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CJMS Weekly Updates
June 3 to June 7
Ms. Snider's Phone Message (6.2.24)
Good Evening, Cabin John Middle School Families!
This is your Principal, Ms. Snider, with the announcements for the week of June 3 - 7. Congratulations again to families from Wootton and Churchill with students that graduated last Friday. Another congratulations to our Cabin John musicians who showcased their talents at three different concerts this past week! It was such a delight to listen to our choruses, bands, and orchestras. Thank you again to Ms. Nam, Ms. Roberts, and Mr. Loebach for all the work they do with and for our students to develop their talents.
Thursday, June 6 is the last day of the after school activity bus. This Friday, June 7 will be the 8th grade Certificate Celebration at 4:30 PM and Grade 8 Dance from 5:30 - 7:30 PM.
Currently, the 7th grade is collecting permission forms for the Smokey Glen field trip on June 10th. Details are on the website and linked in the digital newsletter.
As we near the end of the school year, we want to give a heads up about the items that will need to be turned in. First, all library books were due this past Friday, May 24th. If you still have any, please turn them in! During the last week of school, we will also allow students time to clean out their lockers. Please encourage them to bring home those materials this week - I still see plenty of winter coats hanging out! Teachers will also be collecting the master locks we use for our lockers. Finally, we are also starting to give students reminders about Chromebooks as well. All students will be turning in their Chromebooks this school year.
All 8th-grade students must return their MCPS/CJMS Chromebooks on Thursday, June 6 to participate in End of Year events, including the dance on June 7 and the Hershey Park trip on June 11. If you already know the Chromebook is lost, please pay for the replacement at MCPS Chromebook Replacement. Once the payment is made, bring the receipt to the Media Center to complete the obligation.
We are winding down the school year and looking forward to the fun activities we have to celebrate. We look forward to welcoming everyone back tomorrow morning into our Cabin John community focused on respect, positive relationships, and resilience.
Have a great evening!
Congratulations to all our CJ Musicians for their amazing performances!
Do you need to see the newsletter in a different language or a larger font?
To adjust your view of the newsletter, click on the "accessibility" button. The button is a circle with figure in it. Once you click the accessibility button, the menu to choose the language or different font size will appear.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
- Thursday, June 6 - Grade 8 Chromebook Collection
- Friday, June 7 - Grade 8 Promotion Certificate and Dance
- Monday, June 10 - 7th Grade Smokey Glen Field Trip
- Tuesday, June 11 - Grade 8 Field Trip
- Tuesday, June 11 - Grade 6 and 7 Chromebooks collected
- Wednesday, June 12 - ACES/Field Day for Grades 6 & 7
- Thursday, June 13 - Last Day of School (Early Release)
*In case of any future Code Purple days, please refer to CJMS Code Purple Webpage and/or Student Code Purple Directions
7th Grade Smokey Glen Field Trip
Monday, June 10 - 7th Grade Field Trip - Please turn in your Permission Slip ASAP
Details and permission form. Permission Slip and Fee Due Date → Due by Friday. May 31, 2024
All 8th-grade students must return their MCPS/CJMS Chromebooks to participate in End of Year events, including the dance on June 7 and the Hershey Park trip on June 11.
Lost Chromebook?
Please pay for the replacement at MCPS Chromebook Replacement.
https://mcpsmd.schoolcashonline.com/
Once the payment is made, bring the receipt to the Media Center to complete the obligation.
Weekly Assignment Summary for June 3 to June 7
CJMS PE Gear and Spirit Wear for 2024-2025
You can now purchase your items online in 3 easy steps:
1. Scan the QR code or go online to https://cabinjohn2024.itemorder.com/
2. Choose your items and add them to your cart
3. Securely checkout with your credit card
Online Store Deadline: Monday, July 22nd, 2024 (11:59pm EDT)
2024 MCPS CyberCamp
Are you ready to learn cyber skills in just a few hours from home? Join us for our Free Week-Long Virtual Summer Cybersecurity Camp. Open to all rising 7th, 8th, and 9th grade MCPS Students. The camp is one week, Monday - Thursday for 3 hours each day. There is a morning option, and an afternoon option, and three different week options.
