CTMS Family Newsletter
Wonderful Wolf Families,
Welcome to November!
Monday and Tuesday our wolves get to enjoy a little time away from school while our staff engages in two days of learning! We look forward to our wolves returning to campus on Wednesday.
The pack celebrated Red Ribbon Week in style all week! Howl to the incredible participation from all wolves! See below for highlights from the Red Ribbon Week pep rally.
Tuesday is election day! See the voting season section of today's newsletter for information from GCISD. Thank you for reading before you head to the polls to cast your ballot!
Looking forward to a wonderful week with the pack!
Howl,
Jamie Halliburton
CTMS Principal
Election Day is November 5! Check Out These Resources for your Questions about GCISD’s Proposition A?
Still have a question about GCISD’s Proposition A, otherwise known as the voter-approved tax ratification (VATRE) election? In addition to our FAQ and Clarifications pages, please check out the resources below:
Is a VATRE Unique to GCISD?
Watch this video to learn why districts across the state are placing a VATRE on the ballot.
Proposition A Ballot Language
Tax Rate Comparison with Surrounding School Districts
Impact on the Tax Rate and the GCISD Average Home
Superintendent’s Letter
Read Dr. Brad Schnautz’ October 22, 2024, Letter to Families and Community detailing why a VATRE was called, the impact on the district and other resources available to answer any questions.
Voting Hours and Locations
Remember, to vote! Early Voting continues through Friday, November 1. Election Day is Tuesday, November 5. Hours are 7 a.m.‐7 p.m. Registered voters may vote at ANY Tarrant County Early Voting or Election Day location.
Still Have a Question?
Visit GCISD’s Proposition A (VATRE) webpage where the district has posted presentations, videos, documents and more about the referendum, or watch the district’s full Facebook livestream, which is also separated by topic so you can find the answer fast.
Remember to vote!
¡El 5 de noviembre es el Día de las Elecciones! Consulte estos recursos para preguntas sobre la Propuesta A de GCISD.
¿Aún tiene preguntas sobre la Propuesta A de GCISD, también conocida como la elección de ratificación de impuestos aprobada por los votantes (VATRE)? Además de nuestras páginas de Preguntas Frecuentes y Aclaraciones, por favor consulte los recursos a continuación:
¿Es un VATRE único para GCISD?
Lenguaje de la Boleta para la Propuesta A
Comparación de la Tasa de Impuestos con Distritos Escolares de los Alrededores
Impacto en la Tasa de Impuestos y el Promedio de Vivienda en GCISD
Carta del Superintendente
Lee la carta de Dr. Brad Schnautz del 22 de octubre de 2024, dirigida a las familias y la comunidad, donde detalla por qué se convocó un VATRE, el impacto en el distrito y otros recursos disponibles para responder cualquier pregunta.
Horario y lugares para votar
¡Recuerde votar! La votación anticipada continúa hasta el viernes, 1 de noviembre. El Día de las Elecciones es el martes, 5 de noviembre. El horario para votar es de 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Los votantes registrados pueden votar en CUALQUIER lugar de votación anticipada en el Condado de Tarrant o en su centro de votación el Día de Elecciones.
¿Todavía tiene una pregunta?
Visite la página web de la Propuesta A de GCISD (VATRE) donde el distrito ha publicado presentaciones, vídeos, documentos y más sobre el referéndum, o vea la transmisión completa en vivo en el Facebook del distrito, que también está separado por tema para que pueda encontrar la respuesta rápidamente.
¡Recuerde votar!
Starting Wednesday, November 6th, we will implement a new CTMS practice for forgotten wolf IDs. As a reminder, the wearing of student IDs is part of the GCISD dress codes and outlined in the student code of conduct. We want to ensure consistency and encourage responsibility among our wolves, so each wolf will begin with a fresh start on this date.
The updated practice is as follows:
- First forgotten ID: Verbal warning.
- Second forgotten ID: Lunch detention.
- Third forgotten ID: Two lunch detentions.
- Fourth forgotten ID: Parent phone call, and a replacement ID will be automatically charged to the wolf's Skyward account.
- Fifth forgotten ID: In-school suspension (ISS) for repeated dress code offenses.
Additionally, please note that failure to return temporary IDs will result in lunch detention.
All wolves receive IDs, free of charge, on picture day. For those wolves who join the pack after picture day, they receive IDs when registering. Replacement IDs can be purchased from Ms. Richards in the front office before school or during lunch daily.
