Dear CRMS Families,

As we approach the days leading up to Winter Break, we want to share some important updates and reminders to keep everyone in the loop.

Engaged Learning Continues
Classes are continuing as usual, and teachers are working hard to ensure that students stay engaged in their learning. Important course content is still being taught, and it’s vital that students remain focused and give their best effort during these final days before break. Your support in encouraging attendance, participation, and completion of assignments is greatly appreciated.

Holiday Spirit at CRMS
We’re also planning for some fun and festive activities to help celebrate the season! Thank you to our NJHS students for planning our upcoming Spirit Days—a great way for students to show their school spirit and enjoy the holiday cheer.

Annual CRMS Holiday Store
Our annual CRMS Holiday Store is opening soon! Students will have the opportunity to shop for loved ones using their hard-earned $10 in CRMS bucks. This event is a wonderful way for students to practice thoughtfulness and celebrate the joy of giving.

We are currently accepting donations of new or gently used items for the Holiday Store, including wrapping paper! If you have items you’d like to contribute, please send them to the school over the next week. Your generosity helps make this special experience possible for all our students.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Let’s work together to make these last days before break productive, meaningful, and full of holiday joy!

Take Care. Be Well.

Dr. Yolanda Holloway

#BeAPowerPlayer

The CRMS SGA is sponsoring its annual Toys for Tots Toy Drive.

We need donations of new, unwrapped toys for the children of our community. Students can drop off the toy at school in one of our collection boxes. All toys are due by Friday, December 13, 2024.

December 12th--CRMS Music Department Winter Concert @7pm at CRHS Auditorium

December 20th--Half Day for Students

December 23rd-January 6, 2025--Return to School from Winter Break

December 25th - Christmas
December 25th – First Night of Hanukkah
December 26th – Kwanzaa

December 31st--New Year's Eve

January 1st--New Year's Day

January 20th--No School (Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday)

January 24th--Half day for students/ End of 2nd Qtr.

January 27th--No School for Students/Professional Development Day

January 28th--Beginning of 3rd Quarter

Starting November 1, 2024, CCPS will begin to obligate students for damaged and missing technology equipment. The CCPS Student Technology Obligation Program is designed to promote students' responsible use of technology and reduce damage costs through a tier-based pricing system. This program aligns with the Technology Obligation Regulation (Reference: III.31.71R) and the CCPS Terms of Use Agreement governing the use of technology by students.

Check out this article from the CDC for tips on preventing Type 2 diabetes in children.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes in Kids

Dear Parents/Caregivers,

We join our Choptank Health partners in wishing you and your family a safe and healthy holiday season and new year. To help keep you and your family as healthy as you can be, our Choptank Health partners are providing these three tips for staying well over the holidays:

Wash Your Hands – You can help your children learn the importance of hand-washing by making it a family activity. Good hand hygiene is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of infection! Follow these five steps every time:

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.

2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.

3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.

4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.

5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or an air dryer.

If you have respiratory symptoms (cough, congestion, sneezing, sore throat, etc.) please consider testing yourself for COVID and wearing a mask. Masks help protect us from illnesses that are spread through respiratory droplets! Click on this link to sign up for your free tests: https://www.covid.gov/tests.

Get your Flu Shot and updated COVID-19 vaccine, with both usually given at the same time. You can learn more by reaching out to your health care or school-based healthcare provider or finding locations for vaccines near you at www.vaccines.gov.

You can learn more about the best practices for handwashing at www.cdc.gov/handwashing/.

For more about our School-Based Health Centers, including locations and enrollment forms, go to www.choptankhealth.org/schoolbased.

Missing 10% of school at any point in the school year. For example, if we have been in school for 60 days and your student has missed 6 of those days (even with a note), the state considers that student to be chronically absent.

During the winter break from school, we are grateful to everyone for helping to restore a routine for showing up to school while supporting students and families.

We appreciate everyone’s efforts to avoid taking extra time off during the winter break. As long as your child is healthy, please encourage showing up to class when school is in session.

Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to develop personally, socially and academically.

We thank:

● Our students and their families who do their best to show up daily even when it isn’t easy.

● Our teachers who go above and beyond to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students to learn.

● Our administrators who help us work together to ensure we create a physically and emotionally safe and engaging learning environment.

● Our many, many healers and helpers - the support staff and community volunteers who provide the extra hands and attention our children need.

We appreciate each one of you. May these days off be restful and healing.

● If your family or your child needs support, please reach out to his/her counselor for help.

● We look forward to seeing you again when school resumes January 9th, 2025.

Thank you for partnering with us!

Need to provide or update your student's information? Parent/Guardians should use the Year Round Form, also in the parent portal in PowerSchool.

Visit carolinecps.powerschool.com and log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal. (You must log in via a browser, not the app.)

From the Parent Portal:

1. Select the student you wish to update along the top.

2. Select the Student Information Update form icon on the left side for the applicable school year.

3. Verify the student's date of birth.

4. Select ‘Begin Form’.

If you are unable to access either form, please contact the school to update your child's information. This information is also available on the district website.

CCPS is committed to providing a safe, respectful, nurturing educational environment where the worth and dignity of individuals are valued and their safety and rights are protected. Behaviors that compromise this environment, interfere with school operations or are otherwise contrary to the basic mission of our public schools will not be tolerated. Bullying, hazing, harassment or other discrimination affecting a student or a staff member should be reported by a victim, parent/guardian, witness, staff member or other person having knowledge.

Staff members with knowledge of such conduct are required to promptly report it to the building principal.

Mr. Eric (Neil) Lambert, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Tricia Bolduc, School Counselor 8th grade and 7th grade Last Names A-L

Mr. Michael Tyndall, School Counselor 6th grade and 7th grade Last Names M-Z

Mrs. Jane Towers, Enrollment & Attendance Secretary

Ms. Kiesha Hynson, Administrative Secretary

Email: holloway.yolanda@ccpsstaff.org
Website: https://www.colonelrichardsonms.org/
Phone: 410-479-1462
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Colonel-Richardson-Middle-School-329879580517088