Ridge Relay

Happy Friday Eagles! We have had three wonderful weeks to start the 2022-23 school year. It’s so exciting to see students already getting connected to their passions like band, choir, theater, volleyball, cross country, football, STEM, Robotics and so much more!

On another note, I must take a moment to applaud our amazing Canyon Ridge community. Earlier this week, a sign-up genius to support new staff members who just moved here was shared on social media, through PTA and in collaboration with River Ridge Elementary and Steiner Ranch Elementary. I have been overwhelmed with gratitude as families have stepped up with donations to help. I am so proud to be part of this school and community. We are still looking for a few more items, if you want to check out the donation list too. Thank you all for the kindness and generosity that continues to be shown in a time of need!

We want to wish everyone an awesome 3-day weekend! School will be closed on Monday, September 5, 2022 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. We look forward to seeing all of our Eagles back at school on Tuesday, September 6th.

Go Eagles! And Go Vipers! Beat CP - Viper Strike!

Hello Parents!
We have made progress with our morning traffic but are having some delays in the afternoon due to cars stopping/parking in the wrong place on Country Trails Ln.
*Do NOT stop/wait/park on the right side of Country Trails from the campus bus lane up to the light. Doing so blocks the right turn lane and violates the posted signs, so you may be ticketed.

Reminders:

*Let's be safe!
*Do not drive with your cell phone in hand.
*Do not wave your child to cross the parking lot or street to your car. Please remind them to use the crosswalks!
*The side parking lot near the stadium is closed to ONLY staff and buses during drop-off and pick-up times.

Join Library Club!

Meeting dates are: 9/8, 10/13, 11/10, 12/8, 1/12, 2/9, 3/9, 4/13, 5/18

The CRMS Library Club is now open for 6th-8th graders! The CRMS Library is a great place to find a home, make friends and help promote a love for reading on campus. Students can join ANYTIME throughout the year and do not need to sign up in advance.

Library Club meets 2nd Thursdays once a month before school at 8:15 in the library. Students meet at the main doors of the school at 8:15 to get let in for the meeting. Students who arrive after 8:20 at school can come to the Library Club meeting in progress when the doors open at 8:35.

The monthly meeting usually includes a group game/team building activity, library care, planning upcoming events, and prize drawings at each meeting. Library Club members help run the Cocoa Mornings, Read-a-Thon, Adopt-a-Shelf program, chess and game mornings, maker-space crafts, and assist with Book Fair, author visits, and the Lone Star Reading Rumble.

This is a vibrant club with well over 100 members who really take ownership in their library and make long-lasting friendships. Students will meet other readers and can even form their own student-run “Lunch Bunch Book Clubs” to meet at times that work for the students. Active members also have the opportunity to participate in Readathon in the spring.

See more info on the CRMS Library website or contact Mrs. Illingworth with questions at maryvirginia.illingw@leanderisd.org.

Join us on our CRMS Campus-based Site Committee

Sign-up Here by September 6th for more information.

The input of our parents, staff and community is so critical as we work together to support all of our stakeholders. We will meet quarterly. Meetings are held on Zoom so you can join from anywhere. Please note: as part of the committee, there is no prep or time commitment for you outside of our meeting times. The committee shall meet at least 4 times throughout the school year to serve exclusively in an advisory role such as approve staff development, review campus needs and improvement plan, activities, etc.

All CRMS students took their school picture today, Friday (8/26) during their Social Studies class period. Paper order forms were be distributed through Social Studies classes or you can still order online here.

(If your student is absent or misses picture day for any reason, there will be a make-up picture day on Friday, 10/21/22.)

LEEF is hosting its annual 2022 MUDstacle & Family Fun Run on Saturday, September 24th at 8 am at Vista Ridge High School. Participants will pass through a series of obstacles of action-packed FUN. You’ll climb, crawl, walk, and run your way through a mud forest, slog your way through a sea of swirly-twirly noodles, and even walk the plank before reaching the finish line! Varying lengths and obstacle difficulties will meet and challenge every family member.

This incredibly fun, Instagram-worthy morning also features vendors, giveaways from local businesses, and additional activities for the kids. Leander ISD school campuses also compete to gain the most registrations to win cash prizes to benefit their school. Sign up TODAY (Register by September 2nd to ensure you receive your free t-shirt)

To help host this awesomely muddy event - LEEF needs your help! Volunteers need to wear clothes that can get dirty and be prepared to assist with lifting and moving course set up. Description for the individual volunteer opportunities are below. Please wear tennis shoes, clothes that can get muddy, and weather-related protection.** Volunteering helps LEEF to fund the amazing teachers, students, and programs LISD provides! Contact info@leef.org or call at 512-570-0027 for any questions.

The Vandegrift Vipers Black Out game against Stony Point is coming up on Friday, September 16th at Monroe Stadium! Get your BLACK OUT Game Day shirt! Pre order online. https://www.vandegriftcheer.com/GAMEDAYSHIRTS. Pre order online until 9/5 and pick up the Black Out shirt at CRMS on 9/14 during lunch. Black Out shirts will only be available for pre order pick up. No onsite sales.

