Good evening Trojan Families,
🖤💛 10 Days of Pure Bliss!
We have officially completed our first 10 days of the school year, and I can truly say it has been 10 days of pure bliss at FVMS! Our students have settled into their routines, our teachers are teaching, our classrooms are buzzing with meaningful learning, and the overall energy in the building has been incredibly positive. Students have responded exceptionally well to the structure and expectations we have put in place, and our staff has done an amazing job creating classrooms where students can learn, grow, and thrive. It has been an almost picture-perfect start, and we don't take that for granted. We have been blessed with a wonderful beginning, and now our job is to protect it, build upon it, and keep moving forward. The momentum is building, Trojan Family, and I hope you can feel it too!
💬 Clear is Kind; Unclear is Unkind
Over these first 10 days, our teachers and administrators have worked intentionally to teach, model, practice, and reinforce our procedures and expectations. We believe students are most successful when they clearly understand what is expected of them. I am currently reviewing the Student & Parent Handbook with our entire student body during Academic Focus. Students are joining me via Zoom and have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions so there is no confusion about district and school expectations for academics, attendance, behavior, technology, safety, and more.
Clear is kind; unclear is unkind. Our responsibility is to make sure students know the expectations, and then hold them accountable for meeting them. Now that expectations have been explicitly taught and students have had time to learn our procedures, students have begun receiving minor and major referrals when those expectations are not followed. Parents, please talk with your Trojan about the importance of following expectations every day, even when no one is standing right beside them reminding them what to do. Making good choices allows students to remain focused on learning and, just as importantly, to enjoy all of the activities, celebrations, trips, incentives, athletics, and other rewards that come with consistently doing what is right.
We want every student participating in the great things we have planned this year. Help us remind them that their choices determine their opportunities. Parents, I also encourage you to review the handbook. If your student is unsure about an expectation, encourage them to ask for clarification before making a choice. We want every Trojan to understand the expectations so they can make decisions that keep them moving in the right direction.
Review the FY27 Student & Parent Handbook
✍🏾 Handbook Signature Pages – Please Return
If you have not already done so, please complete the handbook signature pages and return them to your child's homeroom teacher.
If you need another copy of the packet, please contact the front office or your child's homeroom teacher, and we will be happy to provide one.
Thank you to the families who have already returned theirs!
🚨 Safety Drills This Week
This week, we will conduct required safety drills, including a Code Red, or lockdown drill, and a Code Blue, or evacuation drill. These drills are required once each semester, and at FVMS, we always practice these drills within the first month of the school year.
Please do not be alarmed—these are DRILLS only.
Before each drill, students will be prepared and debriefed so they understand what is happening and know that there is no actual emergency. While we certainly hope our students and staff never have to use these procedures during a real emergency, practicing them is an important part of school safety. Drills allow students and staff to become familiar with procedures, identify areas that may need improvement, and practice responding calmly and appropriately. We will send families another reminder on the morning of the drills. If you have questions or concerns regarding our safety procedures or the upcoming drills, please feel free to reach out to me.
📸 Get a Front-Row Seat to the Greatness!
If you haven't already, head over to our FVMS Facebook page and LIKE and FOLLOW us! We want you to see what is happening inside our building, not just hear about it. There are already some amazing things happening at FVMS, and you may be surprised at just how much momentum we have built in only 10 days.
From classroom learning to athletics, student celebrations, staff highlights, activities, and everything in between, Facebook gives you a front-row seat to the greatness happening at FVMS.
📚 The Academic Work Is Picking Up!
We are entering our second full week of school, which means instruction is becoming increasingly focused on grade-level academic standards.
The beginning-of-year routines are established, baseline assessments are underway, and now we are digging deeper into the work.
You may begin seeing:
More homework
Increased assignments
Quizzes and assessments
Projects and longer-term assignments
More specific communication from teachers about academic expectations
Please remember that ParentSquare is our primary form of school-to-home communication, so make sure you are logged in and checking your messages regularly.
If you need assistance accessing ParentSquare, please reach out to our Family Engagement Coordinator, Mrs. Donna Sullivan. We want every family connected!
💡 Parent Tip of the Week: Don't Wait for the Progress Report
Here's your parent challenge for this week: Check before there's a problem.
Ask your student to pull up their grades and assignments with you at least once this week. Don't only focus on the grade; look at the story behind the grade.
Ask:
“Do you have anything missing?”
“What assignment are you most proud of?”
“What class do you need to work a little harder in?”
“Is there something you don't understand that we need to ask your teacher about?”
Middle school is an important time for students to begin taking ownership of their learning, but ownership doesn't mean they have to do it alone.
A five-minute conversation now can prevent a much more difficult conversation when progress reports come home.
🖤💛 Let's Keep Building!
Parents, I am genuinely excited about the partnerships we have already created in just 10 days. You have responded when we've asked for support. You have reinforced our expectations at home. You have communicated with us when you had questions. Most importantly, you have trusted us with your most precious gifts—YOUR CHILDREN. That's what One Team, One Dream looks like. Our Year of Momentum isn't about one big event or one great week. Momentum is built when one positive action leads to another, and another, and another.
Ten great days can become a great month.
A great month can become a great semester.
And together, we can turn a phenomenal start into an EXCEPTIONAL YEAR!!!
Let's keep those dominoes moving in the right direction!
One Team. One Dream. Growing Together.
Kizzy S. Johnson
Principal
Fort Valley Middle School
"Where Learning Is Required!" 🖤💛