Ridge Relay

Tomorrow, Friday 1/19, VHS Boys Basketball invites all middle schoolers to come out to our boys basketball games. Our Varsity team is currently in a four way tie for 2nd place in district, so we need all FANS to come out and support. Our middle school basketball teams will be recognized at halftime of the varsity game. Athletics passes do work for student tickets or you can go on the Hometown app and get adult or student tickets for $4 and $2. Go Eagles, and Go Vipers!

This newsletter is FULL of important dates for this Spring. Please mark your calendars now and plan to join us for many fun activities, required dates and opportunities to already start preparing for next year!

Go Eagles!

Mrs. Wendy Sturdevant

I know it seems crazy to already be thinking about next year courses, but we will begin that process soon. Students will be getting course registration and transition information through advisory class and Language Arts class in the coming weeks. In addition, we will be hosting parent webinars to help with all of this information too. Please plan to join us! Some CRMS courses will require an enrollment form/application/meeting/etc., and those will be specified on the choice sheet. For current 8th grade students, your course transition is coordinated by VHS. These dates are for current 6th and 7th grade students.

January 30: Students preview course registration information in advisory class. No selections made at this time.

January 30:

• Parent Webinar at 5:30-6:15 for current 6th grade parents - LINK (passcode: CRMS7th)
• Parent Webinar at 6:30-7:15 for current 7th grade parents - LINK (passcode: CRMS8th)

February 1-8: Students complete a choice sheet in Language Arts class with their grade level counselor. Choice sheet will be brought home for a parent signature.

February 12: Choice sheet with parent signature DUE for current 6th & 7th graders.

February 20: Students have time in advisory class to complete applications and enrollment forms if necessary.

February 26: Applications and enrollment forms DUE for current 6th & 7th graders.

The Canyon Ridge Yearbook is available for sale HERE! Yearbooks are currently $45 until May 10th. Pre-order yours today! (After May 10th, we will sell any remaining yearbooks for cash only until they are gone. We sell out almost every year, so it is best to preorder so you don't miss out.)

Yearbook Recognition Ads are also available to purchase for 8th Graders ONLY until February 8th or until space sells out for these dedicated ad pages; they cost $25.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Jared.Lichtenberger@leanderisd.org

Please note that we have a new yearbook vendor for this year, so please make sure you are purchasing with our link for Jostens Canyon Ridge Middle School Yearbook.

The Dyami Dancers officer and spirit leaders will be hosting a free dance class! Come and meet new friends and learn some fun dance moves!

• Open to all 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.
• Friday, February 9th
• 4:30-6:30 pm
• CRMS Gym

Students may wear any dance attire or athletic shorts and a t-shirt. Please wear tennis shoes or jazz shoes and bring a water bottle.

Registration Information Here

For our 2024-25 CRMS Cheer tryout requirements, and other important information about how to become a CRMS Cheer Team Member. You do not have to be able to tumble or you can be an experienced cheerleader; either way, we want you to be part of our team to come bring spirt to our Eagle community!

Mandatory Events:

• Mandatory Parent/Student Meeting

When: Monday, February 12, 2024, 6:00 PM
Topic: Cheer 2024-25 Mandatory Parent/Student Zoom Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://leanderisd.zoom.us/j/84115276326
Passcode: CRMSCheer

• Mandatory Tryout Clinics at CRMS

February 27 and 28, 4:30-5:30pm

• Mandatory Tryouts at VHS

February 29, 5:15pm

• Mandatory Team Cheer Camp

July 9-12

Mark your Calendar:

Friday, February 16, 2024

6-8pm

All 6th, 7th and 8th graders are invited to attend!

8th Grade Parents--save the dates! Information will be updated on the VHS Counseling Website as the dates get closer. Be sure to check there for all VHS related information!

February 22 // 8th Grade Parent/Guardian Info Webinar // Link will be posted here

• counselors will provide a high school academic planning overview to 8th grade families

• parents/guardians will learn about the course selection process and ask related questions

• 
  

February 26 - 27 // Four-Year Planning & Course Selection Overview with VHS Counselors (2 days at each school)

• VHS counselors will visit Four Points and Canyon Ridge Middle Schools to provide a high school academic planning overview to 8th grade students

• students will submit tentative course requests

• students and their parent/guardian will be emailed a PDF copy of these tentative requests

• choices are editable - a new PDF copy of updated courses will be emailed after each edit

February 29 - March 4 // 8th Grade Individual Student/Counselor Conferences (February 29 & March 1 - CRMS // March 4 - FPMS)

• VHS counselors will meet individually with 8th grade students to review four-year plans and course selections

March 4 @ 4pm

• deadline to lock in initial course selections for the 2024-25 school year

• while there will be additional change opportunities, finalizing your requests as early as possible provides the highest likelihood of being placed in the classes you want

April 3 // Viper Night (more details to come!)

