Cougar Connect
May & June 2024
Principal's Message
Hello Cougar Families!
It is time for our school year to come to an end 6 weeks from now! It's hard to believe we are already in May and that we will soon be saying good-bye to an excellent group of 8th graders who we have enjoyed for the past three years. Please make sure you are paying attention for information coming home about 8th grade events - particularly our promotion parade, awards ceremony, and EGG. This is an exciting time of year where we cannot wait to celebrate the accomplishments of our 8th graders as we wish them well on their next chapter where we know they will represent CMS well.
Teacher Appreciation Week is also next week - please make sure you send a nice note or email to our teachers to thank them for all they do. Our staff really is one of a kind and they work tirelessly on behalf of all of our students each day.
We have a lot of talent here at CMS, and we will be celebrating the arts all month! Wednesday, May 6th we have our Art Show and we would love to have you join us in Open Space to see all the amazing artwork our students have produced throughout the school year. We then have our spring concert series beginning with our Orchestra on May 8th, our band on May 15th, and our Chorus on May 22nd. We hope to see all of our families come support our artists and musicians so that you can see just how talented our CMS students are and how brilliant our CMS fine arts department is at helping them reach their full potential.
As always please make sure you are monitoring your child's electronic communications after school hours and supporting us in keeping their phones off and away. Spring is a time of year when social media use generally increases as does "drama" that comes into school from outside of school issues. Please help us leave the drama to Shakespeare while school is in session.
Warmest Regards,
Mr. Carney
Resources for Monitoring and Controlling Your Child's Phone Time
Phone, Lateness, and Tech Violation Notification
How will I know if my child is receiving a phone violation, tech violation for not appropriate use of technology, or late to class prior to them receiving a consequence? Here is our protocol at CMS. Please bear in mind these consequences are not optional. We are not asking much of our students - to keep his or her phone off and away so as not to be a distraction to him or herself or others and to be in class on time and ready to learn and be attentive. If we can do these things we see significant improvement across ALL achievement metrics.
- 1st Violation: You will receive an email from our Messenger system to your email address.
- 2nd Violation: You will receive a call/text from our Messenger system letting you know that the next violation will result in a lunch detention.
- 3rd Violation: You will be called and told your child has been assigned a lunch detention for frequent lateness, tech, or cell phone violations.
- 4th Violation: You will be called and told your child has been assigned a lunch detention with an administrator for frequent lateness, tech, or cell phone violations.
- 5th Violation: Loss of Grade Level Incentive (i.e. Field Day, etc.)
- 6th Violation: You will be called and told your child has been assigned an after school detention with his or her grade level administrator
- 7th Violation: You will be contacted and told your child has been assigned ALC for frequent insubordination regarding the cell phone/technology acceptable use/lateness policy. 8th Grade Students will lose the privilege of attending the EGG. Phone must be turned in at the office or left home each day.
Cougar Pounces (Things to Know This Month)
- Students should have a charged device, charger, water bottle, paper, and a writing utensil with them EVERY DAY to be considered prepared for school.
- MCAP TESTING: It is EXTREMELY important that you speak with your child about performing at their best level on MCAP testing. This is how they are able to demonstrate where they are in their learning and we can only get an accurate gauge if students are motivated to do their best. Please encourage them to get a good night of sleep and come prepared with their WIRED headphones, fully charged device, and ready to preform at their highest level.
- CMS PTA MEETING: The CMS PTA will meet on Monday, April 8th at 7:00 PM in the CMS library and on Zoom. We would love to see as many parents as possible present!
