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March Newsletter
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FCAT season is just around the corner. Please be sure to schedule appointments and oth-
er events around this schedule. It is important that your child be here on time and ready
to go on test days. Even though make-up days are available, the optimum testing situa-
tion has been arranged on school-wide testing days. Everyone is aware of the high
stakes that have been attached to your child’s performance on the FCAT—mandatory
retention, next year’s schedule and high school placement. It is easy to feel helpless, but
there are some things that you can do to ensure that your child is in the best state of
mind to put forth his/her best effort on test days.
Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep.
Provide a good, healthy breakfast. Protein like eggs or bacon give kids energy to help them
think.
Have your child dress in layers—kids do better if they don’t have to think about how hot or
cold they are.
Don’t be too anxious. Tell your child, “This test is important. I know you will try hard and do
your best.”
On test day, remind your child of these tips:
1. Skip a question and move on if you don’t know them answer.
You can come back to it later.
2. Check your answers carefully. Make sure the numbers of your
answers correspond to the numbers of the questions.
Mowat Middle School M A R C H 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 7
Ed Sheffield
Principal
Cynthia Walker
Assistant Principal
Angela Reese
Administrative
Assistant
Elizabeth Swedlund
Administrative
Assistant
Mowat Guidance
767-4041
Crystal Wicker A-K
Nancy Smith L-Z
Office 850-767-4040
Fax 850-265-2179 Principal’s Corner by Ed Sheffield
Dates to Remember
Spring Pictures– 3/7
Spring Break– 3/24-3/28
P A G E 2
“Children must be
taught how to think,
not what to think.”
― Margaret Mead
Please be kind...some
noses are sensitive to
certain perfumes, co-
logne, and/or body
sprays. Remember to
keep to a minimum.
M O W A T M I D D L E S C H O O L
Go Mustangs! School Lunch
Breakfast: $1.50
Lunch:$2.50
For free and reduced meals contact
the school for an application. For
paying online go to
www.schoolpaymentsolutions.com
You will need your student’s 10-
digit school identification number.
Yearbooks are on sale
for $50
BOOKS ARE LIMITED!!!
Bring cash or check to
Mrs. Vaughn in room
505
Make checks payable to
Mowat Yearbook
T-Shirt Days
March 7th
March 21st
Sign up online
http://www.bay.k12.fl.us/Parents/
ParentPortal.aspx
7th graders….Make
certain your shot
records are up to
date!
SGA
SGA is holding its annual
fundraising drive for the
Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society from now un-
til February 14th. All pro-
ceeds will be donat-
ed. Students are encour-
aged to bring change to
place in their sixth period
teacher's collection
box. The sixth period class
that collects the most do-
nations will win a pizza par-
ty for lunch on February
28th. Start looking for
some extra change and
bring it in to help us make
a difference!
Beta Club will hold its regularly
scheduled meeting on Thursday,
March 6 at 8:15 in
room 606.
P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 7
PBS, Positive Behavior Supports, is in it’s third year at Mowat.
Each month, Mustangs learn a new character trait that exemplifies the acronym
RACE (Respect, Act responsibly, Care for others, Engaged). As Mustangs pre-
pare for high school and beyond, they are becoming responsible and building
character. Students are able to earn RACE tickets randomly when caught fol-
lowing school rules or being a good citizen. Caught Reading tickets are earned
by students caught reading during less structured time such as lunch or before
school. Weekly drawings are held for prizes such as $10 Itunes cards, restau-
rant gift cards, candy ,trinkets, etc. A selection of novels is available to those
names drawn for Caught Reading. If you would like to donate prizes or funds to
assist with this ongoing program, please contact Angela Reese, Administrative
Assistant, 767-4040.
Mowat will NOT BE ALLOWING
BLACK PANTS. Like always, bot-
toms must be khaki, denim (indigo
blue) or navy blue. If students wear
hoodies (tops with hoods that must
be pulled over their heads), they
MUST be either a Mowat hoodie or
plain navy blue, yellow or
white. Students will be required to
remove any non-dress code
hoodie. If your student gets cold in
the classroom now, or
as you are purchasing clothing for
the fall, be sure they have a jacket that
fastens in the front with a
zipper or buttons (must unzip all the
way, not partial zipper). If
your student has holes in his or her
pants, even the decorative
variety, they will be required to
change into another pair of
pants--which parents will be called to
bring--regardless of where the
holes are located.
