Colt Corner
Celebrating 40 Years of Excellence
February 3, 2017
Dear Colt Parents,
Yesterday marked the first 100 days of school for the 2016-2017 school year. So much has happened in those first 100 days at CMS. The amount of middle school growth, both intellectually and physically, always brings a smile to my face. It is truly an honor and blessing to see students grow up right before our eyes. I hope that you have a chance to pause and cherish the valuable time together. Enjoy your weekend!
BEST,
David Arencibia, Ed.D.
CMS Principal
Facebook: Colleyville Middle School
Twitter: @CmsColts
#cmscolts - #cmscelebrates
Pasta for Pennies Drive
All Things Middle School Presentation on Tuesday, 2/7 Cancelled
Pizza will also be included in the price of admission at Jumpstreet.
The $15 will cover pizza, 3 hours of open jump, and the dodgeball tournament.
Let's Talk!
Order your 2017 CMS Yearbook
The deadline to order a 2017 CMS Yearbook is February 24th. Yearbooks are currently on sale for $55. You may order your copy of the 2017 yearbook at ‘yearbookforever.com.” Please feel free to email Morgan DuLaney with any yearbook questions at Morgan.DuLaney@gcisd.net
8th grade parents- This year there will be an 8th grade baby picture page in the yearbook! Please send a .jpg picture of your 8th grader to morgan.dulaney@gcisd.net by February 10th for them to be included on that yearbook page
Attn: Families of 8th graders currently taking Algebra 1 and Biology
- Are you taking Algebra 1 and Biology in 8th grade? You can join the GCISD STEM Academy at GHS as a freshman in 2017-2018.
- Informational meetings are being held this month and next month - no need to attend all. Choose the date(s) that work best for you. (2/6 - Mustang Nation at GHS), or (2/13 - 5-7:30 PM at GCISD EXPO @ CTMS).
- If a student is zoned to CHHS, then a transfer to GHS would be needed to attend the high school STEM Academy. All transfer rules apply.
- The high school STEM Academy is much more than just the STEM endorsement that is available to all high school students. Attend one of the events in the flyer to find out more information!
- If interested, online applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, February 14!
- If more students apply than there are seats available, students who have not been in the STEM Academy at GMS will be selected via lottery.
For more detailed information about STEM click here.
Telescoping
Counselors Corner
2017-18 Course Selection Process for Current 8th graders
Step 1-Course Requests: 1/23 - 2/15--Students will be able input course requests through the students’ Skyward account for the 2017-2018 school year beginning January 23rd through February 15th. This process is for requesting courses, not scheduling courses. Students and parents can access the Program of Studies (http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/228) to read course descriptions and prerequisites. More course information will be available at -
Grapevine High School's Mustang Nation Night, Feb. 9th at 6:00 p.m.
Colleyville Heritage High School’s Parent University, Feb. 27th at 6:00 p.m.
Step 2- Master Schedule constructed: Administration will build a master schedule based on students’ course requests. Master Schedule constructed: 2/21 - 3/21
Step 3- Online Arena Scheduling:
8th Grade: Window opens at 7:00 a.m. on 5/4; closes at midnight 5/7 *dates recently updated
Online Arena Scheduling:
Arena Scheduling is a registration system through Skyward that allows students to create their own schedules similar to the scheduling systems used in college. Arena allows students greater control to build their schedules, and students will know their unofficial schedules by the end of the current school year so they can start their classes on the first day of school in the fall. Below is the timeline for the process.
Adjustment Windows- Students with schedule errors or concerns may submit one change request form online during each adjustment window.
Window #1: May 22 – 24 Window #2: July 24 - 26
You can find the Online Arena Scheduling timeline and additional resources on the district's Counseling Services page. http://www.gcisd-k12.org/arena
GT REFERRAL
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is accepting referrals February 22 - March 8 for current secondary students who may be eligible for Gifted/Talented Services for the upcoming school year. This program is designed for students who exhibit intellectual giftedness at an extraordinary level. Services are provided only upon identification of educational needs of the student. Anyone wishing to refer a student attending Grapevine-Colleyville ISD in sixth through eleventh grade this school year may secure a referral form from campus-counseling department. A copy of this form is also located on the District’s Advanced Academics webpage.
