THE CHARGER CONNECTION

Hello FMMS Parents, Students and Community!

It's hard to believe we are already completing week 4 of the school year!
Please note, we are entering our first round of MAP testing this Monday, Sept. 8th.

A few key reminders:

• Your student must bring their charged iPad ready to go for testing on Monday morning.
• Make every effort to arrive to school on time.
• A good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast sets students up for success on testing days.
• Once a student finished their test, they can only rest or read a book.
• The results of the exam are used for class placements, intervention, enrichment plans, and set student learning goals- encourage your student to try their best and take their time.
  
  

I have no doubt our Chargers are ready to show their learning and their growth throughout the year as we utilize this valuable data.

Dr. Burt

Put on your wacky Adam Sandler gear and get ready to Laugh Loud, Win Proud! Join STUCO as we cheer on our Lady Chargers Volleyball team when they take on Apollo JH. Big shorts, goofy shirts, and Charger pride—let’s make the Panthers the punchline!

🏆 Prize for Best Dressed: Show off your funniest, goofiest Sandler outfit and you could win FREE dance tickets to the Howdy Dance!

Texas legislation requires all parents and guardians to provide clear opt-in and opt-out preferences for their student regarding various activities and services such as:

• Available access to health services (all grade levels)
• After-school clubs (all grade levels)
• Counseling opportunities (K-5 & 7-12)
• Library Services (all grade levels)

All RISD parents/legal guardians received an email from the district on Friday, August 22 with information to select your preferences for your student(s) in FOCUS. Please make sure that you check your email, you should have a message from RIchardson ISD, with the subject line: Important Parent Message in Regards to Recent Texas Legislation.

Please visit the FOCUS portal and use the newly created page to submit your preferences for each of your children.

If you have additional questions, please submit a Let’s Talk here.

Thank you for helping us ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. We look forward to a great new school year.

In compliance with Texas Senate Bill 12, Richardson ISD must obtain written consent for your child to receive school-based health services from qualified district staff.

SB 12 requires that parents/guardians are fully informed and provide permission before any care and support are given.

In the event of a serious emergency, staff will take immediate action to protect your child’s safety and contact you right away.

By granting consent, your child will have access to timely services that promote health, safety, wellness, and readiness to learn. Without consent, staff will be limited in the support and services they can provide during the school day. A separate consent form must be completed for every Richardson ISD student in your household.

To fill out the consent form, please visit https://web.risd.org/home/focus-for-parents/

Do you sell unique products, create delicious food, or provide unforgettable services?

We’d love to feature your business at Market in the Meadow—a special community shopping event hosted at Forest Meadow Middle School (9373 Whitehurst Dr., Dallas, TX 75243). This is your chance to showcase your passion, connect with the community, and reach new customers!

🛍 Event Dates

• Friday, Nov. 7 – Vendor Setup, 6pm

• Saturday, Nov. 8 – VIP Shopping at 9am | Open 10am–5pm

• Sunday, Nov. 9 – 11am–4pm

✨ Join amazing vendors like Kendra Scott, Bam and Bird, Mizzen+Main, and Whatsoever Things.

For booth maps, pricing, and registration, visit @marketinthemeadow or contact Kristi Kendall at 214-536-2240 | marketinthemeadow@yahoo.com

When your student is absent, RISD requires parents/guardians to submit an excuse note within 3 days of the student’s return to school. If a note is not submitted, the absence will be marked unexcused, which may result in warning letters or even truancy court proceedings.

✅ Notes can be:

• Uploaded directly to Focus (How-to Video)

• Emailed to our attendance clerk, Britney Thornton at Britney.Thornton@risd.org

• Handwritten and turned in to the main office

Each note must include:

• Student name & ID number

• School name (Forest Meadow MS)

• Date(s) & reason for absence

• Parent/guardian signature (for handwritten notes)

• Parent phone number

Excused absences include:

• Student illness or injury

• Family emergency (with administrator approval)

• Death of a family member

• Doctor/dental appointments (during school hours only if necessary)

• Religious holidays

• Court appearances

Your partnership ensures accurate attendance records and keeps our Chargers on track for success.

Securly Pass is a digital hall pass system that helps schools monitor and manage student movement on campus, improving safety and accountability for all students.

Key Features & Benefits

• Safety & Accountability – Staff can see which students are out of class, where they are going, and why. This ensures students are accountable at all times and can be quickly located in an emergency.
• Reduces Disruptions – Helps maximize instructional time by reducing unapproved hallway gatherings.
• Real-Time Updates – Student rosters sync automatically, ensuring staff always have accurate information when managing passes.

