Mooresville MS Family Newsletter
September 4, 2019
A Message from Mrs. Robinson
Greetings Mooresville Middle School Families,
We are off to a strong start at MMS! Our seventh graders are settling in and our eighth graders have stepped up as the “seniors”of our school. This month I would like to take the time to bring the MMS Attendance policy to your attention.
Attendance
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.
Unexcused Absences
In accordance with the NC Compulsory Attendance Law, students who accumulate 10 unexcused absences are considered truant. These students and/or their parents or guardians may be referred to the district attorney.
For absences in violation of the Compulsory Attendance Law, notification will be sent by letter for the 3rd, 6th, and 10th unexcused violation.
Excused Absences
Students who are absent must submit a note signed by the parent within three days of the absence. If the note is received within three days and meets state-identified criteria, the student’s absence will be coded as excused.
**The following reasons have been identified by the state of the North Carolina as Excused Absences:
- Illness or injury (physically unable to attend school)
- Quarantine ordered by board of health
- Death in immediate family (grandparent, parent, brother, sister)
- Medical or dental appointment (note from physician/dentist)
- Court or administrative proceedings
- Religious observance
- Educational opportunity (prior approval from principal required)
Absences not meeting on the state-identified criteria will be coded as Unexcused Absences.
Absences and Course Credit
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.
Absences and Summer School
Students who miss more than 12 days during the school year and who do not qualify for or are denied a waiver of the attendance requirement must make up each excessive absence in order to receive a passing grade. In order to make up excessive absences students must attend summer school. Students choosing to complete make-up time in summer school must serve the entire term of summer school regardless of the amount of time to be made up.
Appeal Process for Excessive Absences
Students who do not receive a passing grade due to excessive absences have the right to appeal their case to the school-based Attendance Committee. In documented cases of extreme hardship (extended hospitalization, serious extended illness) the principal or Attendance Committee may decide to award a passing grade. Students seeking an appeal must submit a formal request for an appeal to the committee by the published deadline date in May in order to have their request reviewed by the Attendance Committee. Supporting documentation must also be included with the request for a waiver.
If you are interested in seeing a day in the life of a MMS student please sign up for our next parent tour on October 22 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
How to Find Information on the MMS Website
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.
Canvas Help for MMS Parents
Call the main office - 704-658-2720 - to sign up for the help session.
Please bring your child's student id # and laptop password especially if you have kids at another school and need to add more than one child to your account. Parents should bring your cellphone, if you plan to use it primarily to check the grades, or a laptop if you use one at home.
Thursday, Sep 12, 2019, 09:45 AM
233 Kistler Farm Road, Mooresville, NC, USA
CANVAS - Online Gradebook
Have your student sign in to Canvas and show you their grades, assignments and materials. If you have a parent observer account, you can follow the grades by signing in online or using the Canvas Parent App.
Interim reports will be sent home with students Thursday afternoon, Sept 5. The report is 2 pages and includes all classes and quarter grade in each. Homeroom/IMPtime will not have a grade. If you have questions about any of the grades, contact the teacher for that class. You need to sign the report and return to school with your child on Friday Sept 6.
The interim reports were printed Sept 4 so there may be some grades that are in the Canvas gradebook but not on the printed report.
CATEGORIES
All grades will be distributed among 2 categories, Formal and Informal. Formal grades are 60% of the quarter grade and Informal grades are 40% of the quarter grade. In your child's Canvas gradebook you will be able to see the average of each of these categories in addition to the quarter grade.
MMS Assistance Form
At Mooresville Middle School we are fortunate to have many community resources available to provide assistance to families in need. Below is a list of some of the assistance programs we are able to offer at MMS because of generous community support. If you have questions about these programs, please contact a school counselor. Our school counselors are Michael Hamilton-Genson (mhamiltongenson@mgsd.k12.nc.us) and Kathryn Buff (kbuff@mgsd.k12.nc.us).
Several of these programs require additional parent information and/or permission forms to be completed prior to your child being able to receive assistance or participate. If you indicate an interest in one of these areas, more information will be sent home once the programs are ready to begin.
Early College Information Session for Parents of 8th Graders
Any 8th grade student who is interested in attending this information session will need to complete an on-line survey located here by Tuesday, November 12.
An information session for parents will be held Thursday, November 14 from 6:00pm-7:00pm at MMS in the Staff Development Room.
Thursday, Nov 14, 2019, 06:00 PM
Mooresville Middle School, Kistler Farm Road, Mooresville, NC, USA
Did You Know?...
The MMS Facebook and Instagram accounts are embedded in the MMS Website.
You can follow the social media posts from the website!
Deadline for early yearbook order is September 13! Only $35 and free personalization!
Math
In September we will solve proportions containing percents. We will continue to learn how to be good consumers by learning about tax, tip, discounts, and how to apply them in real life situations. We will be doing a consumer math project to help the students see how this affects them in real life.
Science
We have moved on to our Atmosphere & Weather unit - we began with the layers of the atmosphere and will continue on to the water cycle, air masses, forecasting, global winds, and being a good steward of the atmosphere/air quality.
We use many teaching activities to allow the students the choices to learn and master the material. We might be using QR codes, matching task cards, cut and paste activities, foldables, classroom games, online simulations just to name a few. We do keep the students interested and involved in their learning- and accountable!
ELA
Social Studies
Over the next few weeks moving towards Benchmarks, students will gain an understanding of economic systems, government systems, and begin to learn about the Renaissance.
Math
Throughout the month of September, students will be extending their 7th grade knowledge of proportionality by examining slope and how it applies to graphing linear functions.
Math 1 students began the year by reviewing equations and inequalities and applying their knowledge to advanced operational situations. These students will also be moving into linear functions by applying the slope concepts they learned as 7th graders.
ELA
Social Studies
During the remainder of the quarter, students will learn about important battles of the American Revolution and how our current Constitution came to be.
Science
We will continue our journey through the history of the earth as we begin to talk about the geologic timeline.
Physical Education and Health
The 8th graders have also been hard at work. The heat has kept us from playing kickball on several occasions but they have enjoyed the indoor version mat ball. We are hoping that the heat will subside and they will be able to start their tournament as well this week.
Careers
Business
8th Grade Business classes learned about being ethical and having good etiquette in the Business world. They are now starting the Job Process and how to find a job or career.
Computer Science
Coming up in September we will investigate what makes a device a computer and how computers work. This unit will wrap up with students designing an app which solves a real life problem.
World Language
8th grade Spanish students have just about wrapped up their first topic and should be able to hold a short conversation and find out basic information such as name, phone number and how people are feeling.
Chorus & Theater Arts
In the coming days, our chorus will demonstrate proper vocal health while reading & singing music and theatre students will practice the art of observation.
Student-Created Memes in 300 Hall!
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
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