Bronco Roundup January 2026

As we enter the month of November, I want to encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on the many things we have to be thankful for. At Moss Bluff Middle School, we are blessed with dedicated teachers, supportive families, and outstanding students who work hard each day to make our school a special place. Gratitude helps us appreciate the opportunities we have and reminds us of the importance of kindness, respect, and service to others.

As we begin the final stretch of the semester, I challenge each student to finish strong. Stay focused on your goals, attend class prepared to learn, complete assignments on time, and continue giving your best effort every day. Small acts of perseverance and commitment now can make a big difference in your success at the end of the semester.

Thank you for making our school community one we can all be proud of. I hope each of you has a wonderful November filled with gratitude, growth, and success. Let's continue working together to make this our best semester yet!

Because "When you know you know." And, "When you don't you don't."

• What inspired you to become a teacher, and how long have you been teaching at our school?

I was inspired to become a teacher to make a difference in young people's lives. School was not necessarily easy for me when I was young, and I noticed that for others too. I wanted to, and still do, make a difference for those who excel easily and for those who struggle too.

• What does being named Teacher of the Year mean to you?

Being named Teacher of the Year is the utmost compliment! The faculty and staff that I get to work with every day see something in me that is worth recognizing. These same people work as hard as I do, some harder, but they choose me. I am beyond humbled by such a true honor.

• What teaching strategies do you find most effective in engaging your students?

The teaching strategies that I find most effective in engaging students are allowing for appropriate choice of activities when possible and the ability to move. Kagan strategies have been really helpful.

• How do you create a positive and inclusive classroom environment?

My classroom has been described as "cozy" and "comfortable," and I agree. Many students, as do I, find the fluorescent overhead lights very distracting. Over the last few years, I have transitioned to warmer lighting. I also have tables of different heights, and they create a less stuffy atmosphere. My walls are visually appealing with different art, including student artwork.

• Can you share a memorable teaching moment that had a big impact on you or your students?

Yes! Last year I had a student who was less than enthusiastic about writing. In fact, just about every time we had a writing assignment, the student caused a classroom disturbance and nine times out of ten an administrator had to be called. Of course, these events took away valuable instruction time for all students. I came to the realization that the student was inspired not just "being trouble"—he was "in trouble." These ideas both present the same way, and the student who was struggling had no clue how to change. After a bit of research, I discovered Book and Quill on Minecraft. Knowing this student loved to play computer games and really loved Minecraft, I decided to try letting him write his work on this platform. EVERYTHING changed! No, he did not become an enthusiastic writer, but he did write on topic, proving understanding of assigned topics, and most importantly, there were no more classroom disruptions. The idea was completely out of the box, but it worked.

Thank you for being an inspiration to us all!!

•What does being named the Support Person of the Year mean to you?

"Being named Support Person of the Year really means a lot to me. As a secretary, a lot of what I do is behind the scenes, just doing what needs to be done and helping wherever I can. I don’t do it expecting any kind of recognition, so knowing that the people I work with every day thought enough of me to choose me is really special. It makes me feel appreciated, and I’m just very thankful to be part of a school and a team. That means so much to me."

•What do you enjoy most about supporting students and staff here?

"What I enjoy most is knowing that, even in a support role, I get to make a difference in someone’s day. Middle school can be a challenging time for students, and sometimes just being a familiar face, offering a little encouragement, or letting them know someone cares can mean more than we realize. I also really enjoy being able to support our staff. We all have different roles, but we’re working toward the same goal which is helping our students succeed. I love being part of a team where we can help each other and make the day a little easier for one another."

•How do you handle challenges that come with your role?

"I try to take things one at a time and not let myself get overwhelmed. Working in a middle school, you never really know what the day is going to bring! There are always interruptions and unexpected situations, so I’ve learned to be flexible, stay calm, and just figure out what needs to be handled first. I also know I have a great group of people around me, and we all help each other when things get a little crazy."

•What are your hopes or goals for continuing to support our school in the future?

"I just hope to continue being there and helping wherever I’m needed. I want our staff to know they can come to me if they need something and our students to know that I’m here for them too. At the end of the day, I just want to keep doing my part to help make things a little easier and our school a good place to be."

Thank you for all you do Mrs. Loftin!

🎃👻Halloween first began as a Celtic festival called Samhain. They believed that on October 31st the line between the living and the dead became blurred and that the dead could pass over the living for only one night.

How the name got changed to Halloween: About 1,200 years ago Christianity began spreading into Celtic lands. Christian leaders wanted to replace non-Christian holidays with Christian holidays. One holiday that was moved to a church holiday was called All Saint's Day (a day to honor Christian saints) to November 1st. Because November 1st was "All Hallow's Day" The night before it began to be called "All Hallow's Eve". Over time, the name was shortened to Halloween. This is how Halloween became what we all know and love today.

