MARCH
3/25 Baseball AWAY @ Bunn
3/26 Reading Check-in #3 6-8
3/27 Baseball HOME vs Vance
3/27 REPORT CARD PICK-UP 3:30-4:30 in the cafeteria
3/28 Report cards and At-Risk letters sent home with students if not picked up on 3/27
3/31 Baseball HOME vs Crosscreek Charter
APRIL
4/3 Baseball AWAY @ Terrell Lane
4/7-4/11 SPRING BREAK NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
4/14 Baseball HOME vs Cedar Creek
4/14-4/17 Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
4/14-4/17 Math Remediation Week
4/17 Baseball AWAY @ Hawley
4/18 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
4/20 EASTER SUNDAY
4/21 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
4/22 Baseball AWAY @ N. Granville
4/23 MATH CHECK-IN #3 6-8
4/23 Baseball HOME vs Butner Stem
4/28-5/1 Science 8 Remediation Week
MAY
5/1 MATH I CHECK-IN #2
5/2 SCIENCE 8 CHECK-IN #3
5/5-5/9 TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK - let your teacher know you appreciate all their hard work!
5/5-5/9 Exact Path Diagnostics Math and ELA this week
5/8 EARLY RELEASE - students leave the building at 12:30pm
5/11 SUNDAY - MOTHER'S DAY
5/12-5/23 EOG REMEDIATION WEEKS
5/15 SPRING CELEBRATION BAND CONCERT AND ELECTIVES PROJECTS SHOW
5/22 ATHLETIC AWARDS DINNER AND CELEBRATION
5/26 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
5/29 SCIENCE EOG GRADES 8 ONLY
JUNE
6/3 ELA EOG GRADES 6-8
6/4 MATH EOG GRADES 6-8
6/10 8TH GRADE CELEBRATION
6/10 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - EARLY RELEASE - STUDENTS LEAVE BUILDING AT 12:30 PM
6/11-6/13 RETEST DAYS - MODIFIED SCHEDULE - STUDENTS RETEST IF THEY WERE NOT PROFICIENT
MATH with MS. JENKINS:
Hello FMS Families, March has been exciting for our math scholars. We are working diligently to complete Unit 5, Reasoning with Equations and Inequalities. We have learned many new things, including why we celebrate Pi, how to find solution sets for multi-step word problems using inequalities, how to graph inequalities, and how to create equations from real-world situations. This week we focus on how to write and solve equations from unknown angles in a figure. We will take the Unit 5 test this Friday.
Things to remember:
~Class attendance is important
~Remember the school and classroom rules. (Exhibit responsible behavior at all times)
~Bring your materials (Chromebooks(charged), notebooks, and pencils) to class daily.
~Get a good night's rest and come to class prepared to work.
~Get all assignments turned in when assigned.
~IXL practice assignments are important, please remember to get them done when assigned.
Believe in yourself, you can do it!
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at litishajenkins@fcschools.net.
SOCIAL STUDIES with MR. JONES:
Hello Parents and Guardians! We have finished up our studies of the first World War and have shifted our focus to the Roaring Twenties and Great Depression. We will talk about how the Roaring Twenties were a time of economic growth and cultural change, with people enjoying jazz music, movies, and new inventions. However, it was followed by the Great Depression, when the stock market crashed, causing widespread poverty and unemployment. This period teaches us how quickly society and the economy can change and how people cope with hardships.
As we enter the final quarter of the school year, it's important for students to stay focused and keep up with their assignments. This is a crucial time to finish strong and ensure they grasp the material, as the end of the year approaches quickly. Encouraging your child to stay on track, manage their time, and ask for help when needed will help them finish the school year successfully. Thank you for your continued support!
SCIENCE with MS. BRACKETT:
I’m excited to share that we are still focusing on cells! We’ll be diving into what makes up all living things and exploring the fascinating world of microscopic life. One of the most thought-provoking topics we’ll discuss is lab-grown meat—scientists can now produce meat using just a few cells from a cow! This real-world application will spark engaging discussions about ethics, science, and innovation.
