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Annual Falcon Fund: Have you made your donation?

The Falcon Fund Campaign is coming into the home stretch. We are half

way to our goal of $15,000 - envelopes full of coins, dollar bills, hand

written checks and corporate matches – it all makes a difference for the

students at QHMS! But we need EVERYONE’s help in order to fund all of

this year’s planned supplies, activities, and resources. No amount is too

small! Friends and family are welcome to donate, too – it’s a great

investment in our community!

Add your family’s name to the list below with a donation by October 21st.

Remember, if we meet our goal of $15,000, an anonymous donor will

donate an additional $5,000 to our school! Donations can be brought to

homeroom or the front office. Look for the orange donation form that was

sent home with students last week or click here to print a donation form.

Questions – contact Falcon Fund Committee leaders, Leanne Johnston or Tiffani Molesky.

We appreciate these 32 families that made a contribution, as of Oct 10th :

Important Dates

Your link to Quail Hollow Middle School, Charlotte NC

2016-2017 CMS School Year October 17, 2016

The Fall Season: Reflection & Growth

Events listed are current as of the date of publication. Always check the QHMS website and social media for updates.

OCTOBER

Mon 17 Coffee w Supt. Ann Clark, 3-4:30pm, Piedmont IB Middle School Volleyball @ Community House, 5:00pm CMS Student Assignment Town Hall meeting, South Meck HS, 7-8:30pm.

Tue 18 QHMS Parent Night, 6:00pm Wed 19 Volleyball HOME v South Clt, 5:00pm Fri 21 Last day to give to Falcon Fund Campaign Sat 22 Big South 5K for Middle School Sports Mon 24 Makeup Day for School Pictures

Fall Sports Team Photos, 4:30pm Volleyball HOME v JM Robinson, 5:00pm Tue 25 Golf v Carmel @ Renaissance Golf, 5:00pm CMS School Board public hearing/discussion

on magnet plan, Uptown Government Center Wed 26 Coffee w Supt. Ann Clark, 5:30-7:00pm, Elon

Park Elementary Thu 27 Counselor Café, 8:30-9:15am Football LAST HOME GAME v Carmel, 5:00pm

Superintendent MeckEd Forum, 6:00pm, Albemarle Rec Center

NOVEMBER

Tue 1 Volleyball @ Carmel, 5:00pm Wed 2 Volleyball HOME v AG, 5:00pm Thu 3 Football @ AG, 5:00pm Tue 8 NO SCHOOL – Election Day /Teacher Workday Wed 9 Football HOME v South Clt, 5:00pm CMS School Board public hearing/magnet

vote, Uptown Government Center Fri 11 NO SCHOOL – Veteran’s Day Holiday

This September and October have presented many life lessons to our QH

Falcons and young adults everywhere. Let us embark into the beautiful Fall

season remembering those who have suffered, those who have stepped

forward, those who have listened, and those who are paving a path for our

future. At QHMS, we have long valued the power of diversity and togetherness,

as evidenced by these murals painted on our hallway walls many years ago.

Just as Mother Nature enters autumn to rest and repair for the next growing

season, we hope our Falcon community to absorb our world’s seeds of change

and use that energy to take flight as leaders for a brighter future.

Alvarez-Lopez Bautista Beato Boneno Chavez Cooper Coreas Dossett Ferrin

Garcia Hancock Hawley Ivy Johnston Klapheke Landa Lopez Maradiaga

Martinez Maxsilla Molesky Owens Pena Robinson Roderna Rodriuez Rooney

Spell Tsui Vespa Villegas Viramontes …see your name HERE with a donation by Oct 21st

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School News & Initiatives

Health & Wellness

The Counselor Café – Grand Opening on Oct 27th

The QHMS team of school counselors invite parents to the

new “Counselor Café” morning chats to be held several

times during the school year. We will highlight “hot

topics” that may be impacting our middle school age

children and welcome interactive discussions in this open

forum. Our first Counselor Café is Oct 27, 8:30-9:15 am, to

discuss Substance Abuse with our Substance Abuse

counselor, Ms. Edwards. This is purposefully scheduled in

conjunction with “Red Ribbon Week”, a national

awareness campaign dealing with prevention of alcohol,

tobacco, drug and violence prevention. Light refreshments

will be served.

