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January Newsletter Printable Copy

News from the Principal...

From the Principal to the CMS staff and students

Happy New Year! We have roughly 50 days until TCAP! Time flies when you are busy like we are – and TCAP does come early this year! I hope everyone is ready to get back in the swing of school! Every school day is important, so there are two basic things to do: 1. BE HERE. You can’t learn if you aren’t here. 2. LISTEN IN CLASS. You can’t learn if you aren’t listening to the teachers. Sometimes the work is hard to understand, don’t give up! Some of the greatest people in the world met failure time and time again until they finally succeeded. Never give up. Success only comes after hard work and much effort. All of us here at Crestview Middle School want our students to be the best they can be and we are here to teach, help, encourage, and support you. Parents, one way you can support our efforts is to have your student in school every day. Also, remember that electronic games, pagers, and cell phones are NOT permitted in the classrooms as stated on page 16 in the Tipton County Student Handbook. These distract from the teaching and learning process and will be confiscated if found. We are also asking students to refrain from chewing gum in the building. As you might imagine, this can be messy and does spread germs. We have policies and procedures for the purpose of keeping children safe and healthy and to provide a nurturing environment conducive to learning. Please support us in our efforts as we begin the New Year.

James Fields
CMS Principal

Special Note From the Principal:

CMS is suffering from the devastating and tragic loss of 8th grader Robert H. (Pete) Owens, Jr. We will remember Pete as a fine young man who was full of laughter and fun. He was also an excellent student who had just been inducted to our National Junior Honor Society. His life was full of joy, success, and promise. We are deeply saddened by his loss, but are thankful to have known him. Our condolences go out to his family with deepest sympathy.

SACS visit coming up

Each of the Tipton County schools is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. They hold us to rigid guidelines designed to keep us focused on high standards of achievement and the continual improvement of our overall school program. Their evaluation team will spend two days with us in January. We will host a breakfast on Tuesday, January 27 at 7:00 am in our library and all stakeholders are invited to attend. The SACS team members will visit our classrooms, talk with our teachers and students, and will want to meet with parents, as well. If you are interested in meeting this team, please let us know!

TCAP Comes Early This Year

TCAP testing will begin March 30th this year. That will be here before you know it! Please mark your calendars and do not allow things to interfere with this most important testing process. Our spring break will be later in April so you will have time then to take care of other business. Parents, plan to have students here for all TCAP tests March 30 – April 3. Remember that from the time we come back in January until testing time in March, we will be working furiously trying to get all skills covered, reviewed, and mastered for TCAP. Attendance is very important – be here, listen, participate, learn.
65 DAYS AND COUNTING!

THANKS!

Our librarian, Mrs. Jasmine Fussell, along with all of us at CMS would like to thank Mikala Blakely for donating books to our library! What a fantastic idea – and it filled a great need, too! Donating to the library helps everybody at CMS and is an excellent way to honor or remember special people in your lives. For more information on donating to our library, please call 475-5907.

Attendance is IMPORTANT!

Attendance is one of those categories that affect our NCLB status. It is imperative that students attend school every single day unless they are sick. Students cannot learn what is being taught in the classroom if they are not here. Please do your best to have students in school every day.

Absences and check outs
Students and parents – please be aware…..

When a student is absent from school, send a written note from parent or medical provider to have the absence excused. If student is checked out early, bring a written note from parent or medical provider to excuse the time missed. We can accept parent notes for only two days after an absence – so remember to get those in immediately! After 5 unexcused absences, including unexcused check-outs, a truancy prevention meeting will be scheduled with parents. The school is only allowed to accept 10 parent notes for absences per year. After 10 written parent notes, medical excuses must be provided for the absence to be excused. If you have questions or want to check on the status of a student’s attendance, please call our attendance clerk, Mrs. Felicia Perry at 475-5902.

Science Fair Project Help

During the January 13 parent-teacher conferences, please drop by the Science Lab in room 130 on the 8th grade hallway to see exhibits and get help making a science fair project. The CMS science fair is the NEXT WEEK! Winners from the school fair will have their projects displayed at Dyersburg State’s Covington campus for the Tipton County Science Fair on January 29. Get ideas and help here on January 13th – room 130.

Keep these at home

Gum and cell phones are two items many of our students already have or will get for Christmas. While these may be perfectly OK at home, they are not acceptable in the classroom. Chewing gum and cell phone use can lead to problems at school and need to be left at home. The Tipton County Student Handbook clearly states that cell phones and other electronic devices are not allowed in school. While you may think it is harmless for students to carry these, they cause problems at school regularly, and it is clearly against board policy. If we confiscate cell phones, we will keep them for up to nine weeks or until the last day of school in May. While it seems harmless, chewing gum often ends up where it doesn’t belong. Not only is it unsightly and hard to clean up, but it can present a health hazard. We can easily avoid this by not chewing it at school!

