Colt Corner
Colleyville Middle School
January 27, 2023
Colts,
Yesterday, I announced to our staff that Colleyville Middle School is officially a Certified Energy Bus School. I did the same for our students this morning over the announcements and explained to them that being an Energy Bus School is another way that we will continue to incorporate a positive culture at CMS so that our staff and students have a solid foundation to thrive at school and in life. The partnership between the Vice President of Energy Bus for Schools, Dr. Jim Van Allan and CEO bestselling author/speaker Jon Gordon, is based on Jon Gordon’s best selling book The Energy Bus. The book is about a story of approaching life and work with the kind of positive, forward thinking that leads to true accomplishment in life. Dr. Van Allan connected with me as the finalist for National Principal of the Year and cited that as CMS is an established Nationally Recognized Model Campus, and one of the top public middle schools in the state and country, he wanted to partner with us to help continue our high levels of success at school. I am excited about our new partnership!
In celebration; last weekend CMS choir students Rigley McHugh, Lily Bacon, Kati Mordhorst, and Melina Edwards competed in the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) middle school region choir auditions and made top chairs. Congratulations to our Choir director Mrs. Porter and these talented Colts.
This week several of our basketball teams secured district championships as the entire boys and girls program swept CTMS (8 teams)! This puts some teams in the running to complete their regular season winning their zone and place seeding for the end of year tournament. Our Colts look to finish their season out strong in the upcoming weeks.
We had two field trips, one to the Frontiers of Flight museum and the other to the TECC (Tech Center) at GHS.
Yesterday, 7th grader Rifa Tharani represented Colleyville Middle School as our school’s CMS Spelling Bee champion at the area competition. She represented our school well taking on other school winners from around our area and taking 4th overall!
Also, we have had some CMS wrestlers shine this season. Will Mason, Fisher Birdwell, Lane Park and Aurty Krafthofer were district champions and will be moving on to state today at CTMS. Good luck to all of our student-athletes!
Today we had an assembly with The Dallas Mavericks Mascot team (Mavs Man and Champ). They shared a good message for our Colts that every choice made in school and in life matters. We saw some high flying dunks to go along with the message. Thanks to our PTA for helping us bring the Dallas Mavs Mascots in!
Finally, our PTA is gearing up for round two of Cotillion tonight. Our 6th graders will enjoy an evening of 50’s themed sock hop fun. Also, a shout out to PTA for providing a fantastic chili bar for our staff this week.
Whew, that’s A LOT! There’s never a dull moment in Colt Country! Enjoy the weekend.
David Arencibia, Ed.D.
Colleyville Middle School, Principal
School Twitter: @CmsColts - #TeamCMS - #ColtPride
B.E.S.T. - Building Excellent Schools Together
UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS
January 27 - Wrestling Meet - Schedule linked here
January 27 - Honors Band Master Class - 4:00 - 6:00
January 27 - PTA Cotillion (50's Sock Hop) - 6:30 - 9:00
January 30 - 7th Grade Boys Basketball - schedule linked here
January 30 - 7th Grade Girls Basketball - schedule linked here
January 30 - CMS Dance - Fillies Show Off at GHS - 7:00pm - 9:00pm
January 31 - PTA General Meeting & Program - CMS Cafeteria 6:15 - 8:30pm
January 31 - February 1 - Tennis Tryouts - 3:50 - 5:00pm
February 2 - 8th Grade Boys Basketball - schedule linked here
February 2 - 8th Grade Girls Basketball - schedule linked here
February 3 - PTA Cotillion - (Disco) - 6:30 - 9:00
February 4 - CMS Dance Spring Fling - CHHS 12:30 - 2:30
February 4 - David Zahrndt's Fine Arts Festival CMS Theatre UIL One Act Play Performance- CMS Cafeteria 1:00 -3:30pm
February 6 - 7th Grade Boys Basketball - schedule linked here
February 6 - 7th Grade Girls Basketball - schedule linked here
February 7 - PTA Coffee with Dr. Arencibia/Executive Meeting - CMS Library 8:45am
February 9 - 8th Grade Boys Basketball - schedule linked here
February 9 - 8th Grade Girls Basketball - schedule linked here
February 10 - PTA Cotillion Finale - (Roaring 20's) - Colleyville Center 6:30 - 9:00pm
February 13 - CMS Showcase Night for incoming 6th Grade families- CMS North Gym 6:00 - 8:00pm
In this Edition of the Colt Corner
