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Quick Links...
Reflections
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Make sure to join PTA!
Deadline is
October 12
to have your student listed
in the directory!
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SPIRIT WEAR SHIRTS STILL AVAILABLE!
If you would like to purchase an FMS short-sleeved t-shirt please contact
Karen Hazboun at 972-724-1077
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Special Education PTSA
SEPTSA serves all of LISD and as such has no home campus. They want to reach all parents who have special needs students. SEPTSA needs regular members, and you can be a member of more than one PTA! If you or someone you know might be interested in joining, go to www.LISD-SEPTSA.org for more information.
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Don't miss the next
PTA meeting! Thursday, October 25, 7:00pm.
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PTA MEMBERS
GET DISCOUNTS
Benefits of being a PTA member are always increasing! Check out www.txpta.org and find out how your Benefits Card will help you save! Your username and password are on the back of your PTA membership card.
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Welcome to the first electronic edition of the 2007-2008 Falcon Flyer! We hope to provide timely information on a regular basis that you can read at your leisure. If you know a parent at Forestwood not currently receiving the Flyer, forward this issue to them and have them sign up!
Thanks for reading!
Forestwood Middle School PTA
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A Note from the Principal...
As you read this, you have already received
the most important stories about how the school year began, the informal
reports from your son or daughter. The
faculty and staff at Forestwood Middle School hope the reports were
positive and the year has begun well for your child.
From our perspective the
year has begun on a very positive note and we expect this school year to be a
productive and positive one. We could
not be more proud of the way in which our students have begun the year; their
apparent eagerness to get back in the routine could be a model for all
schools!
The first round of Progress
Reports will come home on Monday. September 17th, the first six-week
grading period ends on the 5th of October and by now you've survived
the first school dance. The year is in
full swing and you will regularly hear about games, band, choir and orchestra
events as well as other activities. We
encourage and welcome your support and participation at each of these
activitie
We
could not be happier with the student response to our new after school program,
Homework Haven. It begins at 4:00
p.m.
each day and concludes at 5:00 p.m. We provide bottled water and a snack for all
attendees with our primary goal being the completion of homework that is due
the next school day. Of course, students
who have run into problems completing work on time have the chance to use
Homework Haven to finish work not completed on that day for 90% of the
credit. We are seeing students make very
productive use of this opportunity and expect to see significant results in
grades, test scores and overall levels of success.
Some
brief reminders about our attempts to keep traffic flowing. In the front of the building, the two curb
lanes are for student drop-off; please move as close as possible to the north
band hall / gym entrance before pulling over for drop-off or
pick-up. The center lane is always
reserved for cars that are moving, so we ask that you not stop in that
lane. Also, please remind your children
to ONLY cross at one of the three cross walks.
For safety purposes we are asking that no pick-up or drop-off take place
in the back of the school; we are reserving that area for bus and pedestrian
(including bicycle) traffic. It is our
hope to move cars in and out of the campus as quickly and safely as possible,
and we thank you for any efforts you make to assist with this initiative.
We would like to further express
our gratitude to the parents of Forestwood for the vital role you play each day
in ensuring students get to school, supporting teachers by checking homework,
meeting with teachers to cement communication, and supporting the school
through attendance at the various events.
Our PTA is working extremely hard to plan events that will involve
everyone in the school community and we look forward to some fun and
enlightenment.
If
there are any concerns about any aspect of your child's schooling, please feel
free to contact a teacher, a guidance counselor or an administrator; we welcome
all of your inquiries. David Tickner Principal
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From the PTA President
Dear
students and parents,
It
seems as though everyone has survived the back to school marathon, or are we
still running in it? Forestwood PTA was
very busy at Orientation and the subsequent Open House nights. We signed up many parents for PTA memberships,
the directory and electronic newsletter.
We sold a lot of school supplies and spirit wear as well. Although the deadline has passed to place
special orders for shirts, we do still have shirts available in some
sizes. It's also not too late to join
PTA and be listed in the Student Directory.
The deadline for entries in the directory is October 12th.
One
goal of our PTA is to help support other organizations. Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the
school supplies sold is donated to Delay Middle School PTA. This $500 donation is to aid Delay PTA in
offering a meaningful student or parent program. We also held a Back to School Sock Drive to benefit the Dressed to
Learn program. The socks collected were
taken to Communities In Schools of North Texas to be distributed to LISD kids
in need. Annually, FMS-PTA contributes
a silent auction basket to the Lewisville Education Foundation Gala (held
September 8th), the proceeds of which help fund the many college
scholarships that are given to LISD students every spring.
Looking ahead, we have our next regulare PTA meeting on October 25th at 7:00pm. Immediately following the short meeting, we will have the "Aim for Success" parent preview. Aim for Success is a sexual abstinence program for our 7th graders. New this year will be a similar program for the 8th grade students, "180 Degrees". The parent preview for the 8th grade program will be October 22 at 7:00pm. We
hope to see you at the PTA programs and sponsored events this year!
