The Falcon Reporter
The Official Fowler Newsletter
Fowler Celebrates Outstanding Faculty Members
Mr. De La Torre
Congratulations to Mr. Jose De La Torre who was honored this month as one of the Frisco ISD Standing Ovation Award Winners! This award honors district employees who exemplify servant-leadership and are shining examples of the non-teaching staff in Frisco ISD. Mr. De La Torre is only the fifth employee district-wide to receive this honor and we truly believe that no one is more deserving. Thank you Mr. De La Torre for everything you do for our Fowler students AND staff!
Mrs. Hill
Please join us in congratulating Alayne Hill for being named our 2019 Fowler Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Hill began her teaching career here at Fowler Middle School 12 years ago as an 8th grade ILA teacher and she currently serves in that same capacity. Mrs. Hill helped to open this campus in 2007 as a beginning teacher and is now a trusted leader in her role as 8th grade Academic Team Leader. Additionally, Mrs. Hill serves as our campus Academic Pentathlon Coach and New Teacher Mentor.
Important Dates
January
January 7
Staff Development Day, Student Holiday
January 8
First Day of 4th Six Weeks
January 8
Students Return to school
January 9
Safety Drills
January 10
Green Team Meeting
January 10
Girls Basketball vs. Cobb MS @ Cobb MS
January 10
Boys Basketball vs. Cobb MS @ FMS
January 11
ISM Presentations to All 8th Graders during 8th Period
January 14-18
Science Fair in the Library
January 15
Orchestra Concert 6:00 @ Lebanon Trail HS
January 16
NJHS Meeting room 606
January 16
Pep Rally
January 16
Board Game Club Meeting 3:45
January 17
Girls Basketball vs. Maus MS @ FMS
January 17
Boys Basketball vs. Maus MS @ Maus MS
January 18
High School Counselors meet with 8th Graders during Science Classes to talk about High School Course Selection
January 19
Orchestra Instrument Drive 9:00-1
January 21
Martin Luther King Day (School Holiday)
January 21-25
Great Kindness Challenge
January 22
Student Council Meeting
January 22
CTE Information Video during 8th Grade ILA Classes
January 22
Geography Bee 4:00
January 23
Power To Change Classroom Lesson during Flight Time
January 23-25
One Act Play Technical Rehearsal 3:45-6:00
January 23
Choir Cluster Concert 4:30 @ Lebanon Trail HS
January 24
Jazz Region Auditions 4-8
January 24
Girls Basketball vs. Sherman MS @ FMS
January 24
Boys Basketball vs. Sherman MS @ Sherman MS
January 26
Jazz Band Region Clinic and Concert All Day @ LTHS
January 26
Band Instrument Drive 8:30-4:30
January 28
One Act Play Dress Rehearsal 3:45
January 28
Girls Basketball vs. Clark MS @ Clark MS
January 28
Boys Basketball vs. Clark MS @ FMS
January 30
One Act Play Dress Rehearsal 3:45
January 30
Rising Freshman Night 6:30 @ Lebanon Trail HS
January 30
Rising Freshman Night 6:00 @ Liberty HS
January 31-February 1
Rising Freshman complete 4 Year plans during ILA Classes
January 31- February 2
District Basketball Tournament (A Teams Only)
January 31
One Act Play Dress Rehearsal and Performance 6:00
February
February 1
LAST DAY TO PURCHASE A YEARBOOK!
