McCormick Middle School News
November 16th- November 20th
Office Hours are Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:15pm
McCormick Middle School
Cynthia Zapata - Assistant Principal
Pete Medellin - Assistant Principal
Email: James.Cruz@hayscisd.net
Website: https://www.hayscisd.net/mms
Location: 5700 Dacy Lane, Buda, TX. 78640
Phone: 512-268-8508
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mccormickMS/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @mccormicktigers1
Mission Statement
"McCormick Middle School is a team of dedicated educators that will create a safe environment where students are motivated to achieve academic success. We will empower our students to be respectful and engaged learners resulting in a culture that inspires excellence not only in their school, but also in their community."
Upcoming Events
McCormick Middle School Events
November 17th & 18th - School Picture Day
November 23rd-27th - Thanksgiving Break
December 15th - Band Winter Concert @ 6pm
December 21st - January 4th - Holiday Break
Fall Pictures
Fall pictures will be on Tuesday, November 17th and Wednesday, November 18th. Students will take their pictures during their ELAR classes. Paper Order forms were sent home with students. You can also order online with the information below. All safety and social distance guidelines will be followed.
Virtual Students can come on these days to take their school picture. Virtual students can come during the following times:
9:30am-11:00am
2:00pm-3:30pm
Click Here To Order Online: Order Form
School Name: McCormick Middle School
Picture Day Dates:
Tuesday, November 17 - Wednesday, November 18
Picture Day ID: EVTS4WP3T
Important Information: Tuesday, Nov. 17th and Wednesday, Nov. 18th
PICTURE RETAKES WILL BE ON JANUARY 21st!
Email all attendance questions to: mms.attendance@hayscisd.net
Message from Mr. Cruz
MMS Parents
Teacher Communication
Teachers are expected to contact parents via phone/email on student academic/behavior concerns. My expectation is for my teachers to respond in 48 business hours. I do not require my teachers to use their cell phone to communicate with parents. Also, I do not expect my teacher to communicate after their contract hours.
I understand this school year is like no other. I see and hear frustrations from students, parents, and teachers. I have said the three things we will need to have this year is:
Communication, Compassion, and Flexibility.
Many of you have reached out to me about communication of my teachers. I do expect my teachers to communicate with you via email/call. Email is the easiest and quickest way. I have told my teachers to CC me on all emails and I ask all parents to CC me on emails to my teachers.
Please take the following items in consideration when communicating with my teachers:
- Please allow 48 business school hours for response.
- Two days out of the week teachers do not have a conference period. On those days it will be difficult for teachers to respond to your emails
- Two days out of the week teachers have 180 minute conference period. Those are the days you can expect from them to respond to your emails.
- Contact the teacher first prior to administration.
- Teachers have first-hand knowledge about your child’s academic performance so it will be best to contact the teacher first before going straight to administration
- Please contact administration if you do not hear back from your child’s teacher
- Please be open to teacher’s suggestions/comments about your child.
- Teachers may offer tutoring (virtual/in-person) opportunities for your child
- If submitting assignments is an issue with Schoology, teachers may ask students to email the teacher the assignments.
- Please maintain a professional/academic tone when talking to teachers.
- All communication needs to be focus on the student’s needs.
- The use of profanity in emails to teachers, threats to teachers, and questioning teachers teaching credentials is not appreciated or needed.
- Parents have every right to advocate for their child but it can be done in a respectful positive and encouraging way.
- Please let me know IMMEDIATELY if any of my teachers use profanity to you, make threats to you, or questions your parenting skills.
I know everyone is doing the best they can to make the best of the situation we are in. I know it can be frustrating at times. Teachers have the best interest for your child to be successful. We all need to remember we are all on the same team. We will get through these tough times together.
Mr. Cruz
McCormick Middle School Principal
512-698-7007 (please leave a message if I don't answer)
“Every day may not be a good day, but there is some good in every day”.
