Colt Corner
Colleyville Middle School
April 1, 2022
Colts,
Today we had an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine outside with an extended lunch to wrap up the week. All of our Colts got some extra time to enjoy each other's company. It is always nice to be able to do the extra events at school for our staff and students. Today officially begins the busy academic month of April. Please encourage your Colt to continue to work hard academically during this time of the school year. Attendance is always important and any extra tutorials needed is always encouraged.
At the beginning of the school year, and also in past parent communications, we discussed the importance of safety before and after school during pick up and drop off. We are fortunate at Colleyville Middle School to have one of the largest areas of all GCISD schools to be able to safely drop off and pick up students before and after school. Please use extra caution driving around the school and be sure to adhere to the law with your speed and also by not being on the phone while driving. Our students' safety is always our number one priority. Thank you for your help by doing your part to ensure that we have a safe environment for our staff and students. I have included the videos that were shared at the beginning of the school year and in the newsletter again for your convenience.
I hope you have a great weekend!
David Arencibia, Ed.D.
Colleyville Middle School, Principal
Twitter: @CmsColts - #TeamCMS - #ColtPride
B.E.S.T. - Building Excellent Schools Together
UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS
April 1 - CMS Tennis -Top 10 Challenge Matches - CMS 3:45 - 5:00pm
April 4 - Autism Awareness Day - Wear Blue
April 4 - CMS Tennis Match @ GHS 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 8 - Honors Band - CMS Band Hall 4:00 - 6:00pm
April 8 - Choir - Solo Contest - CMS Choir Room 7:00 - 8:30pm
April 11 - Choir - Solo Contest - CTMS Choir Room 4:00 - 6:00pm
April 11 - CMS Tennis Match @ CHHS 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 14 - Boys/Girls Soccer Scrimmage @ CHHS PAC - 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 15 - CMS Tennis Match @ CMS 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 18 - CMS Tennis Match @ GHS 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 21 - Boys Soccer Match - Carroll MS - 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 21 - Girls Soccer Match - CMS - 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 28 - Boys Soccer Match - CMS - 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 28 - Girls Soccer Match - CTMS - 5:00 - 7:30pm
In this Edition of the Colt Corner
* Autism Awareness Day - April 4
* Reminder: Drop off/Pickup areas
* Meet and Greet Job Fair
* Counselors' Corner - Parents for Current 5th,6th & 7th Graders, Summer Bridging Course Information, 6th Grade Guidance Lesson, Additional Resources
Repeated Information
* GCISD Update - March 30, 2022
* Skyward Communication
* Attention 7th Graders! - NJHS
* Math Telescoping Exams
* CMS Spinal Screening
* Reminder, Door Dash deliveries are not allowed
* Grapevine - Colleyville ISD - Join our Team
* GCISD Council of PTAs - Exceptional Children Committee Parent Coffee Chat
* CMS Bell Schedule
* GCISD Student General and Designated Program Transfer
* 6th Grade Parents - Immunization Records
* STAAR Online
* Updated CMS Tennis Schedule
* 8th Grade Celebration - Glow Party (PTA)
* GHS Fabulous Fillies & JV Bells Auditions
* CHHS Dance Auditions
* Colleyville Middle School Directory - Who To Contact
Autism Awareness Day
TENNIS COURT (BOGART DR.) DROP OFF/PICK UP
Meet and Greet Job Fair
Are you interested in teaching in the areas of Math, Science, Foreign Languages or Elementary Bilingual?
You are invited to a Meet and Greet hosted by GCISD at Mustang Panther Stadium on Tuesday, April 5 from 5-7 p.m.
Please bring a resume.
