Mance Park Middle School Newsletter
April 2019
Principal's Corner
Use of Spring Benchmark Data and Push Toward STAAR
Teachers and Instructional Coach’s are working diligently to organize focused instructional intervention plans based on student benchmark data. To incorporate positive incentives for student’s hard work within these intervention plans, students will be rewarded for growth from their benchmark baseline to their assessed measure of learning at the end of their intervention plan. Please continue to encourage your student to remain focused and take all instruction seriously as we push toward the STAAR assessment. Your student’s progress on the STAAR assessment will help to determine their most appropriate educational setting for next school year as it relates to promotion or retention.
April 8th STAAR Pep Rally -
We will be holding a STAAR Pep Rally on Monday, April 8th during 8th period. We will be celebrating our anticipated success as well as honoring the progress our students have made on their benchmarks and STAAR interventions.
STAAR Testing Dates
7th Grade Writing STAAR and 8th grade Math STAAR: 4/9/19
8th Grade Reading STAAR: 4/10/19
8th Grade Algebra I EOC: 5/7/19
7th Grade Math STAAR: 5/13/209
8th Grade Math STAAR RE-TEST 5/13/2019
7th Grade Reading STAAR: 5/14/2019
8th Grade Reading STAAR RE-TEST: 5/14/2019
8th Grade Science STAAR: 5/15/19
8th Grade Social Studies STAAR: 5/16/19
Academic Conversations:
During code of conduct assemblies Mr. Campbell spoke with students about the importance of persistence and dedication to their studies as they embark on the Spring Semester. He addressed the need for students to “perform their job responsibilities” for the Spring Semester which include: good daily attendance, not being tardy for classes, being actively engaged in the classroom, asking good questions, being diligent in completing their assignments, studying for tests and quizzes, attending tutorials when needed, and following the student code of conduct. He finished by saying that each and every one of them has a bright future ahead of them and that through a persistent and determined focus, they will be the Champion they desire to be.
Areas of Focus:
Research shows that teachers and students benefit from high quality staff development. The focus of our Professional Development Plan here at Mance Park include:
Formative Assessment in the Classroom: Assessment strategies that allow teachers to gather valuable data in regards to student learning that enables them to make just in time decisions within a lesson.
Tiered Lesson Design: A lesson design that allows teachers the ability to meet each and every student where they are in the learning and scaffold the learning within a lesson.
Park Pride
Mance Park is happy to continue our partnership with the First United Methodist Church of Huntsville to provide “Park Pride.”
Park Pride is an organization dedicated to leadership by example. A member must have exemplary conduct at school and at all school functions, and must be endeavoring to succeed in the classroom.
The goals of Park Pride are to identify and recognize those students whose behavior is an asset to Mance Park Middle School, to reward those students with the rights and privileges they have earned, and to have Park Pride improve other students’ school pride and personal conduct by providing a very visible, shining example.
Students who receive Park Pride status will receive earned privileges throughout the second semester and will be allowed to attend an exciting field trip on April 29th, 2019. Students will be receiving field trip paperwork next week (4/1).
National Junior Honor Society
48 students from MPMS have met all requirements for induction into the National Junior Honor Society.
Induction Ceremony will be held April 1, 2019 at 6pm in the MPMS Boys Gym.
The first meeting for NJHS will be held Thursday April 4, 2019 at 3:45 for students.
NJHS Dues will be due at the first meeting ($20):
Cash or checks will be accepted.
**If paying by check, please make it out to MPMS and include DL and Phone #.**
PARENTS - PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO BRING THEIR CHROMEBOOK TO SCHOOL EACH DAY, FULLY CHARGED! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Mance Park Middle School National Junior Honor Society and Student Council members led the pledges at the board meeting.
FCA
We are excited about Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and ready to see great things happen! To sign up for text updates, text @mpmsfca to 81010.
Science Club
Science club is an exciting way to try new and different experiments and socialize with others who enjoy science. Come ask questions and learn. We meet every Tuesday in Room 120 after school to approximately 4:30. *Some experiments may last longer*
Chess Club
The Chess team is gearing up for the UIL Academic meet at the end of April. They'll be ready!
MPMS Cheer
Congratulations to the new 2019-2020 Cheerleaders!
Cassidy Arceneaux
Elena Blanton
Caylee Cochran
Chiara Garcia
Americus Greathouse
Rylie Hammond
Lela Hollis
Sarah Jeske
Valerie Martin
Makayla McGill
Alivia Newton
Alexia Sanchez
Jayleigh Warren
Kynlynn Woods
Thank you to all of those who came out to tryout!
