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CMS 3rd Quarter Newsletter

Carson Middle School

300 Hillvue Lane Pittsburgh, PA 15237

April 19, 2017

Dear Parents/Guardians of Carson Middle School,

It is hard to believe we are in the last quarter of the year! It seems like yesterday we were preparing for the start of the 2016-2017 school year! We are now in the final quarter, and spring is officially here. Over the past nine-weeks,

students at Carson continued to be engaged throughout the entire third grading quarter with learning activities and

involved with a variety of social clubs and organizations as well as community service projects. We are excited to provide this information to you as we have recently completed the third quarter of school. We will continue to provide

all Carson families with a quarterly update for the purpose of enhancing the quality of school-home communication. From a broader school perspective, this information helps provide a context for considering your own child’s progress.

Carson Middle School – Third Quarter Data

THIRD QUARTER G.P.A. DATA FOR 2016-2017 (Jan. 30, 2017 – March 30, 2017) Grade Point Average 4.0 – 3.5 3.49 – 3.0 2.99 – 2.5 2.49 – 2.0 1.99-below*

8th Grade 144 48 12 8 3

7th Grade 186 35 16 9 1

6th Grade 170 37 16 4 4

Total 500 120 44 21 8

* A GPA at 1.99 or below represents a student who is averaging below “C” level work.

Attendance Attendance is also utilized as an indicator of school success and student attitude toward school. We believe that

regular and punctual student attendance is critical to the teaching and learning process. A breakdown of attendance

figures by grade level is listed in the next table. We monitor absences and the impact of late arrivals to school. We ask your support in continuing to encourage daily attendance and to limit the requests for vacations during the school

year. In the event that a vacation or educational leave is required, please abide by the procedures listed in the CMS Student/Parent Handbook, located on the CMS website.

THIRD QUARTER ATTENDANCE DATA FOR 2016-2017 (Jan. 30, 2017 - March 30, 2017) Attendance Data *Average

Absences Per Day

*Average

Tardies Per Day

Perfect Attendance 9/1/16 through 3/30/17

8th Grade *9 *4 31 students

7th Grade *9 *3 26 students

6th Grade *10 *3 28 students

Average/Total *28 *10 85 students

*Figures rounded to the nearest whole number.

North Allegheny School District

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Discipline As a component of the North Allegheny School District Mission Statement, one of our District goals is to help students learn the skills necessary to become responsible citizens. We utilize several different methods to accomplish this task.

First, we try to establish a positive learning environment in school to promote responsible decision-making. We

communicate our expectations to students and even involve student groups in spreading this message. The historic comparison provides perspective for the positive choices being made each day.

DISCIPLINE DATA THROUGH THE THIRD QUARTER 2016-2017 (Sept. 1, 2016 – Mar. 30, 2017) Discipline

Data*

2016-17 2015-16 2014-15 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010/11

Total *78 (20) *59 (20) *54 (41) *43 (19) *57 (26) *93 (34) *74 (14)

*Displayed as the Number of Detentions (Number of Suspensions)

CMS NEWS and INFORMATION

*IMPORTANT VACCINATION INFORMATION FOR ALL CMS PARENTS*

The state of Pennsylvania has issued a new regulation concerning the polio vaccine. The new rule states ALL

students must have 4 doses of polio vaccine with the fourth (4th) dose on or after the fourth (4th) birthday and at

least six (6) months after the previous dose has been given. If students do not comply with either the immunization or signed exemption, they will be excluded from school.

Letters are being sent home to parents regarding the need for the immunization, but we wanted to make you aware in

case you have any questions. Should you have any questions regarding the new regulation, please contact the CMS School Nurse, Mrs. Vrotney, at (412) 369-5420 or by emailing her at lvrotney@northallegheny.org.

*ATTENTION PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF CURRENT 6TH GRADERS*

The information below pertains to health requirements necessary to begin 7th grade. Students are required to have a dental exam, one dose of Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) and one dose Meningitis vaccine (MCV).

