THE PAW PRINT
VOL. 3 - Week of August 31, 2020
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS!
CCUSD Roadmap to Reopening
Parents, make sure to check out the CCUsD Roadmap to Reopening Brochure. See the full brochure HERE!
Wednesday PAWs During Distance Learning
During a regular on-campus school year, PAWs (Panther Achievement Workshops) is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 30 minute sessions. However, due to distance learning, PAWs has been moved to Wednesdays, and each subject has its own 30 minute time-slot in which students can receive additional help, re-take tests, makeup missed work, or take part in enrichment activities with their teachers.
**Please note that PAWs is different from teacher office hours. PAWs is for students to receive intervention/enrichment from teachers and seats should be reserved. It is not a "drop-in" session.
Eventually, we hope to continue our use of Enriching Students, an online sign-up tool, for students to reserve spots in their teachers' Wednesday PAWs sessions. Until then, we are asking teachers to invite students to their individual sessions, or students can reserve a spot by contacting their teachers. We've also asked teachers to provide a Zoom or Google Meets link to students on Wednesdays if they're attending PAWs. If your child does not sign up for or receive an invitation from a teacher for PAWs, this time should be used for independent study time, as it is still considered part of the school day.
Please encourage your child to sign up for PAWs with their teachers for additional support--especially if your child needs to make up missed work or tests or needs academic support.
Panther Pod Expectations for Students
Meeting in Panther Pod allows students to have a touch point with a caring adult.
Logistics:
- Students meet in their Panther Pod class every Wednesday from 9:05-9:35 AM.
- Attendance is required.
- Each Panther Pod class has its own Google Classroom.
- Teachers will post the lesson and Zoom link there.
- Make sure you've joined the class to be ready for next Wednesday!
What do students do in Panther Pod?
- Monthly theme lessons and social emotional lessons
- Needs check in
- Student recognition
- Student run concerts, fundraisers, and spirit weeks
Recommended Google Chrome for Google Classroom
Weekly Schedule for Week of September 7
CCMS Celebrates Diversity with Theme Months!
CCMS Supplies and Item Pick up Days
Our CCMS Spirit Store is Up!
Independent PE Application Deadline and Reminders
Reminder: The due date for Independent PE is on Friday, September 4, 2020, at 4:00 PM. After the deadline passes, a committee will review all applications and inform you of whether or not your child's application was approved. Please note that these applications are approved in only highly exceptional cases. You can find the application at CCMS Independent PE Application and Information
Another reminder is that if you child is currently enrolled in a zero period PE class in order to take an extra elective (Example: Your child is enrolled in a zero period to accommodate both Spanish Immersion classes and an additional elective), your child will be dropped from the extra elective if approved for Independent PE.
Rationale: District policy permits students to take zero period PE (if available) to accommodate an additional elective into their regular school-day schedules. If approved for Independent PE, students have one fewer course throughout the day to accommodate their Independent PE schedules, especially since many students spend more time in Independent PE than in a typical on-campus PE class.
Second, students who can afford to participate in Independent PE and sign up for an extra elective are then being given access to opportunities that are not available to all students, thus giving an advantage to students who can afford to do both. This would result in inequitable and discriminatory practices due to socioeconomic disadvantages--something that CCUSD and CCMS do not practice.
We understand that this sometimes forces parents to make difficult choices between Independent PE and taking a second elective, but it is important for us to let families know that they will be asked to make that choice should their child's Independent PE application be
Please email your application or any questions to Julie Markussen, Assistant Principal, at juliemarkussen@ccusd.org
Exciting Opportunity for Black and Latinx Girls!
READY TO LEAD ROUNDTABLE: BLACK AND LATINX GIRLS SPEAK OUT
Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020
1:30 pm PT/4:30 pm ET
Join us for a girl-led roundtable discussion of Ready to Lead: Leadership Supports and Barriers for Black and Latinx Girls. Register Now
Four years ago we set out to gather a new set of data that tells the more complex, nuanced, and intersectional story of the leadership development of girls of color. That data turned into Ready to Lead: Leadership Supports and Barriers for Black and Latinx Girls.
