May 13, 2016
Thank You, PTSA!
Our fantastic PTSA continues to support us at high levels in helping us develop our technology capability to enhance teaching and learning here at Five Forks Middle School. At the Executive Board meeting this past Monday evening, Mrs. Douthart was given a check for $4500 to spend on Technology and Media Services! Over the course of this year, our wonderful PTSA has given back to Five Forks...a total of $13,355.82--not to mention the countless hours of volunteering their time and talent! We are so blessed to have such awesome parents and community members helping our school--our staff--and most importantly--our STUDENTS! Thank you, PTSA!
Bronco Days - Help Needed!
Bronco Store Help Needed!
Middle School Softball!
Scholars Bowl News!
The FFMS Scholars Bowl team participated in the NATIONAL Academic Quizbowl Tournament this past weekend in Atlanta. This competition tested their knowledge of history, science, literature, fine arts, geography, the social sciences, current events, and more areas of study. The teams used buzzers to answer questions about science, math, history, literature, mythology, geography, social science, current events, sports, and popular culture. It was a fun experience for our team and they made an amazing showing all day long defeating teams from across the nation. Although they did not come out on top, we are very proud of Leo Wang, Geoffrey Johnson, Beven Jojo, Amaar Marfatia, Jay Patel, Hollis Zeng, and Greg Zhang. We would like to thank the team's coach, Dennis Turnham, for his countless hours spent with the team in preparation. Mr. Turnham is ending his thirteenth year of quiz bowl with our Five Forks team and we are extremely grateful for his time and expertise. Way to go, Broncos!
Attention Rising 9th Grade!
Important Dates to Remember:
5/18/16 - Carnegie Unit Presentation/Q&A, 6:30pm, BHS Commons (for Parents/Students with Questions
5/27/16 - Carnegie Unit Forms Due to FFMS
Information on Activities:
Spring Football Practice begins at BHS on May 2nd from 5:00-7:00 pm. A completed athletic physical is required.
Volleyball Tryouts will be held May 9th - 13th.
Talent Show DVDs Available!
Writing Workshop!
Peer Leaders for 2016-2017!
Morning Help Sessions!
Please make sure you are dropping off your students no earlier than 8:15 am. The building is not open to students prior to 8:15 am. Students are admitted to help sessions at 8:15 am when teachers are in their rooms and ready to accept them. As a reminder, Wednesday is help session day for Math and Social Studies and Thursday is help session day for Language Arts and Science. We appreciate your support in this matter as we want to keep all of our students safe!
Publix Partners!
Top 20 Parents!
Goals
Dreams with Deadlines
Goals are a strategy that direct and give focus to our lives and help us better our best. Goals are like a map that guide us to where we want to be and keep us on course.
Goals can be long-term or short-term. Goal can be parent-oriented or child-oriented.
Goals should always be SMART!
S- Specific: Having specific goals keeps our attention and energy focused.
M- Measurable: Having measurable goals allows to know if we are making progress.
A - Action Oriented: Having action oriented goals helps us focus on the action needed to achieve the desired results.
R - Realistic: Having realistic goals helps us set goals that stretch and challenge us but are also within our reach.
T - Time Limited: Having time limited goals gives us a deadline to help us stay motivated toward our goals.
Barriers to Achieving Goals:
Rationalizing: convincing ourselves that it’s not very important.
Justifying: defending the excuses we make that keep us from our goals.
Procrastinating: putting of taking action toward our goals.
Reach your Goals by being WISE!
W - Willpower: having self-discipline
I - Initiative: being self-starting
S - Stamina: having the strength to continue no matter what
E - Enthusiasm: being passionate and finding pleasure in working toward your goals
For those interested in reading Top 20 Parents in its entirety, follow this link to order a copy for yourself: Top 20 Parents Book.
Clinic News!
Reminder: All student immunizations need to be current and on a valid Georgia Certificate of Immunization, Form 3231. Please check with your healthcare provider to assure that your child's immunization is up-to-date. Rising 7th Grade Parents, please be aware that there are two immunization vaccines required before your child can enter 7th Grade. Please visit our website or click here for a flyer with all of the information.
Counselors' Corner!
The Counselors this year are Rachel Kusher and Laura Ross. Mrs. Kusher works with all 8th graders and the 6th grade team of Watson, Glenn, Hicks, & Buschell. Ms. Ross works with all 7th graders and the 6th grade teams of Coston, Seay, McGraw & Byrnes and Kuny, Byrd & Branam. Both Ms. Ross and Ms. Kusher may be reached by phone or email to set a phone conference or face to face appointment. Our contact information can be found on the FFMS Counseling Department website: http://fiveforkscounseling.weebly.com/
Spiritwear on Sale!
Brookwood Schools Foundation!
Planning for 2016-17!
Clip Away!
Every month we will have a collection contest. You can help your child's homeroom win parties by simply turning in the labels. Each homeroom will be competing with their grade level to win a classroom party. Thanks for your support!
Saturday Opportunity School!
What's New This Week!
FFMS just purchased 15 new Chromebooks for students to use. The most recent Chromebooks purchased were for use exclusively in our STEAM lab; however, these Chromebooks will be available for any teacher to check out and use in their classroom. Our goal for next year is to purchase enough Chromebooks to have a cart of 30 for each grade level. Remember that monies collected in our fundraisers next year will help to support our technology initiatives!
