THE PAW PRINT
VOL. 6 - Week of September 21, 2020
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS!
Rosh Hashanah 2020
We are about to enter into a period of celebration for those of the Jewish faith known as Rosh Hashanah. Literally meaning “head of year,” it marks the start of Jewish New Year and brings in a period of self reflection.
What is Rosh Hashanah?
As well as marking the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah is also the start of the Ten Days Of Repentance which end on Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. This is a time for family, and when people try to do good and charitable deeds, ask for forgiveness, and set the tone for the year ahead.
When is Rosh Hashanah?
The celebration takes place in the month of Tishrei (September/October), which is the first day of the civil year and the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year, according to Jewish teachings. The start of Rosh Hashanah is signalled by the new moon, which is why it falls on a different day each year. This year it takes place from sundown on Friday 18 September to nightfall on Sunday 20 September. Rosh Hashanah is the only Jewish holiday that lasts for two days in Israel because it is though to be too important for only one 24 hour celebration.
How is it celebrated?
In biblical terms, Rosh Hashanah is known as Yom Teruah, which means “day of blasting or shouting.” One of the traditions associated with the day is using an instrument made out of a ram’s horn, known as a “shofar,” to “raise a noise,” according to Hebrew teachings. Food is an important part of the celebrations, particularly sweet food such as apples dipped in honey, which symbolize a sweet new year. Other food eaten during the celebrations include round challah loaves dipped into honey, pomegranate, and fish, while drinks of choice include wine or grape juice. Candles are lit in the evenings and people may also attend special services at Synagogues to say prayers and ask God for forgiveness. Rosh Hashanah is also thought of as a time to cast away people’s sins, with one tradition seeing people going to a body of a water to say a prayer, in a ceremony known as Tashlich.
How do you say happy new year?
People celebrating Rosh Hashanah wish each other a Happy New Year in a range of different ways. One of the most popular greetings to say is: “L’shanah tovah.” Shanah Tovah means “[have a] good year.” Sometimes Shanah Tovah Umetukah is the greeting of choice, which means “[have a] good and sweet year.” Other greetings people may say around this time include “Ketivah v’chatima tovah,” which means, “A good inscription and sealing [in the Book of Life].” This is because many believe that this time of year sees the fate for their years ahead decided.
Join us for Back to School Night!
Absences and Student Attendance Update
Para ver esta presentación en español, haga clic aquí
CCMS Time Trackers Are Here!
Our CCMS Time Trackers finally arrived last week and we have been handing them out to any student who comes by. We will continue distributing this week, Monday through Friday, from 2-4 pm. After that, you will need to make an appointment with the office.
Library Books and Other Supplies Pick-ups
Elective supplies, Fun Friday kits and ELA packets will still be available for pick up in the main office from 9am-2pm by appointment. See our website for available days/hours and to make your appointment! OR come by 2-4pm any day this week! No appointment needed.
Pedometers for Students and the Walk Across America Challenge!
Join us in this fun challenge and pick up your free student pedometer at CCMS this week from 2-4pm!
Help our school cross the United States by walking and biking each day. Use your pedometer (or smart phone app) and Activity Tracker to track how many steps, blocks or miles you walk or bike each day, week and month. Then simply upload the information through the Active4.me Run Club application. That's it! The system tracks your progress and all the other students at your school. Together we will chart a path across the country!
Note: this system is part of the Active4.me scanning/tracking system we have used for 7 years. While the system does ask for a parent’s last name and email, we do not collect any information about the children. Also, it is strictly an opt-in system. If you wish to participate without registering, you can send us a screenshot of the student’s Activity Tracker and the data will be entered for them. This information is not used for any purpose other than our specific encouragement activity.
Here is how it works:
Parents visit their school’s link here www.ccwalkandroll.com/overview and register for the Walk/Bike Challenge.
They enter a unique ScreenName (NOT their child's name), teacher, parent email and parent last name.
Parents will be sent a confirmation email with a link to their own tracking page. (This information is not shared with or accessible to anyone but the parent and myself)
Using their pedometer - or smart phone app - they count their steps (alternatively, they can simply count blocks or miles on their own)
They can also use the Activity Tracker to track their progress.
