2024-2025 CJMS Back to School

Updated Message for 8/18 (Phone messages will start on Sunday, 8/25):

Hello Cabin John Family! This week we welcome back our teaching staff to get everything ready to welcome back all of our students on Monday, August 26th! I'm sure if you are like me you feel like the summer went entirely too fast, but are still excited to begin our 2024-2025 school year.

This newsletter will be mostly the same as what was sent out early in August, but there are a few updates. In the digital newsletter, I will mark anything that has been updated in the title so you know there is new information in that section.

We are very excited to welcome our incoming 6th graders this upcoming Thursday. Whether students are being dropped off or arriving by their bus, students should report directly to the cafeteria where they will get all the information they need to have a successful day and learn all about Cabin John and middle school. There will be staff all around the building to help them find the cafeteria. 6th graders will receive a copy of their schedule in the cafeteria and be able to visit all of their classes on mini-day. 7th and 8th graders who are new to CJMS are also invited to join us on mini-day. We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!

Message from Early August Message:

Our Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), PTSA, counselors, and staff have been working diligently all summer to prepare for the students' arrival. A huge thank you to our Building Services staff for their hard work in thoroughly cleaning the building!

During our leadership team's planning week in July, we reflected on feedback from students, families, and staff to make necessary adjustments. We are planning professional development focused on preventing and responding to bias and hate incidents. Every member of our CJMS community deserves a safe and inclusive learning environment free of harassment and discrimination.

We will continue to focus on respect, relationships, and resilience. These values are essential to our students' academic journey and well-being and align with our CJMS Mission and Vision. Our entire school community will benefit from our commitment to these values. I look forward to working together to make our mission and vision a reality for our students.

Another item discussed as an Instructional Leadership Team and with the parents who came in to give us some direct feedback was our Back to School Night. This year BTSN is scheduled for Wednesday, August 28th. After discussions we are strongly considering combining our annual PTSA Back to School Fair and Back to School Night. We would have a community meet and greet with food trucks and games outside (sponsored by PTSA) and then an open house from 7:00pm to 8:00pm where you can walk the building with (or without!) your students and go see where their classes are and meet teachers who will be in their locations. In order to gain more community feedback before we move forward, please use this google form to voice your opinion by August 13th. Thank you in advance for your feedback! (Update: Families voted for the CJMS Open House combined with the PTSA Fair! Stay tuned for more information!)

The remainder of this newsletter includes important information to help you prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at Somer_Snider@mcpsmd.org. You can also visit our CJMS website anytime!

Have a wonderful rest of your summer, and we will see you soon!

Sincerely,
Ms. Somer Snider
Principal, CJMS

Our digital newsletter can be translated into many different languages and the font can be adjusted so our entire community has access to what is happening in the CJMS community!

To adjust your view of the newsletter, click on the "accessibility" button. The button is a circle with figure in it. Once you click the accessibility button, the menu to choose the language or different font size will appear.

Cabin John has always made clear communication a priority. We will continue to prioritize communication and tell the story of Cabin John Middle School through multiple venues. Please expect the following from us:

• Weekly Sunday night Connect Ed phone call @ 6:00pm from administration with detailed information on activities and upcoming happenings at CJMS.

• Weekly Smore newsletter from administration with detailed information on activities and upcoming happenings at CJMS.

• Staff members will also be utilizing Remind, as our texting communication app.

• All updates and links will be found on the Cabin John Middle School website.

• Weekly Assignment Summary (a document briefly listing all class assignments for the week) will be included in the weekly Smore newsletter as well as posted on the CJMS website.

• Cabin John Twitter account will continue to be utilized to communicate messages and share news and events with our community. (@CabinJohnMS)

We are continuing our work to be more “green” and share as much information as possible with parents electronically. We will notify you with Connect Ed updates when we add or update with new information. But, if you cannot find what you need in this newsletter or on our webpage, please contact the main office and we will be happy to help you!

Last year, we shifted to a hybrid model where students left their assigned Chromebooks at school, but kept it throughout the school day. We still saw significant damages to the Chromebooks and challenges with getting them fixed. This year, we will be transitioning back to a cart model. Teachers will be assigned a Chromebook cart and students will use the Chromebooks in each classroom when they are needed for instruction. Chromebooks will not be signed out to individual students and students will not be taking them from class to class.

Just like last year, students will no longer bring the Chromebook home every night but all online homework and assignments can be accessed from any Internet connected device.

If your child does not have access to an Internet connected device at home and needs a device, please complete the form linked below.

6th Grade Mini-Day

When: Thursday, August 22nd from 8:15 a.m. to 12:00pm

Who: All CJMS 6th grade students & only 7th/8th graders who are new to CJMS

What: 6th grade students are invited to participate in a "mini-day" to acquaint them with the CJMS school community before the official first day of school on Monday, August 26th. On Thursday, August 22nd, your students may ride their bus from their scheduled bus stops to Cabin John for an all school orientation day. School will dismiss at 12:00 p.m. and students may ride home on their regular buses.