It is required that students who will be starting 7th grade in the 2017-2018 school year have their updated

immunizations completed and documentation submitted to the school prior to the start of the school year. You must provide the acceptable documentation to Carson Middle School’s Health Office before your child begins the 2017-

2018 school year. Students who will be starting 7th grade will not be permitted to begin the school year without of the following immunizations:

1 dose Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) -AND - 1 dose Meningitis vaccine (MCV)

Acceptable documentation includes either:

The child's immunization record from the Primary Care Provider; A written statement from the former school district or from a medical office that the required immunizations

have been administered, or that a required series is in progress.

If you have any questions regarding immunizations, please contact the Carson Middle School Nurse at 412-369-5420

or contact Mrs. Vrotney at lvrotney@northallegheny.org.

Information on Required Dental Exams

Additionally, the Pennsylvania School Health Law requires that all students entering 7th grade receive a dental examination. In an effort to afford you time to meet this requirement before your child starts 7th grade, the North

Allegheny School District is providing you this communication to alert you to the need for this exam. The exam can be dated anytime during the twelve months prior to the start of the mandated exam school year. Since the 2017-2018 school year begins on August 31, 2017, the dental exam can be dated any time after August 31, 2016.

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Dental Exam Information Continued

Click here to print the dental form. Here are a few tips to remember:

Take the form with you to the dentist’s office. If you forget the form, there is typically an additional charge to

have it completed at a different time.

You should return the dental form to school as soon as it is completed. During the summer, you can mail it to

Carson Middle School to the attention of the school nurse, Mrs. Leslie Vrotney.

Additionally, please reference the email you received previously from the NA District for more information,

including the electronic signature form.

*CMS STUDENTS STAY INVOLVED DURING THE 3rd QUARTER*

CMS 2017 SPELLING BEE Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 were given the opportunity to sign up for the 2017

CMS Spelling Bee. On February 1st, the first round of the competition took place

where students completed a twenty-four word, multiple-choice spelling pretest. It included words such as “oddity” and “emoji” which required students to put their

spelling skills to the test.

The top twenty-two participants of round one were selected to take

part in the final round, school-wide CMS 2016-2017 Spelling Bee! Students spelled words orally in front of family members, parents, students, and staff members. With

each passing round, the level of difficulty increased. After a vigorous nineteen rounds, the 2017 CMS Spelling Bee winner was declared!

The 2016-17 CMS Spelling Bee Champion was 8th grader, Sofia B.! Congratulations to Sofia for her

second year in winning the CMS School Bee competition with the winning word “detestable.” The

2016-2017 CMS Spelling Bee runner-up was 6th grader, Raj G. who also did an outstanding job throughout the competition! Congratulations to all who participated in the CMS Spelling Bee!

VICTORIOUS CMS STUDENTS The CMS MATHCOUNTS Team had a great showing on February 11, 2017! The MATHCOUNTS Competition is sponsored by the MATHCOUNTS Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that provides engaging math programs

to U.S. middle school students of all ability levels in order to build confidence and improve attitudes towards math and problem solving.

We are proud to share with you that the CMS team finished in 4th place overall in the

competition which included 20 other middle schools in the region! Way to go CMS!

The overall individual winner of the entire tournament was a Carson

Middle School 7th Grade Student, Alan Chen. Congratulations to Alan! Since he won the overall Pittsburgh regional competition, he was invited

to represent the region in the state competition in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. At the state competition on March 11, 2017, Alan placed

third and earned a spot on the four-person Pennsylvania Team. This team will be traveling to Orlando,

Florida for the National Competition. Alan also attained a perfect score on the AMC-8 Contest, which is used to screen students for possible future involvement in national and international math enrichment

and competition. Best of luck to Alan as he travels to Florida to represent CMS and Pennsylvania!

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NEW RECORD FOR CMS STUDENTS ENTERING DIVERSITY CONTEST & TWO CMS STUDENTS WIN!

Two Carson Middle School students were winners at this year’s district-wide Diversity Expression Contest. The Diversity Expression Contest, sponsored by the Dr. Marcia Martin Unity/Diversity Committee, welcomed 546 entries

from all schools in the District. The contest theme was: “The more we respect

and understand one another, a better world it will be.” The students submitted entries into two categories: Fine Arts Design and Writing Design.

All students who entered the contest were recognized as winners in that they

expressed through fine arts or writing the importance of recognizing diversity in their lives. Winning entries from the 2016-2017 contest were part of a traveling

display which allowed the winning entries to be proudly displayed at each of the

twelve schools within the North Allegheny School District.

