Colt Corner
Colleyville Middle School
December 16, 2022
Colts,
The last full school week of the 2022 year has come and gone. Along with everyone else in our area on Tuesday, we took shelter when the bad weather came through. I am very proud of our staff and students for doing an excellent job with instructions and following the practices that we have in place and drill for. Despite the unfortunate events that the weather was causing around us our Colts were safe and stayed calm through the whole process. The safe and calm environment was a direct reflection of the staff leading the way with confidence and calm and our students following suit. The day and week continued on with the normal processes and routines. Thank you for your trust in us with the most precious gifts that we have in our Colts.
This morning we had our traditional holiday fine arts assembly where our Colts were able to enjoy performances from our band, choir, and theatre students with the cafeteria decorated with our art students' festive holiday projects. The modified day also gave us the opportunity to get in some final exam reviews for the beginning of next week, with the first period exam taking place on Monday. Please be sure to check the Semester Exams Schedule also located under the Repeated Information section to see the layout of the week if needed. The end of the second semester will end with a half day on Wednesday 21st at 12:10pm.
As always, thank you for your partnership in helping make Colleyville Middle School the best it can be. Have a restful weekend.
David Arencibia, Ed.D.
Colleyville Middle School, Principal
School Twitter: @CmsColts - #TeamCMS - #ColtPride
B.E.S.T. - Building Excellent Schools Together
UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS
December 16 - Modified CMS School Schedule for the school fine arts assembly & Semester Exam Reviews. See 2nd page for Friday details.
December 21 - Early Release - 12:10
December 22 - January 6 - Winter Break
brief Video of our CMS honors band
In this Edition of the Colt Corner
* 6th Grade & New Student Clifton Strengths Explorer
Counselors Corner
* Zero Hour Schedule for Dec. 19-21
* 7th Grade TECC Field Trip on January 24th
* Thank you Notes for CMS Staff
* Credit by Exam Testing Window
Repeated Information
* GCISD Update Dec. 14, 2022
* Semester Exam Schedule
* Student Holiday Spirit Dress Calendar for Nov./December
* Families of Bus Riders Should Sign Up for SMART Tag Parent Portal
* NJHS Toy Drive for GRACE Christmas Cottage
* 8th Grade Recognition Ads
* Zero Hour Schedule for December
CMS PTA
* 6th Grade Cotillion Invitations
* Colleyville Middle School Directory - Who To Contact
CMS Social Media Section
* CMS Portrait of a Graduate Video
* CMS on Twitter - @cmscolts
* CMS on Facebook
* CMS on Instagram
Clifton Strengths Explorer
Greetings CMS Families,
Here at CMS, we believe each child is gifted in their own extraordinary way. In fact, our distinct differences are our best multiplier for success! Because of this, we provide a unique opportunity for all students to learn more about their individual talents using the Clifton StrengthsExplorer assessment.
Students in 6th grade or who are new to CMS will take the StrengthsExplorer inventory during Colt Time on Thursday, January 12, 2023.
By taking Clifton StrengthsExplorer, your child will receive a report with their top three talents, which includes ideas for illuminating their individual talents, as well as action steps they can take to maximize their talents.
When kids discover their talents, it can lead to:
resilience and confidence
productivity and engagement in school
hope and direction for the future
If you prefer to opt-out of this opportunity, please complete this StrengthsExplorer Opt-Out Form by Tuesday, January 10th.
Please contact the school if you have questions or need assistance. Thank you for your continued partnership at Colleyville Middle School.
Counselors Corner: Dec. 19 - 21
Zero Hour Schedule for Dec. 19-21:
Zero Hour classes will NOT meet Dec. 19-21 on either high school campus. Zero Hour students should follow the CMS exam schedule and report to CMS to take their exams at the designated times.
7th Grade TECC Field Trip on January 24th
Counselors will be taking CMS 7th Graders to visit the TECC (Technology Education and Career Center) at Grapevine High School on January 24th to learn about the programs offered and courses students might take in high school. Students will travel by bus to GHS and return to CMS in time for lunch. Permission slips and more details will be coming after the winter break.
Thank You Notes for CMS Staff:
Please have your student take a moment to practice gratitude by thanking CMS staff members who have done something to help them, have demonstrated an act of kindness, or who are just appreciated for the hard work that they do each day. Fill out the form linked below and we will share thank students’ notes with the appropriate CMS staff member(s).
A student may submit as many thank you notes as they would like. (Please consider thanking teachers, substitute teachers, coaches, the school nurse, our learning liaison, custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, office staff, support staff, counselors, assistant principals, and our principal).
Credit By Exam Testing Window:
The registration window for the February test administration will open Monday, November 14th. It will close at noon on January 9, 2023. Linked below are the registration forms and information about the exams.
