3rd Quarter PANTHER PRESS 2017-2018

Principal Dr. Teresa W. Hargrett 6th Grade Administrator

Ms. Twyla Hinton 7th Grade Administrator

Ms. Susan Turner 8th Grade Administrator Ms. Eva Miano Student Services Admin. Ms. Crysta Caruthers Counseling Dept. Ms. Kim Gray Ms. Tanyika Butler Language Arts Coordinator Ms. Tara Mann Math Coordinator Mr. Todd White Science Coordinator Ms. Oneisha Young Social Studies Coordinator Dr. Bethany Harrison Gifted Coordinator Ms. Laura Thomson ESOL Coordinator Ms. Melissa Guglielmi Academic Coaches Ms. Sara Folk—Math/SS Dr. Joy Jones—LA/SC

Floyd Middle School Cobb STEM Certified School 2017 Operational PBIS Award

2016 Bronze National Healthy Schools Award Title I Distinguished School

ASME INSPIRE Certification

Newsletter Date

March, 2018

4803 Floyd Road, Mableton, GA 30126 PH 770-819-2453 Fax 770-819-2455

http://www.cobbk12.org/Floyd/ http://teresahargrettblog.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/TeresaHargrett

Floyd Art Showcase @ the Mable House Art Gallery 3/6-4/3

SCIENCE

Page 2 Panther Press, 3rd Quarter, 2017-2018

During Quarter 3, 8th-grade Physical Science students com-pleted investigations that shows how gravity, electricity, and magnetism are major forces acting in nature. In these investiga-tions, students were able to understand how charges are distribut-ed in conductors and insulators when creating electrical circuits and electromagnets. As the quarter progressed, students were also given a chance to investigate and demonstrate the practical applications of the electromagnetic spectrum through a real-world project. This project and investigations gave students op-portunities to discover how waves behave and interact with other materials.

7TH G. SCIENCE: CHANEY, COLSTON, HOWARD, SMITH, STOVALL

TOP 5 WAYS TO SUCCEED IN 6TH GRADE

1. Come to class prepared every day.

2. Come to Enrichment/Tutoring when needed.

3. Check your teacher’s blog and/or Edmodo every day and ParentVue/Synergy at least twice a week.

4. Ask questions when you do not understand.

5. Use your agenda to record important information.

March, 2018 Page 3

LANGUAGE ARTS In 8th grade ELA, we have been focusing on narrative writing in preparation for the upcoming Georgia Milestones. We have specifically worked on having a deeper understanding of fictional elements in order to write from different perspectives and points of view, as this has been an area where students have struggled in the past. Can you say “Gains”? Seventh-grade ELA students are becoming WONDERFUL WRITERS and have shown significant pro-gress as they continue to expand their writing portfolios! The third 9-weeks was ALL ABOUT CHOICE. This

quarter, students were encouraged to take a position on an issue of importance to them. Now this was an EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE! Topics ranged from “Grades Are Not an Indicator of Intelligence” to “Social Media can Influence Teens in both negative and positive ways.” Boy, did they enjoy expressing their opinions on these

issues! Students had a variety of reflective homework assignments to help them zero in on the issue most rele-vant to them. Video clips were shown in class to help build knowledge and support. Lastly, students read the novel Tangerine, a realistic-fictional text about a young man who loves to play soccer. The novel colorfully de-

picts the journey he had to take to adjust to an unusual new community. Project-based learning consisted of stu-dents creating collages using magazine pics and words to show societal perspectives versus the true reality. Sev-enth ELA teachers consider this quarter a GREAT SUCCESS and we are extremely proud of each and every

student!

6th grade English Language Arts students are excitedly wrapping up their Spr ingboard flexible novel units: Maniac Magee, Freak the Mighty and Walk Two Moons. Students completed their first major novel pro-ject, the synthesis poster. Students were able to apply critical thinking skills used daily in their Language Arts

classes and literature circles with completing the project. Great job 6th Graders!

