The Wolf Weekly

Wonderful Wolf Families,

October is in FULL swing at CTMS from academics to fine arts to athletics, there's a lot happening with the wolf pack! A couple key happenings to note:

• Wolf Bullying Prevention Day will be celebrated this Monday, October 7. We encourage all members of the pack to wear blue to stand up to bullying.
• This Friday, October 11, is the last day of the first nine weeks. Take a quick look at Skyward to ensure all assignments have been submitted.
• The next PTA general meeting, coffee with me and other pack parents and classroom visits will take place on Monday, October 21. See the PTA section of this newsletter for additional information.
• Trunk or Treat is towards the end of the month on Friday, October 25, but it's not to early to start planning your trunk, booth, or costume. See the PTA section of this newsletter for additional information about this fun community event.
• Red Ribbon Week will be observed October 28 through November 1. More details on how the pack plans to participate in RRW coming soon.

Read through the rest of this week's newsletter to learn about wolf happenings!

Thank you for taking time to read the Wolf Weekly each Sunday!

Howl,

Jamie Halliburton

CTMS Principal

HOWL to the Grapevine-Colleyville Education Foundation for dropping by CTMS this week to give the pack a check from the Cross Timbers Endowment Fund!!!! This money will be used to provide substitutes for the half day plannings provided to the pack staff each nine weeks. Thank you to the Education Foundation for making this possible!

Wear blue on Monday in solidarity with World Bullying Prevention Day. This is one way to show your support for the Wolf Way as wolves are kind, respectful, and responsible!

At the end of the first nine weeks, your student is eligible in many classes to request to level up or level down. If a class is too challenging or not challenging enough for your student, please reach out to your child’s teacher by Wednesday, October 9, 2024. All class changes are based on your student’s data and availability in the desired class. Schedule changes will be made after report cards are released. Additionally, schedule changes will likely change the order of the rest of your student’s classes.

Lazy Dog spirit WEEK flyer attached. They are doing October 7-11, all day, 15% back!

Collegiate Academy's application for the 2025-2026 school year is open! Applications opened October 1 and will remain open until December 16. Please see the Collegiate Academy website for more info, and the flier for application information.

¡La solicitud de Collegiate Academy para el año escolar 2025-2026 está abierta! Las solicitudes se abriran el 1ro de octubre y permanecerán abiertas hasta el 16 de diciembre. Consulte el sitio web o el folleto de Collegiate Academy para obtener más información.

Dear Parents,

It’s a big year for your 8th grader! As they prepare to embark on high school, why not capture this important milestone with a personalized yearbook ad?

Why Purchase an 8th Grade Ad?

• Cherish the Memories: Highlight your child's achievements and growth with a custom message and photos.
• Show Your Pride: Let your child know just how proud you are of their journey so far.
• Create a Keepsake: Give them a cherished memento they’ll look back on fondly for years to come.

For More Information & to Purchase: Cross Timbers MS Yearbook Page

Celebrate their achievements and make this year extra special!

Our next meeting will take place this Monday, Oct. 7th, in room B7. Students can attend either the morning meeting at 7:45 or the afternoon meeting at 3:35. Each meeting will last approximately 15 minutes. I hope everyone is looking forward to the first meetings led by our amazing officers!

Your student is having a great year here at Cross Timbers Middle School and a yearbook is the best way to look back on all the fun, friends, and unforgettable moments! It's more than just a book-it's a time capsule that will remind your and your student of the incredible journey they've been on. Get your yearbook now and hold onto these memories for years to come!

Family Dare

Plan a family date night or day together. Have each member of the family plan 30 minutes to 1 hour of the date!

Each person gets to own their portion and then you can all work together to figure out how to fit all the pieces into 1 agenda for the night.

Just wanted to send a friendly reminder that we have vision and hearing screening the Library for all 7th graders and any new students to GCISD.

