Ridge Relay

We are in the process of course registration for next year's courses. Please see dates and links below. If your student has missed any handouts/info, it is also all posted on the Counseling website for your reference. Current 6th & 7th grade choice sheets are due TOMORROW (February 10, 2025) and the Mandatory 2025 Cheer Webinar is Monday evening too, so please keep reading and don't miss out!

Reminder: Students will have no school on Monday, February 17, 2025 for a teacher professional development day.

Go Eagles!

Mrs. Wendy Sturdevant

StuCo will soon host our annual event this Friday.

This year's theme will be: Cupid's Carnival Glow Party on Friday, February 14th, 6-8pm.

Buy admission online here

Buy Cupid's Candy Grams here - A little Treat for Someone So Sweet!

(If you previously bought a ticket for the Glow party in October and did not request a refund, then your ticket is still valid and your name will still be on the list at the door.)

Please review the following information for important dates!

Required Parent Meeting- February 13, 2025 @ 6:30pm in the VHS cafeteria

Applications Open- February 23, 2023

Google Meet Q&A- February 27, 2025 @ 6:30pm

Applications Due- March 9, 2025

ViberBots website with more information!

Want to be a CRMS Cheerleader? Join Now for 2025-2026

Cheerleading helps build and maintain school spirit by energizing crowds at games and events. The enthusiasm of cheerleaders boosts school pride and creates a positive atmosphere. Cheerleaders play a key role in enhancing school events, from sports games to pep rallies. Their presence adds excitement and can make events more enjoyable and memorable. By supporting teams and participating in school activities, cheerleaders contribute to a positive and inclusive school culture. The coaches this year are Marlena Ruiz and Hannah Allred. Please reach out to either of us with any and all things cheer and spirit!

Process starts with Mandatory Parent/Candidate Meeting

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.

When: Feb 10, 2025, 6:00 PM
Topic: Cheer 2025-26 Mandatory Parent/Student Zoom Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://leanderisd.zoom.us/j/86174655573
Passcode: CRMSCheer

Want To Be A Dyami Dancer?

Please read over the enclosed information regarding the Canyon Ridge Dance Team, our tryout requirements, and other important information about how to become a CRMS Dance Team Member.

Process starts with Mandatory Parent/Candidate Meeting

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.

When: Feb 26, 2025, 6:00 PM
Topic: Dyami Dance 2025-26 Mandatory Parent/Student Zoom Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://leanderisd.zoom.us/j/84511686401
Passcode: Dyami

Our AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) class is looking for college students/graduates to tutor our CRMS middle school students in collaborative study groups as they prepare for classes.

AVID tutorials take place in small groups that are subject area specific. AVID tutors assist the students achieve their full potential by facilitating collaborative tutorial groups.

Apply Today

Cedar Park High School's award-winning broadcast program is hosting an elementary broadcast camp on Monday, Feb. 17 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Broadcast students will lead and help the middle school students make a newscast by the end of the day!

Details:

• Monday, Feb. 17 (Staff PD Day) 12:30 to 4 p.m.
• 6th-8th graders
• Snacks Included
• Cost is $50

Parents can click here to register their child.

Hello 5th grade families,

As the transition from 5th to 6th grade is quickly approaching, we are excited to welcome our newest Eagles to our Canyon Ridge MS family! For this transition, we have some important upcoming dates in February and wanted to share that information with you. The first step is a parent meeting where the CRMS Counselors & Administrators will address the course selection process and course offerings in detail at the fifth grade webinar on February 18th at 5:30pm. We look forward to beginning the middle school journey with you soon!

~CRMS Eagle Team

• Incoming 6th graders (current 5th graders): February 18th at 5:30pm (Zoom link, passcode: GoEagles)

Off campus PE is an optional program utilized by students in grades 6-12 who wish to apply to receive their PE credit through an outside, privately funded, pre-approved organization. All off-campus PE student applications for the 2025-26 school year can be found on the OCPE website: rmd.me/xicJK6ERPTS
Applications are available beginning Feb. 1 through May 30, 2025.
Updated OCPE guidelines can also be found on the OCPE website. For additional questions, please reach out to candace.mckinley@leanderisd.org.

