Colt Corner
Colleyville Middle School
April 1, 2021
Colts,
I hope each of you are enjoying your Friday-eve. Congratulations to our Colt Track teams on continuing what has been a great track season. Several of our teams are entering their last track meet (District) next week undefeated. We also have a good amount of our student-athletes breaking school records and all Colts have been very fun to watch.
This past week we all received communication from our district and myself regarding new updates to our spring guide, asynchronous days for various grade levels on specific STAAR testing days, and information regarding final exam exemptions. With that said, there is a lot of important information that I also included here in our parent newsletter for your convenience. Please help spread the word to any of our Colt families that have any questions regarding any school-wide information to refer to our weekly newsletter for updates, as this is the main source of communication for school-wide information for CMS sent weekly.
Thank you in advance for helping us have a successful last two months of school. Have a great month of April and three-day weekend ahead!
David Arencibia, Ed.D.
CMS Principal
Facebook: Colleyville Middle School
Twitter: @CmsColts
#TeamCMS - #cmscelebrates - #CMSstrengths
B.E.S.T. - Building Excellent Schools Together
UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS
April 2 - No School
April 5 - Tennis Match- Grapevine High School 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 6 - 7th Grade STAAR Writing Test (6th/8th graders are home asynchronous)
April 8 - Track GCISD Zone Meet - 7th/8th Grades - Cross Timbers Middle School 4:00 - 6:30pm
April 12 - 16 - Sub Appreciation Week
April 12 - Tennis Match- Colleyville Heritage High School 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 15 - Soccer Scrimmage Boys/Girls - Panther Activity Center 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 22 - Soccer Girls - Carrol Middle School 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 22 - Soccer Boys - CMS 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 26 - Spirit/Color Guard Club - North Gym - 3:30pm
April 29 - Soccer Girls - CMS 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 29 - Soccer Boys - Cross Timbers Middle School 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 30 - No School
In This Edition of the Colt Corner
* GCISD Middle School Asynchronous Days - Starting this Tuesday, April 6th. Tuesday 6th/8th graders are remote working asynchronously.
* Middle School Final Exam Exemptions - Once all STAAR exams are taken, all core subject final exams at the end of May are exempt.
* CMS Tennis - Still undefeated!
* Colleyville Middle School PTA Awards
* Update to the GCISD community - Update sent this week regarding updated health guidelines.
* Social Studies Student of the Week
* GCISD Spoken Word Poetry Showcase
* CHHS Diamond Dance Guard Audition Information
* Krishy's Drive By Parade - YouTube compilation video from Saturday's Drive By Parade for Krishna.
Counselors Corner
* Character Strong
* Family Character Dare: Lyrical Conversations
* Friends For Life Hotline
Repeated Information
* GCISD Update
* CMS STAAR Assessment Calendar Information
* Math Telescoping Exams
GCISD Middle School Asynchronous Days on Various STAAR Testing Dates
Colt families,
As we approach STAAR testing, there are some adjustments that need to be made to in-person and remote learning on specific days to provide students that are testing a secure and quiet environment. If your student is needed to be asynchronous and work off-campus, they will complete their assignments in Canvas at home. Please review the dates below in order to make arrangements for your student on these days:
Tuesday, April 6 - TESTING ON CAMPUS: 7th-grade writing STAAR (all 7th-grade students)
ASYNCHRONOUS WORK OFF-CAMPUS: 6th and 8th graders
Wednesday, May 5 - TESTING ON CAMPUS: Algebra EOC (any student in the course)
ASYNCHRONOUS WORK OFF-CAMPUS: 7th graders not testing
Thursday, May 6 - TESTING ON CAMPUS: BIO EOC & 8th Science STAAR (any student in the course)
ASYNCHRONOUS WORK OFF-CAMPUS: 6th graders
Friday, May 7 - TESTING ON CAMPUS: 8th Social Studies STAAR
ASYNCHRONOUS WORK OFF-CAMPUS: 7th graders
All students will be on campus during the May 11th and 12th STAAR tests, whether they are testing or not.
Please note: If a student’s grade level is not listed as “asynchronous work off-campus”, they are expected to be on campus.
CMS STAAR Testing Information for 7th Graders this Tuesday
Dear 7th Grade Parents,
For Colleyville Middle School: On the days that remote learners test, they will report to the North Gym for testing to avoid having to enter the main building. CMS remote students will begin the testing process at 8:10 and may leave when they finish their test. Remote learners should be picked up no later than 12:30 unless a student has extra time as a 504 or IEP testing accommodation.