Throughout the unit, students will learn about the structures inside cells and their functions. They’ll also get hands-on experience using microscopes to compare plant and animal cells. A highlight of this unit will be a creative project where students design their own 3D cell model to demonstrate their understanding.
This unit will run until spring break, giving students plenty of time to explore and engage with these concepts.
You can keep the conversation going at home by:
Discussing the idea of lab-grown burgers—would your family try one?
Guessing how many cells are in the human body (the answer might surprise you!).
Watching a fun, short video about cells and their incredible functions.
We’ll also be using Stile, an interactive and engaging science platform. Feel free to log in with your child to see what they’re learning and maybe even test your own knowledge!
I can’t wait to see the curiosity and creativity this unit inspires. It’s going to be an **ex-cell-ent** learning experience!
Best,
Ms. Brackett
ELA with MS. BAECHLE:
Welcome to Q4 as we quickly approach the end of the school year. As we continue the second half of the year and where effort and consistency count more than ever!!
It remains critical that we remind our students to stay up to date with their work in class and located on Canvas, as well as their grades updated regularly on Powerschool. As a result, we continue to hold them accountable for their work and growth academically. Please check in with your students to ensure that they are completing their work regularly and submitting it for a grade.
Reminders:
-Q4 begins today, Monday 3/24
-ELA Check-in #3 in on Wednesday, 3/25 - please remind your students to get a good night's rest, eat a balanced breakfast, and to always try their best!!
-Report Card pick-up is on Thursday, 3/26 from 3:30 - 4:40 in the cafeteria.
Growth and Accountability Agreement:
I will complete daily work (assigned in class)
I will finish any work that was not completed in class for homework
I will come to class prepared (work completed and a charged chromebook)
I will not disrupt the learning environment, or others
I will check Canvas daily for updated assignments and due dates
I will check Powerschool regularly for grades and missing assignments
I will always try my best
I will ask for further support from my teacher is I don't understand an assignment
I will maintain a growth mind-set for my academic and personal growth and goals!!
Expectations:
Students are to come to class on time, prepared and ready to work. If they are not following the non-negotiables, they will receive a warning to correct their chosen behavior before they are sent to ALC with a write-up and a parent contact.
Remember that each quarter every student begins with a 100% in their classes. What they decide to do with their grades and achievements are up to them.
Sports and Grades: Please ensure your student is keeping up with their work and on their best behavior. Good grades and exemplifying positive behavior is key to being able to play sports throughout the school year. Grads for S2 quarters 3 and 4 will determine Fall and Winter eligibility**
New Curriculum: We have begun a new ELA Curriculum this year called: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Into Literature. The material is scaffolded in a way that is easy to understand while including detailed lessons/units including: anticipatory sets, clear standards, relatable topics, a variety of genres and activities, as well as various reading and writing activities with vocabulary throughout and plenty of application (practice) of content in order to master numerous skill-sets.
Note: A digital copy of the text can be located on students' Classlink (ED with a yellow smiley face app) and include each passage we read in class, as well as several comprehension checks (assignments), and several resources.
Please encourage your students to use this resource at home to compete and classwork that was not finished, or any homework that may be assigned. It is very beneficial for students to not only take accountability for their work, but to practice skills regularly in order to master academic goals.
🧱 Supporting Standards
L.7.4 Determine and/or clarify (2) the meaning of unknown (context clues) and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 7 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies: context clues, word parts, word relationships, and reference materials.**
🎯Target Standards
RI.7.1 Cite (3) several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text
says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text**
RI.7.3 Analyze (3) the interactions between individuals, events, and ideas in
a text - Pro - Bowl Cont**
RI.7.5 Analyze (3) the structure (organizational pattern) an author uses
to organize a text, including how the major sections contribute to the
whole and to the development of the ideas.