Counselors’ Corner (April 4 - 8 )
Parents for Current 5th, 6th, & 7th Graders - Please Review Course Requests
The window for viewing course requests for the 22-23 school year will be open effective today (April 1st) and remain open through noon Monday, April 4th. To view the courses your student requested, you must use your student’s Skyward account and login information (parent login information will not work). Every student should have 7 requested courses visible in Skyward. If your student is missing one of their 7 course requests, if they entered a wrong course, or if they would like to request a course change, please fill out this Google Form. This window (April 1st-4th) will be the final opportunity for making changes to course requests for the 22-23 school year. If your student is currently in 8th grade, do not fill out this form. 8th grade students will have the opportunity to review their course requests later this semester.
Summer Bridging Course Information:
Summer Bridge Courses are designed for students who would like to move from on level or pre-ap math and science courses to accelerated courses in middle school.
Registration and Course Fees: $300 per course
For dates, registration, and other details, please use this link: Summer Bridging Course Information
6th Grade Guidance Lesson
“Coping with stress” April 5th and April 6th
4 Steps to Help Kids Cope with Big Feelings about Failure
Explain why Feelings are Useful
Explain that feelings are part of our bodies. Just like our muscles, brain and heart, our emotions work to keep us healthy and safe.
Explain that strong and powerful emotions, like anger, trigger a warning system in our bodies. Our brain thinks we are in a dangerous situation and our body reacts in lot of different ways– a fast heartbeat, a red face, or maybe a headache
Create an Action Plan
Tell kids that when they notice their rapid breathing, tense muscles, or upset stomach, it’s a cue to make choices that take back control.
When kids are calm (long car rides or bedtime work well) talk with them about the types of failures that trigger their strongest feelings:a poor grade on a test, losing a soccer game, or not understanding a homework assignment.
Validate Feelings
In their most difficult moments, kids need to know that all feelings—including ones about failure–are okay to have.
Ask questions to better understand their frustrations, and communicate that you hear and accept exactly how they feel.
Then ask, “What should we do to tackle this?”
Co-Regulate
Each child’s capacity for managing feelings is different (and age-dependent). The prefrontal cortex, the area regulating emotions, isn’t even fully developed until early adulthood.
By responding to our child’s frustration with warmth and support, rather than reacting with our own high emotion, we can provide that experience.
Additional Resources:
Out Came the Sun: Helping Children as they Grieve https://cbcst.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CBCST-Grief-Booklet-051617-flipbook.pdf
Skyward Communication
Report Cards will be available in Skyward beginning this week. To view your student’s Report Card, please follow the instructions below:
Visit www.GCISD.net and click the Skyward icon at the top of the page (or login here)
Click “Progress Reports/Report Cards” on the menu to the left
Select the report you would like to view
For tutorials and more information on Skyward, please visit the website. If you are having trouble accessing Skyward, please submit a Help Desk ticket.
In This Edition
New Student Registration Next Week: Registration for the 2022-2023 school year will open on Monday, April 4, for new students, including pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students.
Summer Learning Registration Next Week: Registration for GCISD's summer learning opportunities also opens on Monday, April 4. This includes Summer Enrichment, Extended Day Summer Camp and Secondary Summer School.
Transfer Application Window Remains Open: The general and designated programs (STEM/Dual Language) student transfer application window for the 2022-2023 school year will remain open until April 8 at 4 p.m.
GCISD Names New Chief Communications Officer: The GCISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Craig Civale as the District's Chief Communications Officer.
Join Our Team: GCISD is looking for auxiliary staff to join our Dallas Morning News Top 100 Workplace. Read below for information on starting salaries and more.
A Look Around GCISD: This week we see how middle school students are learning math while at lunch, and high school students are learning the realities of budgeting in the real world.
Registration Opens Next Week for New Students
Registration for the 2022-2023 school year will open on Monday, April 4, for new students, which includes pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. Visit GCISD.net to begin the registration process for a new kindergarten student or for a new student in grades 1-12.
Pre-Kindergarten: If you have not already applied for the Pre-K program, please complete this form (including those seeking state-based Pre-K). If you have already been accepted into Pre-K program, you can register in Skyward beginning on Monday, April 4. Instructions to do so were sent to families when they were accepted.