The game day shirts are worn at:

• 9/2 WHITE OUT (Cedar Park @Gupton)
• 9/16 BLACK OUT (Stony Point @Monroe)
• 10/14 PINK OUT (Round Rock @Monroe)
• 10/28 HOMECOMING (Vista Ridge @Monroe)

Items will be available for pick up at CRMS during lunch before the game.

The shirts are Comfort Colors Brand T-Shirts.

PICK UP ONLY, NO DELIVERIES, NO REFUNDS

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is looking for college students/graduates to tutor middle school students in collaborative study groups as they prepare for college.

This is a paid position with flexible scheduling.

AVID Tutor Flyer

Apply Today here

Start Date and Training:

• Training for tutors will be the last week in September. Returning tutors will have asynchronous training and new to AVID will have in person training.
• Start date for tutors is expected to be Oct. 3rd

The CRMS coaching team and the new Athletic Booster Club board are working behind the scenes to get another great year of CRMS sports underway. Here is the Athletics newsletter. Read the Athletic Booster Club Newsletter and get connected today!

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 2022/2023 testing. Testing date for fall 2022 is October 5, 2022 on the CRMS campus. The deadline to register for fall testing is September 21, 2022. Testing slots are limited due to the nature of the test and classroom capacity. Once the slots are full, your child can be added to the spring 2023 list. Testing is open to all grade levels, but recommended for 7/8 graders.

This fall, Leander ISD’s new Gifted and Talented (GT) Advisory Committee will kick off. This committee will bring parent and student voices together with teachers, counselors and administrators to support and assist the district in gifted/talented service planning and improvement. Applications are due by Friday, September 23, 2022. Those interested in serving in this important role should complete the LISD GT Advisory Interest Form 22-23. Applicants will be notified about selection decisions by October 11, 2022. Please contact Shirley Bachus, Director of Advanced Programs, with any questions.

Students must go through the LISD testing process to be identified as a QUEST student and enroll in the course. If you are a current student, reach out to your campus counselor or campus QUEST teacher for testing information. If you are a student who is currently in QUEST, you may choose to stay in QUEST without further testing. Students referred for testing by November 11, 2022 will be screened to determine the need for additional G/T assessment and identification. Those selected for additional screening will be notified and then will be assessed during the 22/23 school year. Please contact your grade level counselor for the referral form.

Proposition A on the November ballot is an Attendance Credit Election, which state law requires when a district’s revenues from property values exceed its calculated entitlement and the excess is due to the state through a process called recapture (also known as Robin Hood). If voters approve Proposition A, the school district will proceed with making its mandatory recapture payments to the state as required. If voters defeat Proposition A, the state could detach a portion of the district’s total property value — effectively shrinking the tax base. This “Detachment of Territory” is permanent and irreversible, even if in future years the property values within the district make it no longer subject to recapture.

Proposition B is a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE. It would ratify the action the Board took on August 18, 2022 by adopting an increase in the tax rate for Maintenance & Operations, which is the component of a school district tax rate that pays for operating expenses such as teacher salaries.

If voters approve Proposition B, the district will see an estimated $32 million net increase in revenue, which would fund pay increases for teachers and other employees that trustees approved earlier this year. The additional revenue will prevent future cuts to personnel and programs — especially because LISD is now subject to recapture at a greater level than past years.

Because of state-initiated reductions in the M&O rate, and the Board’s action to lower the LISD Interest & Sinking tax rate, taxpayers will see a reduction in the overall tax rate of more than 6 cents per $100 in property valuation if Proposition B is approved.

“If Proposition B does not pass, we expect a deficit of $35 million,” Gearing said. “That deficit could impact future pay raises for teachers and the sustainability of educational and extracurricular programs.

“State law and the state school finance system require us to put this decision before the voters,” he added. “We encourage everyone to participate in the upcoming election.”

To complete or renew your volunteer registration, click the appropriate link:

New volunteer in LISD | Returning LISD volunteer

Back-to-School Resources:

• Back-to-School CRMS Parent 2022 Webinar for all families Recording (from 8/8/22)
• CRMS Virtual Open House 2022

We are reaching out to let you know of some updates we have made to cell phone practices currently in use on our campus for 2022-23.

Cell phones are everywhere. They can be handy tools, but also insidious distractions. We have seen a rise in student violations with regards to the use of cell phones, AirPods, and social media on campus, which directly impacts our campus culture, student learning, and safety.

Campus Cell Phone Expectations

Maintaining the integrity of the learning environment is our top priority, which is why these changes will be implemented. We will begin using new practices, detailed below, so that students know what to expect and teachers have a consistent system to help students manage expectations.

At CRMS, students will be permitted to bring cell phones or other items used for communication. However, cell phones and all functions within the cell phone (i.e. cameras, AirPods/headphones, smart watches, and all other applications) are prohibited during class unless permitted under Section 504 or within a student’s IEP. When students walk into each classroom, they will have a secure location to safely store their silenced cell phone for the class period. Phones and AirPods/headphones may be used on school grounds before school, during lunch, and after school as long as students are not violating the District’s acceptable use guidelines.

