May 2016 Volume 2, Issue 2 Colonial Middle School Principal s Message Walk Against Hate The No Place for Hate Club participated in the Anti-Defamation League s Walk Against Hate on Sunday, May 15th at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Both the middle school and high school clubs participated in this event together. No Place for Hate is a program that fights against racism, bias, and bigotry. The program promotes an appreciation for diversity and culture and builds a community of respect. It s hard to believe that the conclusion of our 2015-16 school year is only weeks away. This time of the year brings with it a mixture of emotions. We are extremely proud of all of our students. We celebrate both their academic and social growth throughout this school year. We also say good-bye to our grade 8 students and wish them well as they move onto to the next exciting transition of their young lives. This is also an extremely busy time of the year, as we bring 2015-16 to a close and prepare for the start of the 2016-17 school year. To aid you in navigating the end of 2015-16 and preparing for 2016-17, we have prepared this newsletter for your review. Should you have any questions or suggestions regarding its content, please contact us at 610 275-5100. On behalf of our CMS Staff, please accept my sincerest thank you for providing us with such amazing young people this year. It really does take a village to raise a child. We feel honored to be part of that village and look forward to continuing to serve you in the future. Best wishes to all of our CMS families for a healthy, happy, and relaxing summer. Robert J. Fahler, Jr Principal Distinguished Honors Ceremony for Grades 6 & 7 Our annual Distinguished Honors Program for grades 6 & 7 is scheduled for Wednesday, 5/25, @ 7PM in the CMS auditorium. Students who have achieved all As or all As and at most one B for trimesters 1 & 2 of this school year, qualify for this event. Letters inviting qualifying students to this event were mailed home last week. If you have any concerns, please contact your child s guidance counselor.
P a ge 2 C olonial Middle School Newsletter V olume 2, I s s u e 2 PTO A special thanks to our amazing PTO for all of their support this year. Did you know that PTO contributes over $15,000 to support our CMS staff and students? PTO funds the following CMS experiences for our kids: all field trip transportation costs, Grade 8 Mermaid Lake trip, PSSA Testing snacks, Grade 7 Sports Day snacks, Reward Days, Staff Appreciation Breakfasts, Teacher Supplies. The vast majority of the dollars allocated by PTO are the result of parent membership dues. Special thanks to our incredible and selfless PTO officers for all of their countless volunteer hours and commitment to our kids: Co-President Yale Joseph Co- President Donna Harris Vice President Barry Bosket, Jr. Co-Treasurer Pam Zielinski Co-Treasurer Peggy O Neill Corresponding Secretary Carol Daufenback Recording Secretary Trish McNew Member at Large Cindy Rinehart Grade 8 Mermaid Trip Our Grade 8 Mermaid Trip is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1. The rain date for this event is June 2. There is no cost to families for this trip. PTO graciously contributes over $6,000 so our grade 8 students can enjoy an amazing day! The day is intended to be a time for the students to socialize and have fun as they end their years at the middle school. The picnic at Mermaid will take place from 9:15 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Bus transportation will be provided and the Parent Teacher Organization will supply the entrance fee, lunch, snacks and beverages. Activities include: -Volleyball -Basketball -Swimming/Water Park (bathing suits only-bring your own towel) -Softball -Horseshoes -Miniature golf -Golf 9 hole par 3 ( bring own equipment) -Tennis (bring own equipment) -Frisbee (bring own) -Jump rope (bring own) Students are not eligible to participate unless all disciplinary, academic, and financial obligations are satisfied. It is the student s responsibility to check for and clear all obligations. Please note that individual conduct and academic performance may cause a student to be retained from the trip. Students who are in danger of failing a subject for the year on May 31, will be excluded from the Mermaid Trip. These students will remain at CMS to improve their academic standing. Thanks for your support in encouraging all of our grade 8 students to be eligible to enjoy this great day with us.