February 1
Band Roller Skating Party 5-10
February 1
One Act Play Clinic
February 2
Choir Drive
February 4-8
National School Counseling Week –Counselor Appreciation
February 4-8
Scholastic Spring Book Fair
February 4
High School Counselors meet with Rising Freshmen During History Classes. Students turn in Course Selection Cards
February 5
Student Council Meeting
February 5
Beginning Band Concert Rehearsal 3:45
February 5
Beginning Band Concert 6:00
February 5
Orchestra Pre-UIL @ Lebanon Trail HS
February 5
Cheer End of Season Banquet 6-9 Eldorado Country Club
February 6
Safety Drills
February 6
Board Game Club Meeting 3:45
February 7
PTA Board Meeting 4:30
February 7
PTA General Meeting 5:30
February 7
Rising 6th grade Night 6:00
February 8
One Act Play Rehearsal off Campus
February 8
Spring Party/Dance 4-6
February 9
One Act Play Competition
February 11-22
Frisco Family Services Food Drive
February 11-12
One Act Play Dress Rehearsal 3:45-5:45
February 13
NJHS Meeting room 606
February 13
Fly TV
February 15
Staff Development Day (Student Holiday)
February 18-22
Diversity Week
February 18
President’s Day School Holiday
February 19
Student Council Meeting
February 19
Counselors Visit 6th Graders during Social Studies Classes to talk about course selection
February 19
We the People Competition 5-8
February 20
Counselors visit 7th Grade Classes during Science classes to talk about Course Selection
February 20
Power to Change Classroom Lesson
February 20
Board Game Club Meeting 3:45
February 20
Orchestra Strings and Beginning Concert 6:00
February 21
Green Team Meeting
February 21
Rising Sixth Grade Course Cards Due
February 22
End of 4th Six Weeks
February 25
Diagnostitian, LSSP, and Speech Appreciation Week
February 26
Fly TV
February 26
Symphonic Band UIL Clinic 3:45
February 26-28
Theatre Auditions 3:45-5:15
February 27
Power to Change Classroom Lesson
February 27
Honor Band UIL Clinic 3:45
March
March 1
Rising 7th Grade Course Cards Due
March 1
Rising 8th Grade Course Cards Due
March 2
Plano Invitational Jazz Festival
Team News
6th Grade
Congratulations to all 6th grade Star Students and A Honor Roll students!
In social studies, students will continue their journey around the world by studying the region of Russia and Eurasia, then travel on to the Sub-Saharan African continent. Students will learn about the geography, history, and diverse cultures of these regions.
6th grade math will be starting Module 5 after the break. We will be reviewing numerical expressions which leads to algebraic expressions. Students will be introduced to variables as a representation of quantities that vary and they will learn how to write and represent expressions in multiple ways. Module 5 will end with algebraic equations and inequalities.
In science for the fourth six weeks, we will revisit potential and kinetic energy before our exploration of balanced and unbalanced forces. We will calculate speed and measure and graph changes in motion. Finally, we will investigate simple machines.
In ILA, the students have been working on their expository essay, which is about how an animal has made a change in a human’s life through interacting and observation. In addition to the expository essay, the students will begin their Research Unit which will teach them about MLA citations and relevant/reliable sources to use along with how to cite them. The students will choose an item to learn about how it has evolved throughout the years.
7th Grade
7th Graders are ringing in the New Year with exciting happenings! In science we've been covering structure, function and the interaction between human body systems. We will be wrapping up human body systems after the break and will begin genetics.
The 7th grade mathematicians are working on Module 6 – Financial Literacy! It’s time to talk about money! Feel free to discuss income tax, budgets, net worth, liabilities and assets with your mathematician.
In ILA, students have worked on how persuasion influences a person's choices. Students wrote a business letter using persuasive appeals and studied the art of persuasion in writing. For our next unit, students will refine their expository writing skills. Our budding writers are also learning about the many different ways that they can revise their sentence structure. We are looking ahead to our 7th Grade STAAR Writing assessment on April 9th.
Texas history classes have fought the Texas Revolution and won their independence from Mexico! Our young historians have learned about many of the important battles, people, and issues that make Texas so unique. We are wrapping up the years of the Republic of Texas from 1836-1845 and will soon be learning about the annexation and early statehood of Texas.
8th Grade
U.S. History is now in the constitution unit! Each student received their very own pocket constitution! They are learning how to read and decipher the language in this important document.
In ILA our students wrote an extensive persuasive essay about a current issue, using reliable research and rhetorical techniques. Our librarian introduced students to Mackinvia, an online database with tons of credible sources—Thanks Ms. Laferriere! At the end of the assessment, students were able to answer the essential question, How does research enhance the ability to persuade? Our next unit of study will focus on in-depth analysis of literary elements. They will collaborate in literature circles and do an independent read as well. More specifically, Pre-AP ILA classes will begin reading The Count of Monte Cristo. Parents, please consider purchasing a copy of the upcoming novel, The Count of Monte Cristo. Please reference the email from your child’s ILA teacher for the correct version. A quick reminder as we approach second semester -- please replenish your child's ILA supplies for the New Year.
Finally, Our 8th Grade Scientists have completed their study of physics, and are now investigating their unit on plate tectonics. This encompasses research involving crustal plate movement; reading and interpreting topographic maps, exploring features of Google Earch; and studying the effects of weathering and erosion on earth’s changing surface.