✏️Writing Standards
W.7.2 Write an Informative Report/Poem (3-4) informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
W.7.5 Conduct short research projects to answer specific guiding questions (4)
Poem with a sport of choice**
“More Than A Game” - Unit 5 (End of Unit)**
Last Week:
Students presented their Q3 project and received peer feedback. They also continued to work on challenging standards during warm-ups for Pro-Bowl review.
This Week:
Students continue to utilize beneficial strategies such as T-Chart graphic organizer in order to organize their thoughts, focus on unknown vocabulary and the summary (gist) of a passage/paragraph, and fully comprehend the meaning of any given text both NF/F for additional preparation for their upcoming Check-in.
We are also in the fifth week of ProBowl review as well where we focus on specific strategies for additional practice.
Next Two Weeks:
We will have a spirit week prior to Spring Break. Students will work on a mini-project for Sports Poetry while connecting it to a personal experience. In addition, they will begin to learn about the structure of Short Stories and begin to outline their own. Students will also begin reviewing for the EOG at the end of May with several types of practice and gamification.
Project Links:
Sports Poem:
Model Crediti to Scholastic Teachables -
Fictional Short Story:
Mini-Lesson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlIBRGNG2ZY (Video with guided notes)
https://languageartsteachers.com/elements-of-fiction-and-short-stories-mini-lessons/
Graphic Organizers:
https://www.samnllc.org/userfiles/fck/file/10-Story%20Elements%20Graphic%20Organizers.pdf
Tutoring:
Tutoring for the 24/25 school year has begun. Tutoring will be held in the cafeteria each Monday and Wednesday from 3:30- 5:00 pm. Please be sure to pick up your student by no later than 5:00 on Vine st. During tutoring students will receive support in both review strategies (gamification) and homework help. Be sure to turn in your tutoring contract form to your homeroom teacher before you start. We hope to see you there!
Homework:
Students should expect homework two to three times weekly in order to continue to develop their skill-sets and to see growth. Please ask your child what work they have for homework, or have not completed on a regular basis to help keep them on track. Work is updated regularly for access on Canvas. Grades are also updated weekly and viewable on Powerschool. Students should expect classwork (homework if not completed) in order to maintain an understanding of reading both inside and outside of class on a weekly basis. The application process is so critical to close gaps in comprehension and to apply to later content**
Grades:
Student grades are present (updated regularly) on Canvas, and are now viewable to students and guardians on Powerschool. Students are expected to check their grades on a regular basis and reach out to their teacher for make-up work, or additional time to complete an assignment if they have been absent, as well as, emailing them a reminder once completed. I allow a one week timeframe to make up work before an assignment becomes a zero.
We are so close to the end of the school year and for what I consider to be the students' superbowl (EOG’S). Let’s finish strong and show us all what you have learned!!
Thank you parents and guardians for your continued support throughout the school year with what promises to be a successful year full of growth and achievements.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any further questions or concerns at:
SCIENCE with MS. DOWNUM:
Good Evening Parents,
I am excited to share that our last unit demonstrated remarkable growth, with some of the highest test scores of the year!
Core 1: Growth of 22.2 points
Core 2: Growth of 10.7 points
Core 3: Growth of 10 points
Core 4: Growth of 16.3 points
These achievements come on top of already impressive pre-test scores. I am truly impressed with the students' ability to engage and excel. Throughout this unit, we incorporated many hands-on activities, which contributed significantly to their understanding. I will add pictures below for you to see their hard work.
We are currently transitioning into our Adaptation Unit, with a Crayfish Dissection scheduled for April 1st. For this activity, students will need to wear aprons and safety goggles which I will provide. Please ensure that any hair longer than shoulder length is pulled back and secured. The date is noted on the board, and I will remind students leading up to the dissection.
Please note, students who are unwilling to wear the required safety gear and pull their hair back will be assigned an alternate lab, as this is non-negotiable for safety purposes.
