The Faubion Lion Pride Press
Week of January 25, 2021
Dear Lion Pride,
Please read this week's installment of the Faubion Lion Pride Press. In this edition, we highlight acts of kindness across the district, include reminders about the registration process, and celebrate several members of our school community including our Teacher of the Year.
January 23 - according to nationaldaycalendar.com - marks National Handwriting Day! Parents, remember when YOUR teachers asked you to take out a #2 pencil and either college-ruled or wide-ruled paper (they had a preference for sure) to begin a composition? We would compose the first draft of an essay by skipping every other line to leave room for editing, pass the paper to a peer or the teacher for suggested edits, and then pass the paper back for the author to revise. I heard a wise person once say, “Writing is re-writing”. The iterative nature of this writing experience was what helped us as writers refine our voice.
We also find our voice through producing verbal language in class, as supported by sentence stems and academic vocabulary. Through the advent of digital technology our students are able to produce language at a faster rate, but we as educators have to be very intentional about how we weave in opportunities for our scholars to edit and revise. The dilemma that we face is that the technology can grab students' attention and pull it towards areas that deviate from the intention of the instructional activity. Our instructional technology team alongside the creativity of our teachers have helped us evolve in an increasingly digital world.
This week, just like every other week, we challenge our scholars to be EXCELLENT. We ask that they use complete sentences when speaking, that they listen with the intent to gain perspective, and that they be kind to each other. We stress to our scholars that there is a deliberate reason for the instructional decisions that our teachers make, and their lessons are designed to best support our scholars' academic and social development.
Aristotle once said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Therefore, excellence ought not be an act but a habit." At Faubion Middle School, we make excellence a habit, and we are kind to each other. Parents, thank you for instilling those values in your children so they can make a lasting and positive mark on our community.
Go Lions!
-Mr. Boom
teacher of the year - mrs. willardson
Mr. Perez, Mrs. Sinclair, and Mrs. Willardson were nominated by our teachers as an exemplar of excellent teaching, teamwork, and heart. All of us aspire to be like them as educators, so please be sure to thank them for who they are and what they bring to our scholars. Unfortunately, we do have to identify one teacher to represent Faubion Middle School.
Our school community understands that in order to best serve our budding scholars, we strive to engage them in instruction at every possible moment. This is why the role of our media resource specialist, this year above all others, is vitally important. During the 1:The World transition and the challenges of remote learning and synchronous instruction, our library media specialist constantly supports our teachers with technology assistance and instructional technology ideas. With much gratitude and appreciation, we would like to recognize our 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Willardson. Congratulations to Mrs. Willardson from our entire school community!
Pictured above are: Dr. Kriesel-Hall, Mr. Dominguez, Mr. DeMakas, Ava Boehr, Reagan Reeves, Mrs. Willardson, Cade Nimmons, Kyler Wolfe, Annam Tran, Emma Spearman, Juliana Huppe, Giovanni Lucia, and Mr. Boom.
An amazing act of sportsmanship
While Jacob was driving to the basket, Jaden accidentally knocked Jacob to the floor. The ball was knocked loose, and the Cowboys surged to the other end of the court. While eight players sprinted down the floor in the other direction, Jaden extended his hand to help Jacob. Jacob stood up with Jaden's assistance, and the two of them jogged together to get back into the action.
While the Lions emerged victorious in the game, tallies in the win/loss column are soon forgotten. Jaden's demonstration of sportsmanship is a timeless act that demonstrates his character and the values we instill in McKinney ISD.
Holding the door for others
A mystery novel
Greek mythology
Connor Phipps is pictured during lunch, reading The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan. This fictional piece is one where kids are trying to rediscover the bodily powers of the Greek God, Apollo. Connor appreciates the mythology tie-in.
Yearbook Deadline - Friday, January 29
2020. Yes, that is a complete sentence. That should be enough to encourage you to spring for a yearbook for your child. We will never forget this year. The FINAL DEADLINE to order a yearbook is Friday, January 29 for $40. We do NOT purchase extra copies due to publishing costs.
Students can turn in order form and money to the front office or D101. Parents can also purchase online at www.jostensyearbooks.com. If you have any questions, you are always welcome to reach out to Mrs. Marshell at tmarshell@mckinneyisd.net.
