The Martin Mustang - Martin Gifted and Talented Magnet Middle ...

The Martin Mustang
Welcome Back to School
“Back to School” messages are popping up everywhere. As PTA President,
it is my pleasure to welcome you Back to School at the newly renovated
Martin GT Magnet Middle School. Everyone is excited about settling
in to the bright and welcoming space. The gym and cafeteria are
spectacular and just wait until you see the parking lot!!
As the students and teachers get acquainted in the classroom, the
PTA provides a forum for parents to get acquainted while working together
on programs and activities at the school. It’s easy to get involved.
This newsletter contains all you need to get started. Fill out the four
forms inserted in this packet and bring them to the PTA table on Visitation
Day, August 21 or the Welcome Coffee on August 28 or to Open
House on Sep. 4. If it’s easier, you can just mail them to the school:
Martin Middle PTA, 1701 Ridge Rd., Raleigh, NC 27607.
The yellow form is for joining the PTA and making a contribution to
the new “No-Fuss” Fundraiser. This is the first year in decades that we
are not holding the traditional magazine fundraiser. Now, 100% of your
contribution will go directly toward the PTA fundraising goal of $30,000.
We hope to meet our goal by the end of September so we can get about
the business of making Martin an even better school.
Middle School is an important time in a child’s life. The next three
years will zoom by, so don’t miss a minute. Get involved now.
Carol Lawrence, cjlawrence@nc.rr.com
Martin PTA President
Martin GT Middle School PTA Executive Board 2008/09
President: Carol Lawrence
President-Elect: Alissa Portenier
Treasurer: George Moore, Treasurer-Elect: Ann Pershke
Secretary: Kathleen Kristan
VPs of Membership: Selena Williams & Jennifer Gilchrist
VPs of Fundraising: Jackie Freeman, Janeen Green
& Carolyn Hoggarth
VPs of Book Fair: Ann Doman, & Rochelle Fountain
Big Red Club Chairmen: Susan Weaver & Marsha Rouse
Published by Martin PTA
Communications
Want to help?
clochbaum@mindspring.com
August, 2008
August 2008
Volume XXVI, No.1
Inside this issue:
Welcome
PTA Board
Fall Calendar
PTA Funding
Big Red Club
Student Council
Where do you go to find
what you need to know
about Martin events?
• martinms.wcpss.net
• Martin eGroup - sign up
at website or send email
to “martinpta-subscribe
@yahoogroups.com”
• The Martin Mustang -
PTA Newsletter
• Hoofprints - the quarterly
student newspaper
National PTA contest
Reflections
2008-09 theme
is
“WOW!”
Entries will be due
in late October .
Look for details on
the website and in
media center.
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Page 2 The Martin Mustang
FALL SPORTS
7th and 8th graders
can try out for fall
sports—football, girls
volleyball, girls soccer
and cheerleading.
A sports physical
form is required to
try out for Fall Sports
on August 27.
Forms available online
under “Athletic
Forms” and in the
office—get this
done now!
Mr. Martin came to
every PTA meeting in
2007-8 and gave informative
reports to the
parents. Meetings last
one hour and alternate
meeting time between
noon and 7pm.
AUGUST
21 Visitation Day -
Fall 2008 Calendar
7th grade 8-10am, 8th grade 10am-12pm, 6th grade 1-3pm
25 First Day of School
26 Fall Sports Meeting, - Students required,, parents welcome 2:30-3:30pm, in gym
27 Fall sports try outs begin. Sports physical form due.
28 PTA Welcome Coffee with Principal for 6th grade and new parents 9-10:30am
SEPTEMBER
1 Holiday—NO SCHOOL
4 Meet the Teacher Night, 6:30pm
8 PTA Meeting, 7pm in the Media Center
8 Fall Student Pictures. Smile.
19 First School Dance! 7-9pm in the gym.
22 Interim reports out this week
25 EARLY RELEASE DAY. Students will dismiss at 11am
OCTOBER
1 Fall Play Audition
6 PTA Meeting, 12pm in the Media Center
10 Teacher workday, NO SCHOOL
16 EARLY RELEASE DAY students will dismiss at 11am
NOVEMBER
6 All County Band Auditions at Carnage
13 &14 Fall Play 7pm in the auditorium
18 Orchestra Concert 7pm
DECEMBER
2 Choral Concert 7pm
11 Dance Concert 7pm
18 Holiday Music Student Assemblies
SILENT FUNDRAISER LINK INFORMATION
Harris Teeter VIC cards Relink each August!
Martin’s # 2782
Food Lion—link at www.foodlion.com
Kroger: link at customer service Martin’s # 80763
Target: link at www.target.com Martin’s # 81083
Web Shopping: access www.schoolpop.com,
select Martin Middle School, then shop the internet.
Worth doing! Raises $2000 per year for the PTA!
Be on the look out this fall
for the following
Clubs and Organizations
which meet after school:
~International Club
~Math Club
~Newbery Club
~National Junior Honor Society