In addition, students will have their ELA Check-in this Wednesday, followed by math remediation, a math check-in, and then science remediation with a subsequent check-in. These last few months are packed with important learning, so it is imperative that students come to class prepared with a charged Chromebook, pencil, and notebook.
Moreover, it’s crucial that students are active learners in school. Please discuss with your student how important it is to stay focused during this last quarter, so they can finish the year strong and transition smoothly to high school.
Thank you for your continued support!
MATH with MS. CUNNINGHAM:
Third quarter ended Thursday, March 20th with a report card pick up scheduled for this Thursday, March 27th from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Please make sure to either plan to pick up your child’s report card on Thursday or be sure to ask your child for their report card on Friday when they get home from school. Along with the report card will be their at risk letter if they are in danger of failing any classes.
Math Check-in is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23rd. Our remediation will be April 14th-April 17th from 8:30 am to 9:30 am.
In order to prepare for check-in #3, we will have 4 dedicated morning remediation stations to reinforce key concepts from this quarter. These stations will focus on:
✅ Functions- 8.F.2-Compare properties of two linear functions each represented in a different way (algebraically, graphically, numerically in tables, or by verbal descriptions).
✅ Expressions and Equations-8.EE.7-Solve real-world and mathematical problems by writing and solving equations and inequalities in one variable.
• Recognize linear equations in variable as having one solution, infinitely many solutions, or no solutions.
• Solve linear equations and inequalities including multi-step equations and inequalities with the same variable on both sides.
✅ Statistics and Probability- 8.SP.1-Construct and interpret scatter plots for bivariate measurement data to investigate patterns of association between two quantities. Investigate and describe patterns such as clustering, outliers, positive or negative association, linear association, and nonlinear association.
8.SP.2- Model the relationship between bivariate quantitative data to:
• Informally fit a straight line for a scatter plot that suggests a linear association.
• Informally assess the model fit by judging the closeness of the data points to the line.
8.SP.3-Use the equation of a linear model to solve problems in the context of bivariate quantitative data, interpreting the slope and y-intercept.
Students will rotate through these stations, working on targeted practice problems, collaborative activities, and online resources like IXL, schoolnet, gimkit, and blooket.
How You Can Help at Home
📝 Encourage your student to review notes and completed assignments in their math notebook.
💻 Have them practice skills on IXL and Khan Academy (I can provide specific recommendations if needed!).
⏰ Ensure they get a good night's sleep and arrive on time so they can fully participate in our morning review sessions.
Please encourage your child to keep on top of their assignments this last quarter and finish their 8th grade year strong. The end of the year will be here before we know it, which means EOGs are right around the corner.
We have 3 more units to cover. We are closing out unit 3a with our assessment and moving into unit 3b-Functional Reasoning/Systems. In this unit, students will analyze linear functions. Students will create and interpret graphs for situations in contect. Then, they will also analyze the functional relationship between two quantities and determine the solutions of two linear equations using a graph.
Standards:
NC.8.F.5 Qualitatively analyze the functional relationship between two quantities.
• Analyze a graph determining where the function is increasing or decreasing; linear or nonlinear.
• Sketch a graph that exhibits the qualitative features of a real-world function.
NC.8.EE.8 Analyze and solve a system of two linear equations in two variables in slope-intercept form.
• Understand that solutions to a system of two linear equations correspond to the points of intersection of their graphs because the point of intersection satisfies both equations simultaneously.
• Solve real-world and mathematical problems leading to systems of linear equations by graphing the equations. Solve simple cases by inspection.
The following concepts from previous grades may support students in meeting grade-level standards in this unit:
Identifying parallel and perpendicular lines. (NC.4.G.1)
Identifying vertical and adjacent angles. (NC.7.G.5)
Vocabulary
Function, dependent variable, independent variable, slope, rate of change, linear function, function table, increasing, decreasing, input, output, x-intercept, y-intercept, x-axis, y-axis, coordinate, coefficient, slope-intercept form, constant, term, relation, domain, range, unit rate, constant of proportionality, system of equations
Please Review Grade 8 Student FMS Non-Negotiables With Your Child:
There is room for improvement specific to the FMS Non-Negotiables listed below:
A number of students come to class without a chromebook or a chromebook not charged overnight.
