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At Quail Hollow Middle School, we S.O.A.R on the P.A.T.H. to college.

Our mission is to build a student body that is on the P.A.T.H. to accomplish diverse college and career readiness
goals by building a growth mindset among students, developing students’ literacy skills to support them as life-long
learners, and using student achievement data to inform instruction.

QUAIL HOLLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL VISION

We – students, teachers, staff, families, and community members – believe in the potential of all our students to
master a college-going curriculum and we provide our students the resources they need to do so. We are a student
body that is on the P.AT.H. to accomplish our diverse college and career goals to succeed in the 21st Century. We
are a community of character that expects the best of each other. We are a team that operates with dignity,
integrity, energy, and commitment to serve others. Our school is a source of strength and pride for all.

QUAIL HOLLOW MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP MAGNET

QHMS is proud to officially launch our Leadership Magnet beginning 2018-2019. We will leverage The Leader in
Me (FranklinCovey) philosophy and Paideia instructional strategies to enhance learning and growth for all
students.

Who? All Falcons will benefit from a full school-wide implementation model. We welcome Falcons who live in the
QHMS attendance boundary, Falcons joining us from the Myers Park Traditional School guaranteed magnet
continuum, and Falcons joining us through the CMS School Choice lottery.

What? The Leader in Me (FranklinCovey) philosophy will serve as our operating system to build a culture of
leadership to ensure every Falcon develops their own mind and voice as problem-solvers and critical thinkers.
Paideia teaching strategies explicitly tie the leadership philosophy to each classroom by driving achievement
through rigorous intellectual dialogue.

When? Round One of the CMS School Choice lottery is open November 13 – December 16

Why? We believe a world-class education enriches students as learners and leaders; prepares students to be
independent thinkers who value the perspectives of others and form their own voice; and develops academic
curiosity and intrinsic motivation to learn more, better oneself, and make a positive impact on the community.

Students at QHMS are referred to as Falcons.

Bell Schedule and Logistical Information

 Morning Arrival: 8:45-9:15

 Official School Start: 9:15

 Afternoon Dismissal: 4:15

 Classes that meet daily: math, language arts, science, social studies

 Classes that meet on an A/B Day schedule:
o Elective classes (commonly referred to as “specials” in elementary school)
o Personalized Learning Time (PLT)

 Our school is organized into grade level hallways. The only time a Falcon leaves his or her grade level hall is to
attend lunch with the class, Personalized Learning Time (PLT) or to attend elective courses (also scheduled by
grade level). PLT enrichment courses for 7th and 8th grade are the only mixed grade level courses offered for

Falcons.

 Each grade level follows a slightly different schedule such that the majority of class transitions are limited to one
grade level at a time.

 Falcons are provided with agendas to record assignments, monitor grades, and access school policies.

 Grades are posted within 10 school days of the due date of an assignment and parents have access to these
grades at any time online through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

 Report cards are sent home at the end of each quarter. Progress reports are sent home mid-quarter.

 The school works to communicate to all families in a variety of methods. The Falcon Connection newsletter
contains calendar and event information as well as articles that help you stay informed about what is happening
at the school. The Falcon Connection is sent to families using the Connect Ed automated phone system and is
posted to the school website. We also use the Connect Ed system to send special announcements. Resources and
information are posted on our school website as well as on teachers’ individual webpages. Families are also
encouraged to follow our social media accounts as we post photos and updates multiple times each week on

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Transition to Middle School
At QHMS, we recognize that the transition from elementary school to middle school is a big deal! Many students
attended the same elementary school for the last six years and it was a very special and well-known place with
consistent adults. We also know that elementary schools tend to be smaller than middle schools and are
neighborhood-based. Thus, the transition to middle school can feel intimidating. We work hard to support families
in making the transition as smooth as possible. Our sixth graders attend core classes on the same hallway in the
front of the building. Students are grouped into teams and rotate classes within a single team. All four of these
team classrooms are in very close proximity to each other. At the start of the year, teachers take the time to give
their Falcons tours of the building so they don’t get lost, they take class trips to the restroom, and they walk as a
class to lunch and electives. Teachers use the first week of school to orient students to QHMS, including “get to
know you” activities, review of school policies, and notebook organization. The sixth grade has its own grade level
administrator and its own counselor. The grade level administrator’s office is on the sixth grade hall so she is easily
accessible to students.

