Meigs Memos

 Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A Weekly Publication of Meigs Middle Magnet School www.meigsmagnetms.mnps.org

From Jon Hubble, Principal…   One week of the school year has come and gone and some of the changes (such as the new start and end times) already seem like ancient history.  Other changes, such as the dress code, do not seem to have caused much cause for concern.  (Please continue to stress that clothes must not be too small or too big, shorts and skirts must be long enough and pants must be worn at the waist.)

One change that may have caused a bit of consternation for a few of our students is the new demerit policy.  Demerits are issued for minor infractions such as dress code violations and running in the hallways but they are also issued for tardiness to class as well as to school.  We will not do mass excusing of tardiness to school unless there is a reason to believe that a large majority of the students are affected.   The demerit policy allows for four warnings prior to a consequence being enacted.    On the fifth demerit each month, students lose the activity period scheduled for the last day of each month.  After the 5^th demerit, escalating consequences occur such as lunch and after school detention and continuing to in-school and out of school suspension.   Students receiving demerits should be taking them to their parents.  The demerit tally starts over the first day of each month.   Our hope is that most of our students never receive a demerit throughout the year! 

I could never express how thankful I am that most of our parents trust that our procedures are meant to maximize instruction and safety.   We are a great community!

Have a terrific week!

PTO NEWS

A BIG THANKS: If the first week of school is any indication, it is going to be a school year for the record books at Meigs Middle! Every single venture that Meigs PTO had available to you has been a rousing success so far. Thank you for joining the PTO, shopping Meigs Mart, purchasing Citipass books and Smart Cards, and all of your generous offers of help. A special thanks to each of the approximately 75 volunteers that helped these first two weeks to make it all happen; from assisting on First Day Packets (stuffing then un-stuffing), working the busy Meigs Mart, and hosting three teacher appreciation functions. A big thank you to all my ‘veteran’ parents whom I can count on to head up activities when the pressure is on! My appreciation and gratitude goes out to all of you! You are a big part of what makes our school so special!

Sincerely,

Greta Requierme, Meigs PTO President    

PTO Meeting: The first PTO meeting of the year will be Thursday, September 10^th at 8:10am in the library, just after morning announcements. We will discuss the budget for this school year as well as hear reports from our chair people heading up various PTO projects. So many have contributed so many hours already on behalf of all the students at Meigs. Please come and meet these hard-working parents and see how you might help out in the future. All are welcome.

Earn Cash for Meigs with Box Tops: Box Tops for Education makes it easy to help Meigs earn cash it can use to enhance education opportunities. You can make a difference every time you go to the grocery store!
 
Here's how:
1) Clip Box Tops - Find Box Tops coupons on hundreds of your favorite products. Each Box Top coupon is worth 10 cents to our school.
2) Send Box Tops to School - Place 25 Box Tops in a plastic baggy or envelope. Your child takes the Box Tops to the school office. Your child will earn a prize for every 25 Box Tops he or she submits.
3) Our School Earns Cash - Twice each year, Box Tops will send a check to Meigs for each Box Top redeemed. This year our goal is to raise $700 like we did last year. The first Box Top deadline is October 15, 2009.
 
Idea: Ask your friends, family, and co-workers to clip Box Tops. Place a collection box at your work or place of worship. For more information, contact Box Top Coordinator Tracey Gholson at gholsont@bellsouth.net.

Carpool Reminder: The PTO is assisting parents looking for carpools by sponsoring the Carpool Exchange message board, located directly across from the office. Please check often for updates. Once you no longer have a need, please remove your card from the board. Thanks. You may also access Meigs carpool information through these tools: Meigsdirectory.evrits.com , choose forgot password, and your username is your email address.  You may also register for information at Meigs_postmaster@evrits.com.

Meigs Mart: Our spirit wear shop will be open on Thursdays from 2:50 until 3:30 in the lobby. We have lanyards ($3), Meigs tees ($8 and standard school attire at Meigs), baseball jerseys and solid mesh shorts ($12  each and also SSA approved). Bumper stickers, caps and hoodies are also available. Cash and checks (made payable to Meigs PTO) are accepted.

Citipass Books and Smart Cards in stock: Citipass and Smart Card order forms were sent out last week. If you have checked the backpack and don’t see the sales packets, please contact Debbie Kammerman for Citipass at 772-4550 or Beth Anderson for Smart Cards at 646-2199. Both items offer loads of discounts and pay for themselves within just a couple of uses! Sales continue through September 4th to qualify for prizes.  Sell three Smart Cards and your student will be invited to a pizza party during school. Sell four Smart Cards and receive another card free! Cards are available for Davidson County as well as surrounding counties. Sell three Citipass books and your student will be invited to an ice cream thank you party at school. Sell five books and receive one book free. For every ten books sold, your student will receive one spin on the money wheel during the ice cream party. Both of these fundraisers donate a generous portion of proceeds back to Meigs.

