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.