FMS SMORE PARENT NEWSLETTER

MARCH 14 IS PI DAY (3.14)!

March 14

• Last week to get grades up before the end of Quarter 3!

March 17

• Early Release - happy St. Patricks day! Wear green get candy :)

March 18

• Teacher Workday - no school for students

March 21

• FMS Baseball/Softball Home vs. Northern Granville at Franklinton Park 4:30

March 22

• END OF QUARTER 3 - YOU CAN'T HAND IN ANY MORE WORK AFTER TODAY

March 23

• FMS Baseball/Softball @ TLMS 4:30

March 24

• NC CHECK-IN: 8TH GRADE SCIENCE

March 28

• NC CHECK-IN: ELA (READING)
• FMS Baseball/Softball Home vs. Vance MS at Franklinton Park 4:30

March 29

• NC CHECK-IN: MATH

March 31

• FMS Baseball/Softball @ Hawley MS 4:30

April 5

• FMS Baseball/Softball @ Bunn MS 4:30

April 7

• FMS Baseball/Softball @ Butner MS 4:30

April 13

• FMS Baseball/Softball Home vs. CCMS at Franklinton Park 4:30

• Anonymous regarding Ms. Baechle (ELA grade 7): I would like to shout out Ms Baechle. She is the most loving teacher that I've met. She cares for us like if we were her own and if we are sad or upset Ms Baechle is right there with us to help calm us down<3
• CLICK BELOW TO ADD SOME SUNSHINE TO FMS :)

Ms. Gilbert’s Google Site: click here

Helpful Resources

NC211.org (or call 211)

Food Finder (FoodBank of Central NC)

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

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

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

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

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

Vayahealth.com (for mental health needs) 1-800-849-6127

HumanTraffickingHotline.org (or call 888-373-7888)

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

Quick facts about the dangers of e-cigarettes (vapes) for kids, teens, and young adults.

The human brain is the last organ to become fully developed (at around the age of 25 years). The nicotine in e-cigarettes (vapes) can harm brain development, as well as the lungs and heart, and lead to addiction in youth and young adults. Nicotine in e-cigarettes can impact attention, learning, and memory, and can prime the brain for addiction to other substances and risky behaviors. Learn how you can protect your kids at www.CDC.gov/e-cigarettes.

***We really need a bigger team to be able to compete with the other schools. NCSLMA has lowered the number of books that need to be read from 26 to 16! If you have a reader send them Ms. Faulkner's way!

MR. DOWNUM - SOCIAL STUDIES

Good afternoon to all! In the next two weeks we will be finishing up The Civil War/Reconstruction. The next unit that we will be working on is Westward Expansion part two, which should be a quick one. This is the last Smore going out during quarter three. Please make sure that the students are checking the assignments in PowerSchool NOT in Google Classroom. I am getting assignments from quarter 2 which I cannot fix. I am also getting assignments that I have not put into Powerschool for whatever reason. Some of the assignments are going on quarter four, some are just a check for understanding, and some the students didn’t seem to understand so I had to redirect. The last day I am taking work from the students is on Friday March 18th at 3:00 PM. The students do not have school on Friday so this will be a great opportunity to get work done.

MS. HEAD - SCIENCE

We are finishing up our nutrition project this week. All makeup work from this quarter for Science is due Thursday March 17th. We are reviewing some content from seventh grade to better understand molecular biology. Our next unit will be on structures and functions of living organisms.

MR. DOWNUM - SOCIAL STUDIES

Good afternoon to all! In the next two weeks we will be finishing up The Civil War/Reconstruction. The next unit that we will be working on is Westward Expansion part two, which should be a quick one. This is the last Smore going out during quarter three. Please make sure that the students are checking the assignments in PowerSchool NOT in Google Classroom. I am getting assignments from quarter 2 which I cannot fix. I am also getting assignments that I have not put into Powerschool for whatever reason. Some of the assignments are going on quarter four, some are just a check for understanding, and some the students didn’t seem to understand so I had to redirect. The last day I am taking work from the students is on Friday March 18th at 3:00 PM. The students do not have school on Friday so this will be a great opportunity to get work done.

MS. FROST - ELA

We are on the home stretch! Please encourage your child to check PowerSchool for missing assignments. Remind your child to email a list of late assignment titles completed. The last day I am taking late assignments from students is Wednesday March 16th at 3:00 pm. We are finishing the novel, Inside Out and Back Again and we are preparing for the next NC Check-in that will be administered in two weeks.

MS. BAECHLE - ELA:

Good afternoon, we are quickly coming to a close of Q3 on March 22nd. Students may not turn in the Q3 Research paper, Google slides presentation, or any make-up work past this Wednesday, 3/16.

