New Market Middle News March 15, 2019
School Calendar
Date
Event
Spring Musical 7PM
End of Term 3
Schools Closed for Students
Spring Musical 2PM
Term 4 Begins
8th Grade Panoramic Picture
PTSA Meeting 7PM
Schools Closed
PTSA Dance 7PM
Dates and times are subject to change
News from the Office
Redistricting Study Survey Says… As shared earlier this year, increased enrollment has led FCPS to need more schools. A redistricting study is underway to help the BOE balance enrollment and determine attendance areas for two new schools* in the Linganore-Oakdale-Urbana (LOU) area. The study involves 18 schools, including ours.
Family and community participation are essential in the redistricting process, particularly in helping the BOE determine which factors should weigh most heavily in drawing boundaries.
A recent survey yielded 1,372 responses with 640 typed comments. Considering factors listed below (from BOE Policy 200), FCPS asked respondents to rank the three most important to them for establishing new attendance boundaries:
826 people selected Proximity to schools, in order to maximize walkers and minimize distance or time of bus runs.
757 selected Impact on neighborhoods and communities.
605 selected Educational welfare of students.
Asked what high school attendance area respondents live in, 43% selected Oakdale, 38% Urbana, 17% Linganore, and 2% did not specify a high school attendance area.
Asked what middle school attendance area respondents live in, 35% selected Oakdale, 24% Urbana, 19% Windsor Knolls, 12% New Market, 8% Gov. TJ, and 2% did not specify.
Asked what elementary attendance area respondents live in, in rounded percentages 24% selected Deer Crossing, 16% Oakdale and 16% Centerville, 11% New Market, 9% Green Valley, 8% Urbana, 7% Kemptown, 4% Spring Ridge, 3% Twin Ridge, 2% did not specify, and 1% selected Liberty.
See the Survey Results Report for details: www.fcps.org/louredistrict. The survey is not used alone as a decision-making tool; all forms of feedback are considered.
Using all feedback, CropperGIS consultants and FCPS staff will develop a range of attendance-area options. They’ll come back to the community for refinements to help create and identify a few of the best choices that the Superintendent will propose in September for BOE review. The Board will make a decision in November 2019 to enable bus routing and staffing for the 2020-2021 school year.
Attend meetings to see the first round of options from 7-8:30 PM: Monday, March 18 at Linganore HS Tuesday, March 19 at Urbana HS Thursday, March 21 at Oakdale HS
There’s also a Facebook Live Presentation scheduled for Tuesday, March 19 at 1 PM.
Your participation is vital. At every stage, FCPS seeks your views, concerns and ideas. Community engagement is more than sharing information; it’s bringing the community together to share your ideas and unique perspectives.
Please visit www.fcps.org/louredistrict for links to videos plus LOU Facebook and Twitter accounts: https://www.facebook.com/LOURedistrict/ and https://twitter.com/LOURedistrict/. Share your views at meetings, via social media and email to LOURedistrict@fcps.org.
P.S. Also online: a recently recorded podcast and a roundtable with high school principals Donna Clabaugh, Nancy Doll and Dave Kehne
*The new schools are:
Congratulations to Amanda Collingham and Alexandria Stuart for winning first and second place respectively in the American Legion Americanism Essay Contest. NMMS is very proud of both of these students.
Are you interested in joining our Staff Appreciation Committee? We need creative, fresh, and clever ideas to help show our appreciation to our incredible teachers and staff at NMMS!!! If you are interested and able to help coordinate an AMAZING Staff Appreciation Week (5/6-5/10), please contact Allison Moran, amoran822@gmail.com or 301-651-2121.
8th Grade Formal
Friday May 17th 7-9 pm
8th grade NMMS students only
More details will be forthcoming
Donations Requested!
Ms. Heeley is collecting donations for a 7th Grade Life Skills Flea Market Flip Activity and for this years Spring Musical Willy Wonka. The 7th Grade Life Skills class will be working to build some of the set for the spring musical and they will be working to transform previously donated furniture into beautifully flipped creations. At the end of the Flea Market Flip activity there will be an auction to raise funds that will be donated to improvement projects the students would like to do around the school.
Items needed:
Fabric
Fake Flowers
Paint (any color any type)
Scraps of Ply Wood (for building)
Contact Paper and/or Wall Paper
Sand Paper
Nails
Screws
Tissue Paper (Used or New)
Paint Brushes/Rollers
Cord, Twine, Rope (Any Kind, Color or Length)
Random Furniture Hardware (Knobs, Casters, Legs, Hinges etc)
Wonka Candy Wrappers
If you have any of these items and would like to donate then, please send donations to the front office or contact Renee Heeley at renee.heeley@fcps.org to make arrangements for pick up or delivery.
Thanks for you help!
Is your family moving?
Are you changing or dropping childcare providers?
Will your child switch from walker or car rider to bus rider? Or vice versa?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, please print and complete the form linked below, and return DIRECTLY to your child's current school.
Transportation Change Form in English
Transportation Change Form in Spanish
IMPORTANT: Remember to update your transportation information early! Late changes will require that students use the nearest existing bus stop until route updates can be made.
Attendance News
Important goal: 96% or better attendance each day!
Please help students meet the goal every day!
Talk to your child about the importance of attending school.
Call your child’s counselor if you have questions.
Music News
Eighth Grade Band
The 8th grade band is preparing for the Adjudication Festival scheduled for April 1. The ensemble will perform at Oakdale High School. A field trip form will be sent home next week.
Counselor's Corner
What is Self-Confidence?
“Low self-confidence isn’t a life sentence. Self-confidence can be learned practiced, and mastered—just like any other skill. Once you master it, everything in your life will change for the better.” –Barrie Davenport
Being self-confident means that you believe in yourself. You are not afraid to take risks and face your fears. Self-confident individuals have a positive outlook on life and believe that things will get better when they are not going so well. Having low self-confidence has many negative effects on an individual’s life. With a fear of rejection, our decision making process can become skewed. This could cause an individual to adopt the undesirable values of their group I order to fit in, instead of being confident with their differing opinion. It is so easy for our need to impress to take over our individuality. With strong self-confidence, an individual will have more skills and resources to say “no” to these negative behaviors. Self-confidence can be a great motivational tool for individuals to use.
Tips to Enhance Confidence in Yourself and Others:
Simple Ways to Boost Your Child’s Confidence:
Resources:
ASCA School Counselor magazine
Mindful magazine
Julie Bayer and Josh Salzman, Wavecrest films
Motto
Positive Experiences + High Expectations = Excellence for All
Mission
The mission of the New Market Middle School community of students, staff, and parents is to foster the development of critical thinkers, problem solvers, effective communicators, and lifelong learners who are prepared to be honorable, successful, and contributing members of the ever-changing 21stcentury.
Vision
The NMMS learning community of students, staff, and parents will work collaboratively to exceed local, state and national standards for student achievement, character development, teacher efficacy, and family and community involvement. The collective commitment will ensure:
* Rigorous learning that challenges and supports all students to achieve at high levels and reach their full potential
* A welcoming, disciplined and healthy environment that is conducive to student learning and character development.
* Highly qualified teachers are working in professional learning communities that focus on student learning and achievement.
* Parents and community members are partnering in the learning process of students.
* Time, material, and human resources are allocated in a manner that supports student learning.