NOVEMBER 6, 2015

Weekly Newsletter of South Charlotte Middle School

SHOCKER STANDOUTS

Congratulations to Alden Dexter (6th), Judy Bodie-Chapman (7th) and Caitlin Matthews (8th)! They have been selected by teachers as South Charlotte Shocker Standouts. South Charlotte Shocker Standouts are scholarly, honest, optimistic, caring, kind, energetic, and responsible (SHOCKER).

UPCOMING EVENTS…

11/6 Report Cards

11/9 Fall Sports Banquet

11/9-12 Winter Sports Signups

11/11 HOLIDAY

11/12 Fall Band Concert

I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in Middle Grades Education in 1999. I have taught at South Charlotte for a total of 10 years, two years as a 7th grade Science teacher and eight as an 8th grade Science teacher. I am thrilled to be back after a three year absence where my husband’s job took us to Franklin, Tennessee. There is no other school I would rather teach at than South Charlotte Middle School! I was born and raised in Iowa City, Iowa (go Hawkeyes) as the youngest of seven. My father was a Microbiologist and had a passion for Geology as well. I credit my father for fostering in me a love for Science. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and for as long as I can remember, my bedroom was my classroom and my animals were my students. I had a chalkboard and old textbooks from my siblings, and all my students were well behaved and very smart! I have three grown daughters and four grown stepsons, so we are the “Brady Bunch”! Two of my daughters and my daughter-in-law are elementary teachers, so I guess you could say education runs in the family. When I’m not doing school work, I like to spend the day cooking and working in the yard.

Mrs. Smith

8th Grade Science

featured teacher

Paving the Way for the Future

South Charlotte Middle School Annual Fund

Thanks to the generosity of our South Charlotte families, we have received donations totaling just under $29,000 for the Annual Fund. These funds allow us to put much needed resources into the hands of our teachers, staff, and students. This year we are focusing on updating the Media Center with a flexible learning space in order to maximize the use of 1:1 technology.

Please help us reach our $35,000 goal and support the Annual Fund. No amount is too small, and you can donate at any time during the year. Visit the PTO website to donate. Many thanks to the 218 families who have given to the campaign so far.

Want to give back this winter season? Volunteer to be a part of this year’s year's Angel Tree collection at SCMS. We need volunteers to help with money collection, shopping nights, sorting gifts and transporting them to Salvation Army. This is a BIG project and we need as much help as we can get! We are in particular need of people with minivans and bike racks to transport large gifts. Collection information will be coming home with your students next week. Visit http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040f45a4ae292-scms1/1772861 to sign up. Questions? Contact Stacey Ellis at staceyellis11@gmail.com.

If your students have trouble accessing Google Drive at home follow these directions to make your home computer look just like the school Chromebook. This works on any device, PC, Mac, iPad, tablet, or phone. You do not have to own a Chromebook. Please watch this short video https://youtu.be/B5NF0QpSnd0 for directions. If you have any questions, please contact

Mrs. Smith Nelda.smith@cms.k12.nc.us or Ms. Torrence, j.torrence@cms.k12.nc.us. They can also help with password issues.

What’s Happening In… BAND!

Mr. Ratliff has been very busy with all of his band students. The 7th & 8th grade bands are working hard to prepare for the Fall

Band Concert that is coming up on November 12th. Each of the four bands will perform multiple concert pieces. The 6th grade band students are developing their technique, working on posture, embouchure, and hand positions. You may have seen the small, but mighty, Pep Band at the recent Pep Rally.

A Healthier You

Let us take steps to encourage our South Charlotte Middle School family to be the best we can be. Please share your favorite fitness/health app, heart-healthy family recipe and student/family active fitness photos by emailing entries to kristin.kissmann@cms.k12.nc.us_______________________________________________________________________

Pesto Pasta with Chicken Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package bow tie pasta 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon olive oil crushed red pepper flakes to taste 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces 1/2 cup pesto sauce 1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and cut into strips Directions: -Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. -Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic until tender, then stir in chicken. Season with red pepper flakes. -Cook until chicken is golden, and cooked through. In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes and pesto. Toss to coat evenly. Kristin. "Pesto Pasta with Chicken Recipe." Allrecipes. 2015. Web. 26 Oct. 2015.

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Motivational Moments

I am using short 2-3 minute clips (On The Road CBS Nightly News, for ex) to start class occasionally. If you see a particularly good story, please share it with me. Restoring faith in humanity one news clip at a time. Winter will soon be upon us. What small gesture can you do to help? Watch how these two men anonymously help a senior citizen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a-Ou016_3E

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Charlotte area upcoming events: http://www.charlotterunning.com/racecalendar.html

These are just some of the many offerings in the area. Check out the address above for more activities.

