December Message

PTO Meeting

Our next PTO Meeting will be on January 11, 2017 at 6:00 pm and will be held in the LGIR at West Genesee High School. Mrs. Lozier will be giving us an update on three programs that have been in progress this school year: The Positivity Project, Enterprise America and Pay It Forward. The meeting will immediately be followed at 7:00 pm by Dialogue with the Superintendent at 7:00 pm where Dr. Brown will answer questions from the community. Please mark your calendar now for the remainder of our PTO meetings: March 1st and April 25th. 

The 15 week progress report is now available to view through Schooltool. Follow these steps:


• Click on “GRADES” tab
• On “View” box- drop down to Progress Report Grades 
• On “FOR” box -drop down to Marking Period 2




Look here for all progress report and marking period grades for the 2016-17 school year. If you experience any difficulty please contact Nancy Boise at nboise@westgenesee.org or call 672-8183. 

Principal’s Message
It really is hard to believe that December is rushing to a close. As much as we all enjoy our school breaks, we sure are looking forward to the New Year when we continue our commitment to providing enriching and meaningful experiences for all of our students. You might remember reading in an earlier blog that all middle level staff members read a great book over the summer break; Mindset by Carol Dweck, Ph.D. During our monthly faculty meetings we have been digging in to sections of the book that deal with the school setting. We have learned so much about the science of motivation, the value of feedback and the power of our words when we speak to our children. We have learned the difference between a growth and fixed mindset and how to support children in developing positive self-talk. I can sum up the whole purpose of the book in one sentence: Productive and focused work beats innate ability every day. We were thinking that the New Year might be the perfect time to share with families some of the power behaviors and thinking we have discovered, and so we are going to be having a workshop for that purpose. Please mark your calendar for the Got Growth Mindset! Presentation on January 31st at 6:30 pm at West Genesee Middle School. In one hour we will share with you strategies, tips and examples of how to help build a growth mindset with your child at home. 

You’ve read it here before, but it always bears repeating, that we want all of our students to read 10 books (at a minimum) outside of school over the course of the year. The extended school break is a great opportunity to start or continue with this most important habit. Our local library branch, The Maxwell Library, recently completed a renovation and is better than ever. Be sure to stop by over the break to check it out. The holiday hours can be found by looking at their web site. Want some suggestions for some great titles…read on:

Life in Motion by Misty Copeland –This beautiful memoir tells the story of an unlikely ballerina who rises from an impoverished family to become the only African American soloist dancing with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Ms. Copeland’s progression from the barre of a local Boys and Girls Club, to a summer scholarship to study in New York City and finally to the corps of ABT will leave you breathless. Her “life in motion” will inspire you to live your own dream with grit and determination.

Zoom: How Everything Moves: From Atoms and Galaxies to Blizzards and Bees by Bob Berman  When you think about it, our world is full of natural motion. Berman examines the “how” of motion starting with the earth’s rotation, to the trajectory of a baseball and everything in between. The Amazon review of this book says the author writes “with an entertaining style and a gift for distilling the wondrous.

Brilliant Blunders by Mario Livio – The author is an astrophysicist who dispels the notion that some of our most esteemed scientists like Einstein and Darwin never made mistakes in their pursuit of knowledge. You can't put this book down.

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck – Dr. Dweck is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and is the leader in the field of social psychology. Her groundbreaking work, told in easy to read language, proves that our mindset is the most critical factor in accomplishing any goal. A great family read! 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens – I always include this classic story on my annual list. The true meaning of Christmas is well-known to all of us through the many movie versions. The book, however, is so much more poignant and moving with scenes that just can’t be captured on film. Think your children are too old to be read a story aloud? Try this one…the Lozier children’s all-time favorite. (I love the version illustrated by Roberto Innocencti.)

On behalf of everyone here at CMS, I wish you a wonderful holiday season! 

