From The Falcon's Nest
August 15, 2021
In This Edition
New/Updated Announcements
- Message From The Principal
- Back to School Bash
- Booster Club
- Updates from Dr. Hamlett
Reoccurring Announcements
- Supply List Information and Lockers/Locker Room
- Fall Athletics
- Safe Return to School Updates
- Estes Drive Construction Project
- Upcoming Dates of Importance/School Calendar
New Announcements
From The Principal's Desk
I hope that everyone is having a restful weekend and staying safe with the storms that have been moving through our area over the past few days. It looks like we are in for a week of some wet weather, which may impact some of our plans for the "Back To School Bash." Please stay tuned to phone messages and emails as we make weather plans.
Speaking of changing plans, please know that our district is continuing to review data regarding the Delta Variant and we are adapting to ensure the safety of all staff and students.
Just a quick reminder: the first day of school for all students is Monday, August 23. Students are allowed to be on campus and to enter the building at 8:00 am, and the dismissal bell rings at 3:20 pm.
Please make sure to review the sections below carefully for important information about our return to school!
Back to School Bash
On Thursday, August 19 we will be hosting our "Back to School Bash" from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. This is an opportunity for all of our Falcons to come out, meet staff, ask questions, and get ready for the new school year.
- We will have guided tours from 4:00 - 5:30 pm for those families new to CHCCS. Tours are limited to 15 people per tour and you must sign up in advance. Please use the SignUp Genius to book a time. Please Note: The tours are for those students/families that are NEW to CHCCS since May of 2021. We recognize that some students did not come into the building during last school year, but we are setting these tours for NEW families at this time.
- Visit our information fair on the football field between 4:00 - 7:00 pm. We plan to have teachers, PowerSchool Information, Child Nutrition Services Information, PTSA, Transportation and more!
- ALL those attending the Back to School Bash MUST be masked at ALL TIMES, regardless of vaccination status or location (indoors or outdoors)
- Estes Hills Elementary will also be hosting their Back To School meeting on Thursday night. Please DO NOT park at Estes Hills Elementary as they will need all available spaces for their staff and families.
Phillips Middle School Booster Club
Welcome Back Phillips Falcons!!!
Good luck to all those Student-Athletes trying out for a Fall Sport!!
Be sure to look for us at the Back to School Bash or look for the green handout in your Back to School handouts coming home early with your student. That handout is a Phillips Booster Club Application. If you’d prefer to do yours online, you can find it below:
https://sites.google.com/a/chccs.k12.nc.us/phillips-booster-club/home/register
Or you can download a copy of the Application here.
Please consider joining the Booster Club and making whatever size donation you’re comfortable with…your help makes a difference, no matter the size. The Athletics Department depends upon our help each year to provide the best Student-Athlete experience in the Conference!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: Support our Athletics by becoming a Booster Club Sponsor!!
Join the other local companies who have already decided to support the Booster Club by becoming a Sponsor. To get additional information about Phillips Falcons Sponsorships, please email the following: PhillipsBoosterClub@gmail.com
We have funded some major improvements over the last few years including a new scoreboard at the football/field hockey/LAX/Soccer field (thanks largely to scoreboard co-sponsors), two new scoreboards for the gym, updated team banners, a new, safer fence around the baseball/softball field and new soccer goals. We’ve also bought new uniforms for nearly a dozen of our Athletics teams in the last 6 years alone. The Booster Club provides critical funding to supplement the Phillips Athletics budget; making sure that our Student-Athletes have the best Falcons experience possible.
Community Messages from Dr. Hamlett
Reoccurring Announcements
School Supplies
Each student will continue to be supplied with a Chromebook and charger for their use during the school year. These will be issued during 1st period the first week of school.
One supply item that each student will need this year is a combination lock.
- Since students will have electronic devices, we will be asking them to secure their belongings during PE in lockers that are provided in the locker room.
- Students will use the lock during their class period and then remove/take it with them once PE is done for the day.
- Students may choose any type of combination lock for their PE locker
- Locks left on for multiple days will be removed - which may damage/destroy the lock
- Phillips will not be responsible for belongings that are lost/damaged due to not being secured
If you need assistance in securing a lock for your student, please see the grade-level counselor or our school social worker.
Athletics Information/Update
Hello, I am Matt Sleeman and I will be your Athletic Director this year. I have been the Athletic Director at Smith Middle School for the last 5 years and have been teaching in the district since 2003. I will be transitioning out of the classroom and becoming the full time Athletic Director at both Phillips and Smith Middle Schools. I am looking forward to supporting our teams and athletes for the upcoming year.
