MMS Parent Newsletter
January 30th - February 3rd
Number Of School Days Left: 75
McCormick Middle School
(Email) James.Cruz@hayscisd.net
(Cell) 512-698-7007
Email: James.Cruz@hayscisd.net
Website: https://www.hayscisd.net/Domain/24
Location: 5700 Dacy Lane, Hays, TX, USA
Phone: 512-268-8508
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mccormickMS
Twitter: @McCormickTigers
Click on the "submit your questions here!" I check this frequently and will get back to you.
Hays Hope Line (Report things here)
Pleae click on the link below and report any bullying, harrassment, or any issues students are having on campus.
Save The Date (Reminders)
1/30 8th Grade Tour to Johnson High School
2/15 Rising 6th grade visit to McCormick Middle School
2/17 Staff Workday (No School)
2/20 Student/Staff Holiday (No School)
Mission Statement
"McCormick Middle School is a team of dedicated educators that will create a safe environment where students are motivated to achieve academic success. We will empower our students to be respectful and engaged learners resulting in a culture that inspires excellence not only in their school, but also in their community."
MMS Parents
I hope everyone had a great week. I am proud of our students and staff who continue to work hard every day. Announcements for this week:
This Tuesday, Johnson HS Band Directors will be at McCormick to talk to rising 9th grade parents. If your child is going to be in band next year, at Johnson, please attend this meeting. The meeting will take place from 6:00pm-7:00pm.
On Wednesday, all students will be taking the state ELAR interim exam. This exam is a test that is supposed to predict how your child will perform on STAAR. All students need to be in attendance on this day. We will be on a different bell schedule on this day. Lunch times will be different.
6th grade lunch time: 10:52-11:22
7th grade lunch time: 11:34-12:04
8th grade lunch time: 12:16-12:46
I greatly appreciate you sending your child to school everyday. The weather will be cold and rainy this week but It is important your child attends school every day.
Thank you to everyone who attended this past week’s PTSA meeting. It was a great turnout! I appreciate your support. It is not to late to join our PTSA. The cost is $9.50. More information is below in the newsletter.
Our annual federal and school report card is listed below:
Link to Federal Report Card
Link to School Report Card
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you for all that you do. Have a great weekend.
Mr. Cruz
Principal McCormick Middle School
Join McCormick Middle School PTSA!
We would like to welcome you to join the McCormick PTSA group. Our PTSA plays a viable part in our campus. PTSA supports our students and faculty throughout the school year! Cost is $9.50 for the school year.
We will have meetings throughout the year and you will have opportunities to help volunteer working the concession stands and helping with a variety of school activities.
Thank you!
Click Below And Check Out Our MMS PTSA Newsletter
Counselors Corner
Hello MMS Families!
Monday during our ROAR time, 6th grades will be receiving Science tutoring, if needed, or working on an acedemic program. 7th graders will be viewing a Career & Technology Education (CTE) video. It outlines the awesome programs high school as to offer. 7th graders will use this information later when we work on their high school graduation plans.
8th graders will be working on course selections or, if done with selections, will completing a SchooLinks lesson called "Favorite Careers." It guides students in picking career options that may best fit their interrests.
Remember that Monday, January 30th, our 8th graders will be visiting Johnson High School. They will preview exciting opprtunities available to them next year. A parent night will also be held that same evening at 6pm at Johnson High School. We hope you can make it!
Please review the JHS Rising 9th Grade Course Selection Information flyer.
If your student would like to visit with a counselor, please click on the link below and fill out the Google form. A counselor will call in the student as soon as possible.
6th Grade
Math
Students will show their knowledge of Unit 5 by reviewing Monday and taking their Unit 5 test Tuesday. We will start our new Unit on equivalent expressions and equations Wednesday. Students were given a word problem project on Friday. These will be due this Friday! Please make sure they complete their blue weekly homework!
ADVANCED MATH
We will continue Unit 6 with a focus on modeling and solving one step equations. Please make sure they complete their blue weekly homework!
