Colt Corner
Colleyville Middle School
April 9, 2021
Colts,
What a way to end the week! This morning I witnessed our band perform in their UIL sight-reading at GHS and the entire experience was simply incredible. Our students were able to play a piece never seen before and perform it as if they had been playing it for years. That does not happen by accident. Our Colts are determined, hard working, and will rise to any level they are challenged to.
I came to school with an extra pep in my step today, not just because it was another fun Friday at CMS, but because of what I was able to witness last night with another stellar track and field season that came to a successful end. Both the boys and girls programs came away with a team being undefeated Zone and District Championships. It was a good night for Colt Country.
I am reminded daily of the amazing things that happen at CMS and will continue to say that it is because of the work that happens on campus and our positive partnership together as a community. Thank you for another great week. Enjoy the weekend!
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 12 - 16 - Sub Appreciation Week
April 13 - 7th Grade STAAR Writing test. 6th/8th grade remote learning from home.
April 12 - Tennis Match- Colleyville Heritage High School 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 14 - Progress Reports (Skyward)
April 15 - Soccer Scrimmage Girls - CMS 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 15 - Soccer Scrimmage Boys - HMS 5:00 - 7:30pm
April 19 - Tennis Match - Colleyville Heritage High School 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
* STAAR Assessment Update
* Middle School STAAR Testing
* GCISD Middle School Asynchronous Days on Various STAAR Testing Dates
* CMS STAAR Assessment Calendar Information
* Social Studies Student of the Week
* NJHS REMINDER : DEADLINE FOR CURRENT 7TH GRADERS!
* Registration Opens April 12 for Pre-K, Kindergarten and New Students
* Drivers Education – VOEs Needed
* 2021 Summer Enrichment
* The Colleyville Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for 2021 Awards Banquet: Heroes Among Us
* Returning GCISD Student Registration
* Moving over the Summer Break?
* Colleyville Heritage Tennis
* CHHS Golf Tryouts
PTA News
* Colleyville Middle School PTA Awards
* Summer of Discovery - PTA Program presentation
Counselors Corner
* Character Strong
* Family Character Dare: The Home Games
* Friends For Life Hotline
Repeated Information
* GCISD Update
* Middle School Final Exam Exemptions - Once all STAAR exams are taken, all core subject final exams at the end of May are exempt.
* GCISD Spoken Word Poetry Showcase
* Math Telescoping Exams
STAAR Assessments
On Tuesday, April 6, there was a statewide outage of the Educational Testing System which administers STAAR assessments online. This impacted students who were taking fourth-grade writing, seventh-grade writing and English I EOC. According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), students could have experienced four different scenarios with online testing:
Successfully submitting the test without disruption;
Successfully submitting answers but may have noticed unusually slow response times;
Unable to log in to begin with; or
The student could have begun to answer questions, but at some point was prevented from continuing, and in this instance, answers were saved every thirty seconds so that these students will be able to pick up where they left off.
TEA has requested that school districts reschedule and readminister the assessments on Tuesday, April 13. Students will still complete their exams online as this is the method and manner in which these students prepared to take the assessment. Campuses will communicate with parents the specifics of the testing schedule for their campus.
Since the test has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 13, this day will also be an asynchronous remote learning day for our sixth and eighth graders.
For families where students were paper testers:
As a reminder, since your student completed their STAAR assessment on paper, they have completed the exam and do not need to participate in the retake.
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.
Below you will find the document of all the STAAR dates for your knowledge. The only addition not pictured below is Tuesday, April the 13th, for the 7th grade STAAR Writing make-up day.
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.
Mrs. Menard
Assistant Principal, Colleyville Middle School
CMS Testing Coordinator
Middle School STAAR Testing
May 5: 6th and 8th-grade ONLY will come to school
May 6: 7th and 8th-grade ONLY will come to school
May 7: 6th and 8th-grade ONLY will come to school
Students who are not testing or present on campus on the days listed above are expected to participate remotely in asynchronous learning.
NJHS REMINDER : DEADLINE FOR CURRENT 7TH GRADERS!
Applications for membership in the Colleyville Middle School National Junior Honor Society application deadline has been extended to Monday, April 12th.
If you are enrolled in at least two Pre-AP or Accelerated classes and have at least a 90 average across your four core classes, please consider National Junior Honor Society as one of your extra-curricular activities for the upcoming school year.
Join a special Canvas Classroom for applications - the link to enroll in the course is HERE. The items to complete can be found in the “Application” module of Canvas.
BE SURE TO CLICK “SUBMIT” IN CANVAS the completed applications and other required forms no later than Monday, April 12th, 2021.
Read over the application carefully. Applications must be COMPLETE and returned on time - NO EXCEPTIONS.
