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A/B Schedule:
May 3 – B
May 4 – A
May 5 – B
May 6 – A
May 7 – B
May 10 – A
May 11 – B
May 12 – A
May 13 – B
May 14 – A
May 17 – B
May 18 – A
May 19 – B
May 20 – A
May 21 - B
Calendar:
May 3 – 20
MAP Testing Window, grades 6 & 7
May 3 – 28 –
ORFA Testing Window for students below standard
May 3 (B) - April 30 (A) –
SHS presenting 8th grade projects to NCD, 1st period in commons
May 4 (A) – GY Walking to Larrabee, 12:00 – 2:00
May 10 (A)
PTSA Board Meeting, 7 pm
May 11 (B)
Larrabee Students visiting GY at FMS, 12:00 – 2:00
May 12 – 28
MSP Window
May 17 (B)
Early Release, Assembly Schedule (Elective Periods 4, 5, 6)
May 18 (A)
Happy Valley Elementary visits FMS, 1:30 – 2:45; Track pictures in the afternoon
May 19 (B)
Larrabee Elementary visits FMS
May 18 (A) or 25 (B) GY to Larrabee for celebration,
12:00 – 2:00
May 18 – 22
DRP Testing Window
May 21 (A)
Chalk Art
May 25 (B)
FMS visits Larrabee Elementary,
9:30 – 10:15 am.
FMS visits Happy Valley Elementary, 1:30 – 2:15 pm
May 26 (A)
FMS visits Wade King Elementary, 1 – 2 pm
May 26
8th grade students to Sehome HS, transition activities
May 28 (A)
Chalk Art Make Up Day, if needed
May 31
Memorial Day, No School
Fairhaven Events Calendar
District Events Calendar
In Brief
GRR (Grizzlies Receiving Recognition)
Mariah Collins Courage, Innovation, Leadership, Perseverance, Respect and Responsibility
Maddy Hamilton Fairness, Leadership, Perseverance, Respect, Responsibility and Work Ethic
Forrest Meyer Initiative, Positivity and Respect
Jake Scott
Initiative, Leadership and Work Ethic
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Dear families,
Outlook for next year: As the district implements their budget savings reduction plan and we make plans for hosting WMS 8th graders, I know that you may have some questions about what the coming year will look like. Although we have had a slight reduction in elective and PE staff, I want to assure you that we will be offering the same range of electives that we have been able to offer in the past: Spanish, Art, Orchestra, Band, World Music, and Media Arts as well as PE for every student. Parents of 8th grade students may also have questions about staff and teams at 8th grade. Below are some of the questions that have been posed by our parents:
• Will WMS and FMS 8th grade students be placed together in classes next year? Yes, they will be fully integrated as Grizzlies. They will be integrated in all classes and activities including lunches, clubs, and athletics.
• What will 8th grade teams look like next year? It is likely that we will have one team composed entirely of WMS teachers, one team of FMS teachers, and one blended team of teachers from both schools. This is at the request of the Superintendent and Principal of WMS.
• How will students be assigned to teams? Students from both schools will be distributed equally across the three teams.
• Will we still offer a range of math placement opportunities? Yes, students will be assessed and placed in the best fit for math learning. At 8th grade, we will be offering Geometry at FMS so that students will not have to travel to Sehome to take this course.
I recognize that you may have other questions and I invite you to email them to us so that we may address them in future Grizzly Growl publications, deirdre.oneill@bellinghamschools.org. We are looking forward to settling into being a unified school; truly focusing on learning, building valuable relationships, and having a good time together.
Parent Appreciation Breakfast: Along the way, many of you have provided your support of our classrooms, field trips, and activities. We will be honoring all of our parent volunteers on June 2, at 7:00 am at our annual parent volunteer breakfast. Please mark your calendars for a wonderful event.
MSP: Spring Assessment Time
It is once again the time of year that our students will be participating in state assessments. As most of you are aware, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) has been replaced by the Measurement of Student Progress (MSP). These yearly assessments are designed to measure student progress toward state learning goals that are part of our own learning targets for all students. The MSP will include more multiple-choice items and fewer extended responses, in order to reduce the amount of testing time.
All students in grades 6-8 will be assessed. The assessment window is from May 3-28. Sixth grade students will be assessed in reading and math. Seventh grade students will be assessed in reading, writing and math. Eighth grade students will be assessed in reading, math and science. This year will include an online component for 8th grade math only. The 8th grade online math assessment will take place May 4-11, reading on May 12 and science on May 13. Seventh graders will be assessed in reading on May 12, writing on May 13 and 18 and math on May 14. Sixth graders will be assessed in math on May 12 and reading on May 13. Free breakfast will be available to students on days they are actually being assessed.
To learn more about the state’s testing, please visit www.WAtesting.com. If you have other questions or concerns feel free to call Mrs. O’Neill or Mr. Rogers.
Thanks for your good parenting—it makes a difference!
