Communicator. SPRING BREAK: March 29th April 5th

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1 Columbia Middle School Parent A Note from the PRINCIPAL Common Core Update During the month of February and March the love for learning is in the air. You may be hearing about the new Common Core Standards in education. At Columbia Middle School we are embracing a new paradigm shift in teaching and learning. The standards have two purposes. One is to provide a common definition of College and Career Readiness among our nation s students. The other is to provide a progression of knowledge students need to have to meet College and Career Readiness Standards. At this point there are two general content areas of math and literacy across the curriculums. FEBRUARY/MARCH Teacher Organization Newsletter SPRING BREAK: March 29th April 5th Some of the benefits of the Common Core Initiative include the following: Making learning expectations clear to parents, teachers, and other general public. Encouraging the development of textbooks, digital media, and other teaching materials to be aligned to these standards. The development of a new comprehensive, balanced assessment to measure student performance that will replace our existing testing program such as the MEAP. Evaluate our curriculum at Columbia School District to ensure we are meeting the standards. The Common Core initiative emphasizes problem solving skills. It also encourages students to dig for deeper understanding of curriculum. At Columbia Middle School, we are engaging in these standards to move our kids forward in a competitive learning society. Below are some resources for parents to provide additional information regarding Common Core: Please contact the school office or your child s teacher for more information. MATH NIGHT April 11 6:30pm-8pm Students from Spring Arbor University along with other Math experts will be coming to CMS for an evening of problem solving and learning fun. IMPORTANT NUMBERS TO KNOW School Office Absentee: SCIENCE NIGHT April pm Please join us for a Science Adventure, as you travel through our halls and witness our awesome science fair projects on display! This is the first annual 5th - 8th grade Science Fair! We are so excited to share our minds with you! Please secure the date in your calendar!

2 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 PAGE 2 Columbia Middle School Parents Please attend our Parent Drug Education Night When: February 28, 2013 Time: 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Where: Columbia Middle School Media Center Program is provided by Shelly Milligan, Breakout Drug Free Education Coordinator for Family Services and Children s Aid of Jackson. Topics presented will include: Drug Trends among Teens and within the Community New Drug Information Parent Prevention-How Parents can Talk to their Teens Risk Factors for Drug Use in Teens Healthy refreshments will be provided. Gift cards presented to several participants. Child care will be offered for kids ages 2 and above.

3 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 PAGE 3 Per Parent Request! How to Talk to your child about sex and other difficult topics! When: Thursday, March 14 th, 6:00-7:30 pm Where: Columbia Middle School Media Center Sponsored in part by CSD Sex Ed. Advisory Board and Coordinated School Health Team Child care provided! Topics of discussion to include: *Peer Pressure *Puberty *Healthy Meal Planning on the go $25 Target Gift card RAFFLE! To pre-register contact: Jennifer Steele

4 Fabulous Fifth Grade!!! FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 PAGE 4 Language Arts: March is Reading Month! We are excited to celebrate reading by inviting storytellers and speakers in to inspire a love for literature. We also plan to visit our local Brooklyn Library, as well as many other activities that will pump students up about reading!! Science: In the world of Science we have many educational experiences planned! To expand concepts taught in the classroom, students will visit the Planetarium at Ella Sharp, go to Jackson Community College to see Body Trail, a program designed to educate students on body systems, and we will also travel to St. Joseph Hospital to participate in a program called Healthy Hearts 101. Physical Education: Strike!!! During gym, students have practiced bowling techniques, as well as how to score a game. They will soon celebrate their achievements and demonstrate what they ve learned by traveling to Brooklyn Bowling Lanes! Snow for the Soul!! As a way to celebrate the season, fifth grade will soon be heading outdoors to enjoy the wintry weather. We plan to sled, make snowmen, and enjoy hot cocoa! 6th Grade Happenings In the 6th grade we will be working on the CMS N.O.W. (News of the Week) show. The students have been working hard on their segments and putting it all together. Mrs. O Neil and the other school administrators have been very helpful and supportive with bringing the proper equipment to the 6th grade so this can be done. It is a great experience for the students. Look for shows coming out soon. The Language Arts class will be finishing up the book, Where the Red Fern Grows, and will begin writings and watching the movie to do a comparison. For more information and assignments, please visit Mr. Moore s weebly site at mrmoorecms.weebly.com 6th grade science has started working on their Science Fair Projects. The students have picked topics and are creating experiments to answer a scientific question. The students will be forming a hypothesis and doing experiments to see if their hypothesis is correct. Many students will be working at home on these. Hopefully parents have started to see some excited kids.