There have been comments in the
News Herald that the dress code is
confusing, so I wanted to clarify
things for Mowat families. The only
change in our dress code is that
students no longer are required to
tuck in their shirts. They still have
to wear belts. They still
must wear a collared shirt in
Mowat colors: navy blue, yellow or
white, or Mowat spirit t-shirts. The
district dress code policy
allows for black pants at the discre-
tion of the principal; however,
Dress Code Mustang’s
RACE
Respect
Act Responsibly
Care for Others
Engaged
Class RotationClass RotationClass Rotation
Rotation 1: 1,2,3,4,5,6Rotation 1: 1,2,3,4,5,6Rotation 1: 1,2,3,4,5,6
Rotation 2: 3,4,5,6,1,2Rotation 2: 3,4,5,6,1,2Rotation 2: 3,4,5,6,1,2
Rotation 3: 5,6,1,2,3,4Rotation 3: 5,6,1,2,3,4Rotation 3: 5,6,1,2,3,4
Mustangs
RACE!
ESE NEWSLETTER
This newsletter is provided by Bay District Schools for
parents of ESE students. Please visit the link to access
the newsletter. If you would like a paper copy, please
stop by the guidance office.
http://paec.org/wp_paec/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/
Bay-Fall-13-Newsletter.pdf
Attention 8th Graders
and Parents attending
the Washington DC Trip
Don’t forget, the deadline for
final payment on the trip
is March 13, 2014. If you
need to make other arrange-
ments, or will not be going
with us, please contact
Worldstrides. If you are a
parent attending the trip,
you MUST be fingerprinted
BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
and PRESENT PROOF ASAP.
For more information or if
you have any questions, con-
tact Mrs. Piotrowski by e-
mail, [email protected] ,
or by phone, 850-767-4040.
PTO will be meeting on Thursday, March 20th at 3:45PM in the me-
dia center. It would be great to see some new faces!
Prevent Cyberbullying
*Be Aware of What Your Kids
are Doing Online
*Establish Rules about
Technology Use
*Understand School Rules
P A G E 4
Library Hours
The media center is open before school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. It is open after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students who stay after school to work in the media center must have a ride and be picked up by 4:30.
Seventh Grade
Mowat's Seventh Grade Class is
selling Sonic Discount cards for
$5. All of the money collected
stays with us. These little cards
would make great Easter basket
gifts or would be a nice treat for a
terrific progress report or report
card. Contact Denise Hinson if you
are interested in buying any
Book Fair is Coming!
The spring book fair will be held in the
Mowat Media center from March 10-14.
Our theme is Book Fair Fiesta. Proceeds
from the book fair support technology and
materials for our library. Volunteers are
welcome. It is especially busy from 8-8:45
in the morning, so if you can spare an hour,
please contact Mrs. Balmer at-
Mustang Sports
Schedule
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 7 P A G E 5
Upcoming FCAT/EOC schedule:
4/14-4/24 6th grade computer-based reading
4/14 7th grade paper-based math
4/14 8th grade paper-based math
4/16-4/24 7th grade computer-based reading
4/16 8th grade paper-based science
4/22-5/1 8th grade computer-based reading
4/22-5/1 6th grade computer-based math
5/5-5/9 7th grade Civics EOC
5/12-5/15 Algebra I Honors EOC
5/20 Geometry Honors EOC
Computer-based tests are given over a period of one (math) or two (reading) days. For your child's specific testing date(s), please contact his/her content area teacher. All EOCs
are one day, computer-based. This information is also available on the district website un-der the "parent" tab.
Boys / Girls Track
Thurs. March 13 Surfside, Mowat, NBH, BH @ GAVLAK
Tues. March 18 Merritt Brown, Surfside, Everitt, Mowat
Balloons or Flowers Delivered to School:
We know that , as parents, we like to let our children know that they are
very special. We encourage you to continue to recognize your chil-
dren on special occasions, but we ask that you consider whether
school is the appropriate place to do so.
Students are NOT allowed to receive flowers and balloons during
school hours due to disruptions they may cause in classrooms,
around school, and on the buses.
THESE ITEMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AT SCHOOL!
BYOD
Bay District Schools is committed to aiding students and staff in cre-
ating a 21st century learning environment. Students and staff will
now be able to access our wireless network with their personal mo-
bile devices ( laptops, netbooks, tablets, smartphones, etc) during
the school day. With classroom teacher approval, stu-
dents may use their own devices to access the in-
ternet and collaborate with other students. Stu-
dents may NOT have their devices out between
classes, before school, or in the classroom without
teacher permission. All devices are the responsibility of the
student; the school will not be held responsible for lost or damaged
devices.
