The PAW Print
August 2019
Calendar
Open House
Wednesday, August 28:
6th Grade Only
Group 1: 5:30-6:45PM
Group 2: 7:00-8:15PM
*6th grade students will receive a letter in the mail indicating which time they are scheduled for Open House. There are over 350 students in 6th grade. We are trying to accommodate all students and their parents/guardians. For this reason, we are dividing the students into two sessions to address parking concerns and to allow everyone the opportunity to navigate the hallways, check lockers and look at the classrooms. Students may bring school supplies and put in their lockers during Open House.
Thursday, August 29:
8th grade 8:00-9:00AM
7th Grade 9:15-10:15AM
SAIL and COMPASS 1:00PM
Monday, September 2: Labor Day Holiday-No School for Students
Tuesday, September 3: First Day of School
Friday, September 20: Professional Development-No School for Students
Friday, September 27: Back to School Dance 3-5PM
The Administrative Staff
James Peeler-6th grade AP
Marissa Frye- 7th grade AP
Kelly Kent-8th grade AP
Office Staff
Cindy Garrison- Secretary to the Principal
April Roach-Records Secretary
Carolyn Hutchins- Nurse
Kim Powell-Nurse
Cpl Jaime Davis- School Resource Officer
The Counseling Staff
Courtney Towne-6th grade
Elizabeth Ripple- 8th grade
General Information for MBMS Students and Families
Welcome to Margaret Brent Middle School! We are excited for the 2019-2020 school year. We are looking forward to building on the success our staff and students achieved last year! So that we can continually improve and meet the needs of our students, it is necessary that we look at our current practices to determine their effectiveness. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for all of our students that focuses on learning. As we prepare for the upcoming year, I'd like to ask that parents complete the survey before August 23, 1920.
2019-2020 Parent/Guardian Survey
In an effort to keep families informed, I will be sending out weekly emails every Sunday afternoon, beginning the first week of school. The emails will provide information about upcoming events, important dates and general information.
Below are some of the basic expectations and processes we put into place last year that allowed our students to be successful. We will continue to implement these same items during the 2019-2020. Again, the focus is on safety and eliminating disruptions to the learning environment. As always, I truly appreciate the support of our community.
- Students are only permitted to have clear water bottles throughout the school day. Students will not be permitted to carry containers of coffee, hot chocolate, tea, energy drinks, soda etc.
- It is extremely important that students eat lunch daily. We encourage students to either eat a school lunch or pack a lunch from home. Parents who drop off lunch for their child should not bring additional food to be shared with other students. Pizza(s) should not be ordered by parents or students to be delivered during lunches.
- Parents who come to eat lunch with their child will be permitted to eat lunch with only their child in a designated area (conference room).
- Cell phones are NOT required as an educational requirement for middle school. We have appropriate amount of technology to support our curriuculum. Therefore, phones that are brought to school are to be turned off during the school day. Please discuss with your child the proper use of their phone. Visual or auditory recording of students and staff is prohibited. If there is an emergency, please contact the office and we will make sure the message is delivered to your child.
- Additionally, earbuds and Airpods are not to be worn in school.
- Students must remove headgear (hats, hoodies, etc.) while in the school building per the SMCPS dress code. Please assist us by monitoring your child's clothing to ensure what he/she is wearing is appropriate for school and falls within the SMCPS dress code expectations.
- Students arriving after the school day begins without a doctors note will be marked unexcused tardy
- Students should eat their breakfast before arriving at school or in the cafeteria or designated area if they normally get breakfast at the school. Food and beverages (except clear water bottles) will not be permitted in the hallways and classrooms.
- Students arriving by bus or as parent drop off will not be permitted inside the building until 7:45. Staff is not on duty until that time. Students being dropped off at school should prepare for the weather (cold/rain).
- Emergency phone calls home by students will be permitted at the discretion of the grade level AP.
- ld a marbled composition notebook is prohibited in classes/hallways.
- Only 6th grade schedules will be mailed home. Students in 7th and 8th grade, please use HAC to access students' schedules. The schedules will not be available until 5:00PM on August 23. If you do not have access to the internet or need assistance with HAC, please stop by the main office during Open House.
- Due to the large number of students at MBMS, book bags and string packs will not be permitted in classrooms. All backpacks must be kept in the students' lockers. Any bag large enough to carry a marble composition book would be considered a back pack.
- A $5.00 yearly activity fee will be collected from each student beginning September 3, during homeroom.
- Bus passes will only be permitted in cases of emergency. Bus passes will not be approved for birthday parties, sleep overs etc. The buses are crowded and very little room for extra students.
- We cannot guarantee a bus pass will be written if submitted after 2:00. Bus notes should be given to the homeroom teacher to be submitted to the main office at the beginning of the day. This will allow us time to write the pass and distribute to the student before bus dismissal. Any changes to the normal dismissal plan (parent pick up or bus) needs to be communicated to Ms. Kirby by 2:00PM.
- Students who are to be picked up daily for parent pick up will need to have parent/guardians complete the form below and return the first day of school.
Students will be dismissed at the end of the day (2:40 to the cafeteria where a staff member will check them out to their parent/guardian). Identification is required. Those parents who occasionally need to pick up their child should contact the office prior to 2:00 so we can inform the student they are to go to parent pick up.
Upcoming Fundraiser
We will be conducting a fundraiser for anyone who would like to participate. We have teamed up with Meadows Farms for this year's fundraiser...gifts, wrapping paper, utensils, candy, etc. The fundraiser will begin on September 19th and continue until October 10th. Proceeds from the fundrasier supports technology for the school including smart TV's, replacement parts, lap tops, Ipads, etc. The student who is the top seller will receive a $50.00 gift card of their choice and the second place top seller will receive an ice cream social for themselves and two friends. Students will also receive small prizes for turning in coupons when they sell 3 or more items. More information to follow.
School Breakfast and Lunch Meal Applications
School Bus Stop and School Locator
PTSA Corner
As the MBMS-PTSA begins the 2019-2020 school year we need your support! PTSA members are parents, teachers, students, grandparents and even community members who are dedicated to promoting the education and welfare of our youth. We highly encourage all guardians, teachers and students to join our PTSA to show their support. As a member you are very welcome to attend all meetings & functions; however your membership does not require you to participate or volunteer in these.
Membership fee for Parents and Students is $8 or two for $15. If you and your student sign up for the PTSA, your student will get a free ticket to our first school dance being held after school from 3-5 pm on September 27, 2019.
We are looking forward to hosting our very first FUN RUN this year!
Be sure to mark October 12, 2019 on your calendars! More information to follow soon!
The PTSA would like to keep staff, parents, and students informed on upcoming events. Please like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MargaretBrentMiddleSchoolPTSA . (Please note that this Facebook page is not sponsored by MBMS nor SMCPS but is facilitated by the PTSA.)
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.
Lorie Joy, President