McCormick Middle School
(Email) James.Cruz@hayscisd.net
(Cell) 512-698-7007
Email: James.Cruz@hayscisd.net
Website: https://www.hayscisd.net/Domain/24
Location: 5700 Dacy Lane, Hays, TX, USA
Phone: 512-268-8508
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mccormickMS
Twitter: @McCormickTigers
A message from District
Dear Hays CISD Bus Rider Parents & Students,
As you know our district’s transportation department has been affected by the nationwide staffing shortages, which has caused some scheduling challenges this school year. As part of the ongoing effort to improve service and to ensure busses get students to school on time, the district will be adjusting bus pick up and drop off times.
On Monday, November 8, 2021, if you have children who ride the bus, their new drop off and pick up times will appear in your parent portal. These times will be in effect beginning Tuesday morning, November 9, 2021, when students return from Monday’s student holiday.
The changes will be limited, but some buses may run as much as 10 minutes earlier than they are currently running. This will help to ensure students arrive at school on time at all levels – elementary, middle, and high school.
Please be sure to check the parent portal on Monday for your updated bus schedules. Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
The Hays CISD Transportation Team
Link to the Hays CISD Parent Portal: www.hayscisd.net/pss
6th Grade
Resource Math
Topic: ordering rational numbers, rational number system, and integer operations.
Homework: assigned at beginning of week, due Friday; we work together on it in class.
Reminders: Please charge Chromebooks overnight.
Math EnrichmentThis week, students will be working on multiplication and division. We will start with whole numbers and work our way onto fractions and decimals. Please encourage your students to be working on their multiplication and division facts at home! We want everyone to have their facts memorized by the end of the school year!
Reading Enrichment
This week, we will continue to study plot structure via our class novel, Esperanza Rising. We will also continue to examine text structure across multiple types of text.
ELAR
This week we will be learning a new genre: memoirs! We will read a memoir from a survivor of the Titanic. We will focus on analyzing the author's purpose for writing this memoir, as well as the imagery created by the author in their wriiting. We have really cool activities planned to support this text, including a virtual tour of the Titanic!
WORLD CULTURES
We will begin unit 4: Europe geography and vocabulary.
MathWe will conitnue to explore and develope our skills on operations with integers. We will recall absolute value and opposites.
Science
We will explore speed this week in 6th grade science. Bring athletic shoes on Wednesday to participate in our Speed Lab. Tutoring this week will occur on Tuesday and Thursday for CBA reteach and retakes. Sign up with your science teacher to attend.
Resource ELAR
We will begin Unit 3 by introducing the background knowledge of our first text with a documentary called "Salva's Story". **Please be on the look out for schoology assignments for students who are absent.
7th Grade
Science
We have started out human body unit. Kids will learn about the structure and function of each of the major 10 body systems. The unit will culminate in a frog dissection the last week before Winter Break. Review games are available on Schoology.
ELAR
In 7th Grade English/Language Arts students will review material for and then take their Unit 2 test. We will then read and discuss the short story "Heartbeat" in our textbook. Reminder: 4 Reading Plus lessons must be completed every week.
7th Grade
This week in TX History - November 8 - 12 - We have begun Unit 05: Unrest and Revolt in Texas – 1821-1836. Last week we began the unit learning about the cause and effects of the events that led to the Texas Revolution. This week we will start with a school holiday off on the 8th but will return on the 9th with the Battles of the Texas Revolution ending with Texas Independence at the Battle of San Jacinto. Next week we will begin our review for the CBA #1 on Novemeber 18 or 19.
Math
In 7th grade Math, students will continue unit 4 on graphs and two-variable equations. Students will be assigned homework on Tuesday and it will be due no later than Friday. They should also complete 5 Dreambox lessons per week.
Advanced Math
In 7th grade Advanced Math, we will begin Unit #2 which involves solving equations. Students will be working on modeling equations, solving 2 step equations, and by the end of the week they will be able to solve multi-step equations.
Math Enrichment
This week in 7th grade Math Enrichment, students will continue to focus on division of rational numbers. We will also be practicing order of operations.
Resource ELAR
We will continue Unit 2 of the year which introduces our essential questions of "What can blur the lines between what's real and what's not?". We will be starting a mentor text called "The camera does lie". **Please be on the look out for schoology assignments for students who are absent.
Resource Math
Our current unit is proportions, rates, and ratios. We will be looking at applications of this concept like discounts, which is the better buy, and sales.