Don’t miss this one-hour interactive roundtable event. Hear our panel of experts discuss their lived experiences of these findings. Get your questions answered by a panel of youth leaders, report author Dr. Charlotte Jacobs, Girls Leadership Chief Program Officer Kendra Carr, or Grantmakers for Girls of Color Executive Director Dr. Monique W. Morris, who penned the foreword of the report. Susan Reid, Morgan Stanley’s Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, will open the roundtable. You will gain firsthand insights into how leadership is successfully cultivated for these girls, the barriers they face, and what changes need to be made to create a supportive environment at school.
OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS FOR PARENTS
Distance Learning 2.0: Legal Rights, District Collaboration and FAPE
Parents of children with disabilities: join us for a virtual panel and discussion on Distance Learning and your child's legal rights on Thursday, September 3, 3:30-5:00 pm. The event is organized by Team Special X and features, among others, Diana Fannon, Director of Special Education. See attached link for information.
PTSA SAVE THE DATE!
Calling all CCMS PTSA Association members! Mark your calendars for the first Association meeting on Tuesday, September 1 at 7:00pm via Zoom. Find out what programs and events your donations are funding, vote on Association business items, hear from Administrators, and meet some fellow parents. We hope you can attend!
Culver City Middle School PTSA is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: CCMS PTSA Association Meeting (September)
Time: Sep 1, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81603369449?pwd=V0lRTHg1eHpWZHJhODQwVlMyYkNxQT09
Meeting ID: 816 0336 9449
Passcode: 232792
New Parents Desserts and Drinks Mixer - This Thursday!
Calling all new CCMS 6th grade families: Join us for dessert and drinks this Thursday, September 3rd at 7pm.
Bring something yummy and your favorite cocktail and join us for this virtual gathering. You’ll get to hear from fellow Panther parents from the PTSA and Panther Partners with tips on navigating CCMS and you’ll get to know other parents and help us build community. You can join at the link below:
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85877067026?pwd=RklkSHRwdmpnMnp6cUdvVkxuTm84dz09
Meeting ID: 858 7706 7026
Passcode: Wine
100 Campaign Update from PTSA & Panther Partners!
Thank you so much to all our Panther families who have already donated to the 100 Campaign! As we wrap up the first full week of school we’ve already raised more than $12,900 and are nearly 15% of the way to the goal of raising $100,000 in the first 100 days of school with 100% of families donating. Thank you!!
CCMS Blanket Giveaway Happening Now!
Want a free luxury navy blanket embroidered with #CulverPride? Then donate $250 or more to the CCMS 100 CAMPAIGN! Every family that donates $250 or more earns a free #CulverPride blanket! Perfect for distance learning snuggling. Please give generously today - all contributions, of any amount, are greatly appreciated. Donate HERE!
Thank you!
Your fellow Panther Parents from PTSA & Panther Partners!
Check out our PTSA and Panther Partners Presidents in a Video for Parents!
Sip Some Wine & Support Our Schools on September 26!
Tickets are now on sale for SIP for our Schools 2020, a virtual happy hour fundraising event presented by the Culver City Education Foundation.
Purchase your tickets here and get ready to “Socialize In Place” as we sip some wine while supporting our students. On Saturday, September 26, join us virtually to enjoy a live streamed wine tasting adventure as well as updates on how your donations are making an impact in our schools, visits from special celebrity guests, a silent auction, and much more....
In addition, there will be opportunities to enjoy demonstrations from a variety of local award-winning Culver City chefs showcasing their culinary specialties.
This event raises critically needed funds to sustain vital arts and STEM education programs benefitting every student at every CCUSD school. Impactful programs such as Makerspace labs, visual arts classes, the Front & Center Theatre Collaborative, Robotics teams, and more are only possible with your generous support. Click here to purchase tickets and for more event details, or visit our website at www.ccef4schools.org.
