Colony Middle School
Email: cms@matsuk12.us
Website: matsuk12.us/cms
Location: 9250 East Bogard Road, Palmer, AK
Phone: (907) 761-1500
Greetings Colony Middle School Families! It is hard to believe Spring Break is right around the corner, and we are headed into the 4th Quarter! This time of the school year brings many things, warmer weather, sunshine, and end of year events! It also brings our yearly standardized tests, which will occur in late-March and mid-April this year. During this time, all CMS students will participate in the AK STAR tests which stands for Alaska System of Academic Readiness. All students take AK STAR tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics and 8th grade students also take a Science test. These tests measure how well students are learning when compared to the Alaska State Content Standards. Another important test that all CMS students will take is our MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Tests in Reading, Language Usage, and Mathematics. Students take these tests two times per year, and they are very different than AK STAR. The MAP Tests measure student learning growth over the school year along with their level of achievement compared to other students from across the nation. We believe that all students, whether they are advanced, on grade level, or emergent learners, should make a year of academic growth for each school year. This year, we are pleased to announce that the Spring MAP tests will be taken along with AK Star in the same test sessions. This is possible because Northwest Education Association (NWEA) creates both tests. We are excited that this will reduce the overall number of tests students must take, but it will give us the same data as if the tests were taken separately. At CMS we use student learning data extensively. The data we gather from both AK STAR and MAP is critical in helping us match our instructional programs to the learning needs of all our students. It is also a vital part of the continual improvement process, and the data is needed to drive those plans. Teachers and students work incredibly hard through the year and these tests are a great chance to show all that has been accomplished and help plant seeds for future accomplishments! As always, thank you for your support for Colony Middle School as we seek to build excellence for every student, every day.
Sincerely,
John Gardner, Principal -- CMS
Colony Middle's first ever Flag Football Season starts April 10th and runs through May 17th. Practice will be held everyday after school from 2:30 - 4:00. Athletes will need football cleats, a mouth guard and black shorts (receiver gloves are optional). To participate students need to sign up on Planet HS, have a current physical on file and pay the $100 sports fee on School Pay. Contact the office at 761-1500 if you have any questions!
GO TO WWW.PLANETHS.COM AND CLICK ON THE SIGN UP BUTTON.
Track & Field and Flag Football begin April 10th. To participate students need to sign up on Planet HS, have a current physical on file and pay the $100 sports fee on School Pay. Contact the office at 761-1500 if you have any further questions!
GO TO WWW.PLANETHS.COM AND CLICK ON THE SIGN UP BUTTON.
GO KNIGHTS!
For the latest up to date information and game schedules for CMS sports please go to www.matsuk12.us/cms and go to the ATHLETICS link at the top of the page and click on specified sport.
GO KNIGHTS
BUS PASSES are required for students to ride an unassigned bus or to disembark at an unassigned stop. Bus passes are issued at the school office and require a note or email from the parent/guaradian. You may email the CMS Secretaries at brenda.kennedy@matsuk12.us or teri.hone@matsuk12.us or send a note with your student.
The front office is very busy at the end of the day so we appreciate you notifying us early as to changes in your student's after school transportation. Thank You.
If a student has already boarded the Bus for the evening, parents need to call the Front Office to request their student be released from the Bus. For safety reasons, students are not allowed off the Bus without notification from the Office.
2023-2024 Scheduling Updates
It is time to start looking forward to next year with our student's schedules. To that end, the counseling department has created a new webpage for parents and students that gives information on the different content areas that make up the schedules here at Colony Middle School. We have included information on the different core classes, elective classes and a brief synopsis of the 4Cs class that all students are required to take. For more information, please check out our new webpage.
Scheduling Emails
As we prepare for our students for the 2023-2024 school year, we want to make sure that we are sending out communication to families for students. Please fill out this form to let us know what information you would like us to provide and where you would like us to send it. If your student is moving on to high school, please consider filling out this form and giving us the information so that we can make sure that our records are accurate for which school they will be attending next year. We appreciate your help in making sure that we are able to provide timely updates to the correct place. The link to this form can also be found on our scheduling webpage.
Elective Requests for Next School Year
Students are able to submit their requests for electives using their StudentVue Account or by completing this google form. If you have questions on what the elective class is, we have created course descriptions on our scheduling webpage.
If you have more questions regarding this update, please reach out to your student's counselor.
Early High School Credit Opportunity for Next School Year
Students can opt to take additional high school classes next school year. Please complete this google form to let us know which classes you are interested in having your student take next year at Colony Middle School.
If you have more questions regarding this update, please reach out to your student's counselor.
Instructional Setting Dress Code
Student dress and general appearance is a shared responsibility among students, parents and the school. The Board of Education requires students to attend school in appropriate dress that meets health and safety standards and does not interfere with the learning process. The following minimum standards will be enforced at Colony Middle School:
a. All clothing and accessories must be appropriate for school and not disruptive to classrooms or other school functions.
b. No displays are allowed that would be racially or ethnically offensive, promote hate-speech, or show gang affiliation. No displays are allowed that contain inappropriate language, themes, or images. No displays may be suggestive of violence, sex, or substances that are banned from school.
c. Clothing that is overly revealing is not allowed. This includes shirts that are low cut, sleeveless, or that are not long enough to cover to the waistband. Pants/shorts/skirts/dresses must cover the legs to mid-thigh. All undergarments must remain covered. No clothing may be see-through or transparent.
d. Because of the need for staff members to be able identify individuals on the school campus, nothing can obstruct or cover the head or face that would block identification. Because of this, sunglasses, hats, and hoods are not allowed. Any individual who needs accommodation in this area is encouraged to request it.
If a student chooses to wear inappropriate clothing, the student will be given an SRC referral and asked to change. If necessary, the student may call a parent to bring an appropriate change of clothes. If a student continually violates the school dress code, the following consequences will occur. First and second offense, an email will be sent to parents. Third and fourth offense, the student will receive 2 lunch detentions. The fifth offense, the student and an administrator will contact parents to discuss the infraction and future consequences.
