Colt Corner
#TeamCMS
February 28, 2020
Colts,
And just like that March is upon us with spring break right around the corner in a week! There is a lot of important information that will begin to come out in the following newsletters pertinent to next year so please be sure to take a look at the information provided, in addition to the Counselor's Corner below. Enjoy your weekend and week ahead.
David Arencibia, Ed.D.
CMS Principal
Facebook: Colleyville Middle School
Twitter: @CmsColts
#TeamCMS - #cmscelebrates - #CMSstrengths
B.E.S.T. - Building Excellent Schools Together
UPCOMING Events
February 29 - Leap into Wellness - 8:30 - 12:30 - GCISD Professional Education and Development Center
March 2 - Tennis Match scheduled here - GHS 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm
March 2 - 7 - Stars Dance Auditions -
March 2 - 5 - Cheer Tryout Clinic
March 2 - 5 - Cheer tryout clinic - North Gym - 3:45 pm - 5:30 pm
March 5 - Track Meet - Coppell High School - 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
March 6 - Cheer tryouts 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm - CMS Cafeteria
March 9 - 13 - Spring Break - All Campuses/district offices closed
March 16 - 27 - Shoe Drive - Presented by AVID, StuCo, PALs and NJHS
NJHS News
ATTENTION 7TH GRADERS!
If you are enrolled in at least two Pre-AP or Accelerated classes and have at least a 90 average in your four core classes, please consider National Junior Honor Society as one of your extra-curricular activities for the upcoming school year.
Applications for membership in the Colleyville Middle School National Junior Honor Society are now available. Copies are available at the front desk, or in rooms 210 and 217. You can also print off your own from the website linked on the school home page.
Please return COMPLETED applications to Mrs. Sloan, in room 210, by Monday, March 30, 2020. Make sure you read over the application carefully. Applications must be complete and returned on time - NO EXCEPTIONS.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Fundraiser
On Friday, NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY (NJHS) kicked off its annual Pennies for Patients drive benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Students are encouraged to bring in their change, dollars, or checks made out to LLS to their 5TH PERIOD classroom from now until APRIL 1.
Donations can also be made online through an individual fundraising page set up by your child. Instructions were shared with students, and it’s really quick and easy. Students are encouraged to use a personal email account when registering so that they can email family and friends for donations.
The top 3 classrooms with the highest donations will win: 1st - OLIVE GARDEN LUNCH, 2nd - ICE CREAM PARTY, 3rd - ICE CREAM PARTY!
CMS Students Heading to State - Science Fair at UTA
Jimmy Nackley & Aiden Loughran from CMS participated at the regional science fair at UTA. At the Fort Worth Regional Science and Engineering Fair. GCISD had four middle school students participate and two of them are CMS students Aidan Loughran (Earth Sciences) and Jimmy Nackley (Mechanical Engineering). Both placed fourth in their categories and will be advancing to the Texas State Science Fair at Texas A&M March 27-29. These are the first middle school students, including the one student from HMS, from GCISD ever to advance to the state level. Congratulations to Jimmy and Aiden, Colt Country is proud of you!
Transfer Requests for High School
GCISD Pre-K Lottery
The GCISD Pre-K lottery application window is now open! Please visit www.GCISD.net/prek for more information.
2020 Census
Beginning in March 2020, students and families in GCISD will have an opportunity to respond and participate in activities related to the 2020 Census. An accurate representation of our student and family population is important for future federal funding implications. Beginning Mid-March, families will receive a letter in the mail with a code for someone to complete the census online or over the phone. It is encouraged to complete the census upon receiving the code so there is not a need for follow up communication or an in-person visit from a census representative. Please be assured that census data is confidential and forms are available in 13 home languages. Below is more information in English and Spanish if you with to learn more:
A partir de marzo de 2020, los estudiantes y las familias de GCISD tendrán la oportunidad de responder y participar en actividades relacionadas con el Censo 2020. Una representación correcta de nuestra población estudiantil y familiar es importante para los futuros compromisos del financiamiento federal. A partir de mediados de marzo, las familias recibirán una carta por correo con un código para que alguien complete el censo en línea o por teléfono. Se recomienda completar el censo al recibir el código, para que no sea necesario realizar una comunicación de seguimiento o una visita en persona de un representante del censo. Tengan la seguridad de que los datos del censo son confidenciales y que los formularios están disponibles en 13 idiomas. A continuación viene más información en inglés y en español, si ustedes desean más datos:
Parent Tech Academy - Not How, but WHY? Thinking Critically in the Digital Age
March 4 | Colleyville Heritage High School | Learning Commons at 6:15 p.m.