• SCREENING DAY AT CTMS: The GCISD Screen Team will be at CTMS on Wednesday October 16th. Vision, Hearing, and AN screenings will be conducted on all students in 7th grade. Any 6th and 8th grade students who are new to GCISD will also be screened. If your student wears glasses or contacts, PLEASE BE SURE THEY HAVE THEM ON THIS DAY.

Riley Heimuli RN, BSN

Join other pack parents on Monday, October 21 at 9:00 a.m. for the PTA General Meeting, coffee with Dr. Halliburton, and classroom visits. This is a great opportunity to hear about the incredible ways PTA supports the pack, learn about the work our wolves are doing in the classroom and see it in action.

If you are planning on joining the pack on Monday, October 21, please complete the following form so we can have enough copy and classroom walk groups: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6KiEwMduRi1h1KBR94iYL2jMQGJEjWVSU49mec4Hz59lMFg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Who doesn’t love receiving a sweet treat during the school day?! Candy grams are back!

This year, there are 2 ways to purchase them: online and/or in person in the cafeteria. If you purchase online, you can buy all 3 at once to make sure your child, favorite staff members, and friends get theirs! For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the following site: https://www.ctmspta.org/form/m/309396

Mark your calendar for our annual Trunk or Treat on Friday, October 25, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.! This is a FREE event for our students, families, and community!

If you're interested in hosting a trunk, please email programs@ctmspta.org.

Your kind words of encouragement truly uplift our teachers and staff! If you have a positive experience to share, we’d love to hear about it! Use this form to leave a shout out for our amazing wolf staff!

Click here for the official district calendar for the 2024-2025 school year

• Monday, October 7 ~ CTMS Fall Tennis vs HMS @ CHHS 5-7 pm / CTMS 7th Grade Football vs GMS 5-7 pm/Silver Dancers Performing

• Tuesday, October 8 ~ CTMS 8th Grade Football vs GMS 5-7 pm

• Weds., October 9 ~ CTMS Cross Country vs North (@A. Brown West)

• Thursday, October 10 ~ CTMS Volleyball vs West

• Monday, October 14 ~ Student and Staff Holiday

• Wednesday, October 16 ~ 7th Grade Screeners (see above)

• Monday, October 21 ~ PTA Coffee with the Principal & Classroom Walks (see above)

• Tuesday, October 22 ~ CTMS Playbill Solo Showcase in SAC 6-7:30 pm

• Friday, October 25 ~ Trunk or Treat (see above)

• Monday, October 28 - Friday, November 1 ~ Red Ribbon Week more details coming soon!

• Thursday, October 31 ~ CTMS Pep Rally 8:15 a.m.

VATRE Community Presentation Scheduled for October 17

A community presentation to inform the public about GCISD’s voter-approved tax ratification election (VATRE) has been scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, October 17, at the district’s Professional Development and Education Center (PDEC), 5800 Colleyville Blvd. in Colleyville, TX 76034.

Come learn facts about the VATRE, why the election was called, its impact on the tax rate and more.

We hope to see you at the October 17 community presentation, but if you are not able to attend watch the district’s September 18 Facebook Live presentation or visit www.GCISD.net/VATRE to read more about the VATRE that will be on the November 5, 2024 ballot for GCISD voters to consider.

Don’t forget that the deadline to register to vote is Monday, October 7. Early voting begins Monday, October 21, and continues through November 1.

Presentación comunitaria sobre el VATRE programada para el 17 de octubre

Una presentación a la comunidad para informar al público sobre la elección de ratificación de impuestos aprobada por los votantes de GCISD (VATRE) ha sido programada para las 6 p.m., jueves, 17 de octubre, en el Centro de Desarrollo Profesional y Educación del distrito (PDEC), 5800 Colleyville Blvd. en Colleyville, TX 76034.

Venga a aprender hechos sobre el VATRE, por qué se convocó la elección, su impacto en la tasa de impuestos y másque otros distritos vecinos tienen medidas similares en la boleta electoral de noviembre.

