CTMS Family Newsletter
Wonderful Wolf Families,
CTMS PALS will be hosting the first pep rally of the school this Friday, September 13 at 2:45 p.m. Performances from the pack, including, but not limited to Playbill, Wolf Time Choir, Symphonic and Honors Bands will accompany school spirit and some friendly competition. All are welcome to howl along with the pack at the pep rally. If you plan on attending, arrive early and with an ID ready to scan in at the Raptor devices in the front vestibule.
Our amazing attendance guru, Elyzabeth Durard, will be moving to the administrative building. We are looking for a friendly face to fill her shoes. If you love the pack and are looking for hours that mirror your wolf's hours, check out the job description here.
Thank you for taking time to read the Wolf Weekly each Sunday!
Howl,
Jamie Halliburton
CTMS Principal
Shout Out the PACK!
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!
Current 8th graders who are interested in going on the 2025 DC/NY Trip! There will be a parent information meeting on September 18th at 6 pm in the Lecture hall. While in DC we will visit all the Monuments, Smithsonian Museums, Mount Vernon, and Historic Georgetown. In New York, we will see all the sights and sounds of the city. Broadway show, Coney Island, Time Square, and Little Italy are all planned. If you attended the previous meeting in April you do not need to attend.
Please email Coach Krause if you plan on attending the meeting or if you have any questions. billy.krause@gcisd.net
PTA Reflections
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.
September 10 ~ S.O.S Presentation 8th Grade
September 11 ~ Tennis Parent Meeting in LH 5-6 pm
September 12 ~ CTMS Volleyball vs North @ CTMS 4-8 pm
September 13 ~ Pep Rally @ 2:45 p.m./CTMS Band Future Mustang Night @ Mustang/Panther Stadium 5:45 pm
September 19 ~ Picture Retake Day/Playbill Parent's Meeting Room E7 / 6-7pm
September 21 ~ CTMS Band Regional Master Class @ GMS 9 am - 12 pm
September 23 ~ NO School for Students
September 26 ~ 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. CTMS PTA Cane's Spirit Night
National Junior Honor Society
The first and second National Junior Honor Society Meetings of the year will take place on Monday, September 9th, and Monday, September 16th in Ms. Billman's Room, B7. Your student can choose between arriving at 7:30 or 3:35, each meeting will last for 30 minutes, though for the rest of the year, meetings will last 15 minutes. If you choose the morning meeting, please arrive promptly at the B Hall door WITH YOUR ID ON so a staff member can let you in! These two meetings are vital to setting our chapter norms for the rest of the year, so your wolf needs to make every effort to attend. I look forward to seeing them there!
Questions about NJHS? Reach out to CTMS's NJHS sponsor, Ms. Billman, via email lindsey.billman@gcisd.net.
Three Facts About the VATRE
GCISD registered voters will be asked to consider adding three cents to the Maintenance & Operations tax rate through a voter-approved tax ratification election on the November 5 ballot. Here are three quick facts:
Even with the VATRE, GCISD’s total tax rate will be lower - Even with the three additional pennies from the passage of the VATRE, the GCISD total overall tax rate (M&O plus I&S) will be lowered by $0.0014.
Funds are not subject to recapture - Tax funds collected through these additional three pennies would stay within GCISD and not be subject to recapture, meaning that 100 percent of these funds would remain in the district.
The three-cent increase to the Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate would generate approximately $6 million - These funds would be for school district operations, which includes instruction, staff, transportation, maintenance, extracurricular activities and other daily operating expenses, excluding projects included in the recent bond. Bonds are paid for by a separate Interest & Sinking (I&S) fund, which is debt service.
Learn more at www.GCISD.net/VATRE.
Tres datos rápidos sobre la Elección de Aprobación de Ratificación de Impuestos (VATRE, por sus siglas en inglés: Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election)
Se les pedirá a los votantes registrados de GCISD que consideren añadir tres centavos a la tasa de impuestos de Mantenimiento y Operaciones a través de una elección de ratificación de impuestos en la boleta electoral del 5 de noviembre. Aquí tres datos rápidos:
Incluso con el VATRE, la tasa de impuestos de GCISD será más baja - Incluso con los tres centavos adicionales de la aprobación de VATRE, la tasa total de impuestos en general (mantenimiento y operaciones, más el servicio de deuda) de GCISD se reducirá por $0.0014.
Los fondos no están sujetos a recaptura - Los fondos de impuestos recaudados a través de estos tres centavos adicionales permanecerán en GCISD y no estarán sujetos a recaptura, lo que significa que el 100 por ciento de estos fondos se mantendrán en el distrito.
El aumento de tres centavos en la tasa de impuestos de Mantenimiento y Operaciones (M&O) generaría aproximadamente $6 millones - Esta financiación sería para las operaciones del distrito escolar, que incluye instrucción, personal escolar, transporte, mantenimiento, actividades extracurriculares y otros gastos relacionados con el funcionamiento diario, excluyendo los proyectos incluidos en el reciente bono. Los bonos se pagan con un fondo separado de intereses y amortización (I&S), que se utiliza para el servicio de la deuda.