We are very proud of CMS students Drew Lopuszynski and Laura Vinski, two of the middle school contest winners. Drew’s entry in the Fine Arts

Design category was selected as the winner of this category for the middle school level. His entry was a multi-media project titled, Diversity is a Gift. Laura’s entry in the Writing Design was selected as the winner

of this category for the middle school level. Her entry was a poem and drawing titled, Diversity with Joy. Great work Drew and Laura! Also,

congratulations to CMS students Sofia Brickner, Anna Liu, Eleanor Park, and Karis Lu who earned an honorable mention for the diversity

contest. We are proud of all CMS students who entered this year’s contest!

“LIVE FROM CARSON, IT’S SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE”-- THE 2017 CMS TALENT SHOW

The students at Carson Middle School were entertained and delighted at the annual Carson Middle School Talent

Show. The “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE” themed show had family members, students and staff members laughing and cheering along with the acts as they showcased their amazing talent on February 16 & 17, 2017!

Twenty-one amazing acts dazzled the student body and staff members with dancing, singing, music, and poetry. From

twirling batons to piano; from Broadway to jazz performances - the variety of talent kept everyone guessing as to what act would go “LIVE” next. Additionally, the three

emcees had the audience in stitches with their jokes and commercial breaks. The

CMS Talent Show came together seamlessly due to the hard work from Carson’s Stage Crew and Art Crew members!

The CMS Talent Show was led entirely by students under the direction of Mrs. Dumpe, Ms. Kearney, and Mr. Woten. The students ran the lights, pulled the curtains, made sure the

music was perfect and that our talent had the right instruments

when they needed them. With the support of everyone involved, it was another fantastic talent show for Carson Middle

School! It is amazing to see all of the incredibly talented students share their talents with everyone at CMS! Thank you to the CMS students, staff members and parents for making this a show CMS will never forget!

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8TH GRADE GIRLS GO GOLD AT THE “GIRLS ONLY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT” EVENT!

On Friday, February 24, 2017, the 8th grade girls from all 3 middle schools had an outstanding time at their G.O.L.D. event. This is an annual event in the North Allegheny School District that is offered exclusively to 8th grade

girls. G.O.L.D. stands for Girls Only Leadership Development program. The program is designed to help girls gain

the leadership skills needed to succeed in high school and beyond. The 8th grade girls were excited to venture over to NAI for this great event! Dressed in their group’s designated color, the 8th grade girls began the evening at NAI by

meeting their high school group leaders and engaging in a few ice-breakers. Next, the girls headed to the NAI auditorium to hear a panel discussion surrounding the theme for the evening, Girl Bosses.

For the panel discussion, Elena LaQuatra (Miss Pennsylvania 2016), Kelly Brennan (reporter for WTAE) and Alison

Mears (co-owner of Steel Revolution) discussed their own personal journeys to becoming leaders in their fields. Then all 244 8th grade girls performed a group cheer/dance. After this entertaining portion of the evening, the girls then

rotated through four different breakout sessions and enjoyed a meal together. The breakout sessions included a small group discussion with Ms. LaQuatra and Ms. Mears regarding body image, a talk about avoiding the pitfalls of

addiction, and a session on internet safety. Another session enjoyed by all of the girls included each group exploring

their soon-to-be new high school by participating in a scavenger hunt throughout NAI. Additionally, one of the breakout sessions had the girls working together as a team while problem solving to solve various clues and open their

own group’s “breakout box.” Bonding time with their high school facilitators allowed the girls an opportunity to reflect on the powerful messages they heard and enhance their confidence. The evening ended with a high energy dance

with their new friends!

This program also eases the transition into high school, because the participants form relationships with 8th grade girls

from the other middle schools. It was a great event and a great experience for all those attended!

BOY’S NIGHT OUT – 7th & 8th GRADE BOYS EVENT IS A SUCCESS! On February 10th, the three middle schools held the first annual Boys Night Out event at NAI from 3:00 p.m. to 7:45

p.m. This special opportunity was open to all 7th and 8th grade boys from CMS, IMS and MMS. The night was filled with activities that supported students’ growth and well-being.