Little Bear's Journey
There is no stopping the Art Department!
Political Cartoons
A Catchy Tune
Mr. Cortez arranged a string orchestra version of the hit song My Girl by the Temptations. The Concertino orchestra is rehearsing this piece and others for their upcoming concert in February.
Pictured are: Gabriel Cortez, Violeta Hernandez, Addison Givens, Leo Salinas, Christi Melgar, Jose Marines, Olivia Roberts, Johnny Cantu, Sky Miller, Emily Castellanos, Jean Alvarez, Mason Brock, Hagen Venhaus, JD Taylor, Abe Hamilton, Jairo Camarillo, Elijah Iniguez, and Areli Hernandez.
Leadership Day in Cheer
On leadership day, our cheerleaders read, speak and write about giving constructive criticism. The cheerleaders read aloud the article and talked about how they could use it in cheer. They later wrote a summary. Pictured are: Emma Spearman, Reagan Poehler, Lily Vogt, and Merit Metcalf.
Student Spotlight - Emma Calhoun
This week's student spotlight features the student--artist-athlete, Emma Calhoun! Aside from making great grades in her classes and having a humble and grateful attitude, Emma is incredibly talented and kind. Becoming an educator may even be on Emma's horizon.
Emma has gained the attention of our athletics department for her character. Coach Burgess shared, "Emma is a great athlete with true character and grit. She strives for her best daily and is always positive and encouraging! Emma is a valued role model and leader in our athletic program." Outside of school, Emma enjoys running, playing volleyball, and being with friends. The youngest of five siblings, Emma is also an aunt, a title she cherishes. Emma grew up in Arizona and moved to McKinney four years ago. She appreciates the community and the opportunities it provides. Emma is also a section leader in Bella Voce, our varsity choir, and is a member of Rhapsody. She has been an important member of our Choir family for the past three years.
As a side hobby, Emma likes cosmetology work, especially doing nails. She practices it a lot and is seriously considering joining the Cosmetology program at McKinney High School. A challenge that Emma may face is deciding between all of the wonderful electives that are available in MISD, especially considering how involved she is with academics, athletics, and PALS. In PALS, Emma finds fulfillment helping others and teaching, and she wants to continue working with that program.
Emma loves the teachers at Faubion Middle School. She feels that they are very interactive with the scholars and keep students engaged. She feels that our school is "very centered on students". Emma shared that Coach Burgess has a special connection with everyone. "She helps us individually on what we need to do. She helps us build our character and talk about things that we need to do ourselves to help us become a better person." Emma appreciates that Mr. Stevens delivers instruction in a seamless way. She appreciates that he's just a great person in general and he can talk to anyone very easily. When Emma has a question for Mr. Stevens, he gets at eye-level, making it easy to have a conversation, and explains what needs to be done.
Mr. Stevens shared, "Emma’s presence in class is unmistakable. Joyful, compassionate, and inquisitive are three words I would use to describe her. It’s truly remarkable that even in the early hours of our second period, I can rely on Emma to be fully engaged in classroom instruction and discussion. She is a student that seeks a challenge. I would be hard-pressed to find a student who works harder than Emma. Hard work is great, sure, but it isn’t everything. You see, the thing I admire about Emma is her compassion. She genuinely cares about the people around her, and that’s why I look forward to seeing her bright and early every day."
Kudos to Emma for your continued accomplishments. We appreciate everything you do for our school community.
MISD Spring 2021 Online Course Offerings
Faubion MS 8th grade students will have the option of accelerating their course work by taking an additional course online during the Spring of 2021. Courses are provided in an online platform (Canvas or Apex) and taught by MISD teachers. There are no course meeting times, and classes can be accessed 24/7 for the duration of the term in a self-paced format. Online courses are available to students in grades 8-12.
Dates: February 8 – May 7, 2021
Tuition: $50.00 per semester ($25.00 if on free/reduced lunch)
Payment: Due to FMS Counselors by April 16 (cash, check or money order payable to “McKinney ISD”)
Courses: Health / Professional Communications / Foundations of PE / Psychology / Sociology
Registration for 2021-2022
Faubion 8th grade students must turn in 9th grade course card and 4-year plans by Monday, Jan 25 if they have not already done so! Counselors will visit current 6th and 7th graders next month to begin their course registration process. Course selections will be verified by parents and students during course verification at the end of the semester.
