Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are seeing a very strong trend toward our attendance getting back to normal here at Sloan Creek. We only had 40 students and 2 teachers out sick today (our average number of students absent is about 25 per day). 

Given that we have had so many absences the last two weeks, it has created many holes in teachers' grade books.  Rather than having incompletes sitting in teacher grade books, we would like to extend the time for teachers to accept late work from students for one more week (that includes allowing students to make up homework, class work, projects, tests and quizzes).

The first six week report cards will go home on Thursday, October 15th. Parents, if your son or daughter is struggling with getting everything back into the teachers, please let them know. We are aware that it can be stressful for students who have been out for two or three days, and we want to do everything we can to help them get back on track.

Have a great weekend, if you need anything or have any feedback for us, let me know.  You can reach me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Gavan Goodrich

Principal

Sloan Creek Middle School

Important Sloan Creek News and Information

Middle School Boys Basketball Parent Meeting

On Monday, October 5 at 7:00 p.m., there is a mandatory middle school boys basketball parent meeting in the Lecture Hall at Lovejoy High School. If you cannot make the meeting, please contact Matt Falboat This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Takedown Club Red Wheel Pie Sale

This year, the Lovejoy Takedown Club supporting Lovejoy Wrestling is having its annual fundraiser – selling Red Wheel pies. See the information below:

• Red Wheel pie sales fundraiser will be kicked off on Monday, October 5^th
• Red Wheel pie sales will end on Friday, October 23^rd
  • This will be one of the topics for discussion at the upcoming Takedown Club meeting scheduled for Monday, October 5^th @ 7:00 pm in Room D105, Field House Classroom.

For more information contact James & Patty Jolliffe at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

2009 LHS Blackout & Burgers with the Band (BWTB)

This fun event is part of the Founder's Week celebration! Blackout shirts & BWTB meal tickets are available for purchase at the school store. Come join the LHS Marching Band for the 2009 Blackout & Burgers with the Band Event on Friday 10/16 in support of the Leopard Varsity Team as they take down the Panthers. See attached information for more details.

Sally Ride Science Festival
Come join the fun at the Sally Ride Science Festival. It takes place at Rice University in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, October 24, 2009 from 11:00 am to 4:15 pm. The entry fee is only $15 if you register by October 8, 2009.

The Science Festival features an inspiring talk by astronaut Ellen Ochoa Discovery Workshops for 5th-8th grade girls, which may be given by local veterinarians, astronomers, microbiologists and more workshops for parents and teachers on ways to support students' interests in science and math. If parents are interested, they can sign up now at:
http://www.sallyridescience.com/festivals/09rice1024
SIGN UP NOW! Early registration special ends October 8, 2009!
Registration increases to $20 per person on October 9, 2009.
Call: 1.800.561.5161 for more information. Advance registration is required.

Special Founder's Day Mums & Garters for SCMS

The Majestics Booster Club will be selling pre-made mums and garters at Sloan Creek from Oct. 5-16 during lunch hours in the cafeteria.  Mums and garters can be worn to school and to the Founder's Day game on Oct. 16.  The Majestics have made special smaller-sized mums & garters for Sloan Creek students to show their Leopard Spirit on Oct. 16. (Bigger, custom mums are available to order at the high school until Oct. 8)

1. Mini-mums for parents, teachers, and younger students for $10.

2. Middle school boy garters for $20 and $35.

3. Middle school girl mums for $25 and $45.

These mums are of superior quality and value than the competing grocery store and craft store mums.  We invite you to compare prices! Plus, the funds raised help support the Majestics Dance Team.  The dance team needs money to buy competitive costumes and props, and Spring Show choreography, props, sets, lights, and technicians.  Checks should be payable to the Majestics Booster Club.