Registration Opens April 12 for Pre-K, Kindergarten and New Students
Registration for the 2021-2022 school year will open on Monday, April 12 for new students, as well as pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students. To register a new student click here. Prior to completing online registration, students enrolling in pre-kindergarten must have completed a separate online application, which may be found here.
Returning student registration will open on Monday, May 3 and will remain open until May 21. 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.
During the registration process, parents will also be able to register as a bus rider for the 2021-2022 school year. If you have specific questions regarding bus registration, please contact Transportation at 817-251-5590.
2021 Summer Enrichment
More than 90 different courses will be taught by certified teachers in a variety of areas. These 3-hour courses are designed to be fun, engaging, and educational for students completing K-6th grades.
Full course listings and the brochure can be viewed on the GCISD Summer Programs page: bit.ly/SE2021gcisd.
When: One-week sessions from June 7 – July 16 (no courses July 5-9)
Times: 8:30 – 11:30 and/or 12:30 – 3:30
Cost: $125/course (if noted, a course may have an additional materials fee)
Location: Cross Timbers Middle School
Registration has begun online in Skyward!
Part-Time KidzU Care is available for students enrolled in Summer Enrichment before and after classes.
The Colleyville Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for 2021 Awards Banquet: Heroes Among Us
Drivers Education – VOEs Needed
Please email your request for a VOE to your campuses Data-Secretary at least 24 hours prior
to its need and include your students First and Last name.
CMS Data-Secretary: Heather.Ingram@GCISD.net
Returning GCISD Student Registration
The 21-22 Registration for current GCISD students will OPEN May 3rd. This is a big change
from previous years. Parents will need to complete the returning student
registration by May 21st.
We will update this information as it becomes available.
Moving over the Summer Break?
If you move but are still in the GCISD attendance zone you will need to email CMS Data Secretary, heather.ingram@gcisd.net, with the new address and attach 2 documents to corroborate the change.
1: Lease, Mortgage or TAD statement
2: Current Utility Bill
~ Moving out of the GCISD attendance zone
1: If school is still in session, but you know you will be moving over the Summer;
please email CMS Data-Secretary, heather.ingram@gcisd.net, and she will help you complete the Withdrawal Process as well as get the student’s technology (Chromebook & charger)
checked back in at the end of the school year.
2: If we are on Summer break…
Please check back; there will be Summer Withdrawal information released
closer to the Summer break.
*** Please note: That technology, and similar items are the property of the district and are provided for student use as a matter of convenience. District property must be returned upon your student’s withdrawal from GCISD. In the event that a device is not returned as described, GCISD will report the device as stolen to the local police department.
CHHS Golf Tryouts
Tryouts for next year’s Colleyville Heritage Golf Team will be on May 3rd. Go to the CHHS Golf website and see details under Tryouts. You must contact Coach Brown by email ASAP before tryouts.
CMS PTA Membership Awards
Let's Start Nominating!
CMS PTA Membership Awards
Please consider nominating a parent, teacher, staff, campus administrator, a local business, or community member who has done great things and/or gone above and beyond for our school, staff, and students. Please nominate at this link:
COLLEYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS - 2021 - Google Forms
STUDENT VOICE: Even your child can nominate someone! There will be a raffle for a $10 gift card to Amazon for students who nominate someone. If the student's nomination is chosen, they will receive a $10 gift card to Amazon!
Deadline to submit is April 18, 2021. Awards will be presented at the PTA General Meeting in May.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Ditto at jlditto@gmail.com or 817.291.0962
Descriptions of the 3 different awards you can nominate for:
*Friend of Children Award - This award may be presented to anyone you would like to honor; an outstanding volunteer, teacher, principal, assistant principal, school staff member, school custodian, cafeteria worker, featured speaker, grandparents, business person or owner who continually supports our PTA. This person does not have to be a PTA member.
*Honorary Life Membership Award - This award is one of the highest forms of recognition to let a volunteer know how much you truly appreciate their decication to our children and the community. This person must also be a member of the PTA and support the objectives of the PTA. CMS Recipients in the past few years:
* Extended Service Award - This award was established in 1987, to award those people who have continued to give outstanding service to the Texas PTA. This recipient must have been actively involved in the Texas PTA for 10 years and be an Honorary Life Member.
Link to previous CMS recipients: PTA Awards - Colleyville Middle School
Counselors’ Corner for the Week of April 12 - 16
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:
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.comIn this past week's GCISD Update email:
In This Edition
Registration Opening Soon: Registration for the 2021-2022 school year will open on Monday, April 12, for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and all other new students.
Summer Enrichment Registration Open: Registration is already open for Summer Enrichment 2021, a variety of courses offered to students that have completed K-6th grades.
COVID-19 Testing Center: In case you missed it, the GCISD COVID-19 Testing Center at Mustang Panther Stadium is now open to students in addition to staff.
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.
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 13 - 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.
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.
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
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