Do you want your child to go on a trip to Washington DC and New York?
We are excited to tell you more about the trip our Art teacher, Ms. Martinez, is planning with Education First in the summer of 2022! They will be exploring Washington DC and New York City!
Seeing the world allows for incredible growth and the excitement of exploring someplace new will give your child something to anticipate for months to come!
Meeting Details
When: November 18, 2020
Time: 6:00pm
Where: Zoom - You must RSVP in order to receive the Zoom Link!
Where: RSVP using this link: https://bit.ly/2U2sfQZ
We will be covering topics such as:
· Where and when we’re going
· What we’ll see and do
· Safety on tour
· Travel logistics
· How your child can earn academic credit
· Flexible payment options that keep this tour affordable
Also, if you decide to sign your student up for this great opportunity before the end of November, your student will receive a $500 discount!
For more information about Education First, visit their website: https://www.efexploreamerica.com
Questions? Contact Ms. Martinez at sarah.martinez@hayscisd.net
6th Grade News
ELAR
We will be having a Writing Workshop! The students will be reviewing the writing process and writing a practice essay to prepare for Writing Task Assessment #1.
MATH
We will continue adding integers! Then we will explore subtracting integers. Please make sure students are logging in to zoom at the beginning of class. And don’t forget to pick up the warmups for the virtual students!
Math Enrichment
will take a progress monitoring quiz and have individualized teacher conferences to create a plan of action for their nine-week goal.
Science
Astronomically fabulous online simulations and creations incorporating potential & kinetic energy, friction, mass, gravity, and speed
World Cultures We will begin Unit 3: Europe- Vocabulary and mapping
7th Grade News
Science
will be taking the district curriculum based assessment on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. Please encourage students to spend time Monday and Tuesday night reviewing their notes and playing review games that can be found on Schoology. The assessment will focus on plant and animal cell organelles and their functions, levels of organization, and structure and function of human body systems. Please also ensure that they have completed their assignments which included three hyperdocs for skeletal/muscular, circulatory/respiratory, and endocrine/nervous/reproductive systems. All hyperdocs can be found in Schoology and have a quiz associated with it. Some in-person students may have chosen to complete it on paper instead of online. On Friday, we will be viewing organs from a harvested deer and wild hog. Since it is an enrichment activity, student can opt out of vieiwing the organs.
Math
will be finishing Unit 3 on proportional reasoning. We will be taking our Unit Check on Monday/Tuesday and then we will begin Unit 4 over graphs and two-variable equations.
ELAR will be reading some nonfiction text along with poetry as students learn about the Salem Witch Trials.
Math Enrichment will review proportions for the Unit 3 test and have individualized teacher conferences to create a plan of action for their nine-weeks goal.
7th Grade Texas History students will be taking their Unit 4Test on Monday
In Mr. Graham's and Mrs. Gilmore's classes or reviewing the test taken today in Mr. Martinez's and Coach Hayes' classes. Starting Wednesday students will begin a DBQ project that concludes with a written essay over the Alamo.
8th Grade News
Math: Students finish up Unit 4 by learning about functions and direct variation
Algebra: Forms and characteristics of linear functions, direct variation
Science: In 8th grade science this week we will be taking our CBA 1 over Chemical Formulas and the Periodic Table on Monday and Tuesday, directions for virtual student will be in Schoology. Starting on Wednesday we will begin our unit over force and motion. Please be sure to keep up with your assignments in Schoology.
ELAR: 8th Grade ELAR will wrap up unit 2 and conduct our Writing Task Assessment 1 (WTA 1). Students will respond to a prompt, plan, draft, and revise an expository essay. All essays are due by 11/20.
Social Studies: 8th grade American History will begin a Data Based Questionnaire Research project (DBQ) over the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that will end with a writing of their findings. The project will be an all week project. There will be an extension work packet for those who finish early over the constitutional debate between Federalists and Anti-federalists as a primer for the week we get back from Thanksgiving.
