Issue 4May 2016

Principal’s Letter

For the Parents, Staff & Community of Tuskawilla Middle School

Home of the Golden Falcons!

Main Phone Number407-746-8550

1801 Tuskawilla RoadOviedo, FL 32765

Office Hours 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Fax Number407-746-8526

The mission of the Seminole County Public Schools is to ensure that all Early Childhood Program and PreK - Grade 12 students acquire the knowledge, skills, and

attitudes to be productive citizens in our great country and in the global economy.

Mission Statement

Dear Tuskawilla Parents and Students,

The school year is winding down, and we are preparing for the next school year. The 2015-2016 has been an incredible year filled with many success stories for our students. Our band, chorus, and orchestra programs all received numerous Superior ratings at regional performance competitions. The Junior Thespians, in their first ever competition, came back with all Superior and Excellent awards. Our track, volleyball, cross country, and basketball teams touted strong wins and state-level competitors. The art department supported several students to earn top awards in several art contests as well as representations of beautiful displays at county art shows. Tuskawilla’s Odyssey of the Mind teams also performed strong at the regional competition. As you can see, Tuskawilla supports the “Three A’s”: Academics, Arts, and Athletics. To that end, we can all be very proud of our teachers and our students for earning an A for the 15th year in a row!

I want to welcome our new 6th graders and their parents to Tuskawilla. We also look forward to our 7th graders returning to us as our new 8th grade class! We look forward to meeting you on August 8th, 9:00 AM -12:00 PM, at our Open House and Schedule Pick Up day. That day will give you the opportunity to walk your schedule and meet your teachers. The first day of school for students is August 10th.

Finally, for our departing 8th grade students, I know you are going to do amazing things in the upcoming year, and I am so proud of what you have already accomplished. Remember to always stay focused on your goals and to reach for your dreams. Continue to make Tuskawilla Middle School proud of you. Your teachers and I will miss you, but we know you are ready for the challenges of high school and that you will take the Tuskawilla SPIRIT with you!

As summer time approaches, I wanted to share with you that starting June 10th our office hours will be 8:30 am--4:30 pm and all SCPS schools will be closed on Fridays during the summer.

Warm Regards,

Kate Eglof

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PTSA SCHOOL STORECouldn’t get to the store to pick-up school supplies? The School Store is open from 8:45-9:15 every day. It is located on the 1st floor of Building 5. We have a variety of school supplies, from pencils and notebooks to flash drives and Tri-folds! We also have snacks, water, and Tuskawilla t-shirts and sweatshirts available for purchase. We have a bin of clearance T-shirts from last year for $10 each, while they last. Stop by and see us!

PTSA MEMBERSHIPIf you have not done so already, please consider joining Tuskawilla’s PTSA. Membership is only $5.00 per family. Forms are located in the front office. For PTSA information, check us out on Facebook! Facebook.com/TuskawillaPTSA

Parents-Stay Connected!FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and REMINDTuskawilla has a NEW Facebook page. To follow Tuskawilla Middle School on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/TuskawillaMiddleSchool. “Like us” to keep up-to-date on the latest events at our school!

Follow us on INSTAGRAM @TWMSFalconsinstagram.com/twmsfalcons

Remind 101 is an additional tool of communication between school and parent. Remind 101 allows you to receive text messages from the school for quick updates and announcements. We respect the busy schedules you have and sometimes a simple text is all you need to stay connected. To receive messages via text, text @tuskaw to 407-477-5523. Or to receive messages via email, send an email to tuskaw@mail.remind.com.

ECAMPUSSCPS provides the opportunity for you to observe your student within the district’s Learning Management System known as eCampus. Remember, Observers can view the course content but cannot participate in the course.

To observe a student, you must know the student’s eCampus username and password. The student must be enrolled in the course and must accept the course invitation before you can sign up to observe the student. If you receive an invalid username or password message during the signup process and the student’s credentials are correct, check with the student to verify that he or she has received and accepted the course invitation. These steps must be completed through the web version of Canvas. The observer signup process cannot be done through the mobile app. Go to the following link:

https://scps.instructure.com/

Once there, choose the “Parents sign up here” link, and fill in the appropriate information regarding yourself and your student. Once completed, visit https://scps.instructure.com/login/canvas from your computer to login with your personal e-mail and password.

The PTSA is currently filling positions for the 2016-2017 school year. If interested in becoming a member please contact the PTSA for further information.

