Moorhead Junior High
December 2020/January 2021 Newsletter
Upcoming Breaks
Thanksgiving Break is Nov. 23 - Nov. 27
Winter Break is Dec. 19 - Jan. 5.
Texas Academic Performance Report
Our campus 2019-2020 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) has been posted on our school's profile page. The TAPR accountability report can be accessed using the following steps:
From the school’s website:
· Go to "Our School/Campus"
· Click “View School Profile"
· Select “Accountability Reports”
· Click “2019-2020”
· Select "Texas Academic Performance Report "
December Dress up Days
Dec. 4 - Rudolph/reindeer day (wear your antlers, reindeer t shirt, or animal print)
Dec. 8 - Elf Day
Dec. 9 - Candy Cane Day (Wear red and white)
Dec. 10 - Santa Hat day
Dec. 11 - “Deck them halls y’all!” Christmas Cowboy/Cowgirl Day
Dec. 14 - "Don’t let the mean ol’ Grinch steal your holiday cheer." - Dress up as a Who from Whoville
Dec. 17 - "The star atop the Christmas tree has a TWIN-kle" - Twin Day
Instructional Option Change (Virtual to In person or In Person to Virtual)
CHANGING INSTRUCTIONAL PLATFORMS: As campuses prepare for the start of the third grading period, we know that some families may be considering changing instructional platforms. If you would like to move your child from remote/online instruction to face-to-face instruction or vice versa, please contact the PEIMS Clerk at your child’s campus by Tuesday, December 1st.
The third grading period begins on January 6th!
Parent and Student Access Center
Parents and guardians have free access to Parent Access Center via ttps://pac.conroeisd.net/ . Click FAQ/Help if you need instructions on setting up your account.
This portal gives complete access to student grades, attendance, tardies, discipline, STAAR scores, and other information. This tool can also give parents and guardians the opportunity to set thresholds where you will be emailed scores of each assignment. Students also have the same access via Student Access Center.
TAE – Teacher Achieving Excellence is a great opportunity to recognize a teacher that is making a difference in your child’s life. The electronic award can be created and sent through Parent Access. An email will be sent to the teacher as well as campus administrators.
A Note from Nurse Toni
Weekly Prize Winners 11/20/20
Hot Spot Exchange Urgency (VIRTUAL STUDENTS)
· The Kajeet hotspots you were issued in the spring and in the summer will have no data effective December 1st
o These are the hotspots your students have right now in most cases
· New hotspots with data through the summer of 2021 should be on your campus soon, if not now
· Please make sure your team is working actively now to exchange the old previously distributed Kajeet hotspots with the new ones soon and comfortably before December so that student service is not interrupted
· Please return old previously distributed Kajeet hotspots directly to Teri Ross in technology
o Place a pick-up ticket and leave the old hotspots in your normal technology pick up location
Semester Exam Schedule
Students will take major exams the last week of the fall semester. It is very important for students to be present for these major tests. So that your child can do his/her best, please plan any vacations or healthcare appointments around exam dates. Finals count ten percent of the semester grade for junior high courses and fifteen percent for high school classes. Any missed exam should be made up with the specific instructor the week of January 6 through 8.
Dates for final exams are listed below.
First Semester Exam Schedule
12/16/20 – 1st, 2nd, 3rd Period Finals
12/17/20 – 4th ,5th, 6th Period Finals
12/18/20 - 7th Period Final and early release day at 1:00pm
For planning purposes, second semester exams are May 24, 2021 – May 26, 2021.
Congratulations to Our November Students of the Month
Kimberly Portman
Cruz Mares
Hayden Herrinton
Early Release on December 18th
Our campus will have early release FRIDAY December 18th, at 1:00 p.m. Buses will depart at approximately 1:05 p.m. on this date. Please plan for the potential of heavier traffic at the pick-up lines.
First Day of School!
Winter Concerts
CHIOR CONCERT INFORMATION
Looking Long Term
November
23rd-27th - Thanksgiving Break
December
Dec. 16 - 18 - Final Exams
Dec. 18- Half Day - 1pm dismissalDec. 19 - Jan 3 - Holiday Break
January
Jan. 4 - Teacher Work Day
Jan. 5 - Teacher Staff Development
Jan. 6 - First Day of classes
Jan. 18 - No school (MLK Day)
Jan. 15- 22 - SCIENCE FAIR (Virtual)
February
Feb. 6 - Sci Story Competition
Feb. 19 - Science Bowl
Feb 20 - Sci Story Finals
March
1 - EDC 4:30 - 6:30pm
DOES YOUR CHILD NEED HELP WITH HOMEWORK?
