CMS News 3/21/2023
Just a few more days until Spring Break
Upcoming Dates
March 21st - District 146 Choir Festival Concert 5:30 p.m.- CMS
March 22nd - PACT 1:30 p.m. NEW DATE
March 24th - 1/2 Day Student Attendance / 1/2 SIP Day
March 27th - 31st - Spring Break
April 3rd - Classes Resume: IAR Math Test begins
April 7th - No School by Board Action
IAR Supplies: April 11th-April 13th
8th Grade - Payments Due
Please note that all graduation and activity fees need to be paid no later than March 24, 2023. This is done through PushCoin - click this Link. Once you login to your account under the student's name click on Webstore and there you can choose the items to pay.
If you have any questions, please contact Julie Miner at jminer@district146.org or by calling (708) 614-4510 ext. 3800
Trimester 3 Update
We are about 2 weeks into the last trimester of the year! Please reinforce the fresh start and importance of following through with work and learning the classes. We are continuing to follow the procedure across the building of putting in zero placeholders in the gradebook, along with missing or absent indicators, to communicate that missed work needs to be completed. Those grades will be updated as students complete the absent/missing work. Teachers are working to reinforce accountability with students, so just a reminder that aside from absences or special situations, students need to practice following assigned deadlines for assignments. We are continuing to encourage students to use their time wisely, stay organized, ask questions when they need help, and complete all assignments. Any help we can get from home to reinforce the importance of these skills is greatly appreciated!
School Supplies
Please check in with your student to make sure they have all the necessary school supplies. Many pencils, binders, etc. have disappeared and may need to be replaced or replenished. We appreciate your help in ensuring students are prepared to learn!
Tinley Park HS - Cheerleading
Grade Communication from Advisor:
Grade communication from advisor:
We have instituted a new CMS procedure where advisory teachers will be emailing home after weekly BAG (behavior, attendance, grade) checks if your student has any Fs at the time of the check. The advisor is designed to be your point person and an easy liaison between home and school, so our goal here is to increase communication and decrease surprises with grades. In an effort to further partner, and since there may be more specific questions about individual classes, the advisor will cc the teacher(s) involved with the class(es) where the student is struggling. Please feel free to ask teachers questions and work with your student, including by checking PowerSchool for specifics, to ensure that your student’s needs are being met. In special cases of extended absences or situations beyond the typical school day, this email may not be sent, at the discretion of teachers/administration, and on a case-by-case basis. Questions on this procedure can be directed to Assistant Principal Rebecca Ferrebee ext. 3808 or rferrebee@district146.org. Thank you!
5Essentials Survey
Each year we ask our parents, teachers, and students to participate in the statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. The survey is now available, and we are asking our families to take it as soon as possible to help us reach our response goal.
Your participation in the parent survey will help us understand the conditions at Central Middle School and will guide our continuing improvement efforts. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential.
To take the survey please visit survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin. The link to the survey can also be found on our district website: district146.org. Please complete one survey for each child attending a District 146 school, even if they both attend Central. If you have children at multiple schools, please fill out a survey for each school.
Results from the Illinois 5Essentials Survey are used to create the Illinois School Report Card, and to help our district and school leadership teams drive ongoing school improvement plans. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874.
We appreciate your time. Your responses to the survey are important to us.
Update: Arrival / Dismissal Procedures
At dismissal time, please make use of the 2 front lots and cell phone lot options. While we understand the convenience, please do not park in private driveways or on side streets blocking driveways across from CMS. We want to continue to ensure the safety of all. Thank you for your cooperation.
As a reminder, students are not to get picked up off Oak Park Avenue.
As our lots become full, cars stopped on Oak Park Avenue will pull to our South Lot and use our “Cell Phone” lot to wait for their students
We appreciate your patience and understanding
Nurses Notes
6th Grade Math
The Sixth grade math department will finish working on Fractions, Decimals and Percent's the week before spring break. We will be moving on to positive and negative integers next. Students will learn how to organize the numbers according to value on a number line. Accelerated students are finishing up one-step and two-step equations. They will be moving on to adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing with positive and negative numbers.