Resource ELAR
This week we will continue to focus on the Greek myth of Icarus. We will discuss taking risks and how this idea and myth of Icarus relates to this unit on overcoming obstacles. Our main ojecetive is to determine the theme.
8th Grade
Math
Students will start Unit 3, Slope and Y-Intercept. If a student did not take CBA #1 they will need to make arrangments with their teacher.
Algebra
In Algebra, students will learn how to find the domain and range of functions in graphs, sets of numbers, and word problems. They will have a short quiz on Wednesday over evaluating functions and domain and range of graphs.
Science
This week in Science we will be learning about speed, velocity and acceleration. We will also be learning how to find speed from a graph.
Resource Math
We are working on slope with graphs, tables, and equations. Check out the video "Slope Dude" on youtube. That was our intro to this unit!
Social Studies
Have a good Monday off, when you return be ready to learn about George Washington our first president and the struggles that our new nation faced in the beginning years and how Washington and his Cabinet members help guide us through it. Please bring chrombooks charged and ready to use.
Resouce ELAR
This weel we will focus on analyzing a prompt in order to effectively write an essay. We will go through the entire writing process including writing the introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs, and conclusion. This will be for a major grade.
Reading Enrichment
This week, we will continue to study plot structure via our class novel, Esperanza Rising. We will also continue to examine text structure across multiple types of text.
Band
Beginner Band: Beginner students will be learning new notes and prepare for their winter concert in December.
Wind Ensemble/Symphonic Band: Select Wind Ensemble students will be competing at the TMEA Middle School District Auditions on Saturday, November 6 at Chapa Middle School. A permission slip and information sheet was sent out on Thursday, 10/28. Please double check to make sure you sign it and have your child return the slip. Wind Ensemble students are currently working on a Veteran's Day program- please check your emails regarding attire for this event. Symphonic Band students will be working Winter Concert music.
Choir
Orchestra
Beginning Orchestra: Beginning orchestra students have learned the "escalator" and are busy preparing holiday favorites. By now, all beginners should have put fingers and note names in all new music. This orchestra has also begun work in Essential Elements Book 1. All beginning orchestra students should be practicing at home at least 30 min a day, at least 5 days a week.
Concert Orchestra: Concert orchestra students have learned the "elevator" and are continuing to practice sight reading skills through a review of Essential Elements book 1. Concert Orchestra students are also working on holiday music and should be practicing for mastery of "Christmas Symphony" for chair test purposes. Students should prepare "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" for rehearsal Tuesday 11/9. Concert Orchestra members should also be practicing at least 30 min a day at home at least 5 days of the week and have been asked to include a page or two of "Essential Elements" sight reading practice into their daily routine.
Dance
Art
MARTINEZ: We will demonstarte our knowledge on how to create the illusion of space by creating a watercolor landscape (MS 1 & 2). For HS Art, we will be working with tints, tones, and shades with acrylic paint.
Theatre
Theatre Arts 2 -Mrs. TidblomTheatre 2 Will learn about the set designer, the different parts of the stage, Set pieces and how to create a ground plan for Set Design. They will create an original ground plan for one of the scenes from the “Homework Excuse” play that we read.
Theatre Arts High School Credit-Mrs. TidblomHigh School Credit will continue to learn about the prop designer. They will learn the importance of props and using fake foods in plays, commercials and TV. They will use free or recycled materials to create realistic fake food props for stage!
STEAM
Students will continue developing code using a series of sequential algorithms and software options to create a variety of program tasks.
Health
Spanish
Español 1: Students will be reviewing and discussing vocabulary about school subjects and activities and expressing their likes and dislikes in the target language.
Students will be able to identify aspects of the Hispanic Culture and Language by completing cultural activities.
Thornburg:
Español 1: Unit 3 Comida! Food is always a fun way to expirence culture around spanish speaking countries. Students will be watching videos on authentic foods around latin america and Mexico and be able to talk and write about it. They will learn vocabulary needed to talk about their likes and dislikes about food and how to order a meal in the target languge. Español 2 y 3: Unidad 3 sobre tradiciones, leyendas, cuentos y anecdotas. Estaremos analizando las historias para comprender la razon que tradicionalmente se pasan estas leyendas, cuentos....etc.
Boys Athletics/Pre-Athletics/PE
Boys AthleticsFOOTBALL PICTURE DAY IS OCTOBER 19 - FORMS SENT HOME
Boys Pre-AthleticsBring clothes to workout in daily. PE shirts soon!!, Bring a lock
Boys PEBring workout clothes and a lock
Girls Athletics/Pre-Athletics/PE
Girls PEGIRLS FUNDRAISER IS ALMOST HERE!! We will start our Basketball unit on Tuesday! There WILL be a test for this unit. Study guide is in our Schoology course. Keep on dressing out and giving your BEST effort daily!