All the middle school boys who attended this great event participated in team

building activities, heard powerful and educational messages about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, learned about digital citizenship and leaving a positive digital

footprint. Additionally, they had the opportunity to become more familiar with NAI through a scavenger hunt that led them throughout the building to find clues and

solve a puzzle.

After consuming a large amount of pizza, the students’ night was capped off by hearing a truly powerful and motivational

message from Mr. Eric McElvenny, a former Marine. Mr. McElvenny talked with the

students about overcoming adversity, setting goals, and having a positive impact on those you encounter. He kindly took questions from students for more than 20

minutes after his presentation. This special event truly benefited the 140 students who attended.

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FORENSIC SCIENCE IN THE REAL WORLD: FORENSIC SCIENTIST VISITS CMS 7TH GRADERS In February, a local forensic scientist, Stephanie Nickolas, from the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner,

visited CMS to meet with the 7th grade students to discuss the reality of forensic

science. She presented fact vs. fiction when it comes to forensic science in the real world the students as compared to what they may see on television or in the

movies. She explained that television shows, like CSI, NCIS, Bones, etc. rarely depict

real forensic science. Ms. Nickolas explained the role of processing evidence in solving crimes including the analysis of latent prints, serology, and DNA.

Students were able to recognize how every person is unique and how the biological

evidence he/she leave behind plays a significant role in his/her arrest. Students formulated interesting questions for an engaging discussion with Ms. Nickolas after she

presented. It was a great experience for the CMS 7th graders to see and understand how science they learn about in school is used and applied in the real-world. A special

thank you to Ms. Nickolas for taking the time to speak with the students at Carson!

LOCAL AUTHORS VISIT CMS 6th GRADE STUDENTS What an exciting day for the 6th graders at CMS when they had the opportunity to meet and speak with two local

authors who have written and published a novel! The authors of

Aschwood Academy visited the Carson sixth graders on Monday, February

20, 2017. Mr. Brandon Gaus and Mr. Matthew Irvin (a.k.a. M.B. Cohen) shared their inspirational journey about how they created and published

their first fantasy novel. Students participated in a mind-mapping activity similar to what M.B. Cohen does when writing his novel. The sixth graders

also had the opportunity to ask the authors questions about the

illustrations on the front cover, a beta reader, and how much money they make from each book!

Many of the students are excited about reading this novel after having the opportunity to meet the authors, and learn

about the novel writing process. The students were intrigued by the multiple story lines in this exciting fantasy

novel. The Carson Middle School Library has three copies of the Aschwood Academy novel in circulation so students can read this thrilling fantasy novel!

7th GRADE GOLDEN TIGERS STUDY AND LEARN ABOUT DIVERSITY

The 7th grade Golden Tigers have been very busy during their team days this year. Each

month, the team allocates one day to provide additional English Language Arts and math skills practice in the morning. In addition,

afternoon time is utilized for a variety of team events where students work together on various projects and activities.

This year, the Golden Tigers worked together to learn about different

cultures and to create unique and creative projects. In preparation for the celebration of Chinese New Year, the 7th grade Golden

Tigers team created lanterns to decorate the team hallway. Students

explored various Chinese symbols to create the sides of the lanterns

Another team activity focused on Black History Month. To celebrate this special time, students from the Golden Tigers explored social issues present during the Civil Rights

Movement. They examined the lives of various victims of the movement in the documentary A Time for Justice. Then, working in small groups, students collaborated to

create tributes memorializing their stories. The team also examined the nine values that

Jackie Robinson displayed to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball, as well as, completed a Text Dependent Analysis graphic organizer with the article “I Am Still the

Greatest” by Muhammad Ali. A final event included reading and discussing poems by Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes.

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NEW TECHNOLOGY COMES TO CMS & THE 6th GRADERS USE SPHEROS During a team day, the Tiger Pride team used Spheros to learn a variety of skills and engage with their peers. Spheros are robotic gaming devices in the shape of a ball. The students

control the Sphero by programming their iPads. The Tiger Pride team programmed the Spheros to follow coordinates on a plane. The activity promoted teamwork and problem

solving and the 6th grade Tiger Pride team had a lot of fun working with their teammates!

Also, during the March in-service day, all of the teachers learned how to use Spheros in their classes and we have seen them being used in science, social studies, and math classes this

month. CMS students are excited to use new technology to make learning fun!