We are aware that special circumstances arise and sometimes an important call must be made or received. Students are advised to communicate with their teachers if there are extenuating circumstances on a particular day. In the event of a true emergency, family members should call the main office at 512-570-3500 if they need to get in touch with a student.

Why the change?

We looked at data and at policies from a half dozen other school districts. We learned some important things. 95% of all middle and high school students have phones they bring to school. Some teachers allow students to use phones as part of their instruction, and others do not. However, nearly all teachers agree phones distract students in class. Most students want to be able to carry their phones, but they agree their phones can be distracting in classes. Parents want to be able to contact their kids during the school day, but they also recognize students remain focused on classwork at school.

Keeping these things in mind, the campus came to consensus on the changes above for the 2022-2023 school year. As these new rules are implemented, the CRMS team will meet periodically to gauge the impact of the changes, and suggest adjustments that need to be made as needed.

Check out these short videos for more information:

• https://youtu.be/la1lRcq2-LU

• https://www.edutopia.org/video/theres-cell-phone-your-students-head

According to the Leander ISD Student Code of Conduct, students are required to follow the expectations around proper usage of technology. This extends to the use of personal devices while on an LISD campus. Below are the expectations copied from the handbook for your reference.

1. Violating any of the prohibited behaviors/conduct listed in the LISD Technology Resource Acceptable Use Guidelines.

2. Recording the voice or image of another without the prior consent of the individuals being recorded, or administrative approval, in any way that disrupts the educational environment or invades the privacy of others.

3. Copying, downloading, reproducing, distributing, retransmitting, redisplaying, or modifying items from the District’s website.

Acceptable Use Guidelines

Student Code of Conduct

Campus Guidelines

If a student violates the cell phone procedure during class, in the halls, restroom, etc., the following consequences will apply consistent with the gravity of the infraction.

• 1st Offense: The student may pick up his/her phone from the Counseling Office after the dismissal bell at the end of the school day.

• 2nd Offense: The student’s parent may pick up the student’s phone from the Receptionist after the dismissal bell at the end of the school day.

• 3rd Offense: The student will be assigned appropriate consequences, and the student’s parent may pick up the student’s phone from the Receptionist after the dismissal bell at the end of the school day.

• 4th Offense: The student will be assigned appropriate consequences, and the student’s parent may pick up the student’s phone from the Receptionist after the dismissal bell at the end of the school day.

Student Pick Up Rules

If you will be picking up your child from school early, please call the school 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 are no longer allowing 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.

Transportation Changes

If you need to change your child’s transportation for the end of the school day, please call the school to let us know. Parents must call to make the change – students are not permitted to make their own changes. Transportation changes will not be accepted after 2:00pm.

Beginning this 2022-23 school year, meals for Leander ISD students will be provided by Sodexo, a food-services provider committed to improving the quality of life of students within districts they serve through quality food services.

All students who qualify for free and reduced-price (F&R) meals during the 2022-23 school year will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. Due to a partnership with USDA, reduced-price meals will be free for the 2022-23 school year.

For elementary students who do not qualify for F&R meals, prices are remaining the same as they were in 2019. 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.

We recognize that there have been some bus delays, issues with SMART Tag, and weather in the past few days. We know this has been frustrating for our families and apologize for the inconvenience. We appreciate your patience and support as we are working out the kinks with our new system and expect to be on track with expected pick-up and drop-off times soon. Please go here for information and to sign up for the SMART Tag portal.

Bus Routes & Bus Stops

2022-23 Bus Route Information will be available after Friday, August 5, 2022. To maximize efficiencies and ensure students arrive at their respective campuses safely and on time, bus stops will be located on main roads and centralized, near neighborhood parks, pools, mailboxes and campuses, wherever feasible. This will potentially reduce the number of bus-stops in a sub-division from prior years, reduce the number of miles on each route and the time it takes to run the route.

Get Ready for Smart-Tag

After a successful pilot roll-out at several LISD Campuses, Smart-Tag will roll out district-wide for the 2022-23 School Year. This system provides real-time route information to drivers, campuses, and families letting them know where the bus is, approximate arrival time, if a student loaded the bus and also ensures they do not get on the wrong bus or off at the wrong stop. Find out more information here. And you can get a jump start and pre-register with Smart-Tag.

We are looking for community members to join our CRMS team as a substitute. It is a great position that doesn’t require teacher certification or a specific college degree where you can support students and teachers, get paid, follow the school calendar to be off during holidays with your children and have the flexibility to choose what days (or even half-days) you work. Email Wendy Sturdevant or visit the substitute site for more information today!

For the most up-to-date information regarding LISD’s COVID-19 protocols, including a quick reference guide and frequently asked questions, visit our COVID-19 Health Protocols page.

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/

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

*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

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 2022-2023:

• 6th: Leah Cox / Staci Cote
• 7th: A-K Leah Cox & L-Z Cassandra Ricks / Sabrina Anderson
• 8th: Cassandra Ricks / Katie Young

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