ELAR
This week, students will take their ELAR Interim Exam. This will be good practice for them to experience the program they will use to take the STAAR test. In class, we will be reading an argumentative text and working with text structure and supporting ideas with strong evidence. Book reports will be due on February 3rd. Information on this assignment is posted in Schoology.
Science
We will start our unit 6 over Earth materials. We will begin with classifying rocks and the rock cycle.
Social Studies
We will continue with Unit 6 Southwest Asia covering oil & water and move on to social culture.
Resource Math
We are learning about ratios and rates. Homework is due on Friday. Please encourage your student to work on it at home. Students need to use their calculators for calculation problems. They need practice using calculators.
Resource ELAR
We will start the week off practicing how to navigate the testing website for their ELAR interium exam. Starting Wednesday students will take this exam. After the exam we will resume reading and annotating poetry and then hopefully get started on reading an argumentative text by the end of the week. February reading logs will go out on Monday.
7th Grade
Math
Students will continue to practice calculating circumference and area of circles. They will begin calculating area of composite figures. Homework will be given out on Monday and will be due no later than Friday.
Advance Math
Students will learn the final type of Transformation, Rotations. Students will take notes and practice rotations, then we will be reviewing all 4 types of transformations (Dilations, Translations, Reflections and Rotations) to prepare for the Unit 6 Check on Friday 2/3.
ELAR
January 30 - February 3: This week students will take their ELAR interim exam. This will be good practice taking a test in the program that STAAR will be in and it will help predict how they will score on the STAAR test. In class we will continue Unit 4 and read poetry. Students will also receive their outside reading assignments for this nine weeks.
Science
In science, we are introducting our new Unit on Adaptations. Students will continue to describe structures and behaviors of organisms that enable them to survive and thrive in their environments as well as physical attributes of organisms to make identifications with a dichotomous key.
Social Studies
In Texas History January 30 - February 3 We will continue our examination of the economic development of the cattle industry in Texas, and the expansion of the agricultural sector. We will also be looking at how many new innovations were introduced at this time, such as windmills that facilitated economic development in Texas and barbed wire. It is during this period in Texas history when the myth of the Cowboy was created and the Identity of Texas was born.
Resource Math
We are using proportions to find the missing side lengths of similar figures. Homework is due on Friday. Please encourage your student to work on it at home. Students need to use their calculators for calculation problems.
Resource ELAR
We will start the week off practicing how to navigate the testing website for their ELAR interium exam. Starting Wednesday students will take this exam. After the exam we will begin reading and annotating poetry. February reading logs will go home on Monday.
8th Grade
Math
Students will continue their unit on Transformations, learning about Reflections and Rotations during the week. We will be taking a test on it towards the end of the week or the beginning of the following week.
Algebra
Students will continue to practice factoring and learn how to factor special cases. We will then review how to factor all of the different types of trinomials to prepare for a Factoring Quiz on Friday 2/3.
ELAR
This week we will continue studying our Unit 5 called "Finding Your Own Path" where we answer the essential question, "How do your teenage years prepare you for adulthood. After our Johnson High School trip on Monday and then our Reading STAAR Interim exam, we will begin reading an argumentative article.
Science
Next week in Science students will continue to learn about the plate boundaries and will get to participate in a hands on lab activity. The high school counselors will be back in our class on February 2nd to discuss any other questions about high school choice sheet which need to be completed in School links by February 9th.
Social Studies
Students in U.S. History will continue to learn about Industiralization and Reform with the main focus being centered around Reform due to the Industry growth through the nothern part of U.S.A. We will end the week with a quiz covering this Unit.
Resource Math
We are practicing using Desmos Testing calculator to solve slope problems with scatterplots.Homework is due on Friday. Please encourage your student to work on it at home. Students need to use their Desmos calculator for calculation problems.
Resource ELAR
We will start the week off practicing how to navigate the testing website for their ELAR interium exam. Starting Wednesday students will take this exam. After the exam we will resume reading and annotating poetry. February reading logs will go out on Monday.
