December Message

Our next PTO meeting will take place on January 10th at 6:00 PM. It will take place at the West Genesee High School LGIR. Dr. Brown will hold his annual Dialogue with the Superintendent presentation immediately after the meeting at 7:00 PM. District residents are encouraged to come and ask any questions related to our schools. We look forward to seeing you then!

Message from the Principal

Last night we had our final concert of the winter series. It was the first time our 6th graders got to perform for their families in a large ensemble. There sure was excitement in the air! We are always amazed at the growth our students make from their first rehearsal in September to their first concert in black and white dress attire. Thank you for your support of music in our school; it makes CMS a more beautiful place to be.

Last month in this space, I wrote about some concerns we all share regarding cyber safety and apps that are detrimental to our children. But I think it is important to remember that technology can largely be a positive force especially as it puts information immediately into their hands (and minds). Educational apps help answer those questions that stem from natural curiosity; the who, what, where and why about the world our children live in. It is still a tall order for parents and guardians to sift through these apps…just because the word “educational” precedes “app” doesn’t make any one of them particularly valuable. According to this recent article in the New York Times, entitled How to Choose the Best Apps for Your Kids, there is help out there as you evaluate what to buy. The article suggested these “pillars” as a guide:

A good educational app actively engages the child; doesn’t have distractions that interrupt the learning experience (that includes ads); bridges new learning to existing knowledge; has clearly defined, measurable learning objectives that build on existing skills; and includes social interactivity or feedback.

The article also made good suggestions for audiobook streaming, coding tutorials and journaling platforms. There truly was something for everyone from pre-school through 12th grade.

I hope the holiday break gives you and your family a chance to celebrate, to rest and to learn something new…from an app or just a good book.

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

January 2 – 1st day back from Holiday Recess
January 5 – Wildcat Friday – Wear your school spirit colors
January 8 – 8th grade parent night at CMS LGIR- 7:00 pm
January 10 – PTO Meeting-6:00 pm at WGHS followed by Dialogue with the Superintendent at 7:00 pm
January 15 – Martin Luther King Day Observance – No School
January 26 - Staff Professional Development Day - No School for Students
January 29 - Second Semester begins