to take the $10 and the signed paper to the main office.

*If you want insurance, sign for both and give your child $36 and tell them to take the forms and the money to the main office.

**Chromebooks are ready to go for 6th graders - we just need the form and the $$!!

ELA with MS. CRUDUP:

Greetings, ELA Families!

We are off to a fantastic start, having successfully navigated our first two weeks of school. Our students are settling into their routines and getting comfortable with classroom expectations.

This week marks the beginning of our ExactPath Diagnostics, so please remind your students to come prepared with a fully charged device each day.

In our HMH curriculum, we've already embarked on our first lesson, centered around the theme: “How do you find courage in the face of fear?” We explored this question through an engaging excerpt from the novel The Breadwinner. The students have shown great enthusiasm and curiosity about the different culture depicted in the text.

Our current unit, titled “Finding Courage,” will focus on several key learning objectives, including:

• RL 6.1 (Literature and Poetry): Citing textual evidence to support both explicit statements and inferences.

• RI.6.1 (Informational Texts): Citing textual evidence to support analysis of explicit content and inferred meanings.

• RI.6.3 (Informational Texts): Analyzing how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated upon in a text.

• RL 3 (Literature and Poetry): Describing how a story’s plot unfolds through a series of episodes and how characters respond or change.

• RL.6.5 (Literature and Poetry): Analyzing how specific parts of a text contribute to the overall structure and development of themes, settings, or plots.

• RI.6.5 (Informational Text): Analyzing how specific sections fit into the overall structure and contribute to the development of ideas.

• RL.6.6 (Literature and Poetry): Explaining how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker.

• W.6.2 (Writing): Writing informative/explanatory texts to examine topics and convey ideas through the selection, organization, and analysis of content.

• W.6.4 (Writing): Using digital tools to produce, publish, and collaborate on writing, demonstrating proficient word processing skills.

Throughout this unit, students will be engaged in activities that allow them to:

• Analyze how characters develop the plot

• Examine setting and character interactions

• Explore the role of the speaker

• Analyze refrains and their effects

• Evaluate digital texts

• Write their own narratives

We’re excited for the journey ahead and look forward to seeing the growth and creativity of our students. Thank you for your continued support!

Warm regards,

Ms. S.Crudup

SOCIAL STUDIES with MR. CALDERON:

Good Afternoon Families, we started our year strong. We're diving right into our exciting curriculum that will explore fascinating topics and develop critical thinking skills.

A Strong Start: Setting the Stage for Success 🏆

Our goal this year is to create a classroom environment where every student feels valued, engaged, and eager to learn. The first week of school established our classroom routines, setting expectations, and fostering a positive and collaborative atmosphere.

Exploring the early World Through Archaeology 🏺

We began our Social Studies curriculum with Chapter 1: Human Origins. In this Chapter we will cover two concepts which are The Rise of Humans and Early Humans. We will see how archaeologists piece together the past through artifacts, excavation, and research and how the early humans lived and developed.

Classwork and Grading✍🏼

Your child had their first classwork for grade, you should be able to see it in PowerSchool. If you noticed a zero is either because they didn’t turn in their paper or because they didn’t do it in the allotted time (one week). Please talk to them about completing all classwork on time to receive a grade.

How You Can Help at Home 🙋

Supporting your child’s learning at home can make a big difference. Encourage them to discuss what they’re learning in class, help them stay organized with their materials, and foster their curiosity about history.

I’m thrilled to begin this journey with your child and look forward to a year of exploration, learning, and growth. If you have any questions or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Here’s to a fantastic school year!

Very respectfully,

Luis J. Calderón
6th Grade Social Studies Teacher
luiscalderon@fcschools.net

MATH with MR. MITCHELL:

Welcome to another exciting week at school! As we dive into our math adventures, I want to take a moment to express how thrilled I am to be working with your wonderful children this year. In our 6th grade math class, we’ll explore new concepts, tackle challenging problems, and most importantly, have fun with numbers and equations.