CMS STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLASTIC ART AND WRITING AWARDS

Congratulations to six Carson Middle School students who recently received honors through the 2017 Pittsburgh Region Scholastic Art and Writing Awards! The exhibition was on display at La Roche College from February 3rd –

19th. Twenty-six local schools and art centers entered the exhibition and over 1,900 artworks were submitted to the

competition!

Of the artworks submitted to the competition by CMS seventh and eighth grade students, one piece of artwork

was awarded a Gold Key, one received a Silver Key, and four were awarded an Honorable Mention. Artworks that are

recognized are selected by a panel of artists, art educators, and art professionals from the Pittsburgh Region. All Gold Key awarded artwork will move on to be further

adjudicated by a national art panel of jurors. This is a remarkable achievement for all of these students!

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards carries a notable legacy dating back to 1923,

with past winners including famous writers and artists like Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, and Philip Pearlstein. Again, a big congratulations to our CMS

participants and winners!

CARSON T.E.A.M-U.P. UPDATE (Olweus Bully Prevention Program at CMS) T.E.A.M.-U.P. (Talking, Educating, Accepting & Making Us Powerful) meetings continued to take place during the

third nine-weeks at CMS. The topics during the third nine-weeks included: Popularity/Cliques

Including Others/Excluding Some “It’s OK Not to be Friends”; Social Media “There’s No Such Thing as Delete”; Responsibility and Integrity “To Cheat or Not to Cheat, That is the

Question”; Peer Pressure; and “Spread the Word to End the Word”. CMS teachers worked

collaboratively to design meeting agendas and activities that encouraged students to appreciate others, promoted value respect amongst their peers, and taught the importance of

taking responsibility in their lives. As a result of the T.E.A.M.-U.P. meetings, students have been more respectful of each other and their learning environment.

GRAB-N-GO BREAKFAST EVENT AT CMS Did you know CMS has a delicious breakfast available every day for any Carson student to enjoy? During the third

quarter, all CMS students had the opportunity to grab a free sample of some of the tasty breakfast items available each morning in the Carson Cafeteria. The CMS Café serves breakfast daily from 7:50-8:20 a.m. Hot and cold

breakfasts are available for only $1.25. Delicious a la carte items are also available to all students. Studies indicate improved nutrition and physical activity have positive effects on student behavior

in addition to academic performance and improved attendance. Items served in the CMS Café

include: assortment of cereals, cereal bars, plain bagels, fresh fruits, fruit juices, and milks. Also available upon request are bacon-egg-cheese sandwiches, sausage-egg-cheese wraps, and yogurt

parfaits. In addition to meal options, there are also a la carte options available. Fun Fact: all of the grain offerings served during breakfast and lunch are now whole grain! Please encourage your

child to stop down to start his/her day right by enjoying a delicious breakfast!

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COMMUNITY SERVICE - A FOCUS AT CMS

The students and staff members at Carson follow the leadership of Student Council members by getting involved with

various local community service projects. As you read through the various charitable causes CMS is supporting, you may want to help us out, too! We would appreciate any support you may have to offer!

STUDENTS DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY & SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD CANCER

On March 11, 2017, all North Allegheny students and parents and teachers and community members were invited to attend NA Tiger-Thon Dance and Fundraiser to help with fight against childhood cancer. CMS students and teachers

were there to support this charitable event and to have some fun too! The NA Tiger-THON

was a mini-dance-marathon with activities and games for all ages. From Zumba to hair wraps, to balloon animals, to face painting, and dancing – there was something for

EVERYONE!

Students and teachers from Carson Middle School attended this fun-filled event which raised over $33,400! Of the funds raised during this

student organized six-hour dance marathon, 85% benefits the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh,

the largest, most comprehensive childhood cancer and blood disease center in the

region that diagnoses and treats children and adolescents with all forms of cancer and blood disorders. The remaining 15% will go to the Pennies from Heaven Fund,

which provides financial support to families whose children are being treated at Children’s Hospital. The Pennies from Heaven Fund aims to keep families together

when they need it most by assisting with transportation, food, sibling care, and other

expenses. Thank you for your support of the NA Tiger-Thon!

