Eagles' Notes
Madras News: January 7, 2019, Lorraine Johnson, Principal
Madras Middle School
Email: MadrasNews@cowetaschools.org
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
Media Notes
Karen Pitts, Media Specialist
Our annual Battle of the Books competition is quickly approaching. Round one will be held on the morning of Friday, January 25th in our Madras cafeteria. We currently have over 80 teams signed up to participate. The students are so excited about this competition! We are still in need of volunteers to read questions to small groups of students. Please consider helping us out for a couple of hours on that morning. You will enjoy it and we couldn't make this happen without your support. If you are available to volunteer for that morning, please send Mrs. K. Pitts an email at karen.pitts@cowetaschools.net. Thank you so much for your support of literacy at Madras.
Career Day, January 8th
From Guidance Department: Maranda Holmes and Rebecca Hill
Dear Parents,
Madras is hosting Career Day on January 8, 2019. This day gives our students the opportunity to learn more about career opportunities as they interact with community members from an array of occupations and walks of life.
On behalf of the entire Madras Middle School family, we appreciate all of our parents who have volunteered to speak to students as part of our Career Day program. The Career Day agenda is listed below. If you are participating, please arrive between 8:00 and 8:30. Our Eagle Ambassadors will assist you upon arrival.
Sincerely,
Madras Guidance Department
CAREER DAY AGENDA
Tuesday, January 9, 2018 (8:0-10:45 a.m.)
- 8:00- 8:20 Arrival of Career Day speakers & breakfast (Speakers assemble in the Media Center)
- 8:20-8:30 Welcome/Orientation
- 8:40-9:05 Session I
- 9:07-9:32 Session II
- 9:32-10:00 Session III
- 10:03-10:27 Session IV
- 10:30-10:45 Closing (Media Center)
8th Grade College and Career Academy Registration for 7th Graders
We are excited to announce an innovative opportunity for your seventh grader! The Coweta County 8th Grade Charter College & Career Academy (Eighth Grade Academy) will open enrollment for the 2019 - 2020 school year for 120 middle school students from Coweta County middle schools. This program is located at the Central Educational Center (CEC) and operated by the Coweta County School System. Eighth Grade Academy offers all the academic rigor of a regular 8th grade middle school curriculum as well as a daily 75-minute career elective (connection) class. This extended career elective time gives your student an opportunity to explore robotics, graphics, web design, broadcasting and other exciting programs. There are four opportunities to earn high school credit in the following classes: Civics, Health and PF, Healthcare and Aviation. Eighth Grade Academy students spend the entire school day at CEC. However, they are encouraged to connect with their base (home) middle schools through participation in sports, clubs and other activities.
Madras seventh graders will have an opportunity to visit on the College and Career Academy at the CEC in Newnan on Tuesday, January 15th to learn more about the program. Letters and brochures with additional information regarding registraton and the lottery process are being sent home with students on Monday and can be viewed below.
Field Trip Letter and Academy Brochure
Frequently Asked Questions about 8th Grade Academy
- What is the daily schedule at 8th Grade Academy? Arrival is 7:30-8:00 am. From 8:05- 8:35: Reading Across the Curriculum; 8:35-9:40: First Academic; 9:40-11:05: Career Elective (Connection); 11:05-12:45: Second Academic and Lunch; 12:45 -1:50: Third Academic; 1:55-3:00: Fourth Academic; 3:00 p.m. Pick up/return to base (home) middle school for clubs and/or sports if desired.
- Will transportation be provided to and from school? No, parents must provide transportation to and from 8th Grade Academy.
- How many career electives (connections) classes can my student explore? Students may explore up to four career electives during the year. They will have one career elective each nine-week grading period. Introduction to Healthcare, Fundamentals of Aerospace, and Health/Personal Fitness are eighteen-week courses offered to 8th graders for high school credit. Therefore, if students are assigned one of these courses, they will have three electives during the entire school year.
- Mark Whitlock, CEO mark.whitlock@cowetaschools.net 678-423-2009
- Dr. Dawn Revere, Counselor dawn.revere@cowetaschools.net 678-423-2000, ext. 292
- Mark Ballou, Principal mark.ballou@cowetaschools.net 678-423-2000, ext. 334
Career Expo for Eighth Graders is January 23rd
Dear Eighth Grade Parents,
All CCSS middle school eighth graders are invited to attend the Coweta Works Career Expo January 23 and 24 (Madras Middle School eighth graders were invited to attend the 23rd from 10:30-12:00).
