The Bird Nest
CMS News & Notes September 2021
Lumen Parent & Student Portal
I am excited about the implementation of our new student management program called “Lumen Touch.” All parents should have received an email from the school with their individual username and password. Logging into this portal will allow parents to view students grades, monitor attendance, and update contact information. If you did not receive an email with this information, please contact the school this week.
In the coming week, all 6-8 students will receive their username and password granting them access to the student portal. The students portal will allow all students to access grades on a regular basis. This will replace the printing of weekly progress reports.
Canvas Digital Instruction Platform
Canvas will continue to serve as the main platform for digital instruction. Students will be expected to login and check this on a daily basis. It will also provide a safe platform for students to communicate with their teachers when not in class. Parents may also gain access to Canvas through the “Observer” portal. Click the button below to view directions on getting access.
I ask that you stay involved with your child’s schoolwork. Take time each day to ask them about classes, review graded assignments, and study for upcoming assessments. This is a great way to keep up with what is going on and show your child the importance of education.
Don't want to miss anything? Stay Connected!
Part of our mission at CMS is to keep students and parents up to date with important information. Below are the different platforms to help achieve this mission.
Email - It is important that you have an updated email on file with the school. You can update this in the Lumen Parent portal or call the office.
Facebook - Like the Clever Schools 6-8 page
Remind - Join Mr. Sullivan's News & Notes Class @clevms6-8
Remind Teachers - Click here to view the master list of Remind class codes.
Why Study Skills?
Why does your child have a class called Study Skills? Study skills is known as our Exploratory.
"Exploratory," an innovative program in which students take three-week mini-courses on a variety of topics. In these classes they learn about subjects that are either outside of their regular core curriculum or not covered as extensively as they would be in a stand-alone course.
How Exploratory Works?
Once a three-week block is completed, students rotate to the next Exploratory class on their schedule. By the end of the school year, students will have rotated through the entire menu of classes for their grade.
Leadership U
The Play’s the Thing!
The Wonders
Geography 101
Game of Life
Brain & Body Conditioning
Digital Footprint
Science Labs
Trash to Treasure
Escape Rooms
Lego Masters
National Parks
Archery
Mock Trial
Speech & Debate
Mythology
Science of Well Being
Band
Choir
How Exploratory is Assessed?
Students will receive a summative grade each week. These summative assessments will be entered into Lumen and be included on the grade check progress reports. All assessments will be tied to the College and Career Readiness Missouri Learning Standards.
What to do if my child is Quarantined?
In the event that your child becomes quarantined for an extended number of days, I want to assure you that we will do everything we can to make sure your child’s education is not disrupted. Below are a few procedures we have put in place to help make a smooth transition.
Teachers will be informed of the quarantine and number of days that students will be out of school. This will help teachers in their planning and preparation for class.
Students with internet access should plan on checking Canvas for each of their classes. Teachers will post a daily assignment for students to complete.
Students may also message their teacher informing them they will be out and ask for work.
Students without internet access may be provided hard copies of assignments/assessment when possible. These items can be picked up from the outside tables in front of the middle school office. Please coordinate with your child’s teacher for specifics.
Hotspots are available for loan if the students does not have access to the internet. Please contact the office for more information.
Communication between school and home is pivotal in order for your child to be successful in a quarantine situation.
Kid Account - Student Dismissal
CMS Student Handbook Spotlight - Dress Code
Dress and appearance must not present health or safety concerns; be indecent or display a significant amount of skin, disruptive, or inappropriate for the school setting.
No clothing that exposes any portion of the upper torso: including see-through shirts, halter tops, backless shirts or dresses, spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, low necklines which expose cleavage, short shorts which expose buttox, or excessively torn, etc.
Dress and grooming will be clean, and conform to health, sanitation, and safety requirements.
All students must wear shoes or other types of footwear.