PREVIOUSLY POSTED ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sandy Segal Youth Health Center Services
How to Login to Google Classroom (Student Directions)
Missed the Parent Bootcamp Presentations?
Access the videos or slideshow here:
- Returning Parent Bootcamp Video - Aug 18
- New Parent Bootcamp Video - Aug 19 Access Passcode: UU8Y3+WS
- Parent Bootcamp Slides
CCMS Student-Parent Handbook Addendum for Distance Learning 2020-2021
The following expectations have been designed to support the CCMS Distance Learning and/or Blended Model of instruction for students. On behalf of the CCMS school administration, teachers, and support staff, we are requesting students think responsibly and act respectfully while participating with their peers in the virtual classroom. Our schoolwide positive behavior rules remain in effect while at home. Students who fail to follow the rules as outlined below can possibly be removed from the virtual classroom.
Basic Rules:
Identify a suitable workspace to work.
Log or dial in 5 minutes before virtual classroom sessions begins.
Be respectful.
Listen actively.
Actively participate.
Complete and submit assignments.
Turn on video and mute microphone until it is your turn to speak.
Dress appropriately.
Student Responsibilities:
Log in daily or assigned meeting times. Attendance will be taken in all virtual classes, including Panther Pod (on Wednesday mornings) and Fun Friday.
Ask/answer questions.
Take turns participating daily in classroom discussions and activities.
Complete work and turn work in on time.
Work independently or in groups (when assigned).
Be an active member of the virtual community.
Be careful with school materials, such as Chromebooks and textbooks.
Wear a mask at all times when on campus.
Maintain proper social distancing (6 ft.) when on campus (in classrooms, hallways, restrooms, etc,)
Wash hands frequently.
Unacceptable Behavior:
Vulgarity (no cursing, vulgar language, or inappropriate gestures, memes)
Negative feedback on others’ work and/or comments
Posting negativity or bullying others in chat
Sharing negative and offensive comments, posts, messages, photos, and inappropriate material.
Recording virtual classroom without permission (applies to students and parents).
Taking photos in the virtual classroom.
Posting any videos or photos from virtual classrooms on social media without explicit permission.
Touching the mask or protective equipment of classmates and teachers. (Hands should always be kept to yourself, but especially during a pandemic.)
General Reminders:
Minimize background noise by turning off the TV and radio
Stay focused! Avoid multitasking during class.
Mute your microphones until it is your turn to speak.
Assigned Work and Grades During Distance Learning:
Students are expected to plan their time in such a way that they work on classes that are scheduled for the day and that they manage to meet all deadlines.
Students will be required to complete their school assignments uploaded in the virtual classroom by the deadline posted by the teacher. All their work will be monitored and considered equal to their work at regular lessons.
Grades will continue during distance learning as they would in an on-site classroom. Homework will have due dates, and students may incur penalties for late or missing work.
Communicating With Staff:
Please follow the procedures listed below if you have any concerns.
Contact your child’s teacher directly. Visit us at ccms.ccusd.org for a list of teachers and their websites.
If the problem is not resolved please contact your child’s counselor.
A-E: Sarah Slemmons
F-K: Jeanine Lizotte
L-Q: Terence Brown
R-Z: TBA
If the matter remains unresolved please contact your child’s Assistant Principal.
A-K: Julie Markussen
L-Z: Tatiana Takahashi
If you still feel that your matter has not been resolved please address your concerns to Ms. Elsy Villafranca, Principal.
Please allow up to 48 hours for staff members to return phone calls and emails. Your patience is appreciated.
School Counselor Availability:
School counselors are available to address concerns regarding academic placement, course selection, and overall attendance/behavior. Please email the counselors directly.
Virtual appointments can be scheduled with school counselors Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:20 AM--2:20 PM.
You can select a 15, 30, or 60 minute appointment option along with the date and time you prefer.
To make an appointment, click on the following links:
Counselor information for R-Z will be updated soon. Until then, feel free to contact any other counselor for assistance.
