Town Crier on Wednesday, February 8, 2012.

Happy Wednesday!
February 8, 2012
Together this will be a prosperous 2011-2012 School Year!

Rachel’s Challenge Thought for the Week! – “The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire.”
*Rachel's Challenge will meet each Friday during AC and Lunch.
Check out www.rachelschallenge.org

PTO MEETING - Our next PTO meeting will be Tuesday, February 14th at 8:15AM.

Very Important Communication!
A parent letter was sent home with students on February 1. Included in this correspondence was very important information about Common Core Standards and Essential Standards. These two topics will facilitate MAJOR changes to our educational program and we'd like all parents to be informed of the upcoming changes.

Additionally, we have gathered data on every student, which will demonstrate growth and/or challenges our students have experienced thus far this year. Parents are encouraged to partner with us to ensure positive growth in lexiles as well as math data. Please notify your student's homeroom teacher with any questions or concerns. We are committed to "growing" our students as much as we can and we appreciate our strong parent partnership with this goal.

Proctors Needed - Proctors are needed to assist with Access Testing beginning February 8th through February 24th. Please contact Lori McNeil or one of the counselors at 726-1126 if you are free and available on any of those dates. We would love to have you. We would be grateful for your time:
February 8: 9-10:30am
February 9: 1-2:30pm
February 13: 10-11:30am
February 14: 8-9:30am
February 15: 9-10:30am
February 16: 1-2:30pm

BoxTops for Education - Friday, February 24th will be the last collection of BoxTops for the current school year. The MCMS will provide breakfast for the top homeroom class. The individual student bringing in the most BoxTops will also be rewarded with a special treat. Collecting BoxTops is a simple way to raise funds and we encourage all families to participate.

Quiz Bowl News – Meetings will take place every Wednesday from 3:00 to 3:45 thru April 2nd if not cancelled beforehand.

Science Club Meeting - "Attention all Science Club Members: there will be a mandatory meeting this Thursday from 3-4:00 in Mrs. Purcell's room. Make sure to bring your signed permission slip for the Climate Change Summit. See Mrs. Purcell or Mrs. Dodgens before the meeting if you haven't gotten a permission slip yet."

Yearbook Meeting - There will be NO yearbook meeting this week. Yearbook members, take lots of pictures this week!

Winter Wonderland Dance - Oh, I Want to Dance With Somebody!
Make plans now! On Friday, Feb. 10 from 3-5, MCMS will be hosting a Winter Wonderland Dance! The admission fee is $5.00. We will have several activities such as a "Who Glued My Igloo?" Competition, Real Life Angry Bird Activity, Twister Competition, Whimsical Winter Photo (small fee), a cupcake decorating room, Karaoke, Wii, and other activities. Tickets will go on sale beginning Wednesday, Feb. 8th, 9th, and 10th during your lunches. No tickets can be purchased at the door, so be sure to get them before the dance.
*Items needed for the dance this Friday (please send items to the office by Thursday):

Parents...please call the office at 726-1126 and let us know if you can volunteer.
Various plastic containers of pre-made icing/frosting (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, cream cheese)
Toppings for the cupcakes (sprinkles, chocolate candies...m&m’s, gummies, chocolate chip morsels, etc.)
Mini sized candy bars for candy bar bingo
Items to make s'mores: Graham crackers, Hershey bars, and large marshmallows

Baseball/Softball Skill Sessions – Baseball/Softball skill sessions will begin on Monday, February 13th and Tuesday, February 14th from 3:30-5:00 on our Soccer Field. The skill sessions will be open to everyone (all grades, boys and girls) interested in improving their baseball/softball skills.
Baseball/Softball gloves and tennis shoes are required.

BASEBALL TRYOUTS – Baseball tryouts will begin on Thursday and Friday, February16th and 17th from 3:30-5:30 pm at Swinson Park.

PTO Candy Gram’s for Valentine’s Day – February 14th, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! MCMS parents are encouraged to let your Minuteman know they are special! Parents may purchase candy grams in our office beginning today, Wednesday-Friday, February 8-10. Just stop by the front office and purchase your candy gram for 50 cents.
Students will be able to purchase candy grams beginning Wednesday, February 8th thru Friday, February 10th during lunchtimes. All candy grams will be delivered during homeroom on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, February 14th.
Don’t forget that someone special!
Spring Photos – Individual Spring photos will be taking on Thursday, Feb. 23 during your scheduled lunch period. Please bring your picture order form and payment on the day on the day pictures are taken. Pictures can be pre-ordered online at payments.lifetouch.com
Sport Picture Day – Sports pictures will also be taken on Thursday, February 23rd after school for the following teams:
Girl's basketball 3:15
Boy's basketball 3:30
Wrestling 3:45
Wrestling News – Please come out today, Wednesday, February 8th and make as much noise as you possibly can as the MCMS Minuteman Wrestlers attempt to turn it black once again against Beaufort. Bring your wife, bring your kids, bring your husband because we're pinning everybody in here!
Basketball Game –The boy's basketball team defeated the Broad Creek Bulldogs last night for a hard fought win. Congrats to all of the guys last night for a well played game. Please come out and support both teams tomorrow as they face the Newport Eagles starting at 4 pm.