Coweta Works is a high energy, hands-on, interactive expo with activities across nine career worlds. Designed to help students make smart choices for their future, the expo will encourage them to stay in school and plan for postsecondary education.
Industry leaders, construction companies and local manufacturers along with healthcare and utilities providers will join public safety and transportation companies to share their world of work. They will leave the expo knowing Coweta’s workforce needs and the opportunities for college education and training during high school with the Move on When Ready
(Dual Enrollment) program. Students as early as 9th grade can participate in these Dual Enrollment courses/programs.
Participants will be guided by a full-color booklet with information and articles to peak interest in each of the career worlds. It will include information on The Central Educational Center (Georgia Career Academy), West Georgia Technical College, and the University of West Georgia, Newnan.
School buses will transport Madras 8th grade students to the Newnan Central Education Center for the 1 ½ hour session on the 23rd, and students will return to Madras by 12:30 and will eat lunch before reporting to their afternoon classes.
Permission forms will go home with students on Monday (1/7). Please sign the attached permission form (front and back) if you would like your student to attend. If you do not wish for your student to attend, please state so on the form, and return it for our records. Students not attending will be provided accompanying lesson plans during the session.
A copy of the permission form can be found here.
Please contact the school if you have any questions.
Report Cards Go Home Monday, January 9th
Report cards will be issued to students Wednesday, January 9th, and should be signed and returned to your child's homeroom teacher. If you have questions regarding your child's progress, you can email or call the team or teacher, or you can call 770-254-2744 to schedule a conference. Email contact information can be found on our Madras web site at: http://www.cowetaschools.net.
Reminders for Severe Weather Procedures
As winter approaches, we want to remind parents and the community of the procedures that schools and the school system follow in the event of severe weather.
During severe weather watches or warnings, the district works with local authorities to monitor developing conditions and proceeds with arrival and dismissal based upon known conditions. Adjustments are made as needed.
In the event that schools are delayed, closed or released early, there are a variety of ways the school system notifies parents, including:
Automated phone call (OneCallNow)
Media outlets (television, radio and media websites)
District & school websites (www.cowetaschools.net) (www.cowetaschools.net/mms)
School Texts (Sign up clicking here.)
School Email (Sign up by clicking here.)
Twitter (@Madras Eagles; @RainyJohnson @CowetaSchools)
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/MadrasEagles)
Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/MadrasEagles)
Parents are urged to make sure that their child’s school has their latest contact information, including new phone numbers, so that they can be contacted during such events.
In the event of severe weather, a determination will be made each day on whether to close or delay school, or continue school closure, based on anticipated travel conditions and other factors. Once a determination is made, the school system will notify parents and the community about the next day’s status.
The school system tries to make such determinations in as timely a manner as possible. But storm severity, weather arrival and anticipated travel conditions constantly change and can be difficult to assess. If the school system cannot make a final determination on the evening before a school day, a final determination early the following morning is necessary.
Notices are typically placed on the system’s website (cowetaschools.net) if the school system is continuing to evaluate conditions, or if normal school operations are anticipated. The school system will notify parents immediately by phone call, text or email, media notice and other means if a determination to close or delay school is made.
In the event of a school delay, the system will notify parents of the length of the delay. For a delay of two hours, for example, parents and students should assume that all normal school procedures are delayed two hours – bus pick-up is two hours from usual times (at 9:00 or 9:30 a.m., for example), and classes will start two hours later (at 10:00 p.m. and 10:30 a.m.). In such cases, however, school dismissal times would remain the same (2:30 and 3:30 p.m.).
Other weather-related contingencies or tips include:
Parents of bus riders should also be aware that extremely cold morning temperatures can cause delays on morning routes. A severe storm watch may also cause delays. Our transportation department works to pick up students as quickly as possible during these conditions.
In the case of tornado warnings, we re-route buses to the nearest school sites and shelter in place. We also utilize fire stations, if needed. Once a tornado warning has been lifted, and conditions are safe, we will resume bus service.
Steps you can take include ensuring your children are dressed as warmly as possible during the winter months and remaining with your children until they are picked up when extreme weather conditions exist.
In the event of school closure, schools often employ a number of resources through which parents or students can stay abreast of school work and assignments, including Remind texts from teachers, Google Classroom, class websites, or online quizzes assigned by teachers.
It is important that your child’s school has your current emergency contact information, including home and work phone numbers for our calling system. Please take the time to update that information with your child’s school if needed.
