Curtis Chronicles
April 21, 2020
A Message from Curtis Principal, Sonya Pitcock
Cougar families,
We want to say thank you for all the support we have felt as we have shifted to our at home learning system. This has been the most amazing experience watching everyone figure out how to work together to continue to support our students’ learning. We hope and expect students to finish the year strong with their learning even though we are not together. It has truly been a partnership and we appreciate everything you are doing on your end!
Sadly, we won’t be getting to come back to our building and finish the year together. It was certainly a tough pill to swallow for myself and the CMS staff on Friday as the Governor made the announcement about the end of the year. I know so many students were disappointed and sad. Please know we will do everything we can think of to provide closure to this year. We are working on how to get students their belongings from the building, share our good luck wishes to our 8th graders moving up and our “see you soons” to our 7th graders. We will make the best of this situation and continue to Be Excellent On Purpose.
Respectfully,
Sonya Pitcock
Here are some other items for you:
Counseling Support
Our counseling team is providing support for dealing with this type of situation through our webpage. They have supports for parents and students as well as opportunities to sign up to visit with them when needed.
During these uncertain times, we understand that you may be struggling to balance your child's online learning along with your own work and home commitments. We are here to support you! Click on the date below to register. We are here to provide a space for you to discuss your challenges and identify healthy ways to cope & problem solve. It will be a great way to connect with other parents facing similar struggles. We hope you will join us! Facilitated by the Allen ISD Support Counselors.
Thursday, April 23 10-11 am - CLICK HERE to RSVP
Social Emotional Learning
Our Social Emotional Learning lessons will continue through a new module in Canvas for students. Our counselors will be putting lessons and videos there for students to access and provide thoughts and comments on. These lessons will be specific to dealing with the situation we are in and ways to handle the stress that can go with it. If you need any help, please reach out to our campus counselors for support!
WIFI
The district has added points of contact at each campus to increase wifi coverage. If you are struggling to connect, you should be able to use district wifi from the parking lots of all campuses. Please remain in your car, but look for a sign with a wifi signal on it for the door the point of contact is available. At Curtis, ours is in the front parking lot.
Please use this link if you need technology help: Technology Support
Meals
The district will continue to serve meals at Rountree and Boyd Elementary schools. One update that has come from the state is that parents can pick up meals without the students present if they have proof of enrollment. For secondary students, an ID badge will work for that. (Other forms could be letter of enrollment, report card or attendance record.)
District Information
Please refer to the district web page for updated information and support. Allen ISD is committed to continuing to serve our community with excellence, even during these unprecedented times.
Help From Home
We also know you have been getting tons of emails as we started this process, but we hope you have seen those slow down. As our teachers are getting more successful in planning at home learning, they are able to include all communication in the Monday plans. We also realize our good intentions for communicating work completion resulted in lots of emails to you. We have revamped our process to reach out about work to still support students, but not overload your in box. Thank you for your patience with us!
Attention 8th Grade Families: Four-Year Plans Deadline to Complete is May 5
This year the 8th graders will complete their four-year graduation plan online in Naviance. A four-year graduation plan is a flexible plan the state of Texas requires all 8th graders to create which allows them to map out all of the classes they need to take in high school for graduation. It can be changed at any time in high school by talking to the high school counselors. Students use this plan every year to select their classes for the upcoming year of high school.
It is exciting to explore the opportunities Allen provides high schoolers and we want you to enjoy this process. Below you will find step by step instructions to complete a four year graduation plan. This is also available in Canvas on your middle school Counselor’s class page. If at any time you have questions about your four-year plan, please email the Lowery College and Career Advisors according to your last name. Click this link to see their contact information: LFC College & Career Advisors
The window to complete the four year plan is Tuesday, April 21 - Tuesday, May 5th.
Step 1: Watch this video to explore the High School Academic Planning guide to find out about graduation requirement credits and endorsement information. 8th graders picked their endorsement during course selection in December: Academic Planning Guide Walkthrough
Step 2: Watch this video to view the endorsement your child selected, electronically sign that you viewed the endorsement and view their 9th grade classes in Skyward: Skyward Walkthrough
- Use this fillable PDF blank four year plan to insert your 8th grade high school credit classes and 9th grade classes: Allen ISD 4 year plan Worksheet
Step 3: Watch this video to see how to complete the four year plan in Naviance: Creating a Course Plan in Naviance
- Use the four year plan you started to fill out in step 2
- Use the online High School Planning guide: Academic Planning Guide
- Use the Endorsement Career Pathway to see all the courses in the endorsement you choose: Endorsement Pathway Sequencing
Again, we want you to enjoy this process. Please feel free to reach out to the Lowery College and Career advisors if you have any questions about the four year plan. The deadline to complete this is Tuesday, May 5th.
