January 8, 2016
Message from the Principal!
Dear Five Forks Family,
With the start of each new year, we are often filled with a hopeful anticipation of things to come. Blooming flowers, the return of songbirds, and the excitement of children who long for warmer days of the summer months ahead are just a few of the things that often make us smile. We tend to think about the things in our lives that can be tweaked and refined. New Year’s resolutions usually find us focused on something that we can do differently to enhance the quality of our lives or positively impact our families. Do you find yourself wondering about what 2016 holds for you and your loved ones?
Five Forks is such a special place. It’s filled with people of all ages who have big dreams and aspirations. Many of our young people begin to think about life beyond these walls. They ponder what the future has in store for them at Brookwood High School, and many of them think even more about what they will do with their lives after high school. This is the time for parents and teachers to help them lay the foundation for their futures…right here…right now!
As I mentioned in my message to our students at the beginning of the school year, each one of us has a life story. 2016 is just one more chapter in our book, and we have the power to influence our future based on what we do today. Students, what goals will you set today that will impact your future? Parents, how will you influence your children? Teachers, what will you do to ensure that your students are engaged and learning at high levels?
We all play a part in the unfolding stories here at Five Forks Middle School. What will you write in your book or the book of others?
Happy New Year!
Christine Douthart
Brrr! It's Cold Outside!
With the colder temperatures we would like to remind you to make sure you are dropping off your students no earlier than 8:15 am. The building will not open prior to 8:15 am EXCEPT on Help Session days (Wednesday and Thursday) when we make a special allowance and open the gym at 8:00 am to accommodate the increased volume of students coming to help sessions. We do not release students to help session classes until 8:15 am when teachers are in their rooms ready to accept them.
We appreciate your support in this matter as we want to keep all of our students safe and warm!
Parent Help Needed!
We love for our students to attend our basketball games; however, there has been an increase in students not being picked up immediately after the games--both home and away. We have our students call at the end of the third quarter of the boys game to let you know that pick up will take place shortly. Unfortunately, some students do not make the phone call home. Basketball games usually end by 7:30 pm, and you should plan to be waiting to pick up your child in the designated location (monitored by staff members) no later than that time. With the cold temperatures...we need your help. Students who continue to be picked up late from games may not be allowed to attend additional games without a parent in attendance. Thanks for your support!
Talent Show Reminders!
STEAM at FFMS!
No Place for Hate Club!
BHS Cheerleader for a Day!
Five Forks Wrestling!
Brookwood High School is hosting a Middle School Wrestling Tournament this Sunday, January 10th, at 1:00 pm in the Gold gym and Commons area of Brookwood HS.
The following FFMS students will be competing in this tournament on Sunday:
Jeffrey Bardales, Myles Bonn, De'Mon Dawson, CJ Hickmon, Fredrick Hill, Tad Logan, Ethan McCoy, Luqman Muhammad, Chandler Mullis, Javantae Pena, Eason Rivas, Ryan Roberts, Bryan Soto, Arya Sripadrao, Michael Swift, Juan Torres, Matthew Webb, and Larry White. Best of luck, Broncos!!!
Bring One for the Chipper!
Rising 9th Grade Calendar!
2/1/16 - Rising 9th Grade Parent Night, 6:00pm, BHS Theatre, (Parents Only)
2/5/16 - BHS Peer Leaders Visit with FFMS 8th Graders
2/8/16 - Open Forum Q&A on Registration and Course Placement, 6:00-8:00pm (drop in anytime), BHS Commons
2/9/16 - Registration Forms Due to FFMS
3/25/16 - Course Verification Sheets Sent Home with Students
3/28/16 - Rising 9th Grade Activities Night, 6:00-8:00pm, BHS Commons and Both Gyms
5/18/16 - Carnegie Unit Presentation/Q&A, 6:30pm, BHS Commons (for Parents/Students with Questions
TBA - Carnegie Unit Forms Due to FFMS
8th Grade Yearbook Ad - Deadline Extended!
Chili Cook-Off/Bonfire - Save the Date!
January Blazin' Broncos!
6th Grade -Lily Burton, Thomas Cook, Julie Hernandez, Scotland Kolb, Sara Lakhani, Jennifer Le, Melanie Luong, Thomas Moore, William Morris, Danilo Munoz, Emma Nunez, Shazmin Versi,
7th Grade - Hesha Amin, Jah'kai Bedminster, Leslie Camacho-Macedo, Amanda Dang, Ariana Jaiteh, Amani Kamara, Nahum Messele, Aaron Montgomery, Sophia Nguyen, Tanish Kumar, Cheyenne Ragusa, Jasmin Strecker, Stephanie Tafur,
8th Grade - Nyla Boddie, Kian Christodoulou, Anna Head, Melvina Joseph, Moriel Kabore, Sammy Melyanets, Lisbet Mullor, Peter Naumis, Sandra Nguyen, Madison Sanchez, Vivie Vo, Dia Widdy.
