Curtis Chronicles
November 11, 2019
A Message from Curtis Principal, Sonya Pitcock
Cougar parents,
We had our first privilege time last week, where students who were passing all classes at progress were given an opportunity to attend an activity of choice for the last 30 minutes of the day. We hope students enjoyed this time and it will be an incentive to keep up with those grades between report cards! We will be getting student feedback on the offered activities and try to expand those based on what kids’ interests are. Students who weren’t able to participate due to grades will be eligible each time we have privilege time based on their grades at progress. We don’t want them to be discouraged, they will get to earn some privilege time too!
Reminder that all students and staff will have early release on November 22 at 12:35. We will offer sack lunch to students who wish to purchase one and they will be able to eat here before we dismiss. Buses will run early that day.
It’s the giving season and we are lucky to have so many generous students and families who reach out to support others. Our first canned food drive, sponsored by NJHS, in early September was a success and our PALs sponsored canned food drive kicks off next week to support ACO. See details below.
Also, Allen ISD will be partnering with the City of Allen as collection sites for Toys for Tots. We will have a box in the CMS front office for any toy donations you’d like to send in. All toys must be new and unwrapped. We will collect until the week of December 2nd.
Lastly, our Allen Council of PTAs is always collecting school supplies, snacks, hygiene products, etc for our families who need support.
We wish everyone a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving and are so appreciative of the support we have from all our parents! We are grateful for the kind words, the partnerships to keep students on track and the input for how we can grow as a campus.
From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
Sonya Pitcock
Principal
Upcoming Events
Nov. 11-16: Buttermilk Sky Pie Spirit Week
Nov. 11: 7th grade basketball v. McMillan, girls away/boys home
Nov. 14: 8th grade basketball v. McMillan, girls home/boys away
Nov. 15: School Picture Retakes
Nov. 18: 8th grade Parent Info Night, AIM for Success Program
Nov. 18: 7th grade basketball v. Cooper, girls away/boys home
Nov. 21: 8th grade basketball v. McMillan, girls home/boys away
Nov. 22: Early Release Day
Nov. 25-29: Thanksgiving Break
Social and Emotional Learning Update
Parents,
Here are the summaries of our Social Emotional Learning lessons. Please ask your students about these!
7th grade
FAMILY LESSON SUMMARY
This week, your child will learn about how thinking about his or her values can help make his or her online social world a place where everyone feels safe and welcome.
FAMILY LESSON QUESTION
Talk to your child about the kinds of interactions he or she has online. Ask your child how he or she shows his or her personal values while interacting online.
And next week…
FAMILY LESSON SUMMARY
This week, your child will explore how values can help build strong friendships. Your child will think about how his or her personal values help make him or her a good friend.
FAMILY LESSON QUESTION
Talk with your child about what he or she likes about his or her friends. Ask your child what he or she thinks those friends like about him or her.
8th grade
FAMILY LESSON SUMMARY
This week, your child will explore how remembering their values can help people build positive relationships. Your child will think about ways to form positive relationships with people who share similar interests.
FAMILY LESSON QUESTION
Ask your child to think of one value everyone in the family shares. Talk about ways everyone in your family can help show that value.
And next week…
FAMILY LESSON SUMMARY
This week, your child will learn that relationships often change during middle school, when interests and identities are changing. Your child will learn strategies for handling these changes in a healthy way.
FAMILY LESSON QUESTION
Ask your child about any recent changes in friendships at school. Reassure your child that relationships change throughout our lives, and talk about ways to handle these changes.
PTA Business Sponsorship Program
Red Level, $100
- 1 PTA Community membership
- Logo/website listed on PTA website for one year
Black Level, $250
- 1 PTA Community membership
- Logo/website listed on PTA website for one year
- 1 shout out in both our campus newsletter (1,400+ student families) and 1 shout out on the PTA FB page
CLICK HERE for a flyer with more details or email Jennifer.
Donations Needed for November 20 CMS Staff Meeting
PTA is coordinating food items for the CMS staff November meeting. We will be providing chips, dip, fruit and drinks. If you can sign up to bring something, please CLICK HERE.
PTA offers an early-drop off option for those who can provide non-perishable items. Details are on the sign up.
THANK YOU to everyone who donates items for our Staff meetings. We appreciate your support!
Benefits for Being a Student Member of PTA
Student incentives are out and circulating! Your child may have mentioned these handy-dandy little coupon booklets. If you HAVEN’T heard about them—or are just plain unsure what they are talking about—we, with the endorsement of our wonderful principal, Sonya Pitcock, are offering these student incentives as a thank you to our current PTA student members
- Late homework passes (fall/spring)
- First bell tardy passes (fall/spring)
- Free service hours (fall/spring)
- Front of lunch line pass (fall/spring)
- Free Valogram
- Free slice of pizza at the spring dance
...and more! Become a student PTA member today and enjoy some of these great benefits that now come with your membership!
Of course, it goes without saying that without parental support, the Curtis PTA could not do what we do. Every PTA function is a direct result of the membership dollars, no-fuss donations and/or sponsorship that are generously given by YOU, the parents. With your help, we are able to provide concessions at in-house athletic events, fund the Spring Dance, supply Val-o-grams, provide programs such as author visits and Red Ribbon Week, provide scholarships, and more!
CLICK HERE to join. You will need to create an account if you do not have a Membership Toolkit account.
Volunteer Opportunities
- Basketball Concession Stand: Starting in November
- Copy Room
You will need to sign in to your account, select My Account in order to see the Volunteer opportunities.