We will continue to deep dive, make connections and utilize the “skittles color-code annotation method” with the usage of several graphic organizers. For the next two weeks we will continue deep-dive into our Poetry unit with how to analyze a poem, as well as students creating their own poems. Next week, students will have the opportunity to present their Q3 social issues project to the class and receive constructive feedback. In addition, we will be reviewing beneficial test-taking strategies with Check-in #3 for ELA and Math between Monday, 3/28 and Tuesday, 3/29.

Please remind your students that completing I-Ready weekly for both ELA and Math for at least 45 minutes, and having one passing lesson is essential. In addition, make sure to check Powerschool on a regular basis throughout the remainder of the year to ensure you are up to date with your work and pleased with your grade. Again, we focus strongly on student accountability and responsibility.

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

MS. NEUJAHR - SCIENCE

This week and next week, we are working on Chapters 8 and 9 in the sketchbook. This includes both the nervous system and the immune system. Also, the reproductive system will be coming up soon. Students will be learning both the female and male anatomy of the reproductive system. Dissections have been going great in class and the kids are really enjoying the hands-on activities included with the human body systems. If students are failing or are close to failing, they can work on the Extra Credit Powerpoint to alleviate some lower grade markings in PowerSchool.

MS. JENKINS - MATH

Happy “Pi” Day! We are almost ⅓ of the way through the school year and we are making great progress. Last week we explored ways to recognize equivalent expressions. This week we will continue to review important procedures in algebra including, combining like terms, distributing and factoring.

Things to remember:

Bring your materials (Chromebooks, paper and pencils) to class daily.

I-Ready assignment requires 45 minutes of study time, with 1 passing lesson each week. If you have to make-up an assignment, double the time and pass 2 lessons.

All make-up work needs to be completed and turned in this week.

Last week of the ProBowl Challenge. Let’s stay in the game!

Keep up the good work!

MR. LEMONS - SOCIAL STUDIES

We have almost made it through another quarter! Students need to make sure that they have all their assignments turned in by class time 3/16. Many students are concerned about their grades and many of them have not turned in their World War Essay. The rubric is on google classroom. If you see that your student has a bad grade, please look at their paper and make sure it is completed and turned in. Also plagiarism has been an issue for students. If a paper is plagiarized, it is a zero. Over the next few weeks, we will be talking about World War Two. We will be working on this unit for several weeks, so students need to keep up with notes and assignments.

MS. MCINTOSH - ELA

• We will be continuing with our novel “Bud, Not Buddy” by Christopher Paul Curtis

• The novel is available in SORA. ( on chromebook under bookmarks)

• Please continue to look on google classroom for your assignments for each chapter.

• i-Ready weekly grade for ELA: Get at least 45 minutes and 70% passing rate in two reading lessons in order to get full credit.

• We will also take a schoolnet test this Friday.

• A. L.6.4-Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 6 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

• B. L.6.5-Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

• Please do well on the test. Not only is it a grade but we are in a district wide competition for ELA. FMS would love to have the trophy for the last week of the Probowl!

• Please be looking for an email from me soon about making up assignments.

• We will be introducing brand new test strategies to overcome fear and anxiety during testing!

• Let’s finish the quarter strong!

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

MS. DOWNUM - SCIENCE

We are officially starting the second half of the Earth Systems and Process unit. I do not have a date yet for the test but am working on it. Students did great on the first half of the unit with class averages looking phenomenal. They worked really hard to show what they have learned about tectonic plates. We are continuing the rock cycle moving into weathering, erosion, and soil.

March Mammal Madness is in full swing with battles starting today. Students are eager to see if they chose the champion. There were some really tough options that really had the students thinking innovatively with their choices.

SEL has been going strong. The students finished the first unit and the grades are already in PowerSchool. We will be starting the second unit this week. This has become one of my favorite times with the students as we are able to talk about their goals in life and I look forward to getting to know who they are outside of being a science student.

We have a short week this week, with an early release day on Thursday and a Teacher Work Day on Friday. Have a great long weekend. Happy Pi Day.

MR. MITCHELL - MATH

Current Unit: We are currently working through Unit 7 which is an introduction to the coordinate plane. Students have been working to read graphs and make their own graphs to communicate information. Our Unit 7 test is coming up this Monday. Please encourage your students to utilize the Unit 7 Notes and the Unit 7 additional resources found in the Google Classroom before the test if they are needing any further assistance on the topics covered in class.

Grades: The end of the quarter is coming up and extra credit has been posted. Please encourage your student to take advantage of this extra credit - especially if they could use a higher grade. Not only will the extra credit help them on the upcoming test, but it will also be a great way to raise their grade. iReady is still available for extra credit as well. Students are given time in class to work on the iReady material but it is their responsibility to finish iReady outside of class if they do not finish.

As always, please reach out if you have any further questions - brandonmitchell@fcschools.net

MS. BROOKS - SOCIAL STUDIES

In social studies we are beginning a new unit about the Middle Ages. We will begin by discussing how the Middle Ages began after the fall of the Roman Empire. Also, we will learn about Charlemagne and the Feudal System. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at jericabrooks@fcschools.net.