CMS HELPS LOCAL FOOD BANK IN “OFF SEASON” The CMS “Have a Heart, Fill A Cart” food drive was a huge

success! In February, 30 CMS homerooms stuffed baskets and

bags with food items and toiletries, which were all donated to the North Hills Community Outreach. Thank you to everyone who

helped make this year’s food drive a success!

CMS SUPPORTS THE FIGHT AGAINST MS CMS students and staff participated in a fundraiser to support the fight against Multiple Sclerosis. Students donated

$1 to wear a hat supporting their favorite team. Teachers donated $5 to wear their favorite team jersey and jeans.

CMS donated over $500 to the MS Society in the “Together As a Team, We Are Strong” fundraiser.

CMS LIBRARY, BETTER THAN EVER!

During the third grading period at CMS, the Carson Library had…

…4,020 books circulated! Looking for a great read? Ms. McNeill suggests The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Regan

Barnhill. This fantasy novel about a girl’s struggle to realize her magical potential won this year’s prestigious Newbery Award. Among CMS readers, it has been a hit! Parvana's Journey by Deborah

Ellis topped the list of most popular titles for this quarter. It’s the second book in The Breadwinner series; the first book is a sixth-grade core novel.

...219 classes scheduled in the library and received 4,261 individual visits from

students. Here are a few highlights: This quarter, it was Mr. Frasca’s turn to have his 8th grade students research what it means to live a life filled

with purpose. Moving beyond a typical biography project, students collected important moments and stories from

the lives of people who were driven to accomplish great things. After research, students were paired to create and

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present a conversation between their two figures. What, for example, will Alexander Hamilton discuss with Malala

Yousafzai?

7th grade students wrapped up research on ancient Egypt in their English classes. The students learned

essential research skills during this project (note-taking, citations, outlines) and the

content connected to what they are learning in social studies. This research paper also prepared them for the research expectations in 8th grade.

The research trend continued with 6th grade Social Studies. Students

created virtual tours for countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. They used country specific eBooks and the

database CultureGrams to research their individual countries. All of the research was conducted using the

iPads. Additionally, using the iPad app Green Screen, students used green screens

in the library to make composite images. They merged a green screen photo with an image of their country to make the introductory slide of their Virtual Tour

presentations.

CMS Library - Busy with Clubs and Activities:

The third meeting of Popcorn & Paperbacks took place Thursday, March 16. Students read and discussed The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket, which is book 1 in A Series of Unfortunate Events. This was a fun choice, as the Netflix series has sent this book series back into the spotlight.

The library is recruiting new library aides. Applications are available on Blackboard

and outside the library. The application process for new library aides includes an application and an interview for interested 6th grade students and students who are

new to Carson. Applications are due April 13.

Page Turners, Chapter Chasers, and Novel Nerds (the CMS Library Book Clubs) are wrapping up their March Madness with a Battle of the Books! Who will be crowned

champion? Find out in the next newsletter! Meanwhile, Novel Nerds held a great debate: Is Snape (from the Harry Potter series) a hero or a villain? Both sides made compelling arguments and gave awesome presentations,

but villain was the verdict.

Follow the CMS Library on Instagram for updates, book recommendations, and more! https://www.instagram.com/carsonmiddleschoollibrary

*IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR CMS STUDENTS & PARENTS*

STUDENT SAFETY- PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO READ

At Carson Middle School, student safety is our main concern. Over the past few weeks, we have increasing concerns for the safety of our students during drop-off each morning. To ensure the safe arrival of each student at

Carson, it is imperative for drop-off and pick-up procedures to be followed each day. Please take a few moments to read and review the safety procedures for parents/guardians who are dropping off and/or picking up their

children at CMS:

Use the west end of the building where Carson Cafeteria/Central Administration parking area is located for

morning drop-off. Do not pull up in front of Carson to drop your child off at school.

The front driveway needs to remain clear of cars at all times so buses can have access to unload students.

At afternoon pick-up, park and wait safely at the west end of the building where the Carson Cafeteria/Central

Administration parking area is located.

Please do not park and wait in front of Carson to pick your child up from school.

The front driveway needs to remain clear of cars so students can cross safely and load the buses.

Thank you for support and cooperation with this safety issue for your children at Carson Middle School. By following

these few procedures, we can help maintain a safe environment for all students!