Calculators Needed

CMS students can use calculators in class and on benchmark assessments, such as TCAP. These are important and necessary tools for students in high school and college. Please equip your middle school student with calculators so we can teach them how to use them. 5th and 6th graders need basic 4-function calculators. 7th & 8th graders are using the TI 30X II by Texas Instruments. You can find these at Wal Mart and all office supply stores.

After School Pick-Up Procedures

If you pick up your student after school, please cooperate with our pick-up procedures. We have painted the roadway and have put people in locations to be helpful. CMS car riders are dismissed at 2:45. If you are coming to CMS, please get in the left lane when traffic changes to two lanes behind our school. Ask your rider(s) to keep an eye out for you and load quickly so we can keep traffic moving. If your rider(s) cannot be located, you will be asked to make the circle again so people can move on. Students can be picked up in the back of the school from 2:45 to 3:15 daily. After 3:15, we move them to the front for supervision. We will not leave students unattended while waiting for a ride.

When you drop your students off in the morning, please pull up to the curb and let students out on the sidewalk. There's no need for two lanes in the morning. Please do not drop students off in the parking lot or in any location that requires them to cross traffic to get into the building.

Mark your Calendars

Dates to remember…

Jan 08     Spelling Bee – MMS – 9:00 am
Jan 09     Sports pictures
Jan 12     Report cards sent home
Jan 13      Parent-Teacher Conferences 3:15-6:15
Jan 19     Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday-no school
Jan 20     Parent-Teacher Conferences 3:15-6:15
Jan 22     School Science Fair
Jan 27 & 28 SACS Visit
Jan 29     Tipton County Science Fair at DSCC

Feb 03 TCAP Writing Assessment gr. 5 & 8

CMS – voted #1 BEST MIDDLE SCHOOL by the readers of The Leader!

click here to see calendar for entire school year

Valentine Dance

We have held a couple of dances for CMS students this year and they have been successful and fun events. We plan to have a Valentine dance and have professional photographers here to make pictures. Individual and posed group shots must be pre-paid and those envelopes will be in the office. You can buy random shots and re-orders at www.mangiante.com Students, be very careful to behave yourself properly at school so you can attend this enjoyable event. Parents, you are welcome to attend – we always welcome chaperones and workers! The date has not been set at this time, so watch for the February newsletter and announcements on our website.

Morning drop off

Families, when you bring your children to school in the mornings, please make sure you drive up to the curb by the gym lobby entrance in the back to let students out. Please do not let them out in the parking lot or any other place where they have to walk through or across traffic. Take the time to drive up to the curb and let them out on the sidewalk.

Please respect special parking and access areas

We have ramp access in several places along the curbs in our parking lot in the back and the driveway in the front. These areas are being painted to indicate they are wheelchair accessible and for special needs parking only. Please act responsibly and allow access to these ramps and parking spaces to those who truly need them.

Parents, Stay "IN THE KNOW"

We want to keep parents involved and informed about the education process at CMS. Newsletters like this one will be published for you each month. Please make sure your student brings one home each month. You can also read the newsletter on our school’s website at www.tipton-county.com/cms The website is full of information about our school as well as email links to our teachers and links out to the Internet. Parents, NOW IS THE TIME to get to know your child’s teachers and their expectations for this school year. Come to our open house on 8-25-08. Get involved now and don’t wait until it is “too late”. Every CMS student has been issued an AGENDA BOOK. This is a wonderful communication tool for teachers and parents. Ask your child to write homework assignments, test dates, and other important information in the agenda book so you can see what is going on! The agenda book WILL BE the student hall pass this year – so DON’T LOSE IT!
Here are a few other things parents need to be aware of:

*CMS students are following the Tipton County dress code. You can find this in the STUDENT HANDBOOK (and also on our website).

*FREE tutoring is available. Call 475-5909 for more information.

*You are ALWAYS welcome at our school! Please visit us – enter through the front doors and report to the office!

*All teachers have email addresses for your convenience.

*We have a new dismissal policy for car riders. Everyone should have received this information in your welcome-back-to-school letter. In short, students who will be picked up will be dismissed at 2nd dismissal (3:00) and MUST wait on the sidewalk in the back parking lot. Care-givers must pull up to the curb to pick up riders. For more information, please call 475-5905.

