FCAT season is just around the corner. Please be sure to schedule appointments and oth-

er events around this schedule. It is important that your child be here on time and ready

to go on test days. Even though make-up days are available, the optimum testing situa-

tion has been arranged on school-wide testing days. Everyone is aware of the high

stakes that have been attached to your child’s performance on the FCAT—mandatory

retention, next year’s schedule and high school placement. It is easy to feel helpless, but

there are some things that you can do to ensure that your child is in the best state of

mind to put forth his/her best effort on test days.

Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep.

Provide a good, healthy breakfast. Protein like eggs or bacon give kids energy to help them

think.

Have your child dress in layers—kids do better if they don’t have to think about how hot or

cold they are.

Don’t be too anxious. Tell your child, “This test is important. I know you will try hard and do

your best.”

On test day, remind your child of these tips:

1. Skip a question and move on if you don’t know them answer.

You can come back to it later.

2. Check your answers carefully. Make sure the numbers of your

answers correspond to the numbers of the questions.

Mowat Middle School M A R C H 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 7

Ed Sheffield

Principal

Cynthia Walker

Assistant Principal

Angela Reese

Administrative

Assistant

Elizabeth Swedlund

Administrative

Assistant

Mowat Guidance

767-4041

Crystal Wicker A-K

Nancy Smith L-Z

Office 850-767-4040

Fax 850-265-2179 Principal’s Corner by Ed Sheffield

Dates to Remember

Spring Pictures– 3/7

Spring Break– 3/24-3/28

P A G E 2

“Children must be

taught how to think,

not what to think.”

― Margaret Mead

Please be kind...some

noses are sensitive to

certain perfumes, co-

logne, and/or body

sprays. Remember to

keep to a minimum.

M O W A T M I D D L E S C H O O L

Go Mustangs! School Lunch

Breakfast: $1.50

Lunch:$2.50

For free and reduced meals contact

the school for an application. For

paying online go to

www.schoolpaymentsolutions.com

You will need your student’s 10-

digit school identification number.

Yearbooks are on sale

for $50

BOOKS ARE LIMITED!!!

Bring cash or check to

Mrs. Vaughn in room

505

Make checks payable to

Mowat Yearbook

T-Shirt Days

March 7th

March 21st

Sign up online

http://www.bay.k12.fl.us/Parents/

ParentPortal.aspx

7th graders….Make

certain your shot

records are up to

date!

SGA

SGA is holding its annual

fundraising drive for the

Leukemia and Lymphoma

Society from now un-

til February 14th. All pro-

ceeds will be donat-

ed. Students are encour-

aged to bring change to

place in their sixth period

teacher's collection

box. The sixth period class

that collects the most do-

nations will win a pizza par-

ty for lunch on February

28th. Start looking for

some extra change and

bring it in to help us make

a difference!

Beta Club will hold its regularly

scheduled meeting on Thursday,

March 6 at 8:15 in

room 606.

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 7

PBS, Positive Behavior Supports, is in it’s third year at Mowat.

Each month, Mustangs learn a new character trait that exemplifies the acronym

RACE (Respect, Act responsibly, Care for others, Engaged). As Mustangs pre-

pare for high school and beyond, they are becoming responsible and building

character. Students are able to earn RACE tickets randomly when caught fol-

lowing school rules or being a good citizen. Caught Reading tickets are earned

by students caught reading during less structured time such as lunch or before

school. Weekly drawings are held for prizes such as $10 Itunes cards, restau-

rant gift cards, candy ,trinkets, etc. A selection of novels is available to those

names drawn for Caught Reading. If you would like to donate prizes or funds to

assist with this ongoing program, please contact Angela Reese, Administrative

Assistant, 767-4040.

Mowat will NOT BE ALLOWING

BLACK PANTS. Like always, bot-

toms must be khaki, denim (indigo

blue) or navy blue. If students wear

hoodies (tops with hoods that must

be pulled over their heads), they

MUST be either a Mowat hoodie or

plain navy blue, yellow or

white. Students will be required to

remove any non-dress code

hoodie. If your student gets cold in

the classroom now, or

as you are purchasing clothing for

the fall, be sure they have a jacket that

fastens in the front with a

zipper or buttons (must unzip all the

way, not partial zipper). If

your student has holes in his or her

pants, even the decorative

variety, they will be required to

change into another pair of

pants--which parents will be called to

bring--regardless of where the

holes are located.

