Good evening Trojan Families,
What a PHENOMENAL first week of school!
Our students did an outstanding job returning to the building, learning expectations, settling into routines, and getting right back to the business of learning. When people have asked me how our first week went, my response has simply been, “It was perfect.” And that was no lie! We have truly been blessed with an incredible start to the school year. Now, our challenge is to build on it.
Let’s keep the MOMENTUM going, Trojans!🖤💛
📊 STAR Assessments – Let’s Show What We Know!
This week, we began our beginning-of-year STAR assessments:
Wednesday – English/Language Arts
Thursday – Mathematics
STAR is a computer-adaptive assessment that helps us determine what students already know, where they may have gaps, and which skills they are ready to learn next.
These scores are not about punishing students or assigning a grade. We use the information to help teachers make important instructional decisions, including identifying students who may need additional support or enrichment, creating small groups, setting individual growth goals, and monitoring progress throughout the year. Please encourage your student to take the assessment seriously and show us what they know. The more accurate the data, the better we can tailor instruction to meet their needs.
📞 Is Your Contact Information Up to Date?
The beginning of the school year is a great time to make sure we have accurate contact information for every student.
Please ensure that we have your current:
Phone number
Email address
Emergency contacts
Authorized pickup information
If anything has changed, please contact the school so we can update our records. This is extremely important. Whether we need to contact you about an academic concern, illness, transportation issue, emergency, or simply share something wonderful about your child, we need to be able to reach you.
🤝 A Little Grace With Schedule Adjustments
During these first few weeks, you may notice some adjustments to student schedules. As we settle into the school year, we are reviewing class sizes, academic needs, services, and student placement to make sure our classes are balanced and students are placed where they can be most successful. Because of that, a student's teacher or class period may occasionally change. We understand that students quickly become comfortable with their schedules, so we do not make these changes without reason. Please give us a little grace as we work through this process. Our goal is to create the best possible learning environment for every Trojan.
📋 Student Handbook Acknowledgement Forms
If you have not already done so, please complete and return the Student Handbook Acknowledgement forms that were sent home with your child last week. These documents outline important school expectations, policies, and procedures that will help us work together for a successful school year. Please take the time to read the information before signing. We want to make sure there is clear communication between home and school about our expectations. If you have questions or need clarification regarding any policy, please do not hesitate to contact me. Effective communication between home and school is one of the keys to making this our best year yet.
📲 Parents, Stay Connected!
If you haven't already, please make sure you are connected to the tools that will help you stay informed throughout the school year:
Infinite Campus – Monitor your student's grades, assignments, and attendance. This is one of the easiest ways to know how your child is doing academically before a progress report or report card comes home.
ParentSquare – Stay connected to school and classroom announcements, reminders, updates, and other important communication.
Here Comes the Bus – For our bus-riding families, this tool allows you to monitor the location of your child's bus and receive transportation updates.
Please don't wait until you need information to get connected. Stay connected now so you can stay informed all year!
📵 WE SEE IT; WE TAKE IT – THANK YOU!
I have to give a HUGE shoutout to our students AND parents! Since the beginning of school, we have not confiscated a single cell phone or electronic device for violating our policy.
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 Students, thank you for following the expectations we have established. Parents, thank YOU for reinforcing those expectations at home. When students hear the same message from school and home, it makes a tremendous difference.
Remember, cell phones, smart watches, wireless earbuds/headphones, Meta-style glasses, and other personal electronic devices should remain inside students' bookbags during the school day unless a documented exception applies. Let's keep that streak going!
WE SEE IT; WE TAKE IT (but we'd much rather never have to take it!) 😊
⏰ Tardy Policy Is Now in Effect
Our tardy policy officially began this week. School begins promptly at 7:45 AM, which means students should be in class and ready to learn at 7:45—not pulling into the parking lot or walking through the front doors. Being just a few minutes late may not seem significant, but those minutes add up. Students who are habitually tardy miss opening instruction, directions, warm-ups, announcements, and the opportunity to begin the day settled and prepared. Please allow enough time each morning for your student to arrive, enter the building, and get to class before the bell.
Be here. Be on time. Be ready to learn.
🏫 NOW Is Not the Time to Miss School!
We have started this year with a BANG, and our teachers are already delivering some amazing instruction! That means now is not the time for students to miss school. Every absence means missed instruction, missed practice, missed discussions, and missed opportunities to learn. Even when assignments can be made up, the classroom experience itself cannot always be recreated.
Our expectation is simple: EVERY DAY. ALL DAY. ON TIME.
We will be closely monitoring attendance and tardies this year because we know that students cannot benefit from great teaching if they aren't in the building to receive it. Help us keep the momentum by making strong attendance a priority from the very beginning.
🔥 First Fire Drill
We will conduct our first fire drill tomorrow.
Please don't be alarmed if you happen to drive by and see our students and staff outside of the building. This is a planned drill designed to ensure everyone understands our emergency procedures and can exit the building safely and efficiently.
🏃🏾 Cross Country Tryouts
Are you ready to hit the trail? Cross Country Tryouts started today!
Tryout Dates:
Wednesday, August 12
Thursday, August 13
Tuesday, August 18
Thursday, August 20
Time: 3:00–4:20 PM
⚠️ Important: Students MUST have a current physical on fileto participate. Students will not be permitted to try out without a valid physical.
🥎 Softball Season Is Here!
Any young lady interested in playing softball should see Coach Mangrum as soon as possible.
Don't wait! Get connected and get ready to represent the Trojans!
🏈 Trojan Football
Any student interested in playing football should see Coach Jackson as soon as possible.
Students must have a current physical on filebefore they are permitted to participate.
🖤💛 Let’s Keep the Momentum – Talk to Your Trojan!
Trojan Family, we could not have asked for a better beginning. Our students have shown us that they are ready. Our teachers have hit the ground running. And our parents have already demonstrated that you are willing to partner with us. Now, we have to keep that momentum going! One of the simplest, and most powerful, ways you can help is by talking with your Trojan about what is happening in the classroom.
Instead of only asking, “How was school?” this week, try asking:
1. What was the best thing you learned this week?
2. Which class challenged you the most?
3. Is there anything you need help with before Monday?
Then, give them a chance to really answer. Their responses may give you an opportunity to celebrate a success, identify a concern, offer some encouragement, or help them make a plan for the week ahead.
Like a line of dominoes, every positive action helps move the next one forward. Showing up. Arriving on time. Working hard. Following expectations. Asking questions. Talking about learning. Supporting one another. These small, consistent actions create the momentum that leads to BIG results. So this weekend, talk to your Trojan, celebrate their first 7 days, and help them set a goal for the year.
Keep asking. Keep listening. Keep encouraging. And together, let's keep the momentum moving!
One Team. One Dream. Growing Together. #ouryearofmomentum
Kizzy S. Johnson
Principal
Fort Valley Middle School
Where Learning Is Required! 🖤💛