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FORT SETTLEMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL December Issue Volume 13, Issue 3
Falcon Flyer Mrs. Julie Diaz, Principal
Table of Contents:
Mrs. Julie Diaz, Principal 1
COUNSELOR’S CORNER 2
FSMS LIBRARY 3
MIDDLE YEARS 4
MIDDLE YEARS 5
YEARBOOK 6
STUDENT COUNCIL 7
FSMS BAND 8
FSMS HOSPITALITY 10
SPIRIT NIGHT 11
FALCON FUNDRAISER 12
CAREER DAY 14
EIGHTH GRADE PARTY 15
BOX TOPS 16
FREE MONEY 17
SHARED DREAMS 18
DIRECTORY 19
Dear FSMS Parents and Guardians, Season’s Greetings! The FSMS family would like to wish your family a safe and joyous holiday. Our schools will be closing on Friday, December 20 at 12:45 pm and re-opening to a New Year on January 8, 2014.
As we prepare for the holiday break and look forward to some quality time with loved ones, we want to reassure parents and students that Fort Settlement Middle School is a safe and secure environment for students and staff. Our number one priority is the safety of your children, and we are dedicated to improving procedures already in place. Recently a safety audit was conducted here at FSMS to discuss and check for the best possible safety procedures to be in place in case of an emergency. You will see changes this spring in some procedures as we participate in table top exercises with members of our District’s Safe and Secure Schools department. Thank you for your cooperation as we put additional procedures in place.
As we near the holiday season I want to thank everyone for their continued support and dedication to our students, staff, and school. We are so blessed at Fort Settlement and I thoroughly enjoy working with and supporting our students as they continue on their journey of success and preparation for their future endeavors, high school and beyond.
This spring will hold many informational meetings for parents regarding course selections for next year, results of our 8th grade students’ ACT Explore testing, and requirements that the State Board of Education is putting in place for the Foundation Graduation Program in high school. Our current eighth grade students will be the first class to enter high school under the approved Foundation Graduation Program; however, ALL middle school parents need to hear this information. PLEASE stay tuned as we publish dates for meetings at www.fsmsnest.weebly.com We will also do callouts to parents. I would like to remind you that we have an after school homework lab in the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It runs from 4:00 – 4:45 and will open again on January 14, 2014. This is a GREAT place for students to work on homework quietly and also have access to computers. Please stress to your child to take advantage of this opportunity if it is needed. Our only request is that students are picked up promptly at 4:45 pm. We have a wonderful faculty and staff here at FSMS committed to ensuring every student is
academically successful. Please know that I am very thankful to be able to work with and
support our amazing students and I feel extremely privileged to be the principal of Fort
Settlement Middle School.
Happy Holidays!
Julie Diaz
Page 2 Falcon Flyer Counselor's Corner
For the Falcon Flyer from the Counselors:
FSMS students and counselors have had a busy and successful fall semester. Seventh grade students participated in
the testing for Iowa Test of Basic Skills and those results will be sent home before our Winter Break. The
information from these tests is helpful to both teachers and students as an instructional tool and also in looking at
growth over the years for the students.
Eighth grade students participated in the ACT EXPLORE test. Students and parents will be receiving those scores in
January. Teachers will be going over the information in class from the test with students as well as using the data
for instructional purposes. Parents will have an opportunity to learn more about the test through a Parent Night
prior to Career Day. Information from this test is invaluable to students, parents and counselors in planning for high
school and post high school course work.
The ACT website is a wonderful planning tool and we encourage all students and parents to explore this site:
www.act.org
Also, in January, all eighth graders will complete a Fort Bend ISD High School Four Year Plan for the Class of 2018.
Counselors will work with students in the classroom to complete these forms as to future courses and will help
students declare their Endorsement.