A message from Mrs. Murphy-Cunningham
The video below will explain the notebook assignment. I answer how to access the notebook, what to write about, and when we expect them to write for the assignment. Keep in mind that in person students will be writing in a paper notebook for this assignment. Thank you.
Band
SCHOOL OWNED INSTRUMENTS: RevTrak is up and running to process instruments fees for this school year. You can pay the entire fee or just a partition that fits your budget for the month.
Here is the link: SCHOOL OWNED INSTRUMENTS
Beginner Band
Students are coming along very well and we are pleased with the progress our beginner students are making! Parents of virtual students- please remind your kiddos to log into
Zoom on time: 1st/2nd Period by 8:20 am and 6th/7th Period by 1:50 pm. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band
We are very proud of the progress our advanced band students are making! Our winter concert music is coming together very well and we are excited and eager to perform for you! Just a reminder about practices for this coming week:
Symphonic Band- Monday and Wednesday from 4-5:30 pm
Wind Ensemble- Tuesday and Thursday from 4-5:30 pm
If your child needs the late bus, please have them sign up the day before their practice to secure transportation.
Winter Concert Information:
Date: December 15, 2020
Time: 6 pm
Location: McCormick Middle Gym
Attire: Concert Black (Boys- Black dress pants, Black long-sleeve button up shirt, black belt, black socks, black dress shoes. NO JEANS, NO SNEAKERS. Girls- Black dress pants, ¾ sleeve or long sleeve solid black blouse, black dress shoes. Black dress or skirt is allowed, but will have to be paired with black tights. No short sleeve or sleeveless dresses or blouses- a solid black cardigan will have to be worn on top to cover arms. Christmas accessories are highly encouraged (Santa hat, elf ears, Christmas light necklaces, bracelets, etc.) but NOT REQUIRED.
Any questions, please let us know.
Please let me know if you have any questions and we look forward to working with all of our band students!
Symphonic Band members should email Mr. Zotz Kurt.Zotz@hayscisd.net
Wind Ensemble members should email Mr. Lira at Cris.Lira@hayscisd.net
Orchestra
Review of stage set up and strike procedure (on campus). Review anatomy of instrument. Bow hand set up. Bow games - spider crawl, windshield wiper, unpacking/packing review, Mastery 1 - rest position and taking a bow. Mastery 2- Playing position. Mastery 3 - Left hand mechanics and pizz. twinkle notes Taka rhythm. Twinkle patterns. Taking a stroke, down bow - up bow. Taka rhythm starting down bow. Taka twinkle arco. Theory 1-6. Parts quiz 2.0
David Jarrott Director of Orchestral Activities, McCormick MS david.jarrott@hayscisd.net
Choir
Starting Drills in Chapter 2 of Breezin Thru Theory and a new Focus Song.
Remember that all grades in the gradebook that are currently an "I" will become an "M" at the beginning of November.
Art
Theatre
Theatre Behind the Scenes- Becoming a set designer
Dance
Dance
is continuing on with the Jazz unit! Reminder! If your child doesn't have Jazz shoes they need them for full dress out points!"
GTT
GTT will continue to investigate Magic of Electrons or Energy and the Environment & Wind Turbine Project
Thank you
Mr. Bass
STEAM
Students will begin the next coding assignment where they pick any name or word and bring the letters to life through animation, sound, and music.
Spanish
Noticiero Español: Unit 3 - Food_La comida. In this unit we will be learning to identify healthy vs un healthy foods in the target language. We will learn about authetic foods around latin america and we will learn how they are made.
Speech
This week in professional communications we went back to week 9 since last week was spent catching up on past assignments and completing soft skills.
The following assignments are due by Friday at 5:00 PM:
Week 9 Folder:
Monday/Tuesday: Non-Verbal Web Quest Questions
- Make sure students copy and paste questions into a "created" doc to turn in.
