The Hoof Print
May 14, 2023
THE FINAL HOOF PRINT OF THE YEAR!
Yes, you read that correctly - this is the final Hoof Print of the year! Woohoo! We only have 8.5 days left of school, so this newsletter will be packed with end-of-the-year information.
I would also like to say that it has been my pleasure and honor to have led the MFMS campus over the last three years. As you know, I am moving to a new role next year as the Early College High School (ECHS) and CTE Coordinator for the district. Over the last three years, we've been through COVID and post-COVID restrictions, all while making gains and improving the academics of this campus. In the 2018-2019 school year, we were identified as a "Targeted Improvement Campus" by TEA, which means we had an overall rating of a "D". Even through all of the educational challenges caused by COVID, I am proud that this campus is now a "C" campus and improving daily! A "B" rating is within our reach, and I know we can do it! Our teachers love our students, and it shows through their continued dedication.
Over the next few weeks, an interview committee and Dr. Gasaway will select the next leader of MFMS, and I have no doubt they will pick a great one! Thank you for supporting the work of the campus and for supporting campus leadership. It's a tough job, but no doubt extremely rewarding!
If you have any questions regarding the end of the year, please reach out to the front office, other administrators, or me. I wish you each a safe and fun summer!
Ashley Bernard, Principal
Mustangs of the Month!
6th grade- Eduardo Molina and Riley Chane
7th grade- Chase Boswell (not pictured) and Katelynn Folts
8th grade- Rory Blair and Nuri Al-Baqir-Bey
Shout out to our student announcers for the past few weeks!
Congrats to Coach Hampton for being our "Lucky Charm" this week at MFMS! You are awesome, and we are LUCKY to have you!
EOY MAP Testing
We will be using the End of Year (EOY) MAP data to help determine student placement for summer school, so it is very important that the students try their best to show growth. To see the schedule for Monday and Tuesday, please click the link below.
Obligations
All library books and choir dresses should be turned in ASAP! Click below to see a roster of missing choir dresses.
Notes from the Nurse
- If your student has medication in the nurse's office, please make a plan to pick up the medicine before or on the last day of school.
- All incoming 7th grade students (current 6th grade students) must be current on immunizations before the start of school.
- Required up-to-date immunizations include: TDap and Meningococcal
If you have any questions, please contact our school nurse, Donna Forest, at mailto:dforest@mfisd.txed.net
Returning Student Registration
*Skyward just completed an update, so you will be prompted to update/change your password upon logging in.*
If you need assistance with Skyward or have any questions, please contact the front office at 830-693-4439. Thank you!
End of Year Student Awards Ceremony
Students who are being recognized will be given an invitation during Advisory on Wednesday, parent emails will be sent, or you can click the link below to view a roster by ID number. If your student is receiving an award, we ask they be at the MFHS Auditorium by 5:30pm on Tuesday, May 23rd.
8th Grade Cook-Out & Wave-Out!
At 12:05pm we will gather at the end of the D-Hallway to lead the 8th grade students through the hallways one last time. 6th and 7th grade students and teachers will line the hallways to wave at the 8th graders as they head off to their new adventure of high school!
8th grade parents - we need your help to make the cook-out a success! Please click on the link below to volunteer to bring items or chaperone. We are still looking for 2 grills and grill masters to help out!
8th Grade Cook-Out Sign-Up Genius
Parents are welcome to attend the cook-out or wave-out, but please check in the front office first and obtain a visitor's badge.
Last Day of School - May 25th - Early Release!
No backpacks, bags, toys, water guns, water balloons, silly string, etc. is allowed! Please leave all these items at home on the last day of school!
Parents "Need to Know"
While most of us have heard of social media apps such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram, few have heard of apps such as Discord or Omegle. Please research these apps, but below is a quick intro.
DISCORD
- Discord is a free communications app that lets you share voice, video, and text chat with friends, game communities, and developers. It has hundreds of millions of users, making it one of the most popular ways to connect with people online.
- Some of the servers on Discord are themed around adult topics that might not be suitable for your child. There are also reports of harmful and illegal content being shared on the platform. Anyone over the age of 13 can join public servers on Discord.
- Common Sense Media also recommends that Discord users be at least 13 due to its open chat. Because it's all user-generated, there's the potential for plenty of inappropriate content, like swearing and graphic language and images (though it's entirely possible to belong to a group that forbids these).