Girls AthleticsGIRLS FUNDRAISER IS ALMOST HERE!! Basketball season has begun! Check sportsYou for details! We will continue with strength and conditioning with off-season. Stay hydrated all day and night, and eat healthy meals!!
Girls Pre-AthleticsGIRLS FUNDRAISER IS ALMOST HERE!! We have started our Basketball unit, and will continue with strength and conditioning. Stay hydrated all day and night, and eat healthy meals!!
Happy Birthday Shout Out!
Wish your child Happy Birthday on our school marquee! Please click the link below to put a birthday message on the school marquee!
North Side - Facing child nutrition
South Side- Facing entrance
Wind shorts
Rips in jeans
Rips in jeans are allowed. We asked that any skin showing above the knees to be covered up.
Sagging Pants
ID's worn everyday
Library News
Take a look at the Weekly Library Update to stay informed on what is happening in the library. Visit the library website to view this week's Weekly Library Update. The 40 Book Challenge is on, learn more here.
Dreambox Information!!!
McCormick is utilizing an on-line math program called Dreambox. Please watch the following introductory video to know what it is and how to support your student's use and success with Dreambox. The family resource link mentioned in the video is found here.
Home Learning Guide - https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/2086007/PDFs/National/Home-Learning-Guide-For-Families_20200417.pdf
Family Support Website - https://www.readingplus.com/resources/for-families/
Reading Plus Information!!!
Please encourage your student to try their hardest on the Insight Assessment as this will serve as valuable feedback in order to best serve our student/s. For more information, please view the Reading Plus Video and/or visit the Family Support Link.
Grading Policy
Grading Policy
I wanted to make you aware about our grading policy at MMS this year. The follow key is how grades are counted:
M= Missing (student has not turned it in and is given a zero for a grade, student average will drop)
P= Pending (student has turned it in but teacher has not graded it, student average will not drop)
E = Excused (student has not turned it due to being absent, student average will not drop)
In the past my teachers would give a "P" or an "E" for a grade waiting for students to turn in assignments. If students did not turn in assignments, than teachers would have to go back and change the "P" or "E" to a Zero. This would cause a student’s average to drop to a failing grade.
The issue with that is parents were not given an accurate grade average of their child. For example, a parent would see an 88 average for their child and think their child is doing great. At the end of the nine weeks, a teacher would go back and change all of the assignments that were given an "E" to a zero and the student average would drop to a 65.
My goal is for parents to have an accurate picture of their child’s grades.
If your child is absent, they will be given time to turn in assignments. Teachers will put a "M" in the gradebook but will change it to a numerical grade once your child turns it.
Student drop off/pick up
In the morning, please drive all the way up the hill as far as you can. Please do not drop off in the "Red Zone" where it says no parking. Also, we are locking the back doors at 8:05. If your child arrives to school after 8:05, please drop off in the front of the building.
In the afternoon we want to fit as many cars in as possible. I will stop traffic to let the buses go ahead of everyone. We are trying to get the buses loaded as soon as possible so they can get on their routes. I appreciate your understanding with this.
As you know the line at parent pick up is extremely long. We are doing the best we can and I appreciate everyone’s patience. The line will get faster. The following items are some things your child can do to make the line go faster:
- Make sure your child is looking for you
- Try not to get out of your car for your child to put things in trunk
- Drive all the way up the loop until you cannot drive up anymore
CNN Student News
Stadium Capacity Update
Lunch Deliveries From Parents/Online
Parents are allowed to drop off lunches for students. You will not have to come into the front office to drop off food. There will be a table in the foyer area. Please make sure you put your child's first and last name and grade level on the food you bring. We will have a post it note/pens on the table for you to use. Online food deliveries (Door Dash/Grub Hub/Etc..) are also allowed. Make sure your child's name is on the food when food is delivered.
School Supply List
McCormick Dress Code
Register your child for the upcoming school year
Our MMS PTSA registration is now open at www.joinpta.org for the 2021-2022 school year.
· Click on the link https://txpta.secure.force.com/JoinPTA/ select Hays CISD as the district and T.C. McCormick Jr Middle School as the school.
· We look forward to having you join our PTSA this school year! Your help and involvement is very much appreciated and needed
· If you have any questions please email mccormickmsptsa@gmail.com and we can try to assist you.
Thank you
