CMS Parent Newsletter
August 28, 2017
Dear Parents,
Thank you for another great week at CMS. We strongly believe that to keep students growing academically, we must keep them reading – a lot. Thank you for making sure your child keeps his or her nose in a good book or magazine.
Upcoming Seahawk Events
August 28th - Softball vs. Oglethorpe
August 30th - Softball vs. STEM
August 31st - Jersey Mike's Spirit Night
August 31st - Last day to order Spirit Wear
September 1 - Spirit Wear. Proceeds benefit Dollars for Disaster.
September 4 - Labor Day - No School
September 6 - Softball vs. Garrison
September 6 - Spirit Night - Wendy's on the island
September 8 - PBIS Rewards
September 11 - Softball vs. Hesse
September 13 - Softball vs. Rice Creek
September 13 & 14- FCCLA Fall Leadership Conference
September 14 - Spirit Night at Chick-Fil-A on Victory Drive
September 15 - TSA Officer Retreat
September 15 - Progress Reports Issued
September 15 - Spirit Wear - $1 donation benefits Light the Night
September 20 - Softball vs Isle of Hope
September 22 - Spirit Wear - $1 Donation benefits TSA
September 22 - PBIS Redeem Day
September 25 - Softball vs. Godley Station
September 26 - Spirit Night at Five Guys
September 27 - Softball vs. WCMS
September 27 - 8th Grade IB Community Project Planning Worksheets & Parent Signatures due.
September 29 - Spirit Wear - $1 donation benefits Dollars for Disaster
October 2 - Softball vs. SWMS
October 2 - Volleyball Tryouts
April 11 - GMAS ELA
April 12 - GMAS ELA
April 13 - GMAS ELA
April 16 - GMAS Math
April 17 - GMAS Math
April 18 - GMAS Science - 8th grade only
April 19 - GMAS SS - 8th grade only
April 25 - GMAS EOC - Comp Lit
April 26 - GMAS EOC - Comp Lit
April 30 - GMAS EOC - Alg 1
May 2 - GMAS EOC - Physical Science
** All softball games are scheduled for 4:30 at Paulson Stadium on Field 1
Moby Max - Computarized Math Practice
Students are to complete 3 Moby Max math lessons each week. They may access the program from our school’s homepage.
Read Theory - Computerized Reading Practice
Students are to complete 3 Read Theory lessons each week. If they do poorly on one, they may do a 4th (or 5th, etc.) to replace the lower grade. The site may be accessed from our school’s homepage.
Student Access to Power School
Directions to set up a student account to access Power School will be sent home Monday. This will allow students to monitor their grades just as parents may do using Parent Access.
Two important things to remember:
This is only for the students of parents who HAVE NOT already set up a PowerSchool account. If the parent has an account, your child does not need to set up another one and can simply discard the piece of paper sent home Monday.
When setting up the account the first two fields are for your child to put in his or her desired user name and password. The next two, where it says student, is where the student puts in the user name and password that are provided on the paper.
If you do not wish for your student to be sent home with this information, please call our school office early Monday morning and speak to Michele Ledbetter.
Join PTSA
Families, get involved with your student’s school by joining the CMS PTSA! All parents joining by Aug. 31 will automatically be entered in a drawing for movie passes and gift cards from Molly McGuires and Rio Bravo’s!
All students joining by Sept. 15 will automatically be entered in a drawing for one of five passes to Get Air! The membership form and $6 per membership may be dropped in the blue PTSA box in the front office. Join today!
Membership Form: http://internet.savannah.chatham.k12.ga.us/schools/cms/PTSA/Shared%20Documents/membership%20form%20for%202017-18.pdf
Keeping Our Teens Safe
PTSA Reflections Contest
PTA Reflections is a nationally acclaimed student recognition program to encourage artistic creativity in the classroom and at home. Students of all grades and abilities may participate and explore the arts based on the 2017-2018 theme: Within Reach
The deadline for Seahawk entries is October 6, 2017.
Please find more informatoin using this link or contact art teacher Lauren Greene or the Reflection Committee Chairs, Brenda Sierzant or Steve Tisinger. http://www.georgiapta.org/for-pta-leaders/committee-chairs/reflections-leadership/
Islands Public Library
The public library is a great resource for our students and a great place for students to go, occasionally, to work on projects, do research, or use the computer.
However, we are hearing that many of our students are “hanging-out” and socializing inside and outside the library daily. Our community partners at the library are not able to supervise or control the large number of students that are coming from Islands, Coastal and Marshpoint each afternoon as school is dismissed. As mentioned in the “Keeping Our Teens Safe” section, please be sure your child is adequately supervised by an involved adult at all times. The library staff cannot provide the supervision that is required to keep large numbers of teens safe.
Book Drive
Thank you for your book donations. CMS leads the district having already collected 2,000 books. Our school won a Spero robot for our effort. Our goal for the end of the year is 12,000 books. Students on the Ambassador Team may dress down Monday for winning the Spirit Stick by donating the most books. Ms. Fine’s 7th grade homeroom may dress down as well. Their class donated the more books than any other homeroom.