2017-2018 Enrichment Courses
Falcons who demonstrate they are on track to master grade level curriculum have the opportunity to participate
in enrichment courses during Personalized Learning Time (PLT) twice weekly. Eligibility is determined by a rubric.

Current 6th grade enrichment courses include:

Advanced Math Creating an Outside Classroom Literary Magazine
Quiz Bowl Creative Movement Music Theory
Book Club with Film Study Chess Fitness Journalism
Choristers French Number Ninjas
Right Moves for Youth iPhonography Public Speaking
Creating Websites and Blogs SciFi Literature and Film Study Yoga
Study Hall

Mastery Learning
We are committed to lead all Falcons to reach their full academic potential at QHMS. As such, we encourage each
child to work until he or she reaches mastery of the content. If a Falcon does not initially demonstrate mastery with
a “B or better,” the Falcon is encouraged to receive extra help from the teacher, study more, and - after
demonstrating preparedness - re-test to show improved mastery of the content. Falcons can earn up to an 80% by
re-testing in the time allotted. Falcons who do not participate in an enrichment course during PLT are assigned to
a Personalized Learning Group by their core content teachers based on individual Falcon needs. This is a great
opportunity to get extra help, ask questions, and re-test when necessary.

Tutoring
To further support our Falcons, each teacher offers tutoring before or after school at least one hour per week.
Because our teachers plan collaboratively, students can attend tutoring with any of the content area teachers in
the grade level. That means students have three opportunities to receive tutoring in a given course each week. In
addition, Personalized Learning Time allows a space for students to receive extra academic support every other
school day.

Technology
QHMS uses technology to support student learning. All classrooms are equipped with mounted projectors,
screens, and speaker systems. Eighteen of our classrooms have Smartboards generously purchased by the PTSA.
Our filtered wireless network is structured with enough band width to support every Falcon using technology at
the same time across the school. We are one to one and all Falcons carry a school-issued Chromebook throughout
the school day. Teachers each have a portable technology device (Revolve or iPad), in addition to desktop
computers in each classroom. Teachers utilize technology to differentiate instruction for students through
platforms such as Compass Learning, Discovery Education, Google Classroom, Canvas, Khan Academy, and much
more.

College-Going Culture
It is important that students begin talking about college at an early age to understand the value of this educational
opportunity. Our teachers actively work to educate Falcons on college opportunities throughout the school year.
Each grade level will attend a local college visit such that Falcons will visit three different colleges or universities
by the time they move on to high school. In middle school, students are often most familiar with collegiate athletics
and we are committed to building our Falcons’ holistic understanding of the opportunities provided by college.

Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
QHMS is lucky to have a strong PTSA to support our school initiatives. This year was the most successful
fundraising year for the PTSA in the last six years where we exceeded our fundraising goal by over $14,000. Our
PTSA Executive Board has prioritized supporting the school in the areas of teacher professional learning,
instructional technology, teacher appreciation, and scholarships. The PTSA provides operating budgets for Band,
Dance, Chorus, Art, Orchestra, Band, Student Council, National Junior Honor Society, Science Olympiad, PLT
groups, and much more. Our PTSA also supports indoor and outdoor beautification projects to ensure our students
have a beautiful place to learn.

Elective Course Offerings
Students participate in two elective courses per semester on an A-Day/B-Day schedule. All elective courses change
for second semester except year-long foreign language (7th & 8th Grades), Band, and Orchestra. Below are QHMS’s
current elective offerings.

Art
Band** or Orchestra**
Chorus
Dance
Career and Technical Education (CTE): Office Productivity, Keyboarding and Basic Word Processing, Exploring
Careers and Employment, Exploring Business Activities, Exploring Business Procedures and Leadership
Project Lead the Way - Gateway to Technology: Design & Modeling, Robotics, Science of Technology
Foreign Language: French (online), German (online), Latin (online), Spanish
Health/PE*, Fitness

*Per state requirement, each student must take one semester of Health and PE each year.
**Students must begin these courses in 6th grade to continue in them in 7th and 8th grade

Middle School Sports
CMS is the lucky recipient of a generous donation from the Hendrick Automotive Group that has allowed our
district to continue to offer middle school sports. Seventh and Eighth grade students must meet state eligibility
criteria and have an up-to-date physical to try out for sports teams. Eligibility requirements include an attendance
requirement, regardless of whether absences are excused or unexcused. Once on the team, students must stay in
good academic standing and maintain positive behavior to remain on the team.

