Hello Eagles!
Tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/14) we kick-off our Cross Country season here at home. We invite you to grab a Kona Ice after school in the front parking lot and then stick around to cheer on our Eagles to victory! The Cross Country meet will be running around our campus starting at 5:00, so we will need to please keep sidewalks clear for the athletes.
Reminders: If your child forgets his or her lunch at home, you may only drop off lunch for your child ONLY. We cannot accept food for other children and we cannot accept food from delivery services like UberEats, Doordash, etc. The handbook states “Parents may provide food for their own child’s consumption, but they may not provide food items for other children.” Please help us by following this rule and our other campus protocols like bringing in your driver’s license when you come to pick up your child. It is imperative that parents and campus guests model for our students being respectful and kind to our office staff team who are here at CRMS each and every day to help support our students, staff and families. We appreciate your support, smiles, kindness and understanding as we work together to be unified in our implementation of campus-wide systems and procedures.
If you have ever considered how you can help support students and staff at CRMS, consider stopping by Cups and Cones TOMORROW (9/14) from 10am-12pm to learn more about being a substitute. Your work days are flexible and you can choose to work just at CRMS or any of our local neighborhood campuses that you prefer. See flyer below.
Go Eagles!
Sign-up to be a PTA Secret Pal for a CRMS faculty member!
And check out all that PTA has going on in the September CRMS PTA newsletter.
Art Club starts Thursday 9/29
Art Club will meet at 8:15 am the last Thursday of each month. There will be a different project each meeting.There is no cost to join. Regular attendance is preferred
● Students attending this month’s meeting will meet Mrs. Blevins at the main entrance at 8:15am- Late students won’t be able to enter the building until the doors open at 8:35am, thus will be unable to attend art club
● Students will work on the lesson until 8:55am, then they will be dismissed for first period.
● Students will pick up their work at the end of the day to take home!
Destination Imagination
DI Registration is open for 2022-2023 year and forms are available and due by October 7th to Mrs. George.
More information is found on our CRMS Clubs website as well as Mrs. George's teacher site.
Do you like to build, design, invent, create, perform, and work with a team to solve challenges? If so, you might be interested in participating in Virtual Destination Imagination (DI). Virtual Destination ImagiNation (DI) is a virtual extracurricular, school- sponsored program that fosters creativity, team-based problem-solving skills and life skills for students. Leander ISD DI is open to all students in third through twelfth grades. The goal of DI is to cultivate the creative problem-solving process and make it an unconscious part of students’ everyday lives. For more about DI: click here.
The above link has student registration forms as well as Team Manager responsibilities.
All student forms are due by Oct 7th to Mrs. George.
Eagle Allies Club starting in September
"Eagle Allies" exists to promote inclusion, kindness, diversity, and acceptance at Canyon Ridge. All are welcome!
As part of Eagle Allies, members will also work toward CRMS's No Place for Hate® initiative which provides educators and students with the resources to ensure that anti-bias and diversity education are an integral part of the school curriculum. No Place for Hate® also helps to create and sustain inclusive school environments where all students feel valued and have the opportunity to succeed by promoting respect for individual difference while challenging bigotry and prejudice.
We meet every other Tuesday morning at 8:15 in room 1130.
9/13, 9/27, 10/4, 10/18, 11/1, 11/15, 11/29, 12/13, 1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7, 3/21, 4/4, 4/18, 5/16
Google Classroom Code: ouii5lo
Library Club
Meeting is one Wednesday each month 8:15-8:55 AM
Students meet at the main doors of the school to get let in for the meeting. Students who arrive after 8:20 at school can come to the Library Club meeting in progress when the doors open at 8:35.
Library Club will meet one Wednesday each month: 10/19, 11/16, 12/14, 1/18, 2/15, 3/22, 4/12, 5/17.
The CRMS Library is a great place to find a home, make friends and help promote a love for reading on campus. The Library Club once-a-month meetings are held on the second Thursday before school in the CRMS Library. The monthly meeting usually include a group game/team building activity, library care, planning upcoming events, and prize drawings at each meeting. Library Club members help run the Read-a-Thon, Adopt-a-Shelf program, chess and game mornings, maker-space crafts, and assist with Book Fair, author visits, book clubs and general library upkeep. This is a vibrant club where students really take ownership in their library and make long-lasting friendships. Students will meet other readers and can even form their own student-run “Lunch Bunch Book Clubs” within Library Club to meet at times that work for the students and library schedule.
Co-Directed by Student Library Aides, Sponsor: Mrs. Illingworth, CRMS Librarian
New PTA Fundraiser - get some Beef!