Enjoy hundreds of resources for the titles in OverDrive's Sora Sweet Reads program, running May 13 - August 26. This K–12 summer reading program includes a collection of 100+ free and simultaneous-use age-appropriate ebooks and audiobooks to be enjoyed in the Sora reading platform.
Looking to play tackle football in the fall? If you're a future Bulldog or Patriot then this is your chance to play for a local team and learn the fundamentals of football so you're ready for high school! Practice begins July 30th and the first game is Saturday, August 24th. All practices will be held at Wootton High School. The team will play in the Carroll County Football League, competing against teams from Damascus, Frederick, Sykesville, and Westminster among others. All games will be played on Saturdays.
Direct inquiries can be made to Mike Kelley, Head Coach at mmakelley2@yahoo.com or 301 524 6150 More details in this flyer.
Old Glory Rugby
Old Glory DC, the DMV’s very own pro rugby team would like to extend a personal invitation and a special discount code on tickets for all educators and students, good for any and all of our final three home matches, including: June 1st (Pride), June 8th (Military Appreciation), and June 29th (Fan Appreciation).
Our home venue is the Maryland SoccerPlex in Montgomery County. All teachers, staff, students, and families in our community are welcome and we hope you enjoy a summer of fun with us! Tickets are available at OldGloryDC.com/tickets. Use code SoccerPlex for $2 off.
Opportunity for Rising Churchill Students
Math Support and Practice Available all Summer through IXL
Parents: If your child is looking to maintain the math skills they've been working to learn all year, all MCPS middle school students will continue to have access to their IXL accounts through mid-August.
All rising 9th graders will be able to continue practicing until MCPS rolls over all student-data to the high schools for the 24-25 school year.
Undo Digital Distractions with Off-Screen Skills
By Christine Elgersma
Senior Editor, Learning Content Strategy
Have you heard of "dual screening"? 💻📱Even if you haven't, you've likely seen it in some form: It can either be people using more than one device at a time (like watching a TV show and texting at the same time) or splitting your screen to watch two videos at once (like a movie clip on one side and a slime-making demo on the other). For those of us who grew up with only six channels and a rabbit ear antenna, it's disconcerting. For some kids today, it's normal.
In addition to attention spans, we're also worried about digital drama, spotting misinformation, and our collective well-being—not only for kids, but also ourselves. Devices can definitely become a pacifier of sorts, easy to pick up when anxious, bored, or even angry. You see the impact of tech-induced overstimulation in your classrooms. How can you get kids to read carefully, think critically , and listen actively when they're used to scrolling 10-second videos in quick succession?
I hate to say it, but there are no easy answers. Social media will still be here tomorrow, and the education system as we know it isn't going to adapt overnight. So what can we do right now? Since kids are mostly unwitting guinea pigs in this cellphone social experiment, it's up to adults to help them consciously cultivate the "soft" skills that can be weakened by constant stimulation.
Don't get me wrong: There are teens who are indeed aware of tech's potential impacts, and we don't want to lean too far into the "good ol' days" mentality. That said, there's no harm in highlighting the clear benefits of slowing down, getting quiet, and being fully present. 🧘🏽
So in addition to teaching kids how to be good digital citizens online, we can also encourage the offline skills that help kids be present, practice in-person communication, and reflect on their digital experiences.
Our article "Offline Digital Citizenship: Soft Skills to Support Strong Online Habits" is a great place to start for resources and activity ideas. Here are a few:
As discussed in a recent newsletter, the Positive Tech Habits activity can be a really powerful co-learning experience when we approach it honestly, together. When we're mindful about our habits and how they affect us, we can pause and perhaps make different choices.