Thank you for your support in helping our wolves build good habits and follow GCISD expectations!
National Junior Honor Society Members!
Ms. Billman needs boxes to collect GRACE donations! If you have any suitably sized boxes, each one you bring in is worth 15 minutes of volunteer time. Please bring boxes and your hours sheet to room B7 from 8:00-8:10.
The GRACE Food Drive is a wonderful NJHS-led initiative to support our community, so if you can, please make a point to donate starting next week in your ELA class!
If you are interested in earning 30 minutes while working for only about 15, I have posted several opportunities in our Canvas under GRACE Food Drive!
2026 8th Grade DC/NY Trip
Parent Meeting ~ November 12th 6pm in the Lecture Hall ~ Enter through B-Hall
ATTENTION: Current 7th graders who are interested in going on the 2026 DC/NY Trip. We will have a parent information meeting on November 12th in the Lecture hall. While in DC we will visit all the Monuments, Smithsonian Museums, Mount Vernon, and Historic Georgetown. In New York, we will see all the sites and sounds of the City. Broadway show, Coney Island, Time Square, and Little Italy are all planned.
This is a reminder of our upcoming Play It Safe presentation. Please complete the Skyward Family Access Form to indicate your preference for your child’s participation in any of the above programs. If you choose for your child not to participate, your child will be provided an alternate location while this program is being presented. If the form is NOT completed by 3:00 PM the day before the presentation, your child will NOT participate in the program.
If you were unable to attend the Parent Preview for Play It Safe, you can access the recorded meeting, along with the scripts and videos for each topic, at the following website: https://www.gcisd.net/page/parent-previews-24
If you are having difficulty accessing the form through skyward, please email allyiah.daniels@gcisd.net if you would like for your student to participate in the Play It Safe presentation!
Our schedule for showing the Play It Safe Curriculum this year is as follows:
6th grade “Sexual Harassment”- November 12th, 2024
7th grade “Can’t Take It Back” - November 19th, 2024
7th grade “Abuse of Power” - February 25th, 2025
6th grade “Survivors of Abuse- March 11th, 2025
Shout Out the PACK!
Your kind words of encouragement truly uplift our teachers and staff! If you have a positive experience to share, we’d love to hear about it! Use this form to leave a shout out for our amazing wolf staff!
Monday, November 4 & Tuesday, November 5 ~ No school for Wolves/Staff professional learning
Thursday, Nov. 7 ~ CTMS Girls Basketball Scrimmage @ CMS 4-8 pm
Saturday, Nov. 9 ~ Band Phase II All Region Auditions 8 am-2 pm @ Carroll MS
Monday, Nov. 11 ~ Veterans Day Assembly CTMS 2-:35 - 3:30 pm / CTMS 7th Boys Basketball Scrimmage @ CMS 5-8 pm / CTMS 8th Boys Basketball Scrimmage vs CMS @ CTMS 5-8 pm
Tuesday, Nov. 12 ~ PTA General Mtg & Parents Night Out 5:30-8:30 pm
Wednesday, Nov. 13 ~ CTMS Fall 7th Tennis Match vs East @ Coppell HS 5-7 pm
Thursday, Nov. 14 ~ CTMS Choir Mid Winter Concert @ GHS 7-8 pm
Friday, Nov. 15 ~ CTMS Spelling Bee Lecture Hall 2:45-3:30 pm
Friday, Nov. 22 ~ Student vs. Staff Volleyball Game
GCISD Holiday Greeting Card Art Contest
All elementary, middle, and high school students are invited to submit original artwork for the cover of GCISD’s official holiday greeting card. This year’s theme is "Show Others Kindness." Three student designs—one each from the elementary, middle, and high school levels—will be selected and sent out on behalf of the GCISD Board of Trustees and Superintendent Dr. Brad Schnautz. Cards are sent to community leaders, area businesses, organizations, and other school districts.
Each student will submit their artwork to their campus art teacher or other designee.
Each school will select campus-based winners whose art will then be submitted to the district level for final selection.
Each high school will choose up to 10 finalists; each middle school will choose up to 5 finalists; and each elementary will choose up to 3 finalists. Final designs for the cover will be selected by the Superintendent and his designees based on originality, the theme, use of the elements of art, and overall design.
The three students whose works are selected for the GCISD Holiday Greeting Card will receive $25 and recognition at the December meeting of the Board of Trustees. The selected artwork and the artists’ names will be featured on the district’s website and used in district publicity.