Lovejoy Fine Arts Festival - December 12

Mark Saturday, Dec. 12 on your calendars for the first ever Lovejoy Fine Arts Festival.  The festival will showcase Lovejoy Fine Arts students in grades K-12. On this date, a lot of entertainment, art, and family fun will fill the high school, starting at noon. The festival is being planned by the high school fine arts staff and Lovejoy Fine Arts, Inc.  If you are interested in volunteering on behalf of a fine arts booster club, please notify your booster club president, or event coordinator Laura Andrews at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dads Club Basketball

The Lovejoy ISD dads meet every Wednesday (closed holidays) at Sloan Creek Middle School for Basketball.  The gym hours are from 7 pm to 9 pm.  This activity is part of the Lovejoy ISD Dads Club and is restricted by the district to Lovejoy ISD taxpayers and staff, so please no ringers, college buddies, co-workers, etc (unless they live or work in the districts)...  The general idea is for the dads to get to know each other and get a little exercise at the same time.  If you know other dads that want to play, please have them contact Jason Vaughn at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to be added to the distribution list.

If you are interested in playing, park in the back and enter around the back of the school through the glass double doors by the tennis courts.  The doors will be unlocked and we will be in one of the gyms and then just follow the sounds of bones creaking and heavy breathing to the gym.

Rolls and Cookies for Sale

The Sloan Creek Cafeteria is selling dinner rolls and cookies for parties, picnics and dinner on the 15^th of every month. The rolls cost $5.00 per dozen and the cookies are $5.00 for two dozen (Chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar or combination). Contact the Sloan Creek cafeteria manager Sunny Cleveland for more details at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Sloan Creek Keyboarding Class

Does your child have trouble keeping up because of a slow typing speed? Would he or she like to improve that speed while having fun? Sign up your student for Sloan Creek’s Keyboarding Class!

Fall session

Tuesdays & Thursdays

During the month of October

Class begins October 6th

from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Cost is Only $15.00

Return the attached registration form & payment to Stacey Hancock

Any questions?? Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Space is limited, so this is offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Available to 6^th, 7^th or 8^th graders only.

Academic UIL

This year, Lovejoy ISD will participate in an academic U.I.L. (University Interscholastic League) competition. Sloan Creek was very successful in last year's event. We captured the first place awards for 6^th, 7^th and 8^th grade. This exciting academic event will be held on Friday, January 15, 2010, at Princeton Junior High in Princeton, Texas. Please note that January 15 is an early release day. The events will be held from 12:30 – 6:30 p.m. depending on your child’s event. Students attending U.I.L. will be transported via school bus to the competition and back to SCMS, unless parents pick up their child at Princeton Junior High before the event is over. Information regarding this competition is attached. We would like to have the Interest Form turned in no later than Friday, October 16, to your child’s 4^th period teacher.

Mathcounts

The MATHCOUNTS Competition Program provides the extra incentive and the perfect atmosphere for students to push themselves to achieve more in mathematics.  Consisting of fun and creative problems, the MATHCOUNTS competitions have written and oral rounds, as well as individual and team components.  Though challenging and non-routine, the competition problems focus on the 6th through 8th grade standards of the National Council of Teachers in Mathematics.

Sloan Creek will be announcing the Mathcounts program to all math students starting in October. We have two new coaches this year: Heather Lamb and Derek Ruthardt. Together, the coaches will invite all math students to come for an orientation, several practice sessions and then a inter-school tournament to help select our traveling team that will compete at UTD in January. We will send out another notice when we get close to the start of the program.

THE LD ZONE

October 8, 2009 at Lovejoy H.S. Auditorium-7:00 p.m. A Play About Bright Students Who Learn Differently, brought to you by the THE SHELTON PLAYERS of Shelton School

This entertaining and educational play is based on a production created by the Dallas Fine Arts Chamber Players in 1996.  Their educational troupe, Dream Collectors, created the play to promote awareness of dyslexia, a reading disorder that affects one out of seven people, and to encourage early diagnosis and intervention.  It received 175 live performances in 20 public school districts throughout North Texas and Colorado. Shelton’s new version includes other learning differences in addition to dyslexia.  The play is appropriate for students in grades three and up. (see attached)

Have a great weekend