Students are creating and completing grammar games, mini-projects, and writing assessments in class. Our next Springboard unit will be: Understanding the process of research, including the importance of using credible sources and citing sources to avoid plagiarism. Students will

be able to apply their understanding of sources, citation, and credibility through discussion, note-taking, and research.

Advanced Content ELA students will be researching argumentative

topics to prepare for debates, create PSA (Public Service Announce-ments) and participate in Philosoph-

ical Chairs.

On-Level ELA students will research their most de-sired destination post high school. We look forward to their presentations titled, ‘Destination 2024’.

Students may begin bringing in

their full-size tri-boards for their presentations to store in their Eng-lish Language Arts classes. The Georgia Milestones (EOG) begins

April 10th for 6th grade English Language Arts. Please continue to check your child’s teacher’s blog

for an update of the novel they will be studying. Also, continue check-ing Synergy for updates to your

child’s grades.

Page 4 Panther Press, 3rd Quarter, 2017-2018

MATH

8th grade math students learned how to solve systems of equations by graphing, elimination/combination, and substitution. See photos of our stu-dents hard at work. We have also started our review of the entire 8th grade math units in preparation for the End of Grade Milestones. Be sure to contin-ue using IXL to review/practice the standards learned this school year. 7th Grade Math- It is hard to believe we are in the last 9 weeks of the 2017-2018 school year! During the 3rd nine weeks, we covered content involving geometry, statistics, and probability standards. We are still in the probability unit, but will be testing over it very soon. The weeks before and after Spring Break will be spent reviewing the units we have covered this school year. To prepare for testing, please have your student(s) practice topics within the 7th grade math section of IXL. After we are finished with testing, students will be doing a lot of real-world and project based learning activities. This tends to be the more fun time of the year in math! As always, if you every have any questions or concerns about math, feel free to email your student’s teacher. This is it! 6th Grade Math is at our final approach for the Georgia Milestone Exams. Now is the time to start re-viewing earlier units to refresh the skills we learned at the beginning of the year. Your sixth grade math team will provide you with a list of the previous units along with the corresponding IXL links so students can review on their own and at their own pace. Remember that Math 911 is available 3 days a week with 6 sessions, 3 before school and 3 after school, to provide further assistance if needed. We are here to help you do your best in your pursuit of excellence.

SOCIAL STUDIES During the third quarter in sixth grade social studies, we explored the nations of Australia and Canada. During these units of study, students were provided with a number of opportunities to use the four “C’s” of: critical think-ing, collaboration, communication and creativity. Students completed R.A.F.T. papers, webquests, Frozen Tab-leau, and our first DBQ project just to name a few. In social studies it is always our goal to equip students with skills to understand and a rapidly changing environment. During the fourth quarter we will learn about the geography, history, government and economics of Latin Ameri-ca. We will end the unit by completing various culminating tasks, to include our Cereal Box Project. Please begin saving empty cereal boxes for this project. Although we will not take an End of Grade (EOG) assessment for sixth grade social studies, we will still monitor our student learning progress by taking the Student Learning Ob-jective (SLO) at the end of the term. Please encourage your student to finish the school year strong by upholding high expectations and continuing to focus on Floyd Middle School’s mission of “Performing with Excellence”! 7th grade social studies shifts its focus back to Asia in the four th quar ter . In addition to the physical and po-litical characteristics of Southeast Asia, we will look into the predominant religions and philosophies practiced in the region—Islam, Hinduism, Shintoism and Buddhism. Students will create informational booklets on these re-ligions for a formative assessment grade. Once we finish the religions unit, we will move on to types of govern-ment, economies and the history of the region. The history unit will go into detail about China’s shift to com-munism following WWII and Mao Zedong’s social and political reforms. In addition to China, we will also cover India’s non-violent fight for independence from Great Britain led by Mohandas Gandhi. We complete the unit with a look at the United States’ presence in the area and a focus on the Vietnam War. Eighth grade teachers are extremely proud of their students! Georgia Studies’ students have made extraordi-nary gains on their recent common assessments/unit tests. This quarter, they learned about the New Deal, the Great Depression, WWI, WWII, the New South, and Civil Rights. To culminate the Civil Rights unit, students rotated between a break-out session in the CCAC (College and Career Access Center), Civil Rights Plickers re-view in the LLC (Library/Learning Commons), and Civil Rights choice board completion in the computer lab. Students will finish up the Georgia Studies year learning about Georgia’s government. While students may be familiar with the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the federal government, they know little about how these branches operate at the state and local levels. After standardized testing, students will end the year with culminating projects and tasks that focus on comprehensive reviews of the standards learned throughout the year. Then…high school bound!

