Catonsville Middle Weekly Update

Battle of the Books is Back! 📚🏆

Students are invited to join our Battle of the Books Club! Participants will read the selected books independently throughout the year, and as a club we will meet during Advisory to discuss the titles and prepare for competition. The official book list will be announced next month. The season culminates with an exciting after-school competition in the spring. We are especially excited this year because our school will host the event as the reigning Battle of the Books champion for the second year in a row! We look forward to welcoming new and returning readers to the team. 📖

Join the Culture Club Today!

Do you love working with numbers? Enjoy patterns, puzzles, and sequences?
Want to strengthen your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills? Or maybe you’re just looking for a fun way to hang out with friends while learning a new game?

Then Math Club is for YOU! Join Mr. Eisenberg in Room 8 on Tuesdays from 3:15–4:15 PM for the Catonsville Middle School Math Club!

Start Date: TBD
Location: Room 8
Time: Tuesdays, 3:15–4:15 PM

Interested in joining? Please stop by Mr. Eisenberg’s room (Room 8) in the coming weeks to pick up a permission slip. Students must have a signed permission slip on file in order to stay after school.

Come challenge your brain, learn new games, solve puzzles, and have some fun!

We hope to see you at Math Club!

The CMS Student Council is holding its first meeting of the year on Thursday, September 24 from 3:15-4:15 in Room 32. Students interested in planning school events and activities are encouraged to join the CMS Student Council! Interested students can pick up an application outside Room 32 (Ms. Tucci's room in the History hallway).

Saturday September 19th- BCPS Magnet Expo will be held at The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Essex Campus in the Athletics and Wellness Center from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm.

Thursday September 24th- Western Tech Open House is scheduled from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Mrs. Radebaugh is our 8th grade school counselor and Magnet liaison. She can be reached at hradebaugh@bcps.org to answer your questions about the magnet application process. Each 8th grade student has received a flyer that discusses the magnet application process and has important dates.

This Week’s BCPS “Mental Health Minute” September is Suicide Prevention Month

Every September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) observes Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and shares resources. The toolkit they have developed includes key messages, weekly themes, social media shareables, digital stickers virtual backgrounds, and more with the intention to fight stigma, foster connection, and promote hope.

The theme for Week 3 is Treatment.

Week 3 (September 14–20): Building Communities of Care Through Connection

• Treatment works. People who receive timely, compassionate care for suicidal thoughts or behaviors can and do heal.

• A safety plan gives people something to hold onto in their hardest moments: warning signs to watch for, coping strategies, people to call, and 988.

• Suicide prevention should be part of everyday health care, not only a crisis response. Screening, planning, and follow-ups belong in routine care.

• The days after someone leaves a hospital or emergency room are among the most difficult. Follow-up care and a call within 72 hours can change everything. Suicide prevention is possible.

• Getting care early, before a crisis escalates, is one of the most powerful things health care can do for someone who is struggling.

• Connection, planning, and follow-up care make a real difference. When these pieces work together, they save lives.

We are excited to hold our first PTSA meeting of the 2026-2027 school year. We really need a TREASURER. Even if you can only support us this year, that would be great! If you are willing to be a treasurer but cannot make the meeting on Wednesday, please reach out ahammel@bcps.org

The meeting will be in the library or on Google Meet

Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/krh-tpsr-aiy

• September 21 – No School for Students – Professional Development Day

• September 22 – 25 – 8th Gr Hearing & Vision Screenings

• September 23 – PTSA meeting 6PM in person and Google Meets Link