Eagles' Notes
Madras News: Sept. 4, 2018, Lorraine Johnson, Principal
Madras Middle School
Email: MadrasNews@cowetaschools.org
Website: http://www.cowetaschools.net/mms
Location: 240 Edgeworth Road, Newnan, GA, United States
Phone: 770-254-2744
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MadrasEagles
Twitter: @MadrasEagles
Parent Letter Archives
Safety Letter (8-6-18)
Health Alert (8-6-18)
Open House Letter (8-7-18)
Making Connections with Madras Clubs and Extracurricular Activities
Can after-school programs give your children an academic boost? According to several recent studies, the answer is yes! Students who regularly participate in after school-activities demonstrate higher academic gains than their peers who are not involved in extra-curricular activities. These activities actually enhance academic learning, and there are numerous benefits for students including:
- Increasing self-confidence and building self-esteem
- Helping students develop social skills
- Cultivating relationships; socializing with peers who share the same interests Exploring personal passions and diverse interests
- Building empathy and allowing students to make contributions to their school and community
- Developing teamwork along with skills needed to work with others; encouraging students to work toward a common goal while having fun
- Improving time management skills; teaching students to prioritize tasks and commitments
- Enhancing academic learning while meeting new friends
Madras Middle School offers a variety of sports teams, fine arts programs, special interest and service clubs, and academic clubs and competitive teams to engage our students and to connect them with our school. Most of the clubs meet after school; however, several meet during Club Advisement Friday (held once a month from 8:30-9:00). Club Advisement Friday allows students who want to participate in a club but who may not have available transportation to enjoy participating in a club that interests them.
There are many different interests from which to choose, and some do include academic requirements (such as academic competitive teams, Junior Beta, National Honor Society, etc.). There are also clubs that promote physical fitness such as Eagles Fitness Club, Running Club, Step Team, and Golf Club.
A club listing was sent home the first day of school and is included on our website. We encourage all students who are interested to participate in a club or activity. Club dates are added to the Madras Google calendar as they become available (on website and Eagles Notes) and are announced each morning. If you have questions about extra-curricular offerings at Madras, please contact the club sponsor or an administrator.
(Research Source: Deborah Lowe Vandell, PhD, Chair of the Department of Education of the University of California at Irvine)
Club and Activity Annoucements
Club dates are announced during morning announcements and are included on the "upcoming dates" and "calendar" links on the school's website. Some clubs meet monthly, and some are seasonal, for example the Running Club begins after football season. Please check the website for the most up-to-date listings.
- Art Club: Any student who would like to join the Art Club this year should pick up a permission form and calendar from Mrs. Holland's art room in the main hallway during homeroom. Permission forms should be returned before staying for a meeting. The first Art Club meeting of the year is September 10th from 3:30-4:30. The Art Club typically meets twice a month, and scheduled meetings are on the school's Google calendar.
- Girls of Faith: Girls of Faith will meet beginning this Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 in Mrs. Sandlin's room.
- MMS Elite Step Team (male team) There will be an informational meeting Wednesday, September 5th from 3:30-4:30 for any male wishing to tryout for the team. If you cannot stay for Wednesday's meeting, see Mr. Teagle in room 305.
- Lady Eagles Step Team (female team) Any female who is interested in trying out for this year's Lady Eagles Step team should plan to stay after school in Mrs. Rosser's room on Thursday, September 6th from 3:30-4:30.
- Drama Club: All interested members are invited to meet Tuesday, September 4th from 3:30-4:30 in Mrs. Tracey Pitt's room.
- Pet Lovers Club: If you are interested in joining Pet Lovers Club, please see Mrs. Schober (room 423) or Mrs. Hayes (room 407) to pick up additional information. The first meeting of the year will be in October.
Chick-Fil-A Spirit WEEK: Monday, September 10th - Friday, September 14th (5-8 nightly)
Monday, Sep 10, 2018, 05:00 PM
5 Glenda Trace Newnan, GA
Ferst Foundation Literacy Coin Drive
Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy (FFCL) is a public 501 (c) 3 nonprofit with the mission to "provide books for local communities to prepare preschool children for reading and learning success." FFCL strives to improve early learning opportunities for every child regardless of income, race, religion or gender with the philosophy that any child who cannot read is at-risk.
This will be the elventh year that the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy has been approved to have a coin drive with the Coweta County School System. Our school system will maintain this partnership and are asking for your continued support. Each year, students and staff have helped to strengthen preschool literacy in Coweta County. Last year $15,635.91 was donated by our school system. This generous donation provided over 5,878 age appropriate books and literacy information opportunities to preschool children and their parents throughout Coweta County.