In person learners will remain on campus all day and will be released at the end of the regular school day time of 3:25.
The 7th grade STAAR Writing Test is Tuesday, April 6th, please remind your child to charge his/her school issued device Monday night and to make sure to bring their charger to school Tuesday. We will NOT have extra chargers or devices available.
Middle School Final Exam Exemptions
CMS families,
As we approach the upcoming Spring testing season, the middle schools will be offering our 6-8 grade students the opportunity to exempt their final exams in all core subjects under the following conditions:
Students who take all of their grade-level STAAR tests may exempt all of their core class final exams on May 25th, 26th, and 27th. Students will still be responsible for end-of-year electives assessments. (Ex. 6th-grade students that sit for the reading and math exams may exempt all of their core class exams.)
Core Subjects include:
English Language Arts
Social Studies
Math
Science
Students that do not take the STAAR exams for any reason will be expected to take all final exams offered the last week of May. Students that do not take the STAAR assessments and do not take the final exams will receive a zero for the final exam grade. Per TEA guidance, STAAR exams must be completed on campus. Each campus will have a designated area to allow remote students an additional safe environment for testing and will communicate their plans with families in the upcoming weeks.
This opportunity for exemption extends to all grade levels. All students are still required to be in attendance to all classes as normal during the last week of school regardless of being exempt or not.
Please contact your campus if you have any questions.
CMS Tennis
Out of a total of 17 competition matches Monday, we won 16 of those matches. The only one we lost was a very hard fought battle that resulted in a tie breaker.
Colleyville Middle School PTA Awards
Golden Apple Award
Your PTA knows how to cross your t’s ... in P-T-A!
Thanks for recruiting 100% of the teachers and school faculty as members, our PTA is taking home the coveted Golden Apple Award.
This is an amazing accomplishment. Well done!
Student Membership Award
Thanks to welcoming at least 25 student members this year, our PTA is taking home the Student Membership Award.
Great job recognizing the unique contributions students bring to PTA!
Update to the GCISD community
As we enter the home stretch of the 2020-2021 school year, there are some modifications in health and safety protocols that were approved at the GCISD Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, March 29.
Mustang Panther Stadium COVID-19 Testing Center Open for All GCISD Students
GCISD has been participating in a statewide program funded by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) offering rapid COVID-19 antigen tests for staff. The District is pleased to share that it will be expanding this resource to all GCISD students. Beginning today, March 30, GCISD students will be able to utilize the GCISD Mustang Panther Stadium rapid antigen COVID-19 Testing Center. Visit www.GCISD.net/COVIDTesting for more information on the testing center and how to schedule an appointment.
Quarantine Update
The Centers for Disease Control published guidance on how to reduce quarantine for close contacts of COVID-19. Under this option, an individual may end quarantine after Day 7 provided that they have had no symptoms during their daily monitoring and there is a negative COVID diagnostic test. As we will now be offering rapid antigen COVID testing for all GCISD students, we are going to make this option available for quarantined students beginning today, March 30. For more information, visit our Spring 2021 Guide.
Additional Updates to Spring 2021 Guide
The following updates have also been made to GCISD’s health and safety protocols and can be found in the Spring 2021 Guide. Thank you for your continued efforts throughout the spring to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Elementary Plexiglass Dividers
The use of plexiglass dividers in elementary classrooms is now voluntary, however it is recommended that plexiglass dividers still be used during lunch due to inability to social distance.
Visitors and Special Events
Campuses can now provide limited opportunities for visitors and volunteers to come on campus to assist. The process and procedures will be determined by each individual campus and will be communicated with parents as needed.
Additionally, there may now be limited opportunities for specially designed outdoor events during the final nine-week grading period. For these events, there will be specific COVID-19 guidelines and criteria that are communicated ahead of the event by the campus.
Outdoor Activities
For spectators at UIL sporting events, masks are required when moving throughout the venue, however, masks may now be removed when individuals are seated and socially distanced from others.
GCISD Spoken Word Poetry Showcase
The GCISD Spoken Word Poetry Showcase is now accepting entries from 6th-12th grade students. Let your students know about this great opportunity!
Details: Info Video | Slides & Poetry Playlist | Submission Form
Counselors’ Corner for the Week of April 5-8
Character Strong
Our district has adopted Character Strong as a way to support the social/emotional wellbeing and character development of our students. All GCISD secondary campuses will be focusing on the character trait/skill of FORGIVENESS for the month of April. There are also great corresponding videos on the character focus. Here is this month’s video on Forgiveness.