The Student Success Center (SSC) is open Tuesday through Thursday from 4:05pm to 5:10pm. Students staying after school for tutorials can be picked up by the bus ramp or can ride the late bus home. Late buses depart Moorhead at 5:15pm.
Student Success Center Expectations
· Long before 4:00pm students should know how they are getting home (car or late bus); in other words, they do not decide at 4:00 that they need to stay for SSC.
· 4:05 – Students line up at the 7th grade library door, extending towards the cafeteria; whether they hear a dismissal announcement or not, they are released from class at 4:05 (no earlier) for SSC. They should not arrive later than 4:15.
· Students hand SSC facilitator on duty their official, teacher signed SSC pass.
· Students sign in on one of the iPads.
· Students begin working quietly at the appropriate subject area table until tutors arrive.
· Electronic devices are not allowed unless a tutor or SSC facilitator has given permission to use them.
· Students must ask the SSC facilitator for permission to use the restroom.
· Car riders are dismissed at 5:05pm and late bus riders are dismissed at 5:10pm.
Communities in Schools (CIS)
Moorhead Junior High has a Communities in Schools (CIS) Social Services Coordinator, Ms. Latonya Jones. Ms. Jones is on campus daily and is available to help with the basic needs of our students. Some of resources offered by our CIS counselor include:
· Food Pantry (shelf stable items as well as fresh food when available)
· Clothing
· School Supplies
· Lunch groups (by invitation)
· Holiday assistance
· Weekend food assistance
The CIS office is located inside the small gym. You may request assistance by contacting Ms. Jones directly at (936)709-2449.
Is Social Media playing a part in the increase of anxiety and depression in Teens?
Pew Research, 2018 states:
- 95% of teens have access to a smartphone
- 45% have non-stop access
- 10%+ cannot control online behavior
- If you can't control yourself is it an addiction?
- “Digital Heroin”
- the term created based on brain research showing the dopamine levels in the brain when using social media
- Gaming has also shown similar effects
Is Social Media Positive or Negative? - what do kids say?
- 31% say it is mostly POSITIVE
- 45% say it has no effect
- 24% say it is mostly NEGATIVE
Hashtag Trends to be aware of:
- #sue: suicide
- #deb: depression
- #ana: anorexia
- #thinsp: thinspiration (photos/messages that “inspire” an effort to become thin)
- #svv: self-harming behavior
How is it Affecting the Teen Brain? - (is it reversible?)
Physical Issues (not reversible):
- Vision: vision loss, at-risk for macular degeneration
- Increase: Teen migraines
- Finger/wrist pain
- “Text neck” (premature degeneration of neck and spine)
- “Phantom Vibration Syndrome”
- Decrease in self-confidence
- Peer Pressure increase
- Anxiety increase
- Depression increase
- Teens spending 5+ hours daily online (social media):
- 71% more likely to have at least one risk factor for suicide
- Risk decreases exponentially for teens spending 1 hour daily or less
Increase in Social Isolation (American Journal of Preventative Medicine 2017)
- Teens on social media more than 58 times per week:
- 3x’s more likely to feel socially isolated
- Less feelings of isolation if less than 9 times on social media per week
- Teens equate # of SM friends to reality
Brain Issues (may or may not be reversible):
Decrease in ability to multi-task and memory decline
Inability to regulate emotions
Reading "likes" and "shares" vs. gestures or facial expressions
Psychological addiction and impairment in hippocampus and amygdala
Social Media is constantly activating our Fight, Flight, or Freeze (survival) response:
High blood pressure
Hypertension/cardiovascular disease
Diabetes
Cancer
More frequent illnesses
Eating issues
Mental health issues
- Because - a social media notification=“digital heroin”
- Then - the brain sends dopamine along a reward pathway
Which - feels good (reward)
Before - we know it behavior becomes a habit
So...What is the Effect of Social Media on Student Population?
- Source of distraction
Herd mentality
Degree of anger by teen victims of bullying associated w/increased exposure to media
Lack of EMPATHY/Sociopathology
Working memory and selective attention issues
Sensory information and response issues
Emotional reactivity
Lack of cognitive control over emotions
Increased anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation
Students today are always looking for an advantage to push them to the top.
I wonder how things would change if they knew the two easiest ways to get an advantage are:
- Getting 9 hours of sleep a night
- Limiting Social Media
The Conroe Independent School District (District) as an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner.
For information about Title IX rights or Section 504/ADA rights, contact the Title IX Coordinator or the Section 504/ADA coordinator at 3205 W. Davis, Conroe, TX 77304; (936) 709-7752.