Titan Talk Newsletter
October 18, 2019
Upcoming
* IOWA TESTING WEEK FOR 8TH GRADE *
** BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK **
The week ahead...
- 10/19 - Titan Advantage from 9 am to 12 noon
- 10/21 to 10/25 - Bus Driver Appreciation Week
- 10/21 to 10/24 - Iowa Testing (ITBS) 8th Grade
- 10/22 - Hampton Film Academy @ 4:05 PM - 5:30 PM in the Media Center
- 10/23 - Picture Retakes with Cady Studios
- 10/23 - JA Finance field trip for 7th Grade
- 10/23 - Drama Club after school in Ms. Bickel's class
- 10/23 - RAK Club after school in Ms. Dismer's class
- 10/23 - Volleyball Game @ 5:30 PM at Sandy Springs Middle School
- 10/23 - KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE given by a retired FBI AGENT from CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN DIVISION. Digital Safety Parent University Workshop @ 6 p.m.
- 10/24 - Hampton Film Academy @ 4:05 PM - 5:30 PM in the Media Center
- 10/24 - Orchestra Fall Concert in EPMS Gym @ 7 p.m.
- 10/25 - PINK OUT @ EPMS for Breast Cancer Awareness
- 10/25 - Volleyball Game @ 5:30 PM at Elkins Pointe Middle School
- 10/25 - Middle School Volunteer Opportunity at Freaky Friday @ Hembree Springs
- 10/26 - Titan Advantage from 9 AM to 12 noon
Coming in October...
- 10/28 to 11/1 - Red Ribbon Week
- 10/29 - 8th Grade Band Cluster Concert @ Milton 6:30 p.m.
- 10/30 - Start of the Jr. Beta Canned Food Drive
- 10/31 - Parent Resource Open House @ 9:30 a.m.
- 10/31 Lost & Found donated at end of the school day
Important to Note:
IOWA TESTING WEEK FOR 8TH GRADE
October 21 to October 24
BUS DRIVER APPRECIATION WEEK
October 21 to October 25
KEEPING KIDS SAFE
given by a retired FBI AGENT from the Crimes Against Children Division
October 23 @ 6 PM in the Media Center
Special Guest: Gina Young from the FBI
* Stranger Danger, Digital Fingerprint, Copyright, Explicit Content, Social Media
PINK OUT FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
Friday, October 25th
* Show your support for Breast Cancer Month
Message from the Principal
Greetings Families,
Next week, our 8th grade students will be taking the IOWA assessment. The IOWA assessments help determine how students are performing on nationwide standards. Please help us make testing a positive experience by ensuring all 8th grade students are in school, on time each day, and have their laptops fully charged.
- On Monday, 10/21, 8th grade will take the reading and vocabulary sections.
- On Tuesday 10/22, 8th grade will take written expression, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.
- On Wednesday, 10/23, 8th grade will take Math and Computation.
- On Thursday, 10/24, 8th grade will take Science and Social Studies.
Thank you for your support and cooperation!
Damian Bounds
Principal
Elkins Pointe Middle School
"Every Day, Every Student, College & Career Bound: Go Titans!"
CELEBRATE TITANS
...And the Trophy Goes to Elkins Pointe!
WINNER OF THE MAYOR’S AWARD TROPHY @ ROSWELL YOUTH DAY PARADE! Elkins Pointe won a top trophy at the Youth Day Parade for our float. The theme was “Be a Hero.” The Mayor's Award trophy is awarded to the float with the most representation of students. A special thanks to Art teacher Ms. Powell, Construction teacher Mr. Moffit, Parent Liaison Lisa O’Hanlon Cowles, PTSA Youth Day Chair Mrs. Tracy Murphy, Dads Club Mr. Kelly Ross, and Business sponsor Home Depot for working together to make the float possible.
Little Pumpkin Surprise!
Thank you to the PTSA for the little pumpkin SURPRISE for every staff member in the mailroom! Our PTSA is better than Charlie Brown's Great Pumpkin!
7th Grade Fall Fest was the Best!
RAK feeds the Homeless
Who's Ready for i-Ready Math?
THINGS TO KNOW
No Outside Food or Beverages
As we approach the upcoming holidays, candy, desserts, baked goods (store-bought/homemade), or other edible items are not to be sold or distributed during school hours unless approved in advance by the administration. This measure will help us maintain a safe environment for all students. You can help us protect your student(s) by requesting that they not eat anything given to them by another person, anything that they have not brought from your home or anything not in its original sealed package. Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping all of our students safe at school!
Bus Driver Appreciation Week – 10/21 through 10/25
Elkins Pointe will be celebrating Bus Driver Appreciation Week from Oct. 21st to Oct. 25th. Please join us in appreciating our fantastic drivers. The PTSA and our Admin team have planned a week of showing our drivers the love!
- Monday - You are ALL that and a bag of chips! - Give Your bus driver some chips or a token of your appreciation!
- Tuesday - You Drive Miles & Miles! - Give Your driver some M&Ms or another sweet token of your appreciation!
- Wednesday - Dads Club will give "Donuts to the Drivers!"
- Thursday - We like the way you roll! - Give your driver a note of thanks!
- Friday - Happy Trails to You!- PTSA provides a Continental Breakfast for our drivers!
If you would like to help with Bus Drive Appreciation Week, please contact Lisa O'Hanlon Cowles.
Keeping Kids Safe Online for Parents - 10/23 @ 6 PM
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa O'Hanlon Cowles, Elkins Pointe Parent Liaison.
