The Faubion Lion Pride Press
Week of March 29, 2021
Dear Faubion Family,
In this edition of the Faubion Lion Pride Press, we give an overview of the upcoming bond election, provide a glimpse into events approaching this spring, and celebrate several members of our school community. Please note that we do not have school on Friday, April 2, as this is a bad weather day.
Fred Rogers was a pioneer in education and in social-emotional health of students. He was the creator of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood as well as the host of all 895 episodes, the composer of its more than 200 songs, and the puppeteer who imagined 14 characters into being. More importantly, he changed the face of children’s television and transformed the way we think about the inner lives of young children.
Mrs. Phillips, Mr. Rodriguez, and Mrs. Kiefer work to provide a safe and secure place for our students to learn and to inform our staff about practices that help our community be more inclusive. We are working on plans for future ways to incorporate social-emotional learning into our schools, so stay tuned!
Aristotle once said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." At Faubion Middle School, we make excellence a habit, and we are kind to each other. Parents, thank you for instilling those values in your children so they can make a lasting and positive mark on our community.
Go Lions!
-Mr. Boom
Addison in 4-H
Simple and Compound interest
Pre-Algebra students were working together to solve a mini-mystery. They had to use simple and compound interest to answer clues as to who the final suspect was in the predicament they were given. Each question that was answered eliminated suspects until there was only ONE.
Pictured are: Fernando Peralta, Austin Perera, Shaylye Turner, Alivia Rivera-Norman, and Devin Nerhus.
Student Spotlight - Angel Escobedo Molina
This week's student spotlight features the student-athlete, Angel Escobedo Molina!
The youngest of four children, Angel looks up to his older siblings as a guide. Angel's older brother is also his best friend. Angel enjoys speaking with his brother and getting counsel about life in general. Sometimes they play online games together and his brother helps him with his homework.
Angel enjoys exercising outside of school, especially doing push-ups. In fact, he does a set of 50 push-ups every day after school in addition to the work he does in athletics. Angel is focused on developing his physique so he can continue with athletics into high school. He is excited about playing football at McKinney High School.
Angel's favorite sport is soccer. In fact, it is a big part of his life. His favorite soccer player is Lionel Messi from Argentina. Angel likes that Messi helps people on his team and in his community. Because of Messi, Angel's favorite national team is Argentina. Within the US, Angel's favorite team is the LA Galaxy, but FC Dallas is growing on him.
Running numbers and understanding statistics is a big part of being a big sports fan. With that being said, math is something that comes naturally for Angel, and it is his favorite class. He especially likes the numbers and the percents. Angel appreciates that his teachers are firm in their expectations but they are also supportive when he needs it. This is helpful for Angel as he is mastering English.
Angel said, "I need to improve my English. There are some words that give me difficulty in pronouncing. There are some words that I know that I can't pronounce. Mrs. Sinclair helps me with pronouncing my words. She asks me to repeat the word and then she encourages me when I get it right. It makes me feel good because she is pushing me. This is important because she understands what I am trying to learn. When she compliments me, it makes me happy."
Mrs. Sinclair had the following to share about Angel: "Angel is a dedicated student who works hard in class, every day. You should also know that Angel is always smiling, offers help to anyone who needs it, and has a clever sense of humor, too."
Angel's other teachers had similar things to say about him, referring to his helpful and kind attitude. Ms. Caldwell said, "Angel is an exceptional young man. He not only works hard in class, he goes above and beyond every day to make sure he is giving his best effort. He is also very dependable. I know if I need help with something, he will be the first to volunteer. His heart is second to none. Having him as a student has been an absolute blessing this year!"
Mrs. Berteau said, "Angel is the SWEETEST kid. He says hello every morning as he comes into class, and is prepared to learn the second the bell rings. He is always ready to help a fellow classmate, especially those who are newcomers and are still nervous to speak up and ask for help. Angel is a respectful, hard working, and kind young man and having him in class is such a joy."
Please give a pat on the back when you see him. Students who demonstrate kindness and persistence are cherished here at Faubion Middle School. We are excited to see what the future holds for this talented and kind young man.
