Mustang Round-Up
2018-19 Cheyenne Middle School Newsletter - February
Principal News
Focus on Attendance
We know that regular attendance is so important for success in school and in life. This year our goal is to make sure every student misses no more than 9-12 days throughout the year and to increase communication regarding absences.
The Federal Government and State Department of Education classify Chronic Absences as those students missing 10%(18 days) or more of school days due to absence for any reason - excused, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Research indicates students that are chronically absent can lead to third graders unable to master reading, sixth graders failing subjects, and ninth graders dropping out of high school. In high school students missing more than 9 unofficial absences in a course will lose credit even if they have an "A".
This school year we have the ability to efficiently notify families regarding their child’s cumulative number of absences in one or more class periods with an automated phone call and/or email. We encourage families to verify this number(from both semesters) by viewing details in the parent portal. This process allows a check and balances for parents and students. The total number of accumulated absences and reconciliation(ex. medical, excuses, etc.) of the absences can be seen here. Anytime your child is absent we encourage families to call our attendance line and let us know why your child is not attending and to turn in any medical documentation for those absences. We do enter M for medical notes, E for parent calls, and SA for student activities as attendance codes. The Federal and State attendance policy account for ALL absences. This means all non-instructional related absences where students miss 50% or more of the day and are marked excused, unexcused are counted towards chronic absences. Students missing 18 or more of these classified days within a school year are classified as chronically absent.
Our school process for addressing chronic absences is to inform ALL parents of student absences accumulated at 4, 7, 10, 15 and 18th absence. We encourage families to call in when their child is absent and to always turn in any medical notes so that we have accurate documentation for all absences. Students with 10-18 absences that are unexcused or chronic will receive a letter and phone call from the administration to clarify school attendance expectations and if necessary clarification of Edmond’s truancy ordinance. We hope that increased communication will help with documentation of absences and encourage students to attend daily.
Here are some helpful hints to attain regular school attendance:
- Make sure your students keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine so they are rested and alert when they get to school.
- Turn off all electronics including TVs, phones and tablets at bedtime.
- Make sure clothes and pack backpacks are ready the night before.
- Check with our school nurse or office staff if you are not sure about when to keep your child at home due to illness.
- Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
- Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your student feels anxious about going to school.
- Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your student to school.
Please let us know how we can best support you and your student so that they can show up for school every day. If you have questions regarding attendance notifications please contact your grade level administrator.
Here are additional resources:
Attendance Line: 726-5751
https://sde.ok.gov/chronic-absenteeism
https://www.attendanceworks.org/policy/
https://edmondschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/4200-Attendance-Revised-10-03-16.pdf
PTO News
Goodbye, January (finally!) and Hello, February! Come join us at our general PTO meeting on February 5th at 1:15 pm. We have some exciting info on future events and dates for the Spring Semester. We also will be talking about the upcoming Bond vote on February 12th. This Bond is so important to our Edmond Schools with $90,000,000 in Bond proposals! There are many important proposals in this Bond and there is NO tax increase. Come hear about it!
If anyone is new to Cheyenne or is interested in more info about our PTO, check out our website at Cheyennemspto.com and our Facebook page, Cheyenne Middle School PTO. We would love to meet you and help you to find the perfect area for you to get involved! There is always a spot, no matter if you can give a lot of time or a little. This is a great way to feel connected at Cheyenne!
Some upcoming ways to volunteer are Pizza Day and Teacher Appreciation. Pizza Day volunteers get to serve pizza to the students and it is always so much fun! For Teacher Appreciation, there will be a SignUp Genius closer to the date to donate food items needed to give our staff and teachers a lunch to show how much we support them.
Upcoming PTO Dates
*2/8- Cheyenne Spirit Night at Arctic Edge 5:30-7:30pm
*2/12- Cheyenne Spirit Night at The Garage
*2/14- Teacher Appreciation Lunch
*2/25- Cheyenne Spirit Day at Rise and Shine Cafe
*3/5- PTO General Meeting at 1:15pm
We are Cheyenne!!!
We are Mustangs!!!