First practice will take place on April 15th from 4:30-6:00 pm
Academic UIL Competitions
The following events are available to participate in at MPMS for UIL:
Oral Reading- Coach Valerie Gonzalez
Chess- Coach John Nepveux
Spelling- Coach Theresa Eubanks
Listening- Coach Theresa Eubanks
Number Sense- Coach Edward Lenoir
Calculator Applications- Coach Edward Lenoir
Dictionary Skills- Coach Shelley Petkovsek
Impromptu Speaking- Shelley Petkovsek
Speaking and Writing Event will be March 26th
Academic Testing Event will be April 30th
The lost and found is full!! Please have your child visit the AP's office to claim lost items.
7th Grade Math News
Tutorial Schedules
Baker: 3:40 - 4:20 Monday, Tuesday
Wright: 6:45am - 7:15 Tuesday and Thursday
Nash: 3:40 - 4:15 Monday, Tuesday, ThursdayQuinlan: 3:40 - 4:20 Monday and Friday
Upcoming activities and events
7th grade math classes will be studying Probability.
Please note
All students are required to have their Chromebooks charged and in class, each day! Additionally, students are required to have paper and a pencil each day.
7th Grade Reading News
Tutorial Schedules
Wooten: Mon-Thur 3:40-4:30
Adams: Mon 3:45-4:20
Wingert: Thur 3:30-4:15 (or by appt)
Sullivent: M-F 7:00-7:30 am afternoons if requested
Upcoming activities and events
- Supporting writing in preparation for Writing STAAR
- Reading STAAR May 14
Please note
All students are required to have their Chromebooks charged and in class, each day! Additionally, students are in need of pencils and notebook paper. Lastly, updated parent contact information is needed.
7th Grade Writing News
Gonzalez: Tues & Thurs 3:30 - 4:30. Mon & Wed by Request
Landrum-Tues & Thurs until 4:15 pm
Waldo: Mon & Wed 3:45-4:30: Depending on after school sports.
Burleson:Tues & Thurs 3:45-4:30
Celebrations:
Teachers & Students have been incredibly flexible and adaptable to the ever changing conditions with our interventions. Students are not with their typical Writing teachers, but they are working hard and being respectful.
Upcoming activities and events
5th 6 Weeks:
- Gearing up for Writing STAAR Tues. Apr. 9th, 2019
- STAAR Interventions - Focused and direct instruction. Meeting kids where they are.
Please note
All students are required to have their Chromebooks charged and in class, each day! Please send students with college ruled notebook paper, pencils, tissues and hand sanitizer.
7th Grade Science News
Tutorial Schedules
Shaw: Tuesday 3:45-4:15 and Thursday 3:45-4:15
Weatherwax: Wednesday 6:45-7:15 AM
Dulin: Tuesday 3:45-4:15 and Thursday 3:45-4:15
Green: Tuesday 3:45-4:15
Upcoming activities and events
- We are finishing up biodiversity and sustainability in ecosystems. Test will be on Tuesday, 4/2.
- Begin Unit 8 - Factors that Impact Change on 4/3
- Test for Unit 8 will be on 4/29
Please note
All students are required to have their Chromebooks charged and in class, each day! Additionally, students are required to have paper and a pencil each day.
7th Grade Social Studies News
Tutorial Schedules
Benavides: M-F 3:45-4:30
Ingram: M-F 6:30 a.m.
McFail: M-F 3:30-4:15
Upcoming activities and events
- Test over cotton, cattle and railroads on April 4th.
- Next unit will be over modernizing Texas in an age of oil. Test over oil will be on April 26th.
Please note
All students are required to have their Chromebooks charged and in class, each day! Additionally, students are required to have paper and a pencil each day.
Algebra News
Tutorial Schedule
Mrs. Nash: Monday & Thursday from 3:45 - 5:00 and every morning from 6:30 - 7:30
Upcoming activities and events
Algebra students are studying quadratic functions. We will conclude the unit with a cost analysis lab. The Algebra End of Course Test is coming soon (first week in May)!
Please note
Please encourage students to bring their charged chromebook to class every day.
8th Grade Math News
Tutorial Schedules
Sanders: Tuesday & Thursday, 3:45 - 4:30
Huerta: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 3:45 - 5:00
Upcoming activities and events
In Pre-Algebra we are hard at work reviewing for the STAAR test!! It is rapidly approaching! The STAAR Math test will be given on Tuesday, April 9th.