CCMS Office Hours
School administrators, counselors, and office staff are available via email between the hours of 9:00 AM--2:00 PM, Monday through Friday, during distance learning. During distance learning, they are unavailable at the CCMS campus. Please do not report to the CCMS office during distance learning, as visitors will only be admitted by appointment.
"Zoom Bombing"--What is It and How is CCMS Dealing With It?
At CCMS, we have taken precautions to protect our students from these unwanted interruptions and they have been a rare occurrence, but there is still a chance they could happen--especially if students share their teachers' Zoom session IDs and passcodes. Should an interruption like this occur that a teacher deems as inappropriate, CCMS has a plan in place to further protect our students. Here is what will happen:
1. If a "Zoom Bomber" enters a CCMS Zoom session, the teacher will immediately end that session. This means everyone will be locked out of that session.
2. The teacher will create a new Zoom session and link and post it on the class Google Classroom.
3. Have your child check the teacher's Google Classroom to find the new Zoom link and log into the new session.
4. We also will begin having students log into Zoom through Clever, which will add another layer of protection.
Again, this is not a prevalent issue at CCMS, but we wanted to have a clear plan in place in the event this would happen so we can best protect our teachers and students.
Join Google Classroom with Email Invite
Accept the invite in your email
- Open the email program you use for Classroom.
- In the email invite, click Join.
- (Optional) If you see Class not found, click the Down arrow and sign in with the account you use for Classroom. Learn more.
- Click Join.
Join Google Classroom with Class Code
2) Students can also retrieve their teachers' Classroom Codes by accessing them in the CCMS Edlio HW Site.
Go to classroom.google.com.
Make sure to sign in with the correct account. If you're already signed in and need to switch accounts, in the top-right corner, click your profile picture, select or add your account.
- At the top, click Join class .
Enter the class code from your teacher and click Join.
Note: Class codes are 6-7 characters, and use letters and numbers. Codes can’t have spaces or special symbols.
CCMS Bell Schedule for Distance Learning
CCMS Office Will be Open By Appointment Only
- Complete Aeries Registration (if unable to do it at home)
- Pick up an item: pre-purchase yearbook from last year, 8th grade certificate or award, etc
In an effort to keep our community safe, we encourage you to call or email all other questions or concerns that do not require an in-person visit.
CCMS Main Line: (310) 842-4200
Office Hours by Appointment: 9AM-2PM
Summer Reading
Please review the summer reading assignments to ensure you are prepared for the beginning of the class. Teachers will collect them during the first week of class and may plan other assignments based on the reading. Don't fall behind--finish reading and your assignment before school starts!
Grab n Go Meals for All Students
Payment Information
On site payments will be accepted in the forms of Cash or Check only. Checks will be made out to CCUSD and student name(s) need to be in the Memo section of the check. Payments can be made online at www.culvercafe.org. Parents/guardians will need to create a new account on k12paymentforschools. We are no longer using e-funds. All account balances from last year have been rolled over.
- We will be CASHLESS. If a student pays with cash at the point of sale (POS) in any amount over the cost of their meals, they will not be given change. The money will be applied to their account balance for future use.
Serving Procedures:
- Grab 'n Go meals will be offered daily at all school sites.
- CCMS will serve at the main entrance from 1:00 PM to 2 PM daily.
- Lunches will include a student’s choice of lunch entrées along with accompanying side dishes.
Culver City Rental Assistance Program
Non-Affiliated Child Care Resources
We know we have many working parents in our community who are looking for assistance with child care. The following are not affiliated in any way with Culver City but we thought we'd include them if they could help some of our parents.
- Connections for Children: connectionsforchildren.org
- Crystal Stairs: crystalstairs.org
Exciting and New This Year!
All students will have a grade-level Panther Pod with an assigned teacher, and Pods will meet weekly on Wednesdays for 30 minutes. Teachers (along with counselors and administrators) will use this time for school announcements, enrichment opportunities, themed-month activities, social-emotional curriculum, and student-to-student connections.