Dear Parent or Guardian of Incoming 7Th Grade Students:As you know, the Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) Vaccine is a required immunization in the State of Florida for your child to enter the 7th and we would like to invite your child to participate in our Tdap in School Vaccination Program. We encourage all families to see their primary care physician for this immunization as soon as possible and provide the official 680 form of documentation to your school. However, if you have not or are not planning to see your primary care physician for this vaccination, we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to receive the Tdap Vaccination at your school.

A Tdap consent form is available on the SCPS homepage, TWMS webpage or in the front office. On the reverse side of the consent form is the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Vaccine Information Statement with information about the Tdap Vaccine. The Tdap vaccination clinics will occur at TWMS on THURSDAY, MAY 12th from 1:00-3:45 PM. Visit our webpage or see our Facebook link for more information.

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May 5th- 6th: Algebra EOC

May 11th: Civics EOC

May 18th: SPIRIT Olympics (Field Day)

May 19th: TWMS Awards Night, Lake Howell High School at 6:30PM

May 24th: Early Release, Dismissal at 1:50PM

May 25th: Early Release, Dismissal at 1:50PM

May 26th: Early Release, Dismissal at 1:50PM

PTSAThis year’s 8th Grade Dance theme is A Night at the Grammys. The dance will be held Friday, May 13th 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. @ the Tuskawilla Middle School Cafeteria. There will be a DJ, dancing, door prizes, dinner, photo booth and lots of fun with your friends and classmates! Tickets are $15 and can be purchased during all lunch hours, starting April 18th. We accept cash or money orders. Permission slip must be completed and returned when you purchase your tickets.

Important Information About A Night at the Grammys HELP WANTED Parents, we need help decorating and setting up Wednesday – Friday, May 11th-13th. We also need help with cleanup after the dance. If you would like to volunteer, please email Lisa Dreasher at lisa.dreasher@gmail.com.

• Only Tuskawilla Middle School 8th graders are allowed to attend the dance.

• All music played by the DJ is appropriate for students.

• Appropriate “dressy” attire is required.

• Girls: Dress code appropriate length dresses. No strapless dresses or dresses showing mid-drifts allowed. Spaghetti straps are allowed.

• Boys: Pants fastened at the waist and collared shirts.

• Cameras are permitted and encouraged.

• Appropriate behavior is expected. Students may not leave early unless a parent comes to the cafeteria door to sign them out.

• Any student who receives an ISS or OSS referral after April 30th will not be allowed to attend the dance – NO EXCEPTIONS – NO REFUNDS.

• No limos allowed.

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LANGUAGE ARTS

6th Grade Language ArtsAs FSA testing winds to a close, sixth graders are elbow-deep in poetry. We are identifying examples of figurative and connotative language, and using poetry exemplars as inspiration for our own poems. We will soon participate in Open Mic—a celebration of student-written poetry.

For the remainder of the year, students will be strengthening their text analysis skills as pre-seventh grade. Students will continue studying fiction by determining how authors develop various points of view. Of course, we will continue using text-based evidence to support our answers.

7th Grade Language ArtsClasses are beginning to analyze poetry and create a collection of original poems in preparation for an open-mic presentation of their work. We will also continue reading from the classroom novel selections. Students should be reading nightly at home to meet their reading goals for class. This nightly reading provides students an excellent opportunity to build their reading fluency and vocabulary knowledge. We will also review concepts from throughout the year in preparation for final exams at the end of the year.

8th Grade Language ArtsWe are very proud to announce that four of our Language Arts teachers have been identified by the state of Florida as being among the most statistically-significantly positive in the state: Dr. Kathy Terry, Mrs. Rebecca Van Nuys, Ms. Heather Orlando and Mrs. Suzanne Kluegel. We are very pleased to have these dedicated teachers as part of our Tuskawilla family.

By the end of the first week in May, all 8th graders will have completed the following: FSA Writing, FCAT Science, FSA Reading, FSA Math and/or EOC exams. Language Arts teachers and students worked all year on understanding the standards for these all-important tests leaving our last two units of the year to be based on poetry and a drama. Students will be writing original poetry based on the themes of our last major text The Diary of Anne Frank (drama) and will be participating in a poetry slam in early May.

Students are finishing their current novel by April 29. They will then choose one last novel to read before the end of the school year. The students enjoyed having a voice in selecting their reading material, and we want to present the same opportunity for students next year. Therefore, if your child has lost one of the books, please send in $15 so that we can replace the book for next year’s 8th graders.

