The Principal's Message
Crossroads South Middle School
January 2016
CROSSROADS SOUTH MIDDLE SCHOOL
Sondra Hinson & Mark Kmiec, Assistant Principals
Website: www.sbschools.org
Location: 195 Major Road, NJ, United States
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SBSDXRDS/timeline
Twitter: @SBSDXRDS
UPCOMING DATES
- 1/18 - NO SCHOOL - MLK Jr. DAY
- 1/20 - Incoming Freshman Night @ SBHS
- 1/21 - SB Parent Academy - Self-Regulation Strategies
- 1/25 - BOE Meeting 7pm
- 1/30 - Education Foundation - Murder Mystery Dinner Event
FEBRUARY
- 2/4 - Crossroads NORTH Musical
- 2/5 - Crossroads NORTH Musical
- 2/6 - Crossroads NORTH Musical
- 2/8 - BOE Meeting 7pm
- 2/9 - PTO Meeting *Note: This is a date change*
- 2/12 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Development Day
- 2/15 - NO SCHOOL - President's Day
- 2/17 - Staff v. Student Basketball Game
- 2/22 - BOE Meeting 7pm
- 2/24 - Crossroads SOUTH Musical Performance for 5th Graders
- 2/25 - Crossroads SOUTH Musical
- 2/26 - Crossroads SOUTH Musical
- 2/27 - Crossroads SOUTH Musical
FROM THE PRINCIPAL...
Welcome to 2016! I hope that you have had a smooth transition to the new year. Just prior to break, we had three amazing Winter Concerts from the Music Department and I thank those of you who were in attendance to support your children. Since the start of the new year, we have been very busy at Crossroads South. Please read the following information carefully.
Have a wonderful weekend! :)
Mrs. Capes
SCHOOL NOTES
- 8th GRADE SCHEDULING FOR HIGH SCHOOL: All of our 8th graders have completed two days of Career Exploration. Students were able to do research on various jobs based on their personalities and interests. SBHS counselors met with all of our 8th graders on January 14th at Crossroads South. Students will receive packets with information on various electives, credits, and specific graduation requirements. The 8th grade Parent Night will be held at South Brunswick High School on January 20th at 7 pm.
- GO VIKINGS: Our Basketball teams and wrestling teams have been busy bringing a great name to Crossroads!! In addition, our Math Counts team and Academic Challenge Team have both enjoyed great success! Go VIKINGS!!
- CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR BEE WINNERS: Since break, Mrs. Nancy Maurer coordinated the Spelling Bee and Mr. Michael Bottino coordinated the Geography Bee. Congratulations to all participants and a special congratulations to the following:
SPELLING BEE:
Aadi R. from Delta, Winner
Sarina Z. from Omega, Runner Up
GEO BEE:
Girish S. from Beta, Winner
George K. from Apollo, Runner Up
REMINDERS
- CHANGE IN DISMISSAL: If you are planning to pick your child up early, please send in a note alerting the school.
- ATTENDANCE: Daily attendance in school is a critical factor in the success of your child. Please do your best to minimize the number of days your child is absent from school or is taken out early for appointments. Should your child exceed the number of acceptable days absent as determined by NJ State Law, you will receive a letter from the school.
- BUS REMINDERS: Please note: Students are NOT allowed to ride any other busses, even if a parent gives permission. The transportation department does not allow this practice, as they cannot plan for additional students riding our already full busses.
HOMEWORK SURVEY - DUE SUNDAY!
As you may know, one of our district-wide dashboard goals is for the Homework Committee to conduct research and engage in learning that will lead to a white paper by the end of the year. In addition to book studies, short readings, and interviews, our research includes parent, teacher, and student surveys grades 5-11. We are seeking information from multiple sources in order to collect rich data to support our research and learning.
We invite you to participate in our SBSD Parent Survey of Homework. Please use the link below to access the Google survey. We want to remind you that the survey is anonymous, and that we are simply interested in gathering information about homework. We ask that you complete the survey by midnight on SUNDAY, January 17th.
The Homework Committee thanks you for responding to this survey.
SCHOOL GOALS
- SELF REGULATION: Self - regulation is the ability to monitor and control our behavior and emotions. It also allows us to adapt our behavior and emotions according to the situation at hand. In essence, self -regulation is the ability to practice self-control, inhibition and persist through a task despite its difficulty and lack of enjoyment. Self-regulated learning strategies help to prepare learners for lifelong learning and the important capacity to transfer skills, knowledge, and abilities from one setting to another. Further reading: http://nurtureandthriveblog.com/the-most-important-skill-to-teach-children/
WELLNESS: The district has taken on the challenge to promote wellness and healthy living throughout our professional and personal work. Many teachers have infused "wellness" strategies into his/her classrooms and will continue to do so.
BYOD: If you have not already seen our INCREDIBLE BYOD Video, produced by Ms. Hinson and Mr. Sears...please view it here: BYOD VIDEO
RECONCEPTUALIZING SPACE: We are re-looking at Crossroads South in terms of the greater facility and how to best use the physical space, as well as looking at the arrangement of individual classrooms. Teachers have been very creative in "reconceptualizing" his/her teaching spaces.
FROM THE COUNSELORS...
We hope you had a wonderful break! As always, please feel free to contact us with any needs your child may have.
Also, we thought you may appreciate this article from the NY Times on children and academic anxiety/stress. CLICK HERE!
Barbara McCarthy
Ext. 3937
Phoenix-6th
Chi-7th
Gamma-7th
Alpha 8th
Beta- 8th
Allison Young
Ext. 3943
Apollo- 6th
Aurora -6th
Delta -7th
Omega-8th