Students in our special education discrete programs (LFI & SCB) are strongly encouraged to attend, but their bus transportation may not be available, so parents are encouraged to drive their students to school to meet their teachers.

FIRST Day of School

When: Monday, August 26th from 8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Who: All CJMS

What: Staff will assist students in locating their classrooms. All students will receive their schedules on the first day of school. Grade level counselors will be available to answer student scheduling questions.

• All 6th grade students will report to the cafeteria.

• All 7th & 8th grade students will report to posted homeroom assignments located in the 7th & 8th Grade PODs.

• Students in our special education programs will report to their designated classroom teachers.

Back to School Night & 1st PTSA Meeting*

The vote showed the majority of CJMS families preferred to switch to an Open House format. The schedule is being finalized this week as staff are returning and I will send out an update by the end of this week. The schedule below is tentative!

When: Wednesday, August 28th

Who: All CJMS

What: Please join us at 5:30 p.m. for the PTSA sponsored Back to School Fair:

• 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Optional - PTSA meet & greet in the activity lobby; food trucks and games outside on the side walks (weather depending)

• 6:00 p.m. - Room 1301 - Optional - Health Materials Review for 7th and 8th grade parents only

• 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - The entire building is open for parents to explore. CJMS staff will be in their classrooms and spaces so parents and guardians have the opportunity to walk their students schedules and meet all of their teachers. Families can also check out where their students locker is located or check out some informational tables we will have set up in and near the Media Center. We will send out more information of what is available by the end of this week!

Your children will bring home their daily class schedule, or a schedule can be obtained in the school’s Media Center. Families can also find student schedules in StudentVue or ParentVue.

Carpooling is encouraged, but overflow parking will be available at Bells Mill Elementary School, one block from our building, on Bells Mill Road.

Based on feedback from students, families, and staff, CJMS is incorporating a whole school PRIDE every day this year between periods 3 and 4. Students will see it on their schedules when they return to school as "Advisory."

During grade level lunches, we will no longer be reporting to Advisory first. Students will report directly to lunch and then have Wellness time for the last 15 minutes of their lunch period. Grade level administrators, counselors, and team leaders are working on what activities will be available during Wellness time, but students can expect recess outside, courtyard time, board games, and movies. More to come soon!

For the full bell schedule document, click here.

Transportation is working on the 2024-2025 bus routes! Unfortunately, the bus routes have not been shared yet - as soon as they are available I will share them and update this section of the newsletter. In the meantime, the 2023-2024 bus routes will be similar if you would like to look at last years.

Bus Routes

• Safety tips and reminders about the Maryland School Bus Laws for students, families, and motorists.
  

• MCPS Transportation - Bus Routes - as soon as transportation shares the routes they will be available here!

• Letter from MCPS Bethesda Bus Supervisor

• 2023-2024 Bus Routes for Cabin John Middle School - General Education

• Arrivals

• Departures

Main Office telephone: 240-406-1600

Counseling Office telephone: 240-406-1560

Health Office telephone: 240-406-1570

FAX: 240-740-4403

website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/cabinjohnms/

The school day for students is from 8:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is imperative that students not be dropped off prior to 7:55 a.m. Students being dropped off by parents/guardians at school must enter through the doors by the cafeteria. Parents/guardians, if you are using the student drop-off loop, please make sure to pull as far as possible to the stop sign at the end of the loop - students are not permitted to enter through the main office doors, so it doesn't help to drop them off at that location.

After school activities will start in mid-September on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Students must be picked up from after-school activities by 4:35 p.m. as supervision is not scheduled outside of these hours.

If you have questions about events, schedules or other school-related matters, including reporting the absence of a student, please call us at 240-406-1600.

If you need to report an absence and would like to submit a letter via email, please send an email to our attendance secretary, Ms. Jordan Murek (email: Jordan_Murek@mcpsmd.org). CJMS Attendance policies can be found here.

There have been questions about the PE uniforms. Students can wear any materials they are comfortable in with some stipulations the PE team will share with them the first few days of school. They are not required to wear Cabin John spirit gear - even though we love when they do!

We will open the CJMS PE sponsored spirit shop back up on August 26th. This link will be available in the next newsletter.

More information coming soon from the incoming PTSA President! They will be voting in new members of the PTSA Board at the August 28th meeting.

Please be sure to become a member of this important organization. Our PTSA is funded primarily through our memberships and donations.

Membership Information:

Family Memberships (2 parents) are $50

Student and Faculty Memberships are $10

General donations are welcomed.

Ways to join the CJMS PTSA:

**Preferred Method** AtoZConnect (payment can be made with any credit card) @ https://cabinjohnptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/

Mail in an application (send in your membership form with a check;

mail to Cabin John MSPTSA, Attn: Treasurer, 10701 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, MD 20854)

Questions? Send an email to PTSA Membership.