• students and families will have the opportunity to further explore course options

• Viper Night will include an elective fair, club & org fair, breakout sessions, and student panels

CRMS 5th to 6th Grade Transition Information Letter

• Tuesday, February 20th, 5:30-6:15pm: Parent Webinar

Webinar Link (passcode: CRMS)

If you are unable to join the webinar, it will be recorded and shared later that week.

• Friday, February 23rd: 5th Grade student visits to CRMS, students will ride the bus from the elementary (SRE, LWBE & RRE) campuses to CRMS

Please read over the 2024 - 2025 Dyami Dancers Auditions Information for our tryout requirements, and other important information about how to become a CRMS Dance Team Member.

Mandatory Events:

• Mandatory Parent/Candidate Meeting

When: Feb 28, 2024 at 6:00 PM

Topic: CRMS - Dyami Dancers Mandatory Parent/Candidate Meeting
Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://leanderisd.zoom.us/j/85300379258

Passcode: Dyami!

• Dyami Dancers Audition Clinic

Date - March 7th - March 8th

Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Location - CRMS main gym

What to wear- Black leggings, black t-shirt or tank, jazz shoes or tennis shoes.

• Mandatory Team Fitting Date

Date - April 10th

Time: 4:45 pm - 6:15 pm

Location- CRMS dance room

**Payment due at fitting

**The time will be divided by alpha last name to prevent overcrowding in the dance room.

A - M - 4:45 pm - 5:30 pm

N - Z - 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm

• Mandatory Summer Line Camp

Date- July 16th - July 19th

Time - 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location - Rouse High School

Required form for all 6th graders to OPT-in to the Puberty Lessons due by March 4th at 9:00am:

• Boys
  
• Girls
  

Leander ISD 6th grade students are about to study an important lesson on the early stages of puberty, including reproductive and sexual health, in alignment with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Health Education. On March 4th-March 6th students will have an opportunity to learn the following lessons.

6th grade Lessons will be done in PE/Pre-Athletics/Dance classes.

LISD is seeking feedback from our community as the district begins its annual review of hazardous bus routes within 2 miles of a campus. We want to hear from families about concerns on current walking routes to school. The district will use this input in planning our hazardous routes assessments.

In Leander ISD, families living closer than 2 miles from their assigned school are in the “Not Eligible for Transportation Zone,” or NETZone. Students in the NETZone are only provided bus service if their route to school is rated as hazardous.

Members of the transportation team annually review bus routes to schools of families receiving bus service and living inside the NETZone. Reviewers also assess routes to schools of families in the NETZone with significant changes, such as new construction or changes to road conditions.

Leander ISD uses a matrix to score a route, which determines whether or not the student qualifies for bus service. This rating instrument used was developed by a community advisory committee and approved by the Board of Trustees to study hazardous route conditions.

The form will close Jan. 21, 2024, to allow our Transportation department time to complete route evaluations. Note: If you have students at different schools, please complete this form for each school.

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 of 23/24 and the deadline to register is listed below.

Testing Window Three:

• Time: March 4-7, 2024

• Registration Deadline: February 2, 2024 by noon

• Location: CRMS

• Logistics: Arranged with student's counselor, LISD, & UTHS

• Note: Students who pass an Exam for Acceleration in the March 2024 testing window will complete the 2023-2024 school year in his/her current class. Students will receive their acceleration in the 2024-2025 school year.

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, middle school tips, and upcoming dates. Enjoy!

Counseling Newsletter – The Echo

Reflecting Positivity through CRMS Counseling Services

Volume 6 Issue 3

Winter 2023

February 6th - 6th ELA STAAR Field Test (STAAR field test information letter)

April 16th - 6th ELA

April 17th - 7/8 ELA

April 23rd - 8th Science

April 24th - 8th Social Studies

April 30th - 6th Math

May 1st - 7/8 Math/Algebra

*Some of the STAAR testing dates overlap with the religious days of Passover and Vesak. We can offer an alternative testing date if your student is not able to attend during one of those days. Please complete this form by Friday, March 22, 2023 so that we can connect with you to reschedule.

