Thursday, March 19, 2020

School Closure Update from CMS

Dear CMS Families~

As we start to make the transition to virtual learning, our teachers and staff have been working to develop remote learning opportunities for our students during this extended school closure. Our teachers, teaching assistants and school counselors will be engaging with students through Google Classroom, email, and/or virtual office hours. Contact information for our teachers and professional staff, organized by department, is provided here.  Any questions or concerns relating to online instruction should be directed to the teacher of the course.

While we know that many of our teachers are already checking in with students, starting on Monday, March 23rd, students will receive lessons/activities in their Google Classroom accounts. We know that families are dealing with numerous challenges, so students should expect only one to two 40 minutes lessons/activities each week for core class at this time. Special Area teachers will be providing one 40 minute lesson per week. Feedback on student  learning will be provided by teachers as students submit work. Our primary goal is to maintain our connections with students and to continue developing their academic skills and proficiency. Participation is expected, as teachers will be monitoring student involvement via comments, emails, and Google Classroom activity.  Engagement and consistency are the keys to success in the coming weeks. An overview and link to the WG Online Learning Portal can be found here.

We ask that you continue to look for updates in the following ways: 

West Genesee School District website
CMSPrincipal Blog
Student and/or parent or guardian emails
Twitter: @camillusmiddle

I would like to recognize all of the Wildcat staff  who have been working tirelessly to organize and deliver meals and technology. Our incredible custodial staff continue to work to keep all of our buildings disinfected. 

Thank you to our District Level PTA/PTO’s for arranging for volunteers and creating our first Virtual Spirit Week.  We start that with Pajama Day on Monday!

Our current plan of distance learning is based on a return to school on April 14, 2020. Due to the unforeseen nature of this virus and the caution that we will exercise to protect the West Genesee family, our plans may change. These changes will be guided by both New York State and Onondaga County. Any updates, should we need to make them, will be communicated on our district website, through my blog, Twitter and through email. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. I will be receiving all voicemail messages left on the building phone at 315-672-3159 or you can email me at blozier@westgenesee.org

Take good care now~ 

We Celebrate Learning! (Always!)

Beth Anne Lozier 
Principal - Camillus Middle School



MENTAL HEALTH AND CRISIS INTERVENTION RESOURCES:
(315) 448-6555 Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program at St. Joseph's Hospital in Syracuse, open 24 hours, 7 days a week
(866) 543-KIDS Emergency room for children, open 24 hours, 7 days a week
(315) 468-3260 24 hour help for victims of domestic and sexual violence
(315) 701-2985 Information about how to report child abuse, intervention and education.
ACCESS (315) 463-1100 Onondaga County's Intensive Case Management Children & Family Program; provides clinical case management services to families with one or more seriously emotionally disturbed child or adolescent experiencing a crisis.
Dial 211 for Information and referrals for human services within a five county region. This is a hotline to help families and individuals find referrals for help with things such as housing, food, mental health, substance abuse, disaster relief, legal assistance and finances.
Hotline Numbers
CONTACT Hotline
(315) 251-1400 -24-hour suicide prevention and crisis counseling and referral.
Crisis Text Line- 741741 (24 hour)
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
National Adolescent Suicide Hotline: 1-800-621-4000
Hotline for Teens that Cut: 1-800-366-8288
National Eating Disorder Hotline: 1-800-248-3285
Be Sober Hotline: 1-800-237-6237
Drug Help National Helpline: 1-800-378-4435

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline 1-800-843-5678 (To report suspected online child sexual exploitation)

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

February Message


The last day to order yearbooks will be Friday, March 6.  Yearbooks can be ordered online at www.balfour.com. If you have any questions, please contact our yearbook advisors, Mrs. Clift at kclift@westgenesee.org or Mr. Keida at dkeida@westgenesee.org.



The annual Culture Fair will be held at West Genesee High School on Saturday, February 29 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. in the upper gymnasium. Join us as we celebrate our community’s diversity at this fun event featuring dance performances, live music, cultural demonstrations, food samples, artwork, T-shirts, kids crafts, and more!


Our annual St. Patrick’s Day Dance will be on Friday, March 13 from 6:00-8:00 pm. DJ Dan Becker will be here with his flashing lights and the best dance music in town. Our gym will also be open for basketball. Tickets are available at the door for $5. Snacks will be available for sale. All proceeds benefit our PTO.  If you would like to chaperone, please contact Beth Lozier at blozier@westgenesee.org. Wear your green and come on out for a great night!