FAMILY END OF YEAR CALENDAR
*Right Click and Click "Open Image in New Tab" to enlarge calendar
Meet Our Administrative Team
Principal: Mr. Carney
Assistant Principal: Mr. Benjamin (Grade 6, Grade 8 A-L)
Assistant Principal: Mrs. Williams (Grade 7, Grade 8 M-Z)
Grade Level Team Information
6th Grade Team
Hello 6th Grade Parents,
May and June will be very busy months at CMS! While the final 6 weeks of the school year are very exciting for our students, it is crucial that our expectations remain high for everyone at CMS. We hold our students responsible for their academic achievement, their demonstration of high character, and their overall contributions to the school. Students who do not comply with the student handbook may be subject to exclusion from end of year activities. We will be having a field day on June 4th (rain date June 5th). This is a great closure to the year activity and we would like as many of our 6th graders to be included as possible.
On behalf of the 6th grade team, I can say that this is a great group of students to work with every day. We look forward to closing the year and we look forward to the transition of moving you and your children to 7th grade.
Parents and students should be advised that we have several end of the year activities that are privileges to our kids. Exhibiting responsible behavior remains a priority at CMS through the end of the school year. That being said, students who choose not to follow CMS expectations from now through the end of the year may be subject to exclusion from certain end of the year activities. As always, Thank you for your support from home. We couldn’t do it without you!
7th Grade Team
8th Grade Team
It seems hard to believe that in a few short weeks our 8th graders will have successfully completed their middle school career! While the 8th grade team is excited to celebrate our 8th graders in June, we still have a lot to do between now and then. Please continue to send your child to school ready and prepared to learn. Replenishing supplies like paper and pencils will help them be more successful and prepared during the school day.
If your child is attending the canoe trips in May, they will be receiving information about what they need to bring the day of their trip. Stay tuned for more information. It is a great experience and such a fun day for our student to learn about what makes a healthy ecosystem.
The 8th grade team is busy planning for our last week of school – our 8th Grade Celebration Week. The week of June 10th will kick off with Field Day and our 8th grade picnic. We would like to provide our students with some Freezer Pops and water bottles (there will also be water refill stations). Please consider signing up to donate Freezer Pops and/or water bottles for this event. Use the following link to sign up😊 2024 8th Grade: 8th Grade Field Day/Picnic (signupgenius.com) Thank you in advance! All the donations can be sent to the main office between now and June 7th. Be sure to label them “8th Grade” as we have other grade level events taking place that week.
The 8th grade team would like to thank you for all your support this school year!
From the Nurse
A reminder that it is officially allergy season. We do not have allergy medicine or eye drops at school and urge you to give the allergy medicine or eye drops at home each morning.
There are many different, non-drowsy over the counter allergy medications available.
There are also eye drops available, if your child tends to get itchy red eyes during this season.
Please consider a call to the doctor for medical direction if need be.
School Counseling & Social Work Corner
School Counseling and Social Work News
The Cockeysville MS Food Pantry
-The CMS Food Pantry will be open on Thursday, May 16th from 3pm – 4pm. You do not need to have a child that attends Cockeysville MS to use this food resource – it is open to ALL members of the community. The CMS Food Pantry is open the third Thursday of every month. If you are not able to visit the Food Pantry during its normal operating hours, please reach out directly to Mrs. Blackert, School Social Worker, to make an appointment to visit at another date and time. Email: sblackert@bcps.org / Phone: (443) 809-5003
Shared Domicile Renewal
If you live in a Shared Domicile arrangement, you should have recently received a letter in the mail about your child's enrollment status. Your child's enrollment must be renewed every school year. You will need to verify your Shared Domicile arrangement by providing current residency documentation to Cockeysville Middle School. The 5 items listed below should be submitted all together (no partial submissions) to Mrs. Watson, Counseling & Records Secretary. Please call (443) 809-7630 with any questions regarding this renewal process.
- Three (3) current documents, dated within the past sixty (60) days, verifying your domicile at your residence. Types of documents that can be accepted: business mail and print outs of online bills/statements. These documents must have your name, address, and be dated within the past 60 days.
- Photo identification for parent/guardian (Passport, Driver's License, Work ID, State ID).
- In addition to the documents listed below, a completed Shared Domicile Disclosure Renewal Form must be signed and dated by the parent/guardian and the homeowner/lease holder.