Fall Winter Spring
Boys Football Boys/Girls Boys Baseball
Girls Softball Basketball
Girls Volleyball Boys/Girls
Cheerleading Soccer

Cheerleading Boys/Girls
Track

Boys/Girls Golf

Contact our athletic director, Brandon Blackley ([email protected]) for more information about
middle school sports.

QHMS is also proud to host a Lacrosse Club team and a Rugby Club team.

Proud Points

 Quail Hollow exceeded expected growth on EOGs and NC Final Exams during the 2014-2015 and 2015-
2016 school years. The range for meeting growth is between -2.0 to 2.0. QHMS scored at 6.14!

 Quail Hollow has had an 85% reduction in discipline referrals since the 2011 school year and we have
reduced our out of school suspensions rate by 91% since the 2011 school year.

 QHMS is one of the few middle schools in the district to offer a competitive math course sequencing that
includes Math 1 (offered in 7th and 8th grade), Math 2 (offered in 8th grade) and Honors Math 8. This
sequencing allows select students to leave QHMS with two high school math credits!

 During the 2015-2016 school year, 51% of our Citizen School students showed growth on their EOG scores
and showed an average of a 5.7 point gain on the MAP scores.

 QHMS Orchestra and Honors Band students earned positions in the all-district and all-county ensembles.

 Our student athletes have a partnership with Southminster Retirement Community and read with students
at Smithfield and Sterling Elementary Schools throughout the school year.

 QHMS is pleased to take students on college visits each school year to support long-term goal
setting. These trips are funded with support of the PTSA.

 Through a grant, fifty sixth graders traveled to Raleigh for a full day guided visit at the University of North
Carolina.

 Students in our Future Problem Solvers (FPS) club won at the state level and advanced to the international
competition in Iowa (June 2015) and have placed at the State level in 2016 and 2017.

 All 7th grade Quail Hollow science students complete a frog dissection each year.

 Dance teacher, Mrs. Ballard was selected as 2016 Charlotte Ballet Dance Educator of the Year.

 Our school received a grant to create a fitness lab to help promote a healthy lifestyle for our students. 7th
and 8th grade students now have the option to take Fitness as an elective and 6th grade has the option
during PLT.

 QHMS offers Club Boys Lacrosse for 7th and 8th graders.
 6th Grade Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Gordon was a 2017 Meck Ed Teacher of Excellence.
 7th Grade Science teacher, Mr. Faris was nominated by Smithfield Elementary and won an “I AM CMS”

award for his work promoting kinesthetic learning.
 Ms. Leeper, an 8th ELA /SS teacher, was chosen by the district to help create and rewrite the Honors ELA

Curriculum in Summer 2017.



Proud Points Continued

 7th grade humanities has three fully interdisciplinary units that leverage content knowledge from social
studies and literacy skills from language arts. These units have historically had higher mastery of both
content areas by the end of the unit!

 We offer over 40 different options for Personalized Learning Time, an enrichment block during the school
day.

 Student of all grade levels volunteer at Smithfield Elementary as part of the Falcon Leaders program to
support our Future Falcons.

 Two students were recognized by the Do the Write Thing program for outstanding character and
citizenship.

 QHMS Art student won 1st Place at the 2017 Carolinas Healthcare System’s Martin Luther King Jr.
National Observance Celebration and CMS Arts & Writing Recognition Program.

 QHMS hosts an Annual International Festival that welcomes members of our community from over 20
countries.

Contact Us for More Information
980-343-3620

2901 Smithfield Church Road
Charlotte, NC 28210

schools.cms.k12.nc.us/quailhollowms
facebook.com/quailhollowmiddleschool

instagram.com/quailhollowmiddle
twitter.com/quailhollowms

For information on tours, contact Mrs. Nava ([email protected]) or visit our
prospective parents website at http://prospectivefalconfamilies.weebly.com

Sign up to receive the Falcon Connection newsletter on the Quail Hollow website.