Armstrong eNews
Week 23 | January 29, 2021
Armstrong Middle School
Website: http://k12.pisd.edu/armstrong-middle-school
Location: 3805 Timberline Drive, Plano, TX, United States
Phone: 469-752-4600
Twitter: @ArmstrongMS4
Celebrating Black History Month
In the month of February we will be celebrating Black History Month. In honoring Black History Month, any student who would like to showcase their talent such as in singing, dancing, poetry, instrumental or art, please come to Room 235 or 236B to sign up, or see Ms. Austin or Ms. Hughes. At home students who would like to participate can reach out to Ms. Austin (galexia.austin@pisd.edu) or Ms. Hughes (kennedy.hughes@pisd.edu). The deadline to make your submission is Friday, January 29th.
We will also be celebrating the Black Family and what that represents. Throughout African American history, family within the community was more than a title- it was comfort, strength and survival. Dating back to the early 1600s, the black family was torn apart due to relocation to create a better life for themselves, however, it is tradition to set a time each year where they all gather to celebrate their love and prosperity. Each family may be composed differently, but one thing that is sure to be consistent is the family bond.
We want to see your family. Students please submit your family photos, recipes or a short story about a special tradition or moment you share with your family. All entries should be submitted to megan.moulton@pisd.edu, kennedy.hughes@pisd.edu or galexia.austin@pisd.edu
McMillen High School Dazzlers Drill Team Tryout Info Meeting
Calling all 8th Grade Dancers!
The McMillen High School Dazzlers Drill Team will be hosting a Mandatory Tryout Information Meeting over Zoom at 7 pm on Monday, February 1st, 2021.
Tryout packets and required paperwork are available in the Armstrong Front Office.
Tryouts are March 1-4, 2021.
Check out our info video! https://youtu.be/gnnrH4hsBUk
To receive the Zoom link and more information, register at: https://tinyurl.com/ddt2122info
For more information, please contact Dazzlers Director, Cortney Davis, at Cortney.davis@pisd.edu
College and Career Readiness Survey
We are gathering information from families in our district to inform future planning in the areas of college readiness and Career and Technical Education programming. A survey for College and Career Readiness Opportunities will be pushed out on Monday January 25 and will remain open until February 8. The Communications Department will push the survey out via email one time on January 25, will post it in each edition of the Update for Plano ISD Families until it closes on February 8, as well as through social media. Our ask of you is to send this out to your families in your daily/weekly campus newsletters during the survey window. The survey is in both English and Spanish, so please include both in your newsletters.
The first page explains the contents and the input we are seeking in the survey. Please take a moment to view the front page of the survey for an overview.
Here are the links:
English Version - College and Career Readiness Opportunity Survey - English
Spanish Version - College and Career Readiness Opportunity Survey - Spanish
State and Federal Report Cards
The State and Federal Report Cards are available to the public on the Texas Education Agency’s website at
· State Report Card: State School Report Card
· Federal Report Card: 2019-20 Federal Report Cards
The school report card (SRC) combines accountability ratings, data from the Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR), and financial information to give a broad view of campus performance. Available for each campus in Texas, the SRC is intended specifically to inform parents and guardians about a school’s individual characteristics and its academic performance.
Armstrong Robotics Club
Armstrong Robotics is recruiting! We have been given the clear to begin practicing two times a week after school. We will follow all PISD safety guidelines, including masking up, physical distancing, and disinfection procedures. Please have your student join our Google Classroom with the code dtai73x. Students will need to complete the Application Form and parents/guardians will need to complete the Registration form that are located in the Google Classroom. Applications are due by Sunday, Jan 31. Do you have what it takes?
50th Annual Collin County Poetry Contest
The 50th Annual Collin County Poetry Contest is now accepting entries. Students are invited to enter. There is no fee. The contest is sponsored by McKinney’s Mockingbird Chapter of the Poetry Society of Texas. Details are attached.
Winners are chosen from each grade level. Entries must be postmarked by February 1, 2021. Student winners (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and HM) will receive a certificate, and one copy of the published anthology of winning poems, at our award ceremony in Spring of 2021 (if possible). Entry rules and other details are on our website at www.mockingbirdpoetry.org .
