Crabapple MS Staff-Update

January 12-16 Required School Safety Drills (Fire, Shelter, Soft and Hard Lockdown-Centegix Initiated )

January 12 Access Testing Window Opens

January 15 Gillespie/Morancie Community Meeting at Holcomb Bridge MS 10-11:30am

January 16 POTY/TOTY Voting Deadline

January 19 No School Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 21 Zone 5 Site Visit (PM)

January 21 Away Basketball Game at Elkins Pointe

February 6 7th Grade Winter Fest (4:15-6:15). Additional details forthcoming

February 10 6th and 8th Grade Scoliosis Screenings (AM Connections). Additional details forthcoming

Broken/Damaged Electronics

Do you have FCS/CMS electronics that are damaged/broken and out of order?
Please start to gather those items over the next 3-4 months and when you are ready – let me know and I will take them.

When school breaks for summer I plan to send all damaged/broken items back to the district to be removed from our inventory and be properly destroyed. As you can imagine, there is paperwork to complete for this process and each item so I’m planning to do everything at one time.

Examples of this could include: cameras, walkie talkies, microphones, etc.

Please contact Ms. Zapata if you have any questions.

From the Coaching Corner

As we begin our second semester, please see below for a reminder regarding mandated reporter responsibilities and DFCS reports. Also, if you are a NEW staff member and did not complete mandated reporter training with Ms. Cairo this year, please contact me via email: cairot1@fultonschools.org.

All FCS Employees are mandated reporters
A DFCS report is to be completed within 24 hours
Completed a DFCS report in good faith you are immune from liability
DFCS reports are kept confidential by the agency
When completing the triplicate form:

White: remains with the reporter
Yellow and/or Pink: One copy to the principal and one copy to SSW
Provide to appropriate staff within 24 hours

When completing via email or portal

Email the form: CC on the email with the report: principal, assistant principal, school counselor, and SSW
Portal entry: Please print a copy for the principal and SSW

DFCS concern:

Please DO NOT put in writing, contact SSW or a school counselor to follow-up
Do NOT submit a SWARM
If there are questions regarding DFCS, feel free to contact SSW, our school counselors, or an administrator

Triplicate forms are housed with SSW, school counselors, and all administrators
SSW Request: If the reporter confirms to receive the email stating the status of the case (screened-in or screened-out) please forward to SSW so that I can retain for filing records, follow-up on the status of the case with appropriate partners and admin.

Salvatore Absent on Tuesday 1/13 (all day): We should have coverage, but if anything changes, we will let everyone know that morning. Just be cognizant that I will be out and be thoughtful about sending students to the Media Center. Thanks!
Salvatore Late on Thursday 1/14: MEDIA CENTER WILL BE CLOSED I should get here by 10 and will reopen when I do. No laptops or chargers will be available for checkout until I get here. I apologize for the inconvenience.
January Media Center Programming:

Contest for Students and Teachers: January 2026 meme contest.docx

Welcome back to second semester!!! Here is the PBIS Reminder Presentation from the Staff Meeting on Mon 1/05.

Here is the Weekly Staff Points Report for January 5-9 (at 8:00am). We had 83% Staff Participation this week!!!

Kudos to Connections, who fought through all the roster issues that PBIS was having!

Did you know? 91% of our students had less than 3 Minors all of 1st semester!!! And 72% of our students had 0 Minors last semester!!!

Best Practices Reminder: Tell students which of the 3B's you are focusing on in your lesson. Is it Be Prepared by having your homework, having your instrument, having your notes from last lesson, etc. Is it Be Engaged by asking questions, completing the lab, watching the video, taking notes, etc. Is it Be Respectful by listening to your group mates, helping during a classroom transition to another activity, etc.

Thank you all for nominating your colleagues for 2025-26 Teacher and Professional Employee of the Year. It has been so exciting reading about how these staff members add value to our school!

