Cedar Crest Middle School Falcons

Hello CCMS Falcon Families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! I am so honored to be the principal of Cedar Crest Middle School. Our building administration, faculty, and staff are looking forward to a safe and successful school year with our students.

Please read this online newsletter so that you have up to date information pertaining to Cedar Crest Middle School. You can bookmark this link for easy access; however, the link will change with each monthly newsletter. If you have any questions, please contact the main office at 717-272-2032. The CCMS secretaries will direct your questions or inquiry to the appropriate staff member to best serve you.

Please be sure to scroll all the way to the end of the newsletter for important information from the District Office.

Our students are our number one priority. The Cedar Crest Middle School administration, faculty, and staff are a TEAM working together to teach and support our students to reach their individual potential. We can't achieve this goal without the support and cooperation from our students' parents, guardians and caretakers. Good communication between families and the school help to provide supports and build a relationship of understanding and cooperation.

Thank you for taking the time to view the August-September newsletter so that you know all the important information for your student(s) to have a great start to the school year.

Sincerely,

Mr. Joseph Burton

Principal

Cedar Crest Middle School

Cornwall-Lebanon School District Mission

“Empowering students to reach their individual potential.”

Highlights

• Important Dates
• Student Pick-up and Drop--off Instructions
• Open House Information
• School Supply List and Important Rules to Review with Students
  
• Information from the CCMS Office and Counseling Office
• Transportation Information
• Parent/Guardian Help
• Wings of Praise
• Parent-School Partners (PS-P)
• Information from the District Office
• Contact Information for Administration and School Counselors

If you need a translation, please open the online version of your newsletter by clicking the "View it in your browser" link provided at the top of the email: Once you have accessed the online newsletter, you can look at the top right side of the newsletter to find the "Accessibility" bar and the "Translate Newsletter" option.

Si necesitas traducción, por favor abra la versión en línea del boletín escogiendo “View it in your browser” del enlace proveído en la parte superior del corre electrónico: cuando hayas acezado el boletín en línea, puedes mirar a la parte superior derecha del boletín donde va a encontrar la barra de accesibilidad y busque la opción “Translate Newsletter”.

• August 15: Parent-School Partners (PSP) Meeting at 7 PM in the CCMS Library
• August 16: Skyward Student and Family Access Opens
• August 21: Student Medication Drop-off with the CCMS Nurse (Mrs. North) from 6:45-8:00 PM
• August 21: CCMS OPEN HOUSE from 6:45 to 8:00 PM
• August 26: First Day of School...WELCOME TO CCMS!
• August 30: Faculty In-Service...No School for Students
• September 2: No School for Students...Labor Day
• September 12: CCMS Picture Day
• September 19: Parent-School Partners (PSP) Meeting at 7 PM in the CCMS Library

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 6:45-8:00 PM

Please enter through the main doors (Door 3)

Open House is intended for families and students to meet your child's team of teachers, locate and visit their classrooms, and get a general road map for the 2024-2025 school year.

This is a drop-in style open house between 6:45 and 8:00 PM. Students will start by meeting their homeroom teacher to receive their schedule. Students and their families are then invited to walk their student's schedule and tour CCMS.

During your visit to Back-to-School Night, make sure to swing by our school store for the latest in Falcon apparel and swag. Bring cash or checks.

The Cedar Crest Middle School Medication Drop Off is scheduled for Wednesday, August 21 from 6:30-8pm. Please have the medication order, signed by the practitioner, at the time medications are dropped off or have the doctor’s office fax the order to (717) 389-1858, prior to August 21st.

Whenever possible, medications should be given at home. The Cornwall-Lebanon School District adopted the medication policy using the PA Department of Health guidelines. Guidelines require both parent and physician signatures for administration of both prescribed and over the counter medications (Tylenol, Tums, Ibuprofen). A parent or adult designee must transport all medications to and from school.

The State Mandated Health Screenings are scheduled as follows:

• September 3 & 4- Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and vision screenings for all grades, as well as scoliosis screening for 7th graders

• October 29-Hearing and remaining scoliosis screenings for 7th graders

Please contact the Middle School nurse, Nicole North, at (717) 389-1845, with any questions or concerns.

Upon arrival at CCMS:

6th Grade Students: Report directly to the AUDITORIUM and sit in a seat. Each homeroom teacher will call their students up to meet them and escort them to class.