Frisbees Needed
Do you have any spare Frisbees lying around your garage? If so, please consider donating them to our Frisbee club. Donations should be dropped off in the music room.
Required Choice Reading
Spirit Wear Orders Due August 31st
PTSA Spirit Wear orders are due by August 31st. Order forms are available by clicking on the PTSA tab of our school’s website. Please drop your order form, along with your check or cash into the PTSA lockbox in the front office.
Class Meeting Night - Parent Feedback Requested
Partnering with Our Parents
Call to Action: As a Lighthouse School to Watch and an International Baccalaureate School, community involvement is paramount to our success. If you would like to challenge yourself and your children to make positive changes in our community through kindness and generosity, encourage yourself to do one or two of the following generous actions this week. Share with friends and family, and show our students that we are a safe beacon of light to follow and a model of acceptance and tolerance for all human beings.
Week 1
_____Hold the door open for someone
_____Pick up litter and throw it away or recycle it
_____Thank your bus driver
_____Ask someone struggling with a challenge to share their story
_____Give a friend a flower
_____Pay for someone’s meal, coffee or lunch…if that is not possible, SHARE
_____Donate clothes or toy to a charity
Adjusting to Middle School
Adjusting to School: Middle school can be a challenge for any student; however, with a few tips, the acclimation process can be a smooth one to begin soaring to new heights as a Seahawk. Below are a few ideas to help you and your child get back engaged into the middle school routine.
1) Make school a team effort. Use time in the car or at dinner to discuss the day’s events and celebrate the positive while making a plan to address what did not go so well.
2) Maintain a Positive Focus. Communicate with your child about her expectations, hopes, and fears for the school year. Reassure her that other children are having the same feelings and that she’s sure to have a great year. Present school as a place where she’ll learn new things and make new friends.
3) Encourage involvement at school. Although you don’t want your student to become over-committed and overwhelmed, it’s important to encourage participation in one or two activities that particularly interest him. He’s more likely to engage academically if he feels connected through a school activity, club, or sport. Talk to him about his goals for the school year and how he might like to be involved in school outside of the classroom.
4) Get plenty of sleep. If your child has enjoyed a vacation of late nights and lazy
mornings, getting him up for school can be difficult. Help make this transition easier by establishing a “lights-out” no electronics, no television policy. Research indicates that middle school students need a minimum of 9 1/2 hours of sleep per night (National Sleep Foundation) to function best in all areas of life.
5) Plan for emergencies and illnesses: May sure that your child knows where to go and who to call if an emergency should arise. This plan, made in advance, will give your child assurance of safety and security with regards to procedural matters.
Community Events
Free national park pass. If you’re traveling with a fourth grader, be sure to obtain your free national park pass before your trip through The Every Kid in a Park program. The program gives every U.S. 4th grader and his or her family free access to 2000+ federally managed parks, lands and waters. This program begins Sept. 1 of your fourth-grade year and runs until Aug. 31 of that year.
The Historic Savannah - Ogeechee Barge Canal is one of the prime relics in the history of southern canals. Beginning with the tidal lock at the Savannah River, the waterway continues through four lift locks as is traverses 16 1/2 miles, before reaching another tidal lock at the Ogeechee River.
Offered: A museum & nature center featuring information and exhibits on Canal history, archeology, birding, and local attractions. Over 2 miles of hiking trails from the SO Canal Museum and Nature Center to the Ogeechee River. Trails include historic canal towpath and Locks, a river trail, Georgia wetland walks along boardwalks and Sandhill/Pine forest trails. Inclusion on the Coastal Birding Trail and Birding Opportunities. Hiking trail from Tom Triplett Park to the SO Canal near Lock 3. For a fee of $3, this venue is suitable for all ages and is family-friendly; it is open on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. and Mondays-Saturdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The museum is located at 681 Fort Argyle Rd. Savannah, GA 31419. For more information, call 912-748-8068.
Art Wise Savannah - September 1, 2017 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Every first Friday of the month, Art Rise Savannah presents the First Friday Art March through the Victorian and Starland Districts of Savannah. Discover local art, music, food and culture all over Georgia’s First City by taking the free Art March Trolley to different galleries and shops around Forsyth Park and Past Forsyth Park. There is FREE entry to all the First Friday Art March events! The First Friday Art March trolley picks up in approximately 20-minute intervals from 6-9 p.m. For more information about the First Friday Art March, go to artmarchsavannah.com.
Farmers Market - September 2, 2017 9:00 am – 1:00 pm The Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market (WIFM) is held every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. September-December. This outdoor market sets up on the property of Islands High School (170 Whitemarsh Island Rd.) on Whitemarsh Island. Come by for one of our many on-site programs including:
• Food vendors and Artisan vendors will be at the market each Saturday.