Band
Advanced Bands: Students will continue preparations for UIL Concert/Sight-Reading evaluations.
Choir
Orchestra
Dance
Theatre
Theater 1
Students will work on voice, characterization, and movement to individual monologues. They will create background information for their charater to enhance their scenes.
Theatre 2
Students will work on characterization by performing in Open Scenes. They will create a character goal, obstacle, tactic and expectation based on the scene provided.
Theatre 3
Students will work on characterization by performing in Open Scenes. They will create a character goal, obstacle, tactic and expectation based on the scene provided.
Art
Art (Kelly)HS credit art will continue to work on their paper mache projects. MS1 and MS2 will be finalizing their Op Art projects. Ask them about Op Art!
GTT
STEAM
Web Design
Computer Science
Journalism
- Valentine's Stop Motion Animation Project Week 2 (Major Grade)
- Friday Five #21
Spanish
Spanish (Perez)
Students will start learning Unit 5 Vovabulary (Family and Household).
Spanish (Phillips, L.)
Spanish I New Unit!! Family and House.
Spanish II New Unit!! Entertainment.
Spanish III New Unit!! Identity and Communities.
Practice the new vocabulary in Quizlet. Link will be available in Schoology on Monday.
Professional Communications
Health
Principles of Agriculture
PE/Boys Pre-Athletics/Boys Athletics
Boys Athletics (Rich)
2 weeks of basketball remain. Track season will begin 2/8. We plan to stagger morning practices as much as possible. Thanks for all the help in fundraiser
Boys PE (Watson)
Students will continue to improve their mile times and do a work circuit that will help muscular strength
Boys Pre-Athletics (Rich)
Having grade and behavior discussions daily. Preparing fro track season. More details to come. Continued speed and strength development. Thanks for all the help with fundraiser
PE/Girls Pre-Athletics/Girls Athletics
Girls Athletics (Wylie)
Track season is starting in February. Please be sure you are passing ALL CLASSES! Start bringing extra warm clothes to wear on cold days. We will be going outside! Next week's baskeball game is @ Wallace.
Girls PE (Wylie)
Please bring warm clothes to wear for the days we go outside (monday and tuesday)
Girls Pre-Athletics (Wylie)
We are starting our track unit. Please make sure to bring warm layers to wear. We will go outside most days, unless the weather is below freezing.
Johnson High School Information on Course Selection Sheets and Parent Night!
School Testing
This year students will participate in taking the state Interim and Benchmark test. These tests will give us crucial information on where your child is at as we lead up to the STAAR test. We ask all students to make sure their school issued device is charged and they have headphones. Also, only school issue devices are allowed for these tests. If your child is using their own device, they will need to check one out in the library.
Also, during testing we ask for the following:
*No early pick-ups
*Lunch times may vary so we ask that no lunches are dropped off
*Parents not come to campus to eat with their child
02.01 ELAR Interim Shutdown (All Grades)
02.15 Math Interim Shutdown (All Grades)
02.28 ELAR Benchmark Shutdown (All Grades)
03.21 Science Interim Shutdown (8th Only)
03.22 Social Studies Interim Shutdown (8th Only)
03.30 Math Benchmark Shutdown (All Grades)
STAAR
04.25 ELAR
05.02 Science
05.03 Social Studies
05.09 Math
Purchase Online at:
https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/job/15136
(Online Sales End April 17th)
$30 Until Jan 30th / $35 Feb – April / $40 May 1st – Sold Out
TO PAY IN PERSON: Students May Bring Cash/Check to Coach Clewell in Room 214
Please Make Checks Payable to MMS Yearbook
Flag Football Information
Coach Hoffman and the Jaguar Staff wants all of our Hays CISD future Jags (Kinder-8 th) to sign-up for Next Level Flag Football. This is the exclusive flag football program run by our current Jags for our Future Jags. Sign-up with the link below and use the code for a $100 off registration.
https://www.nextlevelsports.com/Default.aspx?tabid=10247 53 Code for 100.00 Off 54888 (for Future Jags)
Bus Information
Bus Safety
It has been brought to my attention that there have been some inappropriate behaviors taken place on the bus. Profanity, racial slurs, verbal threats, and other unsafe behaviors. This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I shared with students that I need their help. If they see any of these above mention behaviors please say something. I don’t need to know students’ names, I just need the following information:
· Bus number
· Date
· AM or PM Route
Students can fill out a Hays Hope Line report, parents can email me, they can come to the front office to make a report, or they can tell any administrator.
