

MMSOA Parent Newsletter
12/11-12/15
VISION: CREATE A FUTURE WE DARE TO IMAGINE AND MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE
Upcoming Dates
12/11-Library Club, 3pm
12/12-Hype Team Practice, 3-4pm
12/12-Orchestra Concert, 6:30pm in the Auditorium
12/13-Student Council Meeting, 7:30am
12/13-Math i-Ready Diagnostic
12/14-Reading i-Ready Diagnostic
12/14-Hype Team Practice, 8:00am
12/15-Dungeons & Dragons Club, 3-5:30pm in room 205
12/15-PTSO Ugly Sweater Dance, 3-5pm
12/18-Merry Monday, Wear Christmas Colors
12/19-Toasty Tuesday, Wear your Ugly Christmas Sweater
12/20-Winter Wonderland, Wear Blue & White
12/21-No Place Like Home, Wear your PJs
12/21-Early Release Day, Dismissal at 11:50am
12/22-01/02-Winter Break, No School
01/03-Teacher Work Day, No Students
01/04-Students Return
Winter i-Ready Diagnostic Testing Days
All students will take the math i-Ready diagnostic assessment on Wednesday, December 13th and the reading i-Ready diagnostic assessment on Thursday, December 14th. Please make sure your children's chromebooks are fully charged the night before. Please see MOY Diagnostic Presentation for more information.
Reproductive Health
Reproductive Health will be taught to all of students December 18th-20th during our afternoon fine arts classes.
- Every student will receive a paper copy of the RH Opt-Out Form last week.
- If this form does not make it home to you, we've downloaded one below.
- Each grade level has a syllabus for you to review. These can be found below.
- For those of you that are tech-savvy, you may review the syllabus and submit your Opt-Out Form via this link.
Mid-Year Check in: School Climate Parent Feedback
Hello parents! We would like your feedback on how your child has received positive recognition so far this school year for displaying a trademark of a Monarch (integrity, kindness, perseverance). If you could please click HERE to complete the survey by Monday, December 18th, that would be great. Thank you for your time and input.
Tardies To School
THANK YOU for getting your students to school on time this year. The tardies from last year at this time have significantly decreased. This is a huge benefit our students and teachers. Here are several things to note:
- Our students’ tardy count will not start over after the holiday break.
- Parents are required to come into the school to sign in any tardy students.
Attendance News
Moving over the winter break? Please be sure you contact the front office ASAP to fill out withdrawal paperwork.
Attendance notes are due within three days of your student returning to school. You may email them in at pattersong@bcsdschools.net or send them in with your student. You can check attendance at anytime in parent portal.
Chorus News
Please join me in congratulating the following MMSOA students recently selected for the 2023-24 BCSD Honors Chorus! Over 165 students from 10 middle schools across the district auditioned. 92 were selected. We have 23 students representing MMSOA! I’m very proud of all who auditioned!!
6th grade:
Emma Alongi
Emmalynn Crofut
Kendall Lyles
Karly Noreen
7th grade:
Jared DiMaio Jorge
Rhune Doggett
Lexi Guerry
Abigail Knoell
Tyne Penn
Hudson Poe
Lauren Ritzel
Keenen Swinton
Skylar Washington
8th Grade:
Evelyn Allen
Quincy Christian
Copelyn Golden
Reilly Golden
Lauren Harrison
Sam McCarty
Elliott Pfeiffer
Callista Ramos
Ashton Ranly
Gracie Reid
Maliyah Scott
Chorus Major Yearbook Pictures
Attention - chorus majors will be taking yearbook pictures Wednesday, Dec. 13th in class. Students will wear black chorus t-shirts and black pants.
Band News
This past weekend, we had 29 band students audition for BCSD All-County Honor band! Congratulations to the following students for making into the Honor Band:
Amanda Rugema
Carmen Spence
Wyatt Moore
Shawna Blanchard
Benjamin Munro
Sebastian Catangay
Jadon Pringle-Jackson
Carter Cser
Maddie Lanphere
Henry Wagener
Dorian Casson
Bianca Benrexi
Congratulations to the following students for making the Concert Band:
Kaleyia Hines
Carly Bagwell
Camille Meeks
Xander Smith
Christian Baranov
Lucas Reese
Ezra Albright
AND Congratulations to the following students for making the BCSC Honor Jazz Band
Sebastian Catangay
Benjamin Munro
Reid McNeer
Xander Smith
Carter Cser
Dorian Casson
and Lucas Reese
We are so proud of our MMSOA Band students and all their hard work. Way to go!!