Page 5 March, 2018

Georgia Milestones Study and Resource Guides

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/EOG-Study-Resource-Guides.aspx

6th & 7th Grade Students will take on Online Assessment.

8th Grade Students will take a paper/pencil assessment.

Please plan to attend school each day in April with testing as a priority. (4/9-30)

News

from ESOL and World Languages

The focus of the ESOL students this third quarter has been the successful completion of the ACCESS test. Student scores on the ACCESS test(student scores will be received in May and sent home with the final student report card) will determine the placement of students in the ESOL program and identify those students who will be able to exit the program in the upcoming school year (2018—2019). During the testing period, the ESOL classes at all grade levels have been completing novel studies, enhanced through the use of guided reading and written responses to thought-provoking questions. Sixth grade students have been reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain; seventh grade students have been reading King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, by Howard Pyle; eighth grade students in Mrs. Guglielmi’s class have completed White Fang, by Jack London, and eighth grade students in Mrs. Lyles’ class have completed Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens. In addition to the novel studies, ESOL students continue to work on improving their command of all four domains of the English language (listening, read-ing, writing, and speaking), as well as developing vocabulary skills for success in various content areas. Spanish classes are continuing to progress in their studies through the use of the new texts and Supersite. The fo-cus of the eighth grade Spanish class this quarter has been the conjugation of regular verbs ending in –ar, -er, and –ir, as well the verbs tener and venir. The eighth grade students have also completed an oral presentation, “La Familia,” for which each student prepared either a Power Point or Poster using the Spanish language to identify and describe family members and to show possession. The seventh grade Spanish class has learned the verb “ser” in order to com-plete the project, “Mi Biografia,” in which the students used vocabulary for numbers (giving ages and dates) and to express likes and dislikes. Vamos apprender mas!

Duke TIP Talent Search Program Floyd encourages you to familiarize yourselves with the Duke TIP Talent Search Program for our 6th and 7th grade students. Participants in the Duke TIP Talent Search identify academic strengths, develops abilities and interests, and celebrate academic achievements. Additionally, some students will be eligible to take the ACT or SAT practice test while in the program. Duke TIP also provides a number of beneficial programs and seminars for the selected students. If you have any additional questions, please email our Gifted Coordinator at Laura.Thomson@cobbk12.org. Check out the website directly at https://tip.duke.edu/programs/7th-grade-talent-search.

MATH TEAM The Floyd Math Team will finish out the regular year with our after school competition at Harrison High School, Monday, March 26. We are sending five individuals to compete the Cobb County Middle School Tournament, Saturday, April 21. We are also pleased to announce that one of our students, Ting Ting Yan qualified to partici-pate in the national finals for Mathcon Competition in Chicago. We are so proud of these students.

Page 6 Panther Press, 3rd Quarter, 2017-2018

Panther Press, 3rd Quarter 2017-18

How can PTSA help YOU help YOUR child? Greetings to Floyd MS and a special welcome to our new parents and students. We’re off to a great start to supporting Floyd’s initiatives and overall school curriculum by way of commu-nications, engagement and fundraising. We look forward to working together, making a dif-ference, one child at a time. Stay connected with us and find out how you can get involved. PTSA is looking forward to a fabulous 2017-2018 year.

Self-confidence is the best outfit; rock it and own it!

Contact us: Our website www.floydmiddleptsa.com

Email us at floydptsa@gmail.com The Floyd Middle School PTSA is seeking to engage parents, including ris-ing sixth grade parents.. If you are inter-ested in serving as an officer, please email Karen Smith at mrsot-tosmith@yahoo.com or call her at 770-745-1181 by Monday, April 9. Please provide your name, local school, and phone number. Thanks for your consider-ation.