No clothing that is disruptive to the daily academic progress of students. No clothing that displays profane or suggestive language or acts; clothing that advertises alcohol, tobacco, drugs or advocates their use, etc.
Bandanas, hoods, sunglasses, or other types of headgear are not to be worn inside the school buildings.
Baseball style hats and beanies will be permitted at the discretion of the building administration or classroom teacher. Failure to comply with requests to remove a hat will be viewed as insubordination and a discipline referral will be written.
*Hats with large brims will not be permitted (example: cowboy hats, sombreros, etc.)
Pants or shorts that display undergarments or skin, regardless of the cover of an untucked shirt, are unacceptable. This clothing is to be worn no lower than at the top of the hips.
To conform with "Drug Free" policies, clothing advertising the use of drugs, tobacco, or alcohol will not be permitted. To conform with "Safe Schools" policies, clothing which is deemed to be gang related, or promotes weapons and or ammunition will not be permitted. Sagging pants, slacks or trousers, as described above or any other variation of dress deemed inappropriate will not be allowed. Wallet chains long enough to inflict injury are a student safety consideration and are not allowed under the Safe Schools Act.
Jewelry may not be worn in a manner that draws unreasonable attention to any student.
Class activities that present a concern for student safety may require the student to adjust hair and/or clothing during the class period in the interest of maintaining safety standards.
All dress code requirements apply during physical education courses.
Additional rules may be specified for athletes because of health and sanitation requirements.
Additional dress regulations may be imposed upon students participating in extracurricular activities.
Technology Usage
Chromebook 101
Full-Time User - Students pay the $45 fee and are able to take the device home each day. This fee is applied to the purchase of the device at the end of the student’s 8th grade school year. This fee is NOT an insurance policy for the device. Damages will be assessed and then billed to the parent/guardian. Students do not get to take a loaner device home during this time.
Daily User - Students check-in and check-out their device on a daily basis. The device is NOT allowed to be taken home. Chromebook storage carts/lockers have been placed in various locations throughout the building.
How do I pay the Chromebook user fee? - Parents may send a check or cash to the 6-8 office. A receipt will be created and returned for payment documentation. At this time, Clever Schools does not take electronic payments.
Chromebook Damage - In the event that a student damages their device, it should be turned into the main office along with a damage report. The technology dept. will assess the damages and provide an invoice for repair costs. A list of most common replacement costs can be found on the Clever Device Policy below.
Chromebook Insurance - The district is looking into insurance options for helping to reduce damage costs. Information about plans should be available later this month.
Chromebook Protection - Students must store their device in a protective case at any time it is not being used. The Chromebooks are 11.6 inch in size. Here is a link to amazon with multiple case options. The school does have basic cases that can be purchased for $12.
A message from the SRO
I would like to welcome you and your wonderful children to the 2021-2022 Clever school year. I am so happy to be starting my third school year as your child’s School Resource Officer.
There are a few things I would like to address with you. Please, for the safety of the children and staff:
Do not drop your children off on Brown at the lower Elementary Drive.
Do not drop your children off on the Corner of Public and Brown
Do not drop your children off on the Corner of Public and Carpenter
If you park in the gravel area next to Brown by the North gym, please do not back out and try to leave while the crossing guard is trying to get walkers across Brown.
I understand car line seems to take forever right now but I promise it will get better.
We do not want to respond to a child getting hit by a car. We have staff placed around campus for safety of all the children and when kids get dropped off in area not designated as a drop off area, it causes a safety concern for everyone.
Your help and cooperation are greatly appreciated.
Officer Christina Strodtman
School Resource Officer/Patrol
Clever Police Department
PTA Membership
Click here to join: https://cleverjayspta.ptboard.com/formvw?store=2028&form=6
Connect With Us!
Email: sullivanj@cleverbluejays.org
Website: www.cleverbluejays.org
Location: 103 S Public Ave, Clever, MO, USA
Phone: 417-743-4820
Facebook: facebook.com/Clever6-8