We Celebrate Learning! 
Beth

Follow us on Twitter @camillusmiddle  

January 3, 2017 – First day back at school after Holiday Recess
January 11, 2017 – PTO Meeting at WGHS in the LGIR – 6:00 pm
January 16, 2017 – No School – Martin Luther King Day
January 30, 2017 – No School – Professional Development Day
January 31, 2017 – First day of the Second Semester (A Day)
January 31, 2017 – Got Growth Mindset Presentation at WGMS at 6:30 pm

October Message

Progress Reports Are Available

The first 5 week progress report is now available to view through Schooltool. Follow these steps:



• Click on “GRADES” tab
• On “View” box- drop down to Marking Period Grades 
• On “FOR” box -drop down to Marking Period 1

Look here for all progress report and marking period grades for the 2016-17 school year. If you experience any difficulty please contact Nancy Boise at nboise@westgenesee.org or call 672-8183. 

PTO NEWS

Thank you to everyone who joined the PTO this year! We still have several committees where volunteers are needed: 

Shared Decision Making – 4 meeting per year which start at 2:15 pm
Spirt Wear Coordinator – Work with vendor, collect & disperse orders
High School Liaison – Attend WGHS and CMS PTO meetings
Parent Curriculum Information Council – Meets 5 times per year at 7:00 pm
8th Grade Celebration – June 22nd – organize student celebration
Budget Vote Reminder Callers – Make approximately 15 call on May 15

If you are able to help or if you want more information please contact one of our co-presidents: Pearlene Amica at pearlene.amica@gmail.com or Kim Kemp at kimkemp@twcny.rr.com. Thank you in advance for helping support our school! It’s going to be the best year ever! 
Principal’s Message 

With the incredibly beautiful summer weather extending into fall, it is hard to believe that we are rushing toward the end of October. The first five week mark is a perfect time to review with your child what behaviors are contributing to their success in the classroom and where they might want to set some goals for improvement. We know from experience that using a planner to stay organized and short bursts of review of new material at home (especially in French and Spanish) have a big return on investment. Our teachers are always available to speak with you about your child’s progress here at CMS. Please call the Guidance Department to schedule a time to come in or speak by phone at 672-8381. 

At our first PTO meeting last week I updated everyone on some new initiatives we have happening this school year. These have all come to pass because of our dynamic and committed teachers who are always looking to improve what we offer our students.

Grade 6 – The Positivity Project: The project’s motto is Other People Matter. Our students are learning about positive character strengths in themselves and others. Through fun and relevant lessons, students are gaining an awareness of how their actions, words and thoughts influence the world around them. Students have already worked with curiosity, kindness and fairness. 
  
Grade 7 – Enterprise America: This program involves several weeks of classroom lessons which prepares students to take over a city for a day which is located in WCNY’s Education Center in downtown Syracuse. This experiential learning opportunity has been around for many years across the USA, but this is the first of its kind in CNY. Students will assume a whole variety of jobs that make a community run. Please return your permission slip as soon as possible.
  
Grade 8 – Pay It Forward: Students will be reading the YA version of Catherine Ryan Hyde’s best-selling novel which was adapted as a movie several years ago. Students will learn that their efforts can be channeled into making their home and community a better place.

Mark your calendar now for our annual musical production on November 4th and 5th. The Little Mermaid and her friends will be swimming, dancing and singing on our stage. Our Student Council will be sponsoring our Halloween Costume Contest on October 31st. Students can wear school appropriate costumes for judging during homeroom. Prizes are awarded at each grade level. 

We Celebrate Learning! 
Beth
Beth Anne Lozier
Follow us on Twitter @CamillusMiddle

October 26 – Picture Retake Day
October 28 – Halloween Dance/Open Gym (grades 6,7,8) 6:00-8:00 pm (Costumes Optional) 
November 3 – String Fest Grades 7-12- 7:30 pm at WGHS
November 4 – Wildcat Pride Friday – Wear Your Blue and Gold! 
November 11 – School closed in observance of Veteran’s Day
November 18 – Report Cards carried home by students
November 18- 3:3 Basketball Tournament (grades 6,7,8) 2:10-4:00 pm

September Message

Dear CMS Families

Week #1 is in the books and life is good here at Camillus Middle School! Our buses are running on time, athletic and musical practices are at full tilt and schedule changes are complete.