Please see your school's art teacher for entry forms.
Concurso de de felicitación para días festivos oficial de GCISD
Se invita a todos los estudiantes de primaria, secundaria, y preparatoria a presentar sus obras de arte originales para el diseño de la tarjeta de felicitación para días festivos oficial de GCISD. El tema de este año se llama “Muestra Amabilidad a los Demás” (en inglés, “Show Others Kindness”). Se seleccionarán los diseños de tres estudiantes – uno de nivel de primaria, secundaria, y preparatoria- y se enviarán en nombre de la Mesa Directiva de GCISD y del Dr. Brad Schnautz. Las tarjetas se envían a los líderes comunitarios, empresas locales, organizaciones, y otros distritos escolares.
Cada estudiante presentará su obra de arte al maestro de arte de su escuela o al individuo designado.
Cada escuela seleccionará a los ganadores a nivel escolar cuyo arte luego se presentará al nivel del distrito para la selección final.
Cada escuela preparatoria seleccionará hasta 10 finalistas; cada escuela secundaria seleccionará hasta 5 finalistas; y cada escuela primaria seleccionará hasta 3 finalistas. Los diseños finales serán seleccionados por el Superintendente y los individuos designados según su originalidad, tema, uso de color, y diseño general.
Los tres estudiantes con obras seleccionadas para la Tarjeta de Felicitación para Días Festivos de GCISD recibirán $25 y serán reconocidos en la reunión de la Mesa Directiva en diciembre. Las obras seleccionadas y los nombres de los artistas se publicarán en el sitio web del distrito y se utilizarán en la publicidad del distrito.
CTMS Families,
Our annual Veterans Day Celebration is on Monday, November 11 th . We will host a short
reception at 2:00pm in the Library for veterans and their families, followed by an assembly at
2:35 in the Main Gym. This is always a very special time in which we take time to honor our
veterans and their service to our country.
We would like to make this event personal to our students and families, and we are hoping you
can help us out. If you have any family members that serve or have served in the military, we
would love to get a little information about them with the purpose to honor them throughout
our Veterans Day program.
If you and/or a veteran plan on attending the reception and/or the assembly, please complete
our form by clicking on this link, even if you cannot attend, you can send in a picture and give
information so we may honor your veteran. Please complete the form by Monday, November
4th. If you are attending, please bring a state issued ID so you can sign into our system and
receive your visitor sticker.
Thank you in advance for helping us make this memorable for our CTMS students and families.
We hope that you can all attend and help us celebrate. If you have any questions, please feel
free to email Stephanie.Maupin@gcisd.net.
Thank you,
Cross Timbers Middle School Social Studies Team
- School Hours: 8:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Doors Open: 7:45 a.m.
- Wolves enter the building through the C hall doors or the SAC doors. 6th & 8th grade wolves wait in the SAC and 7th grade wolves wait in the lecture hall for the bell to walk to first period.
- Bell Schedule
- Campus Map (click present for easier viewing)
- Front Office: 817-251-5320
- Mascot: Wolf
- School Colors: Silver & Black
- Planners: All wolves use a planner at CTMS. This is to assist with organizing, prioritizing, and planning. You can purchase a CTMS planner for $5 on the first day of school or use one of your choosing. Wolves use their planners daily.
- Student IDs: All wolves who did not attend Wolf Camp or Registration will be issued a temporary CTMS ID on the first day of school. The first IDs are free and replacement IDs are $5. Per the student code of conduct, IDs are to be worn daily by all CTMS students and staff.
- Lost & Found: The Front Office currently has several pieces of jewelry, keys, glasses and phones that are lost and have found their way to the office! Come by to check to see if your item was found!
Who to Contact
Attendance
Layla Torres
817-251-5320
Counselors
Molly Brown (last names A-K)
817-251-5315
Rachel Smith (last names L-Z)
817-251-5312
Student Advocate
Allyiah Daniels
817-251-5323
Registrar
Ilia Kaku
817-251-5314
Nurse
Riley Heimuli
817-251-5337
Assistant Principals
Alishia Ilic (last names A-K)
817-251-5313
Cinthia Morales (last names L-Z)
817-251-5317
Principal
Jamie Halliburton
817-251-5320
Need a Charger
In need of a new charger for a school issued Chromebook, click here for information on how to order a new one.
Thank you for helping our wolves be prepared for school each day by ensuring their Chromebooks are charged nightly!