Clothes Closet needs your help!
The South Location of the Leander ISD PTA Clothes Closet is up and running! This resource provides free clothing to families with students who reside within the LISD boundaries in grades PRE-K through the SELF (18+) program. The South Location can be found at River Place Elementary School in Portable #3 & #4. See flyer for address, shopping dates, and shopping hours.
If you would like to contribute to the clothes closet, you may donate gently used shoes and clothing at the green bin outside of Four Points Middle School located near the football field. Additionally, you can help out by purchasing off of their Amazon Wish List.
Official VHS Game Day T-shirt Store
The Vandegrift Vipers Black Out game against Stony Point is coming up on Friday, September 16th at Monroe Stadium! Get your BLACK OUT Game Day shirt! Pre order online. https://www.vandegriftcheer.com/GAMEDAYSHIRTS. Pre order online and pick up the Black Out shirt at CRMS on 9/14 during lunch. Black Out shirts will only be available for pre order pick up. No onsite sales.
The game day shirts are worn at:
- 9/2 WHITE OUT (Cedar Park @Gupton)
- 9/16 BLACK OUT (Stony Point @Monroe)
- 10/14 PINK OUT (Round Rock @Monroe)
- 10/28 HOMECOMING (Vista Ridge @Monroe)
Items will be available for pick up at CRMS during lunch before the game.
The shirts are Comfort Colors Brand T-Shirts.
PICK UP ONLY, NO DELIVERIES, NO REFUNDS
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Prevention Lessons
Leander ISD middle school students receive yearly prevention lessons in order to promote and support wellness, healthy choices, and a drug-free lifestyle. See lesson dates and parent information below. Contact your grade level counselor with any questions.
6th grade lessons on October 4-6, 2022
6th grade ATOD Lesson Parent Information - English
6th grade ATOD Lesson Parent Information - Spanish
7th grade lessons on October 18-20, 2022
7th grade ATOD Lesson Parent Information - English
7th grade ATOD Lesson Parent Information - Spanish
8th grade lessons on November 29-December 1, 2022
Parenting the Love and Logic Way® Registration (at CRMS)
Our LISD Student and Family Support Team is facilitating the six-week Parenting the Love and Logic Way® course during the Fall of 2022 and the Spring of 2023. Both courses will be offered on Thursday evenings from 6-8 pm. This six-week program is designed to help parents nurture responsible, respectful, fun to be around children who will learn how to make their own choices, own their problems, think critically and logically for themselves, while parents let empathy and consequences do the teaching. The course is appropriate for parents with any aged child and any situation: home, school or even work. The series is open to any parent.
2022-2023 Love and Logic Flyer
Fall 2022 Class:
Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Dates for the 6-week series: October 6, 13, 20, 27 & November 3 & 10, 2022
Location: Canyon Ridge Middle School Lecture Hall
Spring 2023 Class:
Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Dates for the 6-week series: January 26, February 2, 9, 16, 23, & March 2, 2023
Location: Running Brushy Middle School Library.
CRMS in need of AVID tutors
This is a paid position with flexible scheduling.
Start Date and Training:
- Training for tutors will be the last week in September. Returning tutors will have asynchronous training and new to AVID will have in person training.
- Start date for tutors is expected to be Oct. 3rd
Foreign Language Testing - Deadline September 21
CRMS families, if your child is proficient in a language and would like to pursue testing opportunities to earn high school credit for this language, please contact your school counselor for information on 2022/2023 testing. Testing date for fall 2022 is October 5, 2022 on the CRMS campus. The deadline to register for fall testing is September 21, 2022. Testing slots are limited due to the nature of the test and classroom capacity. Once the slots are full, your child can be added to the spring 2023 list. Testing is open to all grade levels, but recommended for 7/8 graders.
LISD Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee
This fall, Leander ISD’s new Gifted and Talented (GT) Advisory Committee will kick off. This committee will bring parent and student voices together with teachers, counselors and administrators to support and assist the district in gifted/talented service planning and improvement. Applications are due by Friday, September 23, 2022. Those interested in serving in this important role should complete the LISD GT Advisory Interest Form 22-23. Applicants will be notified about selection decisions by October 11, 2022. Please contact Shirley Bachus, Director of Advanced Programs, with any questions.