8th Grade Transition Year Residency Reverification
All parents/guardians of current 8th grade students should have recently received a letter in the mail about Transition Year Residency Reverification, a BCPS requirement for EVERY 8th grade student. The following documents need to be submitted all at one time (no partial submissions) to the Counseling Office. Failure to submit these documents may result in your 8th grader not being able to participate in end of year activities such as Field Day and the 8th Grade dance (EGG). Your child will also be withdrawn from BCPS. Questions regarding this requirement can be directed to Mrs. Watson, Counseling & Records Secretary, by dialing: (443) 809-7630.
- Three (3) current documents, dated within the past sixty (60) days, verifying your domicile at your residence. Types of documents that can be accepted: business mail and print outs of online bills/statements. These documents must have your name, address, and be dated within the past 60 days.
- Photo identification for parent/guardian (Passport, Driver's License, Work ID, State ID).
- Lease (if expired, a verification letter from your leasing office confirming your residence must accompany your lease), title, mortgage coupon book, or real estate tax bill.
Content Information
ELA
Ding! Dong! The testing is over! Our Cougars in ELA have recently vanquished the Questing Beast that was the MCAP. Please give laud and praise to all of our conquering heroes for their most valiant efforts. Now makes for a perfect time to curl up with a good book which is precisely what we're doing in ELA! Your learners are exploring themes like Decisions that Make a Difference, Finding Your Voice, and Rhetoric! Apologies if you find your Cougar getting particularly persuasive in the wake of their new rhetorical learnings. We hope they'll only use their powers of persuasion for good.
Congratulations to our 4-Way Essay Test Winners!
6th Grade:
- 1st Place: Fiona H
- 2nd Place: Caroline M
- 3rd Place: Emily T
8th Grade:
- 1st Place: Nitika A
- 2nd Place: Grace B
- 3rd Place: Elizabeth C
Mathematics
This year in our CMS mathematics classrooms students have learned how to problem solve inside and outside the classroom. Students worked collaboratively, demonstrated their understanding both collectively and individually, students articulated and explained their thinking, and persevered through challenging tasks. These experiences have allowed students to think collectively, learn together and construct knowledge and understanding.
Science
Please remind your child to bring their science notebook, a pencil, and their charged device to class every day. With testing, field trips, and end of year activities we need to make the most out of every class period!
6th graders are finishing their space unit and will start Earth Systems next week. In their last unit of the year they will focus on How and Why Earth is constantly changing. Students will learn about the layers of the Earth, plate boundaries, movement and geologic events that occur at those boundaries, weathering, erosion, deposition, and the rock cycle.
7th graders are wrapping up their Awaken the Force unit by planning and constructing paper roller coasters. Their final unit of the year is called Making Waves. During the unit students will focus on how waves are used to transfer energy and information. The unit will start with an introduction to waves. Then students will learn about sound and light. During this unit, students will have the opportunity to dissect a cow eye!
8th graders are already working on their last unit, Overstepping our Resources. They have learned about the distribution of resources around the world and how finding, obtaining, transporting, and using those resources affects ecosystems. The students will focus on one local resource or threat to investigate throughout the unit and will present an “Environmental Showcase” about their topic which will earn them 10 SSL hours. Canoe trips are underway and we are excited students will get a first hand look at the ecosystem at Days Cove or Dundee Creek.
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Social Studies
Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Grade social studies are finishing up the year strong. Our sixth-grade classes are learning about Ancient China and Ancient Rome. Their discussion of Ancient Rome will prepare them for a transition into seventh grade Medieval History for next year. Our seventh-grade classes are learning about the societies of North and South America both pre and post European colonization. Their understanding of the geography and civilizations of this region will prepare them for eighth grade US History next year. Finally, our eighth-grade classes are preparing to take the History MCAP and are closing out the year looking at the Reconstruction of the United States after the Civil War. In ninth grade they will pick up with US History post Civil War. This is different from previous years when ninth grade focused on World History. World History will now be a tenth-grade course.