* Social Studies Student of the Week
* CMS Tennis Tryouts
* Senate Bill 1888
* GCISD Middle School Spirit Guard Signup
* GCISD Swimming Diving
* PTA General Meeting and Program - January, 31st
* PTA 6th Grade Cotillion
* PTA Hospitality
Counselors Corner
* 8th Grade: SIGNED High School Course Request Sheets Are Due:
February 1st
* Collegiate Academy
* 6th & 7th Grade Course Selection for 7th & 8th Grade
* Free Informational Parent Presentation: Fentanyl Factor
* Preferred Participation Consent for Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention
* DNA Kits
* Additional Resources
Repeated Information
* GCISD Update - January, 25, 2023
* Morning Drop-off Band Hall
* Guarantee a Yearbook
* Headphones for students
* 6th Grade Health Curriculum
* February Parent Tech Academy
* Secondary GT/Aspire Window
* CMS Showcase Night - Incoming 6th Grade Families
* Secondary Student GT/ASPIRE Referral Window
* GHS & CHHS Fine Arts Credit - Dance for Athletes
CMS PTA
* 6th Grade Cotillion
* Colleyville Middle School Directory - Who To Contact
CMS Social Media Section
* CMS Portrait of a Graduate Video
* CMS on Twitter - @cmscolts
* CMS on Facebook
* CMS on Instagram
Social Studies Student of the Week
CMS Tennis Tryouts
Senate Bill 1888
Senate Bill 1888, 87th Texas Legislature, 2021, establishes the Texas First Early High School Completion Program to allow public high school students who demonstrate early readiness for college to graduate early from high school and earn a scholarship for one or two semesters at certain Texas universities.
To assist districts in providing families with information about the Texas First Diploma Scholarship Program, the Texas Education Agency, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board provided the attached flyer. For additional information about graduation requirements, please contact your student's counselor.
Please see the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Flyer with information about Texas First Diploma.
JOIN THE SPIRIT GUARD TEAM!
Enrollment is open for the 2023 team! Learn how to spin, toss, and perform new tricks every week. The team is co-ed, open to 6-8th graders, & no experience is needed. All students interested in joining or re-joining need to complete the sign-up form on our website and plan to attend the team practices.
Please note the weekly rehearsal location change, time change, as well as our calendar of special events. Our 1st event is next saturday, Feb 4th at GHS!
Parents/guardians, if you would like to order a team shirt for yourself, the form is live for you as well on the website. Plus, there are several volunteer and chaperone opportunities if you are able to lend a hand. Any amount of assistance is greatly appreciated!
GCISD Swimming Diving Flyer
PTA Parent Program
6th Grade Cotillion
Week 2 is TONIGHT! Get ready to Shake, Rattle and Roll into CMS's Sock Hop! We will be serving burgers, fries and ice cream floats, so have your kids come hungry!
PTA Hospitality
Thank you to everyone who contributed to Chili Bar for the staff and teachers this week! Everyone enjoyed the warm lunch in this cold weather!
You have more opportunities this spring to treat our faculty and staff! Please see Sign Up for different days!
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0f4fa5af2ca7f4c70-teacher
Counselors’ Corner (Jan 30 - Feb. 3)
8th GRADE:
SIGNED High School Course Request Sheets Are Due:
February 1st - Counselors from both high schools will be at CMS to meet individually with each 8th grade student through their science class. Students need to bring their green course requests sheet to their meeting as high school counselors will be going over 9th grade course requests and alternate elective choices. This form will be used by high school counselors for creating freshman schedules. Please make sure the form has a parent signature. Forms without a parent signature will not be accepted.
Below are resources to help you with freshman course selection:
Welcome To High School Presentation
2022-2023 Course Selection Guide
8th Grade Transition to High School Flyer
Collegiate Academy:
8th grade students who applied for and were accepted to Collegiate Academy for the 23-24 school year were given a packet by CMS counselors this past Wednesday. The forms in their packet need to be signed and either returned to CMS counselors before Wednesday, February 1st or brought to school on that date. Mrs. Gardner, the CA counselor, will be at CMS on Feb. 1st and will need those forms for her individual meetings with future CA students.