What Parents Should Know

1. Securly Pass enhances school safety and keeps students focused on learning.
2. Student movement is monitored to increase accountability and reduce classroom interruptions.
3. The system is designed to protect students, promote transparency, and support a safe, productive learning environment.
4. There are options to design specific plans of support for students as well adjustments that can be made on the “fly” if an emergency or need comes up.

🎥 Learn More: Watch this short informational video

🕠 5:30 pm – PTA Meeting | 6:00 pm – Classroom Visits

What to Expect:

5:30 pm – PTA Meeting

• Join us in the Cafeteria for our PTA meeting. Please enter from the northd side of the school (car line area). The whole family is welcome!

6:00 pm – Walk the Schedule

• We’ll run through an 8-period bell schedule so you can experience your student’s school day.
• You’ll move from class to class following your student’s schedule.
• It’s important to follow the correct schedule—teachers often teach multiple courses, so you don’t want to land in the wrong class.
• If you arrive late, no problem! Just jump in wherever we are in the schedule.

Friendly Reminders:

• Bring your student’s schedule. The easiest way is to snap a photo of it on your phone.
• Maps and bell schedules will be available when you arrive.
• We’ll make frequent announcements to help guide you to the right classes.

Take a peek into what was happening inside the classrooms and hallways at FMMS! Our Chargers are learning and growing every day!

Our Chargers showed up and showed out at Tuesday night’s scrimmage against LHMS. While the score may not have been officially kept, we all know who the real winners were!

A special shoutout to our talented Intro to Photography students—Harper Morgan, Yonathan Tewelde, and Lauri Espinal Hernandez—for capturing some amazing moments from the games. Check out a few of their shots below!

Week of September 8th

Monday, September 8th

• A-Day
• MAP Test - In Class

Tuesday, September 9th

• B-Day
• Fall Picture Day
• MAP Test - In Class
• FMMS Football vs. Parkhill JH @ Pearce HS
• 5:30 - 8th Grade
• 7:00 - 7th Grade

Wednesday, September 10th

• A-Day
• MAP Test - In Class

Thursday, September 11th

• B-Day
• Adam Sandler Day
• MAP Test - In Class
• FMMS Volleyball vs. Apollo JH
• 7th Grade Girls @ AJH
• 8th Grade Girls @ FMMS

Friday, September 12th

• A-Day
• MAP Test - In Class
• 4:00-5:00, Wyldlife, FMMS Cafe

Looking Ahead - Mark your Calendars

Monday, September 15th - Meet the Teacher Night

Friday, September 19th - Howdy Dance, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Friday, September 26th - Wyldlife, 4-5 pm

October 10-13 - Fall Break, No School

Our 6th graders have officially launched their 9 Weeks Independent Reading Project! Each student has checked out a fiction book from the library, and this project will count as a major grade for the grading period.

Students will have some class time for silent reading as well as several checkpoints along the way to help them stay on track. The final project will include:

• A one-pager

• A plot diagram

📅 Due Date: Friday, October 3rd

Please encourage your child to read a little bit each day at home to ensure steady progress. Daily reading not only helps students succeed on this project but also builds lifelong habits and confidence as readers.

Thank you for your partnership in supporting your child’s reading growth!

IMPORTANT DATES

• November 12- Opera Field Trip 9-2pm
• November 20- Dallas Holocaust Museum Field Trip 9-2pm

8th Grade Families,

Your student is invited to join us on an upcoming educational travel experience to Washington DC in 2026! All details will be covered at our informational meeting.

Meeting details:

• Date: September 17th
• Time: 6pm
• Location: Zoom

Information covered: itinerary, activities, dates, academic opportunities, cost, and EF’s risk-free enrollment period.

It is mandatory to register for the meeting. Please register here: https://rsvp.efexploreamerica.com/hhgeg34

There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Middle school is a time when friendships grow and challenges can arise. To support our students, we’re sharing simple strategies for resolving conflicts in positive and respectful ways. These tips encourage students to stay calm, listen, use “I” statements, and work together on solutions. By practicing these skills, our Chargers can build stronger relationships and help keep our campus a safe, supportive place for everyone.

Check out the Conflict Resolution Tips below!

Stay up to date with the latest news, announcements, and events from Forest Meadow Middle School—your hub for all things Charger Nation!

At this point in the school year, all students should have their FMMS student ID. Please remind your student of the following expectations:

• IDs must be visible, worn on a lanyard, and around the neck at all times.
• No student may enter the building without an ID.
• If a student forgets or loses their ID, they must report to the ID station at their entrance to get a Temporary and/or replacement ID.
• Replacement ID: $3
• Lanyard: $1

If a student does not have funds at the time, the fee will be added as a debt. Students with a outstanding debt will not be allowed to attend special events until the debt is cleared.

