The CMS Scoop
The Best Middle School in the Universe!
Volume 14, Number 4 - September 3, 2019
Here we go 2nd Week of School!
Last week, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) officially released the 2019 accountability ratings. As previously mentioned, DMS earned an A for overall performance. On Thursday, we learned that DMS also earned its first distinction ever.
Distinction designations are awarded for achievement in several areas and are based on performance relative to a group of 40 campuses of similar type, size, grade span, and student demographics. DMS earned a distinction in Closing the Gaps with a score of 96 which is up from an 88 in 2018.
Prior to 2019, DMS consistently landed in the fourth quartile (the bottom, Q1 being the top) for the majority of indicators with a few placing in the third quartile. In 2019, DMS improved a quartile in 6 of 14 reporting categories not including Algebra I (Algebra I data is skewed due to 94 out of 122 test takers being exempt due to performance on the PSAT administered in the fall of 2018). 6th grade math finished in the second quartile which is also a first for DMS as we have never reached Q2 in any reporting category. We also saw huge gains in 8th Grade Science and 6th Grade ELAR which were one point away from moving up a quartile.
We have much to celebrate as the data reveals we are making a difference for our students! I look forward to this year and continuing the momentum we have built over the last two years. For more accountability information visit https://tea.texas.gov/2019accountability.aspx
We are now in full swing and our kids are doing GREAT! We are continuing with our attendance challenge and will be in Day 6 of 20 days on Monday.
We will begin issuing consequences this week for dress code and cell phones. We will also be passing out ID's in the morning and during lunch on Monday so that everyone should have them before we leave for the day. The expectation is that everyone has them on all day, every day so that we know that every person belongs on campus. If students do not come to school with their ID, they can purchase one in cafeteria until 8:00 a.m.
I also wanted to let you know that I started to send this newsletter to our students' gmail account. I know you all receive this information but I thought it would also be good for the students to receive the emails I am sending you. You might ask them to look in their gmail account to see if they are reading the newsletter!
I also told our students that they should be making up any grades below a 70. This is part of the new grading policy and we want students to make up all grades below a 70 so that they pass all classes. We have a late bus that runs Monday - Thursday. Students just need to sign up before 8am. They can access the late bus on our website under Cougar Zone. I also included a link further down in the newsletter.
Every Friday we have Chapa Chatter Live. We preview the week in advance on Facebook Live. Please make sure you like us on FB as we post many of our upcoming events and you can also see our Chapa Chatter Live on Fridays! Click on the link below to like us on FB.
Please take a look at the information below. Most of it is repetitive but it's always good to take a look at what is coming up.
Thank you for your support and please let us know how we can help you.
Days 6-10 of our 20 Day Attendance Challenge!
We are off to a great START CMS Community!! Keep bringing those doctor notes if you child goes to the doctor during the day. Come to school EVERY DAY because attendance matters! EVERY student. EVERY day!
- Last year's attendance at this time: 97.7%
- This year's attendance at this time: 98.48%
- This is a .78% increase over last year!
- This puts is in 1st place for MOST IMPROVED attendance for middle schools and 2nd place for highest attendance in middle schools!
20 Day Attendance Challenge
Our attendance challenge runs from Monday, August 19th - Friday, September 13th. Our school-wide goal is 97%. If our school reaches 97%, we will have one hour of fun time on Friday, September 13th at the end of the day. Any student that personally has 97% attendance will be placed in a drawing for Evo gift cards. For any student that personally has 100% attendance will be in the VIP section with free snacks and a drawing for some airpods and beats. Please help your child make the commitment to showing up. Attendance Matters. Every Student. Every Day. To sum it up:
- 20 day challenge = Monday, August 19th - Friday, September 13th
- School goal of 97% = fun hour of free time on September 13th
- ABOVE school goal of 98% = TWO hours of FUN time on September 13th
- Individual 97% = in the raffle for Evo gift cards
- Individual 100% = in the raffle for Airpods and Beats and VIP section with snacks
Upcoming September Events
Grandparents’ Day Lunch - Friday, September 6, 2019 - CMS grandparents are invited to purchase or bring lunch to eat with their grandchild. A special place on stage will be available for families to eat together.
