CMS Parent Newsletter
April 17, 2017
Dear Parents,
Upcoming Seahawk Events
April 17 - SRI and MAP retests begin
April 17 - Soccer vs. Myers at Brooks; Team 2 at WCMS
April 18 - 8th Grade Community Projects Due
April 18 - Baseball vs. Oglethorpe
April 19 - Progress Reports Issued
April 19 - Soccer Team 2 at Rice Creek
April 21 - Spirit Wear - Proceeds support Relay for Life
April 24 - Soccer vs. Garrison at Brooks Field; Team 2 vs. Georgetown at Jennifer Ross
April 25- Class 2021 Freshman Orientation at Island's High School Night
April 25 - Baseball vs. Myers at Paulson
April 26 - Family Homework Pass Night - Write a note expressing gratitude to one or more teachers from this year or in the past who have touched your life.
April 26 - Soccer vs. IOH at Brooks Field
April 26 - GMAS Comp. Lit. part 1
April 27 - GMAS Comp. Lit. part 2
April 27 - Play
April 27 - Baseball vs. IOH at Paulson
May 1 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 1 - GMAS - Alg. 1
May 1 - Soccer vs. STEM at Brooks; Team 2 vs. Savannah Classical at Jennifer Ross
May 2 - GMAS - Physical Science
May 2 - Choral Concert
May 2 - Baseball vs. Charles Ellis at Paulson
May 3 - 6th Grade Field Day
May 4 - 7th Grade Field Day
May 12 - Spirit Wear - Proceeds benefit the Art Club
May 15 - GMAS ELA part 1 retake for 8th grade
May 16 - GMAS ELA part 2 retake for 8th grade
May 17 - GMAS Math part 1 retake for 8th grade
May 18 - GMAS Math part 2 retake for 8th grade
May 18 - 7th Grade Award Ceremony at 8:00 a.m.
May 18 - 8th Grade Bridging Ceremony at 6:00 p.m.
May 19 - 6th Grade Awards Ceremony at 8:00 a.m.
May 19 - Last day of school.
Peter Pan
Our Drama Club will present the drama production Peter Pan on April 27th and 28th. Students will perform on stage in the Performance Hall at Islands High School. Student ticket sales will be Wednesday and Friday of this week. Student tickets cost only $1.
Seahawks Serve the Community
As IB students, we take the responsibility of being caring to the maximum level. Last week, a group of students joined Ms. Alicia Harvey at the Publix Half Marathon to volunteer and make the charitable event a successful one for the athletes and the sponsors. We are proud of these Seahawks and appreciate their generosity and kindness to serve others with their time and talents! (Pictures sent as attachments)
Coastal TSA Takes Learning about Careers to a New Level
A group of students enjoyed exploring a high-adventure career last week, as they visited the United States Coast Guard Air station. Living near the water on the beautiful islands can sometimes lead to dangerous situations. We are blessed to have helicopter pilots and tour guide Lt. Zach Brown and a group of rescue swimmers who saved many lives last year with their bravery, courage and skill living near us and willing to be risk-takers to save others. Students were able to learn about Search and rescue operations (SAR) as well as get an opportunity to sit in the cockpit of one of the coolest orange helicopters in the world. They were also fortunate to get to meet the Commanding officer of the Air Station, Mr. Marshall Branch.
Soccer Monday at Brooks
SCCPSS 3rd Annual Districtwide Family Engagement Day
Help CMS win a COW (Computers on Wheels) by stopping by and signing in. We need those computers.
Parent, students and community members are invited to participate in this year’s STEAM/STEM focused special event on April 29, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Johnson High School. The Family Academic Strategy Time and the Office of College and Career Readiness will present parent and student sessions on various topics including: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), support for parents and students to stay on pace academically during summer break, graduation updates and options, post-secondary endeavors, an opportunity to complete the FAFSA (free application for federal student aid), a preview of SCCPSS and 21st Century Learning summer camps, and more. Career and technical student organizations will be showcasing their pathways, and there will be a family carnival for students, parents, guardians, and community members. This event is free and open to the public. For more information please contact compensatory programs at (912)-395-5635.
Attendance
Congratulations to Mrs. Crider’s homeroom who won the “March Madness” attendance challenge with 99% attendance for the month! They will decide what color Miss Eallonardo will (temporarily) color her hair and will receive free snow cones.
Learner Profile – Knowledgeable
Congratulations to the following students who were recognized for best demonstrating the Learner Profile Knowledgeable
Ambassadors – Curtis Butsko and Abby Van Brimmer
Dignitaries – Isabelle Brown and Reagan Kimmel
Discoverers – Josue Castro and Neeali Dozier-Muhammad
Voyagers – Vaibhav Patel and Michelle Ngo
Phoenix – Brady Seyden and Grace Vinkler
Summit – Mario Misencik and Tam Nguyen
Yearbooks
Free Tutoring from tutor.com – Live Oak Public Libraries
If your child needs a little extra help with homework, this website is an amazing free opportunity paid for by the Live Oak Public Libraries. Students in grades 1 - 12 can have access to their very own personal online tutor from 3 - 10 PM daily. All that is needed for access is a free library card and a device with internet access. For more information, visit www.liveoakpl.org.