Bus Riders: All students riding the bus must scan their ID when entering and exiting. Please note—once a replacement ID is issued, the previous ID is immediately deactivated and will no longer work with the bus scanning system.

Thank you for helping us ensure safety and accountability at FMMS!

If you plan to bring lunch for your student, please ensure the following:

✅ Pre-Arrange with Your Student – It is essential that you inform your student ahead of time that you will be dropping off their lunch. The best way to do this is to email your student using their g.risd.org email address. They will need to come to the office before their scheduled lunch time to pick it up. The office will no longer be calling students down for lunch pick-up.

✅ Drop-Off Location – Parents should place the lunch on the designated table in the foyer area before entering the front office.

🚫 No Third-Party Deliveries – Food deliveries from services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, or other vendors are not allowed.

This procedure is designed to improve efficiency in our front office and ensure a smooth school day for all students. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us maintain a focused and organized environment.

Starting September 8, 2025 FMMS Clinic

Texas Department of State Health Services requires different annual screenings based on the student’s grade level. A list of required screenings by grade level is below. The types of screenings conducted annually include vision, hearing, acanthosis nigricans, and spinal. All screenings will be conducted throughout the school year instead of one mass screening day.

If a student’s screening results indicate the need for further evaluation by a physician or other health provider, then the nurse will send home a referral letter. This screening does not replace your child’s need for regular health care and check-ups.

If you do not wish for your child to participate in the mandated school screening, a physician-signed hearing, vision, acanthosis nigricans and/or spinal evaluation for the student must be submitted to the school nurse before September 2, 2025.

Required Screenings by Grade Level

• 6th (new to RISD students) – hearing and vision
• 7th hearing, vision, and acanthosis nigricans, spinal (spinal is girls only)
• 8th (boys) - spinal
• 8th (new to RISD students) - hearing and vision

Thank you,

RISD Health Services

Join us on Wednesday, September 10th for a delicious evening supporting Forest Meadow Middle School! Head over to Strouderosa BBQ (9090 Skillman Street, Dallas, TX 75243) and enjoy some amazing food while helping raise funds for our Chargers.

Bring your family, invite your friends, and let’s pack the restaurant with Charger spirit! A portion of the proceeds will go back to FMMS—thank you for supporting our school community! 💜⚡

Charger Nation! Join STUCO as we cheer on Charger Football and Lady Chargers Volleyball this season with themed spirit days!

Dress up, bring the energy, and let’s pack the stands with Charger spirit. ⚡🐎

Join Forest Meadow’s Dungeons & Dragons club.

Take on the role of a hero in a fantastic world of terrible monsters, wondrous magic, and marvelous treasure. Through game play, we will build a grand story together. It won’t be easy, though. You’ll need to work together and use all your skills to overcome a wide variety of challenges, from exploring a strange, unforgiving wilderness full of hidden terrors, to outwitting scheming villains, answering tangled riddles and fiendish puzzles, all with the help of your friends and fellow players…and maybe just a little bit of luck.

Meetings will be held Tuesdays after school from 3:50 to 5 pm in the FMMS Library.

Our first meeting will be Tuesday, September 16!

If you are interested, please fill out this form.

Articles for Parents

In addition to reinforcing reading and math skills, roleplaying games [RPGs] like Dungeons & Dragons encourage teamwork, creative problem solving, and essential social skills. These are collaborative games where the players must work together to solve problems and resolve conflict in order to succeed. There is no “winning” in a roleplaying game. Instead, play creates an ongoing, evolving narrative based on the players’ choices, decisions, and actions. If you are interested in reading more about the social, emotional, and educational benefits of playing RPGs, here is a brief collection of articles on the topic.

• How 'Dungeons & Dragons' Primes Students for Interdisciplinary Learning, Including STEM [NPR]
• How playing Dungeons & Dragons has helped me be more connected, creative and compassionate [TED]
• How Dungeons And Dragons Is Helping Kids Open Up [Forbes]
• 5 Reasons Your Child (and You) Should Play Dungeons & Dragons [Parent Map]
• The Surprising Educational Benefits of Dungeons and Dragons [Let Grow]

Get ready, Chargers—our first Pep Rally of the year is happening on Friday, September 19th.

Join STUCO as we kick off the year with competitions, games, and Charger pride—show up in your House color and bring the spirit! Which House will rise to the top and claim STUCO's Spirit Stick at our first rally of the year?

Be there to cheer, compete, and make FMMS HISTORY for your House!

Grab your boots and your best dance moves—the Howdy Dance is coming to the Café from 7–9 PM! This fun night is for 7th & 8th graders only! 🎶✨

🎟 Tickets are $5 pre-sale at lunch starting September 15th or $7 at the door. Don’t forget your Student ID to get in!