ANCIENT ROOTS: The holiday began as Samhain Ireland, the UK, and Northern Europe, making the end of the harvest and the start of winter.

BLURRED LINES: Ancient celts believed the boundary between the living and the dead grew thin on October 31st,so people wore masks and disguises to hide from roaming spirits.

NAME ORIGIN: The word "Halloween" came from "All Hallows Eve" the night before the Christian holy days of All Saints Day, and all Souls day!

TRADITIONS AND SYMBOLS: TURNIP LANTERNS; The first Jack-o- lanterns were carved from turnips and potatoes in Ireland and in Scotland to ward off a mythical trickster named "Stingy Jack". Irish immigrants later switched to Native American pumpkins.

HALLOWEEN FACT: Did you know that Halloween is the second biggest commercial holiday in the United States, right behind Christmas, with billions spent on candy, decorations, costumes, and even cute pet outfits?

🎃👻 HAVE A FUN AND SPOOKY HALLOWEEN !! 👻 🎃

What is the mission statement/purpose of the club?
The mission of the Moss Bluff Middle School Sign Language Club is to introduce students to American Sign Language (ASL), Deaf culture, and the importance of communication and inclusion. Our goal is to create a welcoming environment where students can learn a new language, develop an appreciation for the Deaf community, and discover how something as simple as learning to sign can help us connect with others and spread kindness.

What are the times your club meets?
The Sign Language Club meets every Tuesday from 3:15–4:00 p.m. in Room 9104. Students are picked up in the front circle at 4:00 p.m.

Who are the sponsors?
The club sponsors are Danelle Scimemi and Lorita Slaughter.

What activities do you and your club do throughout the school year?
Throughout the year, students learn basic ASL vocabulary, phrases, and conversational signs. We also learn about Deaf culture and the experiences of individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing. Students have opportunities to learn through videos, games, activities, and hands-on practice with one another.

One of our goals is to use ASL to perform songs and participate in school and community events, including the Veterans Day program and Broncos on a Mission. We also hope to invite Deaf community members and interpreters to speak with our students about their experiences and careers involving ASL.

How do you keep your club members motivated and engaged throughout the school year?
We keep students engaged by making learning ASL fun, interactive, and meaningful. Students have opportunities to practice with their friends, learn songs, participate in activities, and work toward performing for others. We also celebrate their progress and encourage students to support one another. I want students to feel that every new sign they learn is an accomplishment and that they are part of something special.

What role do you think this club plays in a student’s overall growth and school experience?
I believe the Sign Language Club gives students an opportunity to grow in ways that extend beyond the classroom. Learning ASL encourages communication, patience, empathy, confidence, and an appreciation for people whose experiences may be different from their own. It also gives students a chance to discover a new interest and develop skills they may carry with them long after middle school.

Most importantly, I hope our students learn that communication is about more than speaking—it is about making a connection. Our club gives students another way to connect with others and reminds them that every person deserves to feel seen, heard, and included.

Art Club is a place where students can be creative, relax, have fun, and enjoy the process of making art! Each month, we create a new art project that gives students the opportunity to try something different and make a masterpiece they can take home and enjoy.

Every month brings a new project, new materials, and a new artistic experience. We experiment with different styles and techniques while using a variety of art supplies and materials. Whether students love to draw, paint, design, build, or simply try something new, there is always something to create!

Art Club is about more than just making art. Students enjoy snacks, conversations, and time with friends while they work. It is a relaxed and welcoming space where students can express themselves and let their creativity shine.

What time does Art club meet?

Art club meets once a month in Mrs. Best room at 3:15 to 4:15.

Sponsors

Mrs. Best and Mrs. LeBlanc

Activities

Art club does a different project each month. They also use many different materials such as paint, color pencils, watercolor, chalk pastels, oil pastels, and much more.

What are you looking forward to the most this year?

I am looking forward to making special pieces of art that can potentially touch others and inspire people to join and feel included. That is why I love joining clubs like art club. You feel fulfilled being in a group working towards a goal to inspire and positively educate others in very meaningful ways.

What is your favorite project you have done so far?

We have only done one project so far but last year we made these art diaries where you pick a book and completely cover it with whatever art you wanted. That was my favorite and I hope we will have the opportunity to repeat this with our 6th graders.

How would you describe art club?

Art club is a safe space that is created for people to express themselves without words and ultimately feel welcome to failure and opportunity in new things. Art club helps people express themselves through art and I think this describes how art club is a free minded club giving students the opportunity to really free themselves from the stress in their lives.