7th Grade Students: Report directly to the CAFETERIA and meet your homeroom teacher. Each homeroom teacher will be holding a sign with their name displayed. Each teacher will then escort their students to class.

8th Grade Students: Report directly to the GYMNASIUM and meet your homeroom teacher. Each homeroom teacher will be holding a sign with their name displayed. Each teacher will then escort their students to class.

On the first day of school, all students will receive the following items:

1. A copy of their schedule

2. A copy of the CCMS Handbook

3. A student calendar/planner to record and organize assignments

4. Free and reduced school lunch information

5. Student emergency health information form

6. Consent to Take Medication Form (Please see above for more information from the school nurse.)

REMINDER: All 7th & 8th Grade Students should have their laptops charged, in their cases, and ready to bring in on the first day of school.

Please review all the handouts with your child so that you and your child are familiar with school policies and procedures. We ask that parents/guardians electronically sign the handbook form by logging into Skyward and complete the student emergency health information form to be returned as soon as possible, but no later than Thursday, August 29, 2024.

Student schedule information can be accessed beginning on Friday, August 16 at 4 pm through Family Access by clicking on the Student Profile then the Scheduling tab. Parents who do not have Family Access should contact the CLSD Technology Department by calling 717-272-2032 and requesting the technology office.

Every Friday at CCMS is Falcon Friday! On Falcon Friday, all students and staff should wear our school colors—blue and gray—or their favorite Falcon Spirit or Cedar Crest gear to promote our CCMS Falcon Pride!

Cell Phones/Electronics:

All cell phones, personal electronics and ear buds must be turned off or silenced, and kept in a student's personal bag or secured in their locker, at all times during the day. Students are not permitted to keep them in their pocket. This helps us to ensure an environment for teaching and learning free of distractions from personal electronics.

Please help us to share this information with your student and ensure them that our students' safety is our first priority at all time. If a student needs to communicate with home, our staff will be available to support them at all times.

If a student requires the use of a personal electronic device as a medical requirement, please contact the school nurse and your student's grade level school counselor so we can safely and appropriately work with our student and their family to meet their needs.

Water Bottles/Drinks:

All students are permitted to bring a water bottle to school. The bottle may only be filled with water. Students are not permitted to bring other types of drinks to school. This includes energy drinks, soda, coffee, or specialty drinks from a restaurant.

This helps our students to stay hydrated without allowing the opportunity of a spill creating a difficult area to clean. CCMS is outfitted with water bottle fillers throughout the school so students may refill their water bottle throughout the day.

Thank you in advance for helping our students to know and understand our expectations.

As we make plans for the opening of school, we’re excited to welcome our students and help them prepare for a healthy, productive year. In order to ensure that students are organized and prepared for learning, we are asking that students keep the following materials in their backpacks to use at school.

Please purchase these materials as you are able; but please inform your student's teacher if you need assistance to acquire any of these items. At CCMS, Every Falcon Counts, and we’ll be sure that each of our students has what they need to learn at school and at home.

Suggested Items

• Backpack
• Earbuds for laptop
• Pencils with erasers
• Highlighter
• Calculator (Suggested TI 30xiis) This is a good general calculator for all grade levels.
• Refillable water bottle
• Each team of teachers might suggest a certain item be purchased, for example a 1" binder, a certain size notebook, etc. The students will be informed of these items and will be given time to purchase them.

These calculators should cost approximately $10 and should last through middle school.

Click Here For Walmart

Click Here For Amazon

All students will sign up for physical education shirts during the first or second week of school. Shirts are adult only sizing. Please discuss what size your student should sign up for and the number of shirts your student will need for the school year.

Chrisland Engineering, the shirt sponsor, has generously agreed to pay for every student first shirt again this year. One shirt will cost $4, while additional shirts will cost $8. No money for the shirts will be collected until shirts arrive. Physical education staff will notify parents and students when shirts arrive, and payment is due.

All students will be assigned a locker for the 2024-2025 school year.

Locker Dimensions are 34" length x 10" width x 11" depth.

Students will receive their locker assignment and locker combination on the first day of school.

Our administration, faculty, and staff will be patient with our students as we help them to learn how to navigate the use of lockers.

If you have a combination lock at home, please practice it with your student so they are prepared for school. If you do not have a combination lock, we will help your student to learn.