From the Desk of Nurse Violet
Dear Parents,
During this cold and flu season, please do not send your children to school if they show signs of illness. Children must be fever-free for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication. If they have been vomiting or had diarrhea, they must be able to keep 2 full meals down without the aid of anti-nausea/diarrhea medication. Children are still considered infectious until they are without fever >100 for a full 24 hours. Please be considerate of others and respect this FISD policy. Thank you,
Nurse Violet
Thank you! 😊
Violet Tsai, BSN, RN School Nurse
Counselor’s Corner
As we begin the second semester of the school year, there are some important dates that the counselors would like you to be aware of once we return from winter break.
We are excited that during the week of February 19 – 22, 2019, Fowler will be celebrating Diversity Week. The diversity theme this year is “Celebrate Diversity”. We are looking forward to celebrating the many gifts, talents and experiences that make the Fowler community so special.
Another important event near the end of this six weeks, February 11-22, 2019, is the Frisco Family Services Food Drive sponsored by the Fowler Student Council. Our student body will collect items for needy families in the area. There will be more details as we get closer to the drive, yet please encourage your students to take part in this worthy cause.
Power to Change Lessons:
January 23, 2019 - Character lab - Zest
February 20, 2019 - Diversity
February 27, 2019 - Social Intelligence
The Great Kindness Challenge –
During the week of January 21-25, 2019 we encourage all Fowler students to participate in The Great Kindness Challenge. Students will be challenged to complete several different acts of kindness during the week, with the goal of empowering all of the Fowler community to create a culture of kindness.
Also, we have several important registration and orientation dates coming up for our 8th grade students in January/February and all others students in February. Please look over the dates below so that you can be involved in your student’s registration process for the 2019-2020 school year.
6TH TO 7TH GRADE Course Selection
February 19, 2019 – Counselors visit 6th grade social studies classes in Library
March 1, 2019 – Course Request Cards due to 6th grade social studies teachers
7TH TO 8TH GRADE Course Selection
February 20, 2019 – Counselors visit 7th grade science classes in Library
March 1, 2019 – Course Request Cards due to 7th grade science teachers
8TH TO 9TH GRADE Course Selection
January 18, 2019 – High School Counselors visiting 8th graders through
Science classes
January 22, 2019 – CTE Center Video Tour through 8th grade ILA classes; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRy07o0KgVs&feature=youtu.be
January 30, 2019 - Rising Freshman Night at the high schools
January 31, 2019 - Complete 4-Year Plans with 8th graders – ILA classes (Hill, A., Arndorfer, and McKemie)
February 1, 2019 - Complete 4-Year Plans with 8th graders – ILA classes (Mughal, Brown, Parker, and Robles)
February 4, 2019 – High School Counselors visiting w/students during US History
classes (Students will turn in their cards to US History on February 4th.)
Catherine B. Fowler Library News
Cross Town Read Down
The Cross Town Read Down is a reading competition that will pit Fowler students against every other middle school in the district to show off their reading skills. We have 14 teams of students signed up who will compete against one another at Fowler on January 9th after school. The top two winning teams will go on to represent Fowler at Centennial High School on February 23rd.
Last year Fowler won, so we look forward to keeping the trophy here!
Sora by Overdrive
Getting a new device for the holidays? Be sure to fill it up with lots of great ebooks and audiobooks from Sora! If your student has been using the Overdrive app, have them download the new Sora app for a more student-friendly reading experience. Your child can check out two books at a time through Sora, and it’s totally free! Email laferrm@friscoisd.org with questions or if you need help getting started.
Celebrations
Fowler Baseball 7th Grade Wins Middle School Match-up
Frisco Education Foundation Grants For Great Ideas Winner
Mrs. Stewart wrote a grant for her Robotics class and Mrs. Fowler and the Frisco Education Foundation (FEF) - Grants for Great Ideas presented her with a check.
Spelling Bee Winners
1st place: Anveeth Vietla 8th grade
2nd place: Sahana Naharaajan 6th grade
APO11O Bot Team Won 2nd prize at First Lego League Competition
- Reeshan Waghmare
- Sasank Suryadevara
- Mithilesh Choppari
- Anish Vijay
- Darsh Poddar
Fowler Middle School
Email: fowler@friscoisd.org
Website: http://schools.friscoisd.org/ms/fowler/site/home
Location: 3801 McDermott Road, Plano, TX, USA
Phone: 469-633-5050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FowlerMSFISD/?fref=ts
Twitter: @FowlerFalcons07