C olonial Middle School Newsletter V olume 2, I s s u e 2 P a ge 3 Grade 7 Math Recommendations Grade 7 Math Recommendations for the 2016-17 school year will be mailed home during the week of May 23. Students will be recommended for 7 Math or 7Advanced Math. These recommendations are based on benchmark scores, unit test scores, and teacher recommendation. Students enrolled in the advanced class will complete three years of math curricula in two years. If you need more information regarding your child s recommended placement, please contact your child s math teacher as indicated on the letter. Thanks. School Supplies for 2016-17 Please note that school supply lists will be posted on the scrolling announcements portion of our CMS website beginning in early July. Help Keep our Students Safe Parent drop off and pick-up times can be tricky. It can also be a dangerous time for students. To keep our students as safe as possible, it is important that we all work together and follow some basic safety rules. Please encourage our students to follow the rules outlined below to keep them safe during arrival and dismissal times. Vehicles can only enter the front parking lot entrance to pick up or drop off students Vehicles are not permitted to drop off students in the bus lane/driveway. Students must board or exit cars from the sidewalk portions outlining the front parking lot. They must enter and exit cars from the passenger side of vehicles only. Students are not permitted to walk across the front parking lot to board vehicles at any time. When on foot, students must cross Belvoir Road at the crosswalk area located by our front parking lot entrance. Students are not permitted to cross Belvoir Road at any other location. Students who ride bikes must be off their bikes and walk them anytime they are on the CMS campus. 5 th to 6 th Grade Orientation The CMS Grade 5 to 6 Parent Orientation is scheduled for Monday, May 23. This program is designed for adults only and begins at 7PM in the Colonial Middle School auditorium. The program will include helpful information to aid parents in successfully navigating their child s upcoming transition to middle school. The CMS administration and select staff look forward to meeting you on the 23 rd. If you have any questions, please contact us at 610 275-5100.
P a ge 4 C olonial Middle School Newsletter V olume 2, I s s u e 2 Final Exams and Last Week of School Schedule Date Grade Content Dismissal Time Monday June 6 6 Language Arts 2:55PM 7 History 8 Math Tuesday June 7 6 Science 2:55PM 7 Math 8 Science Wednesday June 8 6 History 11:45AM 7 Language Arts 8 Language Arts Thursday June 9 6 Math 11:45AM 7 Science Physicals and Vaccinations Requirements The PA Department of Health has several requirements for middle school students. Please check the CSD website for all health forms. You can secure these forms by accessing our website at www.colonialsd.org. Then click on the Parents link above the upper right tool bar, select Forms & Documents in the left navigation bar, scroll down and select School Health Services, and then click on the form you need. All completed forms should be returned directly to the CMS Nursing Office: 716 Belvoir Road, Plymouth Meeting Pa, 19462, fax to 610-278- 2447, or scan and email to Ahorwath@colonialsd.org or Macquaviva@colonialsd.org Sixth Grade students are required to have a physical examination. A report of the examination is due by October 1 st : It is recommended that your Primary Care Provider complete the examination, but if necessary you may schedule your child for an appointment with our School District Physician by completing the Health History (pg 1) of the required paperwork. Please note that students who do not provide record of having a completed physical by 10/1 of their 6 th grade year will be excluded from school. The sixth grade physical (Private Physical Form) is the perfect time to think ahead about the immunization requirements for 7 th grade (see below). Examinations that were completed during the fifth grade year are also acceptable. Seventh Grade students are required to have the MCV (meningitis) and Tdap immunizations PRIOR to entering 7 th grade: Please submit an updated immunization report from your Primary Care Provider or if necessary, contact the Montgomery County Health Department (610-278- 2447) to schedule an appointment for the immunizations to be given at the clinic. Students who do not provide record of having updated vaccinations will be excluded from school. Seventh Graders are required to have a dental examination by Jan 2 nd : A report from any dental exam given during 6 th or 7 th grade is acceptable. If forms are not received from your family dentist, a dental screening will be scheduled with our School District Dentist.