This week we also welcomed Merry-Go-Round Playhouse into all of our English classes. Our students took part in what is known as Echoes, the largest middle school writing competition in the United States. The classroom writing workshop was facilitated by actors from this program. Our students will submit original material over the next several weeks to Echoes’ actors and writers. In March, the actors will return to us with a musical performance where the submitted poems, songs, stories and skits are weaved into the production. Thank you to the Fine Arts Department for arranging this program for CMS!

On Monday we will put the Curriculum Night (Sept. 20) flyer and schedule in the mail to you. Make sure to bring it with you that evening. We invite you to stop by our library during your visit as well. It was beautifully renovated during last year’s capital improvement project, and it is just the hub of our school. We will have refreshments available there! Our Scholastic Book Fair will also be open. We appreciate any purchase you can make since this benefits our PTO. You can also join the PTO that evening if you haven’t already.

Please join me in welcoming the newest members of the CMS faculty and Staff: 

Gabriele Mahoney – Psychologist 

Mary Griffin – Sp. Ed. T.A.

Jennifer Miller – Sp. Ed. Teacher 

Heather Molina – French Teacher 

Hannah Murphy – Spanish Teacher

Julie Salisbury - Art Teacher

J.J. Potrikus - Sp. Ed. T.A.

Aleksandr Gonchar – Custodian

Allison Larocca – BOCES Teacher

Randi Sherman – BOCES Social Worker

Kelly Busch – BOCES Teacher

September 12 – School Pictures – Please bring your order form

September 20 – Curriculum Night – 6:30-8:00 pm

September 25 – Race For Respect – Noon at the High School

September 29 – 10:10 am dismissal for students

October 5 – CMS PTO Meeting – 6:00 pm in Library

Please feel free to call (672-3159) or stop by the office if I can be of any help to you. A great way to see the day unfold is to follow us on Twitter @camillusmiddle. 

We Celebrate Learning! 

Beth 

Beth Lozier - Principal

July Message from Principal Lozier

Dear CMS Families~

I got started on my summer reading list over the July 4th weekend at my favorite place in the entire world…the 7th Avenue beach in Belmar, New Jersey (my hometown). There is something about the roll of the waves and a sturdy beach chair that somehow helps me to settle into a book. Each summer every middle school teacher in West Genesee reads the same book, usually on a topic related to instruction. This summer we decided try something a little different, and so we decided to all read Mindsets by Carol Dweck, Ph.D. As I was re-reading it on the beach last weekend a gentleman approached me to ask about it. Turns out he is a principal of a local high school and he had also read the book. As we were talking it occurred to me that this would be a great book for parents and students to read. (It is available on Amazon for under $10.) 

Dr. Dweck’s research focuses on motivation and the characteristics of a fixed versus growth mindset. Her conclusions on the inherent benefits of developing a growth mindset in our young people are compelling for both families and schools alike. The book is full of real-life examples, with a dose of easy to read research, about how these mindsets develop in early childhood and what adults can do to build more resilient children. This article from the New York Times also cites Dweck’s findings and provides an excellent list of strategies to use with your children. As a school, this body of work aligns closely with our belief that it is about the learning process, not the 91 on the report card that is most important. It is more valuable to build curious students who have a passion for knowledge and are not afraid to make mistakes. 

I encourage you to read this book and share it with your child. I’ll be writing more about it next school year. 

Wishing all of you a terrific summer break…full of rest, fun and many good books! 

We Celebrate Learning!

