12.6.24 Middle Level Newsletter

Tuesday, Dec. 10

Middle School Holiday Band Concert

7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium

Friday, Dec. 13

Half Day
Students released at 10:45 a.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 17

Middle School Holiday Choir Concert

7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium

Dec. 20-Jan 3

Winter Break - No School for Students

A fire drill was held at the Middle School on Tuesday, Dec 3, 2024. Please take a moment to talk with your student about the importance of these drills and overall safety.

In the case of a real emergency, the school will utilize our email and text messaging system to communicate with parents (learn more about updating student information). During an active emergency, please do not call the school or share information on social media, this will allow us to work with authorities as quickly as possible.

We are committed to maintaining a safe environment for our students and staff at Cedar Springs Public Schools and will continue to keep you informed about any future drills.

IXL provides thousands of skills aligned with classroom learning and offers personalized guidance to help students grow. Your student may access IXL through their Clever app after logging in to Gmail.

Features of IXL:

• Unlimited practice with over 17,000 skills.

• Personalized skill recommendations tailored to your child’s needs.

• Progress-tracking reports for parents and students.

• Certificates and awards to celebrate achievements.

Top Tips for Using IXL at Home:

1. Explore Recommendations: Encourage your child to check their Recommendations wall for skills tailored for review or new challenges.

2. Stay Connected: Sign in to your child’s account to view progress under the Analytics section.

3. Celebrate Success: Receive certificates by adding your email under “Profile & Settings” on your child’s account.

Understanding SmartScore:
IXL’s SmartScore measures skill mastery by factoring in question difficulty, accuracy, and consistency. Aim for scores of 80 or 90 to show strong understanding or push for mastery with a perfect 100. Progress is automatically saved, and taking breaks is encouraged!

Let’s work together to help your child excel!

Looking for a meaningful way to honor your child's teacher? Consider donating to the Cedar Springs Education Foundation (CSEF)!

When you donate, the CSEF will send a certificate to the teacher stating that a gift was made in their name (the donation amount will not be included).

This thoughtful gift supports all Cedar Springs Public Schools students by funding programs and innovations not covered by the regular school budget. It's a wonderful way to impact education while showing appreciation for a special teacher.

To donate:

1. Fill out the form below.

2. Mail or drop it off at the address provided.

For more information, visit our Facebook page or CSEF website. Thank you for helping to make a difference for our students!

Wednesday, Dec 11

• 7th Grade Boys Basketball vs. Sparta (Away)
• 8th Grade Boys Basketball vs Sparta (Home)
• A teams play at 5 p.m./B teams play at 4 p.m.

Signups are now open for 7th and 8th grade girls basketball! Students should sign up in the office and complete the registration process on FinalForms. Games will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, with daily practices after school. Practices will begin in January when we return from break.

6th grade girls' basketball interest signups are now open! Students can sign the interest sheet in the middle school office. Additional details will be shared soon. The 5th/6th grade girls basketball team will play in a travel league through the youth program, with games scheduled on Saturdays. The approximate cost is $75 per player.

Sign-ups are open! Students should sign up in the office and complete the process on FinalForms. Practices will begin after school in January when we return from break. More details will be shared soon.

All 6th-8th grade girls interested in softball are welcome to attend tryouts on Monday, Jan. 20, from 6-8 p.m. in the Beach Elementary Gym. Please bring a glove and water. Information about games and practices will be provided at the tryouts. View Softball information here.

All interested 6th-8th grade students are invited to baseball tryouts on Saturday, Jan. 18, in the Cedar View Elementary Gym. Please bring a glove and water. Details about games and practices will be shared at tryouts. View Baseball information here.

Middle School Athletic Director, Shelly Alvarez, 616-696-9100 ext 6901

Middle School Secretary, Jodie Amell, 616-696-9100 ext 6909

Join the Grinch for a festive Christmas Pajama Party and experience the magic of the season on the big screen! We invite you to support Cedar Springs Public Schools’ Winter Wishes for Red Hawks program by donating a blanket, pillow, pajamas, or any comfort item—any size and color are welcome and appreciated!

Showtimes:

• Friday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.

• Saturday, Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. & 6 p.m.

• Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3 p.m.

Let’s spread warmth and joy this holiday season for our Red Hawks!