Returning student registration will open on Monday, May 2 and will remain open until May 20. While parents are able to register up until the first day of school, the District is trying to gather enrollment numbers as early as possible for planning purposes.
Students new to the district (including those entering Kindergarten) must provide proof of residency, birth certificate, social security number, immunization record, emergency contact numbers and a report card from the previous school unless enrolling in kindergarten.
Bus rider registration will not be included in Skyward registration this year. If students need to register as a bus rider, they can do so by visiting www.GCISD.net/transportation after completing registration in Skyward.
If you are awaiting a transfer request, please register for the campus you are currently zoned for. Transfer requests will be processed at a later date. To view attendance zones, visit our attendance area map.
CMS Spinal Screening
Attention 7th Graders!
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE CMS CHAPTER
NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY
If you are enrolled in at least two Pre-AP or Accelerated classes and have at least a 90 grade point average across your four core classes, you are invited to consider National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) as one of your extra-curricular activities for the upcoming school year.
(NOTE: Your GPA is not a guarantee of acceptance into NJHS. Service, Citizenship, Leadership, and Character are also evaluated by a Faculty Council with the application review, and teacher recommendations).
Applications for membership in the CMS National Junior Honor Society are now available in the front office, and through 7th Grade English teachers.
A digital copy of the application is linked HERE
The application window will be open for 3 weeks with all applications due no later than Monday, April 11, 2022.
Make sure you read over the application carefully. Applications must be complete and returned on time - NO EXCEPTIONS.
Math Telescoping Exams
Testing opportunities for telescoping in math for the 2022-2023 school year are available in JUNE and JULY 2022 for GCISD students who are completing Grades K-7.
The Math Telescoping Parent Information Packet will be available on the GCISD district website under the “Parents” tab and then click on “Math Telescoping”. Here you will be on the main Math Telescoping, Grades K-7 website page. Also, you can view the Acceleration Testing Calendar for 2021-2022 on the website.
Parents will find information about the requirements to qualify for Math Telescoping and instructions about the Online Registration Process and the required Payment Online Process. View the TEKS on the TEA website, and download Study Guides for the exams purchased from UTHS-Austin.
Exam Fee(s)
There is a fee of $30.00 for each “PAPER” (required for grades 1 & 2, optional for grades 3-7) Math Telescoping exam and $40.00 for each “Online Remote Proctorio” exam (grades 3-7 only) ordered from UTHS-Austin. ALL payments are to be made online at the end of the registration form. A link for the online payment will be provided.
Exams for 1st and 2nd grade must be given orally. These Paper exams will be administered at the GCISD location. Proctors will read the questions and students will mark their answers in the test booklet. Proctors will transcribe their answers to a computer graded answer sheet for scoring by the UTHS-Austin Testing Center.
The online registration form will go live on March 21, 2022 for the June test dates.
The online registration form will go live on June 13, 2022 for the July test dates.
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The exam dates, registration and online payment deadlines for each exam date are listed below:
JUNE Exam Dates:
Online Remote Proctorio: June 6-16, 2022 (to be taken from home computer)
Paper (In-Person): June 6 & 7, 2022 (9:00 am & 1:00 pm HERITAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL)
Online Registration Opens: March 21, 2022
Online Registration & Exam Fee/Payment (Online payments only) Deadline: Mar. 31, 2022 at 3:00 pm. The Online Registration Form will become unavailable at 3:00 pm, March 31, 2022.
Incomplete registrations cannot be considered and no exceptions can be granted.
JULY Exam Dates:
Online Remote Proctorio: July 18-28, 2022 (to be taken from home computer)
Paper (In-Person): July 18 & 19, 2022 (9:00 am & 1:00 pm HERITAGE MIDDLE SCHOOL)
Online Registration Opens: June 13, 2022
Online Registration & Exam Fee/Payment (Online payments only) Deadline: June 21, 2022, 3:00 pm
The Online Registration Form will become unavailable at 3:00 pm, June 21, 2022.