Floyd Middle School PTSA

2017-2018 PTSA Officers

President Jennifer Smith Vice-President Kiva Riley Vice-President Tracy White Secretary Kate Keib

Next General Meeting is 4/26 @ 6:30 PM.

Page 8

Principal’s Advisory Council 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade

Olivia Hale Dzenan Cerimagic Jermaine Jones Jayden Robinson Allyson Kirksey Dika Obiegbu Emerson Thomas Tamari Stockdale Kierstyn Smith

Teachers of the Month:

January Ms. NaAsia Dubose—6th Grade Ms. Kelly Gantek—7th Grade Mr. Joe Mitchell—8th Grade

Mr. Earl Puckett—Connections

February Mr. Kasisi Brown—6th Grade

Mr. Kenneth Colston—7th Grade Mrs. Lynnyetta Baker—8th Grade

Students of the Month

December Kenneth Adim

Marleigh Cherichel Laken Cook

Te’alliyah Garrison Baxter Keib

Yanira Orellana Ruht Quechlpa Andy Santana

Shane Varughese

January Corey Barron

Alexandria Bell Anthony Calderon

Clarence Carrington Bernice Ekwueme

Rafael Pineda-Mendez Lindsey Reeves Betsy Rodriguez Keronde Taylor

Angel Velazquez

February Jesse Arellano Ashon Bryant Hannah Lakes Samuel Lopez Emilu Medina

Brooklyn Montoya Maurice Palomino

Jasmin Perez Joksan Vasquez

STUDENT COUNCIL President

Kierstyn Smith Vice President

Nila Smith Treasurer Sofia Patka Secretary

Baxter Keib 6th Grade Rep

Jordan Tate 7th Grade Reps.

Alexus Berry Bernice Ekwueme

Jamianne Jeune 8th Grade Reps.

Yama Bobb Abrie Burrell Alana Bursey Ting Ting Yan

School Council Parent Representatives

Barbara Carrington Stephanie Kirksey

Joi Ladipo Tara Stockdale

Teacher Representatives

Kelly Gantek Dr. Bethany Harrison

Kara McCall

Business Partner Steve Taylor, McDonalds

Principal Teresa Hargrett

Floyd Middle invites all parents to be actively engaged in the edu-cation of our students. We welcome your participation through support organizations such as PTSA, Floyd Foundation, School Council, as well as your frequent interaction with teachers and staff.

Panther Press, 3rd Quarter, 2017-2018 March, 2018

.

WAY TO GO!!

School Winner: 3rd Year—Robyn Slaveikis Runner Up—Liam Loyed-

Hemingway 3rd Place—Alexus Berry

Cobb Regional Technology Competition

Micah Toliver—2nd—Robotics

Trey Underwood—3rd—Digital Game Design

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!

SCHOOL GEOGRAPHY BEE FINALISTS

Jesse Arellano Carolina MendozaAlexis Berry Robyn SlaveikisFelix Bonsah Sarita VegaTreyvon Bridgeman Daniel VillaltaLiam Loyd Hemingway Ting Ting Yan

CONGRATULATIONS SPELLING BEE WINNERS!Rebecca Pena’ Rubio (1st) & Carter Stephens (RU)

SCIENCE NIGHT 2/13/18

Panther Press, 3rd Quarter, 2017-2018 Page 10

Thank You Partners in Education for Honoring our Students of the Month!

https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/

Enter Code 1067

February, 2018

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Mableton, GAMr. Steve Taylor, Owner

January, 2018

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March, 2018 March, 2018

4860 Floyd Road

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March, 2018 Page 11

Chorus Ms. Kathrine Stew-art’s 7th and 8th Grade Chorus re-ceived two SUPE-RIOR and two EX-CELLENT ratings at their Large Group Performance Evaluation. Way to Go!

