Hello CRMS Family,

Happy New Year to all! We hope that you had a lovely holiday season and a great start to 2023.

At CRMS we are looking forward to the second semester and all the possibilities and opportunities it will bring.

Jaclyn Rowehl

Principal

January

January 10: Cougar Store Open

January 11: 8th Grade Academic Catch-Up Day

January 12: 7th Grade Academic Catch-Up Day

January 12: Student Council Meeting

January 13: 6th Grade Academic Catch-Up Day

January 13: Coffee and Conversations

January 14: Robotics Team 1st Competition

January 16: No School

January 17: No School

January 20: Quarter 2 Clean Agenda Celebration

January 21: Robotics Team 2nd Competition

January 24: Cougar Store Open

January 27: Report Cards Sent Home

Annual Calendar

The following 8th graders scored high enough on the PSAT to be designated a Junior Scholar, which may make them eligible for summer enrichment opportunities with SC colleges, universities, and the Governor's School for Science and Math. Parents, please return the permission slip to share your students information with these institutions by January 27th, 2023. Contact Mrs. Stonecypher with any questions. Congratulations to:

MK Ammons, Thomas Bearden, Audrey Burns, Collin Duffy, Lila Eberly, Roxanna Garvin, Elizabeith Holmes, Lauren Kramer, Elanor Livingston, Jeremiah Martin-Roach, Clare Mason, Sunny Mirise, Cullen Reid, Oliver Wells, Caleb Witte, Luke Wohlfeil, and Daniel Zheng

MK Ammons, Noah Bishop, Brendon Dammai, Joanna Foster, Andrew Harold, Addison Hlavac, Zane Jones, Lauren Kramer, Allison Spencer, Jillian Weinstein, and Benjamin Wohlfarth.

Registration for the February 2023 Midlands Student Summit hosted by the Clemson University’s Office of College Preparation and Outreach is now open. This event is co-sponsored by Boeing and will take place on Saturday, February 4th from 8am- 2pm at Lower Richland High School in Hopkins, SC. This summit is designed to educate, inspire, and empower underrepresented middle and high school students but is open to any 7th-12th grade student who registers. Students can expect to hear from a variety of speakers that will hold interactive sessions about the college admissions process, financial aid options, strategies for academic success in high school, leadership development, career options and much more! In addition to sessions, students will have the opportunity to hear from colleges/universities from around South Carolina at a college and resource fair.

The link to register is https://bit.ly/StudentSummit23.

Free COVID and Flu testing for CCSD students/staff. Mondays 12PM - 6PM.

Location: CRMS parking lot inside of POD trailer.

Positive for COVID? Please use this COVID Reporting Form to report positive cases to the nurse.

Job Shadow Day is scheduled for February 2, 2023! Mrs. Ciucci will be visiting all classes this week and next to distribute permission packets and explain the expectations. Students will also receive slides to help guide them (and you) through the process. This is an excellent opportunity for our students to experience the world of work and explore their interests and hobbies as they relate to school. Be creative and talk to family members, neighbors and friends about their occupations then help brainstorm with your children possible choices to request a job shadow experience on February 2nd.

Visit the CRMS guidance page for helpful school and counseling resources.

Have you checked out the new cutting-edge mental health app for tweens and teens (and everyone)? Make sure to download the free version of TeenToks from the Apple App store here. You can use it on an iPhone (you can also technically use this version on an iPad). They are also working on a version for Android users–we’ll keep you posted. There are many free videos and also premium access giving you close to 400 videos created by teens on topics like stress management, body image, peer pressure, friendship issues, and much more. They’re adding new content every week!

Games have begun for both our boys and girls basketball teams. Come out and cheer them on!!! Schedules below

Boys Basketball Schedule

Girls Basketball Schedule

CRMS is seeking a volunteer to serve as the parent organizer of our tennis team(s). The coaching will be done by the resident tennis pro at Maybank Tennis Center. However, PARENT VOLUNTEERS are NEEDED in order for the school to provide this opportunity to our students. If you are interested in helping serve as the tennis organizer and/or volunteer to lead a team, please contact crmsathleticboosterclub@gmail.com and bohnep@charleston-sc.gov We must have a representative (coach or organizer) in order for our students to participate. League starts March 6th.

Boys JV Soccer - Tryouts for JV are January 30th, 2023 from 3:45pm-5:00pm. Open to 7th and 8th graders, required paperwork and tryout information here: https://jamesislandsoccer.weebly.com

Softball - 7-12 graders are encouraged to attend pre-season workouts and tryouts. On field workouts start Jan 5th from 4-6pm, complete PlantHS before participating and click on James Island Softball google classroom page for information. https://classroom.google.com/c/NTc0NDgwNjk1NTE0?cjc=dyxou6b Join code: dyxou6b

Track & Field - 2nd Round of Condition begins January 4th! All paperwork and information can be found here: https://jamesislandtrackandfield.weebly.com Questions please contact Coach Eshelman at joseph_eshelman@charleston.k12.sc.us

Boys Lacrosse - Off-season practices started in December. Open to 7th-12th graders. Beginners are welcome! If interested in playing Varsity or JV boys lacrosse this spring, contact Coach Loda at matthew_loda.c@charleston.k12.sc.us

Middle school is a time when students’ cognitive capacities, including abstract thinking and moral reasoning increase. During this time middle schoolers become aware and are especially sensitive to their peers and experience an increased intensity of emotions. Kids are "carrying" a lot in their metaphorical book bag even before they walk through our school doors some mornings.

The Wellness Room at CRMS was created with that in mind–helping students independently re-set, re-focus and return to learning.

Wellness Room Objective:

Students will independently work to self-regulate their emotions, problem solve and/or reset to return to the classrooms recentered and focused, allowing them to re-engage and be “ready to learn.” Counselors will be in the room, facilitating this work.

At any time during the day students can request to visit the Wellness Room for a quick reset. Signed agendas are the entry and exit passes to the room. Targeted maximum time in the Wellness Room is 10 minutes.

What’s in the Wellness Room?

Upon entering the room, students can choose a “what do I need card.”

1. Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution worksheet

2. Coloring/Journaling

3. Fidgets

4. A quiet space (noise cancellation headphones) or a book

5. Distraction (from my feelings) puzzles, crosswords, brain games, etc

6. Mindfulness (yoga cards, breathing exercises, etc)

After choosing a “what I need card” and giving it to the school counselor, students are able to choose flexible seating and use the manipulatives. Ten-minute sand timers are given to students to let them know when their time has expired. After signing out, students can request to see a school counselor if needed.

Science Links social/emotional wellness to Student Gains:

* Improvement in students’ social and emotional skills, attitudes, relationships, academic performance, and perceptions of classroom and school climate

* Decline in students’ anxiety and behavior problems

* Long-term improvements in students’ skills, attitudes, prosocial behavior, and academic performance

Students should NOT bring their Chromebook chargers to school. Please charge devices at home each evening. Chargers tend to disappear at school, and we have no way to track them. Students will be responsible for the cost of replacing lost chargers, so please don’t let your student bring the charger to school!

A reminder about the CCSD fee structure for damages and loss of chromebooks:

• Negligent/Accidental Breakage - No charge for first incident per school year $50 per incident for each subsequent event
• Intentional Vandalism - $300.
• Stolen Device - No cost if a police report is provided
• Lost Device - $300
• Lost Charger - $40