GRANGER - ART

Most artists have completed five in-class projects for the visual arts. Three out of five projects should be uploaded into Canvas. Artists who do not have at least three projects verified in Canvas must email the teacher directly at eagranger@fcschools.net.

If you have questions about how to take images on your Chromebook and upload into Canvas, view the tutorial video in the Technology module.

PLEASE NOTE: Work turned in late that is not associated with an absence will result in a grade drop to 50%. Late work will not be accepted after the quarter has ended. Exceptions will be made for unique, deserving situations as deemed by the teacher or an administrator.

MS. HATTEN - DRAMA

Drama class grades are up to date as of Friday, March 11. Please make sure your student is turning in classwork in a timely manner. If they turn in work late, I do not always get a notice, so I would appreciate an email letting me know what assignment is being turned in.

8th grade: Work this week will be on completing our shadow puppet project. While presentations may be pushed to the next week, this will be a major part of their grades this quarter and they should be using their time in class to do the work. (some students are better at this than others!)

7th grade: Seventh grade is working to complete a papercraft project in class by the end of the quarter, as well as learning vocabulary and stage directions for basic staging. Next nine weeks we will be reading plays and creating blocking for scenes.

6th grade: Sixth grade is working in Theatre History and researching different eras and playwrights in Theatre History. Next nine weeks we begin a short study of Bud, Not Buddy (alongside their ELA classwork) and will be working on creating dioramas. If you have empty shoe boxes, please send them with your student so they have something to start with when we begin that activity! Thank you! (I am working on collecting extras, so if you do not have a shoebox or small box, I should be able to cover it, but I do not have enough on hand to cover the entire class)

MR. SMITH - BAND/CHORUS

As the quarter comes to an end, I want to encourage you to look over your child's grades in PowerSchool. Missing assignments must be completed by Thursday so that I may have time to grade the assignment(s) and update those grades in PowerSchool. Please know that students have been given time during class over the past few weeks to complete missing assignments. If your child is struggling with an assignment, please reach out to me. After school tutoring has begun and I will be available to help out students who need additional help during that time. **If you have any questions, please contact me: jimmiesmith@fcschools.net. **

Band 6: Last week, we continued working on "The King's Crown" and I allowed time in class for students to complete missing assignments. I also distributed our second piece for the concert. This week, I will again allow students to make up missing assignments. We will also be working through all of our concert selections for the next few weeks. It will be imperative that your child practice regularly outside of class. Practicing can take on many forms aside from just playing the instrument. Students can listen to the recording of our concert music and follow/finger the notes/hum along with their part. This is all available in Google Classroom.

Band 7: Last week, we spent working on what will be the second piece on the program for our spring concert entitled "The Hope of Tomorrow". We also worked on cleaning our two other pieces for the concert. There is some very notable progress being made and over the next few weeks, I would like to build on that. Students are strongly encouraged to practice along with the recordings of these pieces and with a metronome. All recordings are available in Google Classroom as well as Smartmusic where they can listen to their specific part.

Band 8: Last week, we spent quite a bit of time cleaning two of our three pieces for the spring concert. We also began working on what will be the second piece on the program for our spring concert entitled "The Hope of Tomorrow". During our rehearsal, we identified some key issues that are holding us back from really excelling. Over the next few weeks, my plan is to work on a few of those, primarily timing. Students are strongly encouraged to practice along with the recordings of these pieces and with a metronome. All recordings are available in Google Classroom as well as Smartmusic where they can listen to their specific part.

Vocal Music 6-7: Last week, we continued working on All-County chorus music as well as rehearsing the music for our spring concert. Information packets were distributed to students regarding All-County Chorus. Please make sure you read over all of the information. I need field trip permission forms signed and returned by Wednesday March 16. Please remember to contact our All-County Chorus Coordinators with any questions or concerns you may have. Their information is available in the information packet.

Music Appreciation 8: Last week, we finished up our topic on the music and culture of Africa and began studying the music and culture of Ireland. Students have been assigned three assignments for this topic, all of which are now past due. On Tuesday, we will begin our review and take a quiz. The test will be on Thursday to officially close out this topic. Our next stop will be the Middle East, where students will learn about the music and culture of the region

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

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

• Works on implementing the school improvement plan

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

Interested? Email heidiboardman@fcschools.net

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FMS ELIGIBILITY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ATTENDANCE & PAPERWORK EXPECTATIONS

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

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

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

• Every athlete should be up to date on immunizations.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

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

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

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

Major referral with Out of School Suspension (OSS):

• Immediate dismissal from the team.

GRADE PULL DATES FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR:

• December 10

• February 28

• May 9

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

R - Respectful

A - Accountable

M - Motivated

S - Safe

C - Character

H - Honor

O - Opportunity

I - Inclusivity

C - Compassion

E - Excellence

FMS MISSION:

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

FMS VALUES:

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