Eagles' Notes
Madras News: August 21, 2017, Lorraine Johnson, Principal
Madras Middle School
Email: MadrasNews@cowetaschools.net
Website: http://www.cowetaschools.net/mms
Location: 240 Edgeworth Road, Newnan, GA, United States
Phone: 770-254-2744
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MadrasEagles
Twitter: @MadrasEagles
Upcoming Events
Madras Calendar
Supply List
Parent Letter Archives
Bus Update Letter (8-4-17)
Family Connections (8-4-17)
Safety Letter (8-7-17)
Open House Letter (8-7-17)
Solar Eclipse Letter (8-10-17)
Student Services Letter (8-15-17)
Solar Eclipse Letter (8-16-17)
Madras Eclipse Letter (8-17-17)
Solar Eclipse 2017 (updated) We have great news!
Monday, August 21, 2017, Coweta County Schools will be just outside the path of a total eclipse. In the Newnan area at approximately 2:36 p.m. the sun will be about 95 percent obscured. This event is being called “The Great American Solar Eclipse” because it is the first time since 1918 a solar eclipse will be visible on a path across the entire continental United States. Planning is already underway to ensure our students can experience this unique event.
The eclipse will occur at the end of the school day. In order to ensure a safe dismissal and in order to allow teachers and students to experience this incredible learning opportunity, the dismissal time for elementary schools will be delayed until 3:00 p.m. Middle and high school dismissal will also experience a delay of approximately 30 minutes. Madras buses will be delayed by approximately 30 minutes, and cars will dismiss at the regular time of 3:30. (See note about dismissal below.)
Originally a local business partner assisted Coweta County Schools with purchasing eclipse-safe viewing glasses that met the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for students and staff. We later learned these glasses had been recalled. Consequently, we sent a letter home to our parents letting them know that we would view the eclipse indirectly using pinhole camera boxes.
We now have great news! A grant from Georgia Tech came through for us, and we will now have safe viewing glasses available for students and staff to use if they have not opted out and wish to use them. We will continue to make pinhole camera boxes and will use these as planned, however, we will also have viewing glasses available for students who wish to participate. Team teachers and non-homeroom teachers will be closely monitoring and assisting with the use of both the boxes and the glasses. Safety is always a top priority, and our school will take precautionary measures with both students and staff to make this experience both safe and enjoyable.
Those students not participating will view streaming/televised coverage from inside the school building during the eclipse. If you have any questions, please contact a Madras administrator. (Another copy of the opt-out letter, if needed, can be downloaded HERE.)
Madras dismissal procedures for Monday, August 21, 2017
Car riders will dismiss at the normal time of 3:30.
Bus riders will be delayed by approximately 30 minutes. We will send out a Remind text as soon as the buses leave campus that day.
Madras Administrators Trying out the Pinhole Cameras :-)
Madras Parent Volunteer Training
- August 21, 9:00 a.m.
- August 21, 2:45 p.m.
- August 28, 9:00 a.m.
- August 28, 2:45 p.m.
- September 11, 9:00 a.m.
- September 11, 2:45 p.m.
- October 16, 9:00 a.m.
- October 16, 2:45 p.m.
First Day Informational Packets
Parents received a packet of information on the first day of school. Several forms will need to be returned to your child’s homeroom teacher as soon as possible including 1-7 below.
- Clinic Card (white)
- Emergency Information Card (green)
- Truancy/Attendance Form
- AUP Form (Internet Acceptable Use and Chromebook Agreement) 6th grade and new students only
- Media Release Form
- Migrant Form
- Free/Reduced Lunch Form if needed (Please return any blank, unused forms.)
- Club/Activity Form (ONLY if you do not want your child to participate in a particular club; no need to return otherwise)
- Parent Communication Information (no need to return)
- Additional informational letters (no need to return)
Transportation
Bus Transportation
Students are assigned to ride school buses that will pick them up and drop them off in close proximity of their homes. Bus routes for the 2017-2018 school year can be found on the front page of the Madras web site and are subject to change.
Bus transportation is a privilege provided to all students who can cooperate and abide by the rules. Problems on a school bus are a road hazard; reasonable behavior ensures a safe ride. Parents should closely supervise children at bus stops to ensure their safety as they wait and properly board the school bus.