Though originally designed for families, this activity helps kids examine the differences between in-person and online communication. Consciously cultivating face-to-face interactions—with explicit instruction when necessary—can boost SEL skills, open discussions about how to defuse digital drama, and call out the clear benefits of IRL interactions.
Because many topics are polarizing—and digital media makes us dig in even further—it's important to help kids build skills for civil discussions. It's easy to repeat what we saw online; it's harder to truly listen and attempt to find some kind of common ground.
At the risk of repeating myself: I know you already have tons to do, and a long list of expectations to meet, with often impossible limitations. We also know that between devices and the pandemic, today's kids truly might need very explicit instruction about these soft skills. If there's a way to build little bits into what you're doing, your students will likely benefit.
Pre-register for Summer Reading Challenge 2024 today! We are partnering with the Montgomery Parks Foundation this year to help preserve our history, increase accessibility, and keep our parks beautiful.
Cabin John Receives 2024 Maryland Green School Award
Cabin John has been recognized as a Maryland Green School! The Maryland Green School award represents a school-wide commitment to environmental literacy that includes staff, students, and the community. Your efforts make a difference today and in the future! We recognize the green efforts your school has worked to achieve, and we commend this significant accomplishment.
Each Maryland Green School is part of a national and international community working to create a more sustainable future. Each year your students develop a greater understanding of their local environment and use their voice and leadership skills to encourage others to recycle and compost, plant vegetables and native plants, using refillable water bottles to reduce plastic waste, and be more mindful of simple steps like turning off unnecessary lights.
There are 655 Maryland Green Schools which represent 34% of all schools in the state. The Maryland Green Schools Act of 2019 provides funds to grow the number of Green Schools in Maryland by 50% by June 2029. We continue to need your help and support to achieve this goal! CJMS will be recognized in person on Thursday, May 30 during the Maryland Green Schools Youth Summit at Sandy Point State Park.
Churchill & Wootton Summer Programs for Incoming 9th Graders
Both Churchill HS and Wootton HS are offering summer programs to prepare their incoming 9th graders for High School. Please click below to learn more about their respective programs.
High School Summer Programs
Preparing Students for a Pathway to College, Career & Community Readiness
Watch the latest episode of To the Point to learn about a guide to help families, students and teachers work together to ensure student success. The Pathway to College, Career and Community Readiness helps identify students’ strengths and areas of improvement to ensure each student receives the support they need. The Pathway has a series of milestones and core competencies that students should meet by certain grade levels.
Student PSA on Bullying, Harassment, and Hate Bias
A group of MCPS students have come together to spread awareness about the impact of bullying, harassment and hate-bias. This student-led video campaign is part of the ongoing work to address and help educate their peers and the school community. Read more.
Attendance Matters: Helping You Get Your Student to School Everyday
MCPS remains committed to working closely with families to support student attendance. During the fourth quarter, MCPS will pilot attendance messages through the Remind app to help families make every effort to send their child(ren) to school every day.
A message through Remind will be automatically sent when a student is absent for three, five and 10 days during the quarter. The messages are designed to be informative, culturally competent, empathetic and supportive. A student is considered chronically absent if they are absent 10 percent or more of the days they are enrolled.
Remember, school staff are always available to help remove any barriers to your children’s attendance.
Not Returning to CJMS or Feeder High School for the 2024-2025 School Year?
If your child(ren) will not be returning to CJMS or will not be attending one of our feeder high schools for the 2024-2025 school year, contact Mrs. Hardy, Counseling Secretary & Registrar, Tamara_A_Hardy@mcpsmd.org with the next year’s school’s name and address, your child’s full name, MCPS student ID number, current grade level, and a forwarding address.
Or you may complete and submit these two forms directly to Mrs. Hardy: Verification of Enrollment and Withdrawal Information Form.
This is important planning for class schedules for the upcoming school year. Thank you for your assistance.
MCPS Community Message Sent About Safety and Discipline
Following spring break, the Dr. Felder, our interim superintendent sent a countywide message confirming its commitment to the MCPS Student Code of Conduct as a vital tool to ensure safety and security in the district.