It is hard to believe it is already time to start thinking about high school but we don't want you to miss any of the upcoming dates for transition information for 8th to 9th grade. Mark your Calendars for...

VHS Course Selection Timeline PDF

• February 25th, 2025 6:00 PM: Parent / Guardian Webinar // Registration Link
• February 26th & 27th, 2025: 8th Grade Student Informational Sessions during Social Studies classes
• March 3, 2025 5:00 - 7:00 PM: Viper Night at VHS

• • Elective fair

  • Club & Organization fair

  • Student Panels

  • Breakout Sessions - International Baccalaureate (IB), ACC Dual Credit, AP Capstone

  • Students and parents are encouraged to take advantage of this evening to explore and learn more about ALL Vandegrift has to offer!

• March 4th - 5th (CRMS) // March 7th (FPMS), 2025: Student Meetings with VHS Counselors - High School Counselors will meet with 8th grade students individually at their middle school campus to verify their course selections

Calling all multilingual students! The Global Languages and Cultures Department is hosting the 4th Annual Leander ISD International Film Festival on March 8, 2025 in the Leander High School PAC. We invite EC-12 students to submit videos by February 21. For more information, please see Film Festival Info and Links 2025

This is an opportunity for students to showcase their multilingualism, academic strengths, and creativity. Participating in the International Film Festival empowers students to be creative & critical thinkers, skilled communicators & collaborators, compassionate community contributors, and adaptable & reflective individuals. The audience for the film festival will include students, staff, families and community members. Contact Darla Brown if the article above does not answer your questions.

CALLING ALL 2025 CANYON RIDGE 8TH GRADE STUDENTS - ALL ARE WELCOME!! We will have a delicious food buffet, DJ - Dance Party, a photo booth, and much more. This is the perfect event for them to hang out with their classmates before soaring to be a Vandegrift Viper, or wherever their future may take them!!

WHEN: Friday May 9, 2025, 7:30-9:30pm

WHERE: UT Golf Club Pavilion, 2200 University Club Drive

Tickets and more details coming soon!

NOTE: This event is for CRMS 8th graders only. No students from other grades or other schools will be allowed in.

*This is not a CRMS school event. It is hosted off campus by community families but all 8th grade students are welcome.

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 2024/2025 testing. The testing date for spring 2025 is May 6, 2025 on the CRMS campus. The deadline to register for spring testing is April 10, 2025 or when all slots are filled. 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 fall 2025 list. Testing is open to all grade levels, but recommended for grade 7/8 students only.

Referrals for G/T services are accepted year-round. Students referred for testing by March 14, 2025 will be screened to determine the need for additional GT Identification. Those who qualify for additional screening will be notified in April for the Spring Identification Window. Notification of results will be sent before the end of the school year to qualify for the beginning of the new school year. Please contact your counselor for the referral form.

Parents, the second newsletter from the CRMS counseling office is available via the link below. The newsletter serves to highlight CRMS students, provide an overview of guidance lessons, insights from the counselor’s book study, middle school tips, and upcoming dates. Enjoy!

Counseling Newsletter – The Echo

Reflecting Positivity through CRMS Counseling Services

Volume 7 Issue 3

January 2025

The January Special Programs Newsletter is bursting with exciting updates! Dive into resources like the Special Programs Parent Advisory Council, 18+ Services, Spring Family Workshop Conference, Destination Life Conference, and Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES). There’s something for everyone—don’t miss out!

Special Programs News!

Did you know there are valuable resources available for families in Special Programs? Check out the Special Programs Parent Advisory Council Resources to find this month’s family socials, learning opportunities, and more. It’s a quick way to stay connected, informed, and supported. Thank you!

