From the Principal's Desk...

It is hard to believe that half of our school year is already completed!  The students of Forestwood continue to excel in both their academic work and extracurricular activities.  Academically our students are posting record results for their performance in the classroom!  In terms of extracurricular activities, parents, students and staff alike beamed with pride after witnessing the amazing holiday performances of the Choirs, Orchestras and Bands; we have been perched at the edge of our seats as our basketball teams continue to pour their hearts into regular season games and tournament competition.  The Christmas Angel drive was a heart-warming event for our entire community as we provided Christmas for 58 students (42 in 2007), all in L.I.S.D. schools.  Students, staff and parents provided gifts, monetary support, and time wrapping presents.  We could not be more proud of every facet of Forestwood!

It is with great pride that we announce our Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Pam Graham.  Ms. Graham is a professional educator with 29 years of experience, 20 in L.I.S.D. and 9 here at Forestwood Middle School.  She models dedication, care for her students, and selfless commitment to the profession to so many young teachers and students.  It is clear that Mrs. Graham finds education not only a vocation, but a mission.  We are proud she will represent our school!

Speaking of our successes, recent activities are focused on our accountability rating and the "public perception" of our school.  Our staff in all departments has been working diligently to implement a clear and effective strategy for preparing our students to build on the successes that we have experienced in the recent past.  Your children came home prior to the holidays talking about "benchmark" testing and tutorials.  Benchmark testing is a "practice" test we conduct during school and the results are used to determine what types of support and/or remediation may be necessary to have students fully prepared for the TAKS test.  We have designed a comprehensive plan to ensure the TAKS test is an opportunity for your children to shine and earn the successes and associated recognition they so richly deserve.  The 7th grade writing and 8th grade reading TAKS tests will be administered on Tuesday, March 3rd, the 8th grade math TAKS will be conducted on Tuesday, April 7th.  The 6th and 7th graders will take the math TAKS on Tuesday, April 28th and reading on Wednesday, April 29th, and the testing season concludes with 8th grade science on Thursday, April 30th and 8th grade social studies on Friday May 1st.  Attendance on the days of testing is recorded and used as an area on which we are measured, so we ask that any foreseeable event that might cause a student to miss school be scheduled on "non-test" days.  In addition, the school's schedule is altered for test days causing lunch times to be altered.

Important points of information:

• The latest advancements in technology have complicated our lives once again!  Some of the newest cell phones have built-in iPods or music players.  At times teachers will allow students to listen to their music player as a reward or classroom privilege.  School policies state that phones may not be visible, audible or in use, a guideline that would prevent the use of the phone as a music player.  Please be aware that if your child's cell phone doubles as a music playing device it may not be used during the school day.

• A reminder to all parents about delivering lunch to students; you are more than welcome to deliver lunch and/or join your child for lunch.  When doing so, please keep these guidelines in mind: (a.) parents may only provide food for their own children, (b.) if purchasing a lunch from the school cafeteria parents will be required to pay an adult fee for the lunch, $2.55, (c.) visitations must take place during the student's scheduled lunch times; students will not be taken from a classroom to share an unscheduled lunch with their parents, (d.) grandparents may join students for lunch with a note from the parents/guardians of the student, (e.) siblings wishing to eat lunch must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

In each edition of this newsletter we thank the parents for their support; we could not be as successful as we are without that backing and we are grateful.  Please do not hesitate to make contact with your child's teachers, the counselors or an administrator if you are in need of information, support or assistance; we are here for that purpose and we welcome your involvement.

As always, thank you for reading the Falcon Flyer.  Forward it to your fellow FMS parents!