6th science experiment
Upcoming STAAR Tests
7th graders will take the Writing STAAR test on April 6th. Please mark your calendars and have your student ready for a great day of showing their knowledge and skills learned this year. It is also important to know we are taking all safety precautions during testing. Our virtual students will take the STAAR test ON CAMPUS, as well. Please make arrangements to have your child to campus on that day (more details to come). Also note, we will not allow visitors on campus on STAAR testing days.
Below is a list of all STAAR testing days for your calendaring convenience:
8th grade Science – May 6th (bring charged laptop to the secured testing location on campus)
8th grade History – May 7th (paper version)
6th-8th grade Math AND Algebra I EOC – May 11th (bring charged laptops to the secured on-campus location)
6th-8th grade Reading – May 12th (paper version)
Summer School for Students Entering Grade 9
Students entering grade 9 next year have the opportunity to take online classes this summer for advancement. The fee to take an online course is $110 per class. For students who are in AVID or have free or reduced lunch the price is $50 per class. Please note that the timeline to finish summer coursework is only 4 weeks and students must complete an online exam by 11 am on June 29th. They do not offer extensions if coursework is not completed within the four-week timeline.
If you are interested in signing up for an online summer course, please use this LINK to fill out a google sheet. Your child's counselor will contact you with additional registration information. Please note that summer classes are subject to counselor approval and availability.
Please review the flyers to see the classes that are available to your student.
If you have any registration or counseling questions, please reach out to your child's house counselor!
Counselors by Alpha:
A-G - Mrs. Phillips - rphillips@mckinneyisd.net
H-O - Mr. Rodriguez - danrodriguez@mckinneyisd.net
P-Z - Mrs. Kiefer - chkiefer@mckinneyisd.net
You can always keep updated with the latest counseling information by visiting our counselors' webpage at fmscounselors.weebly.com.
Sports Physicals for Next School Year
Every athlete must have a physical dated after April 1, 2021 in order to participate in athletics for the 21-22 school year. Physicals are on a yellow form this year. A white copy will NOT be accepted. Yellow physical forms will be passed out on April 1, 2021 (next Thursday!) in PE or athletics.
MISD will host 3 physical dates in April at the high schools. The flyer is attached. Something new for this year is the online payment option. You can pay in advance using the QR code on the flyer to purchase a physical “ticket”. Cash will be accepted at the door as well.
Every campus will have EKG testing available for those who want it – it is optional.
Track and Field Results
Fine Arts Accents
Rhythm and Reading
Adolescent-centered studies show that even very basic rhythm abilities, such as tapping to a beat, relate with reading skills, and we have provided initial evidence for how both abilities may rely on common underlying neural mechanisms of sound processing. Tierney, A.T. and N. Kraus, The ability to tap to a beat relates to cognitive, linguistic, and perceptual skills.
- Brain and Language, 2013. 124(3): p. 225-231
McKinney High School Color Guard
Check out our award-winning 2021 Varsity Winter Guard!
On May 4th and 5th from 5pm – 7pm, McKinney High School host a clinic for all of those interested in joining the 2021-2022 Color Guard! We will teach you everything you need to know, so there is absolutely no experience required!
You may be asking yourself, “What is Color Guard, and why should I participate?” Considered the Sport of the Arts, color guard is an activity that combines dance fundamentals with the manipulation of flags, rifles, and sabres. While best known for our performances with the McKinney Royal Pride Band, the color guard also has an award-winning winter guard team that competes all across Texas.
Participating in the color guard will also help you earn both your P.E. and Fine Arts credits! Most importantly, you'll be a part of a supportive team environment where you'll make friendships that can last a lifetime!
6th and 7th grade parents,
Next summer (July 2022), several students will have the opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime. Ms. Witsell, a 6th grade teacher at Faubion, is chaperoning a 10 day trip to England, France, Germany, and Switzerland with EF Tours.
A parent interest meeting will take place virtually on Tuesday, March 30th at 6:30 PM. The itinerary, trip details, and cost will be discussed during the meeting. To RSVP for the meeting and get the Zoom information, please use the following link: https://bit.ly/3chnZ8Y
We currently have 6 students signed up and 12 spots left! We hope you will consider joining us.