Counselors are closely monitoring and learning the criteria evolving form House Bill 5 in order to guide our students
successfully in their College and Career Readiness plans. The FBISD website has a link to all of the HB 5 information
on the front of the home page: http://fortbendisd.com/departments/academics/curriculum/new-laws-affecting-
our-students/
As a constant reminder of the importance of planning for the future, we all wear our College Spirit wear every
Wednesday!
The course selection process in January, completing Four Year Plans and our Career Day for all 8th graders will begin
our transitioning of our students smoothly to their high school.
All 7th and 8th graders participated in the Aim for Success program in November and parents were invited to a Parent
Preview Night. This program coordinates with our 7th grade Health curriculum.
We have had 3 fun New Kids Club meetings (everyone is welcome!) with games galore, fun people and refreshments
provided by our wonderfully generous PTO! Thanks to all of you for participating and we hope to see you again in
January! This is a stress free zone and time to just kick back, relax and have fun!
The Counselors Page of the FSMS Weebly website is great source of information as to ongoing programs as well as
helpful parent links and College and Career Readiness links. Please refer to this frequently to see what is happening
currently or if you need any resources. You can also directly email the counselors from this site by clicking on our
names: http://fsmscounselorscorner.weebly.com/
Page 3 December 2013 FSMS LIBRARY
FSMS Library Newsletter
December, 2013
The first semester has flown by with lots of activity. Can the first semester be close to
the end already? Research abounds in the FSMS Library! Sixth Grade classes were
introduced to Science Fair research, and study skills for Science vocabulary, as well as
working on a scavenger hunt, “Infoquest,” in their Social Studies classes.
Seventh graders researched the history of 1900 Galveston, the fads, fashions, life styles,
architecture, the hurricane, and much, much more. Simultaneously, they were busy
gathering facts about various diseases in their health classes.
Eighth graders have been busy exploring information for the National History Day
Contest in Social Studies, careers in ELA classes, and the Universe in science classes.
The Library Club is active with various events. Members were especially helpful in
promoting our Fall Book Fair. Other activities have included preparing for the district’s
competition, “MatchBook.” They recently finished creating book trailers using the
website, Animoto.
The Book Fair at Barnes and Noble was a success and all participation was deeply
appreciated, from purchases made, to the performances by our Choir and Orchestra!
Our other big event was the Read It Forward pizza party. Thirty-two students
completed reading the book, Circle of Blood, making them eligible to attend the
party.
All in all, this has been a very busy and productive first semester. I look forward to the
second semester as we continue to prepare for the “Matchbook” competition in May
and resume the research possibilities of the spring semester.
Page 4 Falcon Flyer Middle Years
Page 5 December 2013 Middle Years
Page 6 Falcon Flyer YEARBOOK
Prices for the Yearbook have gone up to $50 dollars and 8th grade ads are due. Deadline Date for Ads is De-
cember 13,2013. Please go to www.balfour.com to order online
or www.fsmsnest.weebly.com for more information click on the Year-
book tab.
Page 7 December 2013
STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS…
Hey Falcons! The FSMS Stu-Co has been working
really hard this semester. We have done a Red Ribbon
Week project, conducted water and snack sales at the
football games, and we are currently involved in our
holiday Shared Dreams gift drive. We are sponsoring a
Fort Bend family with four children and purchasing
gifts for the family from a list of wishes that the chil-
dren made. We are having a joint Christmas party
with NJHS , also sponsoring a family, to celebrate and
get to know each other better. We are also trying to set
up an additional fundraiser to raise money to help
with our plans for next semester. This will include our
annual Valentine carnation/candy sale. We’re looking
forward to another semester of projects and service
through our work in our committees!