Orchestra Mr. Earl Puckett’s 7th Grade Orches-tra received an EX-CELLENT rating and the 8th grade Orchestra received a SUPERIOR rat-ing! Way to Go! Band Ms. Casey Baker and Mr. Nicholas Smith’s 7th Grade Band received an EXCELLENT rat-ing! The 8th Grade Band received a “Good” rating! Way to Go! BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM

Team Members are Jazmyne Brown, Chanah Cochran, Zaria Foster, Sofie Ly, Kamaria Martin, Keyara Martin, Trinity McDaniel, Thaeline Polycart, Lindsey Reeves, Nila Smith, Ja’Vae Williams. Sponsors are Dr. Joy Jones and Ms. Oneisha Young.

Panther Press, 3rd Quarter, 2017-2018 Page 12

Mr. Mitchell’s “Manformation Group” took the time to read inspirational quotes from Dr. Ben Carson’s biography Think BIG – Un-leashing Your Potential for Excellent to Ms. Jefferson’s class! Mr. Mitchell established this group in 2014. He stated the principle of this group is “Transitioning young men to high school and beyond. We focus on ad-dressing their social skills, anger manage-ment, and budgeting. Also, we teach standing up for what is right, taking pride in our school, taking pride outside of school, and Learning and Transforming knowledge in their communities – HINT: Manformation!” The original group, who are now sophomores in high school, come back to Floyd Middle School and give guidance and directions on how to deal with peer pressure and exceed on the next level. The students in the AU Class-room look forward to more interaction with these young men who demonstrate a positive role model at Floyd Middle School.

Page 13 March, 2018

Title I & Title III Parent Liaisons, Ms. Lester and Ms. Weston Wow!! Can you believe it? We are just about ready to turn the corner, and come to the start of another Spring break. I don’t know about you, but I am excited, and can’t wait for the weather to warm up, and the flowers to start blooming, get out the picnic basket and blanket, and head to the park. However before we get to wrapped up in planning Spring break let’s visit our calendar for a few up-coming events, revisit some topics as re-minders, and congratulate a few parents.

Cooking Matters

Title I and Title III Parent Facilitators Cynthea Lester, and Sandra Weston brought a wonderful cooking course to Floyd Middle School mothers. The moth-ers got to learn how to cook and eat healthy while staying on a budget. Moms like Monica Mack-Jeune, Tamika Slayton, Sil-via Tataje, Graciela Flores and Deborah Zeigler were some of the mothers who at-tended and graduated from this course. The mothers along with their healthy cooking instructor have been invited to participate with our Builders Club Celebration of Na-tions on Thursday night to cook one of their delicious meals or to just share with you tips on healthy eating on a budg-et. Now for a few reminders:

Volunteers are always welcomed here at Floyd. Please contact Cynthea Lester or Sandra Weston if you are in-terested in giving us a few hours of your time. You can find our contact information on our school website.

Parents please be advised that students should be in standard attire daily unless otherwise informed. Please refer to page “Floyd 3” in the front of the student and parent agenda for Standard School Attire.

Help is needed to arrange clothes in our standard attire closet Please contact Ms. Lester if you can help.

PAPERLESS REPORT CARDS (PARENTVUE) This is a Big Gentle Reminder: Beginning 3rd Quar ter , all progress reports and report cards will be available to parents and families on March 21, 2018 via the ParentVue platform. Please ensure you have your ParentVue access from the office. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to your parent facilitator. We will be more than happy to assist you with getting your access to ParentVue.

Coming Soon!!

S.T.E.A.M. Night, Parents will have the opportunity to review the Math and ELA standards and curriculum and see examples of literacy in Math and ELA, coming April 24, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

Title I Spring Input Meeting, Parents will review our Title1 School Parent Policy and School Parent Compact to provide input for revising the documents for the 2017-2018 school year. Please mark your calendars to attend April 26, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.

Floyd Middle School is going on the ultimate outside classroom adventure, Six Flags Over Georgia! On April 27, 2018 we will explore how all of the science and math concepts learned this year work in the real world. The cost is $40.00 per student and the deadline to pay is March 29!

GA. MILESTONE TESTING DATES APRIL 10, 2018-APRIL 20, 2017

Don’t forget to be Respectful, Responsible, and Safe!!!!