Rebecca Yacabucci
PTO President
BALTO Silent Auction
Come support BALTO and The Care Center on Monday, February 11 at the Silent Auction! The event is from 6:00- 9:00 pm at Crossings Community Church- Edmond campus. Heavy hors d'ourves will be served. Tickets are $15 at the door. We have some amazing items like a $1,000 UCO tuition waiver, Gucci Sunglasses, Tory Burch purse, spa gift cards, Thunder tickets, signed Russell Westbrook jersey and many more! There will also be a short live auction portion with items such a 9 week old Aussiedoodle puppy, vacation homes, etc. For any questions or if you would like to donate to the Silent Auction please contact Lauren Minnix, one of the chairman for the event, at laurensminnix@gmail.com. We hope to see you there!
Important Dates for Future Freshman
January 30 - Students received their North High School Enrollment Packets at school
February 5 - Future Freshman Night will be in the North High School Auditorium from 6:00-7:30pm. The auditorium is located behind NHS facing the stadium.
February 11- Freshman Enrollment Forms are due back to your child’s Science teacher
February 6- Ag Ed Tour at North
February 13 and 14 North counselors will be conducting online enrollment at Cheyenne during Science classes.
Vote!
February 12 is the election for the Edmond Public Schools 2019 Bond Issue. All registered voters who live within Edmond Public School district boundaries qualify to vote including those residents who live outside the city limits of Edmond. Cheyenne students will benefit in several ways:
- A practice gym will be built adjacent to the current gym
Additional benefits include:
- technology (computers, devices, software, wireless networking equipment, phone systems and support),
- school equipment (library/media center books and instructional materials), and
- school security (shatter-resistant glass film, staff badges and video surveillance camera systems).
Here is a link to the bond issue flyer. You may have to paste it in your browser.
https://edmondschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2019-Bond-Brochure.pdf
Due to projected growth in the district’s property valuation and the retirement of outstanding bonds, it is anticipated that the passage of this bond issue will maintain a stable tax rate between 24-25 mills. Individuals should vote at their regular precincts. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If you are interested in obtaining an absentee ballot, here is the link good for all counties. You may have to paste it in your browser.
https://services.okelections.us/AbsenteeApplication/
All bond issues require a super majority of 60% to pass. We thank you for taking the time to vote on February 12th.
The College Funding Coach at Cheyenne February 19
WANT TO LEARN HOW TO SEND YOUR KIDS TO COLLEGE WITHOUT GOING BROKE?
The cost of a college education is higher than ever. How will you afford this expense? What if
your children attend elite or out-of-state schools? What if they don’t graduate in four years?
The costs can be monumental. This workshop will teach you how to send your children to the
college of their dreams without bankrupting your retirement nest egg. You’ll discover strategies
that may enable to you to qualify for financial aid, sources for scholarships, and strategies for
maximizing your wealth and minimizing your tax exposure, giving you greater cash flow for
funding a college education. Please join us at Cheyenne Middle School on February 19th , 2019 at 5:00pm – 6:30pm. This is information you can’t afford to miss! To RSVP please: Click Here or
visit our website, www.thecollegefundingcoach.org and look for upcoming classes in your area.
ASA AFTER SCHOOL ADVANTAGE-Free Math Tutoring
A Bus will be available students home or parents can pick up.
Students must arrange ASA AHEAD OF TIME with their math teacher and parents to stay and get help, retake a test, do test corrections, study/review for a test, get help with math homework, or complete missing assignments.
TSA News
Competition Season
January allowed our members the chance to travel and compete in two different mini conferences. We brought home 34 different trophies from Career Preparation to Off the Grid to Video Game Design. Please encourage your student to try one event at one competition so they can see what it’s all about. There are over 30 different events to choose from, surely we can find a fit somewhere!
February 9 - EDMOND TSA (where would you like to help?)
February 23 - Claremore TSA
March 5 - TEAMS Testing
March 6 - Western Regional Conference
April 10,11 and 12 - State TSA Conference
Band Blast
Greetings! Below is a reminder of the fun and exciting events that will be occurring throughout the rest of the semester.
Please come support the band and orchestra programs at Cheyenne at our 7th annual mattress fundraiser. Mattresses will be on display from 10:00am – 5:00 pm on February 16, 2019 at Cheyenne Middle School. Come find a great mattress/sheets/pillows, save a lot of money and support instrumental music students.