STUDENT COUNCIL
Page 8 Falcon Flyer
FSMS Band News
FSMS Students Dominate Region Band Auditions
On Saturday, November 9th, the FSMS Band students competed at the Region 13 Band Auditions. There
were almost 600 students entered in the competition, and FSMS had 49 students selected to the All-
Region Bands, which was the most of any school in the competition. Over the past three months the
students have put in many hours of practice in preparation for this competition. Their outstanding work
ethic and musical ability are the reason for the Fort Settlement students’ success at this year’s region band
auditions. The students’ achievements include:
The most students (49) selected to the three region bands from any school in the competition
The most students (47) selected to the top two region bands that will perform next Saturday
The most students (31) selected to the Symphonic Band (the top region band)
The most students selected first chair (7) in the region on their instrument
Being selected to the All-Region Band is the highest individual honor that can be awarded to a middle
school band student. All of the students who participated in this competition, regardless of whether they
made the All-Region Band or not, are to be congratulated for the time, effort, hard work and dedication
they displayed in preparing for this event.
SYMPHONIC BAND
Flute
Wendi Z. – 1st
Chair
Hannah C. – 4th
Chair
Emily Z. – 6th
Chair
Melissa L. – 7th
Chair
Bassoon
Isabela F. – 1st
Chair
Jonathan Y. – 2nd
Chair
Clarinet
Christopher C. – 1st
Chair
Eric L. – 2nd
Chair
Eric H. - 5th
Chair
Jerry Y. – 6th
Chair
Sumedh Z. - 7th
Chair
Timothy G. – 8th
Chair
Gilbert F. – 11th
Chair
Bass Clarinet
Victoria G. – 1st
Chair
Alto Saxophone
Brendon M. - 2nd
Chair
John M. - 3rd
Chair
Tenor Saxophone
Don L. – 2nd
Chair
SYMPHONIC BAND (cont.)
Trumpet
Tristan B. – 4th
Chair
Dhruv G. – 8th
Chair
Lucas L. - 9th
Chair
Joshua K. – 10th
Chair
French Horn
Riya M. – 1st
Chair
Larry X. – 2nd
Chair
Codey S. – 4th
Chair
Trombone
Elvin Y. - 1st
Chair
Seth U. – 2nd
Chair
Caroline K. - 4th
Chair
Matthew R.- 5th
Chair
Euphonium
Trey M. – 1st
Chair
Vincent G. – 3rd
Chair
Tuba
Keshav R. – 2nd
Chair
CONCERT BAND
Savera S. – Flute
Kyle P. – Oboe
Ashley H. – Oboe
Reba G. – Clarinet
Warren W. – Bassoon
Delon S. – Alto Sax
Joshua M. – Baritone Sax
Christopher R. – Trumpet
Javier L. – Trumpet
Raj R. – French Horn
Daphne L. – Trombone
Tim G. – Trombone
Mario D. – Tuba
Joshua W. – Percussion
Kiph P. – Percussion
Paarth M. – Percussion
DISTRICT BAND
Chris H. – Alto Saxophone
Ethan S. – French Horn
FSMS BAND
Page 9 December 2013 FSMS BAND
December Events FSMS Band Holiday Concert – On Tuesday, December 10th, the FSMS Concert, Symphonic
and Honors Bands will present a Holiday Concert at 7:30 pm in the FSMS Commons.
Selections will include The Nutcracker Suite, Santa at the Symphony, Jingle Bells Upside
Down, And All The Bells Shall Ring!, Holiday March, Selections from The Polar Express and
Songs of Christmas Cheer. Immediately following the concert there will be a reception
with cookies and punch served. The entire FSMS community is invited to attend and we
hope this will be a great way to start your holiday season.
Holiday Party for the Concert, Symphonic and Honors Bands – On Friday, December 13th,
there will be a holiday party for the members of the Concert, Symphonic and Honors
Bands from 4:00-6:00 pm. The students will be served pizza and soft drinks and then
move to the gyms and outside to have fun for the remainder of the party. We do need
parent chaperones for this event and the direct link to volunteer on the Charms website is
https://www.charmsoffice.com/charms/volunteerR.asp?s=FtSettlmntMSB&v=1656936.
