The Buffalo Bulletin

What a great season for our Buff Cross Country athletes! We are incredibly proud of the hard work, determination, and dedication these students have shown throughout the season. A special congratulations to our 7th Grade Girls team, who finished as District Runner-Ups 🥈, and our 8th Grade Boys team, who brought home the title of District Champions! 🥇🏆 Extra congratulations go to Genesis Juarez Noriega on bringing home her own first place medal 🥇as the 7th grade girls District Champion and Antonio Ortiz for bringing home a second place medal 🥈for 7th grade boys! From early practices to race day, our athletes have continued to push themselves, compete with heart, and represent FMS with pride. Their commitment to improving and giving their best effort is something worth celebrating!

As we wrap up one season, there are still opportunities to cheer on our Buffs! Our volleyball teams will hit the road tomorrow night for their final games of the season. Let's finish strong, ladies! Then, on Thursday, we invite everyone to come out and pack the stands as our Buff football teams take the field at home!

Let's keep showing up, cheering loud, and celebrating our Buffs!

Every day. Every choice. Our best effort.

BuffsBeTheBestTheyCanBe

October 19th

• VB AWAY at Comfort

October 22nd

• FB HOME vs Anderson Shiro

October 26th-30th

• Red Ribbon Week

October 26th

• Student Holiday - Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

October 27th

• FISD Trunk or Treat at FHS

October 29th

• FB AWAY at Lexington

November 2nd

• Girls BB HOME vs Blanco

November 5th

• FB HOME vs Schulenburg

November 6th

• MS Band Night at FHS Game

November 9th

• Girls BB AWAY vs Ingram

November 10th

• FISD Veterans Day Ceremony at FHS

November 11th

• School Holiday

November 12th

• Boys BB HOME vs Ingram

More Red Ribbon Week details below in Ms. Camacho's Counselor's Corner!

FISD was fortunate to be able to provide brand new Chromebooks and cases to all FMS students this year. Each student is expected to keep their Chromebook in the case at all times. Chromebooks that are found not in cases are turned into the office and will be kept until the case is brought to campus. Please help us prevent damages to devices and unnecessary fees by reminding your student of this expectation.

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences are just around the corner! We are excited for the opportunity to connect with our families, celebrate student successes, and discuss ways we can continue working together to support each student's growth. Conferences are a valuable opportunity to discuss your child's academic progress, strengths, and areas for continued growth. Our goal is to ensure that every Buff is on the path to success, and we know that strong partnerships between home and school make all the difference!

Fall Parent-Teacher Conference Date: Monday October 26th from 8:30-3:15pm

Sign up below!

If a veteran will be attending the program, please send an email with the following information to veteransday@florenceisd.net by Friday, 11/6:

• First/Last Name of Veteran
• Rank
• Branch of Service

Our attendance goal for this school year is 96%. We know that when students are here, they learn!

Week of 10/5-10/9: 96.72%

6th Grade - 96.98%

7th Grade - 96.03%

8th Grade - 97.62%

YTD: 8/12-10/9 Campus Attendance Rates: 96.07%

6th Grade - 96.91%

7th Grade - 95.11%

8th Grade - 96.09%

NJHS will have their next meeting during HERD on 10/23 in Ms. Kuehne's room.

19th- Fish Sticks

20th- National Chicken and Waffle Day!!

21st- Pizza or Wings

22nd- Nachos

23rd- Cheeseburger or Chicken Sandwich

School pictures are ready!

Your child’s school pictures are now available! To view them online, please log in to your account at mylifetouch.com. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create one using your email address. You’ll need your student’s ID number or their portrait id and access code to locate their photos. This information will come home on your student proofs once they are delivered.

Thank you! —The Lifetouch Team

Check out all the HERD Highlights on our Florence Middle School Athletics Facebook page!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591958063641

Football Contact: Coach Poteat at kpoteat@florenceisd.net

Volleyball Contact: Coach Baker at jbaker@florenceisd.net

Cross Country Contact: Coach Pena at spena@florenceisd.net

Our Secondary ACE students have been busy learning, creating, and having fun!

They're excited to showcase their projects and activities at our Lights On Afterschool booth during Florence ISD's Trunk or Treat event!

Through our Buffalo Bodega Food Pantry, students are learning the value of community service, teamwork, and giving back. Several are also working toward earning their Food Handler Certifications!

ACE also supports student success through High-Impact Tutoring (HIT), homework assistance, and providing the supplies students need to complete their assignments.