If a student needs to ride a bus other than the assigned bus, the student must bring a note from the parent/guardian with a telephone number for verification. Transportation notes will be accepted in the form of a written letter, an e-mail, or by fax.
Students do not need a transportation note to change from a car rider to a bus rider or vice versa on a given day. Notes are only needed if a students are riding a bus that is not their regular assigned bus (for example, going home with a friend on a different bus).
Arrival and Dismissal
No student should arrive on campus before 7:30 a.m. Students arriving before 8:00 a.m. will report to the cafeteria or gym until they are told to report to homeroom at 8:00 a.m. Students who are not bus riders are encouraged to report to school after 8:00 a.m. and report directly to their homerooms. Students may not remain at school after scheduled dismissal time unless they have prior approval from a staff member who will supervise them or they are a member of a club, athletic team, etc. sponsored by the school. Supervision will only be provided from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day.
Dropping Off Items for Your Child During the School Day
Dropping off Lunches or Medication: If a student forgets a lunch at home, parents may drop it off at the front office, and students will be called to pick up their lunch at the beginning of their scheduled lunch time. If a student needs medication, it can be dropped off at any time for the school nurse.
Dropping off Other Items:
Any other item dropped off for students during the school day may be picked up after school. Instruction will not be interrupted for students to pick up items during class. This includes forgotten homework, shoes for PE, projects, etc. Students are responsible for bringing needed materials to class daily. If these items are brought to school during the day, we are happy to make an announcement at the end of the day for your child to pick them up in the front office.
Phone Use: Students are permitted to use a phone in the front office during school hours for emergencies or for illness. Calling home for homework, a school project, or to make arrangements to attend an after school event that wasn't previously arranged ties up phone lines and is not permitted. Students may call home if:
- There is a transportation issue,
- Lunch or lunch money is needed,
- Equipment is needed for after school athletics or activity.
- There is a dress code issue.
- The student is sick (must call from the clinic under the nurse's supervision).
We appreciate your help in keeping interruptions to a minimum.
School Clinic and Medication
Medication
The MMS clinic is open daily from 8:00-3:30. Our school nurse Kate Caswell assists students who become sick or injured while at school and dispenses medications prescribed by physicians. Whenever it is necessary for your child to receive medication at school, the following policy must be followed:
- A school nurse or school designee may administer medication provided all of the requirements are met.
- All medicine shall be in its original LABELED container or prescription bottle.
- Written instructions for prescription medication must be from a doctor or a physician's assistant authorized to prescribe medicine. How to administer, amount to be administered, time to be administered, etc., must be shown.
- A written request by the parent or guardian must be made to the school nurse or school designee to administer any medication. The school nurse or school designee shall keep a written
Monitoring Grades, Assignments, Attendance
Student Portal
Students will be assigned a login for Student Portal which will allow them to regularly monitor their grades and assignments. Once logged on the first time, they will be prompted to change their password. Students should keep this in a secure location and should never share the password with others.
Parent Portal
Parent Portal provides access for parents to view students' attendance, grades, schedules, lunch balances, and other useful information. It also allows teachers to communicate with parents via the portal. You can enroll HERE, If you have questions about your portal account or are having trouble logging in, please contact Student Information Services by emailing infinitecampusportal@cowetaschools.net.
MealPay Plus
Parents can use their credit cards and debit cards to pay for lunch charges. MealPay Plus is a pre-payment system that allows parents to make deposits into their child's meal accounts via the Web. The payment service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is a one-time, free registration for each parent and multiple children at various schools can be accommodated. Payments may be made by phone or over the Internet, with checking or savings accounts through an e-check, or by using debit or credit cards. (There is a 4.75 percent transaction fee for the service.)
Of course, parents may continue to pay for their child's meal directly at school in the lunch line by check or cash. The cost of breakfast is $1.00 and the cost of lunch is $3.00. Students may charge up to two lunches. Afterwards, they will be served an alternate meal until their balance is paid. Please contact cafeteria manager, Frances Singleton at 770-254-2744 if you have questions.
August is REACH Referral Month (Gifted Program)
The first semester window for Gifted Program (REACH) referrals is August 4 - September 20th. Paperwork should be requested from and returned to the local school. Please see additional information below and contact Dr. Donna Eskut, assistant principal, at 770-254-2744 if you have questions about the process or the program.