Our next 3:3 Basketball Tournament will be on Friday, March 20 from 2:15-4:00 pm. Teams can be mixed grade levels and/or co-ed with 4 players maximum. Team registration forms were handed out in PE classes and are also available in the main office. Fill out the form and return payment ($5 per player) to the Main Office by Monday, March 16. All proceeds benefit our PTO. Let’s Play!


Our 25-week progress reports will be available for viewing on SchoolTool Friday, March 13. If you have trouble logging on to view, please call or email Nancy Boise at nboise@westgenesee.org or 315-672-8381.


Counseling Department Notes:

Upcoming Events
8th grade students will be participating in Career Day on Friday, March 6. Students will start the morning by attending a Career Fair in the cafeteria before taking a bus to visit Onondaga Community College. The day will conclude with a presentation by high school students and counselors in the LGIR.

Mrs. Ahern and Mrs. Canterino will be going into classes to meet with 6th and 7th grade students to help them select courses for next year. The selection sheets will be mailed home by the end of March for parent review.

Opportunities
SUNY ESF will be hosting a girls summit to provide hands-on career exploration activities in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.  The program will be held on April 18 and will cost $5.00 per girl.  Registration information is available at the following link:  https://www.esf.edu/oelo/



Several months ago I shared with you that the staff here at CMS has been spending our monthly professional development time studying the New York State Mental Health Literacy Standards. It has been really productive for us because we have a better understanding of adolescent mental health needs and have acquired additional strategies to create a “culture of caring” within our school.

Often, when we think of mental health, we focus on topics that compromise our children’s well-being. You can list those influences as well as I can: negative peer pressure, social media, vaping and other substance abuse. Schools have always been aware of our responsibility to educate students about these influences and give them strategies to protect themselves.

But what the Mental Health Literacy Standards show us, and what experts have known for quite some time, is that we also need to give our time and attention to the notion of resiliency which is commonly defined as the ability to bounce back from adversity. I’d like to share with you one of the resources on this topic that we studied. The 40 Developmental Assets have a strong research base in outlining internal assets (commitment to learning, positive identity) and external assets (support, constructive use of time) that serve as protective barriers and help students build resiliency and strengthen a child’s overall well-being. You can print out the one-page chart at home and ask your child about how they perceive these assets in their own life. I can also recommend a terrific book on this topic called Learned Optimism by Dr. Martin Seligman who is regarded as the father of positive psychology. His research is embedded in the Positivity Project that we utilize here at West Genesee.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this topic or any other matter.

We Celebrate Learning!
Beth
Blozier@westgenesee.org

Follow us on Twitter @camillusmiddle

February 27 - Choral Festival 7:00 p.m. @ WGHS
February 29 - Culture Fair 12-3 p.m. @ WGHS
March 4 -  Board of Education Meeting 7:00 p.m. @ WGHS
March 6 - Wildcat Friday
                 Career Fair - 8th Grade
March 11 - 1/2 Day for Students - 10:10 a.m. dismissal
March 13 - 25 Week Reports Available
                   St. Patrick's Day Dance 6-8 p.m.
March 17 - 7/8 Gr. Band & Orchestra Concert 7:00 p.m. @ WGHS
March 18 - Board of Education Meeting 7:00 p.m. @ WGHS
March 20 - 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament 2:15-4:00 p.m.
March 24 - Jazz Band, Chamber String, & Select Chorus 
                    Concert 7:00 p.m.
March 25 - 6th Grade Concert 7:00 p.m. 
March 24 & 25 - 6th Grade NYS ELA
March 26 & 27 - 7 & 8th Grade NYS ELA

Thursday, January 9, 2020

January Message


New From The Main Office
While we strive to make sure your calls are always answered by a West Genesee employee, due to added security measures at our main entrance, they may not always be able to respond immediately.  Therefore, we have activated an automated phone menu to assure that we may get back to you in a timely manner.  Once the message starts, you will be able to press "1" to contact the nurse's (attendance) office or "2" to contact the guidance office or just stay on the line to leave a message for the main office.

