The Weekly Buzz Update
A Weekly Newsletter from Corner Middle School
Volume 2, Number 5: August 19, 2020
Thoughts from the Principal . . . .
I am SO PROUD of your faculty and staff at Corner Middle School! They have spent days in preparation for this remote opening. We believe our plan is a solid one, and that your students will be successful in this setting!
I ask that you be mindful in the first days of the re-opening that patience, flexibility, and a positive attitude will be key to your student's success. In the last Weekly Buzz, I also asked that you start thinking about how you would organize at home to make sure your student finds success. I know that positive things are ahead for our educators, students, and family.
Are you dreading the opening of school? Nervous? Cautiously optimistic? I encourage you to be EXCITED! While we recognize that there will be hiccups in the new format, we will not quit in trying to reach our kids and assist you in solving problems that might interfere with their success. Please remember that there are things that are sometimes out of our control (bandwidth, storm clouds interfering with satellite internet, Johnny spilling Dr. Pepper on his Chromebook, etc.). I do, however, commit to you that we will be available to assist whenever possible. A positive attitude from everyone will go a long way into making this nine-week remote learning period successful!
Please review the information below carefully. We have taken comments from your previous survey into account in designing this plan for all. Feel free to email me at mmanning@jefcoed.com with questions regarding the plan, ask on social media, or call me at the school. There will be more updates coming to you on Sunday. I look forward to seeing our kids personally and/or remotely in the days ahead! Have a great evening!
Michael Manning
Principal
Corner Middle School
Registration Update for the 2020-2021
WE CANNOT HELP YOU HELP YOUR STUDENT IF YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED. STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE A COMPLETE AND SUBMITTED ONLINE REGISTRATION CANNOT BE ISSUED A DEVICE, BOOKS, MATERIALS, PASSWORDS, OR BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
As of today, there are 489 students enrolled for the new year at CMS. The families of 407 of those students have submitted their online registration. While a few of those families are still missing uploaded documents for proofs of residency, they are all but complete. We still have a number of families who have either started and not submitted (24 students) or not started at all (58 students).
CMS Families, we need your assistance to help us plan for instruction that will begin in 16 days. Each family (other than those with newly enrolled students) should have received online registration instructions with an individualized "snap code" in the mail that would allow you to register your students. PLEASE, help us by doing this as soon as possible. It will make it terribly challenging for us to schedule and your teachers to plan, if we do not have students enrolled prior to the start of the year on September 1st.
We appreciate so many of you taking care of the registration process last week. Thank you for helping us get this completed!
Updates from Dr. Gonsoulin and Jefcoed on the Re-Opening of Jefferson County Schools
Message from Dr. Gonsoulin
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=314001242988090&extid=gw5VPO4WNj4BUJex
Message from Exceptional Education and 504
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=309530067150170&extid=pUz381RAUckHj6Nf
Jefcoed Road Map to Re-Opening Schools Update
CMS Remote Learning Plan (Daily Learning Schedules)
Students have to be in school. They have to be in class. I will address attendance in a later section. Our period schedule and daily schedules are below.
On Mondays, we felt like all teachers needed to see and check in with each student. You will notice that on Tuesdays through Fridays, we alternate ODD PERIOD DAYS and EVEN PERIOD DAYS. Your child will only be online for ODD or EVEN periods on those days with ASSIGNMENTS to complete for the class. Additionally in this time, general and exceptional education teachers may ask individual or small groups of students to come back online for intervention or acceleration.
Please feel free to email any member of the staff for additional explanation, ask questions in the comments, or call the school for clarification.
CMS Remote Learning Plan (Devices, Textbooks, Band Instruments)
In next Sunday's Weekly Buzz, we will share the final distribution schedule for devices, textbooks /workbooks, and band instruments. The distribution dates are Wednesday, August 26 - Friday, August 28. We will distribute by LAST NAME so that families do not have to make more than one trip to the school. A parent or guardian must come with the student to receive materials. Signatures will be required by both persons in different areas. All persons coming to the school must wear a mask and social distancing is required.
CMS Remote Learning Plan (Student Schedules)
Instead of issuing that information today, we will provide the new username, home portal login, email, and password next week at distribution days (if not sooner). I realize that many folks want to "see their student's schedule." It's very easy. Every student will be taking math, science, social studies, and English (reading, for fifth grade, too.). Along with PE (which is required through the 8th grade), your student will have one or two electives depending upon their grade level. If you are wanting to prepare them for their daily schedule, prepare them for the five required classes. As far as electives, we always try to give students one of their top two choices, but as we said in the spring, there are no guarantees. We will share more information on the release of this information as we receive it from the district.
CMS REMOTE LEARNING PLAN (EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES)
CMS REMOTE LEARNING PLAN (CHILD NUTRITION PLAN)
Remote Bus Deliveries
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
(Bus drivers will pick up meals from all school locations between 10:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.)
Car line Pick Up (High School Locations Only.)
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
More information on the CNP plan for families will be in next Sunday's Weekly Buzz.
In the world of COVID-19, I would encourage any family to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch form. The link to complete it online is below.
https://family.titank12.com/application/new?identifier=TSFPFC
CMS REMOTE LEARNING PLAN (ATTENDANCE)
1. Visual or Auditory Acknowledgement
2. Completion of Entry Task and/or Exit Slip to Assess Learning
3. Completion of Class Assignment
4. Participation in Breakout Room Activities, Intervention, or Acceleration Opportunities
We will work with students who have to miss class due to illness or other specified reasons, but we ask that you submit excuses electronically to our registrar, Lindy Hallmark, at lhallmark@jefcoed.com. Again, our goal is to effectively transition everyone smoothly back to face-to-face instruction as soon as possible. This is what will be required when students return to school. Thank you for your assistance in having your child in class each day!
2019-2020 Yearbook Distribution
We will communicate a distribution time for those current freshmen at Corner High School next week to pick up their books. Thank you!
Revised 2020-2021 School Year Calendar
2020-2021 Grade Reporting Calendar
Enrollment Information for Students Who Are New to Jefferson County or Corner Middle School
Enrollment is now open for students who are moving into the Corner Middle School zone and are new to Jefferson County. This is NOT for students who are coming from the fourth to fifth grade from Bagley Elementary. Your student is already enrolled in Jefferson County.
Families who are new to the area should review the document attached below first, and then click on the link provided to begin the process. If you have any questions, please call us here at the school so that we may assist you. Welcome to Corner Middle School!!!
Registration Information for Students Returning to Corner Middle School
Quote of the Week . . .
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."
--Henry Ford (American Inventor)--
Corner Middle School
The mission of Corner Middle School is to serve our community of learners by:
· Utilizing highly-effective instruction and a challenging curriculum.
· Meeting the needs of diverse learners in order to prepare them for college and entry into the work force.
· Partnering with the community.
· Cultivating student leaders.
· Integrating technology into all areas of learning.
Email: mmanning@jefcoed.com
Website: https://cornerms.jefcoed.com
Location: 10005 Corner School Road Warrior, Alabama 35180
Phone: (205) 379-3230
Facebook: facebook.com/CornerMS
Twitter: @CornerMiddle