Our first meeting will be at the start of Back to School Night on August 28th. Please join us to hear more about how we can all support our CJMS school community!

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students working toward a Maryland High School Diploma are required to complete 75 student service learning (SSL) hours in addition to other graduation requirements. Students may earn SSL hours beginning the summer after grade 5 and continue to accrue hours through high school. SSL hours are also awarded to middle school students who successfully pass grade 6 science, grade 7 English, and grade 8 social studies and complete all SSL activities included in these courses. Hours may be earned in school-sponsored clubs and organizations that have a service focus and through involvement with pre-approved, official nonprofit tax exempt organizations in unpaid activities that address needs in the greater community. MCPS is highly aware of the potential for growth that can occur for students involved in the preparation, action, and reflection phases of quality SSL experiences.

The SSL hours earned while enrolled in an MCPS middle school accompany the student to high school. The SSL record of Cabin John Middle School students will be maintained by Ms. Jennifer Poole, SSL coordinator. Progress toward this diploma requirement is reflected on quarterly report cards and in the MCPS Parent Portal. Students and parents should monitor this record and keep copies of all SSL documents. Documentation of any school year or summer service for which SSL hours are desired can be turned into Ms. Poole through email or may be turned into the Cabin John Main Office.

Further SSL information is available at the MCPS Student Service Learning website. All necessary SSL forms can be found on the homepage of the Student Service Learning website. The Superintendent’s SSL Award will be given to students who meet the high school graduation requirements by the 1st Friday in April of a middle school year. Support your child’s involvement in meeting this graduation requirement by helping them choose meaningful service-learning opportunities, follow program guidelines, and keep accurate records of participation.

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how they can find opportunities on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center's website: https://mcpsmd.info/4dcN2rO.

Parents should use their ParentVue portal to update their student’s emergency information online.

You may click here to view the ParentVue Guide (Student Information: How do I see student information?) for directions on how to do so. This is the best way to update your student’s information. However, if you cannot provide this information electronically, students are given student specific pre-printed copies of these forms as well as other important forms (see complete list of forms at the end of this letter) during the first weeks of school and are asked to take them home to be reviewed and completed by a parent or guardian. Please update all family contact information as this is our only means to contact family members in the event of an emergency. This information is not shared outside of the school system. It is essential that each form be updated and returned to the student’s 1st period teacher by Friday, September 6th.

Please note that students will only be released to the parent/guardian and emergency contact person(s) identified on the Student Emergency Information form.

CJMS staff and students practice fire evacuation and emergency drills regularly. The school’s safety and crisis preparedness plan is based on a national model and is supported by central office safety and security staff. The school’s On-Site Emergency Team (OSET) is comprised of administrators, counselors, health room staff, teachers, building service personnel and other staff members. The team meets regularly to ensure the safety of the school building and our ability to respond to potential safety concerns and/or emergencies.

Our school has 40+ security cameras in public areas of the building. There are no cameras in classrooms, restrooms or locker rooms. Security cameras provide critical information should security issues or emergencies occur.

In the event of a school emergency, the school or school system will contact parents/guardians through public service announcements and through the use of the Connect-Ed phone message system. (Please make sure that phone numbers and emails are kept up to date.) As we respond to any emergency, our first priority is the safety of all staff and students on our campus. Driveways and parking lot access must be available for emergency response teams and their vehicles, and may be blocked for any other access. If you need to come to the school, please remember to follow the directions of emergency and/or school staff. Parent reunification sites will be set up in the main office atrium and cafeteria. Any parent or adult picking up students must have a valid form of identification and the name of the authorized adult must be on the student’s emergency information form. Students will not be released to anyone other than those documented on this form.

Montgomery County Public Schools requires school volunteers and partnership agencies to complete certain compliance measures in order to volunteer within our school district. Specific instructions can be found on the Parent/Guardian and Community Volunteer Form.

• Online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training via their myMCPS Classroom/Canvas account
• Background check (dependent upon the type of volunteer service, per the Volunteers regulation and FAQ)

MCPS has created a step-by-step User-Guide (with pictures) on how to access create and access their myMCPS Classroom/Canvas account to complete the Online Recognizing Child Abuse and Neglect Training module AND upload the Certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination from the state Department of Health.

Principal: Ms. Somer Snider

Assistant Principal (6th Grade): Mr. Casey Siddons

Assistant School Administrator (7th Grade): Mr. Andy Lee

Assistant Principal (8th Grade): Ms. Jen Wingate

Main Office Phone: 240-406-1600
Fax: 240-740-4403
Guidance Counseling Office: 240-406-1560
Health Room: 240-406-1570

Attendance Office: 240-406-1599 (to leave a VM)

Please call CJMS to notify us of your child's absence.

CJMS Attendance Office Procedures can be found here.

Email: Somer_Snider@mcpsmd.org
Website: https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/cabinjohnms/
Location: 10701 Gainsborough Road, Potomac, MD, USA
Phone: 240-406-1600
X: @CabinJohnMS