Crabapple MS Staff-Update
Jan. 19
January 20-23 Access Testing
January 21 Zone 5 Site Visit (PM)
January 21 Basketball Game at Elkins Pointe
January 26 CISS Deadline
February 4 District AVID Visit
February 6 7th Grade Winter Fest (4:15-6:15). Additional details forthcoming
February 10 6th and 8th Grade Scoliosis Screenings (AM Connections). Additional details forthcoming
To support our continuing work with using the AVID 5-Step Notetaking Process and teaching it to students, Ms. Wiggins and Ms. Salvatore have printed and laminated a poster outlining the AVID 5-Step Notetaking Process so your students will have a constant visual reminder. We would like every staff member to have a poster with this process posted in your classroom. The posters we printed will be passed out at GL meetings next Wednesday. If you already have your own visual outlining the AVID 5-Step Notetaking Process, you may continue to use it if you prefer it to the posters we printed.
If you do not already have a visual for this process, please be sure to get a poster and hang it up next week. Extras will be available in the Media Center if you are absent on Wednesday.
Welcome back to second semester!!! Here is the PBIS Reminder Presentation from the Staff Meeting on Mon 1/05.
Here is the Weekly Staff Points Report for January 9-15 (at 6:00pm). We had 92% Staff Participation this week!!!
Thank you to everyone who caught up from last week as well!!!
Did you know? 95% of our students have met all of our expectations so far this semester, and have 0 Minors!!!
Coming Soon to the PBIS Store: New "Coupons," including Free Seating at Lunch, Extra Locker Break Pass, No Silent Lunch for Tardies (one time use, and the Tardies still count!), Buddy Lunch with a Willing Teacher (you can DEFINITELY decline the pass - or ask the student to defer to a different day.)
Relationships Best Practices Reminder: Use Students’ Names Often (Be Respectful) Sprinkling names into questions or check‑ins helps students feel seen and included. Example: “Jayden, I’m glad you’re here today.”
- Salvatore out 8th Period Friday, 1/23: Media Center will be closed to students. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Roswell Woman’s Club Applications are open. Deadline to apply is 3/6/2026. https://roswellwomansclub.org/grant-applications-educators-2026-open/
The Roswell Woman’s Club continues its longtime support of education in the community. Professional Educator Grants are awarded based upon a number of criteria including need, purpose, and overall impact of the funding. Professional Educator Grants are awarded to teachers in Fulton County schools north of the Chattahoochee River, at all levels of education, from elementary through high school. In 2025, Roswell Woman’s Club distributed 38 educational grants benefiting teachers and students in 23 Fulton County schools north of the Chattahoochee River. Last year’s recipients:
2025 Educator Grants
- Abbotts Hill Elementary School – Sydney Coker
- Alexsander Academy – Stefanie Smith
- Autrey Mill Middle School – Matthew Rice
- Alpharetta High School – Anne Marie Agodio, Wes Chu, Allen Strohecker
- Birmingham Falls Elementary School – Pamela King
- Cambridge High School – Adam Bailey, Lacy George, Chris Holcomb, Sai Madhuri Indhurthi
- Centennial High School – Christopher Buechner, Joshua Herring, John Riggins
- Chattahoochee High School – Lin-Chiou Lee
- Crabapple Crossing Elementary School – Leslie Hill
- Crabapple Middle School – Lori Ashman, Carol DelGais
- Creekview Elementary School – Simone Maranto, Hope Smith
- Elkins Pointe Middle School – Marni Roberts
- Esther Jackson Elementary School – Lisa Allen, Myriam Seoane, Karen White
- Hembree Springs Elementary School – Leigh Wagner
- Hillside Elementary School – Amanda Lee
- Independence High School – Tashema Atkinson
- Medlock Bridge Elementary School – Megan Rios
- New Prospect Elementary School – Emma Calhoun, Traci Fleck
- Northwood Elementary School – Ryann Imhulse
- River Trail Middle School – Grace Hernandez, Kelly Monroe
- Roswell North Elementary School – Liz Rains, Elizabeth Roth
- Sweet Apple Elementary School – Michelle Myers
- Taylor Road Middle School – Klio Henderson, Alexcia Massey
To aid for ongoing, consistent support for our students and families, SSW will have change of schedule, beginning week of February 1st 😊
New Schedule