Fine Arts
Performing Arts
- We have MANY concerts coming up. Here are some things to put on your calendar:
- SOC/WOC/VOS Rehearsals - do you know when your child has afterschool rehearsal? If not, email their director!
- Dulaney Area Festivals - concerts begin at 7pm at Dulaney High School
- Band - Monday, May 6th (WOC Students ONLY)
- Orchestra - Tuesday, May 7th (SOC Students ONLY)
- Spring Concerts (All start at 7pm in Open Space)
- CMS Orchestra Concert - Wednesday, May 8th
- CMS Band Concert - Wednesday, May 15th
- CMS Chorus Concert - Wednesday, May 22nd
- State Orchestra Festival Field Trip - Thursday, May 16th (SOC ONLY)
- Incoming 5th Grade Orientation - Thursday, May 30th (SOC/WOC/VOC ONLY)
- Hershey Music in the Parks - Saturday, June 1st (SOC/WOC/VOC ONLY)
- Helpers wanted! We need concession stand helpers at each of our three spring concerts. It's a pretty easy gig, and all proceeds go directly to support our music students. Plus, you'll get to hear some great music! Please sign up here if you are able to assist. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C4CA8AA22A6F49-49419323-spring
- Pizza Party Helpers Wanted! We need several parent volunteers to assist with our SOC/WOC/VOC pizza party on May 30th. If you are available to assist with setup/clean-up from 3:30-5, please sign up here. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C4CA8AA22A6F49-49420387-socvocwoc
UNIFORM!
Physical Education and Health
This quarter, in Physical Education, classes will be outdoors, as the weather permits. Units will include golf, softball, tennis, and track and field. Please remind your students to dress accordingly, with sneakers. Students are expected to participate in all activities. If your child is affected by seasonal allergies, that would impede their ability to do physical activities outdoors, please communicate with their PE teacher and/or the school nurse. Your child is also encouraged to bring a water bottle to class.
World Language & ESOL
World Language
Students in Spanish Novice A are starting 4th quarter reading El capibara con botas, a fun story about a capibara who wears boots and lives in Ecuador. Next, we will transition into learning how to describe what we wear (including botas!) and learning how to describe our fashion styles. We will finish the year with our 3rd and final novel, Llama en Lima.
Spanish Novice B students will head into the month of May reading their final novel of the year, Brandon Brown and the New Houdini. Students will be able to continue practicing with all of the skills that they have learned through the year and apply them to this final book.
Intermediate Spanish students We finished up the month of April with a mini art unit where the students learned about famous Spanish speaking artists. Students ended this mini unit with an art project where they were able to choose one artist's style to emulate. As we come towards the end of the year we will start our final book, El Chico Globo.
BRILLA students will begin their capstone project. All sixth-grade students will research a Latin American country they have a personal connection to in order to share with the school. Our seventh-grade students will research an HSI they are interested in attending and our eight grade students will create a presentation about a career they are interested in exploring. All of their presentations will be displayed during their capstone event on June 5th.
ESOL
Advanced Beginner English uses leveled content to expand language. We will end the year with biographical exploration. We began the quarter with a study of Madame C.J. Walker and will continue in our exploration of Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, and more.
Beginner Language Arts will end the year with literature circles. Students will read leveled texts both fiction and non-fiction as they conduct research and read examples of “Coming to America” stories. Students will use dialogue, plot development, and character development to write their own “Coming to America” story.
ELA:
Students in ELA 1 will continue to focus on their reading and writing skills by practicing grammatical rules and reading stories to demonstrate their phonetic abilities as well as their reading comprehension.
ESOL:
Students in ESOL 1 will be starting our unit on biographies. This includes the essential questions of, "how do memoirs help us to make meaning of our lives" and "how do we reflect to make sense of prior experiences?" Students will conduct interviews, make timelines, write paragraphs, read biographies, and create posters throughout this unit.