PLAY IT SAFE DATES
February 17 – 7th Grade – Abuse of Power
March 10 – 6th Grade – Survivors of Abuse
UPCOMING DATES
February 7 – High School Counselors come to meet with 8th graders
February 9 – CMS 7th Grade visits TECC at Grapevine High School
February 9 – Parent Night at GHS
February 16 – Kindness Day – wear Mint Green
February 21 – CMS Counselors go to OCT to meet with 5th graders
February 21 – CMS Showcase for 5th graders/Open House
February 22 – CMS Counselors go to CES to meet with 5th graders
February 23 – CMS Counselors go to HES to meet with 5th graders
February 24 – CMS Counselors go to BES to meet with 5th graders
February 27 – Parent Night at CHHS
February 28 – CMS Counselors meet with 6th graders for 7th grade course selection
March 1 – CMS Counselors meet with 7th graders for 8th grade course selection
MATH and SCIENCE TRAJECTORY
Please take a moment to review the math and science trajectory attachment as we are moving to course selection second semester. This information will be discussed with students during course selection. If you have questions, please contact the counseling department. Here is a link to the district website as well.
http://www.gcisd-k12.org/Page/42468
Krystal McCure – Counselor A-K – 817-305-4916
Leslie Walden – Counselor L-Z – 817-305-4917
Shari Vanderwork – Registrar – 817-305-4955
Mustang Nation Night
GCISD announces change to transfer process
On Monday, January 23, Trustees approved changes to local board policies that impact the GCISD student transfer process for residents and nonresidents. In previous years, families interested in applying for a transfer were admitted based on the order in which the application was received and if they met specific board criteria for the transfer. During the week of April 24, GCISD will livestream the lottery on the district website. There will be a delay in an official notification, but families can check their lottery number to see if it was pulled for a more efficient notification. Once a specific date and time for the lottery has been determined, that information will be shared on the district website and in the district's e-newsletter, The LEADer. It is important to note this lottery is separate from the special programs lottery for one of the district's special programs located at a designated campus.
Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, families that reside within GCISD boundaries or live in the cities of Colleyville and Grapevine but are zoned for another school district, may apply for the transfer lottery.
"By moving to a lottery system, we are making the process more equitable for families that wish to have their student transfer to another campus," said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Rick Westfall. "Our goal with this adjustment to the transfer process is to create a system that simplifies the process for our families and removes the ambiguity from the transfer process."
From March 20 - April 21, families may submit their transfer application for the lottery. While the district will accept all transfer applications, students will only be granted transfers to campuses and grade-levels that can accept more students without going over capacity. Decisions about capacity will be made later in the semester and throughout summer depending on student registration and enrollment projections. In order to apply for the lottery, the student requesting the transfer must meet the following criteria:
Another benefit to the newly revised policies is that nonresident transfers no longer have to reapply every school year. Instead, both residents and nonresidents will only need to reapply when they are changing a level (i.e. from elementary to middle school or middle school to high school).
For more information about the GCISD transfer lottery, please visit the district website.
Play it Safe Parent Letter
Nurse Martin's Tip Newsletter
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)
Top CMS TWEETS from the WEEK
Follow us at @CmsColts #cmscelebrates
2000-'01 Yearbook Cover
Celebrating 40 Years
Looking back at 2000-2001
CMS Life in 2000-'01
Celebrating 40 Years
Looking back at 2000-2001
CMS Life in 2000-'01
Celebrating 40 Years
Looking back at 2000-2001
This Weeks Upcoming Events
Monday, February 6
Girls Basketball (click here for schedule details)
7th Grade Girls Basketball vs GMS @ CMS
8th Grade Girls Basketball at GMS
Band/Choir Parent Meeting - CMS Cafeteria - 6:30 - 7:30 pm
Tuesday, February 7
Boys Basketball (click here for schedule details)
7th Grade Boys Basketball vs Carroll Middle School at CMS
8th Grade Boys Basketball vs Carroll Middle School at Carroll
Thursday, February 9
Girls Basketball (click here for schedule details)
7th Grade Girls (A-Team) Tournament at Coppell West Middle School
7th Grade TECC Visit to Grapevine High School - 8:30 - 11:30 am
Friday, February 10
Girls Basketball (click here for schedule details)
7th Grade Girls (A-Team) Tournament at Coppell West Middle School
8th Grade Girls (A-Team) Tournament at George Dawson Middle School