Carpenter Middle School
HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE RANCH!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gear Up for College Week!
Monday, January 11
Bright futures ahead! -- Wear sunglasses and Neon gear.
Tuesday, January 12
Higher education starts here! -- Wear your Carpenter spirit wear or colors.
Wednesday, January 13
College is a SMART choice! -- Dress like a nerd!
Thursday, January 14
Dress for Success! -- Dress up for your dream job.
Friday, January 15
Where are you going? -- Wear your favorite college t-shirt!
All Attire must follow pisd dress code!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observance
Calling All Cats January 14 - 6:00 to 8:00
A special evening is coming up for all 8th and 10th grade students, parents, and current students at Plano Senior High School….CALLING ALL CATS, Thurs., Jan. 14, 2016, 6:00 – 8:00 pm! Please plan to attend this informational evening and learn all about the wonderful opportunities at Plano Senior High School. You'll be able to purchase spirit wear, visit with incredible senior high teachers regarding course study, learn about all of our award-winning performance art and visual arts programs, and become familiar with all the fabulous coaches for all Wildcat sports. The entire campus will be open for you to visit.
Current 6th & 7th Graders - Time to Plan for Next School Year!
January 20, 2016
Registration Information for Parents
Carpenter Cafeteria
With Carpenter Counselors
6:00 – 7:00 P.M.
- Overview of elective courses for 7th and 8th graders (in other words, parents of current 6th and 7th graders)
- How to fill out the 7th and 8th grade registration cards
**Students should have their registration card on the 13th. In order for the session to be beneficial, please bring this with you. You can access the middle school course catalog at http://pisd.edu/students/courses/index.shtml
**Registration cards must be returned to the social studies or Texas history teacher by Friday, January 22.
PACE Referral Packets Due Friday, January 29th
The Plano PACE program is for gifted children who require a unique set of challenges in the classroom. PACE is through the history class, so it replaces history at the middle school level. PACE is a challenging class that requires strong analytical skills, dedication and the ability to have fun!
PACE Referral packets need to be turned in by the end of January. Testing will occur in February. 6th and 7th graders will be placed in the Fall. 8th graders will take humanities at their high school.
Robotics Club
A Robotics Club will be forming at Carpenter this semester. Members will learn about robotics engineering by doing what engineers do… design, build and problem solve. We will build robots using VEX Robotics and learn the coding involved in programming them. Meetings will be either before or after school in K212 with dates to be determined. Space is limited so pick up an application form from Ms. Alouf in K212 and return soon to reserve your spot!
KICKIN' AROUND THE RANCH
Athletics
For game schedules click here.
For 8th Graders Only - Mark Your Calendars
1/8- Notice of placement for The IB World School, Health Sciences Academy and Academy High School
1/13- Meet your Clark Counselor- On campus at CMS during 2nd period for students
1/14- Plano Sr High Clinical Rotations Presentation during PE classes for students
1/14- Calling All Cats at Plano Sr. High (Student and Parent Night) at 6:00-8:00 p.m.
1/15- Commitment of attending The IB World School, Health Sciences Academy and Academy High School DUE
1/28- Cougar Call at Clark HS (Student and Parent Night)- TIME TBA
2/2- 2/25- Four year plan meetings with student/parents and registering for 9th grade- TIME BY INVITATION. THOSE WILL BE SENT IN JANUARY.
KidStuff Coupon Books Fundraiser
Our school is selling valuable, family-friendly KidStuff Coupon Books filled with hundreds of national, regional and local coupons for all ages! The KidStuff Book is conveniently organized, offers incredible savings and is sold exclusively through schools! Our school earns 50% or more profit for every book we sell! Use just a few coupons and easily save more than the $25 cost of the book…Remember to keep KidStuff in your car! Most coupons are long-term and valid for 16 months! You will enjoy fabulous savings.
Check your child's backpack for information!
Box Tops New Rewards
NEWS FROM CMS PTA
2016 SAGE Summer Expo
Saturday, February 6, 2016
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Plano Senior High School Cafeteria
2200 Independence Pkwy., Plano, TX 75075
70+ local camps, camps throughout TEXAS… and beyond!
You’ll find programs of interest to ALL students
Preschool – Elementary – Middle School – High School
Especially those with special needs and gifted students
Alex Trejo Scholarship Opportunity for Graduating Seniors Who Also Attended Carpenter Middle School
The Alex Trejo Scholarship is a $500 scholarship opportunity available for a 2016 graduating senior that also attended Carpenter Middle School. The scholarship is in memory of Alex Trejo, who performed every task, great or small, with utmost integrity. He served as a positive role model to staff and students at Carpenter for 24 years.
Don't mess with Texas Scholarship Contest
The Don’t mess with Texas® Scholarship recognizes the achievements of high school seniors who take a leadership role in preventing litter in their schools and communities.
Any Texas high school senior currently attending public, private, or home school and planning to attend an accredited Texas college or university next year may apply. Student essays should describe creative and/or sustainable solutions to prevent litter and build awareness of the Don’t mess with Texas initiative.
Applications accepted through MARCH 26, 2016.
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Cowboy Character
Every day you make choices. You choose to be respectful of others, or you choose to be disrespectful. You choose to be honest, or you choose to be dishonest. You choose to do schoolwork…or not. The choice is yours. The choices you make every day greatly determine your success, or perhaps your failure, in the future.
If you want to join the ranks of successful people, it’s important that you take steps toward success today. You do that by making the wisest choices you can day by day, moment by moment.
Great American educator Marva Collins said: “Success doesn’t come to you – you go to it.”
Today, go for it! Choose to do your personal best in all ways and at all times.
RODEO Tip of the Week
A MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT'S COLLEGE PREP GUIDE
As a parent, your expectations have a huge influence on what your child expects of herself, even if she doesn't want you to know it. You can help her envision her future at a time when the social anxieties and opportunities of middle school loom larger than life after high school. Talk to your child about his interests, how they might translate into a college major and career. It's not too early for you and your child to visit a college so he can begin to picture himself there.
Experts emphasize that there are lots of ways to finance a college education, but you have to do your homework. Researching the way the system works, saving options such as 529 plans, and creative financing ideas will keep you from the last-minute panic that leads families to take out high-interest loans.
There are also other cost-cutting measures you'll uncover: Your child can get college credits by taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school or in summer classes at your local community college. That can save you a year's tuition — but your child must be academically prepared to take advantage of these options.
Encouraging your child to read is simply the best preparation for the SAT, ACT or college reading assignments that your child can have. While you're at it, why not make vocabulary building a family game by learning a word a day? There are lots of free subscription services that will email a word of the day, like Dictionary.com. Your child can teach the daily word to the rest of the family at dinner and quiz you at the end of the week.
COMMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Free Sign Language Classes
Our Plano Regional Day School Program for the Deaf will once again be offering FREE sign language classes this Spring for our Plano ISD teachers, parents, and community. All the details are on the attached flyer, and RSVPs can be sent to Tina.Vaguine@pisd.edu
ABOUT CARPENTER
Making Our Mark
Email: angelia.holland@pisd.edu
Website: http://k12.pisd.edu/carpenter-middle-school
Location: 3905 Rainer Drive, Plano, TX 75023
Phone: (469)752-5000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreCarpenter
Twitter: @WeAreCarpenter