Cafeteria News!
Here's a flyer about Nutrislice, available now! Click here for all of our breakfast and lunch menus, food descriptions and images, carb counts, surveys, and other nutrition information! You can also access it with the Nutrislice mobile app and have the information at your fingertips! Nutrislice information is also available on the FFMS Website under 'Cafeteria' and 'FFMS Cafe' on the 'School Information' pull-down tab. We hope you will visit this site often and encourage your child to try something new in our Cafeteria!
Yearbooks on Sale!
School Store!
Our Media Center operates a School Store for any last minute school supply needs. Students may stop by any time. Click here for an inventory sheet and price list.
GCPS E-Newsletter!
Click here to sign up for GCPS News, the school district's e-newsletter. It's a quick, easy way to learn more about Georgia's largest school system. In it, you'll find stories on teaching and learning, school leadership and governance, and the partnerships that make Gwinnett County Public Schools successful.
GCPS also publishes an online magazine, Communique, with new items added each week. Here's a link.
Join Today!
The PTSA would like to encourage you to become a member for only $6.00. We are striving for 100% participation and hope you'll take advantage of this easy way to get involved in many different PTSA-sponsored activities throughout the school year.
If you have not yet completed and returned a communication form, please fill one out next time you visit FFMS. This will help us keep you informed via email about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
Absence Reporting Procedure!
Dress Code!
Attention, Broncos: Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than 8" from the bottom of the knee to be worn in class. Also, no bare shoulders or see-through blouses. No holes in jeans or shorts above the knee and no droopy drawers are allowed. If a student is found to be in violation of the Dress Code, parents will be called to bring a change of clothing for their child. If a parent is not readily available to bring an appropriate change of clothes, students are sometimes able to borrow clothing articles from the Clinic. We ask that clothing borrowed clothing from the Clinic be returned at your earliest convenience so that others may have this same opportunity. Thank you for your assistance.
As a reminder, detailed and specific dress code information is located on pages 7 and 8 of your student's agenda book. We hope you will take a moment to review this with your child. We appreciate your cooperation.
Car Rider Reminders!
- Car Rider Pick-Up/Drop-Off is only at the rear of the building adjacent to the blacktop - no other doors.
- No morning drop-off in front of the building or in the side parking lot
- No drop-off prior to 8:15am except on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:00am; pick-up is at 4:00pm and the cut-off time is 4:15pm; we do not have staff on duty to accommodate students outside of these times; if you need resources for early morning or late afternoon care for your child, click here for available options.
- Students should not use electronic devices while waiting but be actively watching for their cars.
- For the safety of our students, we ask that parents refrain from using electronic devices while driving in the car rider lane.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation.
Transportation Changes!
BHS Activities Link!
Remind Text Alerts!
Community Activities Link!
Transportation News!
Gwinnett County is updating its Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP), looking at the changes that have occurred in Gwinnett County’s population, employment, land use, and development since the adoption of the previous plan and developing a plan that will carry the county well into the future. Gwinnett County’s CTP will focus on all modes of transportation, including roadways and bridges, transit, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and truck routes as well as the Gwinnett County Airport. As community members we all have a vested interest in this topic. As members of school communities that interest includes school safety projects that will be addressed in the updated plan. Attached is a flyer with information about upcoming meetings, as well as the web address for the project website and an online survey. Get involved and help shape the future of Gwinnett County.
Entrepreneurship Program!
Attention 8th Graders:
If you have ever thought about running your own business or turning everyday ideas into real-world products or services, the Clyde L. Strickland Entrepreneurship Program at Discovery High School may be just the educational experience for you! All GCPS rising freshman are invited to apply to the Discovery High School Entrepreneurship Program for the 2016-2017 school year, Accepted applicants will attend Discovery High School under permissive transfer. Please submit an application by June 30, 2016 by email or the street address on the application.
Milestones Results!
1) Log into the Parent Portal
2) Select the Test History tab located on the navigation bar
3) On the right-hand side is a widget titled "Assessment Reports"
4) Under "Assessment Reports" click on "2015 Spring End of Grade Individual Student Report."
In addition to the individual student report, a parent guide is listed below the report to help explain the report and your student's achievement. Please note that paper copies of the results with further instructions will also be sent home with your child's report card in January.
Dates To Remember!
5/13 - Relay for Life, Gwinnett Fairgrounds
5/14 - Saturday Opportunity School, 9:00 - 11:00 am
5/14 - Girl Power STEAM Event, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
5/18 - 6th Grade Bronco Day
5/18 - Rising 9th Grade Parents Carnegie Unit Presentation, BHS, 6:30 pm
5/20 - 7th Grade Bronco Day
5/21 - Saturday Opportunity School, 9:00 - 11:00 am
5/23 - 8th Grade Celebration
5/23 - Orchestra Awards Night, 6:30 pm
5/25 - Last Day of School
5/27 - Rising 9th Grade Carnegie Unit Forms Due to FFMS
Five Forks Middle School
Email: five_forks_middle@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Website: fiveforksmiddleschool.org
Location: 3250 River Drive Southwest, Lawrenceville, GA, United States
Phone: 770-972-1506
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BuckyConnects
Twitter: @BuckyConnects