Quarter 1 Issue

FMS Guidance News

4430 Gator Lane Myrtle Beach, SC 29588

IMPORTANT
DATES
9/28
Interims go home
10/12
Student Holiday
10/12
Parent/Teacher
Conference Night
10/14
PSAT (8th grade)
10/20
Extended Learning
10/21-10/23
CogAT testing
10/30
Report Cards
11/25-11/27
Thanksgiving Break

843-236-7300

Gator Information
Welcome back Gators! We hope you had an awesome summer and a great
start to the new school year. This year, the Guidance department will be
sending out a newsletter every quarter. This newsletter will be available on
the FMS Guidance website, FMS Facebook page and it will be sent out on
the daily parent link. So keep a look out for it! Your school counselors in
the Guidance department at FMS are looking forward to getting to know
each and every student in their grade level and want you to know that our
doors are always open and we are here to help you succeed. Remember
Excellence Every Day, Everywhere!
-FMS Guidance Department

Please visit our new

Guidance website
Direct link
http://guidinggatorsatfms.
weebly.com/
From FMS website

FMS Guidance Department

http://fm.horrycountyscho
ols.net/pages/Forestbrook
_Middle/Guidance

Ms. Amy Ayers, 6th grade

aayers@horrycountyschools.net
Mrs. Ashley Rhodes, 7th grade
arhodes@horrycountyschools.net

HCS GRADING SCALE

93-100 = A
85-92 = B
77-84 = C
70-76 = D
69 or Below = F

Mrs. Kim Mitchell, 8th grade

kmitchell@horrycountyschools.net
Mrs. Dell Gerrald, CDF
dgerrald@horrycountyschools.net
Mrs. Chavis Watford, Secretary
cwatford001@horrycountyschools.net

8th Graders to take PSAT

On Wednesday, October 14, 2015 8th graders will be
taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) at
our school. The PSAT is administered to select 8th
graders as part of the South Carolina Junior Scholars
Program. Last year students earning 50 or higher on
PSAT verbal, math or writing qualified for SC Junior
Scholar recognition. With the redesign of PSAT this year,
qualifying scores have not been determined by the
SCDE; however, we will provide additional updates as
soon as they become available.
The test will be begin promptly at 8:15 AM. Students
should be sure to arrive on time. Per College Board
regulations, there are no make-ups permitted for
students who are absent the day the test is
administered.
In preparation for the test, SAT Tutor, Bill McKenzie will
conduct a two hour long workshop for students who will
be taking the PSAT. Mr. McKenzie will focus on PSAT
test taking strategies and content areas that students
need to be familiar with in order to be successful on the
test. This workshop will be conducted during the 8th
grade exploratory period on one day during the week of
September 21st. This workshop is FREE for all students
who are taking the PSAT.
Letters and permission forms and the test went home
with students on Wednesday, September 10th. Parents
should sign and return permission forms by Monday,
September 14th.
***Please contact Mrs. Mitchell for any questions
kmitchell@horrycountyschools.net

What is bullying?
October is National Anti-Bullying
Month. October 5 is Blue Out for
Bullying day at Forestbrook Middle
School. But what is bullying exactly???
Bullying is not a typical disagreement
between classmates. Bullying is the
intentional repeated behavior that hurts
or humiliates another student. Bullying
can be physical, verbal, emotional and
can include cyberbullying. Bullying can
happen to anyone and can be done by
anyone.
This year in the United States, 13
million students will be bullied.
Students who are bullied may have lower
self- esteem, lower self-confidence,
increased fear and anxiety, depression,
lower grades, etc. NO ONE deserves to be
bullied. Students should report to a
teacher, counselor or administrator if
you are being bullied or witness bullying.
So lets make a pledge
GATORS WONT BULLY!
Written By: Gloria Alderman, Guidance Intern

October 12, 2015

@ 3:30 7:30 PM
Attention Parents!
ACT Aspire and SCPASS scores went home on
September 4th. They were passed out to students
during their last academic class.
Please contact your students teachers to schedule an appointment.

EXCELLENCE EVERY DAY, EVERYWHERE!

EXTENDED LEARNING
is an extra resource for students that will make a difference in obtaining that
final score of success. Main focus will be on ELA & Math with Science and Social
Studies integrated through reading, writing and computer programs.
Starts October 20th, 2015 from 3:45-4:45
Permission slips will be going home soon, so keep a look out!

Individual Graduation Plan Meetings Beginning

Starting September 14, 2015 thru February 28, 2016, guidance will begin
Individual Graduation Plan meetings with 8th graders and their parents. IGP
meetings are mandated by the EEDA and are a team effort between school
professionals, parents and students (grades 8-12). IGP meetings give us the
opportunity to work together to help our students create educational plans
and begin to establish career goals. At this meeting, we will discuss
college/career goals, secondary program opportunities, and class registration
for high school. Parents will be contacted about their childs meeting time by
letter and via email. Parents may also call the 8th grade guidance counselor,
Ms. Mitchell, kmitchell@horrycountyschools.net, to schedule an appointment.

Parents and StudentsFYI

At interims, if students have a
76 (D) or below in any class, the
student will meet with their
grade level counselor for an
interim conference. This is to
determine where the student is
struggling and in what areas the
student can improve.
At Forestbrook Middle we are
fortunate enough to have over
100 business partners that
support our school and students.
If any parent is interested in
having their business support
FMS please contact Mrs. Gerrald
at
dgerrald@horrycountyschools.net

FMS Career Day

January 14, 2015

Our annual career day is fast

approaching. If any parents would
like to be a speaker and represent
their company for career day please
contact Mrs. Rhodes at
arhodes@horrycountyschools.net

How can my

Study Tips
1.
2.

Always be responsible for yourself and your schoolwork.

Get all study materials together. Organize notes, textbooks, and throw out
any unnecessary papers.
3. Use your agenda to keep track of assignments and important dates.
4. Write things down. When you write things down it helps you remember it.
5. Study with a group, no more than 8 people.
6. Quiz each other. Get someone that is not in the class you may have to
teach them about the material which would help you study.
7. Color code and highlight important points. Colors help our eyes pull out
important information to store. Use different colored highlighters or pens
to stand out. Categories like keywords, vocabulary and important pieces of
information will help.
8. Hide your phone or iPAD. It is a distraction.
9. Use acronyms, poems, or songs to remember important information.
10. Study in chunks. When you study chucks of information, it is not so
daunting.

school counselor
help me do my
personal best???
-Group Counseling
-Peer Mediation

-Individual Counseling
-Organizational Tips
-Academic Counseling

Written by: Gloria Alderman, Guidance Intern

9/7/15
Logan Wicks
8th grader

9/14/15
Jody
Strickland
7th grader

*each week a student is

nominated to be student
of the week by a faculty

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Edit your response before you post. Once you post you cant take it back.
ALWAYS ask yourself: Is it TRUE? Is it KIND? Is it NECESSARY?
Experience now, share later. Be sure to enjoy the moment and post it later.
Be active, not reactive. Step back and take a deep breath before you respond to a text or post.
What you post is forever SO make good decisions when posting.
You are responsible for what you post, no matter where, when or what you post.
Give yourself some downtime from social media.
Talk with your parents/guardians about social mediawhat you post and what you read.
KNOW who you are talking toyour friends should be people you KNOW personally.
Do NOT post personal information.
***If you are not sure if you should post somethingthan DONT post it!!!

member

Written by: Gloria Alderman, Guidance Intern & Amy Ayers, 6th grade Counselor