CRMS Athletic Booster Club
2022 LEEF MUDstacle - Register or Volunteer!
LEEF is hosting its annual 2022 MUDstacle & Family Fun Run on Saturday, September 24th at 8 am at Vista Ridge High School. Participants will pass through a series of obstacles of action-packed FUN. You’ll climb, crawl, walk, and run your way through a mud forest, slog your way through a sea of swirly-twirly noodles, and even walk the plank before reaching the finish line! Varying lengths and obstacle difficulties will meet and challenge every family member.
This incredibly fun, Instagram-worthy morning also features vendors, giveaways from local businesses, and additional activities for the kids. Leander ISD school campuses also compete to gain the most registrations to win cash prizes to benefit their school. Sign up TODAY (Register by September 2nd to ensure you receive your free t-shirt)
To help host this awesomely muddy event - LEEF needs your help! Volunteers need to wear clothes that can get dirty and be prepared to assist with lifting and moving course set up. Description for the individual volunteer opportunities are below. Please wear tennis shoes, clothes that can get muddy, and weather-related protection.** Volunteering helps LEEF to fund the amazing teachers, students, and programs LISD provides! Contact info@leef.org or call at 512-570-0027 for any questions.
Leander ISD Board Sets November Votes on Robin Hood and Tax Rate
Proposition A on the November ballot is an Attendance Credit Election, which state law requires when a district’s revenues from property values exceed its calculated entitlement and the excess is due to the state through a process called recapture (also known as Robin Hood). If voters approve Proposition A, the school district will proceed with making its mandatory recapture payments to the state as required. If voters defeat Proposition A, the state could detach a portion of the district’s total property value — effectively shrinking the tax base. This “Detachment of Territory” is permanent and irreversible, even if in future years the property values within the district make it no longer subject to recapture.
Proposition B is a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE. It would ratify the action the Board took on August 18, 2022 by adopting an increase in the tax rate for Maintenance & Operations, which is the component of a school district tax rate that pays for operating expenses such as teacher salaries.
If voters approve Proposition B, the district will see an estimated $32 million net increase in revenue, which would fund pay increases for teachers and other employees that trustees approved earlier this year. The additional revenue will prevent future cuts to personnel and programs — especially because LISD is now subject to recapture at a greater level than past years.
Because of state-initiated reductions in the M&O rate, and the Board’s action to lower the LISD Interest & Sinking tax rate, taxpayers will see a reduction in the overall tax rate of more than 6 cents per $100 in property valuation if Proposition B is approved.
“If Proposition B does not pass, we expect a deficit of $35 million,” Gearing said. “That deficit could impact future pay raises for teachers and the sustainability of educational and extracurricular programs.
“State law and the state school finance system require us to put this decision before the voters,” he added. “We encourage everyone to participate in the upcoming election.”
Volunteer Registration
To complete or renew your volunteer registration, click the appropriate link:
CRMS Cell Phone Procedures
We are reaching out to let you know of some updates we have made to cell phone practices currently in use on our campus for 2022-23.
Cell phones are everywhere. They can be handy tools, but also insidious distractions. We have seen a rise in student violations with regards to the use of cell phones, AirPods, and social media on campus, which directly impacts our campus culture, student learning, and safety.
Campus Cell Phone Expectations
Maintaining the integrity of the learning environment is our top priority, which is why these changes will be implemented. We will begin using new practices, detailed below, so that students know what to expect and teachers have a consistent system to help students manage expectations.
At CRMS, students will be permitted to bring cell phones or other items used for communication. However, cell phones and all functions within the cell phone (i.e. cameras, AirPods/headphones, smart watches, and all other applications) are prohibited during class unless permitted under Section 504 or within a student’s IEP. When students walk into each classroom, they will have a secure location to safely store their silenced cell phone for the class period. Phones and AirPods/headphones may be used on school grounds before school, during lunch, and after school as long as students are not violating the District’s acceptable use guidelines.
We are aware that special circumstances arise and sometimes an important call must be made or received. Students are advised to communicate with their teachers if there are extenuating circumstances on a particular day. In the event of a true emergency, family members should call the main office at 512-570-3500 if they need to get in touch with a student.
Why the change?
We looked at data and at policies from a half dozen other school districts. We learned some important things. 95% of all middle and high school students have phones they bring to school. Some teachers allow students to use phones as part of their instruction, and others do not. However, nearly all teachers agree phones distract students in class. Most students want to be able to carry their phones, but they agree their phones can be distracting in classes. Parents want to be able to contact their kids during the school day, but they also recognize students remain focused on classwork at school.
Keeping these things in mind, the campus came to consensus on the changes above for the 2022-2023 school year. As these new rules are implemented, the CRMS team will meet periodically to gauge the impact of the changes, and suggest adjustments that need to be made as needed.