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HEALTH OFFICE PICK UP PROCEDURES & CELL PHONE USE Students who are not feeling well during the school day are to report to the health office to be checked by the school nurse. The school nursing staff will contact parents in the event that their child is too ill or injured to remain in school.

Recently, students have started to send a text message to their parents stating they are ill and need to be picked up. As a reminder, students are not to text during school. That is a violation of the school rules as outlined in in the CMS Student/Parent Handbook. Parents are to speak with the school nurse prior to coming to school to pick up a sick

child. This will ensure all safety procedures have been followed and documented.

Also, students are not permitted use a cell phone at any time during the instructional day, for any reason and the

phone must be turned off. If your child participates in an after-school activity, they may use the phone to talk with

parents or to arrange a ride, but this should occur after instructional hours and outside of the building. If you would need to contact your child, please call the main office and the message will be delivered to your son/daughter.

SPRING IS HERE & IT IS TIME TO REVIEW THE DRESS CODE As we transition into spring, we would like to take an opportunity to remind parents and students of the dress code policy. We believe appropriate attire for school sets a positive tone for the entire school community and keeps

everyone safe and secure. Please review the dress code guidelines with your child as we enter spring and warmer weather (p.17-18 CMS Student/Parent Handbook) and CLICK HERE for a dress code reminder presentation.

Students who are in violation of the dress code will be required to change clothing. If necessary, their parents will need to supply a change of clothing for students choosing to violate the standards of dress guidelines. If a parent is

unable to provide a change of clothing in a timely manner, clothing will be provided to the student. Additional

consequences may be enforced for multiple offenses. School administrators reserve the right to make final decisions regarding appropriate dress. Thank you for your support and understanding with the dress guidelines for all students.

Upcoming CMS Events for the Fourth Quarter *Mark Your Calendars*

April 25, 26, & 28, 2017 PSSA Math Assessments (Grades 6-7-8) April 27, 2017 5th 6-Weeks rotation ends April 28, 2017 6th 6-Weeks rotation begins & 3rd 12-Weeks Interim Email to all parents May 1-5, 2017 National Teacher Appreciation Week May 1, 2017 NA Middle School Gr. 5 Parent Orientation: 9:30 a.m. @ MMS OR 7:00 p.m. @ IMS May 2 & 3, 2017 PSSA Science Testing (Grade 8 students only) May 5, 2017 4th 9-Weeks Interim ends May 10, 2017 CMS Evening Orchestra Concert – 7:00 p.m. May 16, 2017 Act 80 Day- No school for students May 19, 2017 CMS Parent Coffee – 9:30 a.m. (All parents welcomed!) May 22, 2017 Grade 5 “Move-Up Day” (5th graders from HES and PES visit CMS) May 23, 2017 Grade 5 “Move-Up Day” (5th graders from McK visit CMS) May 24 & 25, 2017 Algebra I Keystone Exam for 8th Graders (and any 6th or 7th grader enrolled in Alg. 1)

May 24, 2017 Kennywood Day In-School Ticket Sales at CMS May 25, 2017 CMS Student Council Officer Elections (Grades 6 & 7) May 25, 2017 CMS Evening Band Concert – 7:00 p.m. May 29, 2017 Memorial Day – No School May 31, 2017 Golden Tigers & Wild Cats Culminating Baseball Unit Activity at PNC Park June 1, 2017 CMS Evening Chorus Concert – 7:00 p.m. June 9, 2017 Fourth Quarter Grading Period & Third 12-Week Rotation Ends for Middle and High Schools June 9, 2017 Students’ “Last Day of School” Celebration (CMS Picnic/Yearbook Signing/Awards Ceremony) June 16, 2017 Fourth Quarter and Third 12-Weeks Report Cards Issued to Parents (via Tyler) June 23, 2017 NASD Kennywood Day August 31, 2017 Students’ First Day of School – 2017/2018 School Year

There are many great things that have taken place at CMS during the third quarter. The students have been busy with their various academic assignments, as well as being involved with clubs and community service events.

Needless to say, we are extremely proud of everyone who helps to make Carson the great school that it is.

Respectfully,

Mrs. Jenkins Mrs. Crimone Principal Assistant Principal