AVID
AVID Electives 7 & 8
AVID 7 scholars wrapped up their reverse poems about the impact of AVID which will be combined to create a class video. They also have been using tutorials to review and prepare for the MCAP exams.
AVID 8 scholars tackled the PSAT 8/9 this month to get their first experience with a pre-collegiate exam and to familiarize themselves with the types of questions, timing and format of the PSAT. Students scored their exams to identify their strengths and weaknesses and set goals for preparing for the real PSAT in high school.
Coming up in May AVID scholars will be preparing for their Capstone College & Career Fair on June 5, 2024. AVID 7 will research and spotlight colleges that they are interested in, while AVID 8 will research and spotlight careers. Students are also preparing for their final quarterly visit with Padonia International Elementary school to work with the 2nd and 3rd graders.
CMS PTA MAY UPDATE
Thanks to your generous Cougar Campaign donations and support for restaurant nights, spiritwear sales, and more this year, CMS PTA is happy to be able to assist with many year-end activities at CMS. These include field trips, field days, Grade 8 Farewell events, Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, and more. Volunteer help and family involvement make a tremendous difference at CMS – thank you! Wishing our students, staff, and families a great spring!
CMS TEACHER & STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK – MAY 6-10
Celebrating our totally tubular team with “Back to the Eighties” fun. Families are invited to donate food, drinks, and prizes as well as volunteer help – please sign up here – thank you!:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C49AFAF29A0FA7-49036195-cmsteacher#/
Contact: Lisa Clemmer, CMS PTA Hospitality - eclemmer2@gmail.com
CMS PTA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING & ELECTION - MAY 20
Our next CMS PTA meeting will be Monday, May 20th, 7pm, in the CMS Library and virtual*. This will be a General Membership meeting and election for our 2024-2025 President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. (All current CMS PTA members are eligible to vote.) Our final monthly meeting will be held Monday, June 10th, 7pm. CMS PTA meetings are open to all CMS parents/guardians and staff - your perspectives and feedback are appreciated.
*Join CMS PTA Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82968125376?pwd=MU81dHBFR3VmZEV4WEhCM09CRzY1UT09
Meeting ID: 829 6812 5376 - Passcode: 21030
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,82968125376#,,,,*21030# US (Washington DC)
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
MAY 6 CHIPOTLE FUNDRAISER FOR CMS PTA
From 5-9pm on Monday, May 6th, enjoy dinner from Chipotle at 1830 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium (just north of Ridgely Rd.), and they’ll donate 25% of proceeds to CMS PTA - thank you! Show the flyer below in store, or for online orders, use code: MVLP6FJ
SPIRITWEAR SALE
The CMS PTA spiritwear sale ended April 28th, and orders will ship in approximately 2-3 weeks from that date. Thank you! CMS PTA contact: Whitney Leber – wepleber@comcast.net
Dulaney High School Spiritwear: For future Dulaney Lions in Grade 8, DHS PTSA welcomes your orders online here: https://dulaneyhspta.itemorder.com/shop/home/ (Orders are shipped directly to your home. Contacts: Barney Aburn (barney@casportswear.com) or Brenda Peiffer (brenda.peiffer32@gmail.com)
CYC at CMS (sponsored by Cockeysville Rec Council – not CMS PTA)
The May 10th CYC was canceled. April 12th was the last CYC of the year – thank you to all who helped! CYC chairs Julia Kardian and Kristal Schuch are stepping down at the end of this year. New volunteer chairpersons are needed so CYC can continue at CMS. Please contact cockeysvillecyc@gmail.com for more information.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
- CMS BOOK FAIR – May 28-31 (sponsored by CMS – not CMS PTA): Volunteers are especially needed: During Fair daily - 7:30- 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., or 2:30 – 3:15 p.m.; Pack up after fair – Friday, 5/31 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Email CMS Librarian Ms. Salemi at msalemi@bcps.org if you’re willing to help.