10/31 Pumpkin Run Mooresville, NC 11/1 Fight The Flame 5k race/walk Charlotte, NC McAlpine Creek Park 11/1 Charlotte Youth Fit Fest Charlotte, NC 11/21 Turkey Chute Charlotte, NC 12/5 Run Run Rudolph 5k/10k Charlotte, NC 12/12 Jingle Bell Run/Walk Charlotte, NC 2/7 Super Bowl 4 Miler Charlotte, NC 2/27 Krispy Kreme Race- Run for Reading Rock Hill, SC 3/19 Dash for Down Syndrome 5k Charlotte,NC

SHOCKER SPORTS

WINTER TRYOUT INFORMATION

Try outs for Basketball and Cheer are scheduled to begin November 16, 2015. Signups will occur November 9-12 during lunch in the cafeteria.

ALL PAPERWORK MUST BE CORRECTLY COMPLETED AND PRESENT TO SIGN UP FOR TRY OUTS. STUDENTS WITH INCORRECT, OR INCOMPLETE PAPERWORK WILL BE ASKED TO RETURN WITH CORRECT INFORMATION.

No late paperwork will be accepted due to checking eligibility status, and try out preparation. Due November 13, 2015.

Students who participated in fall sports tryouts, DO NOT need to fill out additional paperwork. Just double check physical date to make sure it is current (within 365 days).

Try out specific information will be handed to students at sign ups to inform them on what is needed, assessed, expected, and details on the process.

There will be a tryout information assembly for students during 9th block on November 13, 2015.

NO PAPERWORK can be turned in at the front office or Faxed in; it must will only be accepted at one of the times/dates listed.

Coaches reserve the right to closed tryout sessions. No photography or filming is permitted at try outs. Any of those in violation will be asked to leave.

Physicals must be within 365 days of completion of sport season. Students may use their Primary Healthcare provider, or if insurance has calendar limitations, are suggested to use the CVS Minute Clinic with no appointment for a out of pocket fee of $40.

Contact Coach Sprenger with any individual questions/inquiries.

Required forms include:

CMS Athletic Pre-Participation Form SCMS Athletic Discipline Policy Travel Release Form (golf only) Athletic Honor Code Notice and Release Form (football only) Notice and Release Form (all other sports) Concussion Statement Participation Fee Waiver (if applicable)

SHOCKER SPORTS

CROSS COUNTRY

The Cross Country Team represented SCMS well in the Championship at Cuthbertson Oct. 17th. The 6th, 7th and 8th grade boys placed 5th, the 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls placed 4th (with Maddie St. Amand placing 11th for 6th grade girls and Sarah Lawrence placing 10th for 7th & 8th girls division). The boys placed 4th in the overall Championship with Conall Monahan placing 3rd and Connor Meehan placing 5th in the boys championship.

The team finished out the season with a 5k on Nov. 1st at McAlpine Park to raise money and awareness for RSD.

Thank you for a great season XC Team!

In compliance with federal law, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools administers all education programs, employment activities and admissions without discrimination against any person on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability.

SOUTH CHARLOTTE MIDDLE SCHOOL 8040 Strawberry Lane Charlotte, NC 28277 Phone: 980-343-3670 Fax: 980-343-3725 Office Hours: 7:45 am—4:15 pm Phones answered from 7:45 am—4 pm

GOOD to KNOW...

South Charlotte is a member of the South Learning Community. (980) 343-1463

To report an absence email scms.attendance@cms.k12.nc.us or you may phone the school at 980-343-3670.

Online School Payments (OSP) - CMS has provided us with the opportunity to accept payments for school events on-line. It is much like Athletics Pay-to-Play, comes with a fee (4%), and allows you to pay at your con-venience. If you choose to pay on-line, it also relieves our teachers from the time taken to do the paperwork and to receipt and turn in money or checks. Teachers will continue to take cash and checks as they always have.

Just sign in to: osp.osmsinc.com/CMS

Choose your student’s event and homeroom teacher, and make payment.

The teacher and Financial Secretary are sent advisements of your payment.

We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. Through the year, events will be added including field

trips, textbooks, fees, and other payments.

Re-link your Harris Teeter VIC card! Our TIE number is 1933. http://www.harristeeter.com/community/together_in_education/link_to_your_school.aspx

Need a tutor? Check out our website for a great list.