There have been comments in the

News Herald that the dress code is

confusing, so I wanted to clarify

things for Mowat families. The only

change in our dress code is that

students no longer are required to

tuck in their shirts. They still have

to wear belts. They still

must wear a collared shirt in

Mowat colors: navy blue, yellow or

white, or Mowat spirit t-shirts. The

district dress code policy

allows for black pants at the discre-

tion of the principal; however,

Dress Code Mustang’s

RACE

Respect

Act Responsibly

Care for Others

Engaged

Class RotationClass RotationClass Rotation

Rotation 1: 1,2,3,4,5,6Rotation 1: 1,2,3,4,5,6Rotation 1: 1,2,3,4,5,6

Rotation 2: 3,4,5,6,1,2Rotation 2: 3,4,5,6,1,2Rotation 2: 3,4,5,6,1,2

Rotation 3: 5,6,1,2,3,4Rotation 3: 5,6,1,2,3,4Rotation 3: 5,6,1,2,3,4

Mustangs

RACE!

ESE NEWSLETTER

This newsletter is provided by Bay District Schools for

parents of ESE students. Please visit the link to access

the newsletter. If you would like a paper copy, please

stop by the guidance office.

http://paec.org/wp_paec/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/

Bay-Fall-13-Newsletter.pdf

Attention 8th Graders

and Parents attending

the Washington DC Trip

Don’t forget, the deadline for

final payment on the trip

is March 13, 2014. If you

need to make other arrange-

ments, or will not be going

with us, please contact

Worldstrides. If you are a

parent attending the trip,

you MUST be fingerprinted

BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

and PRESENT PROOF ASAP.

For more information or if

you have any questions, con-

tact Mrs. Piotrowski by e-

mail, piotrl@bay.k12.fl.us ,

or by phone, 850-767-4040.

PTO will be meeting on Thursday, March 20th at 3:45PM in the me-

dia center. It would be great to see some new faces!

Prevent Cyberbullying

*Be Aware of What Your Kids

are Doing Online

*Establish Rules about

Technology Use

*Understand School Rules

P A G E 4

Library Hours

The media center is open before school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. It is open after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students who stay after school to work in the media center must have a ride and be picked up by 4:30.

Seventh Grade

Mowat's Seventh Grade Class is

selling Sonic Discount cards for

$5. All of the money collected

stays with us. These little cards

would make great Easter basket

gifts or would be a nice treat for a

terrific progress report or report

card. Contact Denise Hinson if you

are interested in buying any

at hinsodl@bay.k12.fl.us.

Book Fair is Coming!

The spring book fair will be held in the

Mowat Media center from March 10-14.

Our theme is Book Fair Fiesta. Proceeds

from the book fair support technology and

materials for our library. Volunteers are

welcome. It is especially busy from 8-8:45

in the morning, so if you can spare an hour,

please contact Mrs. Balmer at-

balmebl@bay.k12.fl.us.

Mustang Sports

Schedule

V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 7 P A G E 5

Upcoming FCAT/EOC schedule:

4/14-4/24 6th grade computer-based reading

4/14 7th grade paper-based math

4/14 8th grade paper-based math

4/16-4/24 7th grade computer-based reading

4/16 8th grade paper-based science

4/22-5/1 8th grade computer-based reading

4/22-5/1 6th grade computer-based math

5/5-5/9 7th grade Civics EOC

5/12-5/15 Algebra I Honors EOC

5/20 Geometry Honors EOC

Computer-based tests are given over a period of one (math) or two (reading) days. For your child's specific testing date(s), please contact his/her content area teacher. All EOCs

are one day, computer-based. This information is also available on the district website un-der the "parent" tab.

Boys / Girls Track

Thurs. March 13 Surfside, Mowat, NBH, BH @ GAVLAK

Tues. March 18 Merritt Brown, Surfside, Everitt, Mowat

Balloons or Flowers Delivered to School:

We know that , as parents, we like to let our children know that they are

very special. We encourage you to continue to recognize your chil-

dren on special occasions, but we ask that you consider whether

school is the appropriate place to do so.

Students are NOT allowed to receive flowers and balloons during

school hours due to disruptions they may cause in classrooms,

around school, and on the buses.

THESE ITEMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AT SCHOOL!

BYOD

Bay District Schools is committed to aiding students and staff in cre-

ating a 21st century learning environment. Students and staff will

now be able to access our wireless network with their personal mo-

bile devices ( laptops, netbooks, tablets, smartphones, etc) during

the school day. With classroom teacher approval, stu-

dents may use their own devices to access the in-

ternet and collaborate with other students. Stu-

dents may NOT have their devices out between

classes, before school, or in the classroom without

teacher permission. All devices are the responsibility of the

student; the school will not be held responsible for lost or damaged

devices.

