Eagles' Notes
Madras News: April 8, 2019, Lorraine Johnson, Principal
Madras Middle School
Email: MadrasNews@cowetaschools.org
Website: http://www.cowetaschools.net/mms
Location: 240 Edgeworth Road, Newnan, GA, United States
Phone: 770-254-2744
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MadrasEagles
Twitter: @MadrasEagles
Media Notes
Karen Pitts, Media Specialist
Thank you so much for supporting our Scholastic Book Fair! We had a lot of fun with our Book Fair Luau theme. We were able to sell more than $4,000.00 worth of books and other items and kept money and books for our Library Media Center. Many students were able to come and spin the wheel for additional prizes. Congratulations to Mrs. Hayes for winning our teacher drawing. Finally, a special thank you to all of our wonderful parent volunteers! We could not pull this off without your help. Your support of literacy at Madras Middle School is amazing. Thanks again!
Georgia Milestones Information and Resources for Parents
March 25, 2019
Dear Parent/Guardian,
The Coweta County School System will administer the Georgia Milestones Assessment when we return from Spring Break during the weeks of April 10-12 and April 16-18, 2019. Georgia Milestones (GMAS) measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The main purpose of Georgia Milestones is
- to inform efforts to improve student achievement by assessing student performance on the standards specific to each grade tested.
- to provide teachers, students, and their parents with critical information about student achievement, including their preparedness for the next grade level. In 8th grade Reading (determination of On/Above Grade Level) In 8th grade math (achievement level of Developing Learner, Proficient Learner, or Distinguished Learner)
- to inform state and federal accountability at the school, district, and state levels.
Eighth graders are assessed in all academic content areas including: English/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, and 6th and 7th grades are assessed in English/Language Arts and Math. Make-up tests are scheduled for afternoons and for April 12th and 15th. (Eighth grade retest dates are May 20-21.) Below is the test schedule for each grade level.
All grades will test online, and online test practice sessions have been scheduled during the school day to provide students the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the online platform prior to the actual test administration. Because students will be using their Chromebooks to take the test, it is critical that they bring their fully charged Chromebooks each day.
Your support and encouragement play an important role in student success. The following are recommendations and reminders to help your child during the weeks of testing:
- Make sure your child is present and arrives to school on time each day. Students who are tardy will not be permitted to disrupt test administration.
- Please do not check your child out from school during the testing period. Classes that are testing cannot be interrupted.
- Avoid scheduling orthodontist, dental, or other appointments during testing dates and times.
- See that your child gets a good night’s sleep and eats a nutritious breakfast each morning.
- Assure that your child brings a fully charged Chromebook to school each day. If you are subscribed to Madras texts, you will receive a text reminder at 6:30 p.m. every day during the testing window. You can subscribe by texting the number 81010 and entering @MadrasMS in the text line.
- Encourage students to leave cell phones, smart watches, and any personal or smart device at home during their testing days as these items are not permitted in testing environments. Calculators will be provided on portions of the mathematics assessment as permitted.
- Know that academic, connections, and lunch schedules will be different during the testing window, and there may be changes throughout the day based upon test timing.
While this assessment represents one measure of student learning, we are excited to see our students’ hard work reflected in their results. Score reports will be sent home with explanatory information regarding how to read and interpret your child’s scores after they become available. If you have any questions, please contact a Madras administrator or Madras testing coordinators, Kia Harris or Maranda Holmes. Thank you for your support and interest in helping your child to do his/her very best on the Georgia Milestones.
More About the Milestones
The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (Georgia Milestones) is a comprehensive summative assessment program spanning grades 3 through high school.Georgia Milestones measures how well students have learned the knowledge and skills outlined in the state-adopted content standards in English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Students in grades 3 through 8 take an end-of-grade assessment in English Language Arts and mathematics while students in grades 5 and 8 are also assessed in science and social studies. High school students take an end-of-course assessment for each of the ten courses designated by the State Board of Education.
Features the Georgia Milestone Assessment System include:
- open-ended (constructed-response) items in English Language Arts and mathematics (all grades and courses);
- a writing component (in response to passages read by students) at every grade level and course within the English Language Arts assessment;
- norm-referenced items in all content areas and courses, to complement the criterion-referenced information and to provide a national comparison; and
- transition to online administration over time, with online administration considered the primary mode of administration and paper-pencil as back-up until the transition is complete.
What is the purpose of Georgia Milestones?
The Georgia Milestones Assessment System is designed to provide information about how well students are mastering the state-adopted content standards in the core content areas of English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. More importantly, Georgia Milestones is designed to provide students with critical information about their own achievement and their readiness for their next level of learning – be it the next grade, the next course, or endeavor (college or career).
Informing parents, educators, and the public about how well students are learning important content is an essential aspect of any educational assessment and accountability system. Parents, the public, and policy makers, including local school districts and boards of education, can use the results as a barometer of the quality of educational opportunity provided throughout the state of Georgia.
As such, Georgia Milestones serves as a key component of the state’s accountability system – the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI).
What content areas and grade levels are tested?
