Ellis G. Arnall Middle School
October/November 2015
Home of the Knights
The Knightly News
700 Lora Smith Road, Newnan, Georgia 30265 - (770) 254-2765
www.cowetaschools.net/ams
Volume 21, Issue 1
Authentic Engagement - Motivated Teachers - Successful Students
Principally speaking…
Dear Parents,
Recently, the Georgia Department of Education began releasing testing information and preliminary Milestone data to the
public. Below are some highlighted changes they provided to school systems. Importantly, Georgia Milestones has four
achievement levels designed to communicate the progress of student learning. The fact that we now have four
achievement levels rather than three is significant and will require a change in the manner in which we describe test
results in our state. The four achievement levels are as follows:
Beginning Learners do not yet demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course
of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students need substantial academic support to be prepared
for the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Developing Learners demonstrate partial proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of
learning, as specified by Georgia’s content standards. The students need additional academic support to ensure success
in the next grade level or course and to be on track for college and career readiness.
Proficient Learners demonstrate proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade level/course of
learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are prepared for the next grade level or course and
are on track for college and career readiness.
Distinguished Learners demonstrate advanced proficiency in the knowledge and skills necessary at this grade
level/course of learning, as specified in Georgia’s content standards. The students are well prepared for the next grade
level or course and are well prepared for college and career readiness.
The Developing Learner achievement level consists of students who have demonstrated partial proficiency; they have a
partial command of the knowledge and skills inherent in their grade level or course content standards. These students can
be successful in future learning but will likely need some type of focused remediation in their weaker areas; they do
not, necessarily, need a support class. Their learning should be monitored to ensure their success and to increase their
opportunity to reach proficiency. In short, this achievement level allows for the recognition of those students who have
demonstrated some command, albeit partial, of the grade-level expectations but have not yet reached the full command
necessary to signal proficiency. Proficient students demonstrate a strong, solid command of the grade-level or course content
and skills.
Students in eighth grade will need to pass their academic classes as well as the math and reading/ELA section of the
Milestone Test for promotion to ninth grade.
Individual Student Growth Reports will also be issued to parents so they can compare the academic growth of their student to
students with similar test data. Students have to be enrolled in a Georgia school and participated in three years of
standardized testing to determine testing peer group.
The Georgia Department of Education anticipates the 2014-2015 Milestone Results to be released to schools in mid October.
Information shared from GADOE news release
Dr. Jan Franks, Principal
FAMILY KNIGHT
Arnall Middle School
AMS Title I Family Knight will be held on Oct. 1 beginning
with a short parent meeting at 5:45 in the cafeteria. This is a
great opportunity for parents to learn about high school courses
offered at middle school and the benefits of College 411 in
preparing your students for college and career pathway
requirements. From 6 to 7:30 p.m., in the bus parking lot, you
will have the opportunity to meet with your child’s teaching
team to learn strategies for helping your child be successful this
year. Opportunities for parent involvement, extracurricular
activities, and academic departments will be showcased.
Yearbooks, spirit wear, pizza, drinks, cookie, chips, slushies will
be available for purchase. Also, the Book Fair will be open in
the Media Center. Parents must accompany students to this
event. In case of rain, we will meet in the cafeteria. We look
forward to having fun with you!
Title 1 Parent Workshop
Save The Date
Featuring
22
October
AMS DRAMA CLUB
2015
Drama Club is open to all AMS students. Our first meeting
was Wednesday, September 16.
We will meet the
second Wednesday of every month thereafter from 3:45-5:00
p.m. Club activities will include drama games, stage basics,
improvisation and short scenes/plays. In May, we will have a
Showcase Performance for family and friends.
You must have your ride in front of the school at 5:00
p.m. The third late pickup may qualify the students to no
longer be able to attend future club meetings.
Permission forms are located outside Mr. Patterson’s door.
Questions: [email protected]
Please come and join us!
Times will be announced in October.
Soccer try-outs begin Oct. 13th from 3:30-5:00. Students
who wish to try out must complete a pre-tryout packet by
Sept. 30, provide proof of health insurance and have a current (within 1 year) physical on file with the school.
If there are any questions for the boys’ team, please email
[email protected];
for the girls’ team, send email to
[email protected]. Students should bring
shin guards, water and a soccer ball (if you already have
one) to try-outs.
Heartbeat Club
Heartbeat Club held its first meeting on September 8th.
Subsequent meetings will be held on the 2nd and 4th
Tuesdays of each month. Heartbeat is a non-denominational
Christian club open to all 6th, 7th and 8th graders.
We will be collecting for Operation Christmas Child so
please save your shoe boxes! Our goal this year is 50 boxes
but we would love to exceed our goal.
