Mooresville MS Family Newsletter
October 31, 2018
A Message from Mrs. Robinson
Greetings Mooresville Middle School Families,
The month of October quickly flew by at Mooresville Middle School! We looked up and it is November already!
Every month MMS will release a parent newsletter highlighting some amazing things that are happening at our school. This month I would like to take the time to explain the homeroom classes that are being offered at MMS.
We are entering into second quarter and students should be very settled into the daily procedures of MMS. Report cards will be sent home with students on Wednesday, November 14. Included with your child’s report card are their individual student reports explaining their benchmark scores. These reports give valuable information. If you have any questions about the reports please feel free to contact the school.
Regular attendance is important throughout the year. Frequent absences interfere with your child’s progress toward meeting minimum standards for promotion. A student must be present until 11:00am in order to be recorded present for that day. Notification of absences by report card will be given at the end of each grading period. Students who miss more than 12 days in a course for the year will not receive a passing grade in that course. All absences (excused and unexcused) count towards this 12-day limit. Violation of the attendance policy may result in a student failing to meet local promotion standards. Opportunities to make-up excessive absences will only be offered during summer school. Making-up excessive absences does not guarantee a passing grade in a course.
If you are interested in seeing a day in the life of a MMS student please sign up for our next parent tour on Tuesday, November 13, from 8am to 9am. You can reserve your spot by calling the front office. Our Instructional Coach and I will give you a tour of our school and you will have an opportunity to visit classrooms to see what goes on everyday at MMS from 7:30am-2:30pm!
If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to give me a call.
Sincerely,
Ayana Robinson, Principal
Mooresville Middle School
All Pro Dads Meeting
Friday, Nov 30, 2018, 07:00 AM
Mooresville Middle School, Kistler Farm Road, Mooresville, NC, USA
MMS Spirit Rock!
Rent the Spirit Rock for only $10 for a week (Saturday to Friday). Submit the rental form along with your payment to the MMS PTSO. Proceeds support the MMS students and staff.
MMS SPIRIT NIGHT at KICKBACK JACK'S!
Tuesday, Nov 27, 2018, 05:00 PM
Kickback Jack's, Ervin Road, Mooresville, NC, USA
Tech Tip for Parents
If you have any doubt of the grade you are viewing, simply refresh the page by clicking the circle-arrow next to the browser window (see picture below).
You can also sign up for a parent account to view your child's grades.
Getting a Parent Account for Blackboard Learn
MMS Sponsoring Food Drive
From the Counseling Department
Early College
On Monday, November 19 a representative from Iredell-Statesville Schools will be at MMS to discuss Early College options with any interested 8th grade students from 8:30-9:30 in the cafeteria. Any 8th grade student who is interested in attending this information session will need to complete an on-line survey located here by Thursday, November 15. An information session for parents will be held Monday, November 19 from 6:00-7:00 at MMS in the Staff Development Room.
North Carolina School of Science and Math
On Tuesday, November 20, at 8:30 an Admissions Representative for the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) will visit MMS to present information about programs NCSSM offers. This presentation is open to all students who are enrolled in Honors classes and is for both 7th and 8th grade. Students who are interested in hearing the presentation will need to complete an on-line interest survey located here by Friday, November 16.
From Nurse Dana
8th Grade Students: Career Pathways Event
A Career Pathways Event will be held at the Charles Mack Citizen Center for 8th grade students of Iredell County. Exposure to career information throughout middle and high school will assist students in planning for their future.
During the event, students will attend a “Reality Check” session that will focus on the reality of education/training, salary, and expenses. Followed by an opportunity to explore a Career Cluster identified based on their interests and three pathways within the cluster. Pathway representatives will be conducting a hands-on activity or game that will provide students an opportunity to engage in “real life” information, which will be invaluable to a future career.
This is going to be a great day of Career Exploration for our 8th grade students!