Beginning Band Recitals - On Monday, December 16th, the Beginning Band students will
present a Holiday Recital during the beginning band classes. These students have done an
excellent job during the fall semester and I know they are excited about their first
performance. Anyone is welcome to attend, so please feel free to invite family and
friends. Invitations will be sent home with your child that provides specific times for each
class’ performance on December 16th.
Thanks for giving us the opportunity to work with your children and we hope everyone has
a wonderful Holiday Season!
Greg Countryman & Theresa Baragas
Fort Settlement MS Band Directors
Page 10 Falcon Flyer FSMS HOSPITALITY
Scenes from the Hospitality
Gourmet Popcorn Bar & the Fabulous Fall Lunch The FSMS teachers & staff were TREATED to a gourmet popcorn bar on
Halloween. Many were dressed in fabulous costumes. Thanks to all the
Hospitality Helpers who contributed Yum Yum Popcorn for the event. In
November, PTO showed how thankful we are for their efforts by serving
a catered Thanksgiving meal complete with turkey & dressing, mashed
potatoes, gravy, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls and dessert.
Page 11 December 2013 SPIRIT NIGHT
Save the Date
Spirit Nights:
December 20 Orange leaf 4-9 p.m.
January 16 Mission burrito 4-9 p.m.
February 13 Mission Burritto 4-9 p.m.
Page 12 Falcon Flyer
Hello Falcon Parents,
I wanted to provide an update on our fundraising activities.
The PTO has received over $23,000 year to date in donations
from parents and companies through corporate match. Thank
you to those who support our school and PTO through dona-
tions.
Your generous donations provide and fund programs, services
and technology gifts for our school that we would not be
able to fund with the basic district allotment of less than
$100 per student. The major fundraiser for these programs is
the Falcon Fundraiser. This allows each family to donate
money directly to the PTO through a tax deductible contribu-
tion. 100% of your donation goes directly to fund classroom
and school enhancements.
Our goal this year is to raise $31,000. Currently we are
$8,000 short. We would like to ask families who have not had
an opportunity to donate, to consider donating to the school
with an amount you are comfortable. Currently, 23% of our
families have given donations to support our students and
school.
In addition, if your company matches donations, please com-
plete the paperwork with your company. Our PTO is listed
with most companies.(Fort Settlement Middle School PTO) I
can also be emailed as the contact at Pert Mosley pass-
free@aol.com or 713-409-7065. I am happy to assist with cor-
porate matches in any way.
Thank you for all you do in support of our
school and students. Enjoy the holidays and
time spent with family and friends.
Perthelene Mosley
Falcon Fundraiser Chair
FALCON FUNDRAISER
Page 13 December 2013 FALCON FUNDRAISER
FALCON FUNDRAISER FORM
2013-2014 FSMS PTO
_____ $500 and above – donation includes school marquee recognition
_____ $250
_____ $100 (average donation per Falcon Family)
_____ $50
_____ $25
_____ Other $_____
_____ Corporate Matching $ _____; Company Name: ________________________________
Parent(s) Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Home Phone: ________________________
Check #__________; Cash $_________
Student(s) Information:
Name Grade Name Grade
____________________________ _____ _____________________________ _____
____________________________ _____ _____________________________ _____
Page 14 Falcon Flyer CAREER DAY
Dear Parents,
Fort Settlement Middle School is very excited to offer CAREER DAY on January 28, 2014
to its 8th grade students. This full day event will encourage students to take courses in high
school that will help them reach their educational and professional goals.
Over four hundred Fort Settlement 8th grade students will attend a CAREER FAIR, where
local companies, businesses and FBISD’s own Technical Education Center will personally
visit with students. In addition, SPEAKER SESSIONS will give students the chance to learn
about careers directly from presenters from various professions. The students are asked to
come to school in professional attire and awards are given to those who conduct themselves
in a professional manner.
