Hello CRMS Family,

I apologize for missing last weeks Cougar News. As many of you know, there are quite a few bugs going around right now, and unfortunately, I was hit by one. It knocked me out for a few days, but I'm happy to be on the mend and back at work.

Congratulations to Mrs. Ciucci, Ms. Spain, Ms. Ready, and the Foreign Language classes who raised nearly $700 last week in a coin wars competition. After learning about education in Niger, the poorest and least educated country in the world, students stepped up and collected change to help make a difference in the lives of children less fortunate than theirs. Their generous donations are enough to sponsor two students’ tuition, meals and supplies for one year!

I'm so impressed with the generosity that our students demonstrated through this competition. We had students donated the money they made babysitting or other chores, to support these students who are in need across the world. It is truly inspiring to see how much our students care and what they are willing to contribute to help others.

Jaclyn Rowehl

Principal

December

December 12: Coffee and Conversations in the Media Center from 1:30-2:30

December 12: Spirit Night at Paisano's All day (11am - midnight)

December 13: Winter Band Concert

December 15: Hat Day fundraiser $2.00

December 15: School Dance 6:30 - 8:00 pm

December 16: Half Day - students dismiss at 11:30 am

December 17-January 3: School Closed

January 4: Students return to school

Annual Calendar

We know that there are times when you need to pick your child up from school in the middle of the day for a doctor's appointment or some other event. When this pick up occurs during lunch/recess time, it limits the amount of adult supervision because the teacher needs to go with the student to unlock doors/cabinets. This is a safety concern!

To alleviate this issue, we are asking that parents SEND A NOTE TO THE HOMEROOM TEACHER as to what time your child will be picked up. Therefore, the child can pack up belongings before lunch/recess.

Please do your best to NOT pick your child up during their lunch/recess time!

6th grade: 11:55 - 12:35

7th grade: 10:43 - 11:33

8th grade: 12:48 - 1:38

Chaperones needed for Thursday, December 15th Dance.

Volunteers, please see this link for more information and to sign up.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4AAAA822ABFC1-dance

Please use this link to sign up to contribute.

COACHES NEEDED for Spring Sports - Information from Athletics/Danielle

We had a great turnout for Middle School Co-ed Soccer, Softball, and Baseball signups!!! Registration is now closed. Thank you to those parents who volunteered to coach softball and baseball. We are now looking for 2-3 more soccer coaches for this upcoming season. If you are interested in coaching, please email crmsathleticboosterclub@gmail.com

In addition, track and field is offered as a spring sport at the high school level for interested 7th and 8th graders. Winter conditioning has started. Scan the QR Code for more information. Questions please contact Coach Eshelman at joseph_eshelman@charleston.k12.sc.us.

Middle school is a time when students’ cognitive capacities, including abstract thinking and moral reasoning increase. During this time middle schoolers become aware and are especially sensitive to their peers and experience an increased intensity of emotions. Kids are "carrying" a lot in their metaphorical book bag even before they walk through our school doors some mornings.

The Wellness Room at CRMS was created with that in mind–helping students independently re-set, re-focus and return to learning.

Wellness Room Objective:

Students will independently work to self-regulate their emotions, problem solve and/or reset to return to the classrooms recentered and focused, allowing them to re-engage and be “ready to learn.” Counselors will be in the room, facilitating this work.

At any time during the day students can request to visit the Wellness Room for a quick reset. Signed agendas are the entry and exit passes to the room. Targeted maximum time in the Wellness Room is 10 minutes.

What’s in the Wellness Room?

Upon entering the room, students can choose a “what do I need card.”

1. Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution worksheet

2. Coloring/Journaling

3. Fidgets

4. A quiet space (noise cancellation headphones) or a book

5. Distraction (from my feelings) puzzles, crosswords, brain games, etc

6. Mindfulness (yoga cards, breathing exercises, etc)

After choosing a “what I need card” and giving it to the school counselor, students are able to choose flexible seating and use the manipulatives. Ten-minute sand timers are given to students to let them know when their time has expired. After signing out, students can request to see a school counselor if needed.

Science Links social/emotional wellness to Student Gains:

* Improvement in students’ social and emotional skills, attitudes, relationships, academic performance, and perceptions of classroom and school climate

* Decline in students’ anxiety and behavior problems

* Long-term improvements in students’ skills, attitudes, prosocial behavior, and academic performance

Free COVID and Flu testing for CCSD students/staff. Mondays 12PM - 6PM.

Location: CRMS parking lot inside of POD trailer.

Positive for COVID? Please use this COVID Reporting Form to report positive cases to the nurse.

Hats ON for Our Author Visit!

We will have a Hat Day fundraiser Dec. 15 (a Thursday). For $2.00, students may wear a hat to school. All proceeds go toward our March 1 visit from author Varian Johnson. Hoping to see some great hats!

Attention 8th grade parents: PSAT/NMSQT score reports will be accessible online beginning Dec. 6th. In order to access them, you will need to create a College Board account using this link: https://studentscores.collegeboard.org/ College Board will not be sending hard copies of the scores this year.

Once you have a college board account, you will be able to access free test-prep/practice from Khan Academy as well as some other useful tools. Students will have their test booklets returned to them next week so they can go back to check questions they missed.

For any 8th grade families who may be considering an International Baccalaureate education at James Island Charter High School: please click this sign up to schedule an observation of IB courses during a morning or afternoon session from November 28th through December 9th.

Students should NOT bring their Chromebook chargers to school. Please charge devices at home each evening. Chargers tend to disappear at school, and we have no way to track them. Students will be responsible for the cost of replacing lost chargers, so please don’t let your student bring the charger to school!

A reminder about the CCSD fee structure for damages and loss of chromebooks:

• Negligent/Accidental Breakage - No charge for first incident per school year $50 per incident for each subsequent event
• Intentional Vandalism - $300.
• Stolen Device - No cost if a police report is provided
• Lost Device - $300
• Lost Charger - $40