Please click on the video below for a detailed description of how to use a combination lock.

Parents/Guardians if you are considering a transition for your student to an online learning program, please check out Cedar Crest Cyber (C3). This is a Cornwall-Lebanon School District K-12 program that will provide your student with an enriched and dynamic digital learning experience. Please find additional information by clicking either on the image or C3 here.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES (Save The Date)

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES will be held November 25 and 26. Appointments will be scheduled ONLINE starting in October. Watch for emails that will give you more details.

Attention first time 6th grade parents:

Middle School conferences are slightly different from elementary schools in that your child now has five main subject teachers. You will not automatically meet with the homeroom teacher but will need to make a choice of only TWO teachers that you would like to have a conference with. Pay attention to where your child may be struggling or which courses you may want to ask about.

Conference scheduling priority may be given to students that are failing classes so that an improvement plan can be developed.

Parents that need an interpreter for their conferences should call ahead to pre-schedule their times in order to coordinate with the translator. Please give the name of your child to the Counseling Office, 717-389-1840, and you will be contacted for more information.

Los padres que necesitan un intérprete para sus conferencias deben llamar con anticipación para programar previamente sus horarios con el fin de coordinar con el traductor. Por favor dé el nombre de su hijo a la Oficina de Consejería, 717-389-1840, y usted será contactado para más información.

Cedar Crest Middle School is pleased to announce its partnership with Communities in Schools (CISPA), a non-profit United Way organization whose mission is to help students succeed by removing roadblocks and providing students with the resources, supports and opportunities they need to thrive. CISPA works with school districts in the state to assist with basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. The program provides critical coordinated resources for students in need, including food, health check-ups, or extra academic help.

Attendance on a regular basis is critical to a student's success in school. If a student is absent, then a signed note from a parent stating the reason for his/her absence must be delivered to CCMS or emailed to MSattendance@clsd.k12.pa.us on the day following the absence. A three-day grace period will be afforded to a student who may forget a note. If a written excuse is not received within three days, CCMS will record the absence as unexcused. Students who are absent from school may not attend or participate in any after-school activity at either the Cedar Crest Middle School or High School.

Please Note: an "Excusal from Attendance" form must be filled out for all family trips and vacations of any length, prior to the absence. Family vacations do count towards a student's ten allowable parent notes for the school year.

Mrs. Lisa Fisher

CCMS Attendance Secretary

lfisher@clsd.k12.pa.us

Hello, Cornwall-Lebanon School District Families,

The Cornwall-Lebanon School District Food Service Department is excited for the 2024-2025 school year. Each year, Food Service is committed to providing great food choices for all Cornwall-Lebanon School District students.

Click on the links below to learn more about our district programs:

• Breakfast and Lunch Menus are available on the lunch and breakfast menus' tab.
• Breakfast is FREE for ALL in-person students.
• Free and Reduced Price Meals: CLSD encourages ALL families to apply for free OR reduced priced meals through the Free & Reduced Priced Meal Application.
  • Families can apply ONLINE: https://www.schoolcafe.com/CLSD
• Gov. Shapiro has approved NO COST meals for any student who qualifies for reduced priced meals. Families MUST apply & qualify for FREE/REDUCED price meals to have their child receive a FREE Breakfast and Lunch meal each school day.
• Families who apply online receive the quickest turn around for meal status (Free/Reduced/Paid)
• Click “Create a new account” for first time users OR “sign in to your account” if families applied online last year.
• Families may print and complete the paper application and send in with their child to school.
• If using the paper application, please make sure to use a pen. Use of pencil will have the application returned to the family and could result in delayed meal status change.
• For more information on free or reduced-price meals, click on the Free and Reduced Meals
• Student Account Balances: For information about setting up or adding money to your family’s household lunch account on Skyward Parent Access, click on Account Balances.

Cost for Middle School Lunch is $2.85.

Questions? For questions regarding student meals, or general Food Service inquiries, please contact Ms. Emily Rodriguez, RDN, erodriguez@clsd.k12.pa.us; or, call (717) 389-1849.

Students’ bus assignments are based on their home address. In the cases of split families, within the district, please contact the district office at 717-272-2031 to arrange bus assignments to both parents’ addresses if needed.