For the month of January, #1LISD celebrates School Board Recognition Month! The theme of this year’s celebration is “Locally Elected, Community Connected,” highlighting connection between trustees & their communities. Read more: https://bit.ly/3v7A6CF

#NoPlaceLikeLISD

Parents: Here is an opportunity to recognize a Canyon Ridge Middle School teacher or staff member who has made a difference! Every week, a faculty member will be chosen as the Golden Eagle recipient. If the teacher or staff member you nominated is recognized for this award, you will be invited to come to campus and join us to present the award with the admin team. Please complete this brief form to honor a CRMS teacher or staff member.

Leander ISD has shared a district-wide OCPE update for next school year. The Off-Campus Physical Education (OCPE) guidelines have been updated for the 24-25 school year. These updates have been made in order to align Leander ISD with other districts in our area and around the state.

It is important that any student interested in applying for OCPE for the 24-25 school year look over these guidelines and become familiar with the changes.

We're excited to announce the spring dates for our Family Workshops! Our next one will be on Wednesday, January 31st! Click here to RSVP

Special Programs Spring Family Workshops Save-the-Dates

The Leander Educational Excellence Foundation (LEEF) is hosting its annual Gala and Auction on January 27, 2024 at The Crossover in Leander, Texas. We welcome you to come walk the yellow brick road with us into An Evening in the Emerald City where we will honor and celebrate our Leander ISD students and staff. You will enjoy cocktails, dinner, dancing and the opportunity to help raise funds for LEEF to continue investing in Leander ISD and your future leaders!

Come join us and we'll show you why #There'sNoPlaceLikeLISD

Tickets, Tables & Sponsorships

Do you have an 8th-grade student who would benefit from obtaining their high school diploma while also earning an associate degree tuition free? Leander ISD’s Early College High School makes this possible through the district’s partnership with Austin Community College at the San Gabriel Campus.

ECHS combines high expectations, academic rigor through inquiry-based instruction, and individualized student supports to prepare our scholars for academic success.

LISD ECHS is now accepting applications for its third cohort, which will then be selected through a blind lottery process later in the spring for incoming 2024–25 9th-graders. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 8, 2024. Apply Here

More Information Here

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]

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.

• 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 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 cannot allow 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 almost 1100 students so it will take 1-2 business days to show the update. We appreciate your patience and understanding that our team is working tirelessly to support all of our Eagles!

At CRMS, we are a 1-to-1 device campus. All students are required to have a device with a keyboard each day at school. Students may bring their own device or get a device from mLISD.

This coming school year, all 6th graders will begin receiving new devices as part of the technology rollout from the last bond election.

The payment window is now open for families to secure their students’ district-provided laptops for the 2023-2024 school year. Plans to distribute laptops will be communicated at a later date. This program is optional. A non-refundable security deposit will be required for participation. The security deposit will be waived for students who qualify for Free and Reduced meals.

Price:

Middle School Students: $40 per school year, starting December 1: $20 for remainder of school year

High School Students: $60 per school year, starting December 1: $30 for remainder of school year

Students who qualify for Free and Reduced meals: $0.00

(Registration through our online store, currently EdPay, or submission of a signed acceptance form is required.)

Payment methods:

A) Debit/credit cards through the mLISD website

B) Scholarship opportunities are available. Please contact mlisd@leanderisd.org or your counselor 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 about mLISD, scholarships and access to sign-up and pay

The Leander ISD Transportation Department uses SMART Tag – a system that provides accurate, near real-time monitoring of where and when students load onto and unload off of their school bus – to help promote student safety and security, keeping parents, school administrators and the district’s transportation department more informed.

Returning bus riders are asked to continue to use the SMART Tag card they were issued last year. If they do not have a card, the student will punch in using their lunch number (student ID) when getting on and off the bus. Bus drivers will begin to issue cards in September for new bus riders.

The online parent portal allows parents and guardians to register to receive alerts for when the bus will arrive at their child’s stop; see a live map of their child’s bus; and view a riding history for their child. Be sure to register if you have never done so.

By Wednesday, Aug. 9, 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 2023–24 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.

During the 2023–24 school year, Leander ISD will welcome back Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) as its food-services provider. That’s right – that means Crispitos are coming back!

All students who qualify for free meals during the 2023–24 school year will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. In 2023–24, students who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive free breakfast meals and lunch for $0.40.

For elementary students who do not qualify for F&R meals, prices will remain the same from last year. At elementary school, the cost of breakfast is $1.50 and lunch is $2.90. For secondary students, the cost of breakfast is $1.75 and lunch is $3.15.

Parents who would like to apply to find out if they are eligible for F&R meals for their children can visit our Child Nutrition Services website for more information.

Beginning last school year, 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/

AP/Counselor by grade-level for 2023-2024:

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

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