• Guest Chefs join us to demonstrate ways to use your market bounty to its fullest.
• Local non-profit groups, special guests and musical guests also provide unique entertainment opportunities.
• Story time for kids of all ages.
• Kid’s Crafts each week.
• Monthly Charitable Organizations whom we partner up with to collect donations for.
• Shop with Chef
For more information about the Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market, go to wifarmersmarket.org or email wifarmersmarket@aol.com.
Scribble Art Studio - September 2: Scribble Arts Studio at Henny Penny Art Space and Café is offering a program entitled “Paint an Animal Canvas.” This $5 program is available from 9 am-5pm for all ages of animal lovers and budding artists. Henny Penny is located at 1514 Bull Street. For more information, call 912-328-5497.
**Free national park pass. If you’re traveling with a fourth grader, be sure to obtain your free national park pass before your trip through The Every Kid in a Park program. The program gives every U.S. 4th grader and his or her family free access to 2000+ federally managed parks, lands and waters. This program begins Sept. 1 of your fourth-grade year and runs until Aug. 31 of that year.
The Historic Savannah - Ogeechee Barge Canal is one of the prime relics in the history of southern canals. Beginning with the tidal lock at the Savannah River, the waterway continues through four lift locks as is traverses 16 1/2 miles, before reaching another tidal lock at the Ogeechee River.
We offer: A museum & nature center featuring information and exhibits on Canal history, archeology, birding, and local attractions. Over 2 miles of hiking trails from the SO Canal Museum and Nature Center to the Ogeechee River. Trails include historic canal towpath and Locks, a river trail, Georgia wetland walks along boardwalks and Sandhill/Pine forest trails. Inclusion on the Coastal Birding Trail and Birding Opportunities. Hiking trail from Tom Triplett Park to the SO Canal near Lock 3. For a fee of $3, this venue is suitable for all ages and is family-friendly; it is open on Sundays from 1-5 p.m. and Mondays-Saturdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The museum is located at 681 Fort Argyle Rd. Savannah, GA 31419. For more information, call 912-748-8068.
September 1, 2017 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm. Every first Friday of the month, Art Rise Savannah presents the First Friday Art March through the Victorian and Starland Districts of Savannah. Discover local art, music, food and culture all over Georgia’s First City by taking the free Art March Trolley to different galleries and shops around Forsyth Park and Past Forsyth Park. There is FREE entry to all the First Friday Art March events! The First Friday Art March trolley picks up in approximately 20-minute intervals from 6-9 p.m. For more information about the First Friday Art March, go to artmarchsavannah.com.
September 2, 2017 9:00 am – 1:00 pm The Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market (WIFM) is held every Saturday rain or shine from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. September-December. This outdoor market sets up on the property of Islands High School (170 Whitemarsh Island Rd.) on Whitemarsh Island. Come by for one of our many on-site programs including:
• Food vendors and Artisan vendors will be at the market each Saturday.
• Guest Chefs join us to demonstrate ways to use your market bounty to its fullest.
• Local non-profit groups, special guests and musical guests also provide unique entertainment opportunities.
• Story time for kids of all ages.
• Kid’s Crafts each week.
• Monthly Charitable Organizations whom we partner up with to collect donations for.
• Shop with Chef
For more information about the Wilmington Island Farmers’ Market, go to wifarmersmarket.org or email wifarmersmarket@aol.com.
September 2: Scribble Arts Studio at Henny Penny Art Space and Café is offering a program entitled “Paint an Animal Canvas.” This $5 program is available from 9 am-5pm for all ages of animal lovers and budding artists. Henny Penny is located at 1514 Bull Street. For more information, call 912-328-5497.
September 4: If you’ve been trying to decide what to do for Labor Day weekend, then why not join us for the Annual Labor Day Beach Bash on Tybee? The Labor Day Beach bash is the perfect way to ring out the end of the summer with a celebration. Enjoy the ocean breezes with your family and friends as live music fills the air from the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion. Featuring live entertainment starting at 7 pm. Folks can enjoy the fireworks display from the pier, the beach or anywhere on the island. The fireworks show will blast off around 9:15 pm.
Labor Day Beach Bash at Tybee- September 4: If you’ve been trying to decide what to do for Labor Day weekend, then why not join us for the Annual Labor Day Beach Bash on Tybee? The Labor Day Beach bash is the perfect way to ring out the end of the summer with a celebration. Enjoy the ocean breezes with your family and friends as live music fills the air from the Tybee Island Pier and Pavilion. Featuring live entertainment starting at 7 pm. Folks can enjoy the fireworks display from the pier, the beach or anywhere on the island. The fireworks show will blast off around 9:15 pm.
Repeats and Reminders
Yearbook
Purchase your yearbook now for only $25. Prices increase to $35 after December.
https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/?event=general.displayLanding&jobnumber=20020
Late Work
All work should be submitted on the date it is due. Teachers will accept no more than 1 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.