October Message

PTO Meeting: Our first PTO meeting of the year will take place tomorrow (Wednesday), October 7, at 6:00 p.m. in our library. We thank everyone who has already joined the PTO and contributed to the No Show Fundraiser. The effects of having such a supportive PTO are felt daily here at school. From the Scholastic Book Fair that was held last week to the Staff Appreciation Luncheon in May, we can always count on our families to volunteer and make these events happen! 

Progress Reports: The first progress report of the year will be available for viewing on Schooltool, tomorrow (Oct. 7), after 3:00 p.m. This is the perfect time to log on with your child so that they can monitor their academic progress, set goals and adjust any study habits early in the school year. Progress reports and report cards will no longer be printed. We will send an email notification that grades have been finalized for viewing every five weeks. The dates for viewing progress reports and report cards can be seen here. If you need a Schooltool password please contact Patty Davern at 315-672-3159 or pdavern@westgenesee.org. You may also contact our Guidance Department secretary Nancy Boise at 315-672-8381 or nboise@westgenesee.org. 

Question: What Does the Number Ten Mean You?: 

Answer: 10 means the number of books every student should read outside of school.  Why 10? Well, the generally accepted rule of thumb is 20 books per year – for every student – every year. And that’s the minimum. If we read the equivalent of 10 books per year in school then that leaves the other 10 books for reading outside of school.  

A great way to help our children is to create a literature rich household. Sometimes the biggest obstacle to this is just finding some book titles that interest the young adult reader. Look here for some really good suggestions on books to include in your home library. Ten books in a school year…let’s do it!

We Celebrate Learning!

Beth

blozier@westgenesee.org

Follow us on Twitter @camillusmiddle

Welcome Back!

The opening of the 2015-16 school year is right around the corner, and our students are returning to a more beautiful and efficient school due to the completion of the Capital Improvement Project. The shovels were in the ground (literally) as the busses were leaving the loop on the last day of school in June. I can’t wait for you to see the culmination of the project. On behalf of all of us here at CMS I want to thank the community for your support.

Please welcome the newest members of the CMS faculty: 
Kelly Boswell – Home and Careers
Corrine Costello – Art
Linda Crossett – Teaching Assistant
Amanda Cizenski – Physical Education
Molly Eide – Grade 8 Mathematics
Bill Hanning – Art
Jeanette Lannie – Teaching Assistant/Technology
Mike McCarthy – Grade 8 Social Studies
Kate Perkins – Teaching Assistant
Katie Riley – English
Diane Zarzecki – French

With the smaller student enrollment this year we have one teaching team at each grade level. Students will bring their daily schedules home on the first day of school.

CMS PTO

The reach of our PTO is felt each and every day here at CMS due to their strong support of so many vital programs. From the Book Fair in September to the scholarships for two seniors awarded each June (and the many activities during the months in between) our building is always bustling with something fun for our students. 

We would greatly appreciate your support by becoming a member for $10 per family and/or providing additional support through our No Show Fundraiser. Just click here for the CMS PTO web page where we will be putting the link to print the No  Show Fundraiser forms for you to send in with your child or mail them directly to school at 5525 Ike Dixon Road, Camillus, NY 13031. Mark your calendars now for the first meeting on October 7 at 6:00 pm in the CMS Library. 

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

With the back-to-school season in full swing you might be purchasing items that have the Box Top seals. Look here for the list of participating products. We benefit greatly each year from the redemption of these seals. Just clip them and send them to school with your child.

Beth

Summer Reading?

I am sure by now all our students have completed reading one book from the summer reading list. But what would really make me happy is if all our students read every book on the list and then some! I honestly don’t think it is too much to ask; daily reading of all kinds of literature should be the norm.

The most important skill that students can acquire is the ability to read critically and for meaning. If we (school and home) want to develop students who are truly college, career and civic ready, then daily reading MUST become a habit; it isn’t an option and schools can’t do it alone!

Fifteen years into the 21st century has produced the first generation of children who are Digital Natives. Our students have more information at the swipe of a finger or the click of the mouse – a positive change – but only if they can navigate through all that text and use it to become more engaged in the world around them. Critical and meaningful reading skills matters more today than they ever have in the past.

Summer reading? It’s just not enough. Here at school we are making some changes to our expectations to create the space for more reading each day. At every grade level the homework in the English department will consist of 20 minutes of reading. The book should be selected by each student – anything they find of interest.

It needs to be scheduled much like dance class, football practice, piano and everything else our active kids are involved with! At the middle level we are challenging each student to read 10 books over the course of the school year. There are no prizes or ribbons. The reward is being a more informed and literate citizen. Students who have a daily study hall will be asked to read if they have finished their homework. We will have classroom libraries available and are working on getting e-readers for access to national magazines and newspapers.

Parents and guardians often ask how they can help at home. Here are some suggestions:

Let your child know what you are reading. It could be something work related or for pleasure. Discuss the main idea or something interesting related to the text. The Common Core Learning Standards even suggests texts such as manuals, legal documents and financial information.

Get a daily newspaper. It is sad fact that our local paper is no longer available on our doorsteps each morning – a fate that has plagued many small town papers. The New York Times is available for daily delivery and a subscription includes digital access as well. Most of the articles are well within the reading level of middle level students. And talk about high interest…just last week there was a big article on the video game industry and a synopsis of the new fall television season.

Is your child interested in sports? The human interest articles in the Sunday edition are excellent. Have a budding scientist? The Science Times section on Tuesdays includes both long and short articles on a whole variety of topics. Pick up a copy the next time you are grocery shopping…you won’t be disappointed.

Get a library card and head on down to one of our local branches. Talk to one of the librarians who are simply the best resources for what book is hot in the young adult genre. They can also make suggestions for book titles that pique your child’s interests. Look here for some excellent resources from Maxwell Library.

Ask questions about what your child is reading. Open ended prompts like: What did that remind you of? Or What was the best part so far? can help get the discussion started.

All of us here at CMS look forward to seeing your children back here next week. And you can be sure we’ll be asking about their summer reading!

We Celebrate Learning!
Beth

June Principal's Message

Dear CMS Families, 

This beautiful heart formation was taken on the back field at CMS two weeks ago. With nothing more than a chalk outline sketched on the grass, our students filled in the shape in less than 3 minutes. It sure was a sight to see and will serve as a reminder of our new school moto; “True blue Wildcats have a heart of gold!” 

Before we know it the last day of school will be upon us, but we aren’t winding down at all! We still have a whole host of activities planned before we say good bye to the 2014-15 school year. Please note the important dates below:

• June 3rd  - 7th/8th grade Band, Orchestra, Chorus Concert 7:00 p.m. @ CMS
• June 16th – Check Point A Examination for grade 8 students taking      French/Spanish  Exam begins at 7:45 a.m. – please arrive to school on time
• June 16th  - 6th grade Brand, Orchestra, Chorus Concert – 7:00 p.m. @ CMS
• June 17th – Common Core Algebra Regents – Grade 8 Algebra students only
• June 17th-18th – Grade 7 French/Spanish Final Examination
• June 22nd – Social Studies Final – Grades 6-8-10:10 a.m. dismissal 
• June 23rd – Science Final – Grade 6 Only – Grade 7/8 attend for science workshop - 10:10 a.m. dismissal
• June 24th – Last day of school for all students – 10:10 a.m. dismissal 
• June 24th – Celebration Dance for Grade 8 students only- 6:00-8:00 p.m.@ CMS

Final report cards will be mailed home on July 3rd.  Our annual Locker Day will be on August 19th from 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions. I wish you all a wonderful summer! 

We Celebrate Learning!

Beth