Types of Referrals
- Reported Referral: ​A student may be referred for consideration for gifted education services by teachers, counselors, administrators, parents or guardians, peers, self, and other individuals with knowledge of the student’s abilities.
- Automatic Referral: ​Students who score at the following specified levels on a norm referenced test, as defined by the GaDOE Resource Manual for gifted Education Services, shall be considered automatically for further assessment to determine eligibility for gifted program services.
PTSO: Join the Team!
Amy Brandon, PTSO President
Welcome to Madras! The purpose of our PTSO is to help improve our school by combining the efforts of parents, students, and teachers. We invite you to join PTSO to help make our school a better place to work and learn! Our fundraising efforts have benefited a variety of projects in the past including school building improvements, teacher instructional requests, equipment for the fine arts department, instructional technology purchases, and athletic programs. This year, our goal is to raise enough funds to purchase an electronic sign in front of the school to replace the old signage. We hope to reach this goal by the end of the school year. We ask that each family join PTSO with a $12.00 contribution. (Checks should be made payable to Madras PTSO.)
We also need your volunteer time! If you are interested in assisting with any of the areas below, please print the form below linked beneath, and indicate in the appropriate section. Return the form to the MMS front office or to your child's homeroom teacher. You will be contacted as the events take place.
There are many opportunities to serve through PTSO:
- Snack n Chat (Monthly)
- School Store (rotational schedule
- Teacher Luncheons
- Media Center Weekly Help
- Veterans Day Program
- Black History Month Program Reception
- Decoration for Receptions/Luncheons
- Book Fairs (Fall and Spring)
- Battle of the Books
- School Pictures (Fall)
- Scoliosis Screening (One time event)
- Landscaping and Beautification
MMS PTSO Annual Project: Electronic Sign in Front of the School
If you wish to make a donation to this, please send it in with your child address to the MMS PTSO. Contact Amy Brandon at amysbrandon97@gmail.com, if you are interested in joining our team!
Thanks in advance for your support!
Chromebooks
Most Chromebooks were returned to our students who returned theirs to their respective schools at the end of the school year on Friday, (We are still waiting for a few.) Every new Coweta County student will receive a Dell Chromebook and charger that will be scanned into our system, and returning students will use the Chromebook they were assigned last year. Students will be using these daily, and they they should be taken home and charged every night and brought to school with them each day.
We are excited about this opportunity provided to all of our students, and we encourage parents to regularly review guidelines for protecting their devices with their students. Protective cases are encouraged but not required, but we do encourage all students to have some type of protection as a safeguard. This could include a protective case, a neoprene cover or carrying case. Book bags (unless they have a built-in compartment for a device) are not always the best method to transport a Chromebook. If using a book bag, students should be careful not to sling their bags or stuff a Chromebook between heavier items that could damage it.
Replacement fee for lost or damaged Chromebooks is $148.00, and the replacement fee for the charging cord is $45.00.
Upcoming Weeks at a Glance
Monday, August 21
- Jr. ROTC Meeting, 3:30-4:30
- Solar Eclipse; Buses will be delayed by approximately 30 min. (car riders at 3:30)
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:15
Tuesday, August 22
- Football vs ECMS (A), 5:00
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:15
Wednesday, August 23
- Volleyball vs EMS (A), 4:30
Thursday, August 24
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Volleyball vs Lee (H), 4:30
Friday, August 25
- TMX Rehearsal, 3:30-5:30 pm
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-4:45
Monday, August 28
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Volleyball vs EMS (H), 4:30
Tuesday, August 29
- All-State Chorus Rehearsal, 7:30 a.m.
- Football vs Lee (H), 5:00
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:15
Wednesday, August 30
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:00
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-5:15
Thursday, August 31
- Football Practice, 3:30-5:30
- Pep Squad Practice, 3:30-4:30
- Volleyball vs AMS (A), 4:30
Friday, September 1
- College Colors Day
- Volleyball Practice, 3:30-4:45
Monday, September 4
- Labor Day; Schools Closed
Volleyball Home Opener is Thursday, August 24th
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- You will be prompted to type in your first and last name.
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- Madras Middle School: @MadrasEagles
- Principal, Lorraine Johnson: @RainyJohnson