Help Our Counselors Better Help Your Children

All parents, guardians and stakeholders are asked to click

here to provide feedback to our School Counselors about

the type of topics you’re most interested in our team

addressing this year. We appreciate your time and

answers! Go to the survey here:

https://goo.gl/forms/L4uUoJjLvhvnKLSo1

QHMS Pilots Dove Soap “Confident Me” Program

The Dove “Confident Me” program

addresses key topics facing today’s

teenagers, including social media,

peer pressure, and strategies for

promoting and protecting body

confidence. The program has been taught in over 100

countries, but never before in the United States, and QHMS

was selected as one of the seven schools for the U.S. pilot!

Students in Coach Pearce’s Health class this Fall

participated in five sessions that focused on different ways

adolescents view themselves, those in the media and how

we all try to look a certain way. They discussed how to

celebrate their own unique qualities and how to divert the

daily conversations that focus on body image. One of the

lessons made a powerful impact on the group showing

how advertisements and media tools do not represent the

true picture of your everyday American. At the end of the

five lessons, students were challenged to determine how

they are going to be an advocate for change when it comes

to discussing body image, and provided personal

reflections about their growth from the program. Many

stated that they will think twice when they start to judge

others on their looks or when they start to compare

themselves to others.

In the coming weeks, Quail Hollow students and staff

involved in the project will provide the Dove program with

valuable feedback, and how to adapt the program for the

bigger roll out to more United States schools.

You can view many of the program’s videos here and use

them to start your own conversations at home with your

child: http://bit.ly/2dwoEWi

And here’s more about Dove’s Self-Esteem project here.

STAY Alive: Underage Drinking Stops HERE

Officers from the NC Alcohol Beverage Control Enforcement

Division recently visited QHMS to discuss substance abuse

and the dangers that go along with it. All students currently

enrolled in PE/Health participated in the state-wide

program called “STAY Alive”. The program will return in the

Spring for students who will be enrolled in PE/Health next

semester.

6th and 7th graders talked about alcohol being a drug and

that is it the most abused legal drug amongst

teenagers. The sessions with our 8th graders went into

much more detail about the dangers of drinking/drugs and

driving, or being in a car with someone that is under the

influence.

The message was further reinforced to our 8th graders who

participated in the annual “Liars” program presented by

Children's Theatre of Charlotte. The goal of CTC’s Drama for

Healthy Living program is to give students information

concerning alcohol and substance abuse and how to make

healthy, informed, positive choices in effective ways to deal

with peer and societal pressure. Families are invited to a

free public performance of LIARS on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at

7:30 p.m. at ImaginOn, the home of Children’s Theatre of

Charlotte. To reserve tickets, click here.

Take a moment and ask your child about their reflections

from these presentations. It’s a great way to start this

conversation…and can even save a life!

Click here to go to the NC website to stop underage drinking

and drug use.

For resources to help you discuss the “Liars” performance

by the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, click here.

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Oct 18 is PARENT NIGHT at QHMS

Join us Tuesday, October 17 at 6:00 p.m.

for a variety of topics:

Social Media and Internet

Safety: Hear from an FBI agent

to learn how to help your teen

navigate the digital world

Student Services: Meet the

counselors and learn about how

they can partner with you to

support your student

Partial Magnet Update: What’s

the latest on the possibility of a

Partial Magnet at QHMS?

Talent Development: Learn

how QHMS is meeting the needs

of students that have been

identified at TD.

Monitor Your Student’s

Progress: Parents can request

access to both Parent Portal and

Mastery Connect to monitor

grades and assessment

performance.

Spanish Speaking Families

Meeting: Spanish speaking

families will meet with Ms.