The 7th grade band will present a February Film Fest concert on Thursday, February 7, 2019, 6:30pm in the Cheyenne Cafeteria. Students may wear their 2018-2019 band t-shirt, black pants, and black socks/shoes, or they may dress up as a character from a movie we are playing music from. Please plan to attend this brief and fun concert.
The 8th grade band will have an extended rehearsal with a guest clinician on Friday, February 15, 2019, 7:50-9:36 am in preparation for their upcoming clinic/contest performances. Students will need to make-up missing work for this activity.
The 8th grade band students will be traveling to Santa Fe High School on Friday, February 22, for a contest clinic in preparation for district contest on February 27/28, 2019. Students must be eligible to attend this activity.
The 8th grade district band contest will be either, February 27 or February 28, 2019 at Santa Fe HS. Time/date are TBD. This is a state level full band contest. The students will perform two prepared pieces as well as perform a piece they have never seen in the sight-reading room. Parents are encouraged to attend the prepared performance in the auditorium. Students must be eligible to attend this activity.
The 7th and 8th grade band students will be attending the Edmond Chamber Festival on March 30, 2019. 7th and 8th Grade soloists can also attend Deer Creek Band festival if they would like on April 13, 2019.
Please note the solo pre-contest recital date is Thursday, March 28, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in the Cheyenne band room for 7th and 8th grade soloists. This is a recital to help the students prepare for their upcoming solo performances. This is an optional event.
They 7th grade band will have an after school rehearsal on Thursday May 2, 2019 in the Cheyenne Band room in preparation for the spring concert.
Thursday, May 2, the 7th and 8th grade percussionist will perform at our Edmond North Bands Percussion Concert. Performances will include Cheyenne, Sequoyah, and Edmond North Percussion students at 7:00pm in the Edmond North HS Auditorium.
The 6th, 7th and 8th grade bands will present their spring concert on Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at Edmond North High School. This is a required performance for all band students.
Musically yours,
JoeLee Mills
Meagan Stevens
Greg Mangus
From the Orchestra Podium
February and March are busy months for the Cheyenne Middle School Orchestra. On Thursday, February 21nd, the 7th grade orchestra will travel to Santa Fe High School to participate in the pre-district orchestra contest and clinic as a large ensemble. The actual district contest will be on either Tuesday February 26th or Wednesday February 26th for both the 7th and 8th grade orchestras at Santa Fe High School. As always, we encourage parents and friends to attend. The complete schedule will be announced as we draw closer to the event. Concert dress uniform will be need for these events.
Due to rising costs and needs for our programs, the Cheyenne orchestra and band are working on a combined fundraiser on February 16th selling mattresses. Parents and students are asked to contribute by spreading the word to family, friends and neighbors. Student volunteers will be needed. As the date gets closer, students will be asked to sign up for one hour shifts for the event. Please feel free to contact Jeff Ketch with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your support of the orchestra and all of the arts.
Email: jeff.ketch@edmondschools.net Office phone: 405-726-5739
FCCLA to sell ValentineGram
Cheyenne FCCLA will be selling ValentineGram for delivery at Cheyenne Middle School. Order forms and payments are due no later than February 12th to Mrs. Wildman. ValentineGrams will also be sold on campus February 4-8. Deliveries will be made during 7th hour on Valentine's Day.
Download the order form here to get your Valentine a special treat!
Billy Samuel
Project Alert Begins February 26
Providing Motivation and Skills to Say "No"
6th Grade Lessons
Derek Talkington
Be a Library Volunteer
We are looking for adult volunteers to assist in the Media Center. Please contact Dana Whitmarsh, the Library Assistant, at dana.whitmarsh@edmondschools.net if you would be interested in signing up for special projects (once or twice a year) or to be a regular volunteer (weekly).
Regular volunteers (weekly) help check in and out library materials, shelve books, create bulletin board and/or display projects, and encourage the love of reading.
The mission of the Media Program is to encourage the reading habit and to foster skills that make our students good information seekers, judges, and thinkers.
Get Your Earbuds Now!
Order Your Yearbook Today!
Cheyenne Socks-Only $10 per pair!
Chromebook Care-Tech Code of Conduct
Athletics
Current Schedules are available online.
