Mooresville Middle School
Community Newsletter -- October 7, 2022
A Message from Mr. Kosal:
Together we make a family!
Here's a brief overview of what's to come in today's newsletter. If you have questions, always feel free to call the MMS main office or email the administrators listed below.
It's hard to believe but today marks the end of Quarter #1 of the school year - we're 25% done! This time has really flown by, and we're hard at work to make even more changes to benefit students and staff here in the building! I'm very pleased with the direction that MMS is trending: teachers are engaging students in the classroom, the number of office referrals has already dropped 5% compared to Q1 last year, the MGSD Board of Education had a wonderful visit earlier this week, our first PBIS reward celebration was held today, and our fall sports teams brought home multiple conference championships! It's a GREAT day to be a Red Imp! Yes, we're always working to get better and we definitely have a long way to go in some areas, but we're off to a strong start at Mooresville Middle School for '22-23!
In this newsletter, you'll read about:
- MMS fundraiser / Imp Time competition - selling World's Famous Chocolate
- Conference champs for Fall Sports
- Free Online Tutoring via Edvantage
- NC Check In tests coming up soon
- Changes to MMS headphones policy
- How to be a MMS Motivator
- information on Mooresville Christian Mission's Christmas Angel program
- School Picture ordering info
- PTSO information
- Canvas support nights for MMS parents
- MMS cell phone policy (began 9/26/22)
- resources for October's National Stop Bullying Month
Thanks for reading, and I wish every Red Imp family a restful and relaxing long weekend!
Mr. Kosal, interim principal (pkosal@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Ms. Brown, 7th grade assistant principal (kbrown@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Ms. Richardson, 8th grade assistant principal (tabitharichardson@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Mr. Akelman, Assistant Principal of Instruction (dakelman@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Ms. Clark, MMS Athletic Director (annclark@mgsd.k12.nc.us)
Remember: long weekend ahead! No school on Monday, October 10 OR Tuesday, October 11
MMS Chocolate Bar Fundraiser: October 3rd to 26th
Dear Students and Parents,
Turn-In Day Prizes (10/12, 10/19, 10/26): win a Mystery Wallet. Check inside the wallet to have a chance to win actual cash! Students can win one mystery wallet per week.
End of Sale Prizes:
Sell 2 Boxes: play a game of Plinko with a chance to win cash!
Sell 3 Boxes: spin the Wheel of Fortune with a chance to win up to $100
Sell 5 Boxes: play Shoot For Loot
AND... the top seller in each grade wins $100 cash prize! Get those permission slips signed and returned with your MMS student ASAP so they can start selling and winning prizes, courtesy of World's Finest Chocolate!
NOTE: students should not be selling candy during the school day. It is a distraction in the classroom and items can get damaged / stolen, making the child responsible.
Thank you so much for your support of MMS students and staff!
CONGRATULATIONS to Red Imp Fall Athletes!!
MMS Girls Tennis
MMS Boys Tennis
MMS Girls Softball
Free Online Tutoring for Students
When they sign up, they will get an email from NCVPS with the link for their session, and a link to cancel or reschedule if needed. Please reinforce to students that they should be respectful of tutors' time and not be "no-shows" if they sign up for a time.
Students who do not have Internet access at home or need a quiet place to attend tutoring are welcome at the Selma Burke Community Center.
We hope your students will take advantage of this "EDvantage"!!
Canvas Assistance for Parents
MMS is excited to host several Canvas Parent Nights to assist our families in learning more about our learning management system. Our first two nights will be Monday, October 17th, and Monday, November 14th. We will meet from 5-6pm in our media center.
Registration here for our next MMS Canvas Parent Night on 10/17: https://bit.ly/redimpcanvas. Also, this document has more information, or you can always email amymccomas@mgsd.k12.nc.us with your questions.
NC Check In testing - week of October 24th
The first NC Check-In tests are coming up the week of October 24th for all MMS students. NC Check-Ins are interim assessments that are aligned to the NC grade-level content standards (for reading and mathematics) and North Carolina Essential Standards (for science).
The main purpose of NC Check-Ins is to provide students, teachers, and parents with immediate in-depth action data and a reliable estimate of students’ current performance on selected subsets of content standards. The end-of-grade (EOG) tests share a common question bank with the NC Check-Ins, which then exposes NC Check-In students to similar question types and rigor found on the EOGs.
The NC Check-In administration dates are as follows:
ELA - Tuesday, October 25th
Math - Wednesday, October 26th
Science 8 - Thursday, October 27th
If you have any questions or concerns about the NC Check-Ins, please contact Ms. McGrath (jacquiemcgrath@mgsd.k12.nc.us) or Mrs. Richardson (tabitharichardson@mgsd.k12.nc.us).
October 21st: Powderpuff Football
Mark your calendars, Red Imp families! Join us for one of our biggest events of the year. On Friday, October 21st, MMS will host its annual Powderpuff Football game from 2:45 - 4:30pm. Come show your Red Imp spirit and cheer in the stands while our 7th grade girls take on the 8th grade girls in a friendly game of flag football on the Red Imp field. Concessions will be sold to help support our PBIS program. Who will win? We hope to see the Red Imp students and families come out to enjoy the game!
Mission’s Christmas Angel Program 2022
On behalf of the Mooresville Area Christian Mission, we would like to let our MMS families know about the Mission’s Christmas Angel Program 2022.
We will be collecting wish lists until October 30, 2022. We are unable to accommodate late entries so, please help us spread the word that these lists have a hard entry stop.
The program is for children ages 0-18 providing the 18-year-old is still a student.
Children MUST be part of the requestor’s household.
