CMS Parent Newsletter
March 27, 2017
Dear Parents,
Upcoming Seahawk Events
March 27 - Return to School
March 27 - Return Report Cards
March 29 - Family Homework Pass - Do a good deed as a family
March 31 - Spring Fling for 7th and 8th grade students
April 3 - GMAS ELA part 1
April 4 - GMAS ELA part 2
April 5 - GMAS Math part 1
April 6 - GMAS Math part 2
April 7 - GMAS Science for 8th grade
April 10 - GMAS SS for 8th grade
Spring Fling Reminder
The Spring Fling Dance for Coastal’s 7th and 8th grade students will be this Friday, March 31 from 7 PM to 9 PM. Tickets will be sold for $10.00 each and will include admission to the DJ’d event and a Chick-fil-A sandwich & soda. A photographer will be available for $2.00 each photo. Additional treats will be sold for $1.00 each. Suggested attire for the dance is dressy casual to "Sunday best".
Students wishing to attend the dance must turn in a permission slip and money on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday morning at the front atrium. No tickets will be sold at the event. A copy of the permission slip can be found on the PTSA's Facebook page or the front office.
Volunteers are still needed for the dance. If you'd like to help out, please go to the Signup Genius link - http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f094aa5ab23a02-coastal
**Directions for pick-up after the dance will be sent later this week.
Snacks for GMAS
GMAS testing is right around the corner, and PTSA is preparing to collect snacks for the classrooms. Please visit our SignUp Genius page by clicking the link below. All of your donations are appreciated!!!
Report Cards
Please remember to return one copy of your child's Report Cards Monday morning.
Keeping Our Teens Safe - Devleoping Grit
Grit. Determination. Perseverance. Strong work ethic. Do our children have enough of it? Maybe their safety is not in immediate danger if they don’t have it, but their future sure is. It is grit, not aptitude, that determines success.
Teens today seem to have a strong sense of entitlement. They insist on having the latest, coolest best technology because…well, because they want it. They want the best the world has to offer – no 2nd rate for them. Let’s admit it - they have good taste. But not one of them will be throwing newspapers at 5 am to earn their heart’s desire the way our parents did. As a matter of fact, few will even do extra chores to earn money for what they want. They simply expect it to be handed to them.
This same mindset travels with students to school. If they show up they are entitled to at least a B+. If their teacher is any good, it will be an easy A. If they were absent, well surely that will be accommodated by postponed tests, reduced assignments, and a lot of consideration. No need or time for much homework – there is soccer to attend. No need to study if the instruction was decent. No need to work hard. After all, they are KIDS. Life should be fun. Hard work can come later.
The problem is, hard work and success won’t come later unless we grow the character traits of grit now.
We all need to stop the madness that is threatening our children’s futures. We need to stop it at school. We need to stop it at home. How? Students need to set goals and then work for them. WORK. Patiently work. For example, if your child’s life is about to end because she does not have the coolest “Beats” around her neck, then she needs to do some ironing, babysitting, yard work, car washing, etc. to earn money over time to purchase that latest technology for herself. Leaves are falling all around us. There are plenty of yards to be raked Pollen is piling up on all of your neighbors’ cars – great time for a neighborhood carwash. What about at school? – well we may need to ask them to study hard. We may need to look at their essay and show them how they could have written it better so it will earn an A next time if they work hard. We may need to go back to expecting them to read and learn some information on their own without us.
If we all do our part, we will develop gritty kids who are ready to take care of us in 20 years.
Planning Ahead for Next Week
Next week students will take the GMAS. Testing will continue through the following Monday for our 8th grade students. Plan ahead so that your child is prepared to do his or her very best.
- Insist your child goes to bed early.
- Plan a healthy breakfast.
- Keep things highly positive and encouraging each morning. This is not the time to fuss about the dirty clothes found underneath his or her bed.
- Talk to coaches this week to let them know your child needs to be off the field by 7 p.m. next week.
- Write your child a short, encouraging note to wake up to each morning next week. It will help get the day off to a great start.
GMAS Practice
Is your student practicing for the GA Milestones Assessment. Study Guides are posted on our website. A few sample math problems found in the study guide are below. The first is a 6th grade example. The 2nd is a 7th grade example. The 3rd is an 8th grade example. Multiple practice problems are available for every subject at each grade level.
Seahawk Tips to Reduce Test Anxiety
If your child gets nervous before taking tests, encourage them to try one of these strategies:
Think positive. Focus on strengths, not weaknesses. Tell yourself that you are calm and in control.
Try Deep Breathing. This exercise can help calm you down. Close your eyes and take a long deep breath, hold it then exhale slowly.
Relax Your Muscles- Tighten your muscles in your tense areas such as your shoulders. Hold it for 10 seconds and then relax your muscles, concentrating on releasing the tension.
Learn About the Test and Be Prepared- Get enough sleep the night before the test, eat a healthy breakfast and do some type of physical exercise each day to reduce stress. Go to all of your classes, be an active learner and complete all classwork and homework!
IB Insights: Approaches to Learning
Community Opportunities
Oatland Island Wildlife Center Spring Celebration & Sheep Shearing
Spring Festival Saturday, April 1, 2017 10:00am - 4:00pm
Admission: Adults - $7.00
Children - $5.00
From the sheep's body to the finished wool product! Observe and participate in the magical creation of a woolen shawl through all the stages of wool processing. Members of The Fiber Guild of the Savannahs join Oatland staff and volunteers in making this traditional spring celebration fun for the whole family. The Oatland sheep will be sheared throughout the day with crafts, games, hay rides, and much more!
2017 Sea Turtle Tee-Shirt Design Contest
The Tybee Island Marine Science Center is holding a design contest for the 13th annual Tybee Turtle Trot tee-shirt.
All entries must be submitted by March 31, 2017. For more information, please contact Tammy Smith at (912) 484-3416 or through email at turtletammy@bellsouth.net.
T-shirt Contest Awards: The winner will receive a free tee-shirt featuring his or her design, a Sea Turtle Family Membership to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center, and recognition at the event! Entries may be hand-delivered or sent by mail to the Tybee Island Marine Science Center.
The science center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or entries can be mailed to:
Tybee Island Marine Science Center
Attn: Sea Turtle Tee-Shirt Contest
PO Box 1879
Tybee Island, GA 31328
Repeats and Reminders
Yearbook
Order Online at website www.yearbookordercenter.com and use Order # 20020. Or, order in the front office on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday before homeroom. Order forms are available on line. ($35 CASH OR MONEY ORDER ONLY if ordered in the school's office.)
SRI and MAP
The target scores below represent that while a child is not proficient with reading or mathematics, he or she possesses the necessary skills to be successful, with extra support, at the subsequent grade level. The scores needed to be considered proficient are actually much higher. SRI and MAP scores are one of many factors which are considered when deciding if a child is ready to be promoted to the next higher grade.
SRI
6th - 835
7th - 890
8th - 955
MAP
6th - 219
7th - 223
8th - 227
8th Grade State Promotion Requirement
Please remember that in addition to demonstrating proficiency in reading and math, as well as passing all classes, students in Georgia should also pass the GMAS assessment. Pull the study guides off our website and start working. This assessment serves as one of many factors that are examined when considering if promotion is appropriate.
Late Work
All work should be submitted on the date it is due. Teachers will accept no more than 2 late assignments, with parent signature, within 3 days of the date the assignment is posted, for no more than 70% credit.
Free Digital Resources
Please be aware that you and your child can access free, interactive digital textbooks through the Georgia Department of Education's website. The textbooks can be accessed by visiting www.gavirtuallearning.org/Resources. Texts are currently available for middle and high school courses.