Operationally, the MCPS Student Code of Conduct identifies a full range of prohibited behaviors. It outlines progressive consequences rooted in behavior intervention that should be rehabilitative, restorative, educational and administered fairly. The MCPS Student Code of Conduct, it is an essential tool for maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment and takes a comprehensive approach to achieving this goal.
Kids Ride Free
Get your card now at any MCPS middle or high school location or any Montgomery County Public library.
Learn more at http://ow.ly/sagl50JOBsh.
Remind is a messaging platform that will be used to communicate among MCPS schools, teachers, students and parents. School staff, central office staff, students and parents will all have Remind accounts to enable them to send and/or receive messages using a preferred mode of communication, such as text message, email or phone call and in their preferred language.
Parents will receive a text message or email notification from the teacher(s). Parents can log into their Remind account via the web or using the Remind app. Get the Remind app here.
How to Find Mental Health Resources and Supports in MCPS
You can easily find valuable district information and community resources for students, staff, and families on the MCPS homepage and at the top of every school website. MCPS is committed to the physical, social, and psychological well-being of its more than 160,000 students and over 24,000 employees.
Special Education Family Support Center
MCPS Special Education News:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063543524256. Our Facebook handle/account is: MCPS Special Education.
Twitter handle/account: @MCPSMDSpecialEd
YouTube MCPS Special Education: https://www.youtube.com/@MCPSMDSpecialEd.
Our channel provides content through videos uploaded monthly from our Special Education Community and Citizens Advisory Committee meetings and other live events.Montgomery County Public Schools: Special Education Community Information page.
Tech Support for ParentVue
Cougar Planners
Additional information on the MCPS middle school program is available here.
Cell Phone Policy
Cell phones may not be used at school during the instructional day (8:15AM – 3:00PM). Cell phones, and electronic devices, including earbuds and headphones, must be turned off and stored in students’ lockers during the school day.
Students may use their cell phones before 8:15AM and after 3:00PM. Emergency calls may be made in the main office.
Student Backpacks in Lockers
Students are also welcome to use their Chromebook carrying case throughout the day, but will not be allowed to have their backpacks, or large purses that serve as backpacks, with them throughout the day.
Please Join our CJMS PTSA!
Check out the letter from our PTSA President, Ms. Yen Wang!
Please be sure to become a member of this important organization. Our PTSA is funded primarily through our memberships and donations.
Membership Information:
- Family Memberships (2 parents) are $50
- Student and Faculty Memberships are $10
- General donations are welcomed.
Ways to join the CJMS PTSA:
**Preferred Method** AtoZConnect (payment can be made with any credit card) @ https://cabinjohnptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/
Mail in an application (send in your membership form with a check;
mail to Cabin John MSPTSA, Attn: Treasurer, 10701 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, MD 20854)
Questions? Send an email to PTSA Membership.
Our first meeting was at the start of Back to School Night on August 30th. Please stay tuned for upcoming dates to hear more about how we can all support our CJMS school community!
Wootton Cluster Community Outreach Program
The Community Outreach Program runs throughout the school year and is designed to assist any student in emergency need with essential items when other resources are not readily available. Students must attend one of the nine Wootton cluster schools, and they are typically on the Montgomery County Public School’s FARMS Program.
How does this program work?
- School’s guidance counselor or PPW will identify a student that is in need of essential item(s).
- Once identified, contact Jen Eisenfeld, Wootton HS PTSA Community Outreach Liaison, with the needed item(s). Ptsa_community_liaison@tswoottonhs.org or jjeisenfeld@verizon.net.
- Examples of items given in the past ranged from a new pair of shoes, coat, clothing, school supplies, or grocery store gift card – anything a child is in immediate need of to help ensure school success.
Jen will contact donating families, have the item(s) purchased, then contact the guidance counselor letting them know the items are purchased, and arrange to have the item(s)
What can I do?