We encourage you to check the website of the high school your child will attend to determine if there is a required summer assignment in any of their freshmen high school courses. Tuskawilla wishes parents and 8th grade students all the best as you embark on the high school years.

5Falcon Flyer

May 2016 • Issue #4Published Five Times A Year

Tuskawilla Middle School1801 Tuskawilla Road

Oviedo, FL 32765

SCIENCE

6th Grade Earth Space ScienceSixth grade is finishing up a fantastic year by entering into the great unknown, Space! Exploring our solar system, learning about our planets, moons and other objects. Students are excited to start the project models of their rendition of a solar system or planet. The objective, to be creative but realistic. Then well take a closer look at our Earth, Moon, and Sun system. Finally ending the year with the sun and stars.

7th Grade Life ScienceThis spring seventh grade science students will continue their exploration of the world around them. The fourth quarter reviews large concepts such as adaptation, biodiversity, biological competition, symbiotic relationships, energy pyramids and population densities.

The latter portion of the quarter will focus on the non-living factors of an ecosystem including humidity, temperature, precipitation, wind, and air quality. All of these factors (living and non-living) play an important role in keeping the earth habitable for the many species on our planet. Students will discover how changes in the environment can alter or even destroy the delicate balances maintained in the ecosystems all around them.

8th Grade Physical ScienceCongratulations to all our 8th grade science students for all their hard work and determination as they took on the challenge of the Science FCAT. As we reach the home stretch, students will conclude by tying all the chemistry concepts together. Students will explore the Law of Conservation of Mass by investigating physical and chemical changes in terms of properties of matter before and after a chemical reaction. We won’t be blowing things up but there will be some ohhs and ahhs!

SOCIAL STUDIES

6th Grade World HistoryAs the year comes to a close for our rising 7th graders, they worked on a wonderful unit on the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. After using primary and secondary sources, they wrote an essay indicating their top three reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire. We are now entering the Anno Domini portion of our timeline and will be working on the last 2 units regarding the rise of Christianity in Rome and ending the year in a unit about the Americas.

7th Grade CivicsThe End of Course Exam for 7th Grade Civics is on May 11th. Students are currently working on their study guides in class. Please mark your calendar to ensure that students are prepared for this very important test. Five Boost Camps for the Civics EOC will be available for the students after school on Monday, May 2, Tuesday, May 3, Thursday, May 4, Monday, May 9 and Tuesday, May 10 from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

8th Grade American HistoryIn these last few weeks of 8th grade, students are investigating the causes and outcomes of the Civil War. Students have discovered the devastation this war left on the country as they fought American against American, brother against brother, and for the freedom and equality as written in the Constitution.

Eighth grade Pre-AP students presented and defended their findings in this year’s National History Day project themed “Explore, Encounter and Exchange.” Several individual and group projects went on to compete at the county level on February 20th. One project, “America’s First Road Trip: The Lewis and Clark Expedition,” created by Laura Powalisz, Steele Mycroft, Skylar Mycroft and Kathryn Stehle took first place at county and are headed to Tallahassee to compete at the State level. We wish them the best of luck.

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MATH

6th GradeSince our return from spring break, the 6th graders were preparing for the FSA testing that occurred in mid-April. In class, students reviewed all standards from this school year through organized peer practices, online assessments and fun collaborative games. With testing now completed, our sights are set on 7th grade and focusing on upcoming skills and topics needed for a successful 2016 - 2017 school year.

7th Grade 7th Grade standard students are FSA math testing on April 25 and 26th. After the FSA we will be focusing on preparing for 8th grade Pre- Algebra by looking at a unit on Expressions and Equations.

7th Advanced students have completely finished all 7th grade standards and are focusing on preparing for their math FSA on April 25th and 26th. The remainder of the year will be spent learning 8th grade standards applying geometry and exponential skills to best prepare the students for Algebra 1.

8th Grade8th grade pre-algebra students are completing their work with statistics. After our FSA math testing on April 27 & 28, students will return to our algebra standards to help prepare for the transition to high school algebra.

Algebra 1 Students are moving towards the finish line with only two modules left and then the EOC Exam on May 5 (no calculator) and May 6 (may use calculator). The reference sheet has only conversion facts -- NO FORMULAS AT ALL -- so they need to review all the formulas and formats we used this year! The last three weeks of school will be spent reviewing for the last nine weeks exam on Modules 17, 18, and 19, the exam itself, and then polishing algebra skills and getting ready for Geometry next year!