Esperamos verle en la presentación de la comunidad el 17 de octubre, pero si usted no puede asistir vea la presentación del distrito del 18 de septiembre en Facebook Live o visite www.GCISD.net/VATRE para leer más sobre el VATRE que estará en la boleta electoral del 5 de noviembre de 2024 para que los votantes de GCISD lo consideren.

No olvide que la fecha límite para registrarse para votar es el lunes, 7 de octubre. La votación temprana comienza el lunes, 21 de octubre y continúa hasta el 1 de noviembre.

• Students and spectators are expected to remain in their seats unless moving to or from concessions or the restrooms.
• Spectators will not be allowed to obstruct walkways.
• Students are not allowed to congregate anywhere other than student seating sections.
• No outside food or drinks are allowed inside the stadium.
• No skateboards, scooters, sports equipment or balls are allowed

Please mark your calendar (and save your Holiday shopping) for our 3rd annual CTMS Auction! If you and/or your business would like to donate an auction item - please email waysandmeans@ctmspta.org. Thank you for your support of CTMS PTA!

Exciting News! CTMS Now Offers a New Online Purchase Option for Student ID's and Wolf Lanyards!

We are excited to announce that CTMS has added a new, convenient way for students and parents to complete your ID purchase needs online! This new payment option makes it easier and faster than ever before. You will find this payment option on the CTMS web page under the Quick Links heading where you can create your personal Web Store account. Once your account is created, click on the Middle Schools square and choose Cross Timbers Middle School. Complete your purchase through the Security/Dress Code option. Students will be able to finalize their order in Mrs. Richards office the following day once ID is personalized with the students' photo download. We hope this will be a helpful addition to preparing you student for a successful day at school everyday!

Theme: Accepting Imperfection

Deadline: Friday November 1, 2024

Categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts. Students may enter in one or more categories with no limit to the number of entries in a single category.

Submission: Please submit to Mrs. Lemmon or email reflections@ctmspta.org

Requirements: Click the LINK below for Submission Form and Program Rules/Requirements.

https://www.ctmspta.org/reflections

*The participant or one member of their household, must be a current member of CTMS PTA.

• School Hours: 8:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Doors Open: 7:45 a.m.
• Wolves enter the building through the C hall doors or the SAC doors. 6th & 8th grade wolves wait in the SAC and 7th grade wolves wait in the lecture hall for the bell to walk to first period.
• Bell Schedule
• Campus Map (click present for easier viewing)
• Front Office: 817-251-5320
• Mascot: Wolf
• School Colors: Silver & Black
• Planners: All wolves use a planner at CTMS. This is to assist with organizing, prioritizing, and planning. You can purchase a CTMS planner for $5 on the first day of school or use one of your choosing. Wolves use their planners daily.
• Student IDs: All wolves who did not attend Wolf Camp or Registration will be issued a temporary CTMS ID on the first day of school. The first IDs are free and replacement IDs are $5. Per the student code of conduct, IDs are to be worn daily by all CTMS students and staff.
• Lost & Found: The Front Office currently has several pieces of jewelry, keys, glasses and phones that are lost and have found their way to the office! Come by to check to see if your item was found!

Attendance

Elyzabeth Durard

817-251-5320

elyzabeth.durard@gcisd.net

Counselors

Molly Brown (last names A-K)

817-251-5315

molly.brown@gcisd.net

Rachel Smith (last names L-Z)

817-251-5312

rachel.smith@gcisd.net

Student Advocate

Allyiah Daniels

817-251-5323

Allyiah.Daniels@gcisd.net

Registrar

Ilia Kaku

817-251-5314

ilia.kaku@gcisd.net

Nurse

Riley Heimuli

817-251-5337

riley.heimuli@gcisd.net

Assistant Principals

Alishia Ilic (last names A-K)

817-251-5313

alishia.ilic@gcisd.net

Cinthia Morales (last names L-Z)

817-251-5317

cinthia.morales@gcisd.net

Principal

Jamie Halliburton

817-251-5320

jamie.halliburton@gcisd.net

Email: ctms.info@gcisd.net
Website: https://ctms.gcisd.net/
Location: 2301 Pool Rd, Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone: 817-251-5320
Twitter: @CTMSWolfWay

Interested in becoming an observer in your wolf's Canvas courses? Click this link to find out how to gain parental access to Canvas. You will need your wolf and their Chromebook to complete parent access enrollment.