Thanks,
Your Middle School Counselors
PTA Membership Meeting: May 1 - RSVP NEEDED by April 30
At this meeting, the Membership will elect our Officers for 2020-2021 and conduct ongoing business. Please see the slate the nominating committee put forth below. Note, anyone may run from the floor during the May 1 meeting for any of these positions. Curtis PTA will be following the guidelines outlined by Texas PTA to host a virtual meeting. The standing committee chairs will be appointed after this meeting by the newly elected Officers.
If you plan to attend the Membership meeting and you wish to vote:
- You will need to be a paid PTA member for 2019-2020 no later than April 25, 2020. If you have not already joined the Curtis PTA for this year, there is an option to join and pay online: CLICK HERE.
- RSVP by 6 pm Thursday, April 30, 2020. All registered attendees will receive ZOOM meeting details by 9 am Friday, May 1, 2020. CLICK HERE for RSVP form.
If you plan to attend the Membership meeting as you wish to run for an Officer position from the floor, AND you are not a 2019-2020 Curtis PTA member, you will need to RSVP with the form and select the last box so meeting details can be sent to you. Remember, you must be a 2019-2020 member to vote during the meeting. CLICK HERE for RSVP form.
Thank you for your support of the Curtis PTA!
Curtis PTA 2020-2021 Officer Slate
On behalf of the nominating committee, we would like to congratulate the nominees for 2020-2021 Curtis PTA executive board officers. The officer elections will take place during the next Membership meeting. Please check back for details on when that meeting is. Committee chairs will be announced at a later date.
President - Beth Bradley
1st VP Membership - Carrie Weatherly
2nd VP Programs - Stacy Sanderford
3rd VP Ways and Means - Jennifer Mesquita
Secretary - Terri Piorkowski
Treasurer - Kristin White
A Note from the PTA President, Beth Bradley
These sure are interesting times! I hope that everyone is staying safe and adjusting to distance learning. Please know that even though students are not learning in the Curtis building, the Curtis PTA is still working to support teachers and students. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please reach out to me at: ptapresident.curtis@gmail.com
I want to encourage you and your middle schoolers to reach out to Curtis teachers and staff. Just as we are adjusting to having our students learning at home, they are also adjusting to teaching without physically being with their students. The Curtis teachers have done an amazing job coming up with online lesson plans with little notice and changing the way they teach. Many have had to learn new technology, and are taking care of their own children at home while teaching. Please consider sending an email to some of your student’s teachers thanking them for their work. Or encourage your middle schooler to write an e-mail to a teacher, just to say hello or let them know how they have been keeping busy.
-Beth Bradley
Recipients of Curtis PTA Scholarship
PTA Membership Incentive! WIN AIRPODS!
Despite the school closures, Curtis PTA will still be drawing for Airpods on May 6. All those who are members of Curtis PTA by May 6 will be entered. Want more chances to win? Simply sign up more family members. Your spouse and students can all be members. CLICK HERE to join.
Thank you for being a member of PTA and an advocate for our students.
Questions? Email Jill, VP Membership, CurtisMS.Membership@gmail.com
This incentive is made possible by the Allen Council of PTAs.
PTA Business Sponsorship Program
CMS PTA is pleased to announce our business sponsorship program. We offer businesses an opportunity to support CMS students and staff with donation levels.
Red Level, $100
- 1 PTA Community membership
- Logo/website listed on PTA website for one year
Black Level, $250
- 1 PTA Community membership
- Logo/website listed on PTA website for one year
- 1 shout out in both our campus newsletter (1,400+ student families) and 1 shout out on the PTA FB page
CLICK HERE for a flyer with more details or email Jennifer.
Use Amazon Smile to Support Curtis PTA
Do you shop on Amazon? Use Amazon's Smile and support Curtis PTA!
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Select your charity: PTA Texas Congress 201 Curtis Middle School
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Please encourage grandparents, neighbors, and friends to support Curtis PTA by shopping through AmazonSmile too.
Curtis Middle School PTA
Email: ptacommunications.curtis@gmail.com
Website: https://www.allenisd.org/curtisms
Location: 1530 Rivercrest Boulevard, Allen, TX, USA
Phone: 972-727-0340
Twitter: @CurtisCougars