What a wonderful first semester we have had at CRMS! We have been so blessed to see so much success for our students both inside and out of the classroom. Below is just a sampling of pictures from the last two weeks full of fun, victories, performances and more. Our students have been busy and soaring to success!

Reminder: today we are on a regular bell schedule (no early release) because Friday is a half-day release at 12:10. Here is the bell schedule for Friday (12/17). Please remember that if you plan to come to pick up your child early this week, you must have your photo ID. We do anticipate a higher volume of parents picking up early on Friday, so you should expect a longer wait time. To help expedite this process, you may send a written note with your child before school that they can turn in to the front office.

Also on Friday, we will have our last PTA Spirit day of 2021 at Menchies, so you can enjoy some Froyo on your half-day (see flyer below for more details).

I wish you all a wonderful, restful holiday full of love, laughter and joy!

This is our last Ridge Relay newsletter of 2021 so here are some helpful hints for the holiday break and the start of next semester:

• Monday, January 3, 2022 is a Staff Development day & Student Holiday, so we will welcome students back to campus on Tuesday, January 4th.

• Spring Semester Schedules:

Families, some students may have a different schedule for the spring semester. There are various reasons for changes in schedules, so we encourage all students and parents to check the HAC to view their child’s schedule. Classes designated with C1-C6 are full year classes. Classes that show as C4, C5, C6 are spring semester classes. If you have questions, please reach out to the grade level counselor. Students will report directly to their spring semester classes beginning January 4th.

• Winter Break Reading Challenge:

Curl up with some great books and have a wonderful winter break! Get a Reading Log on the Library website for the 750 Minute Winter Break Reading Challenge! Record minutes from Dec. 17 through Jan 3. Turn in your Reading Log no later than Jan 7. Stop by the library and stock up on some great books and also get books on SORA over the holiday! Huge congrats to all our 500 Minute Thanksgiving Break Reading Challenge Readers! 65 students/staff completed the challenge over Thanksgiving Break with a grand total of 41,082 minutes of reading!

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @Sturdevant_CRMS

Instagram: Canyon_Ridge_MS

Facebook: Canyon Ridge Middle School PTA

• 1st - Early Release at 1:55, Dash into December begins, 7th & 8th grade Boys Bball, One Act Play Friends & Family Performance
• 2nd - 7th & 8th grade Girls Bball
• 4th - 7th & 8th grade Girls Bball Tournament
• 6th - 7th & 8th grade Girls Bball
• 7th - PTA Spirit night at Chick-fil-A (5-8pm), 7th & 8th grade Band Winter Concert, Theater 1 Class plays
• 8th - Early Release at 1:55, 7th & 8th grade Boys Bball
• 9th - Beginning Band Winter concert
• 10th - PTA Movie night at 6:00pm on the football field
• 13th - 7th & 8th grade Girls Bball
• 13th, 14th - various fine arts groups caroling/touring at Elementary campuses
• 14th - 6th grade Choir Winter Concert
• 15th - 7th & 8th grade Boys Bball
• 17th - Half-day Early Release at 12:10, last day of 1st semester

Reminder: Monday, January 3, 2022 is a Teacher Professional Day. Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 4th to begin 2nd semester.

I am Shreya Poladia, 8th grader at CRMS. I am doing an Art Show, “Teachers: Our True Heroes” and donate 100% of the net profits to CRMS PTA to support our wonderful teachers at CRMS!

Here is a preview of my website that gives details about the Art Show “Teachers: Our True Heroes”: https://shreyasatelier.wixsite.com/crms-artshow

Parents, the third grading cycle 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, and upcoming dates. Enjoy!

Counseling Newsletter – The Echo

Reflecting Positivity through CRMS Counseling Services

Volume 4 Issue 3

December 10, 2021

A student information session about VHS International Baccalaureate will be held at CRMS on Friday 1/21/22 during advisory class. This is an optional student info session for 8th graders. In order for a student to attend, please submit this RSVP form by Tuesday 1/18/22. If submitting the form as a parent, you will need your child's LISD login information to access the form, so please do the form with them. Specific IB questions can be directed to the coordinator at VHS, Sherilyn Green. Other questions can be directed to Staci Cote.

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 2021/2022 testing. Testing date for spring 2022 is February 3, 2022 on the CRMS campus. The deadline to register for spring testing is January 27, 2022. Testing slots are limited due to the nature of the test and classroom capacity. Once the slots are full, a second spring date may be considered and/or summer testing dates will be offered. Testing is open to all grade levels, but recommended for 7/8 graders.

Students begin their high school four year plan during their 8th grade year. Over the course of this year, Mrs. Cote has been delivering four year planning student lessons as part of the 8th to 9th grade transition. Lesson resources can be found here. Thanks for partnering with us to support your child in their 8th to 9th grade transition!

Additionally, Vandegrift High School Counselors will be meeting with your child and hosting events in the spring semester for this transition. See VHS dates below and mark your calendars!

• 1/10/22 VHS Counselors to CRMS Campus for Course Registration Presentation
• 1/11/22 VHS Counselor to CRMS Campus for Review of Four Year Plan
• 1/11/22 8th Grade Family Night @ VHS (may be virtual)
• 1/13/22 Viper Night @ VHS (may be virtual)
• 1/18/22 VHS Counselor to CRMS Campus for Review of 9th Grade Choice Sheet
  

*Dates subject to change. Accurate as of 12/10/2021

Each year, LISD offers students an opportunity to take an Exam for Acceleration (EA) at no cost to the family. LISD offers four EA testing windows each school year. Click this link for more information and dates. Students and parents can request the exam through their grade level counselor. The next testing window and deadline to register is listed below.