We will review the video from the bus and proper consequences will be applied. Students who exhibited unwanted behaviors may lose bus riding privileges. Our bus drivers have a huge responsibility driving our kids home and they need to be respected and appreciated for the job they do. I greatly appreciate your help with this.
Student ID Badge
All students have been given their ID badge. For safety reasons, all students are required to wear an ID badge every day. Students may use a lanyard of their choosing. Students who do not have their ID badge will need to get a temporary badge.
Consequences for not wearing your ID badge are the following:
1st and 2nd time: Warning
3rd time: Lunch Detention
4th and 5th time: Warning
6th time: Lunch Detention
7th and 8th time: Warning
9th time: After School Detention
10th or more: ISS/Parent Phone Call
I can use parent support with this policy. ID badges is one of our safety protocols to ensure everyone on our campus is safe and supposed to be on our campus. This is something we take seriously and will be consistent with. Students will not be allowed into the classroom without and ID badge. I greatly appreciate your help making sure your child is wearing their ID badge. Thank you.
Academic UIL
Please view this presentation for our UIL practice times and dates. Students can sign up by filling out the google form in their schoology advisory course!
UIL Science
NA
Late Bus Information
Students attending sporting events
We are going to allow students to attend the sporting events at MMS without a parent. Students are expected to watch the game and to show school spirit. All students must have a school issued ID badge with them in order to attend athletic events. Temporary ID's will not be accepted.
Students that are exhibiting inappropriate behavior, using inappropriate language, and not remaining in a gym will be ask to leave and will not be allowed to attend any sporting events at McCormick.
Also, due to the lack of space in the small gym, parents/visitors will be seated first. Students may be asked to stay in the big gym only to watch the sporting event.
Gifted & Talented News
My name is April Venzor and I am the Gifted and Talented Liaison for McCormick Middle School. If you have any questions about G/T services at our campus, please let me know at april.venzor@hayscisd.net. Click here to access our MMS GT Fall Newsletter! I look forward to a great year!
Please read and watch
Dear Hays CISD Family,
We have published part 2 of episode 1 (Fighting Fentanyl: Help is Here) of our Fighting Fentanyl video series.
The link to it online in English and Spanish is: https://www.hayscisd.net/fentanylvideos
As we continue our conversation about the dangers of fentanyl, we will continue to produce additional videos and resource materials.
The main fentanyl webpage is www.hayscisd.net/fentanyl.
McCormick scored a B rating
I am very proud to announce that McCormick Middle School received a "B" rating in the latest school accountability. This is a HUGE accomplishment. MMS went from a "D" rating to a "B" rating. This is a result of dedication and hard work from students, teachers, and parents. I greatly appreciate everyone’s hard work!
I am also pleased to announce that MMS has received 2 state distinctions in the area of:
Student Growth and Closing the Gaps
Click On This Link for more information
Way to go Tigers!
Want To Be A Mentor?
Be a Mentor - Change a Life!
A Call to Mentor
The Hays CISD mentoring program pairs adults with student mentees in a proven, effective practice of making a difference in the lives of students. In our ongoing commitment to build student self-efficacy Hays CISD is proud to announce a renewed call for mentors to strengthen student connectedness and develop strong relationships.
Length and Time of Commitment
We ask for a 1 year commitment to meet with a student once a week for 30 minutes, during the school day (during the student’s lunch period will be the preferred time).