Congratulations, Broncos!!
Family Trivia Night!
PLEASE consider joining us for the 3rd annual Family Trivia Night on Tuesday, February 9th! This is the MAIN fundraiser for our Scholars Bowl team. This year our fundraising takes on added importance as we have qualified for a national tournament to be held in Atlanta May 6-8 and must pay the hefty registration fee! We really need your help to reach our fundraising goal. Even if you say "I'm no good at trivia," please just consider playing as a donation to our effort.
Five Forks Family Trivia Night works much like the Team Trivia you may have played at area restaurants. There will be nice prices awarded for the top 3 finishing teams. We will have concessions and "Let's Make a Deal" type games as well. The fun will begin at 6:30 and go until around 8:30. The cost is $5.00 per person or if you have a team of 4-6, you only pay $20.00!
More details to follow, but mark this on your calendar now! Thanks in advance for your support!
State Survey!
Bidding for Good!
Parents, please support our Brookwood Cluster by participating in the "Bidding For Good" fundraising auction! Funds generated are used to make improvements to our cluster schools and to help purchase valuable equipment and technology to provide rich and engaging lessons for students. Click here for a link to the online auction! We appreciate your support!
Spiritwear on Sale!
We Love Our Five Forks Family!
Clip Away!
Every month we will have a collection contest. You can help your child's homeroom win parties by simply turning in the labels. Each homeroom will be competing with their grade level to win a classroom party. Thanks for your support!
Saturday Opportunity School!
What's New This Week!
Top 20 Parents!
The Frame: Top 20 Responses
Top 20s respond with two strategies when they are not getting the results they want to get.
1. They are curious. Top 20s don’t give up their power to make a difference by blaming others. Instead they expand their power by looking for more information that will help solve the problem. They ask, “How can I see this person/situation/myself differently?”
2. They reframe what they see. By changing the “See” corner of the frame, Top 20s are able to open their minds to their child’s or other’s point of view. When they see things differently, they will eventually get different results.
Top 20s create paradigm shifts or reframe habitual ways of seeing and responding by:
1. Asking Others How They See It: No one sees anything exactly the same. Seek different points of views for parenting from a spouse, relative, mentor or friend. Others can help find new perspectives so that you are not carrying the load of parenting alone.
2. Change roles: How does the situation look to a child? Use your own memories as a child to help show empathy to your child and reframe things from your child’s perspective.
3. Say “Maybe”: Rather than having such solid opinions or judgments, use of the word ‘maybe’ before them allows for new possibilities. For example...if we change a judgment from “He’s being a brat” to “Maybe he’s being a brat,” we may see other reasons why he’s behaving this way. “Maybe” allows the potential for change.
For those interested in reading Top 20 Parents in its entirety, follow this link to order a copy for yourself: Top 20 Parents Book.
Clinic News!
Counselors' Corner!
The Counselors this year are Rachel Kusher and Laura Ross. Mrs. Kusher works with all 8th graders and the 6th grade team of Watson, Glenn, Hicks, & Buschell. Ms. Ross works with all 7th graders and the 6th grade teams of Coston, Seay, McGraw & Byrnes and Kuny, Byrd & Branam. Both Ms. Ross and Ms. Kusher may be reached by phone or email to set a phone conference or face to face appointment. Our contact information can be found on the FFMS Counseling Department website: http://fiveforkscounseling.weebly.com/
Career Day Sign up!
This year the FFMS Counseling Department has set a goal to provide Career Day for all grade levels, but we need your help! Please consider volunteering to present informative, interactive sessions for our students at our FFMS Career Day. Currently, it is scheduled for Friday, March 18, 2016. If you are interested in being a career day presenter, please complete the form at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Pp5JpGNiCV5hCqiBAbvVCimAlCYxoOXdmeQm9xgGEMM/viewform?usp=send_form
Thank You!
FFMS Counselors
Cafeteria News!
Once again, our fabulous cafeteria has received a '100' on its health inspection! Congratulations to Cafe Manager DJ Jackson and her entire staff!
If you qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch status and have not applied this school year, please note that you must apply every school year. Click here to apply online. Thank you for your cooperation.Yearbooks on Sale!
School Store!
Our Media Center operates a School Store for any last minute school supply needs. Students may stop by any time. Click here for an inventory sheet and price list.