Penagos to review Power

School log in information,

discuss the possibility of a

partial magnet, engage in a

Q&A, and plan for future events.

7th Grade Humanities UPDATE

All 7th graders recently completed their

first interdisciplinary Humanities unit,

where Social Studies and English

Language Arts lessons were

collaboratively taught. Starting October

13th, students were re-grouped based on

their data and in-class performance to

begin separate units of study in these

content areas, and many students were

School News & Initiatives

assigned to a different teacher than

at the start of the school year. As we

get to know the students better, we

will continue making adjustments to

student groupings and teacher

assignments for their Humanities

classes.

Students will continue to have one

social studies homework assignment

each week due on Thursday and one

language arts homework assignment

per week due on Friday. In addition,

students will begin analyzing words

through their Greek and Latin roots

and will be quizzed once per week in

language arts. If you have any

questions regarding the unit or your

child, please contact Kris Wawer, the

Humanities MCL (Multi Classroom

Leader) at Quail Hollow.

CMS Student Assignment &

School Options Plan: Includes

Future Magnet Option for

QHMS

The CMS School Board has been

reviewing the district’s student

assignment plan and how it should

best support achievement for all

students in alignment with the

Student Assignment Goals

established in February 2016. On

October 11th, the board proposed

revisions to the Magnet Lottery

process to give families more choice

in schools available to their child,

and build more socioeconomic

integration (SES) across the district

starting with the 2017-2018 school

year. The proposal also seeks to

implement magnet programs at

more schools, potentially including

QHMS in coming years.

We encourage you and your

neighbors to GET INFORMED about

the proposal and VOICE YOUR

OPINION before the plan vote on Nov.

9th.

Click the link to go to the Student

Assignment website for all documents

and meetings for public input,

including CMS Town Hall meeting at

South Meck High School TONIGHT

7-8:30pm - LiveStream available on

the Student Assignment website!

CMS Superintendent Search

CMS’ search for the next

Superintendent is in process and the

nonprofit education advocacy group

MeckEd is gathering public input

through a survey to assist the school

board with their selection. Go to

www.mecked.org for the survey. A

public forum is also scheduled Oct. 27,

6:00pm, at the Albemarle Rec Center

to learn more. More info at:

www.cms.k12.nc.us/boe/superintend

entsearch .

Who You Gonna Call?

When you need to contact someone at

Quail Hollow, and don’t know where

to start, use this handy list of QHMS

employees, listing their roles,

responsibilities and emails.

Click here for additional school

policies and procedures.

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The Quail Hollow golf team opened the

season with a victory over Southwest

Middle, and has played strong in three

more matches to date. While

experiencing team losses against

Community House, South Charlotte, and

JM Robinson, the spirits of first-year

coach Rob Catlett and his players have

not been dampened. “Winning is nice,

but really, we’re just trying to compete.

As long as the kids are having fun,

learning sportsmanship, humility and

good fundamentals, I’m happy.”

Catlett is in his first season as head

coach after assisting former coach Tony

Vinzant last season. He takes over a

team that boasts a solid blend of 8th and

7th graders. “I have noticed a lot of the

returning players helping the

newcomers and that is good to see and

that has helped us gel as a team.”

The Falcons are anchored by 8th

graders Winslow Brown, Gabe Rusmisell

and Banks Abbott who regularly lead

the team in individual scoring. Zach

Blanton, who cracked into the scoring

column against South Charlotte, is also

back, along with classmates Owen

Murphy, Caroline Giles and Anna Kulesa.

Newcomers to the team are Rhys

Owens, Emma Williams, Jackson Rogers,

Aaron Solar, and Noah Kaminskis. “I’m

trying to let the kids have as much fun

as possible,” said Catlett, “while at the

same time teaching them good

fundamentals and some life lessons too.

That’s what it’s all about.”