In need of a new charger for a school issued Chromebook, click here for information on how to order a new one.

Thank you for helping our wolves be prepared for school each day by ensuring their Chromebooks are charged nightly!

Welcome All Wolves! Find information about your Attendance Clerk contact at CTMS this year below:

• As much as possible, please schedule appointments before or after school, or on student days off (teacher professional development days).
• Doctor's notes are required for those appointments & illness lasting more than 1 day.
• Please email me at Elyzabeth.DuRard@gcisd.net, or call 817-251-5326.

Click here to see the updated secondary grading policy from GCISD. All wolf pack teachers will be following this policy this school year to communicate the progress of each wolf.

Grades are a method of communicating the progress each wolf is making at CTMS. If you ever have questions or concerns over a grade, please reach out directly to the teacher.

Here is the link for the 2024-2025 GCISD Student/Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct :https://www.gcisd.net/o/gcisd/page/studentparent-handbook.

GCISD's Student-Parent Handbook contains information that students, parents and staff are likely to need during the school year. In addition, both students and parents need to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct. Both students and parents should become familiar with the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District Student Code of Conduct, which is a document adopted by the board and intended to promote school safety and an atmosphere for learning.

Middle school students may use telecommunications devices before and after school, and during

lunch. They may not use telecommunications devices during passing periods or classes.

What does this mean for the wolves?

• Devices can be used before 8:00 a.m., during lunch, and after 3:30 p.m.
• Smartwatches can be worn as long as they are used for telling time.
• Earbud, airpods, and the like will not be used in the hallway or during class time.

Student-Parent Handbook page 55: Except in emergencies, delivery of messages or packages to students will not be allowed during instructional time. A parent may leave a message or a package such as a forgotten lunch, for the student to pick up from the front office during a passing period or lunch. Students are not permitted to order food using delivery services such as UberEats, DoorDash, etc.

What this means for the pack: Wolf pack family members may drop items off items to the vestibule for wolves. Delivery services are not permitted. Wolves will visit the vestibule during passing periods to pick up items dropped off by parents.

For the protection of students and staff, all volunteer applicants must read the Volunteer Handbook (in Español) and are asked to apply online authorizing the district to obtain a criminal history background check.

Note: All volunteers are required to reapply each year.

Apply Online

GCISD utilizes Volunteer Tracker for volunteer applications and signing up for volunteer opportunities. Please follow the steps provided to sign up. If you have any questions about registration, please contact App-Garden at support@app-garden.com or submit a help ticket.

Drop-off and pick-up occur in TWO locations: In the parking lot outside the academic halls at the C-hall door and outside the SAC. See the map below.

For the safety of all wolves, thank you in advance for driving slowly, keeping cell phones away, and staying alert and aware of others.

C-Hall Door

For drop-off and pick-up, the parking lot across from the football field is two lanes. Pull into the lane you will be exiting from, if you are turning right out of the parking lot, drop off and/or pick up your wolf in the inside lane (closest to the building) and if you are turning left out of the parking lot, drop off and/or pick up your wolf on the outside lane (closest to the football field). Also, please pull all the way up to let your wolf out of the vehicle. The doors to the school open at 7:45 a.m. and school dismisses at 3:30 p.m.

SAC Doors

This is a single lane drop-off and pick-up. The driveway is not for parking. If you need to assist your wolf, please park in a non-reserved space.