What do mentors do? Mentors provide constant encouragement and emotional support for their students. Mentors help students to:
- Accept responsibility
- Use good study habits
- Make positive choices
- Learn problem solving skills
- Have better peer relationships
Good mentoring relationships require a secure mentor training process. Prior to being assigned to a campus and matched with a mentee, all mentors must register with our VIP’s volunteer system, receive a Hays CISD volunteer ID badge and complete all levels of the onboarding process.
Requirements - How to become a mentor: There are only four (4) requirements to become a mentor:
- Consent to a Hays CISD Criminal Background Check by registering through our VIP’s volunteer portal. (Level 1)
· If you have previously volunteered within Hays CISD, click Established Volunteers. If you are registered as an established volunteer, please go into your account and designate an interest in “Mentoring” to update your account.
· If you are NEW to Hays CISD or have not completed the VIPS process, click this link: New Volunteers
2. Once you are approved, the VIP’s system will notify you to complete an online self-paced training module.(Level 2)
- Once your level 2 responses are recorded, the VIP’s system will auto-generate a link to register for one of our 1.5 hr. in-person Onboarding/Training sessions at the PAC happening Sept.13th – 20th. (Level 3)
- Upon completion of in-person training, a Mentor Training Certificate will be issued and approved mentors will connect with the campus School Counselor/Campus Mentor Liaison for matching with a mentee and review check-in procedures. (Level 4)
Why mentoring?
Research repeatedly shows that having a mentor helps a child to be more successful in school. Children are not the only ones whose lives can be changed by mentoring. For many mentors, the rewards of reaching out to another and building a close, trusting relationship are great, including an increase in personal enrichment, happiness and self-knowledge. In fact, mentoring benefits all of society: healthy, educated and nurtured children tend to grow up to be productive adults and responsible parents. They may even grow up to be mentors themselves.
Thank you for saying “yes” to mentoring!
Questions?
Please contact ESSER SEL Specialist Tracy Mayhue, Tracy.Mayhue@hayscisd.net
Cell Phone Policy
Student use guidelines during the school day (8:10 AM-3:35 PM)
· Students may use their personal electronics on campus before 8:10 AM and after 3:35 PM.
· Cell phones must be out of sight and on airplane mode in the classroom.
· Students will not have their cell phones out during class or passing periods.
· Cell Phone use is prohibited in bathrooms, hallways, locker rooms, changing areas or any area considered private.
· Principals may allow students to use their cell phones during lunch time.
Violation of electronics procedure
Students who violate the procedure will have the following consequences.
- 1st Offense – Confiscation of the device and returned to student at the end of the day. Student warning
- 2nd Offense – Confiscation of the device and returned to student at the end of the day. Student will be assigned after school detention.
- 3rd Offense – Confiscation of the device, and returned to student at the end of the day. Student will be assigned after school detention.
- 4th or more offense - Confiscation of the device and returned to student at the end of the day. Student may be assigned In-School Suspension.
- Students who fail to surrender devices will elevate consequences immediately.
- Devices will be returned to students at the end of the school day.
- Violations will reset every nine week grading period.
Lunch Deliveries From Parents
Hays CISD Meal Delivery Services
As part of enhanced safety at campuses, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, all Hays CISD campuses will no longer accept deliveries from meal delivery services or restaurants for student lunches. And, campuses will no longer have drop-off tables for meals. Parents may still bring outside food for their children if they plan to deliver the meals directly to their child’s designated lunch period. All guests are required to follow existing safety protocols and check in with ID at the front office.
Please watch the video below on how to fill out the the lunch application form!
Lunch Application Forms
Child Nutrition
https://www.hayscisd.net/Page/311
Lunch Application
https://www.schoolcafe.com/hayscisd
Only needs to be done 1 per household
Or also adding money to child’s lunch account
Please review our parent drop off and parent pick up procedures.
McCormick Middle School Information
- School starts at 8:10am and ends at 3:35pm
- Students will have 7 class periods
- Students will have 5 minutes to get from class to class. We do count tardies. Tardies will begin the second week of school
- We have 3 lunch periods separated by grade levels. 6th grade will eat first, followed by 7th grade, and 8th grade will eat last
- If time permits, students will be allowed to purchase snacks after everyone has been given the opportunity to get a lunch. Snacks can be purchased with cash or charged to student's lunch account.