~~ Josephine Stoupy, Art Club Member

The Cal-Cam Fair Pageant is a cherished Southwest Louisiana tradition that brings together the communities of Calcasieu and Cameron parishes! Each year, this special event celebrates beauty, confidence, and community pride while crowning royalty to represent the historic Cal-Cam Fair.

The pageant offers an exciting opportunity for MBMS 8th-grade girls to participate, and this year, three of our very own Broncos were selected! 👑✨

We are so proud of these three young ladies for representing our Bronco family with grace, confidence, and pride at this year's Cal-Cam Fair Pageant! 👑✨ Congratulations on your accomplishments and for making MBMS shine! 💜💛

Mia McKoin ~ Margaret Brown ~ Shane Lebleu

What first made you want to try for Cal-Cam?

"My mom did it her senior year in high school, and I have always looked up to her."

How did you prepare for the pageant?

"I went to practices with my coach, and practiced walking with what I would wear to the pageant."

What tips would you give girls wanting to try for Cal-Cam in the incoming years?

"Just be yourself and don’t try and bring others down."

What was your experience like at Cal-Cam?

"I had so much fun and made lots of new friends. It was definitely a great experience!"

~~Mia McKoin

🍕🍝 Cafeteria Cravings! 🌮🧀

From cheesy goodness to Cajun classics, our cafeteria serves up some tasty choices! But which one has your taste buds cheering? 😋

🗳️ Cast Your Vote!

Which cafeteria meal deserves the crown? 👑

Vote for your favorite and let's see which lunch takes the title of Bronco Cafeteria Fan Favorite! 🏆

💜💛 #BroncoLifeistheBestLife 💜💛

Do you love reading—or want to find a book that will make you love it? Book Club is the place to be!

Book Club gives students a chance to read, have fun, and talk about books with other students. You can share your opinions about a story and hear what other people thought about it, too. You might even discover a new favorite book!

Being in Book Club is also a great way to meet new people and make connections with students who enjoy some of the same things you do. Reading is way more fun when you can talk about it with friends!

👻 This Month’s Book is actually featuring an author: R.L. Stine

Our Author of the Month for October is R.L. Stine. R.L. Stine is most famously recognized for his Goosebumps series, a collection of over thirty books that feature all sorts of spooky monsters and crazy coincidences. R. L. Stine is where I personally found my love for spooky books. My favorite is The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight.

Our September book, Doll Bones by Holly Black was a hit with our book club members! Here is a review:

4.5 stars out of 5

"I loved this book. I loved when they escaped and when they took the boat and bus. I loved the spooky parts too. You should read this! Just read it, okay? You won't regret it! ❤️ Written by Charlotte H.

📖 What’s Next for Book Club?

Here’s the cool part—the members get a say! Book Club sponsors will let members help decide what the club does next. The group might choose a new book that everyone reads together, or members might read their own books and come back to share their favorites.

Book Club also wants to spread the love of reading around our school! Members will be sharing some of their favorite books to help other students discover something new to read.

⭐ Come Join Us!

You don’t have to be the biggest reader in the world to join. Book Club is all about discovering new stories, sharing ideas, meeting people, and making reading fun!

📚 Sponsors: Ms. Bravo & Mrs. J. Duhon

Guess the Halloween movie by emoji!

• 👩🏻👩🏻‍🦰👱🏻‍♀️🪄🐈‍⬛= Hocus Pocus
• 😱🔪= Scream
• 🤡🎈= It

Guess the Halloween phrase by emoji!!!

• 🎃🔪= pumpkin carving
• 🎭🚪🍬= trick-or-treat
• 🧙‍♂️🧹= witch's broom

There is a new App that can and will be used throughout the Parish to report things anonymously from your phone, iPad, or computer-The Close Watch App.

Brief Overview: A complaint is received by CPSO and law enforcement will check out the complaint to make sure it is legitimate and will then move forward.

Crimes and thefts can be reported, either in school or out, and it can prevent mass casualty incidents with just a few key strokes.

See something, say something, it’s right at your fingertips!

It's in the App Store called Calcasieu Close Watch or click the eye to go directly to the link.

*Remember, if you see or hear something, REPORT IT to a MBMS admin or a faculty / staff member IMMEDIATELY!*

Like Our Official Moss Bluff Middle School Facebook Page!

Want to see more photos and videos? Want up-to-date reminders? Please check out our MBMS Facebook Page!

We love our Partners in Ed! Thank you Firestone Polymers and Neighborhood Walmart for all of your help and support.

297 Park Road

Lake Charles, LA 70611

337-217-4570