REGISTRATION
Please let me know your interest in fall sports by completing the Phillips Fall Sports Interest 2021 Form
FORMS
All forms must be turned into the school before the athlete can participate in any practice/game. The forms can be found below.
Physical form -Physical form Spanish must be filled out by a doctor. Good for 395 days from date of doctor signature
Athletic Participation Consent Form - filled out by parent/guardian
Concussion Form - Concussion form Spanish - must be filled out by athlete and parent/guardian
ELIGIBILITY
Due to the pandemic all students will start the 2021 season eligible to participate in Fall sports. Grades for the first nine weeks of 2021 will determine eligibility thereafter. They must maintain an overall “C” average for the previous nine weeks with no more than one (1) failing mark. Subsequent eligibility will be determined each nine week grading period.
ATTENDANCE
School attendance may factor into eligibility. Athletes are required to be at school on the day that a sport takes place. Five of the nine classes must be attended. Playing sports is a commitment and attendance is expected at all practices and games.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
An athlete’s participation in sports may be affected by their behavior in school. Detentions and suspension during the school day may lead to further consequences in sports such as suspension from play or removal from teams.
FALL SPORTS - Practices begin first week of school
Football- 7v7 with helmets (touch not tackle) - Coed - 2nd day of school -No Cuts
Volleyball (Varsity/JV) - Girls - 2nd day of school - Try out for team
Cross Country - Coed - 2nd day of school - No cuts
Tennis - Girls - 2nd day of school - Try out for team
Soccer - Boys -2nd day of school -Try out for team
Field Hockey - Girls -2nd day of school -Try out for team
If you have any questions please feel free email me at msleeman@chccs.k12.nc.us
Thank You,
Matt Sleeman
Athletic Director - Phillips and Smith Middle Schools
Safe Return to School Upates
- ALL staff, students, and visitors will be required to wear a face covering (mask) while on campus, on the school bus, or at school events.
- Face covering requirements are regardless of vaccination status
- Face coverings may be removed while eating/drinking, when outside if a minimum of 3 feet distance is maintained, and during any formal "mask breaks."
- We will have masks to provide to students if they forget their mask at home
- Please see the graphic below
In-Person Learning
- We will be returning to full in-person instruction with the start of the 2021 - 2022 school year
- There are NO virtual or hybrid learning options available to K-8 students in CHCCS at this time
Attestation Forms
- Families will need to fill out an attestation form each quarter. Students w/o this form on file, may not be allowed to attend school. The attestation form can be found HERE
- We will discontinue the daily health screening and temperature checks. Families are asked to self-screen each day using these questions.
- If in doubt, or if running a fever - students should stay home from school
Visitors/Volunteers/Meetings
- Unless otherwise announced, all meetings will be held virtually.
- CHCCS is not allowing visitors or volunteers on school sites at this time
Estes Drive Construction
Families should note:
- When the major construction starts, Estes will convert to a one-way pattern for the majority of the project duration (around 18 months).
- Between MLK and Caswell traffic will only be permitted to travel eastbound (towards Franklin St.). Access to/from cross streets and driveways will be maintained throughout construction.
- Families will only be able to approach our campus from MLK, meaning only left turns into campus
- Families will only be able to leave campus by traveling towards Franklin St, meaning only left turns out of campus.
- Traffic patterns will also impact bus routes; which may increase time that students are spending on the bus. Students may be picked up earlier and/or dropped off later
We are anticipating that one-way travel may start as early as October. Prior to the start of one-way travel, there may be construction taking place that will result in slowed traffic. Please take this into consideration when planning any trips to/from the school.
Please know that we (PMS) do not have control over the scope and/or timing of this project. We are working with the City of Chapel Hill and our school district to make transitions as simple as possible.
More details regarding parking, carpool, bus procedures, etc will be sent out in a separate message as we get closer to the start of the project.
Upcoming Dates of Importance
- August 19: Back to School Bash, 4:00 - 7:00 pm
- August 23: First day of school
- September 6: Labor Day, NO SCHOOL
- September 9: VIRTUAL Open House
Please see the CHCCS School Calendar for more details regarding holidays and teacher workdays.
Connect With Us
Email: edmonjones@chccs.k12.nc.us
Website: https://www.chccs.org/pms
Location: 606 North Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Phone: (919) 929-2188
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhillipsMiddleSchool/
Twitter: @pmsfalcons