Yearbooks Are on Sale
Yearbooks for the 2018-2019 school year are on sale and can be purchased at the link below. Prices are as indicated, and eighth grade recognition ads can also be purchased once you are logged in by creating an account. If you have any questions, please contact bookkeeper Henry Dawkins at john.dawkins@cowetaschools.net. Yearbooks are given out the last week of school.
- $45.00 – September 29 – February 22
- $50.00 – February 23 – last day of school
- Science Olympiad (Caren Peterson) Due to Career Day scheduled for Tuesday, January 8th, there will be NO Science Olympiad Advisement Meeting. Our next meeting will be Thursday, Jan 10th, from 3:30-5:30. Note change in meeting end time--until 5:30.
- Auburn Puzzle Challenge Math Team (Rhonda Lewis, Lisa Anstey) The next meeting of the Auburn Puzzle team will be on Wednesday, Jan 9th from 3:30- 4:30 in Mrs. Lewis’ room. Make sure to bring your signed Auburn waiver. There is a copy on Google Classroom.
- Junior Beta Club (Maria Meza) Baby, it’s cold outside! Imagine not having a warm coat on cold morning. Many children and adults in our community are in need this winter. The Madras Jr. Beta Club is sponsoring a coat drive to benefit Bridging the Gap. We are asking those who can to donate clean, gently worn coats and sweatshirts. We will collect coats, sweatshirts, and outwear from January 4th to January 18th. Let’s wrap our community in warmth!
- Pep Squad (Morgan Thompson) practice is Monday, January 7th, and Wednesday, January 9th, from 3:30-4:30. .
- Track Tryouts (Roy Hitchcock) Sign up for boys and girls track will be during lunch beginning January 7th. Sign up sheets, requirements, and calendars will be on the middle table in the cafeteria. The deadline for sign-up is Friday, January 11th.
- Boys Soccer (Jeremy DeGroot) All boys soccer players need to turn their jerseys into Coach DeGroot ASAP.
Congratulations, Noah Watson, 2019 Madras Spelling Bee Champ! Samuel Quinn, Runner-Up
The Eagles Will Host Smokey Road Tuesday, January 8th
Our first regular season basketball game of the year is a home opener Tuesday afternoon (January 8th). The Lady Eagles play at 4:30, and the boys' team plays following the conclusion of the girls' game. Students can stay after school until the game starts and will be supervised. Concessions will be sold including drinks and snacks. Cost of admission is $5.00. Parents should pick up their students no later than 6:45 behind the school at the football field. (No pick-ups in front of the school.) Go, Eagles!
PTO: Join the Team!
Amy Brandon, PTO President
Welcome to Madras! The purpose of our PTO is to help improve our school by combining the efforts of parents, students, and teachers.
We invite you to join PTO 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, one of our major goals is to raise enough funds to purchase an electronic sign in front of the school to replace the old signage. We didn't quite reach this goal last year but are hoping to earn enough early this year to update it. We ask that each family join PTO with a $12.00 (or more if you choose) contribution. You can join and pay directly online by clicking the ONLINE MEMBERSHIP (You can also send a check with your child to the homeroom teacher or to the front office. Checks should be made payable to Madras PTO.)
We also need your volunteer time! If you are interested in assisting with any of the areas below, please select from the choices on the online form. You will be contacted as the events take place. There are many opportunities to serve:
- Hospitality Committee - Teachers' Luncheons and Special Events
- Box Tops
- School Store - helping in the store 8:00-8:30 AM on a rotational basis
- Membership
- Snack n Chat (monthly)
- Media Center (1-2 hrs per week)
- Battle of the Books
- Book Fair - Fall and Spring
- Scoliosis Screening - one time event
- School Pictures
- Lamination/Copies for teachers
- 8th Grade Dance Setup
- Special Event Assistance
- PTSO Board
MMS PTO Annual Project: Electronic Sign in Front of the School
If you wish to make a donation to this project, please send it in with your child address to the MMS PTO. Contact Amy Brandon at amysbrandon97@gmail.com with any questions.
Thanks in advance for your support!
Parent Letter Archives
Safety Letter (8-6-18)
Health Alert (8-6-18)
Open House Letter (8-7-18)
Affidavit Letter (10-15-18)
Parent Symposium Letter (10-22-18)
Symposium Flyer (10-22-18)
Veterans Day Assembly Letter (11-2-18)
Inclement Weather Protocol Letter (11-2-18)
8th Grade Career Expo Field Trip Letter (1-7-19)
7th Grade College and Career Academy Field trip Letter (1-8-19)
Scoliosis Letter, 6th and 8th Grades (1-14-19)
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