Julie
Rael
President,
Forestwood PTA
Julie.rael@verizon.net
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180 Degrees
8th Grade Parents - Preview of
Program
Parents
of 8th Graders are invited to a Parent Preview of the 180 Degrees
Abstinence Program on Monday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m. Eight
graders will watch the program on October 25 & 26.
180
Degrees is an abstinence until marriage program designed to help teenagers
recognize the consequences of premarital sex, the beauty of a healthy marriage
relationship, and turn their thinking about sex around a whole 180 degrees. Please join us!
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Aim For Success
7th Grade Parents - Preview of Program
Parents of 7th graders are invited
to a Parent Preview of the Aim for Success Abstinence Program on Thursday,
October 25 immediately following the 7:00 p.m. PTA Regular Meeting. Seventh
Graders will watch the program on Monday, October 29.
Aim for Success is America's largest provider of
abstinence programs. Aim for Success is an independent, non-profit, educational
organization that promotes a lifestyle of excellence by encouraging the
development of self-control, self- respect, and self-discipline. Students are
encouraged to develop strong, responsible character and parents are inspired to
raise responsible children who know that their choices have consequences.
This program is brought to
you by the Forestwood Middle School PTA.
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Get Ready for the Book Fair
When: Oct. 1st - Oct. 5th
Where: Forestwood Library
8:00
am - 4:00 pm
Our fall book fair will be held during the week of
Oct 1-5. Students will be able to shop before school and during lunch. Students
will also come to the fair during Reading & English. Parents are welcome
anytime during the week.
We accept cash, check or credit card for all
purchases. Please make all checks payable to Forestwood PTA. Do not forget to
include 7.25% sales tax with your purchase.
If you can volunteer at the Book Fair or have any
questions, please call me at 972-539-7347.
Anila Dhanam
kdhanam@hotmail.com
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Don't Miss the Directory Deadline
LAST CALL FOR DIRECTORY INFO!! Deadline is October 12. Please submit your information as soon as possible
to have your student included in the Forestwood PTA Student Directory. Also remember you must be a PTA member to receive a
copy of the directory. If you have any
questions please email kathy.lem@verizon.net.
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FALCON FIESTA
Falcon Fiesta is a PTA sponsored
student recognition and reward program. Students (3 girls and 3
boys) are selected by teachers on the six teaching teams at the end of each six
week grading period (except the final six weeks which ends on the last day of
school). The selection criteria is based upon positive attitude toward school
work, consistent effort, excellent behavior, hard work, and attention is given
to those who may have shown significant improvement.
Once selected, the
students are invited to the library for snacks during teaming at which time they
may socialize and just have fun!! This is a reward for a job well done! Go for
it Falcons and make it hard for the teachers to choose!
The first Falcon
Fiesta of the year is Friday, October 19th. If you would like to help by
donating snacks for one or more of the Fiestas, please indicate on
your Volunteer Form or contact Melanie McCoy at (972) 355-9092 or JoMelKel@aol.com.
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We Need You!
Thanks so much to
everyone who has signed on to help out at Forestwood MS this year - we
appreciate everyone's contribution. If
you have not yet had the opportunity to complete the Volunteer Form, you can
pick one up in the kiosk outside the office or click here to download the form via the Forestwood website. There are a variety
of ways to assist in our school - we invite you to find one that appeals to
you! Also, please remember you need to complete the LISD volunteer check to be eligible. Go to the LISD website, www.lisd.net, click on Parents and Students and follow the link for Volunteer Application. Thank you!
Carolyn Ditsworth
Volunteer
Coordinator
c.dits@verizon.net
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Why Join PTA?
Research has shown
that kids perform better in school when parents are involved. Grades are
higher. Test scores improve. Attendance increases. Involved parents are
informed parents. For more information about PTA and benefits that are
exclusive just to PTA members, visit the Texas PTA website at www.txpta.org.
It's NEVER Too Late To Join PTA!
Forestwood Middle
School PTA is enrolling members for the 2007-08 school year. Joining the
PTA at FMS helps us provide programs and services for students, parents, and
teachers. You can join through a one-time donation of $40 (which includes two memberships), or dues of $6.00 for a single membership. The one-time donation allows the PTA to plan programs without the need for a fundraiser. Enrollment forms are available in the front office or by contacting
Gena Mann at 972-355-1576 or gena.mann@verizon.net.
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Destination Imagination
A
new year of creative problem solving is underway with DI teams all over the
world! Each year, six new challenges are
devised and each team picks the one that appeals to them and solves it in a
unique, creative way. If your
student likes things that are technical, structural, improvisational or
theatrical, then DI has a challenge for them!