Menus, nutrition information,
and prices can be found @
http://chartwells.compass-usa.com/BDS/Pages/SiteMenus.aspx
P A G E 6
The Dance Team will have
the Mandatory Parent
Meeting April 16th at
5:30pm in the li-
brary. Anyone who would
like to tryout must have a
parent/guardian attend the
meeting to be eligible for
tryouts. Dance
Team tryouts
will be May 5th-
8th from 3:30-
5:30 in the
Gym.
Attendance Line before and after school: 850-767-4042
If your student is absent for ANY reason, you must contact the school.
Chick-fil-a sandwiches are now
on sale in the cafeteria for $3.75
as an a la carte item.
Parent Pick-up/ Parking Please be mindful of those picking up/dropping off students in front of the gym. If you are parked
in the traffic pattern, you are impeding progress of those whose students are already in the pick-
up zone. Parent parking is available in our sand lot in front of the gym.
Please utilize this area if you know your child may
be running a little late in the afternoon.
**Note: Teacher parking is the lot directly in front of the gym.
Please avoid pick up and drop
off in our bus loading zone.
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 7 P A G E 7
Saturday, March 8th at 11 am in the Arnold High School Auditorium, the Ad-
vanced Band will be participating in the Florida Bandmasters Association Concert
Band Music Performance Assessment. They will perform three prepared pieces
on stage for a panel of 3 adjudicators and perform two pieces in Sight-reading for
1 adjudicator. The band will be evaluated on how well they perform all five piec-
es of music based on the Florida Bandmasters Association criteria. FBA uses the
following rating system when evaluating: Superior (I), Excellent (II), Good (III), Fair
(IV), and Poor (V). These ratings are sent to all superintendents, school boards,
principals, and band directors throughout the state as well as posted on the FBA
website. The performance evaluation is the band’s equivalent to FCAT.
We would love for you to come out and show support for all of the hard work
and dedication these students have put forth in this evaluation.
SGA will be hosting Mowat's Spring Dance on Friday, March 14th from 6-9PM in the gym. Our
theme this year is "A Night in Paris." Tickets will be $5 and will be sold in the cafeteria during lunch Monday,
March 10th through Friday, March 14th and at the door Friday night. Drinks and snacks will be sold. A pho-
tographer will be taking pictures that night as well. Students will receive an order form for the photos once a
ticket is purchased. If anyone is interested in helping us out that night, please contact Denise Hinson
SGA raised $295 during our Pennies for Patients fundraiser. We will be making a total donation of $500 to the Lymphoma and
Cancer Society. Every class helped raise money, and our fabulous cafeteria ladies raised a nice amount by bringing in lots of
pennies. Thank you, Ladies! The class that raised the most and wins a pizza party at lunch was Mr. Cypher's second period
class. Thanks to everyone who donated!
P A G E 8
Sunshine State Young Readers
March is the last month for students to read for the Sunshine State program this year. Voting for favorite books will
take place during the first week of April. Reading 3 books allows a student to vote, 5 books students participate in Battle of
the Books and a party, 10 books an all you can eat ice party and 15 books is a pizza party. Congratulations to Sophie Shaffer,
Celeste Borel and Gracie Bass. They have completed all 15 titles already this year.
Library Events and Dates
March 3 and 19 Technology Club
March 19 Guys Read- Schooled by Gordon Korman
March 20 Books and Brownies- Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos
March 10-14- Book Fair
News from the APP
The school info app is now publishing a week-
ly update of school events for parents. Want
to know what’s happening at school? Need a
late pick-up? Cash for a favorite t shirt?
Now you can know on Sunday instead of 8:00
as you go out the door. To receive this up-
date, all you have to do is go to the APP store
for your phone or device. SEARCH Bay Dis-
trict Schools. Download the app. Select
Mowat and you are done!
New Digital Library
Bay District has purchased a license with Overdrive to supply
digital books for our students. If your student likes to read on their
device, here’s how. Go to the app store for your device. Download
Overdrive. Select add library. Search 32401 as the zip code. Add
Bay County School District. From there you can search for books and
borrow them. Students will log on using their computer user name
and password from school. A variety of digital formats are available.
They can borrow up to 3 books at a time and have them for 2 weeks.
After 2 weeks, the book will return to the digital platform. If you
have questions, please contact Mrs. Balmer at [email protected].
Students can also read digitally from the Destiny website.
The address is http://destiny.bayschools.net. Select Mowat as the
school choice. Use the Follett Shelf on left side of the catalog tab to
search for ebooks on that site. Students do need to log in to borrow
books here as well.