Selma Middle School Weekly Update
Oct 26-Oct 30
Absence Reporting: Enter Student Absence Note
Written excuses must be turned in, no later than, THE DAY AFTER the student returns to school.
Full Steam Ahead: Engineered for Excellence
Upcoming Events
Oct 27-Report Cards Go Home
Oct 28-Makeup School Pictures
Community Partners
A heartfelt thank-you to our community partners for investing your time, energy, and resources in our school. Your support and willingness to volunteer help us celebrate our students and show them that an entire community is cheering them on!
Le Taquichi Taquitos
A heartfelt thank-you to our community partner, Le Taquichi Taquitos, for donating to our Custodian Appreciation Day celebration! Your generosity helped us honor the hardworking custodians who keep Selma Middle School clean, safe, and welcoming every day. We are grateful for your partnership and the care you show our school community! 💙💛
Help Students Learn the Selma Student Creed
6th Grade
ELA
Standard(s) Taught this week:
Students will focus on gaining background information on characters and historical context of your Q2 Novel study “Number the Stars” by Lois Lowry. We’ll continue building reading skills through practice, discussion, and short assessments
Assessments Given this week:
Progress Monitor, Vocabulary quiz
Science
Standard(s) Taught this week:
PS.6.2 Understand characteristics of thermal and electrical energy transfer and interactions of matter and energy.
PS.6.3 Understand the properties of waves and the wavelike property of energy in seismic, electromagnetic (including visible light), and sound waves.
Social Studies
Standard(s) Taught this week:
- Why do societies memorialize their important figures? (6.B.1.1 & 6.B.1.3)
- How was Egypt impacted by its environment? (6.G.1.4)
- How did Egypt impact its environment? (6.G.1.4)
- How did social structure impact the daily lives of citizens in Egypt? (6.B.1.3)
- How did the social structures of ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt compare? (6.B.1.3)
- How do the achievements of ancient Egypt influence today’s societies? (6.H.1.2)
- How did religion, tradition & cultural practices influence the development of ancient Egypt? (6.B.1.1)
Assessments Given this week:
- November 4th- Ancient Egypt & Kush Test
- Ancient Egypt Artifact Project: Due November 24th, 2026
7th Grade
ELA
Standard(s) Taught this week:
- Quarter 2 will begin with a focus on understanding what do details reveal about a character and their circumstances as students begin a novel study.
Assessments to Prepare for Next week:
- There will be an assessment on Friday for the Morphemes that students learned during Quarter
Celebrations:
- Students worked hard during Quarter 1 to meet their goals and we are looking forward to seeing where they go in Quarter 2!
Math
Standard(s) Taught this week:
- 7.G.1 & 7.EE.2
- Math 7 Lesson 8.1-2.6 -Scale Factor and proportions.
Assessments Given this week:
- Advance Math 3.1-3.2 Percent Proportions and how they are related
Assessments to Prepare for Next week:
- Math 7 -Topic 2 Assessment will be this week 10/30
- Advance Math will be taking a Progress Monitor on RP2, RP3 -Topic 2 skill review on Monday
Celebrations:
- Students are excited about starting a new Quarter! Parents, please continue to encourage your scholars to review their math notes for at least 15 minutes daily. The best way to get good at math, is to practice doing math! This Q2 math homework should be happening everyday!
Science
Standard(s) Taught this week:
- LS. 2 (Genetics)
Assessments Given this week:
- Students will be taking a life science check in this week.
Assessments to Prepare for Next week:
- Genetics Quiz and Progress Monitor next week.
Celebrations:
- Students enjoyed the pumpkin lab.
Social Studies
Standard(s) Taught this week:
- We will be looking into the Renaissance.
Assessments to Prepare for Next week:
- Quiz on the Renaissance.
Celebrations:
- Students did well on their assessment for Age of Exploration.
8th Grade
TBU
Media Center
At-Home Reading Tips: Choosing the Right Materials • Let them pick: Give your child freedom to choose their own books based on personal interests to build motivation. • Embrace "micro-reading": Graphic novels, comic books, magazines, sci-fi, and mystery series all count as valid, engaging reading. • Try audiobooks: Let them listen to audiobooks during long car rides or on the way to school using headphones to spark interest without feeling like a chore.
Student Services Updates
Updates:
Let’s Talk Month(effective parent/child communication)
Focus on Behaviors
Criticism and comments are directed at the behavior and not the child
Lead by example
Your actions are just as important as your words
Only make promises you can keep
Have Fun Together
Say something positive about their interactions
Pay attention to their interests
Joking together
Student Services Contact Information
Student Services:
The Student Services team assists students and families with identifying strategies which maximize student learning and minimize conditions which interfere with learning by providing support and connecting students to resources that will help them to become successful members of the community. We look forward to working with our students and families this year.
Meet your Selma Middle School team:
Tracy James, School Social Worker
Works to alleviate all barriers for students so they can be successful in school
Contact: tracyjames@johnston.k12.nc.us; 919-965-2555 ext. 4931
Tina Swart, School Nurse
Health concerns, Immunizations, Vision and Hearing screenings, Medical Plans
Contact: tinaswart@johnston.k12.nc.us; 919-965-2555 ext. 4933
Janet Lee, School Counselor
Works to meet the needs of students in the areas of personal/social, academics, and career and college readiness that promote student achievement
Contact: janetlee@johnston.k12.nc.us; 919-965-2555 ext. 4960
Roxanna Vargas, Family and Community Liaison
Works with students, families, and the community partners to build a stronger school community
Contact: roxannavargas@johnston.k12.nc.us; 919-965-2555 ext. 4961
Debra Worley, Data Manager
Enrollment, attendance, absence notes, tardies concerns
Contact: debraworley@johnston.k12.nc.us; 919-965-2555 ext. 4902