6th & 7th Grade Course Selection for 7th & 8th Grade:
Mrs. Brizzi and Mrs. Bouchelle will be going through 6th grade PE/Pre-Athletics classes on Feb. 22nd and 7th grade social studies classes on Feb. 24th to talk to current 6th and 7th grade students about course requests for the 23-24 school year. Both grade levels will be given access to Google Forms corresponding to courses offered in their grade levels to request courses and alternate elective choices for the 23-24 school year. Course requests for both grade levels will be due by midnight on Monday, March 6th.
Free Informational Parent Presentation: Fentanyl Factor
Monday, January 30th at 6:00 PM
Grapevine High School (Lecture Hall)
Attend this 18 minute documentary followed by a panel with Q&A discussion
Preferred Participation Consent for Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention
As required by federal and state law, we will soon begin presenting a personal safety curriculum to middle school students. GCISD uses the Play It Safe! ® program to teach this curriculum. Play It Safe! ® is a child abuse awareness and prevention program that incorporates age-appropriate scripts and movies to teach children how to reduce the risk of sexual and physical abuse, and sexual assault. It teaches them to recognize potentially abusive behavior, provides the tools to respond to threatening situations, and encourages them to report abuse to a trusted adult. It is presented by The Women’s Center of Tarrant County, Inc. which uses trained volunteers to present the program using videos and scripted discussions at an age-appropriate level. Play It Safe! ® meets the State and Federal guidelines for curriculum addressing personal safety issues, child sexual abuse and pedophiles. The GCISD School Health Advisory Committee has reviewed and recommended these programs for all GCISD schools.
Our schedule for showing the Play It Safe Curriculum this year is as follows:
6th grade “Sexual Harassment”- November 8th, 2022
6th grade “Survivors of Abuse- March 8th, 2023
7th grade “Healthy Relationships”- October 5th, 2022
7th grade “Can’t Take It Back” - November 30th, 2022
7th grade “Abuse of Power” - February 21st, 2023
Please complete the section below to indicate your preference for your child’s participation in any of the above programs. If you choose for your child not to participate, your child will be provided an alternate location while this program is being presented. If the form is not completed, and turned into the campus counselor prior to the date on your campus notification letter, your child will not participate in the program.
Please complete the following Play it Safe form and return to your campus Counselor prior to the date of the lesson! Play it Safe Form
6th and 7th grade students were also provided with a hard copy form which can be returned to Ms. Dumas (advocate counselor). There is a recording of the parent preview located on the CMS counseling webpage.
DNA Kits:
In compliance with Texas S.B. 2158, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD offers parents and legal guardians inkless fingerprint and DNA kits for their children upon request. This kit is designed to “help locate and return a missing or trafficked child,” according to S.B. 2158.
Parents and legal guardians may request these kits through the front office at your child's campus.
Additional Resources:
National Institute of Mental Health
In This Edition
School Board Recognition Month
Middle School Students Preview Career and Technical Education Programs
GCISD is Hiring
Foundation Scholarships Available
And More!
Morning Drop Off by the Band Hall
Yearbook
Headphones for students
Parents of 6th Grade Students
In order to be proactive in our delivery of education concerning human sexuality, our district uses several resources and programs for health curriculum. Determined to Succeed will be presented on February 24, 2023. For more information on this program please visit the Health Instruction Plan. Parents may preview this program on February 2, 2023 at 10am or 6pm at this 10 am Webex Link OR 6 pm Webex Link online.
The GCISD School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) has reviewed and recommended this program on human sexuality for all GCISD schools. The curriculum and presentations are aligned with district philosophy, as well as the state-mandate for directive, abstinence-based education.
Every parent will be asked to fill out a form indicating their preference of participation for their child. If a form is not received from the parent by February 16th, 2023, then your child will not be able to participate.
The form to indicate your choice of Participation is located under forms in Skyward.