Look for Panther Pods on your new schedule!
Need a Schedule Change?
- In person during registration
- By completing the Schedule Change Request Form (Easiest and Preferred!)
- By emailing your child's designating counselor and explaining the request
- By booking an appointment time to speak with your child's designated counselor
Sarah Slemmons (Last Names A-E and R)
- Email: sarahslemmons@ccusd.org
- Appointment: https://calendly.com/sarahslemmons
Jeanine Lizotte (Last Names F-K and S)
- Email: jeaninelizotte@ccusd.org
- Appointment: https://calendly.com/jeaninelizotte
Terence Brown (Last Names L-Q and T-Z)
- Email: terencebrown@ccusd.org
- Appointment: https://calendly.com/terencebrown
AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES AND SPORTS INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
Panther Partners After School Classes--REGISTRATION OPEN NOW!
Registration is now open for the Panther Partners After School Classes!
Register here: Click here for Panther Partners After School Classes Registration!
Panther Partners After School Classes/ASC program is offering a dynamic selection of virtual learning classes for Fall 2020. Classes will start September 7, 2020 ( Labor Day week) and run through the week of December 11, 2020. That’s 14 weeks of classes!
We recommend EARLY registration to ensure enrollment in the class you choose.
Enrollment is first come, first served and will close once the limit is met.
Please note: Classes that do not meet enrollment minimums will be cancelled.
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE.
PP ASC will be offering:
Fiction Writing
Beginning & Continuing French
Zooga Yoga
Jr. Culinarians
3 different art classes
Mathcounts & Math Olympiad
Actors’ Workshop
Singing
Digital Skills for Entrepreneurs (coding)
Creative Web Design (coding)
Photography
Folklorico Dance
Magic: The Gathering
Stay tuned to the Paw Print and check on out social media and websites below for announcements of open registration. https://www.facebook.com/groups/PantherPartnersofCCMS,
https://www.pantherpartners.com/, & CulverCityMiddleSchool@yahoogroups.com
CCMS IMPROV After School Program Info
CCMS is the largest and longest-running after school program at CCMS. Started in 2011, 100+ students participate each year.
Improv is a comprehensive study of game-based, short form improvisation directed and taught by award-winning professional improvisers Eric Price, Sarah Parga, and Eddie Quintana.
Students learn, practice, and perform fundamentals of improvisation as well as advanced concepts and skills (scene study, character work, styles, genres, and musical improvisation). Most importantly, students develop essential life skills such as acceptance, commitment, flexibility, courage, collaboration, critical thinking, and kindness. No experience of any kind is necessary; only commitment and positive attitude are required!
Please see our short informational video at ccmsimprov.com, and check out the flyer below for additional information.
Registration begins Aug 18 ~ classes start Sep 14. Register at ccmsimprov.com
Note About Sports
Due to virtual learning and restrictions for on-campus activities, CCMS sports are currently on hold for the Fall semester.
In the event that sports can be offered later in the semester and/or next semester, we still anticipate a significant impact on our middle school sports program, as CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) has combined three seasons of high school sports into two seasons. Since we share coaches and facilities with the high school, the middle school may not be able to offer all sports during the 2020-2021 school year. We will make every effort to do so and are in close contact with CCHS and CIF for guidance on how to keep sports fun and safe at CCMS.
In the meantime, if you would like to take care of your child's sports physical in the event that we will be able to offer sports sometime this year, sports physicals are available at the Sandy Segal Youth Health Center on campus on September 14, 21, and 28 in the mornings. Scheduling is available now. Please call 310-392-8636 and request your child's appointment at the Sandy Segal Youth Health Center.
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Access the Incredible Resources of CCUSD!
Follow us!
On Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @CulverCityMS
Culver City Middle School
Website: http://ccms.ccusd.org/
Location: 4601 Elenda Street, Culver City, CA, United States
Phone: 310-842-4200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CulverCityMS/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf
Twitter: @culvercityms