Deirdre O’Neill
School News
Attention Incoming Freshman Athletes interested in participating in summer/fall athletics: Sehome High School Summer/Fall Clearance will be taking place May 3rd—28th. Pick up your Eligibility Packet in your Middle School Registrar’s Office; be sure to turn in the signed and completed Eligibility Packet, Concussion Form, current physical (good for 13 months from date of physical) to the Sehome Athletic Office. You will still need to clear with the Athletic Office and pay fees with the ASB Office on Fall Clearance Day, August 23rd.
High School Summer Sports Clearance: Athletes are eligible to participate in summer programs starting June 4th, 2010; a completed Eligibility Packet, Concussion Form and physical must be turned in to the Sehome Athletic Office NOW! Your physical will need to be good through July 31st 2010.
Track Parents: We need your help - you should have received a sign-up sheet listing all the track meet dates and requesting parent helpers. We could use more assistance, especially on May 11 and June 2/3. Please ask your student for the form, or let Meg Metzger or Coach Heaton know that you can volunteer. Meets are fun to watch and volunteering puts you right in the thick of the action.
PTSA News:
WANTED:
Donations to help pay for the 8th grade Picnic and Field Events, Graduation Ceremony and Dance are needed. Donations of $10 are suggested, but if you are able to give more, your contributions will be well used and much appreciated.
7th and 8th grade parents, are needed NOW to help with the following 8th grade graduations festivities:
If your son or daughter is graduating from Fairhaven this year and you would like to participate in the festivities, we would love to have your help! The PTSA is looking for 10-15 parents to help cut out Stars for each graduating 8th grader. We will be meeting in the FMS cafeteria on the following dates: May 12th, 20th and 26th- 3:15-5:30. We will meet over 3 dates to cut, paint and label stars, that will be used at the 8th grade dance on June 16th. We hope to make it fun and productive, and minimize the time expended. If you can't work on those dates, please contact us and perhaps you can work from home.
We need 2 parents to collect, label, and create a montage of baby photos of graduating 8th graders. The display will be in the front hall case and needs interested parents to organize and put it up. These parents will also be responsible for getting photos back to students before school ends.
2-4 parents who have an eye and talent for photography, who would be interested in taking and then managing photos for a slide show (PowerPoint or iDVD), set to music, and presented at the graduation ceremony, June 17th. Photos should be of groups of 2-4 students working together, doing school and extra-curricular activities, and every effort made to include all graduating 8th graders. This needs to be done ASAP and photos should be taken over several days. These days are flexible but should be coordinated with teaches on both teams.
We need 7th grade parents to help chaperone the 8th grade graduation dance, June 16th, 8-9:30 pm.
Please contact Stephanie Wanne if you would like to volunteer to help with the 8th grade picnic and field day festivities, on June 15th. stephanie.wanne@wwu.edu
*** We would especially appreciate parent volunteers from the Greater Yellowstone Team to assure that both teams are adequately represented.
To help with graduation ceremony and dance prep and event, or for more information, Please contact: Dawn Landau: bjdqlandau@comcast.net or Debbie Haney: Debbie.h@directcopierservice.com
• Introducing the incoming board for the 2010/11 school year. Thanks to each of these energetic, knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteers for their commitment to enrich our school community!
Co-Presidents: Sandy Chasteen & Marybeth Taranow
Co-Vice Presidents: Tracy Diehl (Fundraising) & Sheli Grahn (Membership)
Co-Treasurers: Janet Clawson & Marcia Gavin
Secretary: Pam Behee
• Come help the Fairhaven Middle School garden come to life! At our first garden work party on May 15th we will be breaking ground, sinking fence posts, sheet mulching and much more! We will be moving compost so if you have your own wheelbarrow and shovel please bring them as well as any post hole diggers you might have. (Be sure to have them marked with your name or other defining mark.) Beverages will be provided, but please feel free to bring a snack along to share with the group.
Date: Saturday, May 15th
Time: 10am - 1pm
Where: Fairhaven Middle School, at the back near the soccer field
Bring: Gloves, shovels, wheelbarrow, and a snack to share if you are so inclined
Contact: Karen Saupe, k_saupe@yahoo.com
If anyone has any large pieces of cardboard, 4x4x8 treated fence posts or gravel that they don't need and would like to donate to the garden please contact Karen at the above e-mail.
• PTSA Business meeting scheduled for Monday, May 10th at 7 PM (FMS Staff room). Input wanted, members welcome!
• Food for thought from your PTSA...We have all heard ourselves or friends say--"I didn't know..." or "I didn't see anything about that..." when it comes to activities, events and information in middle school. Keep in mind that as our children get older, they volunteer (and seem to retain...) less information important to parents. But it does exist! We are here to help guide you to seek out the information you need--connect with the electronic district calendar, explore the FMS website, become a fan of the PTSA Facebook page, check the bulletin board, ASK someone in the office, CALL or EMAIL a PTSA board member or teacher. Remember: Communicate is a verb and verbs = action. Take action—be informed, stay involved—our secondary schools need you!
For more information about PTSA activities, please visit the
FMS PTSA Website.
Fairhaven Middle School
110 Park Ridge Road
Bellingham, WA 98225-7999
(360) 676-6450
http://fairhaven.bellinghamschools.org/
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