School Hours

7:30am-1:50pm

Wednesday Dismissal @ 12:50pm

The building is open

from 7:00am to 3:00pm.

Pillar of the Month: November: Citizenship

Nov 11 Veteran’s Day – Student / Teacher Holiday Nov 12 SAC Meeting 2:45 Media Center Nov 12-21 Food Drive Nov 14 Screenagers @ 6:30pm Nov 15 Interims Issued Nov 27-29 Thanksgiving Break – Student/Teacher Holiday Dec 20 2nd Quarter/First Semester ends

“ H O M E O F T H E F L Y E R S ”

Fruit Cove Middle School

“THE PILOT”

3180 Racetrack Rd 904-547-7880

November 8, 2019 Bi-Weekly Newsletter

Fruit Cove Middle School will inspire in all students good character and a passion for lifelong learning, creating educated and caring contributors to the world.

Mission Statement

Important Dates

Character Counts!

Congratulations to Josh Katz who received the Character Counts award for outstanding character displayed in middle school!

Screenagers

Parents and students together! Join us for a special screening of “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” on November 14, 2019 at 6:30pm in the Fruit Cove Multi Purpose room. This documentary explores the impact of screen technology on kids and offers parents and families proven solutions that work. For more information, see the complete flyer at the end of this newsletter.

Drama Club

Attention Drama Club cast of Madagascar! Please make sure to have transportation at school by 4:00! The teachers cannot leave until all students have been picked up. Thank you

December 8—Jazz Ensemble @ Jaguars game

The FCMS Jazz Ensemble will be playing at the December 8th Jaguar Game. To celebrate this opportunity, we are doing a joint fundraiser with the Jags. FCMS families can buy tickets to any of the three Jaguars

games in December and $5 per ticket will be donated back to the band. See the flyer at the end of this newsletter for more information.

Thank you Fruit Cove Middle School staff and students for raising $1253.51 for the Coins for the Cure Coin Drive. Special mentions to the following homerooms: Ms. Bavuso, Ms. Doemel, Ms. Disken, and Ms.

White’s class. The third runner up for our Coins for the Cure Fundraiser Contest was Ms. Ottenstein’s class for raising $66.41. Second runner up was Mr. Porter’s class who raised $97.96. And finally, the winner, who raised a total of $106.29 and will receive a donut party, is

Ms. Reichard’s class! Thanks for you do to be a good citizen and support our community.

Students in Mr. Villadoniga’s Spanish classes raised over $225 by participating in UNICEF’s annual Trick or Treat donation fundraiser! Well done! All proceeds will be

used by UNICEF’s programs to benefit children in the developing world.

Spanish Students support UNICEF

Coins for the Cure

Fruit Cove Families! We are selling tickets to the 75th annual TaxSlayer Bowl on January 2, 2020. This is a fun event for the whole family. The match up will be one SEC team against a Big Ten team, an ACC team or Notre Dame. Tickets are regularly $60 each. You may buy them from us before November 15 for just $25. Funds raised will go to support the WEB program at Fruit Cove Middle School. Tickets are purchased and delivered through the following link: bit.ly/tsgbschool_fruitcovemiddle. Thank you for your support!

WEB News: TaxSlayer Bowl

NJHS & WEB Community Service

NJHS and WEB will be sponsoring a canned food drive for local food pantries. We will begin collecting items on Tuesday, November 12 and continue until Thursday, November 21. Please bring in nonperishable food items during those days to help local families have great Thanksgiving. The “Rock Your Socks” Drive sponsored by the NJHS and WEB was a “rocking” success! We collected over 1300 pairs or new and slightly used socks for homeless shelters in St. Johns County, far

exceeding our goal! Thanks to everyone who donated to this worthwhile cause!

Do you love math? And having fun? Open to all: Grades 6-8 Join us in Ms. Amorgianos’ Room 330 First meeting 11/14/2019

A national program that gives students in grades 6-8 the opportunity to play fun math games in a non-competitive, social environment. Want to compete? There is an opportunity for a MathCounts Competition in the Spring. A national program that provides students in grades 6-8 the opportunity to compete in live, in-person contests against and alongside their peers. Registration details will be give at the Math Club meeting but competition is NOT required to join the club!