Wednsday/Thursday: Non-Verbal Dictionary assignment
-Directions are in the form of a slide show. Make sure they read them carfully.
Friday: Non Verbal Quiz
The quiz is over the notes we took last week. If they read over those notes they will be fine.
If you have any questions please email me. If these assignments are not turned in by Friday they will be counted LATE and a 70 will be the best they will receive.
Make sure all virtual students are attending zoom meetings. The times are posted in schoology.
Health
Journalism
• Video News Report Critique #4
• Persuasive Article
• Friday Five #11
Web Design
2. Catch up in CodeHS! You should be AT LEAST on lesson 2.6 (Copyright). If you’re not, work on this from home!
3. Run your codes in the HTML Formatter!
4. This upcoming week, we’ll move on to lesson 2.7 (Lists). Yay!
5. You’ll have to turn in slides for this lesson for a Daily Grade, so be prepared for that.
Counselor's Corner
Hello Everyone,
Counselor Website (Click Here)
Counselor Contact Information
Dr. Veronica Cervantes
6th Grade with last name N-Z
7th Grade
email: veronica.cervantes@hayscisd.net
Mrs. Rosario Rodriguez
6th Grade with last name A-M
8th Grade
email: rosario.rodriguez@hayscisd.net
During distance learning, the best way to reach us is via email! We look forward to hearing from you!
The best way to contact us is through our HAYS email.
Sign up your child for the after school late bus!
- Write their whole ID number correctly
- Write the date of WHEN they need the bus not the actual date they are filling out the form. (This is the most common mistake students make).
- Write their Hays CISD gmail correctly.
How Can I Check My Child's Grades?
This is a friendly reminder to check your child’s grades regularly at our Hays CISD Parent Portal. You can even personalize your settings to set reminders or notifications that will notify you if/when your child has missing or incomplete assignments, and/or low grades!
Directions to access the Parent Portal are below. Thank you, again, for your support!
1. Go to hayscisd.net
2. Hover over the red "Parents & Students" tab and scroll down to "Parent self-serve portal"
3. Click on Parent Self-Serve Portal (PPS)
4. "Sign in" with the same log in you used for registration!!
(If you don't remember your log-in information, please contact Adri Turrubiartes at adrie.turrubiartes@hayscisd.net and she can give you your log-in and password.)
Library Information
Here is some information on how to check out books from the library
Curbside “How To” presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1idvhu7ZJZ_3aJ_HA005ReyrUyWwFBwPz0vgh-fYYQFQ/edit?usp=sharing
Link to our catalog/website https://library1.hayscisd.net/common/servlet/presenthomeform.do?l2m=Home&tm=Home&l2m=Home
Follow us on Twitter @MMS Library https://twitter.com/McCormickMSLib
Mrs. Naiser
Librarian
Sports News
Sports Physicals
Students required to get physicals for the 2020-2021 school year:
* Any incoming 7th grade student that will participating in boys/girls sports
* Any incoming 8th grade student that did not participate in sports last year
Students Not Required to get a physical for the 2020-2021 school year:
* Any incoming 8th grade student that participated in sports last year
Required Forms To Fill Out (Click Here)
Physical Form To Print Out (Click Here)
If you have any questions please contact:
For girls: Francisca.Luna@hayscisd.net
For boys: Brian.Rich@hayscisd.net
Message From Boys Coaches
BASKETBALL TRYOUT INFO
7th grade basketball tryouts will be in the afternoons on Wednesday (11/18), Thursday (11/19), and Monday (11/30). Tryouts will end each day at 4:50. Students must sign up for the late bus if they need a ride home.
8th grade basketball tryouts will be in the mornings before school on Thursday (11/19), Friday (11/20), and Monday (11/30).
*** Students must pass every class on their report card, have turned in their physical and/or their online athletic forms to tryout!!!
