The SPARTAN The Newsletter of Cascade Middle School 1015 24 th Street Northeast Auburn, WA 98002 February 2013 PRINCIPAL S NOTE Dear Cascade Families, In light of the recent event that occurred at Cascade last week, I wanted to inform you of what safety/security measures had in place prior to this incident and what we have implemented after this incident to continue to maintain the safety of our students and staff at Cascade Middle School. 1) Prior to this incident, we hired a part time campus security officer and we keep the gate that is adjacent to the 300 hall and the 500 hall near the band room locked at all times to reduce the risk of non-students on campus. We also lock the gates near the bus zone after 2 nd period so that access to our campus is limited. 2) After the incident, The front gate located by the back entrance to the library and the front gate located near the cafeteria will be locked at all times. This will provide only one entry way (the gate nearest the attendance office) for students and parents to arrive on campus and depart from campus. 3) The cafeteria doors nearest Brannan Park will be locked at all times. *If parents park in that area, you will need to walk around to the front of the building and enter using the gate nearest the attendance office. *If attending a sporting event after school, you will be able to enter the campus through the gate located by the gym and then enter the gym through the front entrance nearest the courtyard. In addition to these measures, we are working to revise our emergency plan to have a color-coded system that will provide very clear details of what staff and students need to do. When we complete this revised plan, we will inform you so that you can be aware of what is going on. Principal s note continued: Please note that the safety of every Cascade student is our most paramount duty because we recognize that if students feel safe than learning will take place. As I stated in my letter, this was an isolated incident that should not define our school. We recognize these incidents can happen anywhere but know that we are working diligently to reduce the risk of these incidents. Thanks for your support! PRIDE! Isaiah Johnson Principal ijohnson@auburn.wednet.edu FOOD DRIVE Every year the Auburn School District sponsors a food drive in support of our food bank. Last year Cascade students did an amazing job and we won the district trophy. We are hoping to repeat that performance this year! How can you help? From Feb. 25-March 8 we will be collecting food at Cascade. Students should bring food or cash donations to their first period classes. Any boxed or canned item is accepted.please, no glass! We will also be stationed at Top Foods the two first weekends in March to collect food and donations from the community. We are also looking for businesses to help. If you work for a company that can collect food or can donate cash, please contact either Mrs. Luettgen (sluettgen@auburn.wednet.edu) or Mrs. Fonda (pfonda@auburn.wednet.edu). Our theme is: Walk in My Shoes. Imagine not being able to feed your family! Help us help our community and be a part of making a difference.
PTSA HAPPENINGS Come join your Cascade PTSA and be a part of your child s experience at Cascade. Upcoming Events Feb. 12 th : PTSA special Event- CHADD Support Group. Come join us and our guest speakers to learn about and discuss Children and Adults with A.D.H.D. 7pm in the cafeteria. Feb. 27 th : PTSA General Membership Meeting @ 7: oopm in the Cascade Library. Mar. 23 rd - 24 th : Spring Basketball Tournament@ AHS. We need volunteers to help sell tickets and concessions from 9am-5pm. (Work 9-1 or 1-5) If you are interested in volunteering please contact, President@CascadePTSA.org. Junior Achievement for 8 th graders is set for May 21 st (Mr. Homfeldt s classes) and May 23 rd (Mr. Godfrey s classes.) If you are an 8 th grade parent and would like to volunteer for this event please contact Secretary@CascacePTSA.org. Each day will be from 8:30am to 1:30pm. Remember to sign-up with escrip and register your Safeway card with CASCADE MIDDLE SCHOOL I.D. #8561198. BOX TOPS are being collected this year and so far we have $384.00 submitted! Please bring your box tops to the office and help fund fun events at Cascade. Ink/Toner Cartridges and Cell Phones are also being collected. Please bring them to the office. Please visit our website at http://cascadeptsa.org/ to see what s happening with Cascade Parent Teacher Student Association. MID-WINTER BREAK- February 18th-22 nd Hope you have some great family time! NEED ONLINE ACCESS TO STUDENT s GRADES & TEACHER WEBSITES? Cascade Middle School library will be open to parents once a month. You will have the chance to: Access your student s grades Print missing assignments for your students Email teachers Get questions answered by teachers Dates for Family Access Nights Feb 27 March 13 th May 1st and 22 nd June 12 th The library will be open 5-7 pm For Attendance, Call 253-931-4995 Or email Ms. Chalea mailto:czifka@auburn.wednet.edu CLUB NEWS NEW CLUB! Game Club will be starting up again February 11 th. Game Club has board games and video games to play. PS3, Xbox, Wii, Rock Band, and many others available. Game Club will be meeting on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:25 to 3:20. Bring a great attitude, and have some fun! College Connections Did you know you will spend more than 85,000 hours in your lifetime working? Make those hours count by choosing a career you enjoy! Communities In Schools of Auburn and Cascade host an after school college and career exploration club called College Connections. This is an opportunity for students of all grades to learn more about careers they might be interested in and how college can help them achieve their goals. We meet on Tuesdays from 2:15 3:15 in the library. For more information, talk to Autumn McCartan in Conference Room 108 or e-mail amccartan@auburn.wednet.edu. See you on Tuesdays