Professional Employee of the Year nominees:

Terrance Boyd
Elizabeth Grant
David Lee
Christine Mason
Selma Sahinovic
Amy Schroder
Jimmy Small
Mindy Wilson
Brenda Zapata

Teacher of the Year Nominees:

Lori Ashman
Audrey Bennett
Tuanh Cong
Ashley Eaton
Summer Hayes
Melissa King
Andrew Linn
Susan Lynch Harlow
Gus Melton
Emily Mimbs
Magdalena Nelms

Rachel Noto
Heather Oaks
Marc Paul
Victor Plantenys
Jennifer Priddy
Kristin Pujals
Christine Ray
Fatima Sensabaugh
Lindsey Stephenson
Balasureshreddy Thumma
Jennifer Wyatt

At some point between now and 4:00pm on Friday, January 16, 2026, please take a moment to read about the amazing contributions your colleagues make each and every day and then cast your votes. You have the option to vote for up to 4 teachers for Teacher of the Year and 2 professionals for Professional Employee of the Year.

Link to Voting Form: https://forms.office.com/r/FVBf1NRWMP

Deadline to Complete: 4:00pm on Friday, January 16, 2026

In the event that you have any issues with the voting form, please email Mr. Bolin.

The Crabapple Middle School Governance Council is offering Impact Grant Opportunities. These grants should support the faculty, students, and staff in achieving EXCELLENCE in all areas of the curriculum. Grant monies are available for qualifying projects, programs, or clubs to help support innovative and creative learning opportunities for the students at our school.

GRANT APPLICATION: Please complete and return the Grant Application to Amy Schroder. There is NO deadline. The grant window will close in the spring when the funds must be spent or when the funding runs out!

SGC Funds cannot be used to purchase food or gift cards.

The SGC will review all applications, and funding will be voted on during our monthly SGC meetings. Funding is determined by the number of students impacted and first come basis. Proposals will be accepted as long as funds are available.

The amount of student impact should directly correlate to the amount requested.

All costs must be included in the grant application budget, including those funds which supplement the grant/project from existing funds.

Include any shipping and handling fees and all taxes in grant monies requested. Grants are awarded for a specific amount, and any costs incurred after the award has been granted will not be covered.

Applications must be clearly written, detailed, and include specific descriptions.

Orders must be placed within 30 days.

Application linked here: 25-26 CMS SGC Grant Application.docx

If you have any questions, please see Amy Schroder or Emily Mimbs.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎉

GUARDADO – 13th

Ed Wells exemplifies excellence in both instructional leadership and extracurricular engagement. As the 8th Grade Science PLC lead, he creates a positive learning environment where innovative teaching strategies and data-driven practices thrive, ensuring student success in this critical content-area. His lessons are not only rigorous, but he also blends humor and creativity to make complex scientific concepts fun. Additionally, as Extramural Director, he demonstrates exceptional organizational skills and a passion for creating enriching opportunities beyond the classroom, promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and school spirit-Go Huskies!

District AVID visit, Wednesday, 2/4- Classroom visits wanted!

Our AVID district director and zone superintendent will be visiting CMS on 2/4 for an AVID site visit. They would love to visit classrooms and see AVID strategies in action. The visit will be from 11:30 AM-1:00 PM. If you will have students during this time and would like to showcase the great AVID work you are doing in your class, please email Maggie at nelmsmr@fultonschools.org by Friday, 1/16. You can also nominate a teacher who you know if teaching college and career readiness skills and may not volunteer themselves. Thank you!

We are excited to share an update on the Best Buddies program at our school!

We are continuing to build student interest and plan to host a “soft opening” during the second semester to support recruitment and engagement. While we were unable to meet the requirements to launch this year officially, we are committed to opening a full Best Buddies chapter next school year.

Additional information will be shared in the spring as we complete preliminary steps and plan events to ensure a strong launch at the beginning of the next school year. Thank you for your continued support and enthusiasm. We look forward to sharing more soon.

All Staff/Teachers are required to assist with PM duty and will be dismissed over the intercom by 4:25.
Be sure to contact your G/L administrator if you need to leave prior to being dismissed.

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CMS Afternoon Duty Posts-2025-2026 Revised.docx

New Afternoon Dismissal Process (Student).pptx

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