C olonial Middle School Newsletter V olume 2, I s s u e 2 P a ge 5 Student Council Elections Student Council elections are traditionally held at the end of May each year. With the pending retirement of our long time student council advisor, Mrs. Swartz, we have decided to delay student council elections for the 16-17 school year until the fall of next school year. This decision was made to facilitate an opportunity for the new advisor to organize the elections in a manner that they are comfortable with as well as provide them with an opportunity to build relationships with the students involved. We will keep you and your children informed upon their return to school in September. Patriot Classic The Patriot Classic is our annual Faculty vs Students basketball game. This will be held in the CMS gym on May 20, from 1:45 2:55PM. The student team is composed of grade 8 boys and girls basketball team members, while the faculty team is composed of co-ed CMS staff members. All 7 th & 8 th grade students will attend the game in the gym. Our 6 th grade students will watch the game on closed circuit TV. Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony Our Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony is Thursday, June 9. The ceremony will begin promptly at 9:15AM. We recommend parents arrive at least 30 minutes early to facilitate a positive result to a challenging parking situation. Weather pending, our plan is to have CMS staff members park on our CMS field hockey field. This will allow parents to park in our parking lots and on our drive way area. Please do not arrive to CMS prior to 8:15AM. Over flow parking will be available at the Central Montgomery Technical High School located at 821 Plymouth Road, Plymouth Meeting. Shuttle buses will be available to transfer parents from CMTHS to our CMS campus. Shuttle service will begin at 8:30AM. Security staff and police will be on duty to aid parents in parking at both locations. Please follow their directions. In attempt to meet the needs of all students, we are asking that each student be limited to two attending adults. We will provide overflow viewing areas in classrooms should the demand for seating exceed the capacity of our auditorium. Boys are expected to wear nice shirts, slacks, and shoes, while girls are asked to wear appropriate length dresses, skirts, or slacks and an appropriate cut top. Tank or strapless tops are not permitted. We discourage the wearing of jeans, t- shirts, and ultra short skirts. Thanks for helping our ceremony portray the dignity it deserves. Thank you for helping us make this year's promotion ceremony our best one yet. Best wishes for a great ending to the 2015-16 school year. CMS kids are the best!
COLONIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL 8th Grade Awards Night 716 Belvoir Road Plymouth Meeting, PA 1962 tel (610) 275-5100 fax (610) 278-2447 www.colonialsd.org Online Math Help Online math help is available via a web-based program called Math IXL. If your child needs support with homework or extra practice, this site is an excellent resource that aligns to the PA Core for each grade level. If you have interest in using this resource, please direct your child to request a username and password from their math teacher or feel free to contact your child s math teacher directly. Our annual Grade 8 Awards Night is scheduled for Thursday June 2. The ceremony will be held at the CMS auditorium beginning at 7PM. If your child is scheduled to receive an award, you will be contacted via U.S. mail no later than May 27. Congratulations to all of our Grade 8 award winners! Grade 7 Sports Day Grade 7 Sports day is scheduled for Wednesday June 1 with a rain date of June 2. All grade 7 students participate in activities of their choice as they participate in a friendly competition between the 7Blue, 7Green, 7Red, and 7Orange teams. Our PTO graciously provides water, soft pretzels, and freeze pops for our 7 th graders. Grade 8 Dance Volunteers & Clearances Our annual Grade 8 Dance is scheduled for Friday, June 3. The dance will be held in the CMS gym and front light court from 7-9:30PM. The cost for attending is $15 and includes many finger foods, drinks, desserts, and pictures. Dress for the dance is semi-formal. Boys generally wear collared shirts, ties, nice slacks, and dress shoes. Girls wear tasteful dresses, or skirts and blouses. There will be a valuables check in area for students. Please note that this is not a prom. Limousines, dates and other high school appropriate arrangements are discouraged. This event is only available to presently enrolled CMS students. We encourage all Grade 8 students to attend. It is always a special night. As a result of PA state law, any school volunteer who volunteers on a regular basis and works with or supervises students alone is required to secure clearances. If you plan on chaperoning a field trip or volunteering at CMS in some other manner which falls under the aforementioned umbrella, please visit our CSD website @ www.colonialsd.org and follow these links to obtain clearance information: Click on the PARENTS link on the top right navigation bar Click on VOLUNTEER on the left hand navigation panel Click on the appropriate clearance links contained on that page