Once a day or once week they enter their progress online.
That's it! Each week, we will run a report and update the school's progress as they journey across the United States together! I cannot wait to see which school crosses the country first!
Again, pedometers are being distributed this week and the system activates on Monday so get yours soon! The pedometer and Tracker are mostly encouragement tools and are not necessary for participation.
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Jim
Walk 'n Rollers
Helping kids start their day in a fun, active way!
(310) 204-4346
Donate today!
Follow us on Facebook
California Junior Scholarship Federation Applications
Weekly Schedule for Week of September 28
Below is the weekly schedule for the week of Sep 28. At the secondary level (MS & HS) , it is customary that we adjust our weekly schedule when we have a holiday during the week. Both schools have agreed to continue this practice during distance learning. In this manner, students meet with their teachers twice a week and do not miss out on a day of valuable content.
Monday, September 28 is a holiday and we will be adjusting our bell schedule in the same way that week as well. After that, there are 4 more Monday holidays the rest of this school year.
Here is the CCUSD 20-21 Calendar to help in planning for these weeks. All other weeks will remain as we have communicated.
Update on Enriching Students App
Students will be trained this Wednesday, Sep 23 and will be expected to sign up for the Oct 7 PAWs. All self-sign ups for intervention/enrichment will go through Enriching Students beginning on Oct 7.
The website to access the Enriching Students (PAWs) website is: https://app.enrichingstudents.com/
What is PAWs?
PAWs (Panther Achievement Workshops) are sessions that are scheduled every Wednesday after Panther Pods (homeroom). Each subject will have a time slot where teachers will be hosting extra help/intervention/enrichment sessions for students who could benefit from the extra time with their teachers. Students can sign up for 0-7 PAWs sessions every week. Though it is not mandatory to sign up for PAWs, the students are encouraged to utilize this extra help session for the classes that they may need the extra help.
When does PAWs happen?
PAWs sessions happen every Wednesday. There are 30 minute sessions scheduled for every subject area. See bell schedule on the left.
How do students sign up for PAWs?
Starting Wednesday, September 23rd, students can sign up for PAWs by using a sign up site called Enriching Students. Their teachers will be posting their PAWs offering for the week on Monday. The students can sign up themselves or the teacher can sign up the students if they feel they can benefit from attending the live video session. Attendance will be taken by the teacher in the PAWs session.
How will the students know how to sign up for PAWs?
During this Wednesday’s Panther Pod time, the students will be trained on how to sign onto the Enriching Students website, how to search for the teachers’ offerings, and how to schedule for their PAWs sessions. Here is the instruction on how to log in and change your password, viewing your schedule, and scheduling or requesting an appointment. To watch a video tutorial on what the students see on the mobile app, you can watch this video.The Reflections Arts Appreciation Contest Is Underway!
The 2020-2021 Reflections Arts Contest has begun! This year’s theme is "I Matter Because…” We want to hear from artists, dancers, writers, photographers, filmmakers and musicians!
To participate, CCMS students may submit an original piece of their own independent work inspired by the annual theme, in any of the following six areas: Dance, Film, Literature, Photography, Music Composition and Visual Arts. Students are welcome to submit to more than one category if they’d like.
Unlike previous years, all Reflections entries will be submitted digitally. Click on the link for the Student Entry Form to complete and upload all documents. For example, if you’ve painted a picture you will need to take photographs of that picture and upload to the Student Entry Form. For general rules, please read the Student Rules document. For all uploading rules, please read the online Student Entry Form.
Submissions are due October 15th via the online link.
We want to highlight that there is a Special Artists division for Reflections and we encourage all eligible students to submit their art into the Special Artists category. Last year a CCMS Special Artist advanced all the way to State!
Please note, that for the Film category, the students must do all of the actual camera filming themselves. So if they want to be in their own film, they must use a tripod or station the camera in one spot while they are on camera.