Madras Middle School will be participating in the drive beginning this week through September 14th. A coin jug is set up in the cafeteria for students to donate during lunch, and Friday, September 7th is PJ Bottoms Day. For a $1.00 donation or more, students can wear pajama bottoms to school in support of childhood literacy. You can read more about the Ferst Foundation below.
Ferst Foundation’s Mission
- To provide age-appropriate books for every child under the age of five in Coweta County
Did You Know?
- Sixty-one percent of low-income families do not have a single piece of age-appropriate reading material in their home?
- One-third of Georgia’s children start school unprepared to learn?
- Seventy-five percent of Georgia’s students who are poor readers in the third grade will remain poor readers in high school?
How Do Books Help?
- The more words a child hears, the larger the child’s vocabulary and the larger the child’s vocabulary, the more likely the child will be a proficient reader. However, in order to read with a child, books must be in the home.
Box Tops Are Back!
Madras would like to thank parent Jamie Bowne for serving as this year's Box Top coordinator. The first round of Box Top collection will be now until October 24th.
Clipping Box Tops is an easy way to help earn cash for our school. Each one is worth 10¢ for our school! Just look for the pink Box Tops on hundreds of products. All you have to do is clip them and send them to school.
Last school year, we earned over $1,500 for our school from Box Tops and used the money for our teachers. For more information on Box Tops, including a list of participating products, go to BTFE.com. Be sure to sign up as a member (it’s free!) so you can check out our school’s earnings details and get access to coupons and bonus offers.
Box Tops can be submitted by students to homeroom teacher in a plastic bag or taped to a collection sheet. Be sure to label collection sheet(s) or baggie with student’s name & homeroom teacher to obtain credit.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Madras PTSO. We want to help make our school’s Box Tops for Education™ program a huge success this year.
Thanks for your help!
Media Notes
Karen Pitts, Media Specialist
We have had an exciting start to the year in the media center at Madras! Every ELA class has had the opportunity to visit and check out at least one book. Students are allowed to check out two books at a time from Madras and may keep them for two weeks at a time. We charge late fines of .10 per book, per day. Students may return or renew books at any time. Please encourage your student to return books on time. All of our ELA classes will have regularly scheduled days and times to bring their classes or send their students to the media center as needed.
The Book Club met for the first time on Friday, August 24th in the Library Media Center. Students who attended enjoyed a breakfast snack and some great discussions. We discussed our favorite books from the summer and the previous year. We talked about our reading preferences and we introduced some new books. As a group, we decided what we are going to read and be ready to discuss at our next meeting in September. Any student interested in joining our Madras Book Club is welcome to attend our next meeting. See Mrs. K. Pitts in the media center for more information.
Make sure to ask your student what he/she is reading and check out our library media center website at https://madrasreadingeagles.weebly.com/ or you may click on our link from the Madras Middle School website. Also, follow the Library Media Center on Twitter @madrasreadingea and on Instagram @madrasreadingeagles to see what is happening.
Keep Reading, Eagles!
Madras Parent Volunteer Training
- September 10, 8:30 a.m.
- September 10, 2:45 p.m.
- October 15, 8:30 a.m.
- October 15, 2:45 p.m.
Nature Around the Eagles's Nest as Spotted by Mrs. Keegan's Class
College Colors Day
Students in Mr. Carter's class researching the different groups on the periodic table.
Are cucumber seeds alive in the packet or not? Mr. Reed’s students are debating this question as they begin our unit title “What is Life?”
In Mrs. Pitts' connections class, 7th graders created video footage displaying Madras Core Values.
SRO Davis discussing the dangers of substance abuse and drug use with Coach Nash’s 7th grade Health class,
First Snack 'n Chat was a success! Thank, you parents!
More Around the Nest ...
Check our website regularly for updates or changes.
Wednesday, September 5
- Pep Band Practice, 3:30-4:30 is CANCELLED; Pep Band will not perform.
- Girls of Faith, 3:30-4:30
- MMS Elite (male step team) informational meeting, 3:30-4:30
- Football: SRMS at Madras, 5 pm
- ELA Ambassadors at Werz, 8-4
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:30
Thursday, September 6
- Vote on Student Council Reps in HR
- Chorus Uniform Payment Due
- Academic Bowl Practice, 8:00-8:50 am
- Girls of Faith, 3:30-4:45
- Lady Eagles Step Team Tryouts, 3:30-4:30
- Science Olympiad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Volleyball: SRMS at Madras, 4:30
Friday, September 7
- Vote on Student Council Reps in HR
- TMX Rehearsal, 3:30-5:30
- MMS Men's Festival Rehearsal, 8:00-8:20 a.m.