Distribution of the gifts will be done on December 10, at one of the following locations:
Mooresville Area Christian Mission
Williamson’s Chapel
The Cove Church
Parents will receive notifications in advance of the location for present pickup
We will NOT be distributing bicycles this year in an effort to be consistent with gift value
Are you a Motivator??
The Motivators are ways for family / community members to volunteer time during the school day to monitor hallways and our campus grounds while also getting to know MMS students and staff. We love to have extra adult presence in the building to support our students and help out when needed. If you have at least one hour a week, we would love to have you volunteer.
Email Ms. Brown for more information. kbrown@mgsd.k12.nc.us
Changes to MMS Cell Phone Policy
Cell phones must be OFF and put away in MMS students’ backpacks between the hours of 7:00am-2:20pm. Students shall not use cell phones or wireless communication (smart watches, rings, etc) devices at all during the school day.
MGSD Student Code of Conduct rule #4 (Electronic or wireless devices - responsibility) cites justification of this rule and the following consequences:
- 1st Offense: staff member confiscates phone; phone is delivered to main office to be logged. Student picks up the phone after dismissal that day from the main office. Parent notification.
- 2nd Offense: staff member confiscates phone; phone is delivered to main office to be logged. Student receives 1 day of In-School Suspension for violation of MMS cell phone policy. Student picks up the phone after dismissal that day from the main office. Parent notification.
- 3rd Offense +: staff member confiscated phone; phone is delivered to main office to be logged. Student receives 2 days of In-School Suspension for violation of MMS cell phone policy. A parent / guardian must retrieve the phone from MMS main office and have a conference with an MMS administrator before retrieving the student’s cell phone.
If a student refuses to hand over their phone, they shall be found in violation of MGSD Student Code of Conduct rule #2 (non compliance with directives from Principals, Teachers, and other School Personnel) and shall be placed in ISS for the remainder of that day, at minimum.
The MMS Student Handbook will be updated on or before 9/26/22 to reflect these changes. Thank you for your support in helping Mooresville Middle School students become re-focused on learning and building positive, in-person relationships with one another.
Bluetooth Headphones
Students are encouraged to bring wired headphones with them that can be used when needed with their school-issued laptop computers. Of course, wired headphones should be used in the classroom only at teacher discretion. If your student needs to purchase wired headphones, some are available at the PBIS school store (open before / during Imp Time) for only $1 or $2.
Thanks for your help!
This week's message from the MMS PTSO:
Are you interested in helping out with this year's PTSO? Please fill out this survey and let us know how you'd like to get involved!
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Change Wars has been rescheduled to the week of November 14. Keep saving your change to help us raise money for student programs and much needed classroom supplies!
NEW to the line up is Mooresville M tervis tumblers in 16oz or 24oz and a 24oz water bottle!!! We have a limited supply, so visit our online store and order yours today! To make a purchase with cash or check, please send us an email at redimpsptso@gmail.com.
Please join our PTSO facebook group! This online community is for parents/guardians of MMS students and MMS staff. We will share information from the PTSO, MMS and MGSD. It is also a place for you to connect with other parents/guardians and the PTSO. We hope you'll join us: Follow us on Facebook!
Thank you for your support! Questions for the PTSO? E-mail us at redimpsptso@gmail.com
How to alert MMS of a student absence:
The email address for parents to alert MMS about student absences is: MMSAttendance@MGSD.k12.nc.us
Parents can upload doctor's notes as well. We hope this process will be easier on everyone instead of always sending a note with the student that gets lost so easily!
Ordering MMS School Pictures
All of the school picture days for MMS have now been completed (including make ups). If you'd like to see / order pictures of your student, please follow these directions:
Go to terrypardew.com (our school photographer) -> Order online -> click on ‘Mooresville Middle School’ -> pick ‘Yearbook Portraits.' All MMS student pictures should now be available for viewing and purchase! Parents: simply put in their student’s school ID number as the "password" to find your child's photos. Pictures will get shipped directly to your home. Please let the front office know if you have questions.
*Note: picture make-ups should be uploaded to the online platform any day now, according to the photographer *
October is National Stop Bullying Month
In 2009, eighteen sixth grade students from St. Stanislaus Kostka declared October National Stop Bullying Month, the second week of October National Stop Bullying Week, and Stop Bullying Day on the second Wednesday of October (Wednesday, October 12th). This day in October offers an opportunity to bring together students, faculty, and parents to end
bullying. This annual designation promotes standing up against and putting an end to bullying.
Districts and Schools can use #StopBullyingDay to post information and events on social media.
WEAR AND SHARE ORANGE DAY: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
Join the Center for Safer Schools in WEAR AND SHARE ORANGE on 10/19/22 to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying. Uniting Through Action On the third Wednesday of October, plan to wear and share the color orange—as a tangible representation of the supportive, universal message that our society wants to prevent bullying, and is united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Two great resources for students and families are:
1) The National School Climate Center offers “10 Ways to Be a Community Champion” with a free downloadable Community Champion Pledge for students.
2) the 'Do You Bully' Quiz is available at the “Pacer Kids Against Bullying website and can be completed on-line or is downloadable for print. This resource could be used throughout the school year and is appropriate for elementary and middle school students (link)
MMS Social Media Handles - follow us!
Facebook: @mooresvillems
Instagram: mooresvillems
Twitter: @mooresvillems
Website: https://mms.mgsd.k12.nc.us/
Have questions or concerns?
I always appreciate feedback on how to make MMS a better place to work and learn. We're working together all for the shared purpose of helping our children learn, grow, and become better people. We're all in this together! Thank you for being part of the MGSD community and #RedImpFamily
Email: pkosal@mgsd.k12.nc.us
Website: https://mms.mgsd.k12.nc.us/
Location: 233 Kistler Farm Road, Mooresville, NC, USA
Phone: (704) 658-2720