Estimados padres de los estudiantes de sexto grado:
Con el fin de ser proactivo en ofrecer una educación relacionada con la sexualidad humana, nuestro distrito utiliza varios recursos y programas en el plan de estudios de salud. El programa “Decidido a tener éxito” (Determined to Succeed) se presentará el 24 de febrero de 2023. Para obtener más información sobre este programa, visite el Plan de instrucción de Salud. Los padres pueden obtener una previa visión de este programa el 2 de febrero de 2023 a las 10:00 am o a las 6:00 pm en este enlace de Webex (10:00am) o este enlace de Webex (6:00).
El Comité Asesor de Salud Escolar (SHAC) de GCISD ha revisado y recomendado este programa sobre sexualidad humana para todas las escuelas de GCISD. El plan de estudios y las presentaciones están ordenadas con la filosofía del distrito, así como con la orden estatal de educación directiva basada en la abstinencia.
Se les pide a todos los padres que completen un formulario para indicar su preferencia con respecto a la participación de su estudiante. Si no se recibe ningún formulario de los padres antes del 16 de febrero, entonces su estudiante no podrá participar.
El formulario para indicar su elección de participación se encuentra en los Formularios en Skyward.
February Parent Tech Academy
Are you a parent looking to stay informed about your child's technology use at school and at home? Look no further than the GCISD Parent Tech Academy! Our next session is at the PDEC on February 22nd, at 6:30pm. At the Parent Tech Academy, we will go over how to access parent weekly emails, your children’s internet history, and even how-to pause the internet on school issued devices after school hours. We will also have a Q&A about raising kids in a digital world.
Join us for the Parent Tech Academy and learn how to be better informed on your child's technology use.
Academia de tecnología para padres de febrero
¿Es usted un padre que busca mantenerse informado sobre el uso de la tecnología de su hijo en la escuela y en el hogar? ¡No busque más allá de la Academia de tecnología para padres de GCISD! Nuestra próxima sesión será en el PDEC el 22 de febrero a las 6:30pm. En la Academia de tecnología para padres , veremos cómo acceder a los correos electrónicos semanales de los padres, el historial de Internet de sus hijos e incluso cómo detener el Internet en los dispositivos proporcionados por la escuela después del horario escolar. También tendremos una sesión de preguntas y respuestas sobre la crianza de los niños en un mundo digital.
Únase a nosotros para la Academia de tecnología para padres y aprenda cómo estar mejor informado sobre el uso de la tecnología de su hijo.
Secondary Student GT/ASPIRE Referral Window
The window to refer secondary students for GT/ASPIRE testing is January 16-31. Parents, please visit the Advanced Academics website and scroll to the bottom of the page for referral instructions.
If you need assistance, please contact Angela Harris at angela.harris@gcisd.net.
Período de referencia para estudiantes de secundaria GT/ASPIRE
La ventana para referir a los estudiantes de secundaria para las pruebas GT/ASPIRE es desde el 16 al 31 de enero. Padres, visiten el sitio web de Advanced Academics y continue hasta la parte inferior de la página para obtener instrucciones de referencia.
Si necesita ayuda, comuníquese con Angela Harris al angela.harris@gcisd.net.
CMS Honored Again as “School to Watch”
Congratulations to Colleyville Middle School for being redesignated as a Texas School To Watch. State education leaders selected CMS for its academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, and organizational structures and processes. The school was also recognized for its strong leadership, teachers who work together to improve curriculum and instruction, and commitment to assessment and accountability to bring continuous improvement. Read the full story.
Incoming 6th Grade Showcase Information Night (23-24)
Attention all 8th Graders and 8th Grade parents
This high school dance class at GHS & CHHS is a Fine Arts Credit that is specifically geared towards athletes. In this class dance and yoga techniques are used to help with flexibility and mobility as well as recovery & injury prevention. This class is in place to allow athletes to earn their fine arts credit while continuing to train and focus on their sport.
The class is "Dance for Athletes" however is coded in the system for scheduling as "Dance Wellness".
More Cotillion Info.
COLLEYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL DIRECTORY - WHO TO CONTACT
*Note, the point of contact is the first level to answer and questions or concerns. They are usually able to resolve your question/concern, but in the event that you did not reach a resolution, your concern will be elevated to the subsequent level until a resolution is reached.
To email a CMS team member type the first name dot last name @gcisd.net (i.e. David Arencibia = david.arencibia@gcisd.net) unless different and noted under the name.