Attendance
Welcome All Wolves! Find information about your Attendance Clerk contact at CTMS this year below:
Please check your mobiles devices to ensure the correct Attendance Office contact information is updated to our current Attendance Clerk - Layla Torres. below you will find the correct email address and phone number to reach her desk going forward this year. This ensures your students absence information is being seen and recorded.
- As much as possible, please schedule appointments before or after school, or on student days off (teacher professional development days).
- Doctor's notes are required for those appointments & illness lasting more than 1 day.
- Please email me at layla.torres@gcisd.net or call 817-251-5326.
Secondary Grading Policy
Click here to see the updated secondary grading policy from GCISD. All wolf pack teachers will be following this policy this school year to communicate the progress of each wolf.
Grades are a method of communicating the progress each wolf is making at CTMS. If you ever have questions or concerns over a grade, please reach out directly to the teacher.
Here is the link for the 2024-2025 GCISD Student/Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct :https://www.gcisd.net/o/gcisd/page/studentparent-handbook.
GCISD's Student-Parent Handbook contains information that students, parents and staff are likely to need during the school year. In addition, both students and parents need to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct. Both students and parents should become familiar with the Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District Student Code of Conduct, which is a document adopted by the board and intended to promote school safety and an atmosphere for learning.
Cell Phone Policy
Middle school students may use telecommunications devices before and after school, and during
lunch. They may not use telecommunications devices during passing periods or classes.
What does this mean for the wolves?
- Devices can be used before 8:00 a.m., during lunch, and after 3:30 p.m.
- Smartwatches can be worn as long as they are used for telling time.
- Earbud, airpods, and the like will not be used in the hallway or during class time.
Buy Your Student I.D. Online ANYTIME!
Exciting News! CTMS Now Offers a New Online Purchase Option for Student ID's and Wolf Lanyards!
We are excited to announce that CTMS has added a new, convenient way for students and parents to complete your ID purchase needs online! This new payment option makes it easier and faster than ever before. You will find this payment option on the CTMS web page under the Quick Links heading where you can create your personal Web Store account. Once your account is created, click on the Middle Schools square and choose Cross Timbers Middle School. Complete your purchase through the Security/Dress Code option. Students will be able to finalize their order in Mrs. Richards office the following day once ID is personalized with the students' photo download. We hope this will be a helpful addition to preparing you student for a successful day at school everyday!
Student-Parent Handbook: Food Deliveries
Student-Parent Handbook page 55: Except in emergencies, delivery of messages or packages to students will not be allowed during instructional time. A parent may leave a message or a package such as a forgotten lunch, for the student to pick up from the front office during a passing period or lunch. Students are not permitted to order food using delivery services such as UberEats, DoorDash, etc.
What this means for the pack: Wolf pack family members may drop items off items to the vestibule for wolves. Delivery services are not permitted. Wolves will visit the vestibule during passing periods to pick up items dropped off by parents.
Volunteer Background Check
For the protection of students and staff, all volunteer applicants must read the Volunteer Handbook (in Español) and are asked to apply online authorizing the district to obtain a criminal history background check.
Note: All volunteers are required to reapply each year.
GCISD utilizes Volunteer Tracker for volunteer applications and signing up for volunteer opportunities. Please follow the steps provided to sign up. If you have any questions about registration, please contact App-Garden at support@app-garden.com or submit a help ticket.
Morning Drop-Off & Afternoon Pick-Up
Drop-off and pick-up occur in TWO locations: In the parking lot outside the academic halls at the C-hall door and outside the SAC. See the map below.
For the safety of all wolves, thank you in advance for driving slowly, keeping cell phones away, and staying alert and aware of others.
C-Hall Door
For drop-off and pick-up, the parking lot across from the football field is two lanes. Pull into the lane you will be exiting from, if you are turning right out of the parking lot, drop off and/or pick up your wolf in the inside lane (closest to the building) and if you are turning left out of the parking lot, drop off and/or pick up your wolf on the outside lane (closest to the football field). Also, please pull all the way up to let your wolf out of the vehicle. The doors to the school open at 7:45 a.m. and school dismisses at 3:30 p.m.
SAC Doors
This is a single lane drop-off and pick-up. The driveway is not for parking. If you need to assist your wolf, please park in a non-reserved space.
Cross Timbers Middle School
Email: ctms.info@gcisd.net
Website: https://ctms.gcisd.net/
Location: 2301 Pool Rd, Grapevine, TX 76051
Phone: 817-251-5320
Twitter: @CTMSWolfWay