Beth Lozier

Principal

P.S. - Summer break is the perfect time to get going on our annual 10 Book Challenge. The State Education Commissioner, Mary Ellen Elia, has started a conversation on Twitter for families to share their favorite book titles. You can join by sharing your photos by tagging @NYSEDNews and using the hashtag #SummerReading.

June Message

The last 11 days of school will fly by…please mark your calendar with these important dates!

June 16 - Algebra Regents - 8:00 a.m.

June 17  - last day for Interaction Time (IT)

June 20 – Full day of school for all students. All grade 8 students will be taking the FLACS examination in French and Spanish. Please remember that this is a required assessment in order to earn 1 credit toward high school graduation.

June 21 – 10:10 am dismissal for all students in grades 6 through 8.

June 22 – 10:10 dismissal for all students. Our 8^th grade students will have a special breakfast and then enjoy games outside on the field. The 8^th grade dance will take place from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at CMS. The breakfast and the dance are sponsored by the CMS PTO.

May Message from Principal Lozier

BUDGET VOTE

Tomorrow, May 17, 2016, you will have the opportunity to vote on the following:

• 2016-17 School District Budget
• School District Vehicle Proposition
• Library Propositions
•  Election of three Board of Education Candidates

Voting will take place in the West Genesee High School Auditorium Lobby from 6:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Thank you in advance for supporting and encouraging the educational well-being of our children.

Check School Tool – Progress Report

The 35 week Progress Report will be available for viewing on Wednesday, May 18, 2016. The final report card for the year will be mailed home in July.

Reading Recommendations

In last month’s blog I mentioned that our library staff asked all faculty members to submit the name of their favorite book from their middle school days. 

It was fun to see that we had not one duplicate title submitted. With the four day weekend right around the corner everyone should have the time to read one of them! Here are some more of the CMS FAVE reads:

Miss Riley – 8^th grade English – The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Mrs. Tanchak – 8^th grade English – lzzy, Willy, Nilly by Cynthia Voigt

Mrs. Duschen – 7^th grade Math – From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basile E. Frankweiler by e.l. konigsburg

Mrs. Ahern – School Counselor- A Girl of Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter

Mrs. Slade – Math Interventionist – Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Happy Reading!

Beth Lozier

Important Dates

May 19, 2016 – Student Council Talent Show -7:00 p.m.

May 25, 2016 – NY State Science Assessment – Grade 8 only

May 27, 2016 – No School – Snow Day Give Back Day

May 30, 2016 – No School – Memorial Day

April Message from Principal Lozier

Report Cards
The 3rd quarter report cards were passed out to our students in homeroom this morning. Please ask your child to show it to you. You may also log onto SchooTool to see individual assignment grades. This can help you to get a better sense of how the final average was derived. If you have difficulty with SchoolTool please contact Nancy Boise at nboise@westgenesee.org or at 672-8381 in our Guidance Department.  The next progress report will be available for viewing on May 18. The final report card of the year will be mailed home to you in July. 

PTO Meeting and Budget Presentation
Please mark your calendars for two very important meetings happening this coming Monday, April 18. Our PTO will have their final meeting of the year which will begin at 6:00 pm. We welcome any new members and anyone who might be interested in serving on the executive board. If you can’t make the meeting but would like more information please contact our president, Mrs. Pearlene Amica, at pearleneamica@yahoo.com. At 7:00 pm Dr. Brown will present the school budget for the 2016-17 school year. Both meetings will take place in the LGI at West Genesee High School.






Astronaut Jeanette Epps Visits WG! 
You won’t want to miss this opportunity. 
Look here for the flyer with all the details! 