Community partners include: Department of Career and Technical Education (CTE) of Iredell-Statesville Schools and Mooresville Graded School District, NC Works, Centralina Workforce Development Board (NextGen), Statesville Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Corporation, and Mitchell Community College.
For more information, contact Michele Beaty, Career Development Coordinator, Mooresville Middle School and Mooresville High School, michelebeaty@mgsd.k12.nc.us or 704-658-2507.
Thursday, Nov 29, 2018, 09:00 AM
The Charles Mack Citizen Center, North Main Street, Mooresville, NC, USA
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CLASSES AT MMS
7 Social Studies
After we mastered our continents and oceans. We took on learning about culture and how's one's culture impacts their life and environment. Students were immersed in content in which they were exposed to other cultures around the world. They loved it!
The last unit we learned about before our 1st Quarter Benchmark was the Renaissance Period. This period of our curriculum starts around the year 1350, which is a very interesting unit, in regards to it being a rebirth in human curiosity, exploration of arts, literature and science. Students learned about Renaissance artists such as Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo Da Vinci.
In 2nd Quarter, students will continue their exploration of the Renaissance Period. We’ll learn about Martin Luther, who transforms the Catholic Church and Christianity forever in 1517. With this lesson, students will learn about sticking to one’s principles/values even in the face of oppression. We’ll also touch on The Age of Exploration, The Enlightenment and Revolutions.
Stay tuned. Because next time, you’ll see student work and testimonials!
7 Science
We are finishing the atmosphere and weather as the quarter winds up. There are many future meteorologists in our midst! The students know what is happening when they see H and L's, or cold and warm fronts on a weather map. They know that warm ocean waters make hurricanes stronger. When they look into the sky and see cirrus clouds, they celebrate the fair weather, but they know that a weather change is coming in 24-48 hours.
Speaking of a change (did you see what I did there?), for the second quarter, it's a complete switch. We move from earth science to life science. This quarter, we will start with the study of protists, which are single-celled organisms. We will use microscopes to examine their properties, and we will learn about cell theory and the history of biology. We will then move to the study of cells, and finish the year with a review of the body systems studied in 5th grade, adding 4 new systems that were not learned in previous years.
7 Math
7 ELA
8 Social Studies
First quarter in 8th grade Social Studies ended with a bang! We finished Unit 3, American Revolution, by discussing the important battles and the Treaty of Paris. The majority of 2nd quarter will be spent on Unit 4, Constitutional Convention & Constitution. Students will learn how the United States government was created and how the Constitution is still an applicable part of our lives. Please encourage your child to use their class time wisely and study the unit vocabulary nightly.
8 Math
Pre-Algebra will begin second quarter with Systems of Equations in which two lines are graphed together to find the intersection points.
Math 1 will complete a mini unit on the Real Number System from 8th grade standards and then move to Systems of Equations and Inequalities. Along with examining the graphs of systems, students will be expected to find solutions algebraically with substitution and elimination.
Physical Education and Health
Second quarter we will start our ultimate ball and boomer ball units along with our alcohol and drug unit in health.
Life Skills
7th grade Life Skills completed Units on Self Esteem, Friendships, Family Types, Resume Writing and Business Cards.
8th grade Life Skills Completed Units on Nutrition, Food Labels, Kitchen Safety and Sanitation, and Kitchen Equipment.
Reading Enhancement
Reading Enhancement finished up our 9 week fiction unit with our new genre coded class library. If you have any book donations, we’ll put them to good use! We are meeting our reading goals with a wide variety of self-selected texts, but many books have not been returned or checked out.
8th grade won our Fortnite ELA Breakout two weeks ago to help review for the EOQ. Today was Edgar Allan Poe 3D breakout. We read fiction and information in multiple sources to escape.
2nd quarter begins our nonfiction unit.
Biotechnology
8th Grade Biotechnology in Healthcare just started a unit on the role and importance of bacteria in biotech research. In the coming weeks students will be growing bacteria cultures, staining slides and learning about microscopes by using them to look at their results. Not only is this an effective way to learn about this area of biotechnology, but gives all students a head start on the science classes they will take in High School.