Preferred Participation Consent for Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention
As required by federal and state law, we will soon begin presenting a personal safety curriculum to middle school students. GCISD uses the Play It Safe! ® program to teach this curriculum. Play It Safe! ® is a child abuse awareness and prevention program that incorporates age-appropriate scripts and movies to teach children how to reduce the risk of sexual and physical abuse, and sexual assault. It teaches them to recognize potentially abusive behavior, provides the tools to respond to threatening situations, and encourages them to report abuse to a trusted adult. It is presented by The Women’s Center of Tarrant County, Inc. which uses trained volunteers to present the program using videos and scripted discussions at an age-appropriate level. Play It Safe! ® meets the State and Federal guidelines for curriculum addressing personal safety issues, child sexual abuse and pedophiles. The GCISD School Health Advisory Committee has reviewed and recommended these programs for all GCISD schools.
Our schedule for showing the Play It Safe Curriculum this year is as follows:
6th grade “Sexual Harassment”- November 8th, 2022
6th grade “Survivors of Abuse- March 8th, 2023
7th grade “Healthy Relationships”- October 5th, 2022
7th grade “Can’t Take It Back” - November 30th, 2022
7th grade “Abuse of Power” - February 21st, 2023
Please complete the section below to indicate your preference for your child’s participation in any of the above programs. If you choose for your child not to participate, your child will be provided an alternate location while this program is being presented. If the form is not completed, and turned into the campus counselor prior to the date on your campus notification letter, your child will not participate in the program.
Please complete the following Play it Safe form and return to your campus Counselor prior to the date of the lesson! Play it Safe Form
6th and 7th grade students were also provided with a hard copy form which can be returned to Ms. Dumas (advocate counselor). There is a recording of the parent preview located on the CMS counseling webpage.
Additional Resources:
National Institute of Mental Health
In This Past Week's Edition:
Response to This Week’s Storm
Sign Up to Receive GCISD Text Messages
Vote Between Top Choices for GCISD’s 2023-2024 Instructional Calendar
Superintendent Search Survey Closes Thursday, December 15
Retirement Reception for Superintendent Dr. Robin Ryan
GHS Head Football Coach Honored with Landry Award
Check the Winter Break Dates
And More!
Families of Bus Riders Should Sign Up for SMART Tag Parent Portal
Parents with bus riders are encouraged to sign up for Transportation Services’ SMART Tag Parent Portal, which has replaced Here Comes the Bus.
Through SMART Tag, parents can be notified when their child’s bus is nearing the bus stop, similar to Here Comes the Bus. Additionally, SMART Tag is connected to the badges that were issued to GCISD bus riders at the start of the year. This is an important safety feature that alerts the parents when the student is exiting the bus and the bus driver if the student is exiting at the wrong stop or attempting to board the wrong bus.
Sign up today by visiting GCISD’s transportation web page. If you would like to learn more about SMART Tag, view this video.
Student Holiday Dress for the Month!
NJHS Toy Drive for GRACE Christmas Cottage
NJHS is sponsoring a toy drive to benefit the GRACE Christmas Cottage. The drive will run from Dec. 1-20. Please send new, unwrapped toys, gift cards, or batteries to donate to the drive.
There will be a competition between Colt Time classes, to see which classes can bring the most items. Put a sticky note with your student's Colt Time teacher's name on the donation so their class gets credit for the item.
Here is a list of items GRACE has requested.
8th grade yearbook recognition ads
Zero Hour Reminder for December
December 2022
Monday, December 19: Zero Hour classes do not meet due to testing schedule
Tuesday, December 20: Zero Hour classes do not meet due to testing schedule
Wednesday, December 21: Zero Hour classes do not meet due to testing schedule
2023 6th Grade Cotillion Invitations
Cotillion invitations have been distributed to your student's Colt Time teacher! Don't worry, if the invitations didn't make it home today, we've attached the invitations here. Click Here to view the Cotillion website and to RSVP.
Please let us know if you have any questions!
Thank you so much!
Tamaron Hunt + Stephanie Wilkerson
CMS is excited to be hosting the 2023 6th Grade Cotillion! Please Save the Dates:
Week One: Friday, January 20th - Western (CMS)
Week Two: Friday, January 27th - Sock Hop (CMS)
Week Three: Friday, February 3rd - Disco (CMS)
Finale: Friday, February 10th - Roaring Twenties (Colleyville Center)
Cotillion will be held from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. each week. A website will be available soon for updates!
We'd love to have parent volunteers! Please click here to let us know how you would like to assist! We are planning a volunteer meeting on Friday, November 4th. Click here for details and to RSVP.
Thank you!
Cotillion Chairs,
Tamaron Hunt + Stephanie Wilkerson
Tamaron Hunt tamaron.hunt@gmail.com214-226-6993
Stephanie Wilkerson stephanie@wilkersontx.com 817-721-3288
COLLEYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTORY - WHO TO CONTACT
*Note, the point of contact is the first level to answer and questions or concerns. They are usually able to resolve your question/concern, but in the event that you did not reach a resolution, your concern will be elevated to the subsequent level until a resolution is reached.
To email a CMS team member type the first name dot last name @gcisd.net (i.e. David Arencibia = david.arencibia@gcisd.net) unless different and noted under the name.