Come to the LISD DI Awareness night on Monday, September 24 from 7-8:30
pm
at Lamar MS and see what all DI has to offer.
DI
teams need 5-7 team members and an adult team leader. The TVNC DI Regional Tournament is on Saturday,
March 8, 2008. Check out the website at www.tvnc.texasdi.org. Signup forms are available in the kiosk
outside the office or can be downloaded via the Forestwood website if you click here. Completed forms are due October 5, 2007.
Carolyn
Ditsworth
FMS
DI Coordinator
c.dits@verizon.net
972-355-1801
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Purchase Your Yearbook Early
 Get them
early before the price goes up on November 16th. This year's book is going to be
like no other book you've ever seen, make sure to pre-order yours now! The prices are $30 for a regular and $35 for a personalized book. Click here to download the order form via the Forestwood Middle School website. Or, you
may pick up a form in the front office. There is a box in the front office
where it may be dropped off, receipts will be delivered to the students.
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ATTENTION Parents of Eighth Graders
 Create a lasting memory for your 8th grader! Your special message to your student will be a permanent part of the yearbook. Space is limited, so reserve your
space early. The deadline for submission is November 16th. Click here to download the order form via the Forestwood MIddle School website, or pick one up in the front
office. Completed forms and payment may be left in the yearbook box located in
the front office. Confidentiality will be maintained in order for you to be
able to surprise your 8th grader. Receipts will be mailed home addressed to you.
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Reflections
Forestwood Students:
Do you want to make a difference?
Enter REFLECTIONS!
What is  ?
REFLECTIONS is a PTA sponsored program that promotes
the arts. REFLECTIONS is an opportunity
to earn recognition amongst your peers and the community in which you live. Students are challenged to create a piece
based on the 2007 theme.
I
Can Make a Difference By:
Students may submit as many entries as
they like in any of the following six areas -
Literature
Musical Composition
Photography
Visual Arts
Dance Choreography
Film and Video
After an entry has been submitted it is
viewed
by
a panel of judges at each of the following levels:
Local (Flower Mound)
Council (LISD)
Area (Area 16 of Texas PTA)
State (Texas)
National (United States)
All entries are judged based on the
following criteria:
Interpretation of the Theme
Creativity
Artistic Merit
Get your creative juices flowing and make a difference!
For more information contact:
Michaelanne Cangelosi
fcangel@verizon.net
972-333-3747 |
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Volunteer Opportunity
 Lillie J. Jackson Early Childhood Center is seeking volunteers for our
"Storybook Buddies" program. Volunteers would read with 4-year olds once a
week, and can sign up between 8:30 and 11 am or 12:45-3:15 pm Monday-Friday on
LISD school days. Anyone who may be able to read in another language other than
English (especially Spanish) is also needed. We would like to start our program
by mid-September, and all volunteers must have LISD background checks. If
anyone is interested, they may contact Katherine Haule, Principal, at
haulek@lisd.net, or call the school at (469) 713-5986.
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Message to all FMS teachers and staff!
 Please consider submitting an article on
any special projects you are working on in class. Also, we're interested
in news from our terrific CLUBS, MUSIC PROGRAMS and ATHLETICS.
Articles for the next issue of the Falcon Flyer are due October 12. Email FalconFlyer0708@verizon.net.
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The PTA Audit
The
Forestwood Middle School PTA has strict rules regarding spending of
money, budgets, and financial controls. It is the responsibility of the
President, Treasurer, and the PTA Board to follow these rules and protect the
PTA's money. Our PTA bylaws require at least a yearly audit of the books and
records.
The
Audit Committee was appointed in May and consisted of three PTA members, and an
alternate, none of which can have check signing authority. Over the summer, the Audit Committee meets several times to audit the books. The Texas PTA has
developed guidelines for the Audit committee to insure a complete and thorough
audit. The Audit Committee has to inspect the treasurer's books, the secretary
reports and the president's procedures.
The
Audit Committee reviewed dozens of items, including ensuring quorums were met, checks
were signed by two signers, correct budgets were applied, budget updates were
voted on before money spent, no budget was overspent, no check was written to a
person who signed the check, all deposits applied, and math was correct,
reports given to PTA board, and regular meetings were accurate.
The
Audit Committee reported at the August 30 regular meeting that it had completed
the Audit, and the books and records of Forestwood PTA were correct and
accurate.
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Sports Teams
  Come out and support the teams of Forestwood! Check out the Calendar of Events for dates and times of games and matches.
GO FALCONS!!!
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Parents and teachers, we hope you enjoyed this issue of
the Falcon Flyer newsletter. We welcome your feedback! Have ideas for
future issues? Contact Sue Cozza at FalconFlyer0708@verizon.net.
Forestwood PTA
Forestwood Middle School
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