7th & 8th Grade Chorus Winter Concert
Tuesday, Dec 4, 2018, 07:00 PM
Mooresville High School, East Center Avenue, Mooresville, NC, USA
Chorus & Theater Arts
8th Grade Chorus is traveling to Richard's Coffee Shop on November 8th to perform for veterans.
Exploring Languages & Spanish
Spanish students will be learning how to tell time in Spanish upon returning from break. Then they will be learning the names for various family members. Material will start to increase in difficulty. Please make sure your child is staying on top of their work and studying nightly.
In Exploring Language, students finished first quarter learning about the Hispanic holiday El Día de los Muertos. We compared and contrasted it to Halloween. Second quarter, students will be learning Spanish, then French and they will also learn about different winter holidays from around the world.
7th & 8th Grade Band Winter Concert
Wednesday, Dec 12, 2018, 07:00 PM
Mooresville Middle School, Kistler Farm Road, Mooresville, NC, USA
8th Grade General Music & Band
8th Grade General Music:
This quarter in general music, the classes have taken a trip through the decades to see and hear how music has developed into what it is today. From big band jazz to disco, students have gotten a blast from the past. We have specifically spent much of our time on two decades.
The class immersed themselves in the cultural movement of the 60s and created their own full fledged protests, including a cause to support, protest signs, writing their own songs of revolution, and more!
Then the big one, the 80s! All about Music Television and music video production. With their own songs in mind and original ideas, students went through the process to film/create a 2-minute long music video! Whether iconic, funny, serious, or amateur, many students hit this project out of the park and ended our quarter with a bang! We will be starting next quarter with the 90s and finishing out our decades, moving into current music production processes, mixing, and more.
8th Grade Band:
This quarter for the 8th grade band has been a whirlwind to say the least. From lessons, to trip announcements, to tutoring, to volunteering for projects, and even winter guard, the band room has seen more activity and people this year already then ever before. The band has done a fantastic job at getting serious about rehearsals and there is a general positivity among the classes that has been fun for all of us. During the last few weeks and continuing into the next quarter, the students will be working on music for their holiday concert coming up soon! We hope to see everyone there to see the tremendous growth they’ve had in just a couple of months this year alone.
Business Education
7th grade Business students have been learning about what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Students have researched successful entrepreneurs and learned about the parts of a business. They have each came up with an idea for a business and just started their own business plan and are currently working on their business logo and slogan.
8th grade Business students have just completed a unit on careers and how to gain employment. Students created cover letters, resumes, job applications, and thank you letters. Students then practiced interviewing skills by interviewing each other for a job and looking at how to dress the part for a job interview.
Laura Smith's IMPtime - STEM
Mrs. Hensler's IMPtime - PBIS
Mrs. Davis' IMPtime - IMPtech
During 2nd quarter, the IMPtech team will continue to work creatively to produce the news as well as explore other projects and highlight MMS through our social media!
Parents can view IMPtv through the MMS Website. To see more activities of the IMPtech team, check out our blog: https://blog.seesaw.me/imptech1819
Mooresville Middle School
Vision:
Mooresville Middle School is committed to creating the conditions that bring each student to full academic potential as engaged, life-long learners and citizens by developing critical thinkers and problem solvers.
Mission:
Mooresville Middle School will instill an appreciation and love for learning in our students as we help them develop the skills needed to become goal oriented, independent thinkers and leaders in an ever-changing global society. We challenge every student, every day to discover and develop a positive sense of self, as well as to respect themselves and others through meaningful collaboration with peers, teachers, and parents.
Website: http://www.mgsd.k12.nc.us/page.cfm?p=2494
Location: 233 Kistler Farm Road, Mooresville, NC, United States
Phone: 704-658-2720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mooresville-Middle-School-Red-Imps-106456262721779/
Twitter: @mooresvillems