Principal’s Message

I keep flipping back and forth in my planner trying to figure out where the school year went and how we can possibly be peeking into May. The old adage sure is true; time flies when you are having fun! Our librarian, Mrs. Bush, recently asked the entire CMS staff to submit the name of their favorite book when they were in middle school. We were so excited to see the range of genre and found it very interesting that we hardly had any duplicate titles. I thought I might share a few of our favorities to add to your reading list for April Break (remember our 10 Book Challenge):

Mrs. Buchanan, ELA Instructional Support Specialist, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Mrs. Bates, Home and Careers, Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Mr. Primiano, 8th Grade Science, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Mrs. Vinci, Math Teacher, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 
Mrs. Parry, 6th grade Reading Teacher, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Families often ask us for book suggestions related to parenting especially on the topics of peer influences and keeping the lines of communication open. You might be interested in the Developmental Assets research and their web site which includes many resources for families. These internal and external assets are indicative of positive influences found in teens and their families. Each asset is accompanied by book suggestions or other helpful resources.

I hope you all enjoy the week off (April 25-29)! 

We Celebrate Learning! 
Beth
Beth Anne Lozier - Principal
Follow us on Twitter @camillusmiddle

IMPORTANT DATES
May 5 Battle Of The Books (CMS-café) - 7:00 pm
May 17  Budget Vote at WGHS - 6:30 am-9:00 pm
May 19 Talent Show (CMS-café) - 7:00 pm
May 25  New York State Science Assessment (Gr. 8 only)
May 27  No School – Snow Day give back

March Message from Principal Lozier

Spirit Week at CMS!

Our favorite week of the year is right around the corner! Sprit Week will run from March 14-18 and will culminate in a St. Patrick’s Day Dance and Open Gym for all grades on March 18 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Tickets are $5 at the door. All proceeds benefit the CMS PTO, which in turn supports valuable programs here at school. Our Student Council has voted on the daily Spirit Week themes…and the winners are:

Monday (3/14) – Pajama Day

Tuesday (3/15) – Crazy Clothes and Hair Day

Wednesday (3/16) – Beach Day

Thursday (3/17) – Twin Day

Friday (3/18)-Sports Day

Prizes will be awarded for students who best exemplify the spirit of the day! Please remember that all outfits should be school appropriate.

3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

Our first ever 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for grades 7 and 8 will take place on March 11 from 2:15-4:30 pm. Advance registration is required and will close on Thursday, March 10. Students may sign up in either 3 or 4 person teams which can be co-ed or mixed grade if they choose. Registration is $5 per child. Registration forms are in the main office and cafeteria. Daily announcements have been made regarding the process. Watch out NCAA and ACC…our teams are ready! All proceeds benefit the CMS PTO.

CMS PTO

It is not too late to become a PTO member or to make a contribution to our No ShowFundraiser. Simply print the forms and send them to the main office with your child. We appreciate your support as the PTO provides many valuable experiences for our students. Our Spirit Wear sale, Scholastic Book Fair and Battle of the Books competition are just a few of the many programs made possible by the PTO. Our final meeting of the year will take place on April 18 at 6:00 pm in the LGI at West Genesee High School. Dr. Brown’s budget presentation for the 2016-17 school year will take place immediately following our meeting at 7:00 pm.

Important Dates

March 9 – 25 week Progress Reports available on SchoolTool
March 11 - 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament
March 14-18 - Spirit Week
March 18 - St. Patrick's Day Dance & Open Gym

March 25 – No School

April 1 – Wildcat Friday – wear your BLUE and Gold!
April 1 - Career Fair & Field Trip to OCC - 8th graders only, periods 1-3

April 5-7 – ELA Assessments – 2 hour delay schedule

April 12-14 – Mathematics Assessments – 2 hour delay schedule
April 18 - PTO Meeting and Budget Presentation

February Message

Ten Book Challenge

Over the weekend you will be receiving in the mail a report for your child comparing their growth in reading level from October to January. We will be reviewing the report with your child here at school, but it would also be beneficial to review their progress as a family. If your child hasn’t grown as a reader it is likely because they have not developed the stamina, practice and exposure to a variety of texts.  We continue to stress the importance of reading outside of the school day. You can remind your children that the 10 Book Challenge is still in progress. If your child hasn’t read five books, don’t fret! February break should provide a great window of time to get started.