Transfer passes for students to ride buses other than those to which they are assigned will be issued ONLY IN CASES OF EXTREME EMERGENCY because of overcrowding in fully assigned buses.

Cornwall-Lebanon buses will use audio and video recording devices to monitor bus behavior in accordance with CLSD Policy #810.2.

Bus information was posted to Skyward on Monday, August 12. This information can be viewed through the Family Access website by clicking on the Student Info tab and then View Bus Schedule. Please continue to check skyward as times may change.

Any questions regarding transportation should be directed to the District Office at 717-272-2031.

The Cornwall-Lebanon School District provides activity buses for secondary students who must stay after school for athletic activities, club activities, other school related activities, tutoring, and detention. The activity buses leave the middle school main entrance starting at 4:15 pm. The activity buses run Monday through Thursday during the school year. Information regarding the activity bus runs, the location that the buses serve, and the bus number for the area is posted at several locations in the middle school. Our school staff is also available to assist students with determining the correct activity bus to take for the journey home.

It is the students’ responsibility to know which activity bus they ride before boarding the bus. Activity bus lists are provided in the main office and to our staff.

Only students who are involved in supervised after school athletics or activities may ride the activity buses. Students who choose to stay after school to observe an activity such as a sporting event are not permitted to ride the activity buses. Activity buses are a convenience offered to parents who are not able to secure their child who is involved in a supervised after school athletic event or other school activity.

Activity buses are not a replacement for the regularly scheduled bus routes. The activity bus may only bring a student to the approximate area where the student resides. Students need to advise the driver where they need to depart the bus in advance of the stop. Parents may still have to drive to a suitable location along the route to transport the student home.

Students riding the activity buses are subject to the same disciplinary guidelines as students who ride the regular buses.

The Skylert Notification System is only as accurate as the information you have provided to the District. Be sure your phone/email settings allow (do not block) these three numbers: (717) 272-2031; (717) 389-1810; (717) 272-2036 and emails from @clsd.k12.pa.us addresses. Please review your information and make any updates in Skylert:

1. Login to your Skyward account.

2. Click the word “Skylert” in the left menu.

3. Fill-in and check or uncheck your desired settings. Be sure to select at least one email or phone number in each category.

4. Click “SAVE” in the upper right side of the page when you are done and BEFORE you click on Exit.

CCMS P-SP would like to welcome you to another great school year. We are the parent organization at the Middle School and we raise funds to provide the students and staff at CCMS with some wonderful opportunities and activities. We invite all parents to join us for our monthly meetings held on the third Thursday of each month starting on August 17th at 7:00 PM in the Learning Center. If you are not able to join us, consider filling out our volunteer form to let us know where you are willing to help out when needed.

SAVE THE DATE!!

P-SP’s 3rd Annual Family Bingo will be held on Sunday, February 2nd. Be on the lookout for more information as the year goes on.

Please feel free to contact P-SP President, Beth Kline with any questions:

(edip319@hotmail.com) and follow us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/ccmspsp/).

SNACK SHACK – OUR 3rd YEAR OF STOCKING THE SNACK SHACK!

The past two years, you and your fellow CCMS families stocked the snack shack for CCMS Staff ALL YEAR LONG! And, it was so appreciated all year long by the staff. P-SP got emails and thank you cards so many different times, saying what a nice treat it was to go in and pick something up when he/she needed a pick-me-up. You were so generous. We are starting a brand-new school year and the snack shack is EMPTY.

Would you be able to help stock it by picking up a treat or two and sending it in (just mark it snack shack and bring it to the office) or buying something right from the Amazon Wish List and it will be delivered right to school?

The Amazon Wishlist is updated, and the link is below but please feel free to expand the variety by getting something else.

Biggest needs:

• Sodas (mini or regular)

• Seltzers/flavored drinks (iced teas, Body Amour, seltzers, Izze)

• Candy (they love M&Ms, full size candy bars, Swedish fish, dove chocolate, any variety pack that you can get at Sam’s or Costco)

• Snacks: Popcorners, Smart Pop, Pretzels, Nuts, Fig Bars, Pretzels (they like the Snyders of Hanover assorted flavors)

• Mixed nuts/trail mix

• Coffee K cups: Dunkin Donuts assorted flavors (French vanilla/hazelnut), Pike Place (Starbucks) and any other you think they would like.