Math Counts Math Club

Attendance Information

If your child is absent, please send a note in to the front office within 48 hours of your student’s return to school. Please do not email attendance notes. Also, if you are writing a personal note, please be sure to include the reason for the absence.

If you have questions about our attendance policy, please refer to the St. Johns County School district’s attendance policy in your student’s planner (or on our website) regarding excused and unexcused absences. FCMS follows the district’s policy. In general, travel and family events/emergencies are not excused absences. Illness, doctor appointments, and funerals of close relatives are excused absences.

If you need further clarification, please contact Ginny Michalski, Attendance Clerk.

Yearbook Information

FCMS announces the Fruit Cove Middle School National History Day school-wide competition. National History Day, formerly known as History Fair, is open to any FCMS student who wishes to participate in this voluntary opportunity to explore historical topics of personal interest and develop research, reading, and critical thinking skills.

National History Day is an “academic program focused on historical research, interpretation and creative expression for 6th to 12th grade students. By participating in

NHD, students become writers, filmmakers, web designers, playwrights and artists as they create unique contemporary expressions of history. The experience culminates in a series of contests at the local and affiliate levels and an annual national competition in the nation's capital in June.” (nhd.org)

Student work will be judged in a school-wide competition on January 27, 2020. Winners from the school competition will go on the district-level competition on March 4, 2020.

Students who are interested in more information should visit www.nhd.org as well as see their social studies teacher.

National History Day

Sports Information

The students are to bring a 3 ring binder for PE on Wednesdays. We are also in need of latex free band aids, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, baby wipes.

FCMS – BASKETBALL TRYOUT INFORMATION 2019-2020

You must have an FHSAA sports physical or FHSAA sports physical waiver turned in before the tryout date. You must have your name on the back of your shirt for tryouts. Once you have made the team, you will need to turn in a FHSAA sports physical.

2019-2020 Fruit Cove Middle School Basketball Schedule Tryout Schedule 2:00-4:00 PM

6th Grade Girls Tuesday November 12 7th Grade Girls Wednesday November 13 8th Grade Girls Thursday November 14 Call Backs Friday November 15 6th Grade Boys Monday November 18 7th Grade Boys Tuesday November 19 8th Grade Boys Thursday November 21 Call Backs Friday November 22

PRACTICE SCHEDULE: BEGINS DECEMBER 2

GIRLS: Monday – Friday 2:00-4:00pm Except game day BOYS: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 4:00-6:00pm, Wednesday 3:00-5:00pm, Friday 2:00-4:00pm

GAME SCHEDULE

Girls play at 5:30 Boys play at 6:30 January 14 @ Mill Creek Academy January 16 Murray Middle School January 23 Liberty Pines Academy January 28 Pacetti Bay Middle School January 30 @ Gamble Rogers Middle School February 4 Switzerland Point Middle School February 6 @ Patriot Oaks Academy February 11 Sebastian Middle School February 13 Freedom Crossing Academy February 20 @ Palm Valley AcademyA February 25 @ Landrum Middle School February 27 @ Valley Ridge Academy

March 3 Bye March 5 Play offs

Athletic Website: www-fcs.stjohns.k12.fl.us/athletics

PE Uniforms through School Pay or an order form (see student’s PE Coach)

Helping Your Child Stay Organized

Homework Area: Take a look at your child’s homework space. If it is cluttered, help your child make decisions on what is necessary to keep, recycle, or file. Planner/Agenda Book: Inspect your child’s planner/agenda book. Parents should make sure their child is using this great resource by observing if there are assignments written down inside. Backpacks: Parents should be encouraging their child to regular ly clean out his or her backpack. Any loose papers should be filed immediately. Binders: Ver ify that your child has an effective way to store and access impor tant papers. Labeling binders/folders and keeping them easily accessible is key. Family Calendars: Having a family calendar filled with dates (such as doctor appointments, practices, events, even chores) can be very useful as well as a good way to model for your children the importance of remaining organized.

