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Colts Chronicle
A Cimarron Middle School community communication
A Note From Principal Zimmerman
Dear Parents,
Thank you for all the efforts of our community while working through the safety situation this week. In our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of all students and staff within our school community, we believe it is essential to provide clarity on the difference between a lockdown and a secure status.
- A Secure Protocol status is enacted when there is a potential threat outside the school building, such as criminal activity in the surrounding neighborhood or a dangerous individual in the vicinity. In a secure status, students and staff continue with normal activities inside the building, but external access points are secured, and outdoor activities may be temporarily suspended. Police presence is often seen around the schools.
- A Lockdown Protocol is implemented when there is an immediate threat inside the school building or on school grounds. This is much more serious. During a lockdown, all students and staff are instructed to remain in locked classrooms or designated safe areas until the situation is resolved.
- Initial Communication with parents is provided to keep everyone informed of the situation. Typically Parker police department, the school district and the school collaborate on factual information that can be communicated as an event happens. Sometimes this takes time. We would really appreciate your support in posting only factual information that comes directly from the school, district, or law enforcement on social media when these types of events happen.
We understand that these safety procedures can be concerning, but please rest assured that the safety and well-being of your children are our top priorities. By familiarizing yourself with these protocols and remaining vigilant, we can work together to create a secure learning environment for all.
Parent Portal
IS YOUR PARENT PORTAL ACCESS WORKING?
We want to be sure your Parent Portal access works as smoothly as possible so you can see your students’ grades, assignments, and attendance whenever it is convenient for you. With year-end grades coming up, please access your account now to be sure your password is still active and/or your account is working correctly.
Parent Portal – Infinite Campus
The login process for accessing the EngagED Parent Portal has recently changed.
Parents/guardians must now add @p.dcsdk12.org after their current username when logging into the EngagED Parent Portal. For example, if you have previously accessed with a username of absmith, you will now use absmith@p.dcsdk12.org for your username along with your district password which has not changed.
~ Need to reset a forgotten password but you have not set up your security questions yet?
Visit password.dcsdk12.org
~ Other Frequently Asked Questions for Parent Accounts
~Feel free to contact our Registrar at jlmcrae@dcsdk12.org
School Nurse Reminder
Dear parent or guardian,
In preparation for next school year, the forms needed for the 2024-25 school year are below. Per district policy, all medication forms expire at the end of every school year. Please check your email later in the summer for details regarding turning in medication and paperwork prior to the first day of school.
Medication Forms that you may need:
If your student will be self carrying/self administering medication, please have your physician complete the Permission to Carry.pdf. This form also requires a signature from the parent/guardian and the student. *Life Threatening Allergy or Asthma, see below**
If your student will need medication administered by school staff, including Routine Prescription Medications, please have your physician complete the following form which also requires a parent/guardian signature: Provider Authorization Form.pdf.
If your student has Life Threatening Allergies, please have your physician complete the Anaphylaxis_Plan.pdf. In addition, a parent/guardian will need to fill out these forms: JLCDE-1_Medication Release Form.pdf; LTA Update; LTA Parent Notice *With these completed forms, you DO NOT need to complete the Provider Medication Authorization Form
If your student has Asthma, please have your physician complete an Asthma Action plan Asthma_Plan.pdf. In addition, a parent/guardian will need to fill out this form: JLCDE-1_Medication Release Form.pdf . *With these completed forms, you DO NOT need to complete the Provider Medication Authorization Form.
Below are some reminders about medication at school. Click here for more information on district medication policies and forms.
If your student needs prescription and/or over-the-counter medication during school hours, the medication should be brought in the original pharmacy labeled container or original packaging.
The label shall state your student’s name, medication, dosage, number and/or times of dosage per day and the name of the prescribing physician.
Medications (prescription or over-the-counter) will be accepted ONLY with the proper forms signed by both the physician and the parent/guardian.
Please make sure that medications brought to school are not expired and preferably have an expiration date that will last through the school year.