7th Grade Math
7th Grade Math: Students are working with rational numbers. In this unit, we explore elevations, temperature changes, and calculations of positive and negative numbers. They will be learning about the rules for rational number operations and where they may see these types of problems in the real world.
7th Grade Accelerated Math: Inequalities and expressions will lead into the linear relationships unit. Students will work on recognizing rate of change, slope, and constant of proportionality. During this unit, students will experiment with constant change and learn how to use the graphing calculator to create linear equations from their collected data.
8th Grade Math
Eighth grade mathematics start Trimester 3 by put a close on Topic C and beginning Topic D from our Module 4 Eureka text.
Topic C extends students’ work with constant rate as it applies to the slope of a line. Students determine the slope by using any two points from the graph of a line. Students then apply the slope of the line to the slope intercept form to find the equation of that line. For example, if the slope is 3, the slope-intercept form of the line could be y = 3x + 8. Last, students compare various proportional relationships represented in graphs, tables, equations, and descriptions.
On our assessment, your child will be asked some of the following questions:
▪ Determine whether the slope of a line is positive or negative, and then find the exact value of the slope or y-intercept point. The data used may be given in graphs, tables, equations, or descriptions.
▪ Confirm that the slope of a line stays the same when using two different points on the line to determine the slope.
▪ Using the properties of equality, transform an equation from standard form to slope-intercept form and vice versa.
▪ Given points on a line—or the graph, table, equation, or description of the line—determine one or more of the other representations (i.e., points, graph, table, equation, or description) of the line.
▪ Determine whether two equations result in the same line when graphed.
▪ Find and graph various solutions to an equation.
When we move forward to Topic D, here’s what to expect and how you can help at home:
PE Update
Students in PE class practiced their skills with volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Next week, we will begin our Spring Fitness testing. Individuals that meet the requirements in the mile, pacer, sit-ups, push-ups, and sit and reach will qualify for Phenom and have the opportunity to participate in a field trip.
The 4th rotation of health ends this week, and our 5th and final rotation will begin after spring break.
Communications
Multi-Needs
The Multi-needs program had a great time celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. We set leprechaun traps with our Best Buddies club, did a themed money scavenger hunt in math, made a Lucky Charm’s craft, AND spotted a real life leprechaun (Dr. Clarke). We also had some yummy cookies and tasted Green River soda pop! It was a fun-filled day 😊
Social Work Connection
Hello Twister Families,
Welcome back to the Social Work Connection where you will find helpful tips and resources for your family. This week, I am sharing some resources on how to stay stress free during your child’s upcoming spring break. While it is always nice to spend time with your children, it can be challenging keeping them occupied for days at a time when they are used to being in school. Below are four tips for a stressful spring break.
- Plan activities in advance. Go into spring break with planned activities rather than spontaneity which can lead to siblings arguing. That way your children will know what to look forward to each day and stay engaged.
- Spend time outdoors. Researchers at the University of Illinois determined that “playing outside in natural settings greatly reduces the symptoms of ADHD”. Go to a local park, zoo, or ride bikes/rollerblade on a scenic path outdoors.
- Find soothing activities for downtime. Downtime is important for any child, but those with ADHD, find it difficult to keep themselves entertained. Offer soothing activities when everyone needs a breather. Some ideas include board games, reading, or art projects that use washable paint.
- Incorporate educational elements to keep kids on track. Taking a week off can be hard for students with academic needs so consider spending some time doing activities related to the subjects they are learning about in school. Visit a museum, or watch a movie related to your child’s favorite book.
Resources:
https://www.sonderwellness.com/blog/2018/03/26/spring-break/
https://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/tips-for-stress-free-spring-breaks
Take care,
Liz Kocim, LCSW
Electronics Note:
Review 360 - Update
During the 2022-23SY, Teachers will be communicating in-class incidents using Review 360. This change is due to our belief that when teachers actively communicate with students' parents, students do better, both socially and academically. Although the form may seem intimidating, the form is used as a communication tool to share a minor classroom infraction that occurred that day. CMS appreciates when parents review school expectations with their learners. If you have questions, do not hesitate to reach out to the author of the notification.