Fall Sports Spotlight on GOLF

About Coach

Robert

Catlett…

From Mullins, SC

Started golf at age 14

Attended Coastal Carolina, studied

business and marketing

Class A coaching license in 2011

while working full time as assistant

superintendent to head pro

Moved to Charlotte to be the PGA Pro

for Dicks Sporting Goods

Enjoys growing the game by being

involved in junior golf programs

Katie Catlett volunteers as assistant

coach

Likes waterfowl hunting and college

football -Go Gamecocks!

QH Booster Club – Join Us!

The QH Booster Club is a group of

parents that believe in supporting our

student’s access to health, wellness and

athletic opportunities. By joining the

QH Boosters, you help raise money for

much needed sports gear, PE uniforms,

and curriculum “extras” for the PE /

Health classes., as well as donate

“priceless” volunteer hours. Join today

and help ensure our Falcons include

HEALTH in their PATH to success. Click

here for a membership form.

Questions? Contact Jill Armstrong,

Boosters president.

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Student Activities & Opportunities

8th Graders Strike Gold on College Visit to UNCC

submitted by special Falcon Correspondent, Gabriel R. Black,

8th grade QHMS student

Students truly begin

thinking about college

— which one to go to,

how to get there, and

what major to study

— in middle school.

It’s important to show

students multiple

options of college (especially close to home), and the

eighth grade did just that on October 11 with a trip to the

University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC).

Quail Hollow 8th graders toured the university, seeing

college students studying and viewing the campus. They

experienced aspects of college life first-hand: the

camaraderie of college students, the importance of

planning, and the hard work involved in obtaining a

degree. Students also saw many of the more awe-inspiring

features of the campus. One student commented: “The

campus was huge; nice and calm. The staff was welcoming

and the students hardworking”. Students also found

startling similarities between the campus and Quail

Hollow Middle School. A student, Alejandra Rodriguez,

demonstrated this similarity by stating “The school is very

diverse and has [...] a lot of programs”.

UNCC features many programs, has a detailed newspaper,

and even accepts short stories and other literary works for

its “Sanskrit” literary-arts magazine. Students were

actively engaged: picking up magazines, newspapers, and

pamphlets. They showed interest in the campus and its

activities, interacting with the facilities and engaging in

the programs. Students toured the athletic facilities, the

library (which is the largest building on campus, at ten

stories), and listened to the orchestra, among other

activities.

The students had a good time, while also learning about

another option for college. Students experienced the sights

and sounds of a college campus, and discovered a new

possibility for their college education. Hopefully, this trip

inspired students to think about college — which one to

go to, how to get there, and what major to study.

Run the Big South 5K with QHMS Athletes

Coach Rose and our Fall Sport athletes have committed to

participate Oct. 22nd in the 7th annual Big South 5K Road Race, a

family-friendly event that serves as a fundraiser for middle

school athletic programs in the Charlotte area. The race has

raised over $113,000 since 2010 for middle school athletics

with a USTFA-certified and friendly course for all types of skill

levels. Click here to register TODAY!

And the real winner is QHMS -- $20 of your entry fee is donated

to the QHMS Booster Club if you select our school during

registration! Students that participate earn a “dress out”

pass AND fulfill their requirement to run the timed 1 mile

in either their Fall or Spring PE class. What a fun way to

support our school and student-athletes!

Learn Mandarin Chinese at QHMS

The Foreign Language League is interested

in teaching “immersion style” Mandarin

Chinese through face to face weekly 45

minute sessions at QHMS. Our teachers use

culturally based music, art, games and

stories to make a new language fun! Interested? Contact

Melissa@foreignlanguageleague.com

Cyber Saturdays for Middle Schoolers are FITT to start!

The popular middle school technology education program

called Cyber Saturdays is now called “Futures In Technology

Today” or FiTT. These free workshops for middle school

students are great opportunities for students to learn about

careers in technology, applications, and science concepts from

industry professionals and with hands-on activities.

The next session is Saturday, Oct 22: Design Thinking: A Key

step to Innovation Leaders, Kennedy Middle School, 8:30am-

12:00pm. For an overview of each Saturday session and to

register, click here.