Para más información visite www.GCISD.net/VATRE.
Elementary Schools: September is Fruit and Vegetable Month and National Coloring Day is September 14
Get ready to celebrate the goodness of eating your fruits and veggies! Nutrition Services is excited to provide a fun coloring sheet for every elementary student. This is a fantastic activity to enjoy in the classroom or at home. Color your sheet and turn in your beautiful artwork to your teacher or the cafeteria by September 20! Watch it shine on the serving lines during the week of September 23!
We can't wait to see all the amazing artists show off their creativity!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
Escuelas primarias: Septiembre es el Mes de la Fruta y la Verdura y el 14 de septiembre es el Día Nacional de Colorear
¡Prepárate para celebrar los beneficios de comer frutas y verduras! Servicios de Nutrición está entusiasmado de proveer una hoja para colorear divertida a cada estudiante de primaria. Esta es una actividad fantástica para disfrutar en el salón de clases o en casa. Colorea tu hoja y entrega tu hermosa obra de arte a tu maestro o a la cafetería antes del 20 de septiembre. Verás cómo tu hoja sobresale en las filas de la cafetería de la escuela durante la semana del 23 de septiembre.
Estamos ansiosos por ver a todos los artistas increíbles mostrar su creatividad.
Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
High School Health Just Say YES - Freedom to Succeed Parent Preview
High School Principals - Please include the information below in your parent newsletter this week. A message with this same information will be shared through Skyward on September 6. The consent form mentioned in the letter will be live in Skyward on September 19. Consent reminders will be sent via Skyward as we approach the consent deadlines.
GCISD uses several resources and programs for high school health curriculum in order to be proactive in our delivery of education concerning human sexuality.
Freedom to Succeed will be presented to your student according to the campus schedule, found in the Parent Preview Letter linked below.
After the Parent Preview has been conducted, every parent will be asked to indicate their preference of participation for their child electronically in the forms section of Skyward or by completing and returning a paper consent form by the deadlines established on the Parent Preview Letter linked below for each campus.
These deadlines allow each campus time to adequately prepare spaces, supervision, and account for student attendance. Thank you in advance for adhering to these deadlines.
Salud en la escuela preparatoria- Solo dí sí: Libertad para tener éxito (Just Say YES - Freedom to Succeed)- Presentación Preliminar para Padres
GCISD utiliza varios recursos y programas para el plan de estudios de salud escolar en las escuelas preparatorias con el fin de ser proactivos en ofrecer una educación sobre la sexualidad humana.
El Programa Libertad para tener éxito (Freedom to Succeed) será presentado a su estudiante según el horario escolar que se encuentra en la Carta de Presentación Preliminar para Padres en el enlace abajo.
Después de que se haya realizado la presentación preliminar se pedirá a cada padre que indique su preferencia de participación de su hijo en la presentación; podrán hacer esto electrónicamente en la sección de formularios de Skyward o llenando y regresando un formulario de consentimiento en papel antes de las fechas límite establecidas en la Carta de Presentación Preliminar para Padres en el enlace que se encuentra a continuación para cada escuela.
Estas fechas límites permiten que cada escuela tenga tiempo para preparar adecuadamente los espacios, la supervisión y la contabilidad de la asistencia de los estudiantes. Gracias de antemano por respetar estos plazos.
8th Grade Yearbook Ads: Celebrate Your Child's Milestone with a Special Yearbook Ad!
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!
Canvas Obsesrver
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.
September's Character Trait is Commitment!
Family Dare - The Hard Thing Rule
Have everyone in the family write down 1 hard thing they are signing up for and are committed to this year. Put the list up where everyone can see it! Angela Duckworth, a lead researcher on resilience and grit, has her family sign up for Hard Things. The 3 rules? 1.
- Everyone must choose 1 and it has to be something that requires consistent, intentional practice
- You cannot quit (until there is a natural stopping point like the end of a football season or after a recital)
- You get to pick your own passion - no one can choose it for you.
Student-Parent Handbook: Food Deliveries
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.
- 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!
Who to Contact
Attendance
Elyzabeth Durard
817-251-5320
Counselors
Molly Brown (last names A-K)
817-251-5315
Rachel Smith (last names L-Z)
817-251-5312
Student Advocate
Allyiah Daniels
817-251-5323
Registrar
Ilia Kaku
817-251-5314
Nurse
Riley Heimuli
817-251-5337
Assistant Principals
Alishia Ilic (last names A-K)
817-251-5313
Cinthia Morales (last names L-Z)
817-251-5317
Principal
Jamie Halliburton
817-251-5320
Cross Timbers Middle School
Email: ctms.info@gcisd.net
Website: https://ctms.gcisd.net/
Location: 2301 Pool Rd, Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone: 817-251-5320
Twitter: @CTMSWolfWay
Need a Charger
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!
Attendance
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.
Secondary Grading Policy
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.
Cell Phone Policy
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.
Volunteer Background Check
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.
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.
Morning Drop-Off & Afternoon Pick-Up
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.