Menus, nutrition information,

and prices can be found @

http://chartwells.compass-usa.com/BDS/Pages/SiteMenus.aspx

P A G E 6

The Dance Team will have

the Mandatory Parent

Meeting April 16th at

5:30pm in the li-

brary. Anyone who would

like to tryout must have a

parent/guardian attend the

meeting to be eligible for

tryouts. Dance

Team tryouts

will be May 5th-

8th from 3:30-

5:30 in the

Gym.

Attendance Line before and after school: 850-767-4042

If your student is absent for ANY reason, you must contact the school.

Chick-fil-a sandwiches are now

on sale in the cafeteria for $3.75

as an a la carte item.

Parent Pick-up/ Parking Please be mindful of those picking up/dropping off students in front of the gym. If you are parked

in the traffic pattern, you are impeding progress of those whose students are already in the pick-

up zone. Parent parking is available in our sand lot in front of the gym.

Please utilize this area if you know your child may

be running a little late in the afternoon.

**Note: Teacher parking is the lot directly in front of the gym.

Please avoid pick up and drop

off in our bus loading zone.

V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 7 P A G E 7

Saturday, March 8th at 11 am in the Arnold High School Auditorium, the Ad-

vanced Band will be participating in the Florida Bandmasters Association Concert

Band Music Performance Assessment. They will perform three prepared pieces

on stage for a panel of 3 adjudicators and perform two pieces in Sight-reading for

1 adjudicator. The band will be evaluated on how well they perform all five piec-

es of music based on the Florida Bandmasters Association criteria. FBA uses the

following rating system when evaluating: Superior (I), Excellent (II), Good (III), Fair

(IV), and Poor (V). These ratings are sent to all superintendents, school boards,

principals, and band directors throughout the state as well as posted on the FBA

website. The performance evaluation is the band’s equivalent to FCAT.

We would love for you to come out and show support for all of the hard work

and dedication these students have put forth in this evaluation.

SGA will be hosting Mowat's Spring Dance on Friday, March 14th from 6-9PM in the gym. Our

theme this year is "A Night in Paris." Tickets will be $5 and will be sold in the cafeteria during lunch Monday,

March 10th through Friday, March 14th and at the door Friday night. Drinks and snacks will be sold. A pho-

tographer will be taking pictures that night as well. Students will receive an order form for the photos once a

ticket is purchased. If anyone is interested in helping us out that night, please contact Denise Hinson

athinsodl@bay.k12.fl.us.

SGA raised $295 during our Pennies for Patients fundraiser. We will be making a total donation of $500 to the Lymphoma and

Cancer Society. Every class helped raise money, and our fabulous cafeteria ladies raised a nice amount by bringing in lots of

pennies. Thank you, Ladies! The class that raised the most and wins a pizza party at lunch was Mr. Cypher's second period

class. Thanks to everyone who donated!

P A G E 8

Sunshine State Young Readers

March is the last month for students to read for the Sunshine State program this year. Voting for favorite books will

take place during the first week of April. Reading 3 books allows a student to vote, 5 books students participate in Battle of

the Books and a party, 10 books an all you can eat ice party and 15 books is a pizza party. Congratulations to Sophie Shaffer,

Celeste Borel and Gracie Bass. They have completed all 15 titles already this year.

Library Events and Dates

March 3 and 19 Technology Club

March 19 Guys Read- Schooled by Gordon Korman

March 20 Books and Brownies- Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

March 10-14- Book Fair

News from the APP

The school info app is now publishing a week-

ly update of school events for parents. Want

to know what’s happening at school? Need a

late pick-up? Cash for a favorite t shirt?

Now you can know on Sunday instead of 8:00

as you go out the door. To receive this up-

date, all you have to do is go to the APP store

for your phone or device. SEARCH Bay Dis-

trict Schools. Download the app. Select

Mowat and you are done!

New Digital Library

Bay District has purchased a license with Overdrive to supply

digital books for our students. If your student likes to read on their

device, here’s how. Go to the app store for your device. Download

Overdrive. Select add library. Search 32401 as the zip code. Add

Bay County School District. From there you can search for books and

borrow them. Students will log on using their computer user name

and password from school. A variety of digital formats are available.

They can borrow up to 3 books at a time and have them for 2 weeks.

After 2 weeks, the book will return to the digital platform. If you

have questions, please contact Mrs. Balmer at balmebl@bay.k12.fl.us.

Students can also read digitally from the Destiny website.

The address is http://destiny.bayschools.net. Select Mowat as the

school choice. Use the Follett Shelf on left side of the catalog tab to

search for ebooks on that site. Students do need to log in to borrow

books here as well.