- CMS PTA BOARD: CMS PTA will have multiple roles open for the 2024-2025 school year. Please contact Karen Sober at president@cockeysvillemiddlepta.org if you’d like to learn more. Election of the 2024-2025 President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer will take place on May 20th. Grade 5 families coming to CMS this fall are also invited to get involved now. This is a great way to get to know the school and other families and to make a difference for students.
- CMS PTA OUTREACH: Volunteers help CMS students and families in need in various ways, such as unpacking the monthly Maryland Food Bank delivery at CMS on May 15, helping with the CMS Food Pantry distribution on May 16, assisting with Student Support Network efforts at CMS, and more. If interested, please contact Kat Brayton for more information at ktuers@gmail.com.
- DULANEY HIGH SCHOOL: DHS PTSA invites current 8th grade families to get involved at Dulaney now! There are multiple DHS PTSA Board roles open for 2024-2025. Contact DHS PTSA President Chris Eary at chriseary161@gmail.com and learn more at https://dulaneyhighschoolptsa.com/.
COMING UP:
- May 1, 5-7pm: Flower fundraiser order pickup in CMS bus loop (contact: Ms. Denton - kdenton@bcps.org)
- May 1, 6:30pm: CMS Art Show (Fashion Show begins at 7pm)
- May 2, 5-8pm: Rita’s fundraiser for CMS AVID/BRILLA (11307 York Rd., Cockeysville)
- May 6, 5-9pm: Chipotle fundraiser for CMS PTA (1830 York Rd., Lutherville-Timonium – just north of Ridgely Rd.)
- May 6-10: CMS Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week (please sign up here to help with food and more – thank you!)
- May 8, 7:00pm: CMS Orchestra Concert
- May 14: Schools and Offices Closed - Election Day
- May 15, 7pm: CMS Band Concert
- May 16, 3-4pm: CMS Food Pantry
- May 17: Asynchronous Learning Day for Students - Professional Development for Staff – 3-hour early dismissal
- May 20, 7pm: CMS PTA General Membership Meeting in CMS Library & virtual
- May 22, 7pm: CMS Chorus Concert
- Now to May 24: New/Gently Used Shoe Drive at CMS for CMS AVID/BRILLA (Funds2Orgs) – collection by main office in mornings
- May 27: Schools and Offices Closed - Memorial Day Observed
- May 28-31: CMS Book Fair
- May 30, 6-8pm: CMS 5th Grade Orientation Night
- June 10, 7pm: CMS PTA Monthly Meeting in CMS Library & virtual
- June 10-13: Grade 8 Celebration Week
ANNUAL BCPS VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Volunteers are greatly appreciated at CMS! The BCPS annual online volunteer training and application should be completed prior to volunteering at CMS (or chaperoning field trips, etc.). Please bring your training certificate and completed application to the CMS office when you arrive the first time to volunteer or email them to mbailey7@bcps.org. The online training takes less than 20 minutes. Thank you!
BCPS Volunteer Training & Application: https://www.bcps.org/cos/communications/FACE/b_c_p_s_volunteers
ABOUT CMS PTA:
- Contact: Karen Sober, President – president@cockeysvillemiddlepta.org
- Website & Calendar: https://cockeysvillemiddlepta.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cockeysvillemspta/
- CMS PTA Givebacks (for communications and more - formerly known as MemberHub): https://cockeysvillecougars.memberhub.com/join/c93c99
- Join PTA ($8) or make a Cougar Campaign donation online here: https://cockeysvillecougars.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true
- On May 15, 2024, the domain for our Givebacks website and online store will change from memberhub to givebacks. All of our Memberhub URLs will automatically redirect to our new Givebacks URL.
Cockeysville Middle School
Email: cockeysvillems@bcps.org
Website: http://cockeysvillems.bcps.org
Location: 10401 Greenside Drive, Cockeysville, MD, USA
Phone: 443-809-7626
Twitter: @CockeysvilleMS