CLASSROOM NEWS Sixth Grade Social Studies News Our sixth grade students spent our first semester learning about the connection that geography has to history and getting down some basic skills. This semester we will focus on Ancient World History. We begin by focusing on the Fertile Crescent, the earliest area that became a civilization. To highlight our study of Mesopotamia, students will participate in a special activity: Mesopotamian marketplace. On Wednesday, Feb. 27, students will transform the sixth grade hallway into an ancient bazaar. Each student will be assigned a role to play, as well as a social level. All students will dress the part and bring actual items to trade. This will take place from 8-9 am and families are welcome to come and observe. Be forewarned, however, it will be crowded and noisy.just like a real marketplace! Social Studies is a great subject for extending student learning through hands on activities. We will continue with a variety of experiences to help students see how social studies connects to our lives. PARENT SUPPORT GROUP Parents of Kids with AD/HD Support Group Meeting What if my child has AD/HD? Learn how you can help them at home and at school! Learn about AD/HD or share what you know in this supportive group meeting. What: CHADD Parent Support Group Location: Cascade Middle School Cafeteria When: Feb 12, 2013, Everyone is welcome Time: 7:00 to 8:30 pm Address: 1015 24 th Street NW, Auburn WA 98002 To Learn more, visit: http://www.auburn.wednet.edu/page/23 Get involved! CASCADE CLUBS Join one of the following clubs: Club Day of Week Time Location Jazz Band Tues. / Wed. 6:30-7:30am Drumline Tuesdays 2:30-4:00 Builder s Club Newspaper Club Home Club Wednesdays 2:20-3:00 Tuesdays Alt. Wednesdays 2:15-3:00 Band Room Band Room 309 314 2:20-? (End time depends on project) 414 Futsal Thursdays 6:30am Gym Robotics Tues/Thurs 2:15-3:30 416 Arts and Crafts Do It Yourself Bookclub College and Career Club The Grind Mondays 2:20-3:15 403 Mondays 2:15-3:15 Library Tuesdays 2:15-3:15 Library Mondays 7:45-8:40 Gym Y Boys Thursdays 2:15-3:45 Library Study Hub Wednesdays 2:15-3:15 Library YOUNG LIFE Young Life invites all students to join us for a meeting filled with fabulous fun! Upcoming dates are: January 18 and February 15, March 1, 15, and 29 We meet in the Cascade Gym from 6pm-7:30 Science Help Game Club Tues/Thurs Mon/Wed (Begins 2/11) 7:10-7:45 2:15-3:15 405 or 406 2:25-3:20 415
ACADEMIC SUPPORT AVAILABLE After School Ell Homework Help Homework help is available for all ELL students after school on Wednesdays for 6 th and 7 th graders, and Thursdays for 8 th graders in room 313. Snacks will be provided. Breakfast Club 6 th grade math help is available at Breakfast club on Thursday mornings beginning at 7:15. Grab some breakfast from the cafeteria or bring your own, and head to room 304 to receive help (and hot cocoa) from Mrs. Homfeldt and Mrs. Baxter. Science Help 7 th grade science help is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays before/after school in room 405/406. Morning times are 7:10-7:40. Afternoons from 2:15-3:15. See Mrs. Killett or Mr. Mentink for more details. Study Hub Study Hub meets in the library every Wednesday after school. Study Hub provides a quiet place, access to computers, and a helpful adult volunteer to help get that homework done! In addition to the above, most teachers make themselves available to their students either before or after school. Some also give up their lunches to help their students. Make sure your student asks their teacher for help when needed. That s why they re here! Auburn YMCA The Auburn YMCA partners with Cascade in our goal of modeling PRIDE and encouraging students to do the same. They are on campus twice a week (at least) and bring us two clubs, Y-Boys and The Grind. They also plan fun outings evenings and weekends for students in the district. The upcoming events are: February 17 th - Thunderbirds Hockey game $15 per person The bus leaves the YMCA at 4pm February 22 nd - Late Night at the Y This event is free 8pm-11pm at the YMCA Book Suggestion: The White Mountains by John Christopher Part one of the classic science fiction Tripod Trilogy. CONGRATULATIONS! Congratulations to the 60 singers who participated in the Auburn School District Choral Festival on January 14 th! Cascade Choirs performed The Climb and Sing! in front of 1,200 people. They also sang Freedom Is Coming with Auburn High School s Chamber Choir and 2 songs with all the Auburn High Choirs, as well as 5 th grade singers from Evergreen Heights, Lake View and Washington Elementary Schools. Our next performance is on April 2 nd at 7:00pm, at Auburn Mountainview High School s Theater. Hope to see you there! POPCORN FRIDAYS This month, we ll be having popcorn Friday on February 15 th! Tell your students to stop by the student store during lunches to buy a bag of popcorn for 50 cents. J 50 = a bag of freshly popped popcorn NEW SPORTS SEASON BEGINS Wrestling and Girls Basketball begins after school February 4 th. Students who want to participate in sports need to have a current physical on file in the office along with a completed physical packet and 2012-13 ASB card.