 Yearbook Order

Yearbook Ordering
Ordering your 2020 yearbook is easy this year! Just follow this link or go to the “YEARBOOK” link found on the Camillus Middle School page at www.westgenesee.org. Yearbooks are $25 until January 31st. On February 1st the cost rises to $28. If you order by January 17th, you will be entered into a drawing for a free yearbook or iTunes gift card. The deadline for ordering is March 20th.


PTO Meeting and Talk with the Superintendent
Our next PTO meeting will be on January 21st at 6:30 p.m. in the high school LGIR. Immediately following the meeting, Mr. David Bills will present his Talk with the Superintendent. His presentation will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the LGIR. All are welcome to attend.


Dance And Open Gym
Mark your calendar for our next dance and open gym on January 24th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door. Refreshments are available for purchase. All proceeds benefit our PTO.


Important Dates 

January 9 - 8th Grade Parent/Guardian Night - 6:00 pm at CMS LGI
January 10 - Wildcat Friday
January 20 - Martin Luther King Day - No School
January 21 - PTO Meeting - 6:30 pm at HS LGI
January 21 - Talk with the Superintendent - 7:00 pm at HS LGI
January 22 - Board of Education - 7:00 pm
January 24 - End of 20 weeks
January 24 - Dance & Open Gym - 6:00 - 8:00 pm
January 27 - Staff Development Day – No School
January 28 - Begin 2nd Semester
January 31 - Report Cards sent home

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

December Message

Strategic Planning Calls for Commentary 
For many years the West Genesee Central School District has engaged in a reflective and goal-oriented review process which culminates in a Strategic Plan for Educational Improvement. You can view the 2019-20 Strategic Plan here. A critical component in the development of this plan comes from the feedback we receive from our staff, students, community, and parents. The Strategic Planning Team would appreciate a few moments of your time to tell them about our areas of strength and where we need to grow and improve. Please click here to complete the brief survey by January 24th.


Dance and Open Gym
Our next event will be Friday, January 24th from 6:00 -8:00 pm. DJ Dan Becker will be here to provide the music, and the gym will be open for pick-up basketball. Tickets are $5 at the door. Proceeds benefit our PTO.

December Message 
The snow is landing on the trees outside of my office window as I write this message…just so pretty! I have always felt that the CMS campus is the most tranquil school setting anywhere. No matter what window you look out of, no matter the season, we are surrounded by groves of trees and nature. I hope you and your children will enjoy the beauty of Central New York as we start our two week break in a few days.
Each year, in my December message, I share a reading list so that you have a few suggestions to choose from during the break. This year I wanted to pass on some titles related to the practice of mindfulness. This list was recommended in the Mental Health Education Literacy In Schools Comprehensive Guide. There have been many studies that show how children, particularly adolescents, can benefit from using some of these simple mindfulness habits. This article from the New York Times also has some wonderful resources for your family.

Affirmation Weaver: A Believe in Yourself Story, by Lori Lite
Angry Octopus: A Relaxation Story, by Lori Lite
Bubble Riding, by Lori Lite
Building Emotional Intelligence, by Linda Lantieri
Mindful Movements, by Thich Nhat Hanh
Mindfulness for Beginners, by Jon Kabat-Zinn
See Otter Cove: A Relaxation Story, by Lori Lite
Sitting Still Like A Frog, by Eline Snel
The Way of Mindful Education, by Daniel Rechtschaffen
The Wisdom Within, by Allison Morgan
The Boy and the Bear, by Lori Lite

Everyone here at CMS wishes you and your family a peaceful and restful break. I can’t wait to welcome your children back on January 6th!

We Celebrate Learning!
Beth
Follow us on Twitter @camillusmiddle

Important Dates 
Dec 23 - Jan 5 - Holiday Recess 
January 8 - Board of Education 7:00 pm @ HS LGIR
January 9 - 8th Gr. Parent/Guardian Night - 6:00 pm @ CMS LGI
January 10 - Wildcat Friday
January 20 - Martin Luther King Day - No School
January 21 - PTO Meeting - 6:30 pm @ HS LGI
January 21 - Talk w/ the Superintendent - 7:00 pm @ HS LGI
January 22 - Board of Education - 7:00 pm @ HS Library
January 24 - End of 20 weeks
January 24 - Dance & Open Gym - 6 - 8:00 pm
January 27 - Staff Development Day – No School 
January 28 - Begin 2nd Semester
January 31 - Report Cards sent home