GCPS E-Newsletter!
Click here to sign up for GCPS News, the school district's e-newsletter. It's a quick, easy way to learn more about Georgia's largest school system. In it, you'll find stories on teaching and learning, school leadership and governance, and the partnerships that make Gwinnett County Public Schools successful.
GCPS also publishes an online magazine, Communique, with new items added each week. Here's a link.
Join Today!
The PTSA welcomes all our new Five Forks families and would like to encourage you to become a member for only $6.00. We are striving for 100% participation and hope you'll take advantage of this easy way to get involved in many different PTSA-sponsored activities throughout the school year.
If you have not yet completed and returned a communication form, please fill one out next time you visit FFMS. This will help us keep you informed via email about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
Absence Reporting Procedure!
Dress Code!
Attention, Broncos: Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than 8" from the bottom of the knee to be worn in class. Also, no bare shoulders or see-through blouses. No holes in jeans or shorts above the knee and no droopy drawers are allowed. If a student is found to be in violation of the Dress Code, parents will be called to bring a change of clothing for their child. If a parent is not readily available to bring an appropriate change of clothes, students are sometimes able to borrow clothing articles from the Clinic. We ask that clothing borrowed clothing from the Clinic be returned at your earliest convenience so that others may have this same opportunity. Thank you for your assistance.
As a reminder, detailed and specific dress code information is located on pages 7 and 8 of your student's agenda book. We hope you will take a moment to review this with your child. We appreciate your cooperation.
Car Rider Reminders!
- Car Rider Pick-Up/Drop-Off is only at the rear of the building adjacent to the blacktop - no other doors.
- No morning drop-off in front of the building or in the side parking lot
- No drop-off prior to 8:15am except on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:00am; pick-up is at 4:00pm and the cut-off time is 4:15pm; we do not have staff on duty to accommodate students outside of these times; if you need resources for early morning or late afternoon care for your child, click here for available options.
- Students should not use electronic devices while waiting but be actively watching for their cars.
- For the safety of our students, we ask that parents refrain from using electronic devices while driving in the car rider lane.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation.
Transportation Changes!
BHS Activities Link!
Remind Text Alerts!
Community Activities Link!
Milestones Results!
1) Log into the Parent Portal
2) Select the Test History tab located on the navigation bar
3) On the right-hand side is a widget titled "Assessment Reports"
4) Under "Assessment Reports" click on "2015 Spring End of Grade Individual Student Report."
In addition to the individual student report, a parent guide is listed below the report to help explain the report and your student's achievement. Please note that paper copies of the results with further instructions will also be sent home with your child's report card in January.
GSMST Lottery Process!
January Dates To Remember!
09 - Scholars Bowl - PAGE Regional Tournament at NGMS
09 - Bball vs. Grace Snell MS at South Gwinnett HS, 9:00 am
10 - MS Wrestling Tournament at BHS, 1:00 pm
12 - Talent Show Auditions, 4:15
12 - STEAM Symposium at BHS Commons, 6:30 pm
14 - Bball vs. Sweetwater MS at BHS Gold Gym, 5:00 pm
16 - Robotics Super Regionals at Creekland MS16 - Last day for Christmas tree drop-off for the Chipper!
18 - MLK Holiday - Student/Staff Holiday
19 - "No Name Calling Week" (through 22nd)
19 - "Cheerleader for a Day" event at BHS Maroon Gym, 7:30 pm
20 - 50s Dress-Up Day - "Name Calling Has to Go, Daddy-O!"
21 - Bball vs. Richards MS at BHS Gold Gym, 5:00 pm
22 - 80s Dress-Up Day - "As If! Name Calling is Totally Bogus!"
23 - Saturday Opportunity School - 9:00-11:00 am
23 - Bball vs Snellville MS at BHS Maroon Gym, 9:00 am
23 - Volunteer with Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful's Chipper at Bethesda Park
28 - Rising 9th Grade Packets to be sent home with 8th Grade Students
28 - Bball vs Couch MS at Grayson HS, 5:00 pm
29 - Deadline for 8th Grade Ads for Yearbook
30 - BBall vs. Jordan MS at BHS Gold Gym, 9:00 am
30 - Chili Cookoff/Bonfire, FFMS Field, 2:00 - 8:00 pm
Five Forks Middle School
Email: five_forks_middle@gwinnett.k12.ga.us
Website: fiveforksmiddleschool.org
Location: 3250 River Drive Southwest, Lawrenceville, GA, United States
Phone: 770-972-1506
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BuckyConnects
Twitter: @BuckyConnects