PTA Funding
Included in this mailing are two requests for monetary donations. First, your contribution
to the new No Fuss Fundraiser (which replaced the magazine drive) provides
funding for technology support and hardware, media center books, cultural arts programs
and Writers-in-Residence, student academic activities and recognition, publication of the
student newspaper and literary magazine, parent communications, student agendas, student
directories, teacher supply money, special requests (mini-grants), character education
receptions and other programs that enhance the quality of education at Martin. None of
these programs would be possible without your donation and the generous time put in by
many volunteers. We hope to reach our goal of $30,000 by Sept. 30 with this initial request
so we do not have to hold additional fundraisers.
Your support is greatly appreciated!!!
Second, by joining the Big Red Club you will be supporting Arts and Athletics at
Martin. Read all about it in the next article and be sure to sign up via the red form inserted
in this newletter.
Big Red Club
August 2008
The Big Red Club is Martin’s Arts and Athletics Booster Club. The organization is
part of the Martin PTA and its purpose is to promote MUSTANG SPIRIT and provide
supplemental funding for the arts and athletics programs at Martin. Over the past five
years, Big Red funds have provided musical instruments and instructional materials, costumes
for dance, drama and choral productions, visual arts supplies, and uniforms for all
of Martin’s athletic teams. Money is raised with an annual membership drive, spirit wear
sales and concession sales, and the big spring event, Mustang Madness, a school-wide activity
which will be held on Friday, March 6, 2009.
Please support our Big Red Club in the following ways:
ο Join the club at one of the sponsorship levels.
ο Attend art and athletic events.
(Club members receive at least one pass to all home events.)
ο Volunteer to help sell spirit wear.
ο Volunteer to help with concession sales at home athletic events.
ο Join our group of parent volunteers who will plan and carry out Mustang Madness.
THANK YOU for supporting arts and athletics programs at Martin Middle
School!
Page 3

Martin GT Magnet Middle School
1701 Ridge Road
Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone: 919-881-4970
Published by Martin PTA
Communications
Want to help?
clochbaum@mindspring.com
Student Council at Martin
Student Council provides a wonderful opportunity for students
to grow leadership skills. Congratulations to our Executive Officers for
2008-2009: Ashlyn Lancaster, President, Nietra Coble, Vanesa
Sayavong, Kiana Smith-Thomas, Nicole Eng, Savannah Lynn. Many
thanks to our advisors, Ms. Kris Thomasson and Ms. Angela Slate.
Martin Student Council holds the position of 2nd VP of the Central
District of the North Carolina Association of Student Councils
(NCASC). Throughout the year, our council attends many state and
district leadership workshops and retreats where our council learns
leadership skills and activities that they bring back to our school.
Some of the events sponsored by our council here at Martin include
dances, student birthday recognition, staff appreciation, leadership
workshops and assisting with Open Houses.
IMPORTANT FOR ALL PARENT Volunteers!
General SUPPLY LISTS are
on the website.
Martinms.wcpss.net
*ALL volunteers need to register or RE-register for this school year* This includes
field trip chaperones, class parent helpers, PTA program volunteers. All volunteer registration
must take place at a Wake County Public School. See Lyn Finnerty in Guidance