OMEGLE
- NOT SAFE FOR MINORS
- Omegle is a website that is specifically designed to allow users to talk to strangers. It works by randomly matching users to talk one-to-one using either text or video. It is free and anonymous to use, with no account registration or age verification.
- Risk of sharing or viewing inappropriate content. Omegle does not appear to have powerful moderation. It also does not require registration or have age verification, which makes young people a potential target for abuse online. Its site states “predators have been known to use Omegle, so please be careful.”
- Parents Need to Know
Student IDs
Mustang lanyards are also available for purchase in the front office for $3.
Assistant Principals will begin contacting home once a student reaches 5 charged IDs. Please contact the front office if you have any questions.
Hallway & Cafeteria Behavior
All grades are seeing an increase in negative behaviors in the cafeteria. Our lunches have about 300 students each, which can be difficult to manage. We have teachers, administrators, counselors, and our SRO in lunches to help monitor, but we need students to be responsible and respectful of the space. Several days the cafeteria is left in disarray (beyond typical), with food being thrown and students unsafely running around.
Please speak to your student about appropriate bathroom behavior and report any misuse to a teacher immediately. At this point in the school year, all students are well aware of our expectations. We appreciate your help with speaking with your student about the expectations in the hallway, cafeteria, and bathrooms. Thank you for your help.
Hero K-12
This year we are expanding the use of the system to also keep track of tardies and when students leave class. As a parent, you can create an account and track your student's points and behaviors!
Parent accounts are easy to create, and video instructions can be found here: https://vimeo.com/464350396. If you have further questions, please contact our SEL counselor, Rebecca Taylor, at rtaylor@mfisd.txed.net.
No outside food delivery
Parent Sign-Out
Morning Procedures
- Doors open at 7:35am to welcome students into the building.
- If students arrive between 7:35am - 7:45am, they will be asked to report to the cafeteria.
- At 7:45am 6th grade students will be released to C/D-Hall, 7th grade students will go to B-Hall, and 8th grade students will remain in the cafeteria.
- At 8:06am, the bell will ring to release all students to their first period class.
- Tardy bell rings at 8:10am
- If your student needs breakfast in the morning, they should eat in the cafeteria before going to their designated areas.
Drop Off & Pick Up
Please remember that the bus loop, the gym parking lot, and HEB are not drop-off or pick-up locations.
- Morning drop-off occurs in 2 locations.
- Any student can be dropped off in the front car loop and students will enter the building by the 8th grade front foyer.
- Any student can also be dropped off in the back car loop and they will enter the building through the glass doors by the cafeteria.
PICK-UP
- After school pick up will occur in the same locations, but we split by grade level in an effort to maintain traffic flow.
- 6th grade and 7th grade students will be picked up in the back car loop.
- When you enter the back car loop, please stay in the right lane and pull all the way to the portable by the baseball field. Once your student gets in the car, you can pull in the left lane and exit the loop. Please continue to pull forward and don't leave a gap between you and the car in front of you.
- 8th grade students will be picked up in the front car loop. Please continue to pull forward in the right lane. Students will load their car after the crosswalk by the flag poles. Once your student gets in the car, you can pull into the left lane and exit the loop. Please do not pull into the left lane until after the crosswalk by the flag poles.
- HEB IS NOT A PICK UP LOCATION!
Golden Spatula
Parents and families can assist us (and your student) with earning this privilege by reminding your student to pick up after themselves, clean any mess they might make, not roaming around the cafeteria, and by keeping the sound to a tolerable level.
HEB Expectations - PLEASE READ
HEB is not a pick-up location after school!
Please DO NOT have your student walk across the street and wait for you to pick them up. This year we've had reports of students harassing customers, stealing items, and engaging in inappropriate language and behavior. We do not want our students involved in these things, and I can imagine you do not want your child around it either.
What is most concerning is that students run across the street without even paying attention to vehicles. It is unsafe to cross the street, which is another reason HEB is not a pick-up location, and someone is going to get hurt.
If your student walks home, please encourage them to hustle home and not hang out at HEB. HEB is a place of business, and we respect them as a valued community partner.
Dress Code Overview
Please be sure to review the Student Handbook for the 21-22 school year. This document was signed when you completed Returning/New Student Registration, but it can also be found online at: Student Handbook, beginning on page 57. Below is a brief overview of common concerns.
