Hello Eagles!
- Sadly, due to the weather the PTA has canceled the Fall Movie night at CRMS. We look forward to their next community event in the spring!
- Please check out the student created Veteran's Day presentation. And the many successes of our band and choir below.
- 2nd 6-weeks grading cycle Report Cards are loaded to the HAC.
Go Eagles! And Viper Strike at their first playoff game tonight - Go Vipers!
Veteran's Day 2022
Today, we all honor the amazing veterans near and far at CRMS. For the last week, students have been creating a tribute at CRMS to Veterans in the entryway of the school. It is powerful to see the statements of appreciation and honor that our students have displayed.
Students created this Veteran's Day presentation to honor all who have served that all students watched during Advisory today.
Veterans Day is intended to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military – living and dead – whether in wartime or peace. In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living Veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. While Veterans Day is primarily a tribute to America’s living Veterans, it is always appropriate to recognize and remember those who gave their lives for our country. And Veterans' sacrifices extends also to the family for the selfless act of serving our freedom.
“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude.” - Harry S. Truman
Support CRMS families in need for Thanksgiving
Sign-up to support Thanksgiving 2022 Food Boxes for CRMS families: We have some students who count on receiving breakfast/lunch at school each day so when school is closed for an extended holiday break, food is needed.
Here is a recommended list of items for a holiday box of food for a family in need. Please try to avoid glass items for safe transportation of food box. If you unable to shop for items, but would like to contribute a money donation for the food boxes, please email: crmsptapresident@gmail.com
Please deliver the box of items to the CRMS front office no later than the end of the day on Wednesday, November 16th so that we can get it delivered to the family before the Thanksgiving break.
Thank you for supporting a family in need in our community!
Thanksgiving Lunch
Shop & support CRMS
Simply copy/paste the below message to send an email to good.neighbor@randalls.com with the following:
Hello,
Please link my customer account connected to phone number [type your Randall's phone number] with Good Neighbor Charity #14216 for Canyon Ridge Middle School PTA.
Thank you,
[type your name]
*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.
From the Nurse...
This is a friendly reminder that it is flu season. We currently have many students out sick. Our first priority is to make sure that those that are not feeling well stay home and get some rest so those that are healthy stay that way. If your child is sick, please have them stay home. If your child has a fever, district policy states that the child must be free of a fever, without the use of any medications, to be able to return to school. Please let either the nurse know if your student tests positive for the flu. Your child's doctor will let you know when the student is able to return to school. Thank you for your efforts and help. - Nurse Kristoff rachael.kristoff@leanderisd.org
It’s Cold and Flu season
Here are some friendly reminders to help stay virus free this season:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds
- If soap and water not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Cover your Cough; Cough and sneeze into a tissue then throw it away, or cough and sneeze into your upper shirt sleeve, completely covering your mouth and nose
- Wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, and objects such as toys and doorknobs
- Talk with your medical provider about getting a flu shot.
- Stay at home while you are sick.
- Call and inform the school nurse of confirmed Flu diagnosis.
LISD follows the Texas Department of Health Guidelines for illness-related exclusions from school. A student will be sent home if they have a fever of 100.0 Fahrenheit or above or any other contagious symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) and will need to remain home until symptom free for twenty-four (24) hours, and without the use of medications.
Important Attendance Reminders for Parents
- Absence notes should be emailed to crmsattendance@leanderisd.org within 48 hours.
When you email the school, please include the student's first and last name and ID #. Student nicknames can cause confusion with attendance coding.
If you will be picking up your child from school early, please call the school (512-570-3500) ahead of time to let the Receptionist know. This allows our Receptionist time to get a pass written ahead of time and helps to move the process along more quickly.
The only people who will be permitted to pick up a child will be parents/guardians and those individuals listed as an emergency contact in your Home Access Center (HAC). Due to safety reasons, we are no longer allowing a parent to call in and give permission for someone to pick up your child during the school day other than those listed in HAC.
We do not allow early pick up after 4:00pm.
- If you feel like there is an error for a particular class period, please email the teacher directly first. For example, if your student was tardy and the teacher accidentally already marked the student absence, email the teacher because the attendance office has to have it in writing from the teacher before attendance can update anything
- There is a turn around time in updates if a student was with the nurse, AP, counselor, etc. It is not necessary to email the attendance office. Please remember that we have over 1100 students so it will take 1-2 business days to show the update. We appreciate your patience and understanding that our team is working tirelessly to support all of our Eagles!
Shoe Donation Drive!
Sharing our gratitude
Interested in Basketball?!?!