Excessive bathroom use (students asking to go to the bathroom during each core class that extends more than five minutes at a time.
Cell phones not in backpacks (students should not have visible cell phones in back pockets / pant pockets / sweatshirt pockets)
Students talking out of turn with discussion unrelated to the lesson thus disrupting learning taking place for the majority of students on task.
Please review the team expectations as students are written up for non compliance.
Click on the link below to review classroom expectations with your child:
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions michellecunningham@fcschools.net
WE HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR A FRESH START (QUARTER 4)!
Parent (Guardian) / Child Communication:
Parents, it is so important to engage with your child in conversation after each school day. Two-way communication about learning and social interactions during the school day will help your child navigate daily struggles, celebrate successes, and make personal learning goals periodically to improve academic improvement. We are entering the fourth nine weeks, and I appreciate your oversight and guidance to ensure your child’s work is up-to-date.
Sample Questions To Spark Meaningful Discussion… (Each question should be followed by probing questions) “Tell me more”…
What’s something you learned that you didn’t already know?
What is the best thing that happened at school today?
What is the worst thing that happened at school today?
Did you show kindness to someone today?
What is something you were really good at today?
Is there anything you regret saying or doing at school today?
Did something make you feel frustrated today?
Tell me something you know today that you didn’t know yesterday!
What was the hardest rule to follow today?
Which task was the most difficult for you today?
If you could get a do-over, what would you change about your school day today?
What makes you happiest at school?
What makes you the most nervous about school?
What makes you the most frustrated at school?
Who do you partner with to do group work in class?
What made you feel the most proud today?
Tell me about a time you asked for help today.
How would you rate your day on a scale of 1 to 10?
What questions did you ask your teacher today?
What’s one thing you wish you could erase from your day?
Grades:
PowerSchool is Updated and Quarter Three Grades are Closed…
Report card pick-up is available in the cafeteria on Thursday, March 27th, 3:30 - 4:30.
Remaining report cards will go home with your child on Friday, March 28th.
Friendly Reminder:
Check PowerSchool frequently to ensure your child is up-to-date on assignments. The protocol for submission of late assignments is to send an email to me with the titles of the late assignments completed. Please encourage your child to check PowerSchool for missing assignments.
Note: Assignments close after two weeks and students cannot make up work after the assignment closes. Students are not penalized for submitting late assignments within this two week period. Again, it is the responsibility of your child to email me with the title(s) of completed work after the due date.
Percussionist in 8th Grade!
Drumline Auditions
Franklinton High School Drumline!!!
April 22nd and 24th
4:00 - 5:30 in the FHS Band Room
Only 1 snare spot and 2 bass spots are open!
SPRING MARCHING PRE-CAMP!!
Any band student currently in 7th or 8th grade!
April 28, 29, 30, or May 1st 2025
4:00 - 5:30 in the FHS Band Room
CTE with MR. PIRRONE:
CSD 2:
Continuing, students are exploring how animation works by looking at flipbooks—where flipping through images quickly creates the illusion of motion. They then applied this concept to coding using something called the draw loop, a fundamental feature in programming that repeatedly executes a set of instructions. In Game Lab, the draw loop runs continuously at 30 frames per second, meaning any commands inside the loop will keep running and updating in real-time. This allows students to create animations where objects—called sprites—can change their position, color, or appearance automatically.
After understanding how animation works, students learned about the counter pattern, a simple but powerful coding technique used to control movement. Instead of manually setting a sprite’s position, students used code to increments (or decrease) values over time, making their characters move smoothly across the screen. For example, a simple line of code like:
makes a character move to the right each time the draw loop runs. By changing the numbers, students can control speed, direction, and other properties like size and rotation. This foundational skill will be essential as they move forward into more advanced projects.