- Monday: EPMS
- Tuesday: EPMS
- Wednesday: CMS
- Thursday: CMS
- Friday: EPMS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎉
Borrelli – 21st
SECRET CUPID WEEK
Would you like to spread the love this February? Join us for Secret Cupid Week (February 9–13)! Participants will receive the name of a colleague to secretly surprise with small treats throughout the week. (Monday - Thursday: Gifts should cost between $2 and $3. Friday: A final gift valued at $10) If you’d like to participate, please complete the form below by Jan. 30th. SECRET CUPID WEEK – Fill out form
TEACHER MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY - Move Your Body
Physical activity releases endorphins - natural chemicals that boost your mood and help reduce stress and anxiety. Finding small ways to move throughout your day can make a big difference! Try walking to the mailbox a few extra times, taking a lap around your classroom or house, following a short YouTube workout, joining a group fitness class, or anything else that feels enjoyable for you.
There are also countless streaming exercise options available to help you stay active at home. To get started, check out the following yoga YouTube channels.
It’s time to begin observing students to identify those who may qualify for TAG testing this semester. Here is the list of action items and the timeline for this process that should be completed by 1/26.
1. Please review the CISS presentation below for a refresher on what to look for while observing your students over the next 10 day window. I’m also including the descriptions of characteristics to observe.
· Fulton County CISS Presentation.pptx
· CISS Category Descriptions.pdf
2. Observe all students you teach from Tuesday 1/13-1/26.
3. Record the CISS characteristics you observe in a consistent and superior way over their non-TAG peers on this Excel doc starting on 1/19.
2025-2026 Crabapple Middle School CISS Spreadsheet.xlsx
· Please open the excel link and use in browser, not in excel app
· Please use a “1” as an indicator and not an “x” in the boxes, as it interferes with our data counter.
· If a category already has a mark, you do not need to add another.
· CISS checks are one of several factors that determine if a student qualifies for TAG testing.
4. ALL teachers sign off that you’ve completed all intended CISS marks (whether you gave any or not) by EOD on Monday, 1/26 on the “Sign-off and CISS Indicators” tab. Be sure to contact Ms. Oaks if you have any questions.
District AVID visit, Wednesday, 2/4- Classroom visits wanted!
Our AVID district director and zone superintendent will be visiting CMS on 2/4 for an AVID site visit. They would love to visit classrooms and see AVID strategies in action. The visit will be from 11:30 AM-1:00 PM. If you will have students during this time and would like to showcase the great AVID work you are doing in your class, please email Maggie at nelmsmr@fultonschools.org by Friday, 1/16. You can also nominate a teacher who you know if teaching college and career readiness skills and may not volunteer themselves. Thank you!
We are excited to share an update on the Best Buddies program at our school!
We are continuing to build student interest and plan to host a “soft opening” during the second semester to support recruitment and engagement. While we were unable to meet the requirements to launch this year officially, we are committed to opening a full Best Buddies chapter next school year.
Additional information will be shared in the spring as we complete preliminary steps and plan events to ensure a strong launch at the beginning of the next school year. Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. We look forward to sharing more soon.
Broken/Damaged Electronics
Do you have FCS/CMS electronics that are damaged/broken and out of order?
Please start to gather those items over the next 3-4 months and when you are ready – let me know and I will take them.
When school breaks for summer I plan to send all damaged/broken items back to the district to be removed from our inventory and be properly destroyed. As you can imagine, there is paperwork to complete for this process and each item so I’m planning to do everything at one time.
Examples of this could include: cameras, walkie talkies, microphones, etc.
Please contact Ms. Zapata if you have any questions.