5 7th Grade Happenings FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 PAGE 5 The 7th grade students have interviewed the preschool children and will be writing a book in which the preschooler's information will be incorporated (ie: favorite color, breakfast, movie, game/toy etc.). They will be reading these and giving them to the preschoolers in March. Also, 7th graders are writing an essay that will be graded in both Language Arts and Social Studies. The prompt is the issue of global famine, a Social Studies GLCE, and students will spend time working on this in both classes. DETROIT TRIP The final payment for the 7th grade Detroit field trip is due by Friday, March 22. That payment is for $29.00 per person. We will also be having a mandatory meeting near the end of April for any students and chaperones attending. More information on that meeting to follow. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Rulewicz at Nick.Rulewicz@myeagles.org 8th Grade - Mandatory Washington DC Meeting There will be a DC meeting Thursday, April 18th, 6:00pm in the Middle School cafeteria. This meeting is mandatory for all students (with a parent) and any chaperone going on the trip. Schedule, itinerary, room/bus assignments and guideline information will be covered. Any questions will be answered at this time. See you there!

6 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 PAGE 6 MARKET DAY Don't forget to order from Market Day to help support our middle school cheerleaders! It is an easy and tasty way to help out this sports program. You can look for an order form from your child which is handed out towards the end of each month, or you can go online to marketday.com and search for Columbia Middle School and order there. Pick up time is 4:00-5:00 in the middle school cafeteria. The next pick up dates are: March 19th, April 23rd, May 21st and June 11th. Thank you for all your support! CIRCUS INFORMATION THE CIRCUS IS COMING... THE CIRCUS IS COMING! APRIL Columbia Middle School has the unique opportunity of bringing the Circus of the Kids to our campus. Not only will the Circus be here for at least two weeks, our students will be the STARS OF THE SHOW!! The Circus will take place at CMS April Students will learn multiple skills in a stimulating environment. All students at CMS will have the opportunity to participate in the Circus of the Kids. Students will rehearse daily to perform an All-Star presentation including aerial ballet, flying trapeze, juggling and much more. The Circus brings many priceless benefits to our students, school and community! This program has been proven to be a life changing experience for those who participate. Sign up online at: If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact: Jill Miller, Robyn Hall or Kellie Sullivan! CMS Juggling Workshop Thursday, March 21 More information to go home soon.