We would truly appreciate your support of CAREER DAY with a donation. Money is needed
to purchase supplies, eight $10 gift cards for those students deemed “MOST
PROFESSIONAL”, and food items for the speaker breakfasts and lunches. We anticipate
approximately 100 community presenters.
A donation from your company will make the day a smashing success. Any donation is
greatly appreciated. For those families and/or businesses donating $250 or more, your name
will be used in all community press, on the school marquee, on speaker and student folders,
and in the school newsletter and community partnership report to the district. In addition,
your business logo will be displayed at the school event.
If you are able to help us, please make your check payable to FSMS PTO and bring it to the
FSMS front office, Attn: Joyce Kamla/Career Day or mail to Joyce Kamla, 4315 Oak Trail
Ct., Sugar Land, TX 77479. Please include contact information including name, phone
number and email address.
Thank you so very much for your interest! Our public schools would not be as great as
they are without involved parents like you!
Sincerely,
Joyce Kamla and the entire Career Day Committee
Page 15 December 2013 EIGHTH GRADE PARTY
Save The Date Eighth Grade Party
Friday May 30, 2014
Let's celebrate our Class of 2014.
Date: May 30th
Place: Main Event Stafford
Please support the 8th Grade Party
Committee.
We are looking for sponsors and
volunteers.
T-shirts and tickets coming soon.
For information please contact
Mónica Maza
tamasta@earthlink.net
Page 16 Falcon Flyer BOX TOPS
BOX TOPS:
Help earn cash for FSMS by clipping and saving Box Tops for Education from participating products. Each one is worth 10¢. Box Tops can be deposited in the large collection bin located in front of the FSMS library. Bring them in today!
Keep sending in your Box Tops!
Is your Kroger Plus Card linked to our
FSMS PTO?
For more ways to earn cash for FSMS, check out
our page on the Falcons' Nest Weebly page. Go to the PTO tab, then click on the tab marked Earn Cash for FSMS. Thanks!
Kroger Community Rewards®
Help earn cash for FSMS: The Kroger Plus
Card requires on-line registration. Simply go
to www.krogercommunityrewards.com to register
and activate your card to FSMS ID #80198.
Page 17 December 2013 FREE MONEY
Attention Shoppers!
Savings & Benefits for you Cash for FSMS…
Are you a REDcard holder?
Simply call 1-800-316-6142, option 1 and enroll your card to FSMS ID#121337. No cost to you and benefits for all: Target donates 1% of your purchases to FSMS, 5% discount to you on your Target purchases, free shipping, and an extra 30 days on returns!
Are you a Target shopper but don’t want another credit card? Consider the debit card option. It does not reflect on your credit report and is simply a debit card
linked to your checking account to be used only at Target. You still get all the benefits of 5% discount, free shipping and an extra 30 days on returns for all your Target purchases! Target will donate 1% of your total purchases to FSMS. Visit Target to apply for a Target Debit or Credit Card and then call 1-800-316-6142, option 1 and enroll your card to FSMS ID#121337.
Page 18 Falcon Flyer SHARED DREAMS
Page 19 December 2013 DIRECTORY
Erratum: Author Names of the Art Works Chosen for School Directory
In the FSMS Directory published, we printed the incorrect names for the two art works chosen as
illustrations. The author for the hand with phone is Nick Clancy, while the author for the eagle head
is Claire Zhou. We apologize for this mistake.
Artwork by: Claire Zhou (Wrong Name) The original author: Nick Clancy
Artwork by: Shalini Das (Wrong name) The original author: Claire Zhou
Page 20 Falcon Flyer
Fort Bend Independent School District
5440 Elkins Road
Sugar Land, Texas 77479
FORT SETTLEMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Sugar Land, Texas
Permit No. 27
Affix Mailing Label Here
Fort Settlement Middle School
Contact Information:
Office 281- 634 - 6440
Attendance 281- 634 - 6501
Clinic 281- 634 - 6508
FSMS WEBSITE
www.fortbendisd.com/campuses/fsms
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