- Art Club, 3:30-4:30
- Junior Beta Meeting for Returning Members, 3:30-4:15
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Parent Volunteer Training, 8:30 or 2:45
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Volleyball: ECMS at Madras, 4:30
Tuesday, September 11
- Academic Bowl Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Eagle Extraordinaire Club, 3:30-4:30
- NJHS Meeting for New and Interested Members, 3:30-4:15
- CCSS Board Meeting
- Football: Madras at ECMS, 5 pm
- Progress Reports Issued
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:30
Wednesday, September 12
- Girls of Faith, 3:30-4:30
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:30
Thursday, September 13
- Academic Bowl Practice, 8:00-8:50 am
- Girls of Faith, 3:30-4:45
- Science Olympiad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Mandatory Science Olympiad Parent Meeting, 4:30
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Volleyball: Lee at Madras, 4:30
Friday, September 14
Monday, September 17- MMS Men's Festival Rehearsal, 8:00-8:20 a.m.
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-5:00
- Volleyball: Evans at Madras, 4:30
Tuesday, September 18
- Pep Band Practice, 3:30-4:30
- MMS All-State Chorus Rehearsal, 7:30-8:20 a.m.
- Academic Bowl Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Football: Evans at Madras, 5 pm
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:30
Wednesday, September 19
- Girls of Faith, 3:30-4:30
- Student Council Meeting, 3:30-4:15
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:30
Thursday, September 20
- Academic Bowl Practice, 8:00-8:50 am
- Girls of Faith, 3:30-4:45
- Science Olympiad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- 7th Grade Vision Screening
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Volleyball: Madras at SRMS, 4:30
Friday, September 21
- TMX Rehearsal, 3:30-5:30
- Book Club Meeting, 7:45 a.m., media center
- Club Advisement
- MMS Men's Festival Rehearsal, 8:00-8:20 a.m.
- Art Club, 3:30-4:30
- RESA Academic Bowl Meet at MMS (Hosted by Madras)
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-5:00
- Volleyball: Madras at Arnall, 4:30
Tuesday, September 25
- MMS All-State Chorus Rehearsal, 7:30-8:20 a.m.
- Academic Bowl Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Future Georgia Educators Meeting, 7:30-8:00 a.m.
- Football: Madras at Arnall, 5 pm
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:30
Wednesday, September 26
- Girls of Faith, 3:30-4:30
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
Thursday, September 27
- Academic Bowl Practice, 8:00-8:50 am
- Girls of Faith, 3:30-4:45
- Science Olympiad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Volleyball: Madras at ECMS, 4:30
Friday, September 28
- Men's Choral Festival, Nixon Centre
- NGHS Homecoming
- Pep Rally, 2:30
- Eagle Pride Awards
The Eagles Will Host Smokey Road Wednesday, September 5th
Lady Eagles Take on the Wildcats September 6th
PTO: Join the Team!
Amy Brandon, PTO President
Welcome to Madras! The purpose of our PTO is to help improve our school by combining the efforts of parents, students, and teachers.
We invite you to join PTO to help make our school a better place to work and learn! Our fundraising efforts have benefited a variety of projects in the past including school building improvements, teacher instructional requests, equipment for the fine arts department, instructional technology purchases, and athletic programs.
This year, one of our major goals is to raise enough funds to purchase an electronic sign in front of the school to replace the old signage. We didn't quite reach this goal last year but are hoping to earn enough early this year to update it. We ask that each family join PTO with a $12.00 (or more if you choose) contribution. You can join and pay directly online by clicking the ONLINE MEMBERSHIP (You can also send a check with your child to the homeroom teacher or to the front office. Checks should be made payable to Madras PTO.)
We also need your volunteer time! If you are interested in assisting with any of the areas below, please select from the choices on the online form. You will be contacted as the events take place. There are many opportunities to serve:
- Hospitality Committee - Teachers' Luncheons and Special Events
- Box Tops
- School Store - helping in the store 8:00-8:30 AM on a rotational basis
- Membership
- Snack n Chat (monthly)
- Media Center (1-2 hrs per week)
- Battle of the Books
- Book Fair - Fall and Spring
- Scoliosis Screening - one time event
- School Pictures
- Lamination/Copies for teachers
- 8th Grade Dance Setup
- Special Event Assistance
- PTSO Board
MMS PTO Annual Project: Electronic Sign in Front of the School
If you wish to make a donation to this project, please send it in with your child address to the MMS PTO. Contact Amy Brandon at amysbrandon97@gmail.com with any questions.
Thanks in advance for your support!
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