1. Email List: Parents interested in being notified when a child is in need should contact Jen Eisenfeld at ptsa_community_liaison@tswoottonhs.org.
2. Donate: Gift cards to Target, Amazon, Giant, and Safeway are a great way to support your families. If you are interested in donating a gift card, contact Nikki Bossert at ptsa_treasurer@tswoottonhs.org.
3. Share: Please share this information with families and anyone you know can help or help to spread the word.
Cluster schools, which feed into Wootton High School, include:
Lakewood ES, Fallsmead ES, Travilah ES, DuFief ES, Robert Frost MS, Stone Mill ES, Cold Springs ES, and Cabin John MS shared with Churchill cluster.
Community Messages from MCPS
Read all the MCPS Community Messages in multiple languages here.
Cafeteria News & Secondary School Meals Information
Starting on the first day of school, full breakfasts will cost $1.30, full lunches will cost $2.80, and various ala carte items will be available ranging from $1 to $2.
When students go through the meal line, they will enter their student ID numbers to access their lunch accounts. Funds can be added to student lunch accounts using MySchoolBucks or payments can be made directly to our cafeteria using cash or a check. We will share a link to the monthly menu and specific ala carte offerings during the third week of August, 2023.
No student will be denied a meal if funds are not available on their account. In the event that a lunch account has insufficient funds, the student will still receive the meal and the price will be recorded as a credit which can be repaid at a later date.
It is important to complete the Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) form if you have previously, or believe you will qualify for free or reduced meals. If your family qualifies for any level of FARMS support, all meals are free. Apply online at www.MySchoolApps.com
Maryland State Immunization Requirements for Students
School Immunizations—The Maryland Department of Health released updated school vaccine requirements for the 2023-2024 school year.
Families of incoming kindergarten students, new students, and 7th and 8th graders may need additional vaccines to start the school year.
For students whose required vaccines are incomplete, updated vaccine records must be submitted by the first day of school; proof of exemption or a vaccination visit must be submitted within 20 days. School staff are reviewing records and contacting families of students with incomplete vaccination records. Not sure if your student is up to date? Contact your child’s health care provider or access their immunization records online. Students 18 years old and younger eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may obtain free vaccines through the county’s Immunization Program.
Check out Student's Canvas Courses
Parents and guardians can view their children's Canvas courses as a Parent Observer. Access Canvas / myMCPS Classroom as a Parent Observer via Synergy ParentVUE. Click here to learn more!
Procedures for Parent and Community Volunteers
Volunteer Form
Complete the MCPS Parent/Guardian and Community Volunteer Form or the MCPS Volunteers in the Virtual Classroom form as appropriate. These forms serve as an introduction of yourself, your interests and availability in volunteering, and some important reminders about volunteers in schools.
Online Training
Complete the mandatory online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training. This training is required for any volunteer who regularly supports schools, chaperones a field trip, etc. and is available in multiple languages. When the course is completed, a report is created to serve as proof of satisfying the training requirement.
Contact School
Contact the school(s) where you wish to serve and provide them with a copy of the following:
- Appropriate MCPS Parent/Guardian and Community Volunteer Form or the MCPS Volunteers in the Virtual Classroom Form and
- Your online course grade sheet that will show 100% for completing the online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training.
CJMS Grade Level Contacts
Cabin John Middle School
Assistant Principal (6th Grade): Mr. Andrew (Andy) Lee
Assistant School Administrator (7th Grade): Ms. Jennifer Wingate
Assistant Principal (8th Grade): Mr. Casey Siddons
Main Office Phone: 240-406-1600
Fax: 240-740-4403
Guidance Counseling Office: 240-406-1560
Health Room: 240-406-1570
Attendance Office: 240-406-1599 (to leave a VM)
Please call CJMS to notify us of your child's absence.
Email: Somer_Snider@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/cabinjohnms/
Location: 10701 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, MD, USA
Phone: 240-406-1600
Twitter: @CabinJohnMS