OCTOBER 22, 2015

Weekly Newsletter of South Charlotte Middle School

Parents, The end of the quarter is here! It always goes so quickly. The students have really settled in and we are seeing amazing results from their work in classrooms. The teachers have had a laser-like focus on each student academically so that they can provide strategies each day to move them higher. Whether the student is above grade level, at grade level or below, the key is to know exactly the place each child is so that learning can occur, provided the right strategies are presented. The teachers are providing those learning strategies being more creative this year than ever before. Please encourage your child to read each day even if there is not a reading assignment given from a teacher. According to research, study skills, literacy skills and overall academic mastery attained during middle school are keys to success on standardized test scores in high school specifically the ACT. Please reach out to us if you have questions or concerns regarding your child’s academic progress throughout the school year. Tomorrow is a holiday for students, but a workday for teachers. I hope that our students will enjoy the time away from school and then will return ready for second quarter on Monday prepared to perform even better second quarter. Report cards will be sent home on November 6th. As a reminder, November 11th is a holiday for both students and teachers. It will be a day to honor our Veterans. Some of your students may have communicated that they are no longer able to play football during healthy living. This is true. The number of injuries that have been sustained as the students have been playing has increased and it is no longer a safe healthy living option. We regret this in some ways as the students really have fun; however, safety trumps all; therefore, we will no longer provide it as an option for play during this time. Thank you for allowing us to serve your child each day. Have a wonderful weekend. Lisa Bailes, Principal

THANK YOU Thank you to everyone who attended the presentation by Michelle Icard this week. Also, a huge thank you to the PTO for sponsoring this event and providing the lovely decorations. Our parents and PTO are the best!

PROVIDENCE CUP MARCHING BAND COMPETITION Looking for a fun family activity? The Providence Cup Marching Band Competition at Providence High School is a great fun event for families, students and anyone who enjoys a great show! Come cheer on the award-winning Pride of Providence Marching Band and see other local high schools compete. This year, 18 bands are registered from NC and SC. Local bands include Ardrey Kell, Butler, Charlotte Catholic, Myers Park, Mooresville and South

Meck. It will be held Saturday, October 24 from 2:30 PM to 10 PM. Tickets are available at the gate for $8. Ages 5 and under are free. Concessions are available on site. Visit www.providencebands.com for more information.

ON YOUR MARKS…GET SET…CLIP! Our school is getting ready for the Fall Box Tops Submission. Please send in all your Box Tops with your students to school. There is a Box Tops Box in the school's foyer for

delivery. Simply send in any unexpired Box Tops no later than Wednesday, Oct. 28th. Your clipping adds up! Last year we raised $500 from Box Tops. Thanks for helping SCMS!

UPCOMING EVENTS…

10/23 TEACHER WORKDAY

10/27 Honors Drama Performance

10/27 HOME Golf vs. Community House

10/28 Softball/Volleyball @ Southwest

10/29 HOME Football vs. Community House

A Healthier You

Let us take steps to encourage our South Charlotte Middle School family to be the best we can be. Please share your favorite fitness/health app, heart-healthy family recipe and student/family active fitness photos by emailing entries to kristin.kissmann@cms.k12.nc.us_______________________________________________________________________

Blueberry Crisp

Ingredients Cooking spray 4 teaspoons cornstarch, divided

2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pound fresh or frozen blueberries 2.25 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1/2 cup)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats

3 tablespoons chopped walnuts 2 tablespoons cornmeal

1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375°. 2. Coat an 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish with cooking spray. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons cornstarch evenly in dish. 3. Combine remaining 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, vanilla, and blueberries in a large bowl; toss. Place in prepared baking dish. 4. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 6 ingredients (through cinnamon) in the bowl of a food processor; pulse twice to combine. Add butter; pulse 5 times or until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Spoon topping evenly over blueberries, packing down lightly. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes or until filling is bubbly and topping is golden. Nutritional Facts Calories 217 ,Fat 8.1 g ,Protein 2.2 g ,Carbohydrate 35.9 g ,Fiber 2.4 g ,Cholesterol 15 mg ,Iron 0.9 mg ,Sodium 195 mg ,Calcium 25 mg

Jamison, Bill and Cheryl. "Blueberry Crisp Recipe | MyRecipes.com." MyRecipes.com. Cooking Light, 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Motivational Moments I am using short 2-3 minute clips (On The Road CBS Nightly News, for ex) to start class occasionally. If you see a particularly good story, please share it with me. __________________________________________________________________________________________

Charlotte area upcoming events: http://www.charlotterunning.com/racecalendar.html

These are just some of the many offerings in the area. Check out the address above for more activities.

10/10 Dirty Dozen Obstacle Race Charlotte, NC 10/17 Big South 5k Road Race Blakeney Shopping Center- Charlotte, NC

Make sure to specify SOUTH CHARLOTTE as your school. Proceeds from this race can benefit SCMS athletics! 10/24 The Great Amazing Race 1M/5k Pineville, NC 10/31 Pumpkin Run Mooresville, NC 11/1 Fight The Flame 5k race/walk Charlotte, NC McAlpine Creek Park 11/1 Charlotte Youth Fit Fest Charlotte, NC 11/21 Turkey Chute Charlotte, NC 12/5 Run Run Rudolph 5k/10k Charlotte, NC 12/12 Jingle Bell Run/Walk Charlotte, NC 2/7 Super Bowl 4 Miler Charlotte, NC 2/27 Krispy Kreme Race- Run for Reading Rock Hill, SC

What’s Happening In… DANCE!

Ms. Butler’s students are dancing away and learning new routines!

They have many performances scheduled, including Honors Dance

performing during halftime at the SCMS Football game next week!

The 7th & 8th grade dance students also have a performance

scheduled for Dec 15th.

In compliance with federal law, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools administers all education programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability.

SOUTH CHARLOTTE MIDDLE SCHOOL 8040 Strawberry Lane Charlotte, NC 28277 Phone: 980-343-3670 Fax: 980-343-3725 Office Hours: 7:45 am—4:15 pm Phones answered from 7:45 am—4 pm

GOOD to KNOW...

South Charlotte is a member of the South Learning Community. (980) 343-1463

To report an absence email scms.attendance@cms.k12.nc.us or you may phone the school at 980-343-3670.

Online School Payments (OSP) - CMS has provided us with the opportunity to accept payments for school events on-line. It is much like Athletics Pay-to-Play, comes with a fee (4%), and allows you to pay at your con-venience. If you choose to pay on-line, it also relieves our teachers from the time taken to do the paperwork and to receipt and turn in money or checks. Teachers will continue to take cash and checks as they always have.

Just sign in to: osp.osmsinc.com/CMS

Choose your student’s event and homeroom teacher, and make payment.

The teacher and Financial Secretary are sent advisements of your payment.

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. Through the year, events will be added including field

trips, textbooks, fees, and other payments.

Re-link your Harris Teeter VIC card! Our TIE number is 1933. http://www.harristeeter.com/community/together_in_education/link_to_your_school.aspx

Need a tutor? Check out our website for a great list.