Thoughts from the Guidance Team

Cross Country News

The FCMS girls XC team took 2nd on Saturday, October 26 in the Middle School State Finals Meet in Lake-land Florida! The boys team finished 4th! Philippine Ridel, Isabella Cardenas, and Matt Ryan finished in the

top 10 in the state! These young athletes are among the very best middle school runners in the state of Florida. Great job!

Parents: The front office will NOT accept and deliver forgotten homework, PE uniforms, band instruments, school supplies, or projects after 7:45am. Students are responsible for bringing these items to school. Students

are responsible for their own work and supplies. The only exception to this policy is lunch or lunch money. Delivered lunches will be on a cart in the cafeteria. Thank you for your cooperation.

Front Office Memo

School Website

<http://www-fcs.stjohns.k12.fl.us> Visit often for up-to-date information about our school!

Don’t forget to check the Peachjar for eflyers about community events.

Personal Checks

Parents: Please remember if you send a check in for any reason, it must have the following to be accepted: Maker’s name, physical address (no PO boxes) and one phone number including area code.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Parents: In a continuing effort to provide safety and security to our students and staff we ask that you complete a School Access Form if you plan to enter a facility in the St. Johns County School District. The link for the School Access Form and related information can be found on the FCMS homepage or at: https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/volunteer/. This includes if you would like to meet with a guidance counselor, teacher, or volunteer for special activities such as the book fair, field trips, school dances or other activities. Any person going beyond the front office area of a school must have a completed school access form, and present a valid driver’s license or state identification card when signing into a school. To check your status, contact the school which you wish to enter two weeks after completion of the school access form. It is suggested that the form be completed right away, as it can take two to six weeks to process. Once school access has been granted, a person signs into the school as a volunteer, and chooses the activity that best describes what he/she will be doing in the school. Driver’s license and state identification card are required upon each sign in.

Building Security

Lunchboxes!

Students, if you are missing a lunch box or water bottle, please check the cart (top and bottom) in the lunchroom. We have quite a collection of items missing their people!

Also, please remember to check the cart at lunchtime if you think your parent may be dropping off a lunch for you. We no longer call you down to the front office to pick up your lunch.

The Make a Mark Award is a special award honoring teachers in St. Johns County who encourage their students to make their mark on the world. When a teacher invests in their students, they can inspire them to persevere and not give up! A winner will be chosen each month from an elementary and a secondary school by students & community business partners. Winners will receive a copy of the book, The Dot, with a thank you for ALL they do from INK! and Beaver Toyota. If you wish to nominate someone, go to <https://ink-stjohns.org/make-a-mark/. Clink on the link to nominate a teacher works hard to inspire his/her students. For any questions or more information, email Davey Hartzel at David.Hartzel@stjohns.k12.fl.us

Make a Mark Award

Mark your calendars for our next spirit nights! A portion of the sales goes to the PTO to support school projects. November 13 at McDonald’s at 490 State Road 13. December 9 at Mandarin Chick-fil-A at 3280 Oak Bluff Lane and San Jose Blvd.

Come hear our choir and band perform throughout the night and vote for the FCMS holiday tree in the decorating contest!

PTO NEWS

Coming Soon – The 8th Grade Semi-Formal Dance is tentatively scheduled for February 21, 2020. If you would like to join us in

making this a memorable experience for all our 8th graders, please email katherineloper@hotmail.com by November 16! We would like to have at least one planning meeting before

Christmas break.

FALL FUNDRAISER ORDERS ARE DUE NOVEMBER 20.

Register your student to sell or shop online at WWW.SHOPFUND.COM.

We are halfway to our goal, so please help us!

