The Carleton Chronicle
A weekly update from Carleton Middle School
Welcome Back!
We would like to take a moment to welcome back our students, parents, and all staff to Carleton Middle School. If Carleton is new to you, welcome! We are thrilled to have you with us and look forward to a tremendous year. If you've walked through our building, you've noticed that a few more updates have been made this summer including new doors, hardware, and fresh paint in the main office. Also, our floors are freshly waxed and are squeaky clean (my favorite part of summer clean up).
One of the many ways we will communicate with you throughout the school year is by using the "Carleton Chronicle," our one page, email newsletter with information about our school. We also send out Twitter messages @CarletonColts, Instagram pictures and messages at carletoncoltswcs, update our website regularly, and send REMIND text messages. Although, we are currently having trouble with REMIND's new policy about group texts, so please have a current email address and phone number on file with the main office. If you are having trouble with any of our communications please visit the main office and we will make sure we have updated information. In today's age of technology, there's no excuse for not being informed.
Picking Up or Dropping Off? Stay to the right
Horseshoe loop is for buses only
Driving through? Stay to the left
New Year - New You
One of the books I read this summer was Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin and she ponders the question, "How do we change?" After reading 263 pages, the short answer is by using habits. Habits are the invisible architecture of daily life and we repeat about 40% of our behaviors almost daily. If we change our habits, we change our lives (for the better or worse). Through the lens of the traditional school day, some of our good habits might be using your agenda to write down any homework or projects, finishing your homework right when you get home from school, and wearing your school ID.
Undesirable habits habits can also creep into our lives such as not attending half days of school, going home every time you don't feel 100%, or vaping at the bus stop after Dad drops you off. As you can see, habits can be helpful in creating success or detrimental to your health or studies.
Below are a few quick explanations on how to help create new habits:
Monitoring - We manage what we monitor - Counting calories for example - Tracking the number of missing assignments on PowerSchool
Scheduling - If it's on the Calendar, It Happens - Create an after school schedule for homework completion, snack time, free time, and bed time
Accountability - Someone's Watching - Have a study buddy, read with a parent at bedtime, go walking with a family member
Abstaining - Free from French Fries - Some people can eat just one potato chip...some cannot. Don't try the vape in the first place. Abstain from checking your phone in between classes. Abstain from video games during school nights.
Distraction - Wait Fifteen Minutes - If you don't feel 100% right now, wait fifteen minutes and see if the feeling subsides. You might not have to instantly call your parents to come get you.
Rewards - No Finish Line - Careful with the rewards you give yourself. "If I get all A's during the first quarter, I won't need to study during the second quarter." Or, "If I pass the math test, I'll give myself a break from taking notes."
Lightning Bolt - A clean slate (or new school year / job) can prompt us to make sudden and profound changes in our habits. An older sibling having to go to summer school can suddenly influence your study habits.
Pairing - Couple two activities - "When I grab my lunch in the morning, I'll put my ID on." Or "Every time I brush my teeth I'll take my morning medicine."
These are just a few strategies to develop routines and habits that often begin in middle school. It is common for students to have a certain amount of homework every night and is important that they have a system for completing such tasks for their learning and reinforcement to be successful. So, start small with setting some new, positive habits and remember that temporary quickly becomes permanent!
Ms. Zmija is going over expectations
Grade level meetings
It's 12:14 and your students are in class (or lunch)!
General Announcements
Carleton serves breakfast! Students can join us every morning and get their first meal of the day in our cafeteria beginning at 7:15
Open House is Wednesday, September 11th from 6-8 pm. Schedules will not be available. Instead, we will send home a document to fill out with your child on Monday. Please consider stopping by at 5:30 pm to learn more about Title I services that are available to students that struggle with reading, writing, and mathematics.
Save the date! Our first Booster Club meeting of the year is on Tuesday, September 17, at 6:00 pm in the media center. We will be discussing our first major event, the Day of Awesome, which will take place on Tuesday, October 15th. Please join us.
Scavenger Hunt
Ms. Grimm's students
Filling up that agenda on week one!
Events for Your Calendar
September 10 - Day of Awesome Kick-Off Meeting (School-Wide Fundraiser)
September 11 - Title I Meeting, 5:30pm - Media Center
September 11 - Open House, 6-8pm
September 17 - Booster Club Meeting, 6pm - Media Center
September 20 - Half Day for Students, Dismissal at 11am
About Us
Email: ekausch@wcskids.net
Website: http://school.wcskids.net/carleton/
Location: 8900 15 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI, United States
Phone: (586) 825-2590
Twitter: @CarletonColts