We are also currently accepting thank you letters for our
soldiers. For more information, send email to
[email protected].
Priscilla Letourneau, Lisa Hearn, Amanda Inman,
and Stephanie Steerman, Club Sponsors
The Knightly News
It’s going to soon be Book Fair Week beginning Monday,
September 28 through Friday, October 2nd. Our theme
is “Reading in a UFO”. We will be open until 7:00 p.m. on
October 1st for Family Knight
Cynthia Brooks
Media Specialist
YEARBOOKS
The staff is hard at work capturing memories, and we have
some great things planned for the 2016 yearbook. It is
currently on sale at a discounted price of $40.00 until
November 30, 2015. That is $10.00 off of the normal
selling price of $50.00. Get yours before the price goes up!
Eighth grade recognition ads are due Jan. 18, 2016.
Fall pictures were taken September 25. This is the picture that
will be used in the portrait section of the yearbook. If your
student was absent on the 25th, retakes will be Nov. 3rd, and
those will go in the yearbook as well.
You may order online at www.jostens.com (and use a
credit/debit card) or complete an order form and return it with
cash or check to Ms. Rhodes. Forms are located in the front
office, the school store or the AMS website.
Th a n k s
for
yo u r
s u p p o rt
of
our
p ro g ra m!
Ms. Rhodes and the 2016 yearbook staff
[email protected]
Page 2
Welcome New Teachers! We are thrilled to welcome 10 new teachers to the Arnall faculty!
Mrs. Jenny Jackson, 7th ELA
Mr. James Davies, 8th Math
Ms. Melissa Tillman, Resource
Dr. C.L. Peeples, 8th Math
Ms. Misha Stewart, 8th Science
Mrs. Precious White, 6th Math
Mr. Avery Moulton-Fowler, Resource
Ms. Janel James, 7th Math
Mrs. Julia Sweeney, Art
Not Pictured –Mrs. Laureen Peruzar, Resource
Volume 21, Issue 1
Page 3
We have a new PTA board this year, and we are excited to
help make our school a better place for our kids to learn.
Our board members are:
Stephanie Eggen President) 218-242-1041
Rashida Lloyd (Vice President)
Roquel Pucciarelli (Treasurer)
Rachel Allen (Co-Secretary)
Heather Bates (Co-Secretary)
Cindy Carrington (Council/Focus Rep)
We helped kick off the new school year with the pep rally at
Pop into Arnall in August, Great American Fundraiser
magazine sales, book fair, picture day and coming up Family
Knight on October 1st in addition to the Veterans Day
Program coming up on November 12th. Because of
magazine sales, we were able to donate $155.00 to Abby’s
Angels Foundation. Our final profit from the magazine sales
has not been determined yet.
Now we are working on a “Teacher of the Quarter” selected
by the students. They will be announced mid-October. If you
have ideas or would like to join us, please email us at
[email protected] or call my cell phone listed above.
We encourage you to join PTA if you haven’t already. The
dues are $8.00, and you may drop them off at the front desk
or send to school with your student. We look forward to a
fantastic year with our students, teachers and staff!
You are cordially invited to our
Veterans Day Program
on Thursday, November 12
at 9 o’clock in the morning
in the A.M.S. gymnasium
Please join us as we
honor our veterans
and those who are
currently serving our country
in the military with a special
program including performances
by the
Arnall Band and Chorus
We look forward to seeing
you here on November 12.
“Where liberty dwells, there is my
country.”-Benjamin Franklin
Sincerely,
Stephanie Eggen and
the Arnall PTA Board
School Bus Safety Week
October 19-23
Monday, October 19, is Bus Driver Appreciation Day which
kicks off School Bus Safety Week, October 19– 23.
If your student rides a bus, please discuss with them the
importance of school bus behavior. Safety is the first
priority of our Transportation Department. When you ride
the bus, it is an extension of school. Students are expected
to obey the instructions of the bus driver just as they
would the instruction of their teachers and school
administrators. Therefore, please cooperate with your
driver by following the expectations laid out in Arnall’s Coat
of Arms and matrix.
Riding the school bus is a privilege, not a right. Please
remind them to be sure to thank their bus driver for
delivering them safely to school and back home daily.
Page 4
Reminders from the Nurse
It is imperative that all medical cards are returned to
the clinic timely.
If your child is involved in an
accident or has an emergency, we refer to their card
for vital information instantly.
If your student takes medicine during the day
(whether its prescription, headache meds or cough
drops), please make sure all meds are dropped off at
the clinic and the proper paperwork is on file.
Nurse
Carolyn
Young
[email protected]
Knight Writers
Knight Writers will meet every 2nd and 4th Thursday
with the next meeting taking place on October 8 from
3:30-4:30.