• Cups: Disposable coffee cups (12-16oz) with lids for hot beverages.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!! WE COULDN'T SUPPORT OUR STAFF WITHOUT YOU!

Wings of Praise is a District-Wide Positive Behavior Support Program.

We have 4 core values that we teach, recognize and reward in our students.

Do What Is Right

Be Positive

Share Your Talents

Work Hard

The Wings or Praise program is funded by local companies that believe in our mission that teaching, recognizing, and rewarding our 4 Core Values will develop responsible students who become responsible employees, community members, and neighbors in our community in the years to come.

Students are eligible for weekly, monthly, and quarterly reward drawings for every Wings of Praise they receive.

Jump Start is an after-school tutoring program that allows students to complete homework assignments and work on projects. It is open to all students in grades 6-8. Beginning later this fall, sessions will be held every Tuesday from 3:10 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. in the Learning Center Classroom.

Student must:

• Arrive on time, sign in, and stay for the entire session
• Have work that needs to be completed in order to attend
• Secure their own transportation home at 4:10 p.m. or ride the after-school activity bus.

CCMS after school clubs and activities will return for the 2024-2025 School year!!!

Clubs are being formed now and information will be coming soon!

Are you ready to shine on stage or work behind the scenes?

Our 100% self-funded, no-cut theater program is the perfect opportunity for you! We invite all students and parents interested in learning more to an informational meeting on August 29th from 6-7pm in the CCMS Auditorium.

Pick up an Audition Packet or Tech Crew Packet today in the Main Office or the Counseling Office and get ready to be part of something amazing! Auditions will be held on September 3rd and 4th from 5-8pm. Don’t miss your chance to be involved in our exciting productions and be part of a creative community that benefits over 150 kids each show! Email Mrs. Glassford at kglassford@clsd.k12.pa.us.

See you there! 🎭✨

It is not too late to sign up for 6th, 7th or 8th grade chorus for this year! If you are interested in seeing what chorus is all about, stop down to meet Ms. Benson, in room C-17, or Mrs. Rauchut, in room C-19, to pick up information about joining an awesome group of students!

Sincerely,

Ms. Benson (6th Grade Choral Director)

Mrs. Rauchut (7th and 8th Grade Choral Director)

All district calendars have been mailed to families. A pdf file of the 2024-2025 calendar will be available on the district website. (www.clsd.k12.pa.us).

Please click the link directly below to read the parent/guardian informational letter about the Ident-A-Kid safety system and school entrance procedures. This letter includes FAQs.

Dr. Dean Bozman

Director of Operations and Personnel K-12

Cornwall-Lebanon School District

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Act 44 passed by the Pennsylvania State Legislator in June of 2018 relates to school safety. This act now requires mandatory security drills be conducted during the school year. Further, the Act requires both school staff and students be instructed, prior to the drill, on the methods they may use to respond to the incident.

During the first few weeks of school, the staff will be discussing with each student how to best respond to an emergency situation. Be assured that this training will not present graphic images, language or otherwise disturbing materials. The subsequent drill(s) are intended to be age appropriate and cause staff and students to deliberately consider how they may respond to a threat such as severe weather, active threat, hostage scenario or another life-threatening event. The drills are intended to be a slow-speed drill with a focus on affirming student’s choices and creating a positive and reinforcing atmosphere throughout the drill.

Together we work toward creating both a positive and safe school environment. We are committed to doing whatever we can to help your child learn valuable life-saving skills that not only work while in school but would apply to almost any circumstance they may encounter in life. If you have any questions, please call me at 717-272-2031 or email me at dbozman@clsd.k12.pa.us. You could also contact our Administrator of Educational Services, Dr. John Shaffer at 717-272-2031 or email him at jshaffer@clsd.k12.pa.us.

Sincerely,

Dean W. Bozman, Ed.D.

Director of Operations

Cornwall-Lebanon School District

Please contact the main office at 717-272-2032. The CCMS secretaries will direct your questions or inquiry to the appropriate staff member to best serve you.

Joseph Burton

Principal

Cedar Crest Middle School

Email: jburton@clsd.k12.pa.us

Marjorie Miller

Assistant Principal

Cedar Crest Middle School

Email: mmiller@clsd.k12.pa.us

Nicole McCracken

Assistant Principal

Cedar Crest Middle School

Email: nmcracken@clsd.k12.pa.us