Cross Country Running Club Starts on 10/24
Running Club starts on Thursday, October 24th after school in the gym by the stage. Spots are limited to 20 students. Permission and physical forms are required and must be turned in to the Media Center to Ms. Newman. Long-distance running club at Elkins Pointe Middle School. Cross Country Club is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.
Running Club takes place after school on Thursdays from 4:20 to 5:10 pm. We will meet in the GYM at 4:20 pm. Students will need to be picked up in front of the school no later than 5:15 pm.
Permission Packets are available in the Media Center.
- Complete Permission slip
- Complete Athletic Player Pre-Participation Forms
Any questions can be emailed to Mrs. Ingram at ingramc1@fultonschools.org. or Mrs. Newman at newmanj@fultonschools.org.
Picture Retakes - 10/23
Middle School Volunteer Opportunity @ HSES - 10/25
The Candy Corn College Challenge! 10/29 - 10/31
Student Council is hosting an event on October 29th -Oct 31st called
"The Candy Corn College Challenge!"
We will sell candy corn for $1.00 in the Rotunda from 8:10 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. each morning.
As YOU purchase candy corn -you are earning points for YOUR COLLEGE -
Integrity, Perseverance, Courage, and Optimism!
Turn in Your Box Tops
It's Box Tops Time! Please send clipped Box Tops (in a baggie) with your student by Friday, October 25. Collection boxes are in the Atrium and at the school store. Did you know Box Tops are going digital? Simply download the app and scan your receipts; EPMS will get credit and you don't have to get out the scissors!
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL BLOG FROM SUMMIT COUNSELING
Blog by Mariah Dantzler McFetridge, M.S., Summit Counselor
Transitions: How to cope with change and set realistic expectations and cope with a transition.
Change is inevitable; in fact, they say that the only thing in life that is constant is change. If we pay attention, we can see that even in nature, things are constantly changing - the seasons change, the tide changes, and climate changes. Change can be a difficult reality to accept, but we have learned that once you do, things get a lot easier.
Here are ways we can embrace change and cope with new situations:
- Don’t set rigid expectations for a new situation. Once we have a situation planned out in our mind, how it is going to go, we make ourselves stuck to that one scenario, a scenario that was made up in our head. Instead, predict possible “most likely scenarios” and use logic to ask yourself, “what is likely to be some outcomes that could happen in this change?”
- Keep a ritual or routine. Whenever a big change in our life is occurring, we want to maintain some sort of familiarity. For instance, if we are transitioning schools, then maybe we still listen to our favorite songs on the bus ride to school each morning or pack the same snack at lunch.
- Pick an intention to set that will guide you and ground you throughout this new season. Reflect, journal, or meditate on that intention throughout the season of newness.
- Problem solve. Use problem-solving techniques to try to overcome roadblocks that arise. Remember, sometimes a way to problem solve is by practicing acceptance.
Change doesn’t have to be something that we dread; it can open us up to new possibilities and growth!
October is Breast Cancer Fundraising Month @ EPMS
Elkins Pointe will be hosting a PINK OUT on Friday, October 25th in support of Breast Cancer Research and Awareness.
More things for Titans!
Jr. Beta Community Activities Coming Soon...
Jr. Beta has some fantastic community opportunities coming soon. Please consider joining Jr. Beta and supporting their efforts!
- Oct 30 - Nov 18 - School-wide canned food drive
- Dec 2-18 - Toys for tots -Toy donations
- Dec 6- Pajama day for charity -Pay $1 to wear your favorite set of PJs, money goes to charity.
Samsung Stem Contest for Students!
The 10th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM contest is officially open for applications!
This nationwide contest is designed to boost interest and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and challenges public school teachers and students in grades 6-12 to show how STEM can be applied to help improve their local community.
The even better news? We have increased our prize pool to $3 Million and more schools will win this year. We encourage students to submit your application today to kick off your school year.
This Solve for Tomorrow year is going to be a memorable one, so submit your STEM project idea/solution for your students’ chance to participate in the 2019-2020 competition! All it takes is answering two, short questions – take a few minutes to apply today on Samsung.com/solve.
Connect to Feeders and the Community
Jeep Raffle for RHS Marching Band
BUY FOOTBALL TICKETS ONLINE
Calendar Dates
NOVEMBER 2019
- 11/4 to 11/8 - French National Week
- 11/4 - 6th & 7th Grade Band Concert @ 6:30 p.m.
- 11/5 - FCS Professional Day (students off)
- 11/7 - Student-Led Data Talks @ 6 p.m.
- 11/11 - Veterans Day: EPMS honors our veterans
- 11/20 - Katha Stuart Meeting: MPES @ 9:30 a.m.
- 11/21 - Lost & Found donated at end of the school day
- 11/22 - EPMS RFF Day (EPMS students off)
- 11/25 to 11/29 - Thanksgiving Break (schools closed)
DECEMBER 2019
- 12/3 - Rising 9th Grade Parent Meeting @ 6 p.m. (English)
- 12/5 - Rising 9th Grade Parent Meeting @ 6 p.m. (Spanish)
- 12/10 - Band Holiday Concert @ EPMS 6:30 p.m. ALL grades
- 12/11 - Katha Stuart Meeting: VMES @ 9:30 a.m.
- 12/12 - Chorus Holiday Concert @ EPMS 6:30 p.m.
- 12/12 - Spelling Bee @ 9 a.m.
- 12/20 - Lost & Found donated at end of the school day
- 12/20 - Last Day of First Semester
- 12/23 to 12/31 – Winter Break (schools closed)