Athletic participation forms must be completed before attending any practices.
A recent doctor's physical must also be completed and returned to Mr. DeForest, athletic director. The forms can be completed online. You will need your child's student ID number to complete an account and forms. The doctor's physical form can also be downloaded from the link.
7th & 8th Grade Girls Golf
The parent meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 5th 5:15 pm in the media center
Try-Outs are on Monday, Feb. 11th & Tuesday, Feb. 12th: 3:15-5pm at the Links Golf Course (OKC)
The cost to play the try-out course is $6.
School Information
Infinite Campus New Campus Student and New Campus Parent App
Infinite Campus has a new Campus Student and a new Campus Parent app available to download.
Campus Student and Campus Parent are designed to provide real-time access to student information. The easy-to-use design displays what is currently happening in the classroom so you can understand, monitor, and participate in the educational process.
» Announcements
» Assignments
» Attendance
» Grades
» Schedules
Infinite Campus Mobile Apps can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Learn more at infinitecampus.com/parents-students
Attendance Line: 726-5751
Please call your child in absent prior to 10:00 am. Leave a message with child's name, grade, and reason for absence. This line is for attendance messages only and will automatically go to voicemail. Please only call once. Do not call or email the teachers and/or counselors. Parents must call the attendance line to report absences.
Box Tops for Education
Homeroom Competition is on now for the 3rd 9 weeks!
Turn in Box Tops to your Homeroom Teacher
6th Grade 1st hour
7th Grade 1st hour
8th Grade 3rd hour
Jostens Yearkbook Orders
Dress Code Expectations
Chromebooks
Cafeteria
Free & Reduced Price Meal Applications
If you do not have internet access for the online application, printed applications are available at your child's cafeteria. Completed applications (pages 9 & 10 of the application packet), may be emailed to (Susan.Freeman@edmondschools.net); faxed (405-330-7303); or turned in to your child's cafeteria, school office, or the Child Nutrition Office (125 N. State Street).
(The meal application is available in 49 other languages by clicking here.)
Lunch Account Online
Important: checking out students, lunches, & messages
You will be required to have your driver license to check your child out. Plan enough time for checkout. Calls to check out a student prior to arriving at the school are not accepted.
Lunches: If delivering lunches please make sure you have conveyed it to your child in advance. We do not deliver lunches to classrooms. Students will pick up in the office when dismissed from class. Family members are not allowed to have lunch with their child in the cafeteria. If you would like to eat with your child, you are welcome to join them in the office.
Messages: Please make arrangements with your child for transportation or other such issues in the morning before school begins. We will provide messages to students when provided before 2:00. We cannot guarantee messages will arrive to students if received after 2:00pm.
Demographic & Contact information on Parent Portal
Personal Devices
The implementation of school provided Chromebooks brings an end to the academic need for personal devices during the school day. With that, we will be expecting personal devices to be off and out of sight for the duration of the school day. In remaining consistent with our middle school practice, devices will be allowed before the first school bell at 7:40 and after the last bell at 2:40. We recognize that personal devices are part of the everyday world that we live in as well as our future, and know the incredible capability that today’s technology brings to our life. For young adolescents, it also presents many challenges. Recent research is now showing that middle school-aged students are spending an average of 4.5 hours a day on their personal devices. That number increases to 8 hours a day by the high school years. As educators and parents we see how many of our kids are immersed on social media platforms, gaming, mass
(sometimes hidden) communications and other varieties of content consumption. For a great many students this creates social-emotional and/or academic challenges during school, in addition to the challenges from an instructional point of view. We are seeking to increase classroom engagement and reduce outside distractions, and we appreciate your support in this transition. If you need to get an urgent message to your child, we will be happy to help in that communication from the office.
Cheyenne Middle School
Michael DeForest, Assistant Principal & Athletic Director, 8th grade administrator
Deby McWatters, Assistant Principal, 7th grade administrator
Melissa Krause, Counselor 6th
Kathy Parker, Counselor 7th
Michele Kingdom, Counselor 8th
Website: http://cheyenne.edmondschools.net/
Location: 1271 West Covell Road, Edmond, OK, United States
Phone: 405-340-2940
Facebook: facebook.com/@edmondcheyenne