- We do not have academic lockers at MMS.
- Every student will be given a school device (unless students choose to use their own)
- Students will need a Hays CISD device during STAAR testing
Student Dress Code
Please click on the link for a visual of our dress code do's/dont's andour dress code descriptions.
Student Drop Off/Pick Up
Our doors open at 7:30am each day. I will not have any supervision outside until 7:30am. You can drop off your child earlier but there will not be any supervision. We will release car riders at 3:32pm each day.
In the morning, please drive all the way up the hill as far as you can. Please do not drop off in the "Red Zone" where it says no parking. Also, do not drop off students in the front of the school. We need to keep this area clear for buses.
We are locking the back doors at 8:00. If your child arrives to school after 8:00, please drop off in the front of the building.
In the afternoon we want to fit as many cars in as possible. I will stop traffic to let the buses go ahead of everyone. We are trying to get the buses loaded as soon as possible so they can get on their routes.
Please DO NOT tell your child to walk to your vehicle while you are waiting in line.
PLEASE DO NOT do any Uturns when you are in line. This is a safety concern.
I appreciate your understanding with this.
As you know the line at parent pick up is extremely long. We are doing the best we can and I appreciate everyone’s patience. The line will get faster. The following items are some things your child can do to make the line go faster:
- Make sure your child is looking for you
- Try not to get out of your car for your child to put things in trunk
- Drive all the way up the loop until you cannot drive up anymore
Visitors On Campus
ENGLISH
We are so excited to open our doors to visitors again! As always, safety will remain our number one priority. Please review the District Safety Procedures prior to visiting our campus by clicking here.
A few reminders:
- All visitors will continue to check in at the front office
- All visitors will need to show official state identification (Texas Driver’s license or state issued ID card)
- Visitation may be denied due to lack of appropriate identification required for criminal background screening
- All students must wear their ID tag while on campus. Please make sure your student wears their ID daily.
We are excited to offer volunteering opportunities again! Interested in volunteering? Learn more: Hays CISD Volunteers In Public Schools (VIP)
Please click here for additional information and safety reminders: Campus Safety Protocols
We look forward to seeing you soon!
SPANISH
¡Nos da mucho gusto volver abrir nuestras puertas a visitantes de nuevo! Como siempre, la seguridad siempre será nuestra primera prioridad. Por favor revise los Procedimientos de Seguridad del Distrito antes de visitar alguno de nuestros campus al hacer CLIC AQUÍ.
Unos cuantos recordatorios:
- Todos los visitantes deberán registrarse en la oficina de la entrada principal.
- Todos los visitantes necesitan mostrar su identificación oficial del estado (Licencia de Conductor o Identificación del Estado de Texas)
- Se podrá negar la visita en caso de falta identificación apropiada para la verificación de antecedentes.
- Todos los estudiantes deberán usar su Credencial de Identificación mientras estén en el campus. Favor de asegurarse que su hijo(a) porte su ID diariante.
¡Nos emociona poder volver a ofrecer oportunidades de participación voluntaria nuevamente! ¿Le interesa participar como voluntario? Infórmese más en: Voluntarios en Escuelas Públicas de Hays CISD (VIP)
Haga CLIC AQUÍ: Protocolos de Seguridad en el Campus para mayor información y leer los recordatorios de seguridad.
¡Esperamos verlos muy pronto!
Happy Birthday Shout Out!
Wish your child Happy Birthday on our school marquee! Please click the link below to put a birthday message on the school marquee!
North Side - Facing child nutrition
South Side- Facing entrance
CNN Student News
I have provided the link for you for review. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Need assistance?
Hi all – HaysCo has an emergency rental assistance program for those impacted by COVID. The program aims to prevent people from being evicted by paying back rent, though it also helps with back due (and I think currently owed) utilities. I invite you to learn more about the ERA program on our website: https://hayscountytx.com/emergency-rental-assistance-program/