I believe that a strong partnership between school and home is crucial for student success. If you have any questions, concerns, or if you just want to share your child’s math triumphs, please feel free to reach out. Let’s work together to make this a fantastic and enriching year for your child!

Looking forward to a great week ahead!

Best regards,

Mr Mitchell

6th Grade Math Teacher

MATH with MS. JENKINS:

Hello, FMS families. I am glad to report that we are off to a wonderful start for the new school year. Students spent the first week getting to know the teacher and acclimating to rules and procedures for the school and 7th grade. We are currently working on Unit 1, Proportional Relationships. Students have been reviewing operations with fractions, equivalent ratios, and using this understanding to create scaled copies of objects. This week we will complete our first Math Diagnostic.

Things to remember:

• Be on your best behavior. Remember the school and classroom rules.

• Bring your materials (Chromebooks(charged), notebooks, and pencils) to class daily.

• Get a good night's rest and come to class prepared to work.

• Remember to ask questions. You are probably not the only one who needs the answers.

• Believe in yourself, you can do it!

• Turn in all assignments for the week.
  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at litishajenkins@fcschools.net.

SCIENCE with MS. BRACKETT:

Dear Parents/Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well! I wanted to update you on what we are covering in 7th grade science. For the remainder of the quarter, we will continue studying Earth's atmosphere, weather, and climate.

Additionally, please note that grades are up-to-date in PowerSchool. Feel free to check your student's progress.

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to assist in any way I can.

Best regards,

Ms. Brackett

7th Grade Science Teacher

ELA with MS. BAECHLE:

Welcome back students and families for what promises to be a rewarding and successful 2024-2025 school year!

Growth Accountability Agreement:

• I will complete daily work (assigned in class)

• I will finish any work that was not completed in class for homework

• I will come to class prepared (work completed and a charged chromebook)

• I will not disrupt the learning environment, or others

• I will check Canvas daily for updated assignments and due dates

• I will check Powerschool regularly for grades and missing assignments

• I will always try my best

• I will ask for further support from my teacher is I don't understand an assignment

• I will maintain a growth mind-set for my academic and personal growth and goals!!

News: Please make sure your student has turned in their chromebook agreement for and the $10 associated fee so that their chromebook is not locked. All forms and payments can be turned in the main office or their homeroom teacher.

Sports: Please ensure your student is keeping up with their work and on their best behavior. Good grades and exemplifying positive behavior is key to being able to play sports.

Expectations:

Update: We have been working on improved behavior in ALL classes. Students are to come to class on time, prepared and ready to work. If they are not following the non-negotiables, they will receive a warning to correct their chosen behavior before they are sent to ALC with a write-up and a parent contact. I have seen improvement in behavior overall and expect that to continue with consistency and daily practice.

Remember that each quarter every student begins with a 100% in their classes. What they decide to do with their grades and achievements are up to them.

New Curriculum:

We have begun a new ELA Curriculum this year called: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Literature. The material is scaffolded in a way that is easy to understand while including detailed lessons/units including: anticipatory sets, clear standards, relatable topics, a variety of genres and activities, as well as various reading and writing activities with vocabulary throughout and plenty of application (practice) of content in order to master skill-sets.

Standards:

🎯Target Standards

RL.7.2 Determine the theme of a text and analyze its development

throughout the text.

RL.7.3 Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact.

RL.7.5 Analyze how a drama’s or poem’s (or other literary genres) form or structure contributes to its meaning.

🧱 Supporting Standards

L.7.4 Determine and/or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies: context clues, word parts, word relationships, and reference materials.

RL.7.1 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

✏️Writing Standards

*W.7.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content

An example of an annotated EQ and daily schedule -->

Last Week: The past few weeks we went over classroom and student work expectations, behavior guidelines, introduction activities both speaking/listening and writing, as well as an introduction to the new curriculum and first short story.