Dust off your cowboy hat, round up your friends, and join STUCO for a night of dancing, fun games, photo booth pics, pumpkin decorating, and a special performance from the LH Wranglers! 💃🕺

💖 Want to help make the dance even better? Sign up to donate snacks and goodies. Drop off donations to the Front Office or Room H104 (Mr. Garay).

Come hang with your 6th grade friends and enjoy a burger and yard games in the Forest Meadow gym at our 6th Grade Howdy Party!

Please note- if you have an older sibling attending the 7th/8th dance, you must make plans to pick your 6th grader up at the conclusion of our party. They will not be allowed to linger until end of the dance or go to the cafeteria with their older sibling.

Link to SUG for party needs and chaperone opportunities: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/30E0B45AEAB2FA4FA7-58259674-howdy

Our 7th graders are invited to kick up their boots at the Howdy Dance & Dinner on Friday, September 19, 2025!

🍴 Dinner: 5:30 pm at Webb Kay Drive Cul-de-Sac
💵 Cost: $10 buckaroos per person
📱 RSVP with Venmo: @Polly-Rodriguez

It’s sure to be a fun night of food, friends, and festivities—don’t miss it!

Mark your calendars, Chargers! The 8th Grade Howdy Dance is happening Friday, September 19, 2025.

📸 Pre-Dance Photo: FMMS Bleachers at 6:55 pm
🎵 Dance: FMMS, 7:00–9:00 pm
🍴 Post-Dance Dinner: Arbor Branch Dr. Cul-de-Sac, until 10:00 pm

💵 Cost: $10 per person
📱 Tickets: @Alison-Day-2

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Chaperones are welcome!

Get ready for a fun evening of music, memories, and celebration—see y’all there!

Attention Chargers!

Applications are now open for the 2025–2026 Yearbook Club. If you’re creative, enjoy photography, writing, or design, this is your chance to help capture memories for the Charger community.

👉 Apply by Friday, September 26th using the link: s.risd.org/fmmsyb2526
📅 First Meeting: Monday, September 29th
🕓 Time: 4–5 pm
📍 Location: Room H189 (Mr. Hodge’s Classroom)

Please note: You must apply and be accepted to participate.

We’d love to welcome you to our PTA family! The PTA plays a crucial role in supporting our students, staff, and campus through events, volunteer opportunities, and funding for essential programs and supplies.

By becoming a member, you’re not just staying connected—you’re helping to build a stronger Charger community. Whether you’re ready to volunteer or simply want to stay in the loop, every membership matters and makes an impact.

Let’s make this a fantastic year—together!

Here is where you’ll find the latest news and announcements from Richardson ISD.

Stay connected with important updates, events, and information that matter to our students, families, and community.

Richardson ISD is holding information sessions for parents and community members to learn more about Bond 2025.

Attend one of the upcoming Information Sessions:

• Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m. - Liberty Junior High

• Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m. - Apollo Junior High

• Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m. - Lake Highlands Elementary

• Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. - Richardson North Junior High

• Sept. 30, 6:30 p.m. - Parkhill Junior High

• Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m. - Richardson West Junior High

• Oct. 14, at 6:30 p.m. - RISD Administration Building Auditorium

• Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m. - Westwood Junior High

Information sessions are open to the public. Learn more at www.risd.org/bond2025.

Nominate an outstanding teacher, counselor, principal, early childhood center, school board, or district for the 2026 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards.

Nominations for the awards close on September 30, 2025.

Finalists receive cash prizes for their schools, as well as for themselves personally.

Richardson ISD will continue to use TalkingPoints for the 2025-26 school year as the two-way text-based communication tool that allows teachers and other campus staff to communicate directly with parents about topics specific to classroom, team, or club activities, delivered to the parent contact information provided upon enrollment. Your family's language preference can be updated in FOCUS by the parent or guardian, or by the campus student data specialist.

TalkingPoints is also utilized for classroom communication between teachers and students in grades 7-12 (13 years old and above) if they are opted-in. TalkingPoints invitations will only be sent to students after parents have completed the other opt-in items in FOCUS.

Learn more about TalkingPoints.

Talking Points Flyer

We love having our families involved in supporting our students!

To ensure the safety and success of all, ALL new and returning volunteers are required to complete the RISD Volunteer Application each year. The application process includes a background check, photo upload, and volunteer orientation.

👉 Scan the QR code on the flyer or visit www.risd.org/volunteer to get started!

Thank you for your commitment to our Chargers and to making FMMS a great place to learn and grow!

Parents, did you know that you can get a glimpse into what your students are doing on their Chromebooks all day? You can even control their access when they are home!

Check out the information below for more details on GoGuardian Parent.