As always, check out the Faubion MS Counselor Website for more info and counselor contacts at www.fmscounselors.weebly.com
german and latin programs
Past Due - Annual Payment for Laptop
McKinney ISD is uniquely positioned to not only address the challenges presented by the pandemic but also to create an environment where students can become producers in an increasingly digital world.
Please emphasize to your child that the district-issued MacBook is property of the district, and as such, students are not allowed to download programs or circumvent district security measures. If your child has done so, please ask him/her to bring the device to the library so we can assist. Please watch this VIDEO with your child to see the district's expectations for student MacBook use.
In order to provide the very best technology for our students, parents pay a nominal annual fee for insurance on their district-issued laptop. These fees can be paid in HAC through either the parent or student account. The deadline to pay laptop fees was January 22, 2021. If you pay the fee after this date, your child's account will temporarily lose access to non-instructional websites. Once you pay, the restrictions will be lifted.
The district has developed a comprehensive resource for parents, including payment details. This file provides instructions for how to pay the fee, including troubleshooting suggestions. Also included in the file is the 1:The World handbook (in English and in Spanish). Please pay the assurance fee at your earliest convenience.
If you would prefer to pay in person with cash or check, please check HAC for the amount first. You may send payment with your child to the library. If you have any questions, please email Melissa Willardson at mwillardson@mckinneyisd.net.
Drug Use Prevention Resources
McKinney ISD offers a Canvas course called "Talk it up! Prevention resources for parents," which is full of drug prevention resources. Please visit the following LINK, bookmark it, and review it at your convenience. Our district truly embodies the "Live Kind" mindset in taking care of the entire child. Our district Substance Use Prevention Committee works hard to make the content relevant, engaging, and timely. Our counselors are also equipped with lots of resources to assist you, so if you need anything please reach out to us.
Cheer Tryouts - Sign-Ups end February 5
Upcoming Events
Monday, Jan. 25
7th boys' basketball (away) @ Prosper Rushing - Gold - 5:00 / Navy - 6:00 / White - 7:00
8th boys' basketball (home) vs. Prosper Rushing - Gold - 5:00 / Navy - 6:00 / White - 7:00
Thursday, Jan. 28
7th girls' basketball (away) @ Prosper Rushing - Navy - 5:00 / White - 6:00
8th girls' basketball (home) vs. Prosper Rushing - Gold - 5:00 / Navy - 6:00 / White - 7:00
Friday, Jan. 29
Yearbook Deadline
Saturday, Jan. 30
Beginning Orchestra Solo Festival
Saturday, Feb. 6
MISD Academic UIL
college guidance
Pictured are: Nathan Hall, Julian Garcia, Elijah Iniguez, Fallon Jameson, Madis Musah, Hemam Matteewos Semahun, Angel Ray, Rafael Aviles, Reagan George, Savannah Turnley, Josh Coleman, Jalen Coleman, Alynn Shaw, and Brenah Nnadi.
Checking Your Child's Grades and Attendance
You may monitor your child's grades and attendance by using the Home Access Center.
Here are the steps to follow:
1) Please make sure that you are using Google Chrome as your browser.
2) Go to https://sso.mckinneyisd.net
3) Enter your login credentials. If you need assistance with your login information, please reach out to your child's house secretary:
A-G: Mrs. Soroa - rsoroa@mckinneyisd.net or 469-302-7005
H-O: Mrs. Gonzalez - amgonzalez@mckinneyisd.net or 469-302-6911
P-Z: Mrs. Dedman - odedman@mckinneyisd.net or 469-302-6917
Jack C. Faubion Middle School, the best middle school in the State of Texas
Email: mvandenboom@mckinneyisd.net
Website: faubionmiddleschool.com
Location: 2000 Rollins Street, McKinney, TX 75069
Phone: 469) 302-6900
Facebook: facebook.com/FaubionMS/
Twitter: @FaubionMS