Family Resource Center is At Your Service

Everyone knows how important it is for parents to be highly involved in their children’s education. Students need to know that their parents want them to succeed in school and that they will check on their school progress often. Sometimes, however, parents encounter problems with their children and school. This is not uncommon and happens to parents from all walks of life. We are lucky in Tipton County to have a Family Resource Center that is centrally located at Brighton Elementary School which provides families with assistance. This resource center was created to make materials available to all parents, teachers, or other interested persons. They offer videos, books, games, and special needs information for check-out. They also have handouts on school subjects to help parents reinforce skills at home. They can help you understand your child’s school report card and other testing data. They offer parent work-shops throughout the year both in the evenings and during the day. Feel free to contact them at 837-5874 for more information.

FREE tutoring provided at CMS

Parents – we are offering tutoring for any CMS student. This service is provided by certified and highly qualified CMS teachers and it is free to anyone who wants or needs some extra help. Have your child pick up forms from the office or call Debbie Max for more information at 475-5909.

PTO Selects School Projects and Fundraising Goals

he CMS PTO has set some lofty, but commendable goals for this year. The first thing this school support group wants to do is raise its membership. ALL parents, grandparents, teachers, and others interested in supporting the CMS PTO are invited to join during the membership drive on October 23 at our first parent-teacher conference. Donations of at least $1 will be accepted for membership. Tables will be set up in the school and the homeroom at each grade level with the highest $$ donations for membership will receive a popcorn & coke party! COME ON, kids…work on those memberships! Projects the group wants to achieve this year include refreshing the school’s campus. They are currently accepting ideas and bids on landscaping makeovers. One of the most exciting projects they want to accomplish is to provide a ceiling-mounted multi-media projector and screen in every single classroom in the school. This would provide all CMS teachers and students with access to the latest technology in teaching and learning. Their fundraising goal for the year is $30,000. They plan to host several fund-raising events and will accept donations. Please help our PTO as they work to improve our school inside and out!

Inclement Weather Policy

In the event of inclement weather, you may find out if school is closed by tuning in to Covington’s WKBQ – 93.5-on your FM radio dial. You can also get school information on Memphis television stations.

Is Your Child Too Sick To Come To School?

That is the question on parents’ minds when children do not want to go to school. While attendance is very important for student success, there are times when students should stay home. According to “Child Health and Wellness”, rules for keeping children home from school are:
*there is a fever over 100
*student has vomited more than once
*student has diarrhea
*student has frequent cough
*student might spread disease to others
*student has widespread rash.
*student has pink eye (conjunctivitis)

If your child is experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should keep them home from school and contact their doctor. The sooner your child is seen by a doctor, the sooner treatment can begin and the quicker the child will be able to return to school. Children who don’t have a fever and only have a mild cough, runny nose, or other mild cold symptoms can be sent to school without any harm to themselves or others. Remember to get a doctor’s slip when you take your children to the doctor. School absences will be excused when children are sick and have proper written documentation. All medications students need to take while at school MUST be dispensed through the school nurse– even over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol. Students are NOT allowed to have any medications in their possession while at school.

SAVE stuff for us!

CMS needs your help! We need your Naifeh’s Food Rite receipts, your used ink cartridges, and “boxtops for education” tabs. What do you do with your ink cartridges at home and at work? We are involved in a fundraising effort by collecting them. Please coordinate your efforts and send them to us. Look on those boxes and packages in your cabinet. See those little stamp-size coupons that say “boxtops for education”? We want those, too! Did you get a new cell phone for Christmas? Send us your old one! We can really get some good items by recycling and collecting the above-mentioned items. Don’t forget us! Contact Jonathon Mooney in our computer lab for more information.

Enroll your children in CoverKids

CoverKids is a Tennessee State program that allows qualifying children ages 18 and under to get free, comprehensive health insurance so they may obtain preventative health care such as vaccinations and services like doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital visits. The program has been expanded to include dental and vision benefits in 2008. The new vision coverage for children will provide services for vision exams, glasses, contacts and other services. The dental benefit will offer preventative, diagnostic, and restorative services. For more information about CoverKids or to enroll , call 1-866-COVERTN or visit www.covertn.gov .

K12 Planet!

If you have Internet access, you can now link up to K12 Planet at CMS and keep up with your child’s academic progress. This is a fabulous opportunity to check on your child’s grades, attendance, report cards, and other important school information from any internet computer. Parents must register to get a login name and password in order to get in and look at information. Forms can be picked up at the front office or you can simply download one from here. Fill all three of them out and bring in to our school office. Forms can be picked up from our office or from your teachers. You can fill them out while you are here and get them to Mr. Jonathon Mooney. This is the access you’ve been waiting for! Find out more about K12 Planet from our school’s website, or contact our K12 Planet Account Manager, Mr. Jonathon Mooney at 475-5900 or email him at JMooney@tipton-county.com.