Check out these short videos for more information:
According to the Leander ISD Student Code of Conduct, students are required to follow the expectations around proper usage of technology. This extends to the use of personal devices while on an LISD campus. Below are the expectations copied from the handbook for your reference.
1. Violating any of the prohibited behaviors/conduct listed in the LISD Technology Resource Acceptable Use Guidelines.
2. Recording the voice or image of another without the prior consent of the individuals being recorded, or administrative approval, in any way that disrupts the educational environment or invades the privacy of others.
3. Copying, downloading, reproducing, distributing, retransmitting, redisplaying, or modifying items from the District’s website.
Campus Guidelines
If a student violates the cell phone procedure during class, in the halls, restroom, etc., the following consequences will apply consistent with the gravity of the infraction.
1st Offense: The student may pick up his/her phone from the Counseling Office after the dismissal bell at the end of the school day.
2nd Offense: The student’s parent may pick up the student’s phone from the Receptionist after the dismissal bell at the end of the school day.
3rd Offense: The student will be assigned appropriate consequences, and the student’s parent may pick up the student’s phone from the Receptionist after the dismissal bell at the end of the school day.
4th Offense: The student will be assigned appropriate consequences, and the student’s parent may pick up the student’s phone from the Receptionist after the dismissal bell at the end of the school day.
Changes in Meal Service for 2022-23 School Year
Beginning this 2022-23 school year, meals for Leander ISD students will be provided by Sodexo, a food-services provider committed to improving the quality of life of students within districts they serve through quality food services.
All students who qualify for free and reduced-price (F&R) meals during the 2022-23 school year will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. Due to a partnership with USDA, reduced-price meals will be free for the 2022-23 school year.
For elementary students who do not qualify for F&R meals, prices are remaining the same as they were in 2019. The cost of breakfast is $1.50 and lunch is $2.90. For secondary students, the cost of breakfast is $1.75 and lunch is $3.15.
Parents who would like to apply to find out if they are eligible for F&R meals for their children can visit our Child Nutrition Services website for more information.
Bus updates from Transportation
We recognize that there have been some bus delays, issues with SMART Tag, and weather in the past few days. We know this has been frustrating for our families and apologize for the inconvenience. We appreciate your patience and support as we are working out the kinks with our new system and expect to be on track with expected pick-up and drop-off times soon. Please go here for information and to sign up for the SMART Tag portal.
Bus Routes & Bus Stops
2022-23 Bus Route Information will be available after Friday, August 5, 2022. To maximize efficiencies and ensure students arrive at their respective campuses safely and on time, bus stops will be located on main roads and centralized, near neighborhood parks, pools, mailboxes and campuses, wherever feasible. This will potentially reduce the number of bus-stops in a sub-division from prior years, reduce the number of miles on each route and the time it takes to run the route.
Get Ready for Smart-Tag
After a successful pilot roll-out at several LISD Campuses, Smart-Tag will roll out district-wide for the 2022-23 School Year. This system provides real-time route information to drivers, campuses, and families letting them know where the bus is, approximate arrival time, if a student loaded the bus and also ensures they do not get on the wrong bus or off at the wrong stop. Find out more information here. And you can get a jump start and pre-register with Smart-Tag.
Interested in supporting CRMS and getting paid to be here?!?!
COVID-19 Health Protocols
Athletic events tickets for Middle School online!
Tickets can be purchased through link on the athletics webpage:
Join PTA & Amazon Smile to donate to CRMS PTA
Turn your sound on and please watch this video from CRMS students!
*Did you know you can buy all your Amazon purchases through Amazon Smile, and they will donate to our PTA all year long?!?! It doesn’t cost you anything and you order the same way. Just set up your Amazon Smile profile to donate to PTA Texas Congress Canyon Ridge Middle School PTA.
*CRMS PTA: If you have not yet, please consider joining the CRMS PTA. Memberships start as low as $10.
Be sure to follow Canyon Ridge Middle School PTA on Facebook and join the Facebook group for your child's grade level. Thank you for your time and all of your support for our Eagles!
Canyon Ridge Middle School
AP/Counselor by grade-level for 2022-2023:
- 6th: Leah Cox / Staci Cote
- 7th: A-K Leah Cox & L-Z Cassandra Ricks / Sabrina Anderson
- 8th: Cassandra Ricks / Katie Young
Email: Wendy.Sturdevant@leanderisd.orgg
Website: crms.leanderisd.org
Location: Canyon Ridge Middle School, Country Trails Lane, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-570-3500
Twitter: @Sturdevant_CRMS