Any questions regarding medication may be directed to Health Room Assistant, Lindsey Hiers or School Nurse Consultant, Jenne Ott, RN. Enjoy the final weeks of school!
Lindsey Hiers, Health Assistant, lhiers@dcsdk12.org
Jenne Ott, RN, DCSD School Nurse Consultant, jaott@dcsdk12.org
Yearbooks
Did you forget to order a yearbook for your student? You’re in luck! Cimarron ordered additional copies of the yearbook and they are available for purchase. We do have a very limited quantity of these, so don’t delay. Reserve your yearbook here:
If you’re not sure if you’ve purchased a yearbook, please check your email from an order from Jostens.com or check your MySchoolBucks purchase history from the website. If you’re still not sure, please send an email to svaughn@dcsdk12.org.
No student is allowed to take their yearbook early, even if they are going to be absent.
If a student has a sibling who is absent on the day of yearbook distribution then that student will be allowed to pick up their sibling’s book at the end of the school day. Those yearbooks will be in the office.
Changing Schools Next Year?
If your current 6th or 7th grade student will NOT be attending Cimarron Middle School for the 2024-25 school year, please fill out THIS SURVEY. You will be sent a quick withdrawal form to complete prior to the last day of school.
If your child will attend Cimarron, no action is needed.
Thank you!
Monthly Love and Logic Tip
Love And Logic In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a topic of discussion and concern with the advent of AI chatbots, which can perform many complex things such as responding to questions, creating poetry, planning vacations, drafting resumes, and a host of other tasks. Love and Logic began addressing the use of technology back when the main concerns were television and video games. Ever since then, we have seen the transformation of technology and how it affects kids, from the early days of the Internet to the current use of cell phones and social media by kids.
Although the issues associated with are different, the approach to this new technology from a Love and Logic parenting standpoint remains the same. Parents can successfully manage the use of all these technologies by applying these solid parenting truths:
Focus on your kids’ strengths rather than their weaknesses.
Kids need limits.
Limits are best set through actions instead of hollow threats.
When kids make poor decisions, they need to experience natural or logical consequences.
Consequences are always more effective when they are provided with genuine, loving empathy.
Our kids will learn how to live their lives by watching us.
The worst thing to do with respect to AI, or any technology issue, is to simply forbid kids from using it. The most powerful way to protect kids of all ages is to demonstrate that you love them and that they can talk with you about anything.
When kids experience love from their parents, they become less reliant on social media for affirmation, and they are more likely to grow into adults who make good choices about technology. When they experience appropriate limits that are set and enforced by their parents, they will learn how to set limits for themselves. If they make poor decisions with technology when they are young, and parents deliver consequences with genuine empathy, they will learn that life will be better for them if they make good decisions instead of poor decisions.
As we have seen, technology is here to stay, and it will continue to evolve with many more uses and opportunities as well as more dangers. The best approach for parents and educators is to help kids become competent users of this resource, understand the risks involved, and make good decisions regarding how they use technology.
The three Es of Love and Logic are particularly helpful to keep in mind.
Example: When parents model healthy behaviors regarding their own technology use, the likelihood that kids will follow the example of their parents dramatically increases.
Experience: When parents give kids the freedom to make choices within limits, and allow them to make mistakes and experience the consequences of their mistakes, they will truly learn from their mistakes.
Empathy: As with all Love and Logic techniques, it’s the loving empathy offered by parents that helps kids see that parents are not the source of the unhappiness from consequences, it is the poor decisions the kids make that are responsible.
DCSD Art Show
Help us celebrate our Cimarron DCSD Art Show winners!
- Lucy Otteson, Grade 8: Legacy Award
- Cameron Roe, Grade 8: Honorable Mention
- Kelsey Williams, Grade 7: Third Place
Boys Soccer Interest Form
Any current 6th or 7th grade boys interested in playing boys soccer for Cimarron next year, please fill out this interest form: soccer form
Legend Summer Camps
Please click on the pictures below to gain more information regarding Legend Summer Camp offerings