Dress Code Issues

While CMS does not have a unified dress code, we do follow the dress code as outlined in the Tipton County Student Handbook. These handbooks were issued to all students when they registered for school in August. Essentially, it states that pants must be worn up on the waist, shirts must be tucked in, and belts worn when pants have belt loops. Neither hemlines nor necklines should be too revealing and shoes must be laced and tied. These are simple requests that foster a safe and calm learning environment for all our students. We need for students and teachers to focus on the task of learning while at school and have all things settled and calm while attempting to do so. According to Washington State University’s "Dress to Impress" guide, "People make amazing assumptions about your credibility and potential performance based upon your appearance". Renowned educator and speaker Harry Wong states that "You are much better off making your dress work for you than allowing it to work against you". Keep these things as well as the Tipton County dress code in mind as you dress for school. If you need a student handbook for detailed dress code information, please contact the school office at 475-5900 and we will make sure you get one. Dress code violations are as follows:
1. warning
2. corporal punishment or detention
3. corporal punishment or detention
4. Saturday School
5. Saturday School
6. Parent Conference - possible suspension

CMS Adopts a Tough Stand Against Bullying and other Types of Intimidation

Crestview Middle School has adopted a no tolerance stand on bullying and other forms of harassment and intimidation. We stand by the premise that...
* We all have the right to learn in a safe and supportive school environment that values diversity - an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination, and violence
* We all have the right to be treated with dignity and respect and
* We all have the responsibility to keep others safe and to treat them with fairness, dignity, and respect.
Anti-bullying posters have been placed in all the CMS classrooms and students who know about bullying or harassment have been encouraged to tell a teacher, administrator, or other school employee immediately. Parents are encouraged to talk to children about this delicate matter as well. Encourage your students to be accepting, tolerant, and understanding of other children’s differences and not to harass or intimidate others in any fashion. Please check our website for online links about bullying and other forms of intimidation and contact our school administrators or guidance counselor if you need more information.

PARENTS.....Take stock of what your child brings to school. The Tipton County Student Handbook clearly states that students should not possess electronic items at school. In fact, the rule from the handbook reads as follows:

STUDENTS

USE OF PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES IN SCHOOL

6.312

Students will not be permitted to have beepers, pagers, or cellular phones on school property unless there are some unusual and exceptional circumstances. The Board of Education may consider and base its decision on one (1) of the following factors:

1. A member of a volunteer fire department;

2. A family hardship that requires the students' immediate response; and

3. All other factors that the Board may deem relevant and pertinent in their effect upon the welfare of the students.

1. In all cases the beepers, pagers and cellular phones must be registered with the school principal or his/her designee and will be kept in the school office where the device will be checked in and out on a daily basis. If not properly registered with school officials, these devices will be subject to confiscation and either turned over to the parent/guardian or to law enforcement officials. The student who possesses a cellular phone shall assume responsibility for its care. At no time shall a Tipton County School be responsible for preventing theft, loss or damage to cell phones brought onto school property.

Need to contact your child's teacher?

All CMS teachers have email addresses for your convenience. Click here to link to them.

Step Three violations in Discipline

Step-3 violations on the discipline ladder result in up to ten days suspension out of school. This includes fighting, bullying or harassment, and the use of profanity, among other things. Being out of school that long is detrimental to your academic achievement. Don’t risk it! Violence is NEVER the best choice for settling disputes. If you are having problems, talk to your parent or a teacher, the guidance counselor, or school administrator immediately. WE CAN HELP!

Support Crestview Middle with these programs:

General Mills Box Tops For Education are accepted at Crestview Middle School

There are GREAT prizes available and waiting for our school to claim at Boxtops for Education if you will participate to support us! It's really simple and easy and there's two ways you can do that.

1. You can sign up as a CMS booster at boxtops 4 education by clicking here and registering:
https://www.boxtops4education.com/Reg/Default.aspx

2. You can clip boxtops 4 education from the products you have and use every day. Look for these little coupons on Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Ziplock, Kleenex, General Mills, Bisquick, Nature Valley, and many other products. For a complete listing and product information, click here: http://www.boxtops4education.com/clip/

3. SAVE NAIFEH'S FOOD RITE SALES RECIPTS! (Register Tapes for Education)

Deposit all receipts in its designated box in the front office.
The 2008-2009 Register Tapes for Education program has been launched. Donate your receipts dated September 1st and after up to March 31st, 2009.

ALSO...
SAVE YOUR USED INK CARTRIDGES
and CELL PHONES FOR US!

CLICK HERE TO HELP US!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CRESTVIEW MIDDLE SCHOOL!

ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY!

Updated December 18th, 2008