Please note
All students are required to have their Chromebooks charged and in class, each day! Please send students with notebook paper, graph paper, pencils, AAA bateries and hand sanitizer.
8th Grade Math Intervention News
Tutorial Schedules
Sanders: Tuesday & Thursday, 3:45 - 4:30
Huerta: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 3:45 - 5:00
Celebrations
Shout out to the students for following the PRIDE matrix!
Upcoming activities and events
Surface Area and Volume
8th Grade English Language Arts News
Tutorial Schedules
Lacox: Mon -Thurs 3:45-4:30 pm
Rudolph: Tuesday & Thursday 3:35-4:30 pm in room 136
Eubanks: Mon-Thurs. 7:00-7:40 am
Long: Thursday 7:00-7:40 am
Celebrations
Students have been working hard to prepare for the upcoming STAAR Reading test!
Upcoming activities and events
STAAR Reading test is April 10th.
Please note
All students are required to have their Chromebooks charged and in class, each day! Please send students with notebook paper , pencils and Kleenex.
8th Grade Hornet Time News
Tutorial Schedules
Petkovsek: Tuesday & Thursday from 3:45-4:30 in room 109.
Price: Tuesday & Thursday from 3:45-4:30 in room 210.
Celebrations
Petkovsek & Price -
Students were able to explore future careers using writing passages & questions similar to the STAAR Reading Test. This has been successful to connect learning to the real world.
Upcoming activities and events
- Are you mad? Student explore various parts of speech using MadLibs.
- Hornet Time classes are supporting core classes by using various reading passages connected to current core class lessons.
- iSIP iStation Reading will be on April 1st.
Please note
Parents and community members are encouraged to donate pencils, rulers, erasers, notebook paper, and brown lunch sacks for upcoming projects. Any middle school age novels for students to read would be great, too. Thank you!
8th grade Science News
Tutorial Schedules:
Holley: M, Tu, and Th 3:40-4:40 Room 103
Nepveux: Th 3:45-4:30 Room 138
Coleman: M, Tu 3:45-4:30
Riley: Tu, W (if no faculty meeting) 3:40-4:40
Upcoming activities and events
- April 24, 2019 will be our Unit 8 Test over Ecosystems.
- We will begin our STAAR Bootcamp on 4/29.
Please note:
Parents and community members are encouraged to donate pencils, glue sticks, and tape that are used daily for interactive science journals. Thank you!
8th Grade History News
Tutorial Schedules:
Ms. Sterner: Tu 3:45-4:30, Room 108
Coach Berry: Tu and Th 7-7:30 am, Room 124
Upcoming activities and events:
We are currently in our Sectionalism Unit. As we progress further into the unit, we are learning more about the tension between the north and south that will lead us into the Civil War.
Spanish News
Tutorial Schedules:
Beers: Mon/Tues/Thurs 3:40-4:45 or until finished work
Upcoming activities and events:
Short story creation, Chapter 5a/b start.
Please note:
All students are required to have their Chromebooks charged and in class, each day! All students are required to study vocabulary for 10 minutes each night. Thank you for your support!
Dance News
Upcoming activities and events:
Spring Show - Friday, April 5th
Students will perform at HHS Spring Show. Times/Details will be announced closer to performance date.
Choir News
Tutorial Schedules:
Mondays - MPMS Women 4:00-5:30
Tuesdays/Thursdays - Cantorum 4-5:30
Fridays - MPMS Men 4-5:30
Upcoming activities and events:
Band News
WE - Mon, Tues, 4-5:30
SW - Wed, Thurs, 4-5:30
SB - Mon, Wed, 4-5:30
CB - Thurs, 4-5
On March 26th and 27th our Concert Band (4th band) Symphonic Band (3rd band) and Symphonic Winds (2nd band) went to the Region 9 UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation. For this Evaluation, the students work every day to build the skills necessary to perform 3 pieces of music in a concert setting for three judges. The judges then give the band a rating varying from a 1 to a 5, with 1 being the highest score. For the sight-reading portion of the evaluation, the band director is given a 7-8 minute instruction time where they talk the band through a new piece of music that is written specifically for this evaluation. Once the time is up, the students have to perform the piece of music to the best of their ability for three more judges. The ratings work the same, they are given a rating varying from a 1 to a 5.