Jazz Band
Jazz Band: GCHS's Red Bank Jazz Ensemble will be visiting 7th grade Jazz Band on Friday December 15th to perform and discuss GCHS and the Berkeley Center for the Arts. We are thankful to Mr. Holliday for allowing us to watch his students perform!
Orchestra News
Winter Concert Dec. 12th at 6:30PM at Marrington MSOA Call time for musicians is 5:45PM.
INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW! Please see flyer sent home on 11/30 for important information.
Winter concert is a required concert and is a test grade for all students.
- All County Orchestra Auditions Jan. 27, 2024
- All County Event March 8-9th
- 6th grade Orchestra should be working on #81-87 in their book. In addition, we are working on our concert/ stage etiquette.
- Instruments should be going home during the week or weekend for practice. Musicians are allowed to come to the strings room at 7:55 am to practice as well.
- 7-8th grade should be working at home with their Winter Concert Music.
- Things to do: North Charleston Pops Christmas Concert, Summerville Orchestra Concert, Charleston Symphony Orchestra Concert, Candlelight Concerts (highly recommend
- Facts: The orchestra is directed by a conductor. He/she helps the players to play together, to get the right balance so that everything can be heard clearly, and to encourage the orchestra to play with the same kind of feeling. Some small chamber orchestras may play without a conductor. This was usual until the 19th century when the orchestras got very big and needed a conductor who made decisions and stood in front so that all the players could see him.
- With this ever changing weather, please make sure your instruments are not near heaters or vents. This could cause the glue to melt and the instrument will separate. In addition, do not leave your instrument in a vehicle or a old room. Extreme cold could make the wood crack.
- All Instruments must go home over winter break.
Dance News
Special Invitation:
On Friday December 15th, the Dance majors will be performing 3 informal grade level performances in the auditorium during morning fine arts classes at the following times:
6th grade – 8:50am
7th grade – 9:50 am
8th grade – 10:40 am
Parents are welcome to come and Fine arts teachers will be attending with their classes. Grade level teachers are welcome to attend during planning if available.
Visual Arts News
All Art Majors need to wear their Visual Arts Shirt on Wednesday, 12/20. They will be taking group pictures during flex.
Happy Holidays from Monarch Care
PTSO News
MMSOA Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (PTSO)
The next major event will be the Ugly Sweater Dance on December 15th from 3pm-5pm. Tickets for the dance are $5, either by pre-order on CheddarUp (https://ugly-sweater-christmas-dance2023.cheddarup.com) or cash at the door. Pre-orders will be closed on December 14th. When pre-ordering tickets, please put your STUDENT'S name on the form!
The PTSO will be hosting a Holiday Market from Monday, December 18th - Thursday, December 21st, from 7:30am-8:00am. We will have small holiday gifts, stocking stuffers, seasonal snacks and candy grams they can send to fellow students or faculty available for purchase!
If you have not already joined the PTSO, Our membership form can be found here:
https://forms.gle/eHvwqYNhxDSXW7hHA
Membership dues can be paid through CheddarUp:
https://mmsoa-ptso-memberships-2023-2024.cheddarup.com
PTSO Calendar:
12/15/23 Ugly Sweater Dance from 3-5pm
12/21/23 Faculty/Staff Breakfast for Holiday Spirit Day
01/26/24 Faculty/Staff lunch for Disney Spirit Day; KONA ICE coming for all students/staff
02/09/24 PTSO support for Renaissance-sponsored Valentine's Dance from 3-5pm
02/23/24 Faculty/Staff lunch for Harry Potter Spirit Day; KONA ICE coming for all students/staff
03/08/24 Faculty/Staff lunch for Red, White and Blue Spirit Day
03/20/24 PTSO Membership Meeting at 4pm at MMSOA - By-Laws and Executive Board Nominations
03/29/24 Faculty/Staff breakfast
04/24/24 PTSO Membership meeting - Board Elections!
05/03/24 Faculty/Staff lunch for Star Wars Spirit Day; KONA ICE coming for all students/staff
05/06 - 05/10/24 Teacher Appreciation Week
Lost & Found
Our lost and found is getting pretty full! If your student is missing items, please have them visit our lost & found located in the cafeteria. Any items still in lost & found after 12/21 will be donated!