CMS Thursday Notice
September 23, 2021
CMS K-8
A wonderful place where we all learn and grow . . .
Email: lakint@norwalkps.org
Website: cms.norwalkps.org
Location: 46 Concord Street, Norwalk, CT, 06854
Phone: (203)899-2840
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Mr. Thomas will invite a student from a Spanish-speaking country to share a fun fact about their culture during the morning announcements. He/she will speak only in Spanish because it is important for us to not only to learn about the culture but to expose our students to a second language.
Important Dates
Thursday, September 23: CMS Virtual Back-To-School Night, 5:45 pm
Monday, September 27: 2-Hour Early Dismissal
September 27-29: CMS Give Back Night at Norwalk Pizza & Pasta
Tuesday, September 28: Virtual Governance Council Mtg., 6:30 pm
Friday, October 1: Virtual All School Mtg, 2:45 pm
Monday, October 4: Staff Professional Development - No School for Students
Tuesday, October 5: New School Hours start today
Wednesday, October 6: Picture Day
Friday, October 22: Halloween Happening
Monday, October 26: 2-Hour Early Dismissal
TONIGHT IS CMS VIRTUAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT!
All CMS parents are encouraged to join us tonight for a virtual Back-to-School Night. Each grade level will conduct live virtual sessions with parents that will describe the curriculum, protocols, and plans for the school year. Grade level presentations will be staggered to give parents the opportunity to attend more than one meeting.
CMS BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT SCHEDULE
5:45 pm - Principal’s Message
6:15 - 6:35 pm: Grades K and 1
6:40 - 7:00 pm: Grades 2 and 3
7:05 - 7:25 pm: Grades 4 and 5
7:30 - 7:50 pm: Middle School
CHANGE IN SCHOOL START TIME
As you may know, the Norwalk Board of Education held a special meeting on Tuesday, September 15 to review solutions to the arrival and dismissal delays that we have been experiencing since the start of school. The meeting included an update from NPS about the impact delays have on instructional time, results from surveys of parents and students, and scheduling options to relieve traffic congestion. Public comments from parents, students and staff were also shared. Following this discussion, the Board made the decision to change school start times.
CMS school hours have been changed to 9:05 am to 3:40 pm (from 9:15 am to 3:50 pm). Due to this change, starting on Tuesday, October 5, our doors will open for students at 8:50 am. We will begin afternoon dismissal at 3:25 pm.
Updated bus schedules were published on the NPS website on Wednesday, September 22. Please see link below.
2-HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL
There will be a 2-hour Early Dismissal on Monday, September 27. We will begin dismissal at 1:35 pm.
- Parents, please make sure classroom teachers are notified of changes in your child's dismissal plans.
- The E-Care After School Program will operate as usual. E-Care students will report to the program at dismissal time.
UPCOMING TESTING WINDOWS
mCLASS DIBELS
Mclass DIBELS TESTING WINDOW: September 29 to October 13, 2021
All Kindergarten-3rd grade students will be assessed three times a year in reading using mCLASS DIBELS Reading 8th Edition. This is a diagnostic assessment system which means that teachers will use the information to decide next steps in reading instruction.
After the end of each assessment period (beginning, middle, and end of year), teachers will send a Home Connect letter to each student's parent/guardian. This letter will include a large amount of information about your child's reading strengths and areas for improvement. It will even provide ideas for helping your child with reading at home.
NWEA/MAP ASSESSMENTS
Beginning September 23, 2021, the district will conduct NWEA/MAP assessments in both reading and mathematics.
Grades 1 and 2 will only take the Math assessment.
Grades 3-8 will take Math and Reading assessments.
These tests, along with formative assessments, help to determine your child’s instructional level and measure academic growth throughout the school year, and from year to year. MAP tests are unique in that they are adaptive tests. The questions become more difficult as your child answers correctly. When your child answers a question incorrectly, the test becomes easier. Therefore, the test adapts to your child’s ability. These tests are untimed and will be given on your child’s Chromebooks.
We measure growth in learning across multiple years. Teachers can use the score to inform instruction, personalize learning, and monitor the growth of individual students For more information, please visit the NWEA/MAP website - Parent Guide.
The testing window will remain open for the next two weeks to provide time for both the reading and math assessments as well as make-up sessions. We will be distributing the results of the MAP tests to parents.
- We ask that you send your children to school on time.
- Please contact your classroom teacher with questions.
PSAT
8th graders will be taking PSAT on Wednesday Oct 13, 2021.
PSAT measures the knowledge and skills in reading, writing, and math students learn in the classroom—the same knowledge and skills your child needs to succeed in college and career.
THERE'S NO LIMIT TO OUR SKYE!
We are pleased to announce that Skye placed first among competing 4th graders in the National Invention Convention this past summer.
Skye's original Pump & Twist Shampoo Bottle solved the age-old problem of getting those last drops of shampoo from the bottle that the pump just can't reach. The Pump & Twist won our school-wide Invention Convention last spring. Skye then improved her invention and continued winning in the state-wide and national competitions and moved on to the global competition. Skye, we are so proud of you!
Congratulations also go to Alyssa Malinowski, CMS Gifted and Talented Teacher, for supporting and encouraging her students and providing them with the tools needed to turn their amazing ideas into reality!
The photo on the left features CMS Gifted & Talented Teacher Alyssa Malinowsky and CMS 5th grade student Skye Martin with her Pump & Twist.
GOVERNANCE COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING
SCHOOL PICTURE DAY IS COMING!
This year Picture Day is Wednesday, October 6, 2021. Order forms were distributed today. You should be receiving yours soon. To order online, go to www.coffeepond.com then select "Order School Portraits." Enter our city/state, and select "Columbus Magnet." The program will walk you through your order.
CMS PTA NEWS AND EVENTS!
CMS GIVE BACK NIGHTS AT NORWALK PIZZA & PASTA
Join your CMS friends at Norwalk Pizza & Pasta, 236 East Avenue on September 27, 28 and 29! Have some delicious food while earning money for our school! CMS will receive a percentage of our orders!
CMS HALLOWEEN HAPPENING!
SAVE THE DATE!
Friday, October 22 is the CMS Halloween Happening in the CMS backyard! Wear your Hallowen costumes and kick off the evening by trick-or-treating through our Trail of Treats from 5:00-6:00 pm. Next, don't forget your blankets so you can bundle up for an outdoor screening of a (family-friendly) Halloween classic movie at 6:30 pm.
Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, the PTA is looking for volunteers to set up trick or treat tables in the Trail of Treats area. Please click on the form below to learn more.
DO YOU SHOP AT AMAZON?
Select "PTSA Connecticut Congress Columbus Magnet PTA" as your charitable organization on Amazon Smile and you can support CMS at no extra cost when you shop at https://smile.amazon.com/
Upcoming Pie/Cookie Dough Fundraiser
The CMS PTA will sponsor a Lyman Orchard Pies and Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Dough fundraiser from October 1 through October 22. Look for more information coming home soon.