Website: https://www.vhsviperbasketball.com/
Instagram: @vandegriftbasketball
Facebook: Vandegrift Vipers Boys Basketball
CRMS Yearbooks are on sale now!
Note: We apologize for the typo in the original Nov. 11 Ridge Relay of saying it was $35. That was our understanding, but Balfour determined it would start at $40 and go up to $45 after 1/1/23.
ESL Family Night
Our area schools are having an ESL family night for Laura Bush, Steiner, River Ridge, River Place and Grandview Hills Elementary campuses and CRMS. It will be in the River Place MPR on Tuesday, November 29th at 5:00-6:30.
Family Information Night is an opportunity for all of the families with emergent bilingual students in the Four Points area, district staff (including elementary & middle school ESL teachers), and community members to gather to learn more about the ESL program, share resources, and celebrate. It is also a great opportunity to make new friends and share in some fun!
Please plan on coming to learn more about the ESL program and how you can help your child at home.
Click on the ESL Family Night Invitation to see all of the fun activities we have planned for the evening!
Bullying Awareness Lesson Follow-up Parent Coffee Talk
Thank you to those of you who were able to join us for our first PTA coffee talk in October to preview and have a thoughtful conversation about the challenging but important topic of Bullying Awareness. Mrs. Cote and I took your questions and feedback and debriefed with our admin and counseling team. We worked to make some adjustments to the video and our lessons, and now we would like to offer another opportunity for parents to preview and give input before moving forward.
The second and final opportunity for parents to join us for a preview of our follow-up lessons (that will take place in January) will be on Thursday, December 1st at 4:45pm at CRMS. At the coffee talk sponsored by our CRMS PTA, we will also have a CRMS administrator and counselor in attendance to answer questions you may have at that time. We ask that you RSVP on the Dec 1 Parent Preview Sign Up Form.
In January, 8th grade CRMS students will be shown video clips only as part of a bullying awareness lesson only if a parent chooses to opt IN their child. To opt IN your child, please complete the Opt IN Form by Friday January 2, 2023.
Choir Success!
This week, our CRMS Varsity Choirs traveled to compete at the Kemah Choir Days Contest. Both of our choirs earned division 1 ratings and they had a great time: Kudos to our singing Eagles!
Thank you for joining PTA!
Homework Hotspots available for families
Here's the link to a form the students/families need to fill out to request a hotspot.
Foreign Language Testing - Deadline to Request January 20, 2023
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
Attn: 8th graders!
"8th Grade Parents--save the dates! Information will begin to be updated on the VHS Counseling Website as the dates get closer. Be sure to check there for all VHS related information!
**These dates are accurate as of 10/14
January 12 // 8th Grade Family Night (5:30pm) & Viper Night (6pm) counselors will provide a high school academic planning overview to 8th grade families students and families will have the opportunity to further explore course options by continuing on to Viper Night Viper Night will include an elective fair, club & org fair, breakout sessions, and student panels January 18 - 19 // Four-Year Planning & Course Selection Overview with VHS Counselors (2 days at each school) VHS counselors will visit Canyon Ridge Middle Schools to provide a high school academic planning overview to 8th grade students students will submit tentative course requests students and their parent/guardian will be emailed a PDF copy of these tentative requests choices are editable - a new PDF copy of updated courses will be emailed after each edit January 24 - 25 // 8th Grade Individual Student/Counselor Conferences (Jan 25 - CRMS) VHS counselors will meet individually with 8th grade students to review four-year plans and course selections January 27, 4pm deadline to lock in initial course selections for the 2023-24 school year while there will be additional change opportunities, finalizing your requests as early as possible provides the highest likelihood of being placed in the classes you want
Clubs!
https://sites.google.com/leanderisd.org/crmsclubs/clubs-home
Sports Equipment Donations needed!
Our students love our outdoor “recess” time after lunch each day but our basket of sports equipment is almost empty. If you have any sports equipment in your garage that you would like to clean out and donate, we will gladly accept footballs, volleyballs, soccer balls, kick balls and basketballs. It does not need to be new--we welcome used equipment that we can put to good use for all of our students. Please drop off your donations anytime during school hours in the front office. Thank you for helping to provide for this valuable outdoor time for our Eagles!
Art Club
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!
Eagle Allies Club
"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
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.
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
*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
Empowering Parents: Safety, Security, Health & Wellness Summit
With a continued focus on the safety and security of our students, Leander ISD is hosting a Safety, Security, Health and Wellness Summit, “Empowering Parents.” In response to community requests for more educational awareness, district leadership and our community partners will answer questions about substance abuse, particularly the use of fentanyl. We will also address concerns about campus safety and security.
If you missed this event, you can view the Video Recording.