The club enables its members to share their interests
in the reading, discussion, and composition of all genres
of writing across disciplines. Please join and share your
ideas, concepts, and stories!
For more information about Knight Writers and/or
future meetings, please contact Ms. Lynn Sovik at
[email protected].
Future Georgia Educators
Future Educators of America (FEA) is now Future
Georgia Educators. We will meet the last Wednesday
of each month with our first meeting scheduled
for September 30. Future Georgia Educators is a
co-curricular or extracurricular program designed to
provide middle school students with the opportunity to
explore careers in education.
Mrs. Darby Jones
[email protected]
2016 Chick-fil-A Calendars
The 8th grade is currently selling Chick-fil-A calendars
for $8.00 through Oct. 2nd. The calendars will be
delivered the week of October 5th. These make great
Christmas gifts and pay for themselves if you take
advantage of the free monthly food item offered.
Arnall Roadrunners Club
Several of our coaches have organized the Arnall
Roadrunners Club to provide an opportunity for all
students to become physically active after school,
prepare for sports tryouts, make new friends, be part
of a group and just have a lot of fun! The first meeting
will be an informational meeting on October 1st at
3:30 in Coach Neyenhouse’s room, 319. You must
complete the same paperwork used to participate in
sports including a sports physical signed by a doctor.
Coaches Taylor Neyenhouse, Matt Mangum, Tripp Hicks,
Nic Dickens and Brittany Pankopp
Arnall Middle School 6th Grade
If you have a 6th grader at Arnall, please
save the website below on your computer. It is
a great resource for keeping up with 6th grade
assignments, activities and information.
https://sites.google.com/site/arnallmiddleschool6/
BETA CLUB
Our next Beta Club meeting will be held on Tuesday,
October 13th from 3:30-4:15 in the cafeteria.
Anyone with an overall average of 85 may join. If you missed
the first meeting, bring your last report card and Beta dues
of $15.00 on your first visit.
In partnership with the Heartbeat Club, Beta members are
able to earn 4 hours of service by bringing in a filled shoebox
including shipping costs for Operation Christmas Child.
If a Beta member is not part of Edmodo/ Beta Club they can
get the code from Ms. Mortensen, Mrs. Clark or
Mrs. Shepherd.
We will have our initiation service for new members
on November 10th at 5:00 following the November meeting.
Beta Club will also be sponsoring the Newnan-Coweta Can-AThon this year. We will kick it off by selling a variety of food
at Family Knight on Oct. 1st.
When we begin with
classroom competitions, the students will be asked to
contribute any non-perishable foods or monetary donations.
Every dollar that is contributed will count at 3 food items.
Last year we had some fun incentives for the students such
as Kiss-a-Goat, Georgia-Auburn football contest, Sit with a
Friend Passes and, of course, a pizza party for the homeroom
with the highest can count! We will be doing some of the
same things and look forward to some different ones as
well. If anyone has any ideas, please email Ms. Mortensen at
[email protected]
Page 5
A
M
P
T
E
A
M
2
0
1
5
First row, L to R: Caleb Nguyen, Drew Carson, Anthony Velez, Trustin Brown, Colby Butts, Erin Duckwall, Tyrell Fudge, Tomaiya Stafford,
Ebony Obie—Back row, L to R: Courtney Carrington, Andreas Caicedo, James Magrath, Jonathan Wood, Thomas Gray, Michael Roth, and
Sam Folsom
Arnall was proud to send 16 students to Auburn University on Saturday, September 19, for their annual middle school
Auburn Mathematical Puzzle Challenge. While there, Arnall competed as a team to complete and answer a variety of
higher level logic and math theory puzzles in a fun and entertaining way. Sponsors Brooke Barksdale and Maria
Wright are very proud of the team's efforts, successes, and participation!
Arnall Ambassadors
Our Arnall Ambassadors are a group of students selected by their teachers to represent Arnall in the community through
volunteer work. Our Ambassadors just completed the Ferst Foundation Coin Drive for Childhood Literacy raising over
$200 through Hat Day, Sit with a Friend Day and loose change donations from students during lunch.
Their next project is Red Ribbon Week, which started nationally in 1988 to educate our youth on the dangers of illegal
drugs by encouraging participation in drug prevention activities and making a personal commitment to live drug-free lives.
Monday, 10/26
Red ribbons will be given to all Arnall students.
Tuesday, 10/27
Temporary tattoos will be given to all students wearing their red ribbons.
Wednesday, 10/28 “Don’t get twisted with drugs” Twizzlers will be handed out to student wearing their red ribbons.
Thursday, 10/29
Candy for students wearing red ribbons will be distributed by Arnall Ambassadors during homeroom.
Friday, 10/30
Hat Day - Students may wear hats at school by donating $1.00 to the campaign.