Incomplete registrations cannot be considered and no exceptions can be granted.
Reminder, Door Dash deliveries are not allowed
Bell Schedule
Dismissal Time and Calendar Adjustments
Due to GCISD’s recent closure on February 24 due to winter weather, beginning on March 7, ten (10) minutes will be added to the end of each school day to recover the necessary amount of instructional minutes. New release times for GCISD schools will be as follows:
Elementary - 3:05 p.m.
Middle - 3:35 p.m.
High - 4:10 p.m.
Just as a reminder, due to the previous closures due to weather and COVID-19, the following changes are still in effect:
Friday, March 11 will no longer be an early release day. Students will attend school for the full day.
Students will be in school on Friday, April 15 and Monday, April 18 which were originally planned for inclement weather days.
Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26 will no longer be early release days, except for high school students. All elementary and middle school students will attend school for the full day.
Click here to view the updated 2021-2022 GCISD Instructional Calendar.
NOTE: These changes do not affect the instructional calendars for Collegiate Academy or iUniversity Prep.
GCISD Student General and Designated Program Transfers
The general and designated programs (STEM/Dual) student transfer application window for the 2022-2023 school year will open on Monday, March 21, 2022, at 8 am. Because Cannon is a campus-wide STEM school, families requesting Cannon will complete the general transfer application listed under general transfers on the website. Online applications will be accepted through Friday, April 8, 2022, at 4 pm.
All students (including employee students) must apply for a transfer if they desire to attend a campus other than their zoned campus and/or when they are moving from the following grades/campuses:
Pre-K to Kindergarten
Elementary school to middle school
Middle school to high school
Students who are already approved on a transfer and are not moving to the next transition level do NOT need to submit a transfer request. For more information and to complete an online application on or after Monday, March 21, click here.
IMPORTANT: Please know that incomplete applications (e.g. missing residency documents) will NOT be processed during this round of student transfers. It is very important that families have all the needed documents when submitting transfer applications.
STAAR Online
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is transitioning all state assessments to be administered online by the 2022–2023 school year. To support this change, GCISD will be administering all state assessments online this Spring and is encouraging students to visit the practice tests site released by the TEA to prepare for online testing. For upcoming testing, students will be using district-issued personal devices.
The online practice tests familiarize students with the general tools, designated supports, and accessibility features that may appear in online tests. In the practice site, there are features that may be turned on and off for students with identified accommodations such as text-to-speech and spelling assistance. Organized by grade level and subject, all 2018, 2019, and 2021 STAAR released tests are also available on the online practice site. Please visit this link for instructions on how to access the practice site.
To view upcoming online STAAR testing windows and dates, please visit our website.
More specific information about student testing days will be coming soon. Please submit a help desk ticket if you are having trouble launching a test.
Hey 6th grade parents!
We are on the fast track towards Spring Break and before you know it summer will be here! Please remember your student will need the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines before starting 7th grade. These are often given during 11 and 12 year old well visits. Turning your student's immunization records into the nurse now gets this off your list of "to dos" for summer and makes for an easier registration process! You can view and print your child's vaccine records on file with GCISD by logging in to your Skyward Family Access account. Pick your student's name and then click "Health Info" on the bottom of the left column. Then click "display options" at the top. A box will pop up and click "Show Vaccinations". You can take this record to CVS, Walgreens, CareNow, or any facility or pharmacy who offers vaccinations should you not have a primary care doctor.
Nurse Martin email: sophia.martin@gcisd.net
Updated Tennis Schedule
PTA 8th Grade Celebration
GHS Dance Tryouts
CMS Who To Contact Directory
Remembering 2009-2010 (Year 34 at CMS)
2009-'10 YEARBOOK COVER
Looking back at 2009-2010
CMS IN 2009-'10
Looking back at 2009-2010
CMS LIFE IN 2009-'10
Looking back at 2009-2010