The girls played hard last night @ Broad Creek Middle. Good Job Girls!

Please come out and support our basketball teams at their last HOME game tomorrow, Thursday, February 9 against Newport.

Media Mania News …. Don’t get caught without a BOOK!

Battle of the Books – Students will practice on Thursday, February 9, until 4:30 in Room 27, Mrs. Lancaster's classroom. Students will receive permission slip handouts and information about the competition on February 24 on Thursday, February 9.

Battle of the Books competition is on Friday, February 24 at West Carteret High School.

Newport Girls Softball – Come and Join the FUN!
How: Registration will be held Friday nights from 5-7 pm and Saturdays from 2-4 pm at the Newport Girls Softball Fields throughout the month of February (Behind NES)
Age: Open to all girls ages 5-18
Cost: $50.00 Per Child
COME SIGN UP AND JOIN IN THE FUN THIS SEASON WITH NEWPORT GIRLS SOFTBALL!
You may pick up the informational flyer during your lunch time in the cafeteria!

*2012 Brad Sneeden Marine Science Academy –
The 2012 Brad Sneeden Marine Science Academy applications for all rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grader
are now in the front office of our school and you can also get copies of the application on line at www.carteretcountyschools.org.
Tuition is $185.00; however, a number of partial scholarships are available.
Please help us fill the Marine Science Academy with students ready for an exciting, enriching week.
Applications are due by April 27th, 2012.

*Summer Middle School Engineering Camp –
The NC State College of Engineering and Craven Community College will offer an exciting, weeklong summer day camp this June 25 – June 29 for middle school students (rising 7th, 8th and 9th graders) at Havelock campus of Craven Community College.
Cost for the camp is $250 per student. Scholarships may be available for students with demonstrated financial need.
The application process will be open until April 17. To apply, go to www.engr.ncsu.edu/mes and follow the “Explore” link for the Havelock Middle School Camp.
For more information, contact Bill Fortney or Susan Lloyd at (252) 444-3357 or wbfortne@ncsu.edu .

E-Grades - Parents should visit the school website to learn how to access their student's grades.
* Please view the Parent Tools page for directions on how to access student grades."
Lost and Found Items – Parents, there is now a link on the MCMS web page that allows you to check “Lost and Found” items that have been collected. We encourage you to collect your valuable items before we donate to charity organizations. The lost and found list is updated each Friday.
Box Tops for Education – Box Tops is all about the difference 1 can make. This year our goal is to raise money for materials and programs to benefit our students.
The next collection will be in February, so keep clipping those Box tops and Thank you!
Here are three easy, ways to help:
1. Clip – Clip the Box Tops from hundreds of participation products and send them to school. Each one is worth 10 cents when our school redeems them from Box Tops for Education
Shop Online – Shop at your favorite stores through the Box Tops Marketplace (boxtops4education.com/marketplace). Up to 15 eBoxTops per $10 spent on qualifying purchases is automatically donated to our school, at no additional cost to you. Plus you’ll get exclusive Box Tops deal and discounts!
2. Read – Buy books online through Reading Room, a partnership between Box Tops and Barnes and Noble. Our school receives up to 6 eBox Tops per $10 spent on qualifying purchases.
3. Sign up – It’s easy and free. Sign up to support our school at boxtops4education.com
• See how much our school is earning with Box Tops
• Enter online promotions for chances to win Bonus Box Tops and other prizes
• Print money-saving coupons for your favorite Box Tops brands
• Make mealtime easier with family-pleasing recipes
You can also sign up for Box Tops email newsletters that will keep you updated on the program, and for Marketplace newsletter with Box Tops members-only deals and discounts.
Follow our Blog – We encourage you to become a Follower of our blog to receive our Town Crier News through your email. To do this, please click on the Town Crier Blog on the left side of Morehead Middle’s Blog page. The Town Crier School News will pop up. Click on the Follower button located at the bottom of our school calendar. It will take you to a screen where you sign into an account listed or you can create a Google account to automatically receive daily updates. Fill out the necessary information. Join us! Keep in touch with what is happening daily at MCMS!

Have a Great Day!