The latest episode of the Collaborative Partners Podcast is now live! Join Ashley Anderson and Denise Geiger, Senior Transition Coordinator, as they explore transition supports and services for students, including 18+ services, levels of independence, postsecondary accommodations, and much more. Listen now

The Canyon Ridge Middle School Yearbook is on sale now! Books can be purchased from the Jostens online store for $45 through May 2, 2025.

CRMS Clubs and Organizations Site

Updates:

• Eagle Allies started on Monday 11/18/24 and is regularly meeting. See Mrs. Eaves or Mrs. Hubbard for more information.
• Art Club is meeting the last Thursday of each month. Contact Mrs. Abouelela for more information or join Google classroom: w77uvwb
• Library Club Future meeting dates are: 2/28 is Read A Thon, 3/14, and 4/25 from 8:15 - 8:55

Rally Day is just around the corner and we need you to help support our Texas students and teachers! Please share this information with your teachers,students, and families and consider attending Rally Day at the Capitol on Monday, February 24th, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Rally Day is a popular advocacy event and thousands of PTA members across the state of Texas will be in attendance. Rally Day is open to all PTA members. (Reach out to your school's PTA Membership Chair or to me for more information about joining the PTA.) This will be an excellent opportunity for your students and their families to participate in a caucus, rally on the steps, enjoy a picnic lunch together, attend legislator meetings, and participate in literature drops. Rally Day is considered an excused absence for your students, but parents must notify the attendance clerk.

If this sounds like something your students and their families are interested in, please have them fill out this Google form: Rally Day Interest/Attendance Form

We also have a T-shirt design contest for the Rally Day T-shirt running:

ECHS- Early College High School is accepting applications now for the 2025-2026 school year. ECHS offers the opportunity for students to graduate high school with an associates degree in Liberal Arts tuition free! Students who attend ECHS will take college level courses as early as 9th grade. If your student attended the information session or you want more information this is the link for the presentation from the ECHS counselor. If you have additional questions, please reach out to Heather Lyle, the ECHS counselor.

LISD ECHS is now accepting applications for its fourth cohort, which will then be selected through a blind lottery process later in the spring for incoming 2025–26 9th-graders. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 14, 2025.

Learn More

Apply Now

Attention Parents! Has a teacher or staff member at CRMS made a difference that you believe merits recognition? If so, nominate him or her to receive the Golden Eagle Award. Each week, from the Eagle community's nominations, a worthy faculty or staff member will be awarded the Golden Eagle. Recipients of the Golden Eagle Award have the privilege of keeping the coveted Golden Eagle statue in their office or classroom until the next faculty or staff member is recognized. Please nominate someone today!

Golden Eagle Award Nomination Form

Earlier this Fall, we updated you on our new vending machines at CRMS so we want to also share with you the flyer with directions and contact information if there are any questions/concerns.

The district has added vending machines that are being stocked with the same snacks/drinks that are sold in the cafeteria during lunches. The intent is for students to access during the school day when the cafeteria is not open for times like end-of-school-day when students may have practices/events. Students can use their school ID# (or cash) to purchase from these machines so it uses money from their "lunch accounts" so you may notice more snack purchases. We have noticed these machines are popular purchases so please have conversations with your student(s) about what your expectations are with the amounts being purchased. Please note that we will be telling students that they cannot leave class and miss instructional time to purchase extra snacks.

All tickets for all high school and middle school athletic events hosted at LISD facilities will be sold online only. There will be NO cash sales at the gate.

Tickets can be purchased through link on the athletics webpage:

https://www.leanderisd.org/athletics_ticketspasses/

Important Attendance Reminders:

• Absence notes should be emailed to crmsattendance@leanderisd.org within 48 hours of the absence.
  

• When you email the school, please include the student's first and last name and ID #. Student nicknames can cause confusion with attendance coding.Please note why the student was absent or what kind of appointment they had (medical/dental) otherwise it will be unexcused due to lack of info.

• 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 latest a student may be picked up early is 4pm due to our end-of-day dismissal.
  