Testing Window Three: March 7-9, 2022

Time: Arranged with student's counselor

Registration deadline: February 7, 2022

Location: CRMS

Logistics: Arranged with student's counselor & UTHS

Note: Students who pass an Exam for Acceleration in the March 2022 testing window will complete the 2021-2022 school year in his/her current class. Students will receive their acceleration in the 2022-2023 school year.

PTA has new Spirit Wear in Stock! Grab a soft, warm hoodie or a baseball tee for the cool days that are surely coming! We also have a new PTA t-shirt and girls youth PE shorts in smaller sizes. Show off your CRMS Pride and Eagles Spirit and visit our website to purchase! Eagles Spirit Wear - Canyon Ridge Middle School PTA

Are you wondering how your student is doing with their HB4545 requirement? For any questions or updates on progress, please contact Marlon Fisher (marlon.fisher@leanderisd.org).

Yearbooks for the 2021-2022 school year are available online NOW! Don't miss out on the lowest price of the year; Order your yearbook before December 1st for $35. On December 1st, yearbook prices increase. Additionally, we are offering an opportunity for CRMS families to highlight their 8th grade students with a shout out. Shout outs are very similar to senior ads in a high school yearbook and are only available for 8th grade students. They can be purchased as an add on to the yearbook for $25. Shout outs must be purchased on or before January 31, 2022 and your short message and photos must be submitted by February 15, 2022. Our school orders a limited number of yearbooks each year. By pre ordering your yearbook now, you ensure that you will receive a yearbook. If you have any questions please email Jared.Lichtenberger@leanderisd.org .

Students from Vandegrift High School began a homework help service in 2012. Today Viper Nation Homework Help continues as a student-led, free tutoring service for elementary, middle and even high school peers in our community. To sign up your student for one of the Tuesday evening sessions, please visit https://signup.com/go/zmqysDO.

Leander ISD updated our Health Response Protocols and on August 17th, elevated to a new Yellow Stage. Please review and partner with us to keep people healthy and schools open:

• COVID-19 Update: New Health Response Protocols
• August 6th Update to COVID Notifications, Contact Tracing and Dashboard data
• August 17th Update: Mask Requirement for All
• Leander ISD COVID dashboard

CRMS Frequently Asked Questions - COVID

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/

Many have generously reached out and asked how you can donate or support the teachers/school during this time. If you are wanting to donate and unsure how, we will gladly accept donations on campus of the following:

• bottled water
• masks
• paper towels
• hand sanitizer
• Clorox wipes

Currently, there is no state funding for PPE this year, so donations will be accepted and very appreciated! You can drop off in the school front office at your convenience during school hours.

Home Access Center (HAC) provides families with an online tool where they can view helpful student information to support and guide their children through the educational process. From home or work, at any time of the day or night, parents can access the web portal to track academic achievement.

Features include:

• Grade notifications,

• Class schedules

• Attendance records.

Visit the Home Access Center page to learn more. Please allow time for our campuses to complete schedule and teacher assignments in the coming days prior to the start of the school year.

Beginning Aug. 5, Leander ISD parents can enter their home address into Infofinder to look up their child’s bus route number, pick-up/drop-off times, and bus stop locations for the 2021-22 school year. Bus routes are subject to change, so LISD parents are strongly encouraged to confirm their child’s bus information again the week prior to the start of school.

The Transportation Department will continue to use the Remind platform to communicate delay notifications and other important updates. Bus riders and their guardians will be added to a Remind “class” for their assigned bus route.

All students at CRMS must have a working computer/device with a keyboard. If you do not have your own device, that is okay! Click on this link to sign-up/re-enroll and pay the 2021-2022 mLISD non-refundable security deposit so you can get your computer as soon as possible!

Our schools and teachers use Remind to send text messages and emails to our parents. Make sure you log into Remind to set up your notification preferences, see archived messages, and send messages directly to your teachers and school staff. Download the mobile app (Google Play, Apple) for the best user experience.

Click here to learn more about Remind.

As Leander ISD Child Nutrition Services will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch meals to all students for the 2021–22 school year, low-cost meals are not being served at this time. To manage your student’s meal balance for snacks or extras beyond the meal service, please create your Titan Family Connect account (formerly MealTime). Leander ISD school menus, along with complete nutrition information, are available through Nutrislice.

School start and end times for elementary, middle and high school are listed below.

• Elementary School: 7:40 a.m.–2:55 p.m.
• Middle School: 8:10 a.m.–3:25 p.m.
• High School: 8:40 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

90-minute Early Release Schedule for 2021–22 School Year

• Elementary School: 7:40 a.m.–1:25 p.m.
• Middle School: 8:10 a.m.–1:55 p.m.
• High School: 8:40 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

*District Calendar linked below

Turn your sound on and please watch this video from CRMS students!

*Randall's will donate to CRMS PTA if you select us as your Good Neighbor Program just because you shop there! Complete this form and then e-mail to good.neighbor@randalls.com or take to any store customer service location..

*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.

*SPIRIT WEAR: Spirit Wear is restocked. Porch pickup is very close to CRMS.

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!

AP/Counselor by grade-level for 2021-22:

• 6th: Monica Diaz Carle/Sabrina Anderson
• 7th: Cassandra Ricks/Katie Young
• 8th: Leah Cox /Staci Cote

Email: Wendy.Sturdevant@leanderisd.org
Website: crms.leanderisd.org
Location: Canyon Ridge Middle School, Country Trails Lane, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-570-3500
Twitter: @Sturdevant_CRMS