Please check out the PDF attached below. If you have any questions, please reach out to Beth Ayers at beth.ayers55@gmail.com .
Yearbook Update
As we all adapt to change, one thing that remains constant is the yearbook tradition of documenting the history of our students and our school year. We are pleased to announce that our yearbook adviser and staff are working hard on the 2021 yearbook.
Since copies are limited and school schedules continue to change, we ask that you please order your yearbook online as soon as possible. Jostens offers a payment plan at checkout for your purchase if you would like to use that option www.jostensyearbooks.com.
Yearbook Photo Submissions from Parents
8th to 9th Grade Transition to High School Information
SEL Corner
SEL Circle Ups in Science
The month of February is Black History Month. Our Circle Up questions will reflect on strong leadership along with the SEL theme of Relationship Skills.Students will be answering these community building questions in their science classes next week during their SEL Circle ups beginning February 1st.
1. Check-in - a moment of mindfulness. Sit with your feet on the floor, close your eyes and take a deep breath in, and out (do 3x). Now open your eyes.
2. What kind of music do you feel like today?
3. What does race mean to you? Is race an important part of your identity on a daily basis?
Weekly learning target: I can support our group by making sure everyone gets a chance to speak.
We have been weaving some mindful breathing into the Circle Ups this semester. Remember that this is also a great brain break to help calm our minds and our bodies. If you have an instrumental playlist you like to use when students are working, consider adding some mindful music. Youtube has some great collections as well as the Calm app.
Below are links to two on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSnulMePm_8&t=69s
BiNaural Beats Study Music - Improve Memory and Concentration - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkbM5EfFyME&t=10890s
Mindfulness Meditation Music for Focus, Concentration to Relax - YouTube
Thank you to our Social Emotional Learning liaison, Molly James, for keeping us all informed of way to improve our Social and Emotional well being! Please see the information below for tips and learning opportunities.
Upcoming Virtual Parent SEL Engagement Opportunity
HAPPENINGS ON CAMPUS
North Texas Food Bank Food Pantry Tuesday, February 16th
ATHLETICS INFORMATION
Game Tickets for Athletic Events
Plano ISD - Athletics
Middle School - Game Tickets
Link to purchase tickets online
https://www.pisd.edu/domain/8918
· Ticket sales will open to the general public on Monday at 8 a.m. for all games occurring the following week
· A maximum of 2 tickets can be purchased per transaction
· Ticket prices:
o Adult: $4
o Student: $2
· Tickets will be sold separately for the A & B games
o One ticket will not work for both games due to gym capacity constraints
· At the conclusion of the B-Team game, spectators and participants will be asked to exit out of the designated doors. The A-Team spectators will then be released to enter the gym and find their seats.
There will be no paper tickets this year. All tickets will be digital and will be scanned upon entry.
Girls Basketball
8th Grade Girls will be playing at Armstrong vs Haggard on Monday, February 1st. There will only be one game beginning at 6:00 PM.
7th Grade Girls will be playing at Armstrong vs Haggard on Thursday, February 4th. There will only be one game beginning at 6:00 PM.
See Coach Diggs or Coach Eiben with questions.
Boys Basketball Updates
The 7th grade boys have their next game on Thursday, February 4th at Haggard at 6:00 P.M.
Also, we now have enough players for our 8th grade boys to have two teams. Please see below for our schedule for next week.
Way to go students for your hard work in class! We look forward to seeing your hard work on the court! Let’s go Armstrong!
Boys Basketball
8th Grade Boys will be playing at Haggard on Monday, February 1st. The first game will begin at 6:00 PM.
7th Grade Boys will be playing at Haggard on Thursday, February 4th. There will only be one game beginning at 6:00 PM.
See Coach Moreno or Coach McCullough with questions.
ALL THINGS PTA
Parent Education Opportunities
ARMSTRONG STUDENT SUPPORT VIRTUAL OFFICES
Huge shout out to Cadeal Lacen, our Armstrong social worker, for all of the time and energy she put into creating this "one stop shop" for the many student support resources!
Click on the picture above to access many of our student support teams & their virtual offices!
Click on the Counselor's Office picture for more helpful links!
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