Geometry Students test for EOC Exam on May 9 (no calculator) and May 10 (may use calculator). Their reference sheet doesn’t have much more on it than the Algebra reference sheet has; in fact, it has more Algebra formulas than Geometry formulas! After the EOC Exam, it will time to review for the last nine weeks exam, and start reviewing any Algebra skills that may have a little rust on them BEFORE going on to high school as “Math Juniors” taking Algebra 2.

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CheerleadingCongratulations to TWMS Cheerleading team! They placed 2nd in the Middle School Small Division at the Florida Cheer and Dance Association competition held at UCF on Saturday, April 23rd! We are looking forward to another competitive TWMS cheer team next year!

Extra Curricular ActivitiesArt2-D Up Close Art Project. Students selected an animal, fruit, and flower and created their masterpiece using chalk pastels.

Congratulations to 2-D Art Students Olivia Hudson and Tyana Nino for receiving third place in the World Plumbing Day Poster Contest sponsored by Modern Plumbing Industries. These students not only received individual monetary prizes but, also earned money for their school.

Art Show! Select work from 60 students from Tuskawilla Middle School’s 2-D and 3-D classes was on display at Seminole Towne Center Mall 4/18/2016-4/24/2016.

Congratulations to Emily Chhu and Gillian Geddes for winning awards of merit at this year’s 2016 Scaea spring art show!

BandThe Symphonic Band received a Superior rating at their District Music Performance Assessment! Congratulations to all the students for their hard work and dedication! The band’s Spring Concert will be held at Lake Howell High School on Thursday, May 12th at 7:00 pm. Hope to see you there!

ChorusThree chorus groups attended MPA (Music Performance Assessments) on March 12 at Hagerty High School. All groups did very well with Treble Chorus earning an overall Excellent rating, and the Advanced Treble and Male Chorus both earning straight Superior ratings. Congratulation on truly outstanding performances!

• Spring Concert: Male, Treble, and Advanced Treble Chorus: Tuesday, April 26, 7pm @ Lake Howell High School.• Spring Concert: General Chorus (6th graders): Thursday, May 5 , 7pm @ Tuskawilla Cafeteria

Congratulations to the Male and Advanced Treble Chorus students. After submitting an audition video to the Performing Arts Team at Disney, they have been selected to perform at Disney Springs on Tuesday, May 24. In addition to their performance, they will be given complimentary passes for Epcot for the remainder of the day. Tuskawilla has held this honor for over 20 years and we are proud to continue this rewarding tradition.

Odyssey of the MindTwo teams competed at the Magic Center Regional Odyssey of the Mind competition in February. Each team successfully solved their long term problems and finished in fourth place! Congrats!

Read to LeadTuskawilla is proud of their Read to Lead team. They read Skink, No Surrender and Counting By Seven and participated in the Read to Lead Bowl on March 6, at the ESC.

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1801 Tuskawilla RoadOviedo, FL 32765

Non-Profit OrganizationUS Postage PAID

Orlando, FL Permit # 2346

Tuskawilla Middle School

Tuskawilla Spirit CornerTuskawilla is a PBS school. (Positive Behavior Support) This is a systems approach for establishing the social culture and individualized behavioral supports needed for schools to be effective learning environments for all students.

This year, Tuskawilla students were greeted with a new school wide set of positive behavior expectations under the acronym: SPIRIT. As part of our commitment to rewarding students with positive behavior we continue celebrating Students of the Month for each curricular area.

February

ASL

March

PotteryCongratulations to February’s Students of the Month: Abigail MendozaDavide GeorgianLaila RoblesManny CollazoNicole CervoneAngie MancoColton WiltshireAngelina LopezMichelle TranKayla ConnellyJadah LindoReece RiggsDaniel GonzalezKristlynn HuntDonivan HowardGrant McCollJayson Vasquez

Congratulations to the students of the month for March:

Amba GaneshMarie AvilesBrendan YoumansStephen PizzoEleana HerraraAnna WeissAngelica TroyerShayna WoodSteele MycroftBrianna RennerBlessing VelezDylan CrespoMoira ClureLillith Palermo-Whitely

Every Wednesday as part of our SPIRIT Positive Behavior System, students who have followed the SPIRIT expectations have earned the privilege to attend their chosen SPIRIT activity. Activities range from American Sign Language to JROTC to Pottery. Currently we are running 48 different activities! We love SPIRIT WEDNESDAYS!