With exciting enrichment clubs like E-Sports, Cooking, Fine Arts, and more, there's something for everyone!

Not enrolled in ACE yet?

Come join us, explore new interests, make friends, and be part of the fun!

Official attendance time for FMS is 9:50am. When possible, please schedule your student's appointments with this time in mind so that they are on campus for official attendance.

Red Ribbon Week & Fentanyl Awareness

https://dropthefbomb.com/talk-to-your-kids

Along with our Capturing Kids Hearts theme of Responsibility, we’re also focusing on important topics such as drug awareness, avoiding risky behaviors and making safe choices. As your child grows, they face many new challenges. My goal is to equip them with the knowledge and confidence to make healthy, informed decisions. I’ll be sharing information on the importance of staying drug-free with an emphasis on the ongoing fentanyl epidemic facing our youth today. Thank you for partnering with us in guiding our students toward safe and positive futures!

Red Ribbon Week, celebrated from October 26-30, is a national campaign dedicated to drug prevention and promoting healthy, drug-free lifestyles among students.

What is Red Ribbon Week?

Red Ribbon Week is the largest and longest-running drug-use prevention campaign in the country. It began as a tribute to DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who died in the line of duty in 1985. During this week, students across the nation participate in activities that emphasize the importance of staying drug-free and making positive life choices.

This Year’s Theme

The theme for this year's Red Ribbon Week is “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free” The theme emphasizes that choosing to live drug-free is an act of leadership and courage, and that everyday decisions can positively influence peers, families, and communities. Selected through NFP’s annual Red Ribbon Week Theme Contest, Ava’s slogan stood out for its clarity, empowerment, and strong focus on personal responsibility and peer influence.

FMS Red Ribbon Week Activities

We have planned a variety of engaging activities to promote drug awareness and prevention:

Weekly Dress Up Themes!

Monday: NO SCHOOL: STUDENT HOLIDAY

Tuesday: Wear Red to kick off Red Ribbon Week!

Wednesday: Team Up Against Drugs - Wear your favorite sports team apparel.

Thursday: Be a Hero.- Stay Drug Free; Dress like your favorite superhero!

Friday: Drugs are Tricks, not Treats. Wear your Halloween costumes!

Daily Announcements & Discussions:

- Age-appropriate announcements on the dangers of drug use, including discussions about how to say “no” to peer pressure and facts about teens and drugs.

Door Decoration Contest:

Herd classes will compete to win a Pizza Party by decorating their door in a Halloween themed way that expresses the dangers of drugs; substance abuse or unsafe/ dangerous choices!

Drug Free Pledges!

Students will have the opportunity to sign a pledge to stay drug-free and keep our hands off drugs. Students will sign by making their handprint in red paint to our pledge banner!

During Red Ribbon Week, we are focusing on Fentanyl Awareness due to the increasing concerns about this potent synthetic opioid. Here’s what you need to know:

What is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a powerful opioid painkiller that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. It is often mixed with other drugs, making it extremely dangerous and increasing the risk of overdose.

Why Awareness is Critical:

- Increasing Prevalence:Fentanyl is appearing more frequently in illegally manufactured drugs, posing a significant risk to young people.

- Overdose Risks: Even a tiny amount of fentanyl can cause a fatal overdose. This makes it particularly dangerous if individuals unknowingly consume it.

How Families Can Support at Home

— Your Middle School Counselor, Ms. Camacho scamacho@florenceisd.net

Happy October from Ms. Camacho!

This month at FMS, our Capturing Kids' Hearts word of the month is Responsibility. We’re encouraging students to take ownership of their actions, choices, and commitments—both in and out of the classroom. Being responsible means following through with what you say you’ll do, being honest when mistakes happen, and doing your best without reminders. At home, parents can support this by setting clear expectations, encouraging their child to manage their own homework and chores, and praising them for demonstrating responsibility. Simple routines, like checking their planner together or talking about daily goals, can help build strong habits that last a lifetime.

Attached are this month's CKH family newsletters!

Health screenings will be done at FMS the first 3 weeks of November (Nov 2-20).

This includes vision, hearing, scoliosis & acanthosis screenings.

See attached parent letter for more information.

• Reminders for students to bring water bottles daily to help stay hydrated.
• Do not send or bring student to school if fever (100.0), vomiting, or diarrhea.

Any questions? Please contact Nurse Melissa Tipsword at mtipsword@florenceisd.net

718 S. Patterson Avenue
Florence, TX 76527
Phone: 254-793-2504

BuffsBeTheBestTheyCanBe!