First Day Packets  If you have not yet filled out the paperwork that was sent home with first day packets, please do so as soon as possible and return to your child’s homeroom teacher. All of these forms are significant but some require signatures. You have already been sent the MNPS Student Information Verification Form in the mail. Please return it after you have filled it out and indicated Release Content Information (on the right hand side of the page). We realize that much of the information may appear to be redundant but we would like to have information for different circumstances such as when the internet is down. Thank you so much for understanding the need to return these items in a timely manner.

H1N1 Cases of H1N1 influenza continue to be reported in Davidson County. When an ill person coughs or sneezes, influenza viruses can spread directly to others through small droplets. Students and adults who are sick should NOT come to school.  Students and adults who are sick should NOT come to school. In particular, both staff and students should stay home if they have symptoms of fever (over 100 degrees F) and cough or sore throat or runny nose or body aches. Ill persons must not return to school until 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.  Note that this is a change from the original CDC guidelines that were sent home the first day of school.

* Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes with the crook of your elbow or a tissue.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If water is not near, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

• Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way.

For more information go to:

www.health.nashville.gov/WebDocs/FluUpdates/H1N1SchoolLetter.pdf

Absence Policy   When children are absent from school, the absence is automatically considered unexcused unless parents have put the reason in writing.  We ask that children bring excuse notes to the office immediately upon arrival to school.  Parents may also fax excuse notes to 271-3223 or they may e-mail either the principal or the attendance secretary, Ms. Cindy Booker at jon.hubble@mnps.org or cindy.booker@mnps.org.  After 3 unexcused absences, a letter is sent advising parents of the possibility of an attendance review board.   If absences become frequent, even with notes, there may be a possibility for physician’s excuses stating the medical reason for repeated absences.

Schedule Changes   All schedule changes must be approved by Mr. Hubble; therefore, requests should be made to him.   Schedule changes for the year will not be considered after September 11.   Most of the time, changes are requested due to some circumstance that can be addressed within the classroom.  Please speak with your child’s teacher if you have concerns in that regard. 

Vanderbilt programs for talented youth: SAVY, or Saturday Academy at Vanderbilt for the young will be offered in a fall session for the first time for six consecutive Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 11:45 AM beginning September 26^th and ending October 31^st.  For more information or to download an application visit our website at http://pty.vanderbilt.edu/savy.html. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications received by August 28^th will qualify for a 10% early bird discount.

Athletic Physicals   Any 7^th or 8^th grade student wishing to compete on any of our athletic teams must have a current physical (dated June 1, 2009, or later) on file as well as proof of insurance.

Student medications such as Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc. that are brought to the office for your student MUST be in a brand new unopened bottle.

Jason and the Argonauts: 6^th grade, most of 5^th grade, and Latin will be attending Jason and the Argonauts on October 5.

Running Club   Boys who are interested in participating in running club may join next week as long as they have a physical dated June 1st or since then on file. Running club will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays after school until 4:30.

Scrabble Club will begin next Tuesday after school in Mr. Haney’s room. Scrabble club is open to all grade levels and will meet each Tuesday until 4:30 in room 113. No experience is necessary to participate in this club. Come out and learn all about Tournament Scrabble play. Please come by and sign up this week to participate.

Chess Club News: The first meeting of the Meigs Chess Club will take place Thursday, Sept 3^rd from 3:10 to 4:30 in the Library. The club is open to all students, and anyone who thinks they may be interested is welcome to come by and get information. Last year our sixth graders won the Elementary State Champsionships, and we are looking forward to another great year! Please remember to make arrangements for a ride home at 4:30.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Meigs boys who made the West End Football Team!  Bryson Jarrett, Austin Biggs, Will Hodge, DeMarcus Williams, Chris Jenkins, Brandon Sawyer, Justin Dodson, and Ben Bronson

CONGRATULATIONS to our 2009 – 2010 Volleyball Team: Lexie Allgood, Addie Davis, Epiphany Fields, Delaney Gallagher, Chandler Hawkins, Danielle Johnson, Rosemary Kyene, Caroline Lawrence, Elena Leander, Avei Logoleo, Hannah McGinnity, Sarah Ray, Isabella Ritchie, Desirae Sherrell, Kailey Whitehead, Lorah Yonce.

UPCOMING EVENTS

5^th Grade Family Picnic           August 28

Chess Club                              September 3

Fall Picture Day                       September 3

PTO Meeting                            September 10

Public Notice/Accessibility Statement

  To request an accommodation please contact your building principal or department head.  (Interpreters for the deaf or hard of hearing must be requested seventy-two [72] hours prior to the event.)    Jon T. Hubble, Principal  271-3220