The Buzz
Concord Middle School Newsletter
Bond Projects and Construction
The 2017 Bond projects have begun and we could not be more excited. Our new sign has been installed and is being updated regularly. Construction is underway in all three buildings. New openings for doors have been cut in the outside walls and windows will soon be replaced in the elementary and middle school. The progress has been amazing, and we are very grateful. The updates will improve the safety and security of our students! THANK YOU CONCORD COMMUNITY!!
Window in the new office
Hall entry from the new office
Hall entry from the vestibule
Hearing and Vision Screening
At the end of the month, the health department will begin their annual health and vision screenings. Hearing will be screened for Prekindergarten, kindergarten, and 4th-grade students. Vision screening will be completed for the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th-grade students. If you do not want your child's hearing or vision screened, please contact the office by January 29th.
Middle School Athletics
Middle School winter sports have begun. Currently, our 6th-8th graders are competing in wrestling, competitive cheer, and girls basketball. Middle school sports are a great way to help our students build relationships and try new things. We encourage all kids to participate in our successful sports programs. The competitive cheer team is on fire racking up first-place finishes and both the wrestling and basketball teams are improving with each match. Schedules and other information on athletics can be accessed by clicking the following link Concord Athletic Page. GO JACKETS!!
Strengthening Connections and Empowering our Team
On Friday, January 18, 2019, a team of teachers had the opportunity to visit Lillian Fletcher Elementary school in Homer, MI. The visit was a great opportunity for our teachers to collaborate with the Homer staff on how to improve our implementation of the Capturing Kids Hearts Process. The Homer staff welcomed us with open arms, and we were able to gather many ideas. This connection will allow both schools to share expertise to improve outcomes for our kids and empower our staff to lead positive change. We look forward to continuing to strengthing this connection and make teaching and learning better for all kids in the area.
Yellowjacket of the Week
Concord's K-12 staff was recharged this week in Capturing Kids Hearts Process. This process is designed to help empower students to take ownership and pride in their community. At the beginning of the year, the teachers worked with their classes to develop a social contract. The contract identifies behaviors that the students and teachers need to see in themselves and each other in order to be successful. To help support the students and the staff, we will be identifying traits to focus on each week. This week's trait is kindness. The teachers will be looking for students in their class that exemplify kindness this week. On Friday, we will announce our Yellowjackets of the week, present them with a certificate and take their picture to hang in The Hive.
PowerUp Literacy MEMSPA Grant
PowerUp Literacy is an online reading program that helps students improve reading by providing instruction to students any time, anywhere at their level. Teachers received training on the program on Monday, January 21 and are excited to share the program with our students. While working in the program, students practice grammar and vocabulary skills, improve word recognition, and build reading stamina and comprehension by accessing relevant and challenging text. This fall, CMS wrote a grant for the program to the MEMSPA organization and received one of five offered in Michigan. Students can access the program at home through the Clever website using their Google login information. We encourage all students to work in PowerUp at home and will recognize students that are passing lessons in the program.
Connecting Home and School
Concord's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is helping to bridge the gap between home and school. They are working really hard to connect our families to the school community by sponsoring many family-friendly events including this week's Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program. The RIF program is designed to encourage students to read at home by providing them with a free book of their choice. The PTO also has a family movie night planning for January 25th at 6:00 pm and another Book BINGO event scheduled for February 8th. The PTO is always looking for members to support these activities. The next PTO meeting is February 13th in the elementary library at 6:00 pm everyone is welcome!
Upcoming Events
1/25 PTO Family Movie Night
2/8 8th Grade Field Trip to the Career Center
2/8 PTO Book BINGO
2/8 Snow Coming - GO JACKETS!!
2/13 Spring Count Day
2/13 PTO Meeting - 6:00 Elementary Library - New members welcome!
2/15 Half Day
2/16 PTO Daddy Daughter Dance
2/18 No School
3/6 MS Vision Screening
Concord Middle School
Email: rebecca.hutchinson@concordschools.net
Website: www.concordschools.net
Location: 405 South Main Street, Concord, MI, USA
Phone: (517)524-8854