Middle School. It Matters.
Crosby Scholars Middle School Newsletter, January 2020
We will assist public middle and high school students in Forsyth County in preparing themselves for successful college enrollment.
Our Vision
We seek to ensure that every public school student in Forsyth County has the opportunity to attend college.
We are at the midpoint of the 2019-20 School Year!
- Students must fulfill all program requirements to complete the Crosby Scholars Program this school year.
- Scholars are welcome to complete community service hours and submit the form at any time during the summer or school year before the April 8, 2020 deadline.
- Using the Crosby Scholars Student Portal is vital for remaining up-to-date with Program information and for registering to attend events.
- Contact the Crosby Scholars Program for assistance if you are having difficulty logging in to the Crosby Scholars Student or Parent Portal.
Attention 8th-graders! Get Ready to Register for High School Courses!
- Read the registration handbook with your children so that you both understand all academic and elective options
- Speak with your child’s school counselor if you have questions or don’t understand particular course recommendations
- Help your children understand that “following the herd” can result in course selections that don’t match their interests and strengths
- Encourage your children to register for the most challenging courses in which they can be successful (it does not benefit students to enroll in all honors courses, struggle to understand the material, and ultimately receive poor grades while not having mastered the curriculum)
- Remember that elective classes are important, too, and encourage your children to select options that interest them rather than looking for the “right” courses
- If your child is debating whether to enroll in a specific course and it is possible to consult the teacher of that class at the high school, please reach out to that person via email or phone with questions or for clarification
Crosby Scholars--Your Portal to the Future
Helping Your Middle School Child Succeed
Volunteer!.....It's FUN!.....It's EASY!.....It's REQUIRED!
Middle School Crosby Scholars must volunteer for two hours and submit a form by April 8, 2020 verifying their hours.
Submitting a form is easy! Make a copy or take a picture of the form for your records before you submit it.
- Upload your form to your Crosby Scholars Student Portal on the My Documents page, which is the dropdown of the My Crosby page. You will see a field for the 2019-20 community service form.
- Take a picture of your form and email it to middleschool@crosbyscholars.org
- Mail it to Crosby Scholars Program, 2701 University Parkway, W-S, NC 27105
- Fax it to 336.725.1321
- Drop it off at the Crosby Scholars office
- Submit it at your school's Student Services office
- Submit it at a Crosby Scholars event such as academy
Visit www.crosbyscholars.org to learn more about this Program requirement and to view a list of volunteer opportunities!
Who Can You Turn to For Assistance?
Let's Get Moving!
The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends that children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years have at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, cognitive performance, and classroom behaviors.
Book Review
Middle School Matters by Phyllis Fagell, LCPC
Book review by Kim Mickey, M. Ed.
Often, when I tell people that I am a middle school counselor (for 36 years) they groan and exclaim, “I don’t know how you do that!” Some days I would agree with them, especially when something reminds me of the horror of my years as a middle school student (Bet you haven’t forgotten yours either!). Most days I try to remember that being a middle schooler is like being a toddler on a playground and that we have a job as counselors and parents to help them navigate the complex obstacle course.
As a bibliophile I am always looking for books to share with parents. Most recently I have discovered Middle School Matters by Phyllis L. Faggell, LCPC - a handbook, made for parents, that addresses ten important skills kids need to know to be successful in middle school and in life. As the title implies, Ms.Fagell sees this time as a low-stakes training ground for the development of these skills.
“Middle schoolers are young enough to be unjaded, but old enough to grasp sophisticated concepts,” Fagell writes. “They can experiment, grow and veer off course while the stakes are low. It’s the ideal time to impart strategies, teach social-emotional skills and foster integrity and healthy risk-taking.” In the book, the author discusses topics that really matter in middle school: how to help your child make good choices in friends and negotiate conflict; how to create homework and organizational systems with your child; and how to foster empathy, emotional self-regulation, and self-advocacy as children grow through challenges.
The book is infused with stories from the author’s own experiences as a middle school counselor and clinical counselor, as well as conversations with doctors, educators, and best of all, middle school students themselves. She includes comfortable conversation starters,
The transition from childhood to adolescence can be difficult for both kids and parents. This time of rapid physical, intellectual, moral, social, and emotional change can be a unique chance for parents to help their children grow in confidence and character. If I could have only one book about adolescent development on my bookshelf, this would be it! Remember, as Fagell says, “Your child wants and needs you now more than ever,”. “Even when they say they don't."
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Crosby Scholars Community Partnership
Email: middleschool@crosbyscholars.org
Website: www.crosbyscholars.org
Location: 2701 University Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Phone: (336) 725-5371
Facebook: facebook.com/crosbyscholars/
Twitter: @crosbyscholars