This Week: We began ‘deep dive’ in the short story “Rogue Wave,” with a close focus on annotation strategies, unknown vocabulary, and text-based short response questions. Mid week students will be taking a comprehension vocabulary quiz to test their knowledge of the first units vocabulary terms within the short story. We will then begin reading our second reading, “The Flight of Icarus,” a Myth with continued annotation strategies.

Homework: Students should expect homework two to three times weekly in order to continue to develop their skill-sets and to see growth. Please ask your child what work they have for homework, or have not completed on a regular basis to help keep them on track. Work is updated regularly for access on Canvas. Grades are also updated weekly and viewable on Powerschool. Students should expect classwork (homework if not completed) in order to maintain an understanding of reading both inside and outside of class on a weekly basis. The application process is so critical to close gaps in comprehension and to apply to later content**

Grades: Student grades are present (updated regularly) on Canvas, and are now viewable to students and guardians on Powerschool. Students are expected to check their grades on a regular basis and reach out to their teacher for make-up work, or additional time to complete an assignment if they have been absent. I allow a one week timeframe to make up work before an assignment becomes a zero.

Thank you parents and guardians for your continued support as we begin yet another school year with what promises to be a successful year full of growth and achievements.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any further questions or concerns: kimberlybaechle@fcschools.net

SOCIAL STUDIES with MR. DOWNUM:

Welcome back to Franklinton Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year. Please make sure that you are getting the technology form filled out and the $10 fee. Chromebooks have been shut down for those students that have not done this and will be turned back on when those steps have been taken. This has all been put on the county website under the technology tab, so that you can do all this from the ease of your couch.

We have been having a great year so far and I am so impressed with the kids this year. There has been a lot of participation and I am having a great time. We started with some basic skills that will make it easier for the students throughout the year. The kids learned what makes a source reliable and to keep an eye on bias both the author’s and their own. We are currently working on both geography and some background information on the Native Americans. Next we are going to be talking about the exploration era and colonialism.

Please, if you have any questions for me throughout the year do not hesitate to contact me at daviddownum@fcschools.net . I want this year to continue to be great, so I hope we can work together to make that happen.

SCIENCE with MS. DOWNUM:

First I want to say how happy and thankful I am that I get to teach many of these students for a second time; first in 6th grade science and now in 8th grade science. Talking with the students and seeing them again has been the best perk I could have hoped for with my switch from 6th to 8th.

We have finished up our introduction unit which covered lab safety and the metric system. We have been in the lab many times over these past two weeks. The lab is right next door which makes it easier to get in there.

We started our first actual unit on Friday. This unit is called Matter and its Interactions and everything covered in this unit will be on the students first NC Check-in which is scheduled for October 10th. My goal is to complete the unit by October 4th which will leave me with time to reteach anything the students struggled with and clear up misconceptions. That means their first unit test will be October 4th as of now but could change based on student needs. I will be meeting with students in small groups this year to help support student needs.

I do need your help though. I have had many students forgetting their chromebooks at home or forgetting to charge them. I know getting into the swing of the school routine is difficult those first few weeks. Setting up a routine for your student to charge their chromebook and sending them in with their charger will help immensely. Thank you again for the privilege of teaching your student.

MATH with MS. CUNNINGHAM:

Wow! What a great start to the 2024-2025 school year. I am so glad to be teaching your students in math this year.

Current Unit and Beyond: We have been working on Reasoning with Real Numbers. In this unit, students learn and use definitions for rational numbers and irrational numbers. They plot rational numbers and square/cube roots on the number line. Lastly, students work with decimal representations of rational numbers and decimal approximations of irrational numbers. In grade 7, they used long division in order to write fractions as decimals and learned that such decimals either repeat or terminate. They build on their understanding of decimals to make successive decimal approximations of 2 and which they plot on number lines. We will be testing on this unit at the end of this week, 9/13th and moving into our next unit of Reasoning with Exponents/Scientific Notation, where students will use exponent properties to identify and create equivalent expressions involving positive, negative, and zero exponents. Secondly, they use scientific notation to express and perform operations with very large or very small quantities using powers of 10 and scientific notation.