Important Links
McCormick Athletics Page (pre-game meals, uniform purchase, and schedules:
https://sites.google.com/hayscisd.net/mmsathletics/home
Rank One Athletics/Online forms:
https://hayscisd.rankonesport.com/New/NewInstructionsPage.aspx
Late Bus Sign up Form:
Hays CISD Alternative Travel Form:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xbokln1nPj9aXzeR1doA6dH6J5RS6HEP/view?usp=sharing
Message From Girls Coaches
New Block Bell Schedule
Tuesday/Thursday will be "B" days
Fridays will be a regular 7 period school day
No Early Student Checkouts after 2:51pm
Instructional Commitment Form
McCormick Middle School Dress Code
* Slides are not allowed. All feet coverings must have a strap around the heel
* All pants that have rips must have a covering underneath.
* Natural hair color only for all students
* Wind shorts/Runner shorts are prohibited
* Lenghts of shorts must go pass half of the students thigh.
Please review the rest of our dress code rules and let me know if you have any questions.
Communties In School
Welcome Mrs. Pouncy to MMS! She is our new CIS Program Manager.
CIS Parent/Student Information (English)
Hays Hope Line
Hays HopeLine is a convenient and confidential way for students and parents to report bullying, harassment, school safety concerns, or any other personal crisis.
You can leave a tip 24-hours-a-day, any day of the year. However, the HopeLine is currently only monitored during regular school business hours. During the summer break, the HopeLine will not be regularly monitored by district staff. In the event of an emergency or immediate need, please call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Hays Response Plan (NEW UPDATED 9.5)
PBIS Shirt For Sale! $12
Do you want to be a guest teacher at MMS?
Go To Place For Important Links
Purchase your student a 2020-2021 McCormick Tiger Hoodie!
Tiger Hoodie (Click Here) cost is $20
Birthday Shout-Out For Your Child
Wish your child Happy Birthday on our school marquee!
Please click the link below to put a birthday message on the school marquee!
Hays Technology Help Desk
Staff, students, and parents, we are here to help you!
If you need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Helpdesk via email at helpdesk@hayscisd.net or you can give us a call at 512.268.7676
Important Message From District
Dear Hays CISD Parents –
In an effort to make your SCHOOLOGY parent account login information more secure, your unique login information is shown below. Please allow 24 hours for the system to update your account information to the username & password below.
*IMPORTANT: For security reasons, after logging in, please change your password to one of your own choosing.
Here is your SCHOOLOGY login information:
- URL = https://hayscisd.schoology.com
- Your username =
- Your password =
If you have difficulty logging in after allowing 24 hours for the system to update, please contact Technology Help Desk: HelpDesk@hayscisd.net (512) 268-7676
Thank you for your patience as we work through this new system.
Use this link for additional instructions: SCHOOLOGY Instructions (English)
_________________
Estimados padres de Hays CISD -
En un esfuerzo por hacer que la información de inicio de sesión de su cuenta de padres de SCHOOLOGY sea más segura, su información de inicio de sesión única se muestra a continuación. Por favor espere 24 horas para que el sistema actualice la información de su cuenta con el nombre de usuario y la contraseña a continuación.
Hays Clothes Closet
The Hays CISD Clothes Closet has opened back up to serve families. Due to COVID-19, we are now requesting families fill out this Google form and we will do the shopping to fulfill the request. The form includes designated dates/times that families can select for contactless pick up. They will receive a call/email confirming with additional details. If they need clothes and food and are able to pickup, this is the form to fill out.
https://forms.gle/ybQzVauQoxeMacqu6
If a family is currently on our HaysHope2Go list, we can drop off the clothing with their food delivery.
Hays Hope2Go!
Our HaysHope2Go program has been fully operational and serving families weekly since March. We also have a limited amount of personal hygiene items, cleaning supplies, formula and diapers. Since March, we have served 678 families, 3,563 people with 45,855 meals. If you know of a family who does not have transportation and can benefit from delivery, please fill out this form: