Carpenter Middle School
Here's What's Happening at the Ranch!
Announcements
Reflections Art Contest
Congratulations to the following students for their Reflections entries!
Avery Means: Visual Arts
Alyssa Franks: Musical Composition
Both received an Award of Excellence and will be advancing to the Council level judging.
Give to the Christmas COPS
Carpenter Middle School is helping the Plano Police Association (PPA) Christmas COPS help needy families in our community by donating food and toys to the Plano Police Association (PPA) program. The collection box is located outside the counseling offices by the front entrance. We will be collecting items through Friday, December 11. Your generous gifts will be shared with families in our community who Plano Police officers have come in contact with throughout the year.
Please consider donating non-perishable food, a new coat or a jacket. The wish list for toys is also quite long. You can place unwrapped items in the Christmas COPS drop box. If it is more convenient, you can also make monetary gifts online by going to the Christmas COPS website. All donations must be received by Friday, December 11 for delivery on December 19.
Finals Week : Monday, December 14th -- Friday, December 18th
Winter Break : Monday, December 21st -- Monday, January 4th
Around the Ranch
What's on Deck...
Thursday, December 3
- Science Fair
- 6:00 p.m. - 7th Girls Basketball @ Schimelpfenig
- 6:00 p.m. - 7th Boys Basketball v. Schim @ CMS
Friday, December 4
- Science Fair
- College Shirt Day
- Side by Side Orchestra Concert @ Clark HS
Saturday, December 5
- Speech Tournament
Monday, December 7
- 6:00 p.m. - 8th Girls Basketball v. Renner @ CMS
- 6:00 p.m. - 8th Boys Basketball @ Renner
- 6:30 p.m. - Winter Choir Concert @ CMS Stage
Tuesday, December 8
- 7:00 p.m. - Advanced Winter Choir Concert @ CMS Stage
Thursday, December 10
- Bring your parent to band day
- 6:00 p.m. - 7th Girls Basketball v. Renner @ CMS
- 6:00 p.m. - 7th Boys Basketball @ Renner
For 8th Graders Only - Mark Your Calendars
12/2 OR 12/3- Practice 4 year plans during English class with 8th grade counselor, Mrs. Jordan
12/11- Applications to The IB World School, Health Sciences Academy and Academy High School are DUE
1/8- Notice of placement for The IB World School, Health Sciences Academy and Academy High School
1/13- Meet your Clark Counselor- On campus at CMS during 2nd period for students
1/14- Plano Sr High Clinical Rotations Presentation during PE classes for students
1/14- Calling All Cats at Plano Sr. High (Student and Parent Night) at 6:30-8p
1/15- Commitment of attending The IB World School, Health Sciences Academy and Academy High School DUE
1/28- Cougar Call at Clark HS (Student and Parent Night)- TIME TBA
2/2- 2/25- Four year plan meetings with student/parents and registering for 9th grade- TIME BY INVITATION. THOSE WILL BE SENT IN JANUARY.
Box Tops New Rewards
Counselor's Corner
Cowboy Character
Jovita Mireles Gonzales was a bridge builder, but not the kind you might think. She didn’t use a hammer and nails. She built bridges between people. She was one of the first writers to write a book in English about the Mexican-American culture. When she wrote the book, she built a bridge of understanding between two very different cultures. We can all be bridge builders: building bridges of understanding between different people, races, religions, and cultures.
In Russia they say: “John has one custom and Jack has another.”
During this holiday season, notice the different customs being honored. For example, you may be celebrating Christmas, your neighbor may be celebrating Hanukkah, and another neighbor may be celebrating Kwanzaa. Our country is rich with this kind of diversity. It’s what makes America great.
Today, be a bridge builder. Be understanding of those different from you.
RODEO Tip of the Week
Healthy self-esteem is like a child's armor against the challenges of the world. Kids who know their strengths and weaknesses and feel good about themselves seem to have an easier time handling conflicts and resisting negative pressures. They tend to smile more readily and enjoy life. These kids are realistic and generally optimistic.
How can a parent help to foster healthy self-esteem in a child? These tips can make a big difference:
· Identify and redirect inaccurate beliefs. It's important for parents to identify kids' irrational beliefs about themselves, whether they're about perfection, attractiveness, ability, or anything else. Helping kids set more accurate standards and be more realistic in evaluating themselves will help them have a healthy self-concept.
Inaccurate perceptions of self can take root and become reality to kids. For example, a child who does very well in school but struggles with math may say, "I can't do math. I'm a bad student." Not only is this a false generalization, it's also a belief that can set a child up for failure. Encourage kids to see a situation in a more objective way. A helpful response might be: "You are a good student. You do great in school. Math is a subject that you need to spend more time on. We'll work on it together."
· Give positive, accurate feedback. Comments like "You always work yourself up into such a frenzy!" will make kids feel like they have no control over their outbursts. A better statement is, "I can see you were very angry with your brother, but it was nice that you were able to talk about it instead of yelling or hitting." This acknowledges a child's feelings, rewards the choice made, and encourages the child to make the right choice again next time.
· Be spontaneous and affectionate. Your love will help boost your child's self-esteem. Give hugs and tell kids you're proud of them when you can see them putting effort toward something or trying something at which they previously failed.
When promoting healthy self-esteem, it's important to not have too much or too little but "just enough." Make sure your kids don't end up feeling that if they're average or normal at something, it's the same as not being good or special.
Community Connections
Free Sign Language Classes
Our Plano Regional Day School Program for the Deaf will once again be offering FREE sign language classes this Spring for our Plano ISD teachers, parents, and community. All the details are on the attached flyer, and RSVPs can be sent to Tina.Vaguine@pisd.edu
Forman Elementary Holiday Bazaar
The Forman Elementary School PTA will be having their first Holiday Bazaar on December 3, 2015. If you would like to make some extra money for the holidays and you have some crafts that you would like to sell, please consider renting a booth for this event. We will be renting booths for a $25 donation to the Forman Elementary School PTA. The Holiday Bazaar will be held inside the school in the gym from 5–8 p.m.
There will be many people shopping for that unique gift for that special someone. So if you have the talent and can make Jewelry, Décor, Crocheted Crafts, Knitten Crafts, Wood crafts, Art, etc...this would be the perfect opportunity and place to sell your unique gifts just in time for the holidays.
If you would like to rent a booth for this event, please contact Norma Jones at 469-752-1274 to reserve a booth.
About Carpenter Middle School
Email: angelia.holland@pisd.edu
Website: http://k12.pisd.edu/carpenter-middle-school
Location: 3905 Rainer Drive, Plano, TX 75023
Phone: (469)752-5000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreCarpenter
Twitter: @WeAreCarpenter