Open House - Monday, September 9, 2019; 6:15 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. We will start the night off with a brief PTA Meeting and Title 1 meeting. We will then run a bell schedule so that the students and their parents can visit with each teacher.
School Pictures - Tuesday, September 17, 2019; All day through Science classes. A flyer will be sent home regarding packages. Every student will take their picture for the yearbook.
Coffee with the Counselors - Friday, September 20, 2019; 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. – This is a great opportunity for parents to get in touch with our counselors and find out what being a middle school child is all about. Mrs. Flores and Mrs. Dinderman will focus on different grade levels at each session. Come for coffee and a chance to meet our counselors as well as get connected with other parents. All CwC will be in the CMS Library Meeting Room.
Cougartime After Party! Friday, September 20, 2019; 3:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - CMS Cougars are invited to go CRAZY and spend a few hours of dancing, playing in open gym and eating delicious food from our concessions. Student must also NOT be on the “No Fun List.” Students must be picked up by 6:30 p.m. or they will not be allowed to participate in the next event. There is a $5 fee for this event.
Guys’ Night Out - Wednesday, September 25, 2019, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. CMS boys are invited to bring an adult male in their life to spend an evening of dinner, basketball tournament, games, flag football, door prizes and more. This event is just for the guys. Cash donation/non-perishable food item donation
CMS 19-20 Bell Schedules
- Sept. 3 - House Meeting/Advisory
- Sept. 4-6 - CAT
**From here on out, we will have House Meetings/Advisory the day after weekends/holidays and CAT the remaining of the week. If our schedule changes due to programs/assemblies or testing, we will send an update.
Consequences begin
We will begin consequences on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 for:
- cell phones
- dress code
- tardies
District-Wide Cell Phone Policy
Family Recipe for Success
We continue to have our Family Recipe for Success and encourage you to come to as many family events you are able to attend. They are a ton of fun and most of them are free! Besides our family events, you are always welcome on our campus and we enjoy seeing parents, grandparents, and all extended family members during lunch. Stay tuned for an UPDATED CORRECT copy.
First Mindset - Everything is Possible
Grandparent's Lunch
Friday, Sep 6, 2019, 10:45 AM
3311 Dacy Lane, Kyle, TX, USA
CMS PTA Meeting, Open House and Title 1 Meeting
CMS PTA will start the night off with a PTA meeting, then we will have a brief Title I meeting. Afterwards, we will run a bell schedule so students and their parents can visit with each teacher.
Monday, Sep 9, 2019, 06:00 PM
3311 Dacy Lane, Kyle, TX, USA
School Pictures
Tuesday, Sep 17, 2019, 08:00 AM
3311 Dacy Lane, Kyle, TX, USA
Coffee with the Counselors
Friday, Sep 20, 2019, 07:30 AM
3311 Dacy Lane, Kyle, TX, USA
Cougartime After Party!
Cougartime After Party! - CMS Cougars are invited to go CRAZY and spend a few hours of dancing, playing in open gym and eating delicious food from our concessions. Student must also NOT be on the “No Fun List.” Students must be picked up by 6:20 p.m. or they will not be allowed to participate in the next event. There is a $5 fee for this event.
Friday, Sep 20, 2019, 03:30 PM
3311 Dacy Lane, Kyle, TX, USA
Guy's Night Out
Wednesday, Sep 25, 2019, 06:00 PM
3311 Dacy Lane, Kyle, TX, USA
Chapa Middle School
Email: lisa.walls@hayscisd.net
Website: www.hayscisd.net/
Location: 3311 Dacy Lane, Kyle, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 268-8500
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChapaMS/
Twitter: @Chapa_Cougars