Dawn Jerrell, Counselor
Volume 21, Issue 1
Page 6
Page 7
The Knightly News
OCTOBER, 2015
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
5
5
6
6
6
6
7
7
7
7
8
8
8
8
9
12
13
13
13
13
14
14
14
14
15
15
15
16
16
19
19-23
19
19
20
20
20
21
21
22
22
22
26-30
26
27
27
27
28
29
29
30
All-State Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Roadrunners Club info meeting, 3:30-4:30
Family Knight, 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Pep Band will perform at Family Knight
Book Fair will be open until 7:00 p.m.
9 weeks exams in SS
UGA Honor Band $75 registration due
9 weeks exams in ELA
Academic Bowl practice, 3:30-4:30
Academic Bowl practice, 7:15-8:00 a.m.
9 weeks exams in math
School Council meeting, 7:30 a.m.
Football playoffs
Chorus formal uniform $35 payment due
9 weeks exams in science
Art Club, 3:30-4:30
Select Chorus, 3:30-4:45
9 weeks exams in connections
All-State Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Knights Writers Club, 3:30-4:30
Student Leadership Academy, 3:30-4:30
Student holiday/Teacher workday
Columbus Day - no school
Academic Bowl practice, 7:15-8:00 a.m.
Beta Club, 3:30-4:15
Heartbeat Club, 3:30-4:30
First day of soccer tryouts
Shaner’s class attends Health Fair
Select Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Drama Club, 3:45-5:00
Football semi-finals
Disney 3rd payment of $150 due
Chorus cheesecake fundraiser kicks off
All-State Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Shaner’s class - trip to Junction Lanes
8th grade band nights at ECHS, 5:45
Report cards issued
School Bus Safety Week
Bus Driver Appreciation Day
Academic Bowl practice, 3:30-4:30
Academic Bowl practice, 7:15-8:00 a.m.
Mentor training at CEC, 9:30-10:30
Football championship game, 6 p.m.
Art Club, 3:30-4:30
Select Chorus, 3:30-4:45
7 Mindsets Title I Workshop, Time TBA
Knight Writers, 3:30-4:30
All State Chorus, 3:30-4:45
RED RIBBON WEEK
Academic Bowl competition at Bremen M.S.
Heartbeat Club, 3:30-4:30
Soccer pre-season games- girls @ AMS; boys @Lee
Chorus Fall Concert, 7:00-8:00, at Centre
Honor Chorus rehearsal
All State Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Soccer - girls at Arnall; boys at Smokey Road, 4:30
Hat Day for Red Ribbon Week—$1.00
NOVEMBER, 2015
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
6
9
9
10
10
10
10
10
10
11
11
11
12
12
12
12
13
13
16
16
17
17
17
17
18
18
18
19
19
19
20
23-27
30
30
30
Soccer - girls at Arnall; boys at Lee, 4:30
Academic Bowl, 3:30-4:30
Academic Bowl, 7:15-8:00 a.m.
Picture re-take day
Shaner’s class—Junction Lanes
Mentor training at CEC, 9:30
Select Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Art Club, 3:30-4:30
All State Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Soccer - girls at Arnall; boys at ECMS, 4:30
Disney fundraiser kick off day
Soccer - girls at Evans; boys at Arnall, 4:30
Academic Bowl, 3:30-4:30
Academic Bowl, 7:15-8:00 a.m.
Shaner’s class - Starlite Skating
Beta Club, 3:30-4:15
Beta Club Member Initiation in café, 5:00
Heartbeat Club, 3:30-4:30
All State Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Select Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Drama Club, 3:45-5:00
Soccer - girls at Madras; boys at Arnall, 4:00
Veterans Day Program, 9:00 a.m.
8th grade band will perform at Veterans prog.
Knight Writers, 3:30-4:30
Soccer - girls at SRMS; boys at Arnall, 4:00
Dental Van will be on campus
All State Chorus, 3:30-4:45
6th grade full band rehearsal, 3:30-5:00
Academic Bowl, 3:30-4:30
Academic Bowl, 7:15-8:00 a.m.
Shaner’s class—Starlite Skating
8th grade full band rehearsal, 3:30-5:00
Soccer - girls at Lee; boys at Arnall, 4:30
Disney 4th payment of $150 due
Art Club, 3:30-4:30
Select Chorus, 3:30-4:45
Progress Reports issued
7th grade full band rehearsal, 3:30-5:00
Soccer - girls at ECMS; boys at Arnall, 4:30
Shaner’s class - Junction Lanes
Thanksgiving Holidays
Academic Bowl competition at Odyssey School
Soccer - girls at Arnall; boys at Evans, 4:30
Basketball tryouts begin, 3:30
NOVEMBER
1st
Daylight Saving
Time Ends