FORESTBROOK MIDDLE NEWS

WEEK AT A GLANCE

9/7 SCHOOL CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY

9/8 💛 WEAR YELLOW FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS! 💛

9/8 International Literacy Day

9/9 Lady Braves Soccer Interest Meeting in Lecture Hall 9 AM

9/9 6th Grade Snack Sale at Dismissal

9/9 Basketball Workouts - GIRLS 3:45 - 5:15 PM

9/9 FMS Football at Aynor Middle 6 - 8 PM

9/10 Crochet Club Meeting in LLC 3:30 - 4:30 PM

9/10 Basketball Workouts - BOYS 6 - 7:30 PM

9/11 FCA 7:45 in the Lecture Hall

9/11 Library Sale in Main Hallway 7:45 AM

9/11 FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY at Recess (Lemons & Dough)

GATOR BITES

COGAT TESTING!!

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) is a multiple-choice K-12 assessment that measures reasoning skills with different types of verbal, quantitative and nonverbal questions. The CogAt is a group-administered aptitude test commonly given as an entrance exam into the school's gifted programs. CogAT testing referrals are being accepted through September 11, 2026. If you want your student to participate, please fill out the form linked below. You may also contact Gloria Alderman with any questions at galderman@horrycountyschools.net

COGAT REFERRAL FORM

Each week I announce a “Word of the Week” during morning announcements. Students are challenged to come see me when I’m out and about on campus and use the word correctly in a sentence. If they use it correctly with context clues, they get a small prize and sweet treat. This is just one more small way to get our students thinking about vocabulary and expanding their personal work banks.

Classes are currently visiting our Library Learning Commons (LLC) to check out books with their ELA teachers. Please remind your student to always have a book to read on Fridays for DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) during Gator Time. This is another piece of our school Literacy Plan. We encourage all students to take advantage of this quiet time to read and enjoy a book of their choice.

The Socastee Cluster of schools is holding our 2nd annual Literacy Under the Lights event on Thursday, September 17th at Braves Stadium. Bring a good book, beach chair or blanket, and come with your family. Gates open at 5:30 PM. We will have reading time, interactive tables, and food trucks on site. See you there!

Enjoy the long weekend and see everyone back in the Swamp on Tuesday, September 8th.

Melissa Rutenberg, Principal

BEANSTACK WINNERS!!

We have our first Beanstack winners! Congratulations Gators!!

Camryn Santangelo, 8th grade

Zuri Lozada-Hernandez, 7th grade

Grant Scott, 6th grade

Camryn Santangelo, 8th grade

Zuri Lozada-Hernandez, 7th grade

Grant Scott, 6th grade

Important Message from Socastee High School

Brave Fans: We are excited for our first home football game tomorrow night! As I’m sure you’ve heard, many schools and districts near us have implemented safety measures at football games “requiring anyone under 18 to have a high school ID present or be accompanied by an adult.” All individuals must remain in the designated seating area for their team and must be accompanied by an adult if decided to move around.

We want all of you to enjoy the game in a pleasant and safe environment. We DO NOT want to implement a similar policy, but we can only do so with your help. Roughhousing, throwing items, and/or using profane language are strictly prohibited and cause for removal. Thank you for your support. Go Braves!

LADY BRAVES SOCCER

The Girl's Soccer Coach for SHS will be holding a meeting for any girls interested in playing Soccer on September 9th @ 9:00 AM in the lecture hall.

BASKETBALL

Basketball workouts will begin on Setpember 2nd! Girls will meet in the gym right after school. Boys will meet in the gym at 6 PM. All students must have an account and approved physical in Arbiter to participate. Questions ... contact Coach Hughes at jhughes001@horrycountyschools.net (boys) or Coach Remmers-Ray at kremmersray@horrycountyschools.net (girls).

CAREER DAY

Calling All Career Professionals: share your expertise and inspire the next generation at our upcoming Gator Career Day on March 25, 2027. The FMS Counseling Dept is seeking volunteers from all industries to lead hands‑on activities that give students real-world insight and motivation. Please click the button below to register and one of our school counselors will follow up to confirm your participation.

Interested in contributing to workforce development and student career readiness? Sign up today and help shape our future!

CAREER DAY REGISTRATION

We are so excited to see all of our Gators back together for another school year. We look forward to our students meeting their new teachers, making new friends, and reconnecting with their old ones.

I have a few updates and reminders to Gator Parents:

Breakfast and lunch are available to all our students free of charge. Please encourage your child to start each morning with a healthy breakfast. Bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day. Your student may want to bring an extra set of clothes in the event of a spill, wardrobe malfunction, or dress code violation. We are unable to provide clothing to students.

If your child has a life-threatening allergy or medical condition, please be certain to report it to the school nurse. If your child requires rescue medication at school, please consult their pediatrician.

To prevent the spread of illness, please do not send a child to school when they are sick.