- Hair must be of natural colors. Purple, blue, orange or similar hair colors are not acceptable.
- Hair shall be clean, well groomed, and shall not cover the eyes. Distracting haircuts (i.e. Mohawks, etc.) will not be allowed.
Shorts
- Shorts may be worn if the length is to the middle fingers or mid-thigh (whichever is shorter) as measured with relaxed shoulders, they are hemmed, and are not “form fitting”. (i.e., spandex and biker shorts are some but not all of the form fitting style shorts).
- Appropriateness/Inappropriateness will be determined by the school administration.
Pants:
- Pants should be worn at appropriate body size. (no sagging or clothing stretched skin tight).
- Undergarments and/or skin meant to be covered by undergarments must not be exposed.
- Leggings/Yoga Pants may be worn only if shirts worn are at fingertip length of the middle fingers or mid-thigh (whichever is shorter) as measured with relaxed shoulders in both the front and the back.
- Rips or holes in pants must be below finger-tip length.
- Students shall not wear pajama tops or bottoms.
- Appropriateness/Inappropriateness of torn clothing (frays) will be determined by the school administration.
Parent Involvement!
If so, please consider being a part of our Parent/Teacher Association! There is no cost to join, but the payoff is huge! Holly Gray will be serving as our PTA President and is looking for members! Please contact the front office if you are interested in joining!
BoxTops for Education!
For more information on how to download the app to your phone, click here: BoxTops. Be sure to select Marble Falls Middle School as your recipient school and start scanning!
Weekly Attendance Average
Students who miss school also miss instruction, which impacts their overall academic growth. Chronic absenteeism (missing 2 days each month or 2 days of the same class each month) is the leading predictor of if a student will drop out of high school. It is very important that your student is at school! If your student is sick, please contact the school nurse.
We want our Mustangs in class all day, every day!
Average daily attendance for the week of May 8th, 2023
Upcoming Events
Monday, May 15th
- School Board Meeting@ 6pm
- MAP Screener (alternate schedule)
Tuesday, May 16th
- MAP Screener (alternate schedule)
- MS Cheer Practice @ 4:00pm
- MS Spring Band Concert @ 6:30pm @ MFHS Auditorium
Wednesday, May 17th
- Make-up MAP Screener
- Chromebook/Charger Collection
Thursday, May 18th
- Chromebook/Charger Collection
- MS Cheer Practice @ 4:00pm
- MS Theater Performance, Almost Maine @ 7:00pm @ MFMS Cafetorium
Friday, May 19th
- 6th Grade Choir Trip
- MS Theater Performance, Almost Maine @ 7:00pm @ MFMS Cafetorium
Saturday, May 20th
- MS Theater Performance, Almost Maine @ 2:00pm @ MFMS Cafetorium
Monday, May 22nd
- 7th & 8th Grade Choir Trip
Tuesday, May 23rd
- AR Millionaires Trip
- EOY Awards Ceremony @ 6:00pm @ MFHS Auditorium
Thursday, May 25th
- LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! Early Release @ 12:20pm
- 8th grade Cook-Out/Wave-Out
Friday, May 26th
- Teacher Work Day
- MFHS Graduation
Marble Falls Middle School
Associate Principal, STEAM Academy: Haley Wheeler (hwheeler@mfisd.txed.net)
Assistant Principal, MS Students A-L: Logan Docherty (ldocherty@mfisd.txed.net)
Assistant Principal, MS Students M-Z: Angela Haas (ahaas@mfisd.txed.net)
A-L Counselor: Brooke Woodul (awoodul@mfisd.txed.net)
M-Z Counselor: Zilah Schiener (zscheiner@mfisd.txed.net)
Website: https://www.marblefallsisd.org/Page/13
Location: 1511 Pony Drive, Marble Falls, TX, USA
Phone: 830-693-4439
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarbleFallsMiddleSchool
Twitter: @MFMSPride
Chrombook Collection
Wednesday, May 17th, 2023
Thursday, May 18th, 2023
Please make sure your student brings their Chromebook and charger to turn in this week. Should a Chromebook not be turned in, it will be reported as stolen, and the student will be charged the full replacement fee. Please make sure the charger is turned in as well.