Click here for the Student Rules: INSERT ATTACHED STUDENT RULES.PDF
Click here for the Student Entry Form: https://forms.gle/uyKRbiggUj5tQi8k7
Please contact Luci Jenkins for questions: Luci.Jenkins@mac.com
Important Tik Tok Notice for Parents
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As partners with regard to the digital media world that our students navigate daily, it is important that we are all aware of a disturbing video that has recently surfaced on the internet. Our intention is to provide you with accurate information so that you may appropriately speak with and monitor your children’s social media consumption without alarm.
This past week it came to our attention that a video originating on Facebook Live surfaced showing a man dying by suicide in vivo. The video clip was subsequently uploaded onto Tik Tok and is potentially being replicated automatically into Tik Tok accounts, depending on their “For You” platform feeds, which may be randomly prescribed.
It goes without saying that being subjected to this content, at any age, is traumatic. As appropriate, please take some time to speak calmly with your child about this potential viewing. You may also want to consider how you might take steps to limit the viewing possibility on their Tik Tok feed.
September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Our Counselors are always available to provide support, and have offered the following useful resources:
How to Help Someone that May Be Thinking of Suicide: BeThe1To.com
Resources from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Getting Involved to Support Suicide Prevention: NAMI Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
In Case of Emergency:
- If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call 911 immediately.
- If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- If you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
Back to School Health Coverage Event
OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS FOR PARENTS
Panther Parents – we need you!
We are nearly 1/3 of the way through our campaign (about 28 days into our 100 day campaign). We’ve already raised more than $20,000 for the school. That’s great! Let’s keep it going. We’re aiming to have 100% of families donate in the first 100 days of school to raise $100,000 for our amazing school.
Thank you so much for stretching to give generously to support CCMS and ensure our teachers and students have the resources needed to navigate these turbulent times. Your donations are helping to fund teacher supplies, the Where Everybody Belongs (WEB) program, technology, the arts and so much more. A public education is free but a great one takes all of our support. Thank you!!!
Donate $250 or more now to receive a luxurious navy blanket with the #CULVERPRIDE logo embroidered in white (perfect for your Panther to snuggle during distance learning).
Click Donate 20-21
A few more volunteers needed for the Backpacks for Kids Program
The Backpacks for Kids program provides bags filled with food and snacks for children to take home each week when needed. Sponsored by Council PTA, we have been distributing bags all summer and are expecting to distribute even more this school year. Thanks to everyone who has already offered to help. To run successfully, we would love to have a couple more people to help on:
Thursdays, 3:45pm-6pm, to help with Thursday dinners at Farragut
Looking for two more friendly volunteers to help take orders and pass out food at the Thursday dinners in front of Farragut Elementary School. Volunteers should enjoy working with people and will be expected to help make sure things run smoothly. Being able to speak Spanish may be helpful. This would be a weekly commitment.
Please email me if you're interested and able to help- volunteers do NOT have to be CCUSD cleared but masks & distancing are required. Please email Connie at cslwong123@gmail.com. In addition, monetary donations can be made at https://www.ccbackpacksforkids.com/
Thank you!
Sip Some Wine & Support Our Schools on September 26!
CCEF’s Virtual Happy Hour event is almost here!
Just over a week until CCEF’s virtual happy hour fundraising event! Register today - tickets are still available for the wine tasting (with real wine!) and chef demonstrations.
http://events.handbid.com/auctions/sip-for-our-schools-2020
We look forward to gathering together to SIP – Socialize in Place – and sharing the impact that your donations make possible in Culver City schools. If you're unable to join the event you can still make a difference! Anyone can bid on the amazing auction items starting on Saturday, September 19th.
You can also donate online here www.ccef4schools.org
PREVIOUSLY POSTED ANNOUNCEMENTS
Spanish Parent Meeting Presentation
Presentación de la reunión de padres en español:
Gracias por acompañarnos durante la presentación de la reunión de padres en español. Para acceder a los materiales, haga clic aquí.
CCMS Celebrates Diversity with Theme Months!
Hispanic-Latinx Heritage Month is Sep. 15 - Oct. 15!
Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the contributions Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South American and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean have made to American society and culture. The observance was born in 1968 when Congress authorized the president to issue an annual proclamation designating National Hispanic Heritage Week. Just two decades later, lawmakers expanded it to a month-long celebration, stretching from September 15 to October 15.
The timing is key. Hispanic Heritage Month — like its shorter precursor — always starts on September 15, a historically significant day that marks the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The designated period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.
WHY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS IMPORTANT
Strong impact on America: Hispanic influences are tightly knitted in the fabric of American life. Think music, food, art, cinema, politics, literature, and so much more.
Around one-fifth of the U.S. population is Hispanic: The state with the largest Hispanic and Latino population overall is California with over 14 million.
Our kids benefit: While Hispanic children learn about their roots this month, all kids can benefit from learning about Spanish history and culture.
Check out the two resources below:
- Oprah Mag: On OprahMag.com, we celebrate Latinidad and all identities every day. But for Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 through October 15, we're highlighting stories from Latinx perspectives, which you can read here. Disfruten! (Highly recommend)
- National Park Service: Telling All Americans' Stories, American Latino Heritage
NEW! Looking for a way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with your kids? Check out these family-friendly resources!
Great Resource for Students and Families!
New Information Regarding Grab n Go Meals!
Serving Procedures:
- Grab 'n Go meals will be offered daily at all school sites.
- CCMS will serve at the main entrance from 1:00 PM to 2 PM daily.
- Lunches will include a student’s choice of lunch entrées along with accompanying side dishes.
Sandy Segal Youth Health Center Services
AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES AND SPORTS INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION
An Update on CCMS Fall and Winter Sports
Due to Covid-19 all Fall and Winter sports have been canceled at CCMS.
We are looking into spring sports as a possibility, and we hope we will be able to offer a full sports program for the 2021-2022 school year.
If you have additional questions about particular sports, please contact the AD for the sports under their name.
Athletic Director - Tom Salter tomsalter@ccusd.org 310-842-4200 x6060
Fall - Flag Football , Water Polo , Girls Tennis
Winter - Swim
Spring - Softball, Boys and Girls Lacrosse, Boys Tennis
Athletic Director - Angelo Sablan angelosablan@ccusd.org
Fall - Girls Volleyball , Cross Country
Winter - Boys and Girls Basketball
Spring - Boys and Girls Soccer, Track, Boys Volleyball
Athletic Assistant - Tonya Mclinn tonyamclinn@ccusd.org
Panther Partners After School Classes - You can STILL Enroll!
Registration is open & Classes have started for the Panther Partners After School Classes! YOU CAN STILL JOIN
Beginning & Continuing French
2 different art classes
Mathcounts & Math Olympiad
Actors’ Workshop
Digital Skills for Entrepreneurs (coding)
Photography
Folklorico Dance
Magic: The Gathering
Register here: Click here for Panther Partners After School Classes Registration!
Fall 2020.
Classes started September 7, 2020 ( Labor Day week) and run through the week of December 18, 2020.
That’s 14 weeks of classes!
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE.
CCMS IMPROV After School Program Info
CCMS is the largest and longest-running after school program at CCMS. Started in 2011, 100+ students participate each year.
Improv is a comprehensive study of game-based, short form improvisation directed and taught by award-winning professional improvisers Eric Price, Sarah Parga, and Eddie Quintana.
Students learn, practice, and perform fundamentals of improvisation as well as advanced concepts and skills (scene study, character work, styles, genres, and musical improvisation). Most importantly, students develop essential life skills such as acceptance, commitment, flexibility, courage, collaboration, critical thinking, and kindness. No experience of any kind is necessary; only commitment and positive attitude are required!
Please see our short informational video at ccmsimprov.com, and check out the flyer below for additional information.
Registration begins Aug 18 ~ classes start Sep 14. Register at ccmsimprov.com
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Access the Incredible Resources of CCUSD!
Visit Our CCMS Store Today!
Follow us!
On Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @CulverCityMS
Culver City Middle School
Website: http://ccms.ccusd.org/
Location: 4601 Elenda Street, Culver City, CA, United States
Phone: 310-842-4200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CulverCityMS/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf
Twitter: @culvercityms