Immunizations: Current 7th graders. Please be certain to submit proof of your child's Tdap vaccination, which is a statewide requirement. Students who are not immunized will be unable to attend school. An immunization notice was sent to all parents of rising 7th graders if a current working phone number, address, or email address was available in Power School. Students without an updated SC Certificate of Immunization are subject to suspension after September . Religious Exemptions obtained from SC DHEC are accepted.

Please contact me with any questions. My email address is mkeller001@horrycountyschools.net, office phone fax 843-903-7463, 843-236-8065.

Welcome back to the FMS Library! Remember if you owe any books to any other Horry County Schools location, you can give them to us, and we will send them to the correct school for you! Bring your books or replacement fines to Ms. Moore in the Library so we can clear your account.

Want to support our Library? Sign up for Friends of the Library, our first subscription program, and get tons of perks throughout the school year, including a gift bag every month! It contains bookmarks, candy, a 3D mini, and a craft or coupon. To sign up, please fill out this form and send your donation to the Library, just $20 for the entire year: https://forms.gle/y6J8PeFbeeTcn4Kj6

Want to get an exclusive 3D item delivered to you in your Homeroom every month? Sign up for our 3D Buddies Program, our second subscription program! In addition to getting a 3D item every month, 3D Buddies are the only students with access to purchase Fred the Frog! Sign up through this form and bring your subscription fee to the Library, just $20 for the entire year: https://forms.gle/8W47ERcwWQ2RoDJz8

We also have a BRAND NEW subscription program for the Library this year - Monthly Mini Maniacs! For only $5 for the entire year, you can get a mini 3D item delivered to you in your Homeroom every month. You can also sign up through the form, and bring your subscription fee to the Library: https://forms.gle/8W47ERcwWQ2RoDJz8

Want to learn more about any of our three Library subscription programs? Find more info here:

https://canva.link/mq6p2d2gxc81dtn and here: https://sites.google.com/g.horrycountyschools.net/forestbrookmiddlelibrary/support-the-llc#h.3ezync9l7447

Want to donate to the Library? We have an Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/15QB5NNU55UQX?ref_=wl_share

Interested in the Library? Get to know all about us and our policies on our Library Website - https://sites.google.com/g.horrycountyschools.net/forestbrookmiddlelibrary/home

ALL students who are given permission to recieve a PDL device during the registration process and do not have any outstanding fines on their account, will be issued a laptop. If they did not recieve permission during registration, a permission form will be sent home with them and must be signed and returned before they will be issued a device.

ALL MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS will be leaving their devices at school at the end of the day. Students are not allowed to take their laptops home unless a written request for special permission is submitted to and approved by Mrs. Rutenberg. The yearly $25 TECHNOLOGY FEE is still required in order to minimize damage fines if and when damage occurs. If you have not yet paid the technology fee for the 26-27 school year, the money can be sent in with your student and given to the bookkeeper.

If your student does not receive a device, they may owe fines from a previous year. You should have received an email, letter or phone call with this information. Payments may be sent to school with your student and given to the bookkeeper or the fine can be paid on MyPaymentsPlus.com. If you wish to turn in a missing/lost device that you have been charged for, the fine can be removed.

If you have any questions regarding fines, fees or technology policy, you may email Ginger Bullock at gbullock@horrycountyschools.net.

CLICK HERE FOR BREAKFAST AND LUNCH MENUS

All students in Horry County Schools will receive free breakfast and lunch for the upcoming 2026-27 school year as part of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.

Students will still have the option to purchase additional meals, food & snack items, and beverages at à la carte prices. À la carte items can be paid for in cash or by prepayment on the student’s cafeteria account. Charging for à la carte sales is not allowed. Prepayments can be made by cash or check at your child’s school cafeteria or with a debit card by setting up an account at myschoolbucks.com. Any charges remaining on a student’s cafeteria account from a prior school year are still the parent’s responsibility. If needed, payment arrangements for larger balances can be made by contacting the school cafeteria manager.

HELPFUL LINKS AND INFO

Are you following us??

Hey Gator families! This fabulous Newsletter goes out twice a week. But you can stay in the know with all things FMS by following us on our social media accounts.

Come see us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/forestbrookmiddleschoolgators

And follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/forestbrookmiddleschoolgators?igsh=MTlmeHJ1N2c5NzcxeA==

You can also stay up to date on school closings, weather announcements and district news by visiting our newly designed district and school websites at:

https://www.horrycountyschools.net/

https://fm.horrycountyschools.net/

FMS SPIRIT WEAR!!

Great news Gators! The spiritwear store is up and running! We have 12 awesome designs and lots of merchandise to choose from! Shop by clicking the link below and thank you PTO!!!

https://www.forestbrookspiritwear.com/

SPIRIT ROCK!!

Hey Forestbrook, we have a spirit rock! If you would like to rent the rock for a special birthday or shout-out, simply go to the spirit rock website below and follow the steps. It’s $25 for 24 hours. We are now taking reservations! Be the first to paint the rock!

https://form.jotform.com/232264372505149