• 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 1000 students so it will take 2-4 business days to show the update. We appreciate your patience and understanding that our team is working tirelessly to support all of our Eagles!

Leander ISD has partnered with MySchoolBucks as our new online store. You can easily pay online for school items and add money to your student's lunch account. We are adding new items to the store everyday.

Create your free MySchoolBucks account to conveniently and securely pay for your student’s school fees online or with the mobile app.

With MySchoolBucks you’ll be able to quickly browse school items in our School Store, be notified when fees are due, and make payments from anywhere!

Get Started Today:

1. Go to myschoolbucks.com or download the mobile app
2. Create your free account and add your students using their school name / student ID or birthdate
3. Add school items or invoices to your cart
4. Check out using your credit / debit card or electronic check.

We appreciate you using this online option as a way to help reduce the amount of physical cash and checks that our staff would need to handle for these school fees.

If you need assistance with your account, you can find helpful how-to videos and answers to commonly asked questions by visiting myschoolbucks.com. Or, you can contact MySchoolBucks directly by logging into your account to start a chat conversation or give them a call at (855) 832-5226.

Thank you,

Leander ISD

Please Note:

• $$$ account for snacks, additional food
• Snacks may not always be available all year long due to staffing shortages
• For the 24/25 school year, students who qualify for reduced price, breakfast will be free and lunch will be reduced.
• You must apply each year for free/reduced lunch.

2024-25 Leander ISD Important Bus Information: Register to Ride

All eligible students will be required to REGISTER to RIDE the bus for the 2024-2025 school year. Please use the link provided to be sure that your student is registered to ride the bus if you are planning to utilize LISD transportation services.

Reminder: All Middle School students need a laptop/device for school. If you do not own your one, you can get one from the district:

Middle School Students: $40.00 per year, decrease to $20.00 starting December 1st

A non-refundable security deposit is required to participate in this program. Sign up and pay for your student's 2024-2025 non-refundable security deposit now. All students who pay, will be issued their device the first few days of the 2024-2025 school year. Students who qualify for Free and Reduced meals will not need to pay the annual deposit but will need to turn in a signed acceptance form or register through EdPay. Click on this website: mLISD Information and Payment Website for more information and to pay the security deposit.

Hardship Scholarship opportunities are available. Please contact your child’s counselor or send an email to mlisd@leanderisd.org for more information. Please include the following information in your email:

• The student’s name

• Campus

• Student ID number

• Parent phone number

Click here for more information regarding scholarships.

mLISD Quick View Information Brochure -English

mLISD Quick View Information Brochure -Spanish

Middle School Student’s spring 2024 STAAR score results should be available to parents on the Texas Education Agency Family Portal beginning June 14th.

Directions for Accessing your Child’s STAAR Report Card from TEA:

• Click on the TEA Family Portal Login
• If you know your child’s unique access code, found at the bottom of STAAR reports from previous administrations, enter that code in the Access Code box. Enter the date of birth using the drop-down menus. Click on the blue Go button to access results.

• If you do not know your child’s unique access code, you can still access STAAR results if you know your child’s social security number and date of birth. Click on “How do I look up my access code?” link below the Sign-On Button and enter the following information:
• TSDS ID or PEIMS ID (often same as social security number)
• Child’s date of birth
• Child’s legal first name
• Click “Search”

Additionally, results may be accessed through the Home Access Center (HAC) after June 14th:

• Log into your Home Access Center (HAC) account.
• Select the Grades tab
• Select Texas Test Scores
• Click on the link to STAAR English/Spanish – this will log you into the parent portal and you will see assessment results.

Randall's has agreed to add CRMS to the Good Neighbor Support program and it is SO easy! Email below, then do your regular shopping and Randall's will donate back to the CRMS PTA.

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]

AP/Counselor by grade-level for 2024-2025:

• 6th: Brian Bass / Staci Cote
• 7th: Dr. Ashley Thompson1 / Kimberly Mills
• 8th: Leah Cox / Jillian Baaklini

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