For the first time in Mance Park history, ALL three of our Non-Varsity bands received an overall 1st division rating on stage AND in sight-reading. This means all three bands earned the Sweepstakes award - the highest award a band can receive!
The ratings are listed below for your reference.
CB - Stage= 121 Sight-Reading=111
SB - Stage= 121 Sight-Reading= 111
SW - Stage= 211 Sight-Reading= 111
Symphonic Winds is now carrying a 7 year streak of earning a Sweepstakes.
Symphonic Band has NEVER earned a sweepstakes and has only earned a 1st Division ONCE on stage and ONCE in the sight-reading room.
Concert Band has NEVER brought home a single 1st division - not even from one judge.
The database goes back to 2005, so we have 14 years worth of results and this year is a HISTORY MAKING YEAR for the MPMS Bands!!
Art Class News
Tutorial Schedules:
As needed.
Upcoming activities and events:
- YAM (Youth Art Month) celebrated 3/26 board meeting, 6 pm.
- Walker County Fair art is due March 22.
- Spring Art Show- Westfield Mall, set up 4/30, reception May 9, 4:30-6:00 pm.
Please note:
All students are required to have a pencil for class.
Business Applications News
Tutorial Schedule:
McGlothern: Tuesday 7:10-7:30; by appointment as needed
Please note:
Parents and community members are encouraged to donate Kleenex.
Introduction to Horticulture News
Available upon Request
Upcoming activities and events:
Starting Livestock Feeding (relating Plants back to animals)
Beginning Spring garden
Walker County Fair (March 21st)
Please note:
Parents and community members are encouraged to donate Kleenex and soil. Thank you!
Floral Design News
Available upon Request
Upcoming activities and events:
- Walker County Fair (March)
- Easter Arrangement
- Weddings
Please note:
Parents and community members are encouraged to donate Kleenex. We are also in need of Floral Arrangement sponsors and vases. Thank you!
Introduction to Animal Science News
Available upon Request
Upcoming activities and events:
Beginning section over Goats and Lambs
Walker County Fair (March 21st)
Please note:
Parents and community members are encouraged to donate Kleenex. Thank you!
Yearbook Stinger Staff News
Sponsor:
Shelley Petkovsek
Tutoring Schedules:
Room open 3:45-5:00 Monday-Friday unless there is a game or meeting. Also by appointment as needed.
Celebrations:
We have created our first index for the yearbook in over a decade! Yearbook Staff members are submitting the final yearbook pages on April 1st, no fooling.
Upcoming activities and events:
Yearbooks are now $45 until we sell out. Yearbooks arrive in May!“Pennies for Paws” is a community fundraiser to help out the dogs and cats at Rita B. Huff Animal Shelter. April 23-26 during all lunches, yearbook staff will collect change to help out the shelter. Which lunch will raise the most change to help change the lives of these animals?
Please spread the word about yearbooks being for sale, share photos with us from events and encourage the campus to share photos and news for the yearbook. Buy online for $45 at www.balfour.com or in room 109-Petkovsek
GT Service Project
At the next pull out, students will finalize their project ideas and submit their proposals.
Students will need various materials. They will be encouraged to discuss their ideas with teachers and parents with respect to specific materials needed.
MPMS Healthy Tips
Are you getting enough sleep?
Getting enough sleep is important for people of all ages to stay in good health. People will often cut back on their sleep for work, for family demands, or even to watch a good show on television. But if not getting enough sleep is a regular part of your routine, you may be at an increased risk for obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke, poor mental health, and even early death. Even one night of short sleep can affect you the next day. Not surprisingly, you’re more likely to feel sleepy. On top of that, you’re more likely to be in a bad mood, be less productive at work, and be involved in a motor vehicle crash. How much sleep you need changes as you age. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend:
School Age
6-12 years 9-12 hours per 24 hours
Teen
13-18 years
8-10 hours per 24 hrs
Adult
18-60 years
7 or more hours per night
To learn more go to
Talk to your teen about staying safe online!
Are you a parent? If you are, have you already had the internet safety talk with your child? If you have yet to do so, this is a discussion that you will want to have. Since many teenagers like using social networking websites, online message boards, internet chat rooms, and instant messaging programs, internet safety is a subject that must be discussed.
As a busy parent, reading every text message, post, and email just isn’t realistic. Bark was created by parents, for parents to offer a better, easier, and more effective way to keep children safe online. Bark proactively monitors text messages, YouTube, emails, and 24 different social networks for potential safety concerns, so busy parents can save time and gain peace of mind.