Students in grades 3 through 8 take an end-of-grade assessment in English Language Arts and mathematics while students in grades 5 and 8 are also assessed in science and social studies. Each school district selects a local testing window, based on their local school calendar, from within the state-designated testing window.
Additional Georgia Milestones Parent Information and Resources
Study Guides
The Study/Resource Guides are intended to serve as a resource for parents and students. They contain practice questions and learning activities for each content area. The standards identified in the Study/Resource Guides address a sampling of the state-mandated content standards.
Remember to Charge Chromebooks Daily
You can subscribe by texting the number 81010 and entering @MadrasMS in the text line or by clicking here.
April 15th is the Last Day to Preorder Yearbooks
Yearbooks for the 2018-2019 school year are on sale and can be purchased at the link below. The price is $50.00 and can also be purchased through our bookkeeping department at Madras or by creating an account. If you have any questions, please contact bookkeeper Henry Dawkins at john.dawkins@cowetaschools.net. Yearbooks are given out the last week of school.
Madras Chorus Sings the National Anthem at Saturday's Atlanta Braves Game
Madras is Awarded First Place in the Georgia Governor's Red Ribbon Week Campaign Competition
Madras Band Receives Highest Honors at Carowinds and Recent Group Performances; Way to go, Eagles!
Madras Chorus Scores Superior at LGPE!
Previewing Systems of the Body in Life Science
Looking at Data and Statistics in Sixth Grade Math
Collaborative Converstations Help Develop Strong Writers
Sixth Grade Earth Scientists at Work
2019 MADRAS FOOTBALL SPRING TRAINING
Dates of training: April 29, 30, May 1, 2
Times of training: 3:30 to 5:00 - Pick up is 5:00 behind the school at the gym.
Dress: Wear shirts, shorts, and cleats.
Must have passed classes first semester and currently be passing all classes.
Students must have a completed athletic packet (including physical) on file in the front office. (Copies of the athletic packet may be picked up in the front office during office hours.)
Box Tops are due Wednesday, April 10th
by Jamie Bowne, PTSO Box Top Chair
April Contest
Deadline: Wednesday, April 10th
Reward: Skyzone Party for top 15 Contributors for the year
Turn in Box tops by Wednesday, April 10th to be eligible for an end of the year Skyzone Party. The top 15 contributors for the year will win a spot at the Skyzone party. All Box Tops need to be turned in by the end of homeroom on Wednesday, April 10th.This contest will be cumulative for the entire school year.
Box Tops can be submitted by students to homeroom teacher in a plastic bag, envelope or taped to a collection sheet.
Be sure to label collection sheet(s) or baggie with student’s name & homeroom teacher to obtain credit.
PTO: Join the Team!
Amy Brandon, PTO President
Welcome to Madras! The purpose of our PTO is to help improve our school by combining the efforts of parents, students, and teachers.
We invite you to join PTO to help make our school a better place to work and learn! Our fundraising efforts have benefited a variety of projects in the past including school building improvements, teacher instructional requests, equipment for the fine arts department, instructional technology purchases, and athletic programs.
This year, one of our major goals is to raise enough funds to purchase an electronic sign in front of the school to replace the old signage. We didn't quite reach this goal last year but are hoping to earn enough early this year to update it. We ask that each family join PTO with a $12.00 (or more if you choose) contribution. You can join and pay directly online by clicking the ONLINE MEMBERSHIP (You can also send a check with your child to the homeroom teacher or to the front office. Checks should be made payable to Madras PTO.)
We also need your volunteer time! If you are interested in assisting with any of the areas below, please select from the choices on the online form. You will be contacted as the events take place. There are many opportunities to serve:
- Hospitality Committee - Teachers' Luncheons and Special Events
- Box Tops
- School Store - helping in the store 8:00-8:30 AM on a rotational basis
- Membership
- Snack n Chat (monthly)
- Media Center (1-2 hrs per week)
- Battle of the Books
- Book Fair - Fall and Spring
- Scoliosis Screening - one time event
- School Pictures
- Lamination/Copies for teachers
- 8th Grade Dance Setup
- Special Event Assistance
- PTSO Board
MMS PTO Annual Project: Electronic Sign in Front of the School
If you wish to make a donation to this project, please send it in with your child address to the MMS PTO. Contact Amy Brandon at amysbrandon97@gmail.com with any questions.
Thanks in advance for your support!
Parent Letter Archives
Safety Letter (8-6-18)
Health Alert (8-6-18)
Open House Letter (8-7-18)
Affidavit Letter (10-15-18)
Parent Symposium Letter (10-22-18)
Symposium Flyer (10-22-18)
Veterans Day Assembly Letter (11-2-18)
Inclement Weather Protocol Letter (11-2-18)
8th Grade Career Expo Field Trip Letter (1-7-19)
7th Grade College and Career Academy Field trip Letter (1-8-19)
Scoliosis Letter, 6th and 8th Grades (1-14-19)
High School Transition Information (1-15-19)
8th Grade Semiformal Letter (1-28-19)
Parent Letter (1-28-19)
Meals on Wheels Letter (3-4-19)
Testing Letter (3-25-19)
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