PTO NEWS

SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in the Digital Age Showing: 6:30pm, 11/14 @ FCMS

Student(s) and Parent(s) to attend together

SCREENAGERS: Growing Up in The Digital Age has been screened more than 8,000 times to four million people in more than 70 countries around the world.. With multiple screenings happening daily in communities across the globe, SCREENAGERS is the first feature documentary to explore the impact of screen technology on kids and offer parents and families proven solutions that work. What started out as a personal story for one has grown into a national movement, helping millions of teens and their families navigate growing up in a world with instant access to screens. ABOUT Physician and filmmaker, Delaney Ruston decided to make SCREENAGERS when she found herself constantly struggling with her two kids about screen time. Ruston felt guilty and confused, not sure what limits were best, especially around mobile phones, social media, gaming, and how to monitor online homework. Hearing repeatedly how other parents were equally overwhelmed, she realized this is one of the biggest, unexplored parenting issues of our time. As a director, Ruston turned the camera on her own family and others—revealing stories of messy struggles over social media, video games, academics and internet addiction. We meet Hannah, a 14- year old victim of social media bullying who struggled trying to hide her social media use from her mom. And Andrew, whose love of video games turned into an addiction taking him from earning straight A’s to flunking out of college. Interwoven into these stories, are cutting edge science and insights from thought leaders Peggy Orenstein, Sherry Turkle, Simon Sinek, as well as leading brain scientists who present evidence on the real changes in the brain when kids are on screens. SCREENAGERS goes far beyond exposing the risks of screen time, it reveals multiple approaches on how parents and educators can work with kids to help them achieve a healthy amount of screen time. Movie Themes

Use of screens in school

Boys and video games

Girls and social media

Risk of addiction Testimonials "Sit your kids down and watch this movie. Sit on them if you have to. It's a MUST SEE for anyone with kids in their lives!" - Martha Adams, Chief Creative Officer for Girls Rising "I saw "Screenagers" two days ago at my son's school IS276 NYC. It was an incredible eye-opener to me...Most that was presented was not new to me, but the way it was presented got

The St. Johns County School District curriculum department representatives and adoption committee members are currently con-ducting the review process for the 2019-2020 Instructional Materials Adoption for Career and Technical Education, Computer Sci-ence, and Foreign Languages resources. Please click here http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/media/instructional-resources-media-services/textbooks/adoption/ to obtain access to the resources that are available for review. The core resources that have been sub-mitted for evaluation have come from the state adoption consideration lists when available. Additional resources for programs may be reviewed from materials listed as appropriate for the program indicated. If you are interested in serving on an adoption re-view committee, please contact the principal or assistant principal.

Resource lists may be revised throughout the review process. Please check the website frequently for updates.

Some print materials may be available for review. If you would like access to available printed materials, or require assistance re-viewing the online resources, please call the Instructional Resources and Media Services office at 904.547.3947. Materials are avail-able for review, by appointment, from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, when district offices are open.

Please note the following Florida statute regarding instructional materials that pertains to parent input regarding adopted materials:

F.S. 1006.28 (1)(a)(3). Each district school board must establish a process by which the parent of a public school stu-dent or a resident of the county may contest the district school board’s adoption of a specific instructional material. The parent or resident must file a petition, on a form provided by the school board, within 30 calendar days after the adop-tion of the material by the school board. The school board must make the form available to the public and publish the form on the school district’s website. The form must be signed by the parent or resident, include the required contact information, and state the objection to the instructional material based on the criteria of s. 1006.31(2) or s. 1006.40(3)(d). Within 30 days after the 30-day period has expired, the school board must, for all petitions timely received, conduct at least one open public hearing before an unbiased and qualified hearing officer. The hearing officer may not be an em-ployee or agent of the school district. The hearing is not subject to the provisions of chapter 120; however, the hearing must provide sufficient procedural protections to allow each petitioner an adequate and fair opportunity to be heard and present evidence to the hearing officer. The school board’s decision after convening a hearing is final and not sub-ject to further petition or review.

Business Partners

Thanks so much to our Business Partners for supporting Fruit Cove Middle School!