Math supplies: all students need to supply 2 math notebooks, either spiral or composition are fine. I prefer students to use pencil while in math- pen is not user friendly when one makes a mistake while problem solving, it makes for very messy, non-legible work. Thank you for making sure your child is prepared and ready to learn.

Behaviors: Please encourage your students to come into class focused and ready to learn. The slightest distractions can throw the whole class off and the students that are guilty of distractions will need to be removed. The rest of the class must continue to move forward and it is not fair to keep disruptive students in the room when the other students are intent on making it through the lessons and on their way to being prepared for the EOGs come June.

Homework Expectations:

At the request of Mrs. Cunningham, unfinished classwork may be assigned for homework.

Please check PowerSchool and my Canvas page for the most up-to-date work assigned to your child. I cannot reiterate enough that the responsibility is on your child to email me with the title(s) of assignments completed after the due date. Otherwise, I do not know that the student went back to complete an assignment. Incomplete assignments will show a 0 in PowerSchool.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. My email is michellecunningham@fcschools.net

ELA with MS. FROST:

We are off to a good 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. And, there are areas in need of improvement.

As students transition to 8th Grade, expectations are high as our ultimate goal is to prepare students for both academics and behaviors in preparation for high school. It is important to note that behaviors that distract others from learning will be addressed immediately. This year is a tremendous and critical transition for students and parent support is most welcomed.

Review of Grade 8 Classroom Expectations:

**As a team, we created classroom norms universal to all classrooms so students know what is expected in each classroom throughout the day. We worked hard to make sure students are clear about what is expected of them across all disciplines, so students can move from class to class with the same expectations. Please review these norms with your child. The Eighth Grade Team wants your child to be successful!

Click on the link below to review classroom expectations with your child:

https://tinyurl.com/Grade8FMS

Over the past two weeks, students engaged in lessons aligned to the five standards outlined in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study for English Language Arts (NCSCoS / ELA) in creative ways to jumpstart the new school year.

Lessons Included:

• Reading Literature (RL.8.1) Close Reading Strategies

• Reading for Information (RI.8.1) Close Reading Strategies

• Writing (W.8.3) Narrative Writing “I Am Poems”, “Letter to My Future Self”, and “Color, Image, Symbol” with written text evidence (CSI).

• Speaking and Listening (SL.8.1) opportunities allowing students to collaborate with each other after writing independently.

I also taught Email Etiquette; a lifelong skill for communicating with teachers and professionals in the workplace. I have already received exemplary written emails since this past week regarding grades and assignments; a testimony to students taking ownership of their learning and work submitted.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Literature

This week, we are shifting to reading both informational and science fiction texts with a focus on citing text evidence, annotation skills, context clues, and making inferences with our newly adopted curriculum. Our first unit is titled, “Gadgets and Glitches”. Each unit reflects a topic linking reading selections, an essential question, a quotation, and unit tasks for analysis, discussion, synthesis, and response.

Your child will have a student workbook that he or she can write in, as well as, have access to online resources at home. Student workbooks remain in the classroom.

“Gadgets and Glitches” Unit 1 Key Learning Objectives Include:

• Analyzing Plot

• Analyzing Science Fiction

• Analyzing Text Structure

• Analyzing Irony

• Analyzing Claim and Evidence

• Analyzing Text Features

• Evaluating Evidence

• Analyzing Rhetoric and Reasoning

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.

NOTE: Unfinished classwork may be assigned for homework.

Ways to Support and Encourage Your Child Daily!

Please check PowerSchool and my Canvas page for the most up-to-date work assigned to your child. I cannot reiterate enough that the responsibility is on your child to email me with the title(s) of assignments completed after the due date. Otherwise, I do not know that the student went back to complete an assignment. Incomplete assignments will show a 0 in PowerSchool.

Ultimately, I want your child to showcase his/her greatest potential, show continuing growth, and proficiency in reading above and beyond what your child accomplished in 7th grade. I aspire your child to grow academically in reading. My Ultimate Reading Goal!