Also, as we build a strong connection with our community to support social emotional wellness, we will continue to share out the Family Character Dares for an extension into your home. Here is the latest!
Family Character Dare: Lyrical Conversations
Friends For Life Hotline
Have a friend in need? Is someone you know the target of violence or bullying? Did you see or hear something? Say something! Make an anonymous call and get them help! It's okay to help a friend.
817-469-8477
TEXT: "TIP117 PLUS YOUR MESSAGE" to 274637
VISIT: www.469tips.com
In this past week's GCISD Update email:
Updates to Health and Safety Guidelines: Several changes have been made to GCISD's health and safety guidelines, including allowing students to utilize the GCISD COVID-19 Testing Center at Mustang Panther Stadium.
Cannon Presents at Major Conference: Cannon Elementary staff presented at the ITEEA 2021 Virtual Conference. Check out the video that was part of their presentation.
Skyward Tips: Learn how to keep your contact information up to date, and how to access State Assessment results.
Congresswoman's Art Showcases: Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne is hosting a pair of art contests for elementary and high school students.
Ask GCISD: Learn about the Ask GCISD form that can be found at GCISD.net. If you want information pertaining to the school district, but are struggling to find what you need, Ask GCISD is a great place to start.
Free Meals Continue: The USDA waiver allowing GCISD to offer free meals in elementary and middle school cafeterias continues through the school year. Also, curbside meals are available each Wednesday and free to all children.
What's For Dinner? GCISD's Take and Bake Meals have been extended through April and May and now include a new fresh salad and sandwich meal.
CMS STAAR Assessment Calendar and Information
Dear Parents,
As you know this year is unique and things continuously change. I wanted to provide you with the most recent information that we have for STAAR testing that will begin in April.
I have attached the document of all the STAAR dates for your knowledge.
In person and remote learners will all test on the same dates. Remote learners will report to the North Gym on the days of their tests so that we can continue to follow health and safety protocols without them having to enter the main building. For example, if your son/daughter is an in person learner, they will take their assessment in a designated classroom. If your son/daughter is a remote learner, they will report to the North Gym on the days of their tests.
More details about times for pick up and drop off times will be shared as soon as they are confirmed.
Mrs. Menard
Assistant Principal, Colleyville Middle School
CMS Testing Coordinator
Join the GCISD Team!
Great opportunities are available in our auxiliary departments:
Head Irrigation Technician - maintain district irrigation systems
Warehouse Driver
Cafeteria Food Service (Nutrition Specialists) -PT w/ benefits – work while your students are in school!
KidzU Site Aides – PT w/ benefits – great schedule for local college students!
Night Custodians
Bus Drivers/Bus Driver Trainee – paid training program to earn your CDL and drive our children.
Apply now to work with the BEST! www.gcisd.net/careers
Math Telescoping Exams
Testing opportunities for telescoping in math for the 2021-2022 school year are available in JUNE and JULY, 2021 for GCISD students who are completing Grades K - 7.
The Math Telescoping Information Packet will be available on the district website under the For Parents and Students Directory by selecting the link for Acceleration Exams, Math Telescoping, Grades K - 7. You can also view the Acceleration Testing Calendar for 2020-2021 on the website. Parents will find information about the requirements to qualify for Math Telescoping and instructions about the Online Registration Process and the newly required Payment Online Process. View the TEKS on the TEA website, and download Study Guides for the exams purchased from UT-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 Proctorio” exam (grades 3-7 only) ordered from UT-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 UT-Austin Testing Center.
The online registration form will go live on March 22, 2021 for the June test administration dates.
The online registration form will go live on June 14, 2021 for the July test administration dates.
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The exam dates, registration and online payment deadlines for each exam date are listed below:
JUNE Exam Dates: Online Proctorio: June 7-17, 2021 (to be taken from home computer)
Paper (In-Person): June 7-10, 2021 (9:00 am & 1:00 pm Colleyville Middle School)
Online Registration Opens: March 22, 2021
Online Registration & Exam Fee/Payment (Online payments only) Deadline: April 2, 2021 midnight
JULY Exam Dates: Online Proctorio: July 19-29, 2021 (to be taken from home computer)
Paper (In-Person): July 19-22, 2021 (9:00 am & 1:00 pm Colleyville Middle School)
Online Registration Opens: June 14, 2021
Online Registration & Exam Fee/Payment (Online payments only) Deadline: June 23, 2021 midnight