IB Insights: Approaches to Learning
April is Stress Management Month
Stress is a natural part of life, and learning coping skills can make all the difference in the world. Here are a few strategies and tools to help your child manage the middle school years. By encouraging your student to learn these techniques now, they will become lifelong habits that your child can draw upon throughout life.
- Manage time wisely. Plan ahead, set up a schedule and break up your studies into smaller, more manageable chunks.
- Create a good study environment. Have some fun and decorate a quiet place that your child can relax and stay focused. This can even be a great parent-child project!
- Use stress management techniques. Experiment with aromatherapy or playing soothing music in the background. Breathing exercises and a healthy diet are also important.
- Get organized. Use your agenda to write down important dates and deadlines. Develop a filing system for your assignments so that they are easily accessible when you need them. Practice good note-taking skills. All of these practices will reduce your child’s stress and provide a peace of mind.
- Find out how you learn best. Are you a visual learner? Do you learn best by hearing information? Or, do you really “get it” when you get to do a hands-on activity?
- Set goals and stick to them. Failure is a part of the learning process, but perseverance pays off in the end. Practice visualizing what you want to happen in your life, and work towards it. Like AP told us, “Hard work pays off.”
- Develop optimism. Instead of focusing on everything that seems to be going wrong, flip it upside down and start counting the positive stuff in your life. It may be hard at first, but it will get easier as it becomes a practiced habit.
- Get enough sleep. You are never going to be at your optimum level if you are tired. Make getting rest a priority. Waking up refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges of the day is paramount to success!
Community Opportunities
The 5th Annual Walk for Autism Speaks hosted by Armstrong University Autism Speaks Chapter will take place on April 22, 2017 at Lake Mayer Park. To register, visit www.armstrong.edu/autismwalk . Onsite registration the day of the event will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a Kiddie Run at 9:45 a.m. and the 5K at 10 a.m. Vendors and kids’ activities will be available. For more information, contact Mallie Best at MB3223@STU.ARMSTRONG.EDU.
Skidaway Island State Park Food Truck Festival and Giant Yard Sale- On Saturday, Apr 22, 2017 join your favorite food trucks and local crafters, artists and yard salers from 9a.m. - 3p.m. for this incredible spring market. Eat great food while you shop the vendors, walk the trails or enjoy a ready-made picnic in the park. There is a $5 parking fee. For more information, please call 912-598-2300.
Wundercamera - Visit the Jepson Center (207 W. York St.) on Saturday April 22nd for a themed visited entitled Wundercamera. Take this time to explore the museum, and the role it plays in our community. Create your own mini museum, take lots of pictures, or strike a pose found in one our selected works and have your picture taken! Family Days are fun, educational and free! Enjoy hands on art projects, gallery exploration activities, story time and much more designed specifically for the entire family! Create DIY masterpieces, play art detective, or explore the ArtZeum, an interactive arts space. With gallery activities on our mobile Art Cart, everyone can get in on the art and the action. Stop by for a little while or stay for the entire afternoon-it’s all free. Come see what the fun is all about!
Repeats and Reminders
Summer Camp Opportunities
The Islands High School FFA Chapter of Veterinary Science Students is offering middle school students a chance to explore the career field of veterinary science. The Basic Camp for rising 7th-8th graders who have not attended camp before will be held June5-7 from 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m. for $100, and the Advanced Camp for rising 8th graders who attended Basic Camp last year in addition to rising 9th graders will be held June 8-9 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. for $75. Students in the camp will have up-close and personal experiences with a wide array of small animals. They will learn skills and techniques used in veterinary science, while also having the opportunity to meet licensed veterinarians.
Space is limited so sign up soon! The deadline is May 12, 2017.
If you have any questions, please email Myria Shipman at Myria.Shipman@sccpss.com
Yearbook
Order Online at website www.yearbookordercenter.com and use Order # 20020. Or, order in the front office on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday before homeroom. Order forms are available on line. ($35 CASH OR MONEY ORDER ONLY if ordered in the school's office.)
SRI and MAP
The target scores below represent that while a child is not proficient with reading or mathematics, he or she possesses the necessary skills to be successful, with extra support, at the subsequent grade level. The scores needed to be considered proficient are actually much higher. SRI and MAP scores are one of many factors which are considered when deciding if a child is ready to be promoted to the next higher grade.
SRI
6th - 835
7th - 890
8th - 955
MAP
6th - 219
7th - 223
8th - 227
Late Work
All work should be submitted on the date it is due. Teachers will accept no more than 2 late assignments, with parent signature, within 3 days of the date the assignment is posted, for no more than 70% credit.
Free Digital Resources
Please be aware that you and your child can access free, interactive digital textbooks through the Georgia Department of Education's website. The textbooks can be accessed by visiting www.gavirtuallearning.org/Resources. Texts are currently available for middle and high school courses.