QUESTIONS? Please contact me at annafrost@fcschools.net

DRAMA with MS. HATTEN:

Students in Drama picked their curriculum map this year and we are starting off this week with our first modules!
8th grade is starting with a study of Shakespeare. We are going to be watching at least one modern day version of a play and comparing that script to the Olde English version. Students will wrap this unit up with a set design project for one of Shakespeare’s plays.

7th grade is starting with some Character Analysis lessons. One class is working through a mystery, and the other class is making that decision this week (between mystery and fantasy). One class will be wrapping up with a scenic design project, the other class has chosen to do masks for their project. I look forward to seeing what the students come up with!

6th grade classes made different decisions for their first units. A Day classes will be starting with some basic acting, while B Day classes are starting with some Greek Theatre and Theatre History. Both classes will wrap their units with mask projects.

I am looking forward to seeing how our year works out with the students making the decision of our order of lessons. I hope to be posting pictures in the next SMORE of what’s happening in class.

CTE with MR. PIRRONE:

Our CTE (Career and Technical Education) class is dedicated to equipping students with the

practical skills and knowledge needed for success in the modern workforce. Through hands-

on learning experiences and real-world applications, students explore various career

pathways and develop essential technical skills. We emphasize collaboration, critical

thinking, and problem-solving, preparing students for future educational and career

opportunities.

Paxton Patterson Career Labs:

Later this month, we will begin our journey with the Paxton Patterson Career Labs, an

innovative program designed to immerse students in career exploration and technical

education. These labs provide a dynamic learning environment where students engage in

hands-on activities across multiple career fields, including healthcare, engineering, IT, and

more. The Career Labs are designed to help students identify their interests and strengths,

guiding them toward fulfilling career choices.

Computer Science Discoveries 1 and 2:

In Computer Science Discoveries 1, students are introduced to the fundamentals of

computer science, including basic programming, problem-solving, and the principles of

computing. The course provides a strong foundation in digital literacy, enabling students to

understand and create technology in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Computer Science Discoveries 2 builds on the concepts learned in the first course, delving

deeper into more advanced topics such as web development, data analysis, and the ethical

implications of technology. Students continue to develop their programming skills and

apply them to real-world projects, enhancing their understanding of the impact of computer

science on society.

Keyboarding Skills and Basic Word Processing:

In our Keyboarding Skills course, students focus on developing accurate and efficient typing

skills, an essential foundation for success in any digital environment. The course

emphasizes proper finger placement, typing posture, and speed-building techniques, all of

which are critical for effective communication and productivity.

The Basic Word Processing component introduces students to the essential tools and

functions of word processing software. Students learn to create, format, and edit

documents, gaining proficiency in tasks such as text formatting, table creation, and

document management. These skills are vital for academic success and are highly valued in

the workplace.

BAND with MS. RIPPE:

We are hoping to start with all instruments the week of 9/16!

We started our year off by reviewing rhythms and working on becoming an ensemble.

8th Grade: Has been working on reading and composing rhythms using notes such as quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes and incorporating them into a piece titled “Band Room Rocks”. This week we are continuing with rhythms and reviewing notes on and off the staff. We have also added the percussion instruments to the piece “Band Room Rocks”.

7th Grade: Has also been working on reading and composing rhythms using notes such as whole, half, quarter and eighth notes. Incorporating these notes into a piece titled “Rock this Band!” This week we are also continuing to review rhythms and beginning to review the notes on and off the staff. We have added the percussion instruments to the piece “Rock this Band”.

6th Grade: Has been busy exploring the different instruments, learning the different parts of each instrument, making the first sounds off the mouthpieces, and deciding on which instrument they want to play in the band!

Looking forward to all the music that will happen this year!

We are starting our year with a lesson about Blind photography. We studied Pete Eckert, a blind photographer and then applied what we learned to our assignment. Students were asked to take the perfect picture. However, they were not allowed to use their eyes. Partnered up and with the photographer having a blindfold students were asked to take 3 photos. They had a lot of fun, and were surprised to see how their photos turned out.

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)