I read an interesting article in the New York Times this week which reviewed that changes to the SAT that are just around the corner. The gist of the article is that the new test will have longer and harder reading passages and more difficult vocabulary, especially in the math sections. This type of test simply can’t be crammed for as an 11^th and 12^th grader. Students will do best-not just on the SAT (that may not be the road for all students)-but in life in general if they simply have steady exposure to a variety of reading materials over time.

Want some suggestions for February Break? Try these:

The Batboy by Mike Lupica – Lupica is one of the finest sport’s writers of all time, and his fiction writing is just as thrilling. This is a New York Times Bestseller.

Son by Lois Lowry – Written in Lowry’s typical powerful and simple style, Son brings to closure the journey of the characters we initially met in The Giver.

The Boys of Winter by Wayne Coffey – I am old enough to remember the Miracle on Ice of the 1980 Olympic Games. This book recounts the story of the stunning US victory during the peak of the Cold War.

The Sports Gene by David Epstein – A senior writer for Sports Illustrated looks at how elite athletes are born or made.

I will look forward to welcoming our students back to school on February 22^nd! Have a wonderful break!

We Celebrate Learning!

Beth

Follow us on Twitter @Camillusmiddle

  

New York State Testing

Many of you may have read that New York State has made some positive changes to the Common Core assessments in ELA and mathematics that will be administered this April. Of note, the tests will now be untimed. This means that any student who is working productively to complete any portion of the test may have all the time they need to finish. There will also be fewer questions and reading passages. 

I want all families to know that we believe all students are prepared to take these assessments. Our daily instruction and units of student are aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards and thus we have no need for “test prep” or additional work to ready our students. We rely on the excellent teaching and learning that we commit ourselves to each and every day. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions at 672-3159.

Grades 3-8 ELA                             April 5-6-7

Grades 3-8 Mathematics               April 13-14-15

Yearbook Order Deadline!

This is the last call for yearbooks. Please click the Balfour icon which will take you to the ordering page.

Should you have any further questions or have trouble ordering please contact Dale Keida at dkeida@westgenesee.org or by calling the main office at (315) 672-3159. Yearbooks are $28. They can also be personalized with your child’s name for $33. The deadline for ordering is February 26, 2016.

Kindergarten Registration

Dates: February 1- March 4

Process starts by making an appointment: 

https://wgkregistration.youcanbook.me/ 

  

Important Dates

March 2 – PTO Meeting at East Hill Elementary School  6:00 p.m.

March 9 – 25 week Progress Reports available for viewing on Schooltool

March 11 – 3:3 Basketball Tournament for grades 7/8 - 2:15-4:15 p.m.

March 18 – St. Patrick’s Day Dance/Open Gym-grades 6-7-8-6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

January Message

Final grades and comments for the second quarter of the 2015-2016 school year are now available to view through Schooltool. Click on the 'Grades' tab, select 'Marking Period Grades' in the 'view' dropdown and make sure you have 'Marking Period 2' selected. If you have any questions or difficulty logging into Schooltool please contact our Guidance Department at 672-8381.

Olweus Class Meeting

Early dismissal days are the perfect opportunity for us to focus our attention on strengthening our school community. This past year our Guidance Department, Melissa Ahern, Monica Canterino and Nancy Boise, have created engaging and fun activities that reinforce our school motto: True Blue Wildcats Have a Heart of Gold. Each Olweus Day seems to be bigger and better than the one before! Today we had a whole school pep rally lead by the WGHS cheerleaders. Talk about #wildcat pride! As a culminating activity each class made a vase of origami flowers which will be donated to Van Duyn Nursing Home.

Students also watched two videos that can viewed here and here. If you have a few spare moments over the weekend it might be fun to watch one or both with your children and talk about how they demonstrate their own heart of gold.

Have a terrific weekend! We Celebrate Learning!

Beth

Follow us on Twitter @Camillusmiddle