**This tour is in partnership with EF Educational Tours. This tour IS NOT affiliated with Jack Faubion Middle School or McKinney Independent School District. All questions should be directed to Ms. Witsell. cwitsell@mckinneyisd.net
Updated Shot Records for Rising 7th Graders
Rising seventh graders need proof of updated immunizations before the end of this school year. Your child's schedule will be withheld until immunization records are up-to-date.
Please take your child to complete immunizations. If your child has already received his/her vaccines, provide the updated record to our campus nurse ASAP.
The following vaccines are needed:
Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis-containing vaccine (received within the past five years)
Meningococcal vaccine (within the past five years)
It is necessary for your child to be in compliance to attend 7th grade for the 2021-22 school year.
Collin County Health Care Clinic offers low-cost or free immunizations for Medicaid, CHIPs, American Indian or Alaskan native, uninsured or underinsured (no vaccine, capped coverage or select vaccine insurance coverage).
Collin County Health Care, 825 North McDonald Street, Mon - Fri, 7:30am-11am and 1pm-4pm
Spring Break is a great time to get your immunizations completed!
If you have any questions about the information above, please reach out to our school nurse at mguinn@mckinneyisd.net or 469-302-6914.
helping our community
One Heart McKinney is an organization that partners with McKinney ISD to provide for those in need. Go to www.oneheartmckinney.com for a one-stop shop of resources related to COVID and community support. You can donate to the cause or seek help if interested.
Drug Use Prevention Resources
McKinney ISD offers a Canvas course called "Talk it up! Prevention resources for parents," which is full of drug prevention resources. Please visit the following LINK, bookmark it, and review it at your convenience. Our district truly embodies the "Live Kind" mindset in taking care of the entire child. Our district Substance Use Prevention Committee works hard to make the content relevant, engaging, and timely. Our counselors are also equipped with lots of resources to assist you, so if you need anything please reach out to us.
Upcoming Events
March 26, 27, and 29
Faubion Band select your instrument night for current fifth graders. Make an appointment at www.faubionband.com or contact rgaughan@mckinneyisd.net for more information.
March 26
Faubion Orchestra select your instrument night for current fifth graders. Make an appointment at www.faubionorchestra.com or contact kzamora@mckinneyisd.net for more information.
April 1
TRACK & FIELD - 7th & 8th Boys and Girls - Evans and Prosper Hays @ MNHS - 4 - 9 p.m.
Lost and Found will be cleared out. Please claim any lost items before this date.
April 2
No School
April 12 - April 16
Faubion PTO Spring Silent Auction Fundraiser
May 6 - Science 8 STAAR (administered in person on charged school laptop)
May 7 - History 8 STAAR (paper administration)
May 11 - Math 6-8 and Algebra 1 STAAR (administered in person on charged school laptop)
May 12 - Reading 6-8 (paper version)
To learn more about this method, here is a link where you can watch a video and access resources: https://www.schoolrubric.com/how-to-write-effective-questions-with-costas-levels-of-thinking/
Checking Your Child's Grades and Attendance
You may monitor your child's grades and attendance by using the Home Access Center.
Here are the steps to follow:
1) Please make sure that you are using Google Chrome as your browser.
2) Go to https://sso.mckinneyisd.net
3) Enter your login credentials. If you need assistance with your login information, please reach out to your child's house secretary:
A-G: Mrs. Soroa - rsoroa@mckinneyisd.net or 469-302-7005
H-O: Mrs. Gonzalez - amgonzalez@mckinneyisd.net or 469-302-6911
P-Z: Mrs. Dedman - odedman@mckinneyisd.net or 469-302-6917
Jack C. Faubion Middle School, the best middle school in the State of Texas
Email: mvandenboom@mckinneyisd.net
Website: faubionmiddleschool.com
Location: 2000 Rollins Street, McKinney, TX 75069
Phone: 469) 302-6900
Twitter: @FaubionMiddle