7 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 PAGE 7 COLUMBIA BASEBALL SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION 2013 ONSITE REGISTRATION AT CCHS CAFETERIA ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 23, AM TO 2 PM OR THE REGISTRATION CAN BE MAILED BACK TO CBSA, PO BOX 372, Brooklyn, MI ALL REGISTRATIONS NEED TO BE RECEIVED OR POSTMARKED BY MARCH 9, 2013 (If received AFTER the deadline, you will only be placed on a team as availability allows) DATE OF BIRTH Male or Female (circle one) GRADE: NAME: ADDRESS: HOME PHONE: PARENTS NAME & CELL NUMBERS: DAY TIME PHONE: ** ADDRESS: (Recommended) contact us at columbiabaseballsoftball@comcast.net or Steve ** CBSA is a community youth sports program which is based on volunteer efforts from all board members/parents/guardians to make the program successful. Each family is asked to volunteer and/or contribute to the program. There are several ways to volunteer from grounds crew (mowing & trimming), keeping our park clean, picking up trash, clean bathrooms and working concessions. PLEASE MAKE NOTE THAT EACH TEAM WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR 2-3 CONCESSION STAND DATES. Your coach will be provided with the dates, please check with your coach to sign up. ** concessions coach* sponsor umpire grounds maintenance other *All coaches will be required to complete an application form with CBSA Board approval. (CBSA use only-what league ) SHIRT SIZE (circle one) BOYS - (youth) S M L (adult) S M L XL XXL T-ball 5-6 year co-ed $35.00 (Friday Evening) Plays at CBSA Complex only Pee Wee (coach pitch) 6-8 year co-ed $35.00 (Friday Evening) Plays at CBSA Complex only U year boys $55.00 Competitive Team Price $75 (Tournaments Cost Not Included) U year boys $55.00 Competitive Team Price $75 (Tournaments Cost Not Included) Koufax years boys $150.00, $75.00 registration, $75.00 due upon uniform receipt Mantel year boys (TBA) SHIRT SIZE (circle one) GIRLS - (youth) S M L (adult) S M L XL XXL U-8 (coach pitch) 6-8 year girls $35.00 (Mon & Wed) Team will travel to other schools to compete Minors 9-10 year girls $55.00 Majors year girls $55.00 Juniors year girls $55.00 Seniors year girls (TBA) ALL RETURNED CHECKS WILL BE CHARGED $35.00 Any player trying out for an upper level team and making it will have more cost once they have made the team. Tryout dates and cost to be determined! A $5.00 SIBLING DISCOUNT PER CHILD GIVEN Separate registration required REFUNDS AND ROSTER SPOTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED. NO REFUNDS PROVIDED AFTER APRIL 1, 2013 I give my permission for the above named child to participate in the Columbia Baseball and Softball Association (CBSA) leagues and/ or tournaments for the 2013 season. I agree to sign a medical release that will be distributed for the 2013 season. X : League Use CASH or CHECK NUMBER: DATE: AMOUNT:

8 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 PAGE 8 THE PTO HAS CHANGED THEIR MEETING TIME. We will now meet on Tuesday s at 6PM Mar 5 Apr 9 May 7 Find us on Facebook! Columbia Middle School PTO FUN WAYS TO EARN PRIZES FOR STUDENTS AND MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL The March Store will be open on Wednesday, March 6th during lunch April s Store will be open on Wednesday, April 10th during lunch For every item brought in the students will earn points. Points can be used to purchase items in the school store. Items available for purchase include: Soda, Candy, Smencils, and more Boxtops for Education - (2 points each) Our Family UPC s - (1 point each) Campbell s UPC s - (1 point each) Tyson A+ products - (1 point each) REMINDER: All items should be turned in using a clear Ziploc style bag that is clearly labeled with your child s name on it. This enables us to make sure that proper credit is given to your child s account PTO BOARD President: Jill Miller Vice President: Danielle Fowler Treasurer: Robyn Hall Secretary: Carrie Alcorn Public Relations: Kellie Sullivan SCHOOL STORE ITEMS: Gatorade = $1.50 or 75 Pts Water = $1.50 or 75 Pts Gum = $1.50 or 75 Pts Mentos = $1.50 or 75 Pts Eagles Pencils = $1.50 or 75 Pts Candy Bars = $1 or 50 Pts Soda = $1 or 50 Points S mencils = $1 or 50 Pts Many Items Under $1.00 or 50 Points. Erasers, Pencils, Nerds, Laffy Taffy, Beef Sticks, Blow Pops, etc.. PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE YOUR BOX TOPS TURNED IN 2 DAYS BEFORE THE STORE OR YOU WON T RECEIVE CREDIT UNTIL THE NEXT MONTH. Popcorn Friday March 8 All proceeds go to the PTO Fund April s Popcorn Friday will be on April 12 March QUIZ BOWL SCHEDULE Thurs., March 7 6th Grade 7th Grade Fri., March 8 8th Grade Thurs., March 14 5th Grade Fri., March 22 8th Grade Thurs, March 28 6th Grade 5th Grade 7th Grade 8:00am 1:00pm 1:55pm 12:00pm 1:55pm 8:55am 12:10pm 1:05pm