As we begin our second semester, please see below for a reminder regarding mandated reporter responsibilities and DFCS reports. Also, if you are a NEW staff member and did not complete mandated reporter training with Ms. Cairo this year, please contact me via email: cairot1@fultonschools.org.
- All FCS Employees are mandated reporters
- A DFCS report is to be completed within 24 hours
- Completed a DFCS report in good faith you are immune from liability
- DFCS reports are kept confidential by the agency
- When completing the triplicate form:
- White: remains with the reporter
- Yellow and/or Pink: One copy to the principal and one copy to SSW
- Provide to appropriate staff within 24 hours
- When completing via email or portal
- Email the form: CC on the email with the report: principal, assistant principal, school counselor, and SSW
- Portal entry: Please print a copy for the principal and SSW
- DFCS concern:
- Please DO NOT put in writing, contact SSW or a school counselor to follow-up
- Do NOT submit a SWARM
- If there are questions regarding DFCS, feel free to contact SSW, our school counselors, or an administrator
- Triplicate forms are housed with SSW, school counselors, and all administrators
- SSW Request: If the reporter confirms to receive the email stating the status of the case (screened-in or screened-out) please forward to SSW so that I can retain for filing records, follow-up on the status of the case with appropriate partners and admin.
The Crabapple Middle School Governance Council is offering Impact Grant Opportunities. These grants should support the faculty, students, and staff in achieving EXCELLENCE in all areas of the curriculum. Grant monies are available for qualifying projects, programs, or clubs to help support innovative and creative learning opportunities for the students at our school.
- GRANT APPLICATION: Please complete and return the Grant Application to Amy Schroder. There is NO deadline. The grant window will close in the spring when the funds must be spent or when the funding runs out!
- SGC Funds cannot be used to purchase food or gift cards.
- The SGC will review all applications, and funding will be voted on during our monthly SGC meetings. Funding is determined by the number of students impacted and first come basis. Proposals will be accepted as long as funds are available.
- The amount of student impact should directly correlate to the amount requested.
- All costs must be included in the grant application budget, including those funds which supplement the grant/project from existing funds.
- Include any shipping and handling fees and all taxes in grant monies requested. Grants are awarded for a specific amount, and any costs incurred after the award has been granted will not be covered.
- Applications must be clearly written, detailed, and include specific descriptions.
- Orders must be placed within 30 days.
- Application linked here: 25-26 CMS SGC Grant Application.docx
- If you have any questions, please see Amy Schroder or Emily Mimbs.
January 12 - February 26 Wida ACCESS Testing (Daily Schedules & List of Students participating will be provided).
Jan 12- Bookkeeper Update and Mandated Reporter Refresher
Jan 5- AVID Update and New Dismissal Process
December 15- Grades and Staff Digital Accessibility
December 8- Holiday Concerts, POTY/TOTY Nominations, MLK Awards Nominations
December 1- Holiday Countdown Calendar and Underground Spirit Week
November 17- Student Attendance Update and Facilities Reminder
November 10- Building Events Procedure and Grading Reminder
November 3- Bookkeeper News and Veterans Day Reminder
October 27-PBIS Halloween Celebration and 504 Need to Know
October 20-Parent and Student Payment Directions and School Pictures
October 6- PBIS Staff Assessment Survey and Canvas Support Update
September 29- Revised Morning Help Session Process and Q1 Grading Update
September 22- TKES Goals and COPPA Update
September 15- Extended Learning and RTI Update
September 8- TKES Reminder and Student Attendance Update
September 1-Clubs and Teacher Mini Grant Update
August 25- Grading and AM/PM Procedure Update
August 18- PBIS, Centegix Badge, and BOY Media Center Update
August 11- Vanguard, Yearbook, Handling Medical Emergencies Follow-up.
July 30 -Important Dates for the Year, PBIS resources, Staff Handbook, Duty Schedules, Master Schedule, and Substitute Information
July 25 - Summer Need to Know Information