ACO Thanksgiving Food Drive: November 11-21, Organized by CMS Student Council
Cans will be collected in home room and the home room with most cans on November 21 will get a donut party. When 2,000 cans are reached every lunch will get a techno-lunch. For NJHS and PALS members for every 5 cans will receive 1 service hour, up to 3 service hours. Cans wanted need to be non-perishable and Ramen in cans is also accepted.
8th Grade Families: AIM for Success Parent/Student Presentation Information
Curtis PTA is partnering with CMS to give 8th graders the opportunity to hear a powerful,
live representation by AIM FOR SUCCESS, INC. encouraging sexual abstinence untilmarriage. The presentation is fun, interactive, and never embarrassing.
In addition to the student program, we are also presenting a parent preview of the program
on Monday, November 18, from 6:30 -7:30 PM in the Curtis Middle School cafeteria. The
parent meeting includes a preview of the student program so you know firsthand what the
students will be seeing. Please attend this parent-only presentation to preview what your child will see and to receive some helpful parenting tips!
Student presentations are scheduled for Nov 21, 2019.
For more information visit their website at www.aimforsuccess.org
OPT OUT INFORMATION FOR YOUR STUDENT:
Parents may "opt-out" their students from participating. Please CLICK HERE for the form that you will need to turn in to your Counselor by Nov 19, 2019.
Congratulations Reflections Winners
Thank you to all the students who participated in this year's Reflections Art Competition. All the submissions were amazing!
The students who will be moving on to the council level are:
- Michelle Wong for Visual Arts
- Alexander Tandon for his submissions in Photography, Film Production, and Literature
- Aadil Aslam for Literature
Honorable mentions go out to Saesha Dongre, Yuehan Mao, and Kaylee Hsia. All the artwork will be displayed in the hallway behind the library so be sure to walk by and check it out. A reception will be held on November 20th at 3:15 in the library.
Helping AISD Students Thrive
With feedback from campus counselors and nurses, AISD Council PTA has compiled a list of items that are needed at many of our AISD campuses.
Please consider donating and supporting students throughout AISD. These donations will be distributed to the campuses in the district that are in need.
Save a trip to the store and donate by ordering the district approved items via the Amazon wish lists below:
Thank you for helping students in Allen!
Toys for Tots Registration - Register by Nov 22
Allen Community Outreach will serve as the registration and distribution for Toys for Tots this holiday season for those children who live within AISD boundaries and are ages 0-16. To sign up for the program, you can use the link below. PLEASE CLICK HERE to fill out the form out for each child. Please share with anyone you know who can benefit from this.
Save the Date: 8th Grade Families - 9th Grade Course Registration
Lowery admin and counselors will be visiting with CMS 8th grade students on December 10 all day to discuss course registration for 9th grade.
The parent meeting with the same information and more will be held on December 10 in the CMS cafeteria from 6:00 – 7:30.
Topics of discussion will include:
- Course Selection
- Advanced Academics
- Endorsements
- Four-year planning
If parents cannot attend the CMS meeting night there will also be meetings at Ford on December 11 and Ereckson on December 12 at the same times.
Red Ribbon Week Round-Up
Epic Entertainment came to CMS on Oct 29, 2019, to remind our students about the dangers of drug, alcohol, and medication abuse. Through a series of fun and engaging activities, students learned about staying away from drugs, seeking out a counselor when help is needed, making good choices, surrounding yourself with people who will help you achieve your best and knowing and securing your goals,
Curtis PTA would like to thank our parents for their support. Your contributions help us bring relevant and informative programs that benefit every student at CMS. Big shout-out to all our teachers, counselors and staff for helping us coordinate this event.
Here are a few pictures from the event.
Daily Announcements on Curtis Website
Curtis Spirit Wear
You can still order Curtis spirit wear! All sizes of the Curtis Sweatshirt are available for purchase. The t-shirt styles have limited quantities. Sizes and quantities available are updated online.
Orders will be delivered to your student's homeroom teacher approximately 4 weeks after purchase. Please be sure you enter your student's homeroom teacher for easy delivery.
To order, visit CurtisCougarPTA.org, login or set up an account to place your order.
Questions? Please email Jennifer
Annual Rudolph Run: December 7, 2019
Curtis Middle School is gearing up for the annual City of Allen Rudolph Run. You can register on line.
Be sure to register under Curtis Middle School, so that our school gets credit for your entry.
See a PE teacher if you have any questions. Thanks for your support!
Aviation Art Contest
CMS Students are invited to participate in the International Aviation Art Contest. The art contest involves three levels of voting. The Art work is sent in to the State of Texas, if the art work places it is then sent to the National level for voting. If the art work places at the national level it is sent to the International level. The State of Texas had a winner at the International level last year. There were 359 entries from across the State of Texas which included individual drawings and paintings by young Americans between the ages of six and seventeen.
The aim of the contest is to motivate and encourage children to study aeronautics, engineering and science.
This year’s theme is “Flying Yesterday and Tomorrow”. CLICK HERE for a brochure and more info.
Annual AISD Volunteer Screening
This needs to be done annually and resets on July 1 of each year. Here is the link to get started:
Curtis Middle School PTA
Email: ptacommunications.curtis@gmail.com
Website: https://www.allenisd.org/curtisms
Location: 1530 Rivercrest Boulevard, Allen, TX, USA
Phone: 972-727-0340
Twitter: @CurtisCougars