With these skills in place, students are now applying their knowledge by designing and coding their own animated scenes! They are brainstorming creative ideas, sketching out how different objects should move, and writing code to bring their animations to life. Some students are making scenes where objects bounce around, while others are working on animated stories with moving backgrounds, changing colors, and interactive elements.
Beyond just learning to code, students are developing essential problem-solving skills, logical thinking, and creativity. By experimenting, debugging (fixing mistakes in their code), and refining their programs, they’re getting a hands-on introduction to the world of software development. These projects not only provide a fun and engaging way to learn but also give students a strong foundation in computational thinking—an essential skills for the future.
We’re excited to see their final projects and can’t wait for them to showcase their creativity and coding skills!
CSD 1:
Our students have been diving into the exciting world of web design, learning how to enhance their websites with images, styles, and user-friendly layouts! This unit focuses on HTML (the structure of a webpage) and CSS (the styling that makes webpages visually appealing), helping students build the fundamental skills needed to create engaging and professional-looking websites.
To start, students explored how to add images to their web pages using the <img> tag, which is different from other HTML tags because it is self-closing and requires attributes like src (to specify the image file) and alt (to describe the image for accessibility). Alongside the technical skills, students also discussed the ethical use of images, including copyright considerations and how to properly cite image sources—a crucial lesson in digital responsibility.
Building on this, students continued their journey into Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), which allows them to customize the appearance of their websites beyond just text. They analyzed a sample website about global desserts to see how CSS is used to style images, backgrounds, colors, and layouts. After experimenting with these styles, they applied what they learned to their personal websites, making them more visually appealing and user-friendly.
Finally, students put their skills to the test in a mini-project, where they acted as web designers creating a webpage for a specific user. Using the Problem Solving Process, they planned how to style the page to meet their user's needs, applied their HTML and CSS skills in Web Lab, and then received feedback to improve their designs. This project encouraged creativity, problem-solving, and user-centered thinking—important skills in both web development and the digital world at large.
Through these lessons, students are not only building technical skills in coding but also developing an understanding of design principles, ethical content use, and problem-solving strategies. We can’t wait to see their final websites come to life!
Paxton/Patterson:
Rotation 2 Update
Rotation 2 is currently in full swing for all grades, and I am excited to announce that we anticipate transitioning everyone to Rotation 3 in the upcoming week! It’s been a fantastic journey so far, and I can’t wait to share some pictures of our students actively engaged in their learning modules.
Last week, we had a delightful experience in our culinary arts module where we crafted delicious pancakes. Let me tell you, they were such a hit that we went through an entire box of pancake mix! The joy and laughter in the kitchen made for a memorable lesson, and students not only learned about cooking but also enjoyed the fruits of their labor.
As we approach the next rotation, I will keep you updated with more exciting developments and visuals from our learning adventures. Stay tuned for more updates!
Keyboarding:
We are currently engaged in an exciting challenge on learning.com, aiming to secure the title of the best typing school in the state! I'm envisioning great success, and achieving this milestone would be an incredible accomplishment for our team. Even if we receive recognition, that would be fantastic too!
Once we finish these lessons, I'll dive into the world of the numeric keypad, sharing some fun and straightforward methods for performing basic math operations. Get ready for an engaging learning experience!
ART with Mrs. CLIFTON:
All Grades are working on Portrait Photography.
-Look at and discuss different examples of portrait photography and methods and techniques to capture successful portraits.
-Capture different portraits using formal/studio, and environmental portraits. They will use different kinds of techniques, lighting methods, and environments.
-They will print and journal and create a blog post.
- Each grade will create an art project with their portrait.
8th is weaving a slightly colored and black and white copy of their portraits together.
7th is using oil pastels to color their portraits and then sewing to embellish their artwork.
6th is incorporating their portraits in a collage.
I have included pictures of some of thor artwork.