Box Tops for Education
Twister Families,
Box Tops for Education is a great program where you can earn money for Central just by doing the shopping you’re already doing! No more cutting box tops. Everything is digital; just scan your receipt! Take a look at the attached flyers for how to sign up and start earning!
CMS Clubs 2022-2023 School Year
Visitor Parking (Update)
A change to this school year is the return of our visitor parking lot. The northern most lot between Door 21 and the Main Entrance should be used for visitors to the building. Please park in those spots if you are coming to school for a meeting, dropping off a lunch, picking up your student, etc. Please refrain from parking along curb during the school day.
Bus Information
American School Bus is now using Bus Bulletin to alert District 146 parents of bus delays and schedule changes.
Bus Bulletin sends parents instant notifications via text message, email, and/or phone call. There is no cost for parents to sign up and receive notifications.
For more information or to sign up for notifications, please visit the Bus Bulletin website.
Lost Items
Bridge Teen Center
The Bridge Teen Center is an amazing after school and seasonal break resource for many of our families with 7th and 8th Grade Students. If your students are already "Members" of the Teen Center, please check out the new Fall/Winter brochure below with your student to see what they are interested in signing up for.
If you are unfamiliar with The Bridge, please check out their website here: thebridgeteencenter.org
Students and families are required to fill out an online application in order to register and participate in their programming for emergency contact information and other safety reasons.
Central is very excited to announce that we are partnering with the Bridge again to offer an activity bus to their location every Thursday throughout the school year. The start date is set for Thursday, September 8th. After becoming a member, your student can sign up for the activity bus directly through their online programming registration.
If you have any questions please reach out directly to The Bridge through their website, or Megan Dore here at Central. mdore@district146.org.
Student Absences
When you leave a message, please remember to spell your child's name and give grade level and/or advisory teacher.
Staff Members and Directory
Dr. James Clarke, Principal, ext. 3805
Mrs. Rebecca Ferrebee, Assistant Principal, (Grades/Scheduling) ext. 3808
Mr. Kevin Kuzanek, Assistant Principal, (Extracurricular Activities/School Culture) ext. 3809
Mr. Marc Lewis, Dean of Students (Behavior) , ext. 3806
Mr. Alex Snodsmith, Athletic Director (Sports/Clubs), ext. 4802
Mrs. Jan Collins, Attendance Secretary, ext. 3803
Mrs. Julie Miner, Principal’s Secretary, ext. 3800
Ms. Jo-Anne Davey, RN, School Nurse, ext. 3905Our academic teams have been restructured. Below you will find a link to our staff/team directory for the 2022-2023SY
All essential information will obviously be communicated by other channels (email / text / letter home) . However, the administration will sometimes use Twitter to share details of interesting events in school.
Principal Clarke’s Twitter name is @CMSClarke
AP: Rebecca Ferrebee’s Twitter name is @MrsFerrebee615
AP: Kevin Kuzanek’s Twitter name is @This_is_Mr_K
Please do follow us.
Don’t worry if you’ve not used Twitter before. It is relatively easy to get the hang of. Here are some basic steps to get you underway
Setting up a Twitter account
Go to the Twitter website and get started by clicking Sign up. Enter your name, email, and a password (at least 6 characters) and then click Sign Up again. You will then be asked to register the account against a telephone number. This helps to keep your account secure, connects you to friends and makes login easier but you can skip this step if you wish
You will now be taken to a second screen where can select a username. This is the name by which you will be known on Twitter. Your real name is best—if it’s available. If not, you can try using a middle initial or adding a number. Twitter names always start with a ‘@’ symbol, eg: @CMSSchoolParent
Now click on the Create my account button. That’s it. You are now official a member of the Twitter community. Congratulations!