The pervasiveness of the internet and the massive amounts of information available — reliable or not — requires information seekers to also become discerners. Acquiring the skill set needed to select, evaluate, and use information and technology appropriately, responsibly, and effectively is more vital now than ever before.
As educators and parents, it is essential that we educate ourselves and young people regarding the necessary responsibilities and safeguards, as well as the profound benefits that come with living in this digital age.
Join us as we review the 5 Competencies of Digital Citizenship designed by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE®) and discuss tools and strategies to ensure we and our students are using critical thinking to be Inclusive, Informed, Engaged, Balanced, and Alert digital citizens.
Girls Athletics
Week of March 2 - March 6
LEAP INTO WELLNESS: All GCISD students and families are encouraged to attend the district’s first LEAP into Wellness, Safety, Health and Wellness Conference. Classes on a variety of topics geared towards students of all ages and families will be taught by professionals in our community. Please see the flyer in this week’s S’more and the links below to learn more or to sign your student up to volunteer (they can earn service hours). February 29, 2020 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. GCISD Professional Development and Education Center 5800 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX 76034
INFORMATION FOR 8TH GRADE
If your child is interested in taking a Zero Hour course please click on the link below
8TH GRADE TRANSFER LOTTERY INFO
Current eighth-grade students currently enrolled in a GCISD Middle School Campus that wish to attend a high school that is not their home campus may apply for a transfer for the 2020-2021 school year. The student must meet transfer requirements, which includes reviewing discipline and attendance. As with all transfers, seats are limited and are not guaranteed. The application process will open on March 2 at 8 a.m. and will close on March 13 at 5 p.m. This information was taken from the district website which is linked below. Please call this district number if you have any questions: 817-251-5640. Please note that this only pertains to current 8th graders. The lottery for all other grade levels will open at a later date in the spring semester. GCISD Transfer Lottery Info
8th grade parents, please make sure that your child joins their high school Google Classroom for important information and dates pertaining to their transition to high school. The codes for each high school are below:
GHS Code is: m5stzk4
CHHS Code is: zlp545q
UPCOMING DATES FOR 7TH GRADE
Counselors met with current 7th graders on February 19th and provided guidance over their 8th grade course selections for the 2020-2021 school year. Students were given a blue course selection sheet to take home. Please review this sheet and discuss the courses selected by your student with them. Then sign and return the blue form by Tuesday, March 3rd. On that day, counselors will meet with 7th graders to put their course selections in Skyward.
If your child is absent on the day we met with their class we will have a make up day. The make up day for course entry will be on Wednesday, March 4th during advisory.
UPCOMING DATES FOR 6TH GRADE
Make up course selection entry Wednesday, March 4th during advisory
Play it Safe - 6th Grade Survivors of Abuse - March 5th (Mrs. Higgins - tammy.orthhiggins@gcisd.net)
GT TESTING: GT Identification Process- Window Closes Friday, March 6th
Referral forms for Gifted & Talented identification will be accepted by middle school counselors Feb. 24-March 6. Testing will take place on campus between March 16 and April 3. Letters will be mailed home and postmarked no later than April 15. Qualified students will be eligible to enroll in GT courses beginning in 2020-2021. You may request a GT referral form from your child’s counselor.
PLAY IT SAFE
The Women’s Center of Tarrant County will be at CMS on the dates listed below. The lessons presented encourage and teach students how to recognize, report, and reduce the risk of being in an abusive and/or dangerous situation. Opt out forms are linked below.
(6th Grade) Survivors of Abuse - March 5 (Mrs. Higgins - tammy.orthhiggins@gcisd.net)
Duke TIP
The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented youth. Duke TIP's talent searches serve as the entry point to academic benefits and programs for gifted and talented students in grades 4-12. For more information, click here:
REMINDER – Please make sure that you are checking Skyward. You can download the Skyward app for your phone or for your child’s phone so you can monitor grades.
Lynn Brizzi– Counselor A-K – 817-305-4916
Amy Bouchelle – Counselor L-Z – 817-305-4917
Tammy Higgins - Student Advocate - 817-305-2234
Heather Ingram - Data Clerk/Registrar - 817-305-4955