For more information, contact kay.read10@gmail.com, 704-

516-3633 or valeriep.truesdale@cms.k12.nc.us, 980-344-0023.

FREE Community Days at the Mint – Oct 22,23

The Mint Museum is celebrating their 80th anniversary with

FREE ADMISSION all weekend at both locations (Uptown and

Randolph Rd). Plus, food trucks, art projects, music and special

exhibits! Visit mintmuseum.com/80th for details!

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SMHS Chick-Fil-A Challenge

Drop your receipt in the SMHS bucket when you eat at Carolina

Pavilion Chick-Fil-A through 12/22 to help the Sabres win

$1,000!

*

Our Quail Hollow Falcons are “Future Sabres” at South

Mecklenburg High School. Start building that South Meck Sabre pride now and get to know your

future school home!

South Meck school website

South Meck Sports Schedules

South Meck PTSA

Follow South Meck on Facebook and Twitter

If you shop at Amazon.com, you can direct a portion of your purchase amount to QHMS!

Amazon Smile is their way of giving back to their customers’ chosen charitable organization.

Instead of going to Amazon’s main webpage, start your online

shopping at smile.amazon.com and choose PTA North Carolina Congress Quail Hollow School PTA as your charity (one time setup), or go to "Your Account

Menu" and update to reflect QH as your new preferred charity.

Family and friends can also select Quail Hollow as their charity and

we benefit from their online shopping too!

It's easy money for Quail Hollow and a reinvestment in a child's

education! Makes you want to…SMILE!

Lend A Hand: QHMS Volunteers

North Star Reading Buddies – Can you spare 45 minutes / week?

Help nurture the love of reading with a child all year long. The North Star reading buddy program introduced last year throughout the CMS school district is making great strides getting our children up to speed on reading. Click here for a recent story in the Charlotte Observer highlighting the progress from this volunteer initiative. One on one mentors are needed at QH once a week, Mondays or Wednesdays, 9:15 - 10:00am or 3:30-4:15pm time slots. Interested volunteers may contact Kris Wawer.

Concession Stand Volunteers – Football & Volleyball HOME Games

The booster club is opening the concession stand at upcoming home volleyball and football games, and needs at least 1 adult volunteer per shift to supervise NJHS student workers. Concession profits support QH Athletics. If you’ll be at the games, take a break from the action for a good cause – we can’t open the concessions if we don’t have volunteers! Email the booster club at jdnarmstrong@hotmail.com with the date / shift you can help. Thank you!

Shifts: 5-5:45pm and 5:45-6:30pm Football: Oct 27th Volleyball: Oct 19th, Oct 24th, and Nov 2nd

Donate QHMS Clothing

Do you have extra QHMS spirit wear or PE uniforms going unworn and taking up

space in your closet? Please consider donating to the PE department – we can put

that Falcon flair to good use for deserving students. Items can be dropped off in

the front office or given to Coach Rose or any member of the PE staff.

Tell ‘Em QHMS Sent You! “The Rusty Onion” Gives Back!

Any time you eat at The Rusty Onion, or pick up an order, make sure to tell them “Quail Hollow Middle School sent you!” and they will donate 10% of your purchase to our school! This offer is good any day, any time, any orders (excludes alcohol). When you dine in, write “QHMS” at the top of your receipt. Think of The Rusty Onion for your next large group meal, business lunch, or catered event, and get 10% back for QHMS! Contact Jimmy at www.therustyonion.com , Carmel Commons Shopping Center, 6654 Carmel Road, 980-207-7079.

Link your Harris Teeter VIC to QHMS

Re-link your Harris Teeter VIC card to QHMS (code 1471) and earn money for our school! QHMS historically earns over $500 from this simple fundraising effort.

Let Us Know about Amazing Falcons, QH News, or Share Photos

The Falcon Connection is a volunteer collaboration with the school, and would love to hear your news! Want to help out? Have a correction or an update? Let us know! Just drop us a line at qhfalcon@gmail.com .

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If we reach this

goal, an anonymous

donor will add: