Cougar Update
November Edition

Message From Dr. Smith
Congress Families,
I hope this note finds you well as we wrap up an incredibly successful first quarter of the school year. The energy and enthusiasm I've witnessed in our hallways, classrooms, and during school activities have been truly inspiring. Our students continue to demonstrate remarkable growth, both academically and personally, and this success is a direct result of our strong partnership between home and school.
As we look ahead to the coming months, I want to share some important updates about our school community. This week marks our first school dance, and I'm delighted to see the excitement building among our students. For those attending, please note that tickets are available for purchase during lunch periods, and students will need to enter through Door 15 on the night of the event. We've implemented these procedures to ensure the safety and security of all attendees.
I feel it's important to address the recent increase in peer-to-peer conflicts we've observed. While these situations can be challenging, I want to assure you that our administrative team handles each incident with careful consideration and fairness. We maintain strict confidentiality regarding all parties involved and follow consistent disciplinary procedures. Our goal is always to create a safe, respectful learning environment where all students can thrive.
With our fall break approaching (November 25th - 29th), I encourage families to help students find a healthy balance between relaxation and academic engagement. Simple activities like daily reading and math practice can help maintain the momentum we've built during the first quarter. This will be particularly beneficial as we prepare for our upcoming NWEA Testing.
I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to all parents who attended our recent parent conferences. Your commitment to your children's education is evident, and these conversations are invaluable in supporting student success. A special thank you goes to our dedicated PTA for providing the wonderful MoBettahs dinner during conferences – your support of our staff means more than you know.
Looking ahead, I remain incredibly optimistic about what we can achieve together this year. Our students continue to impress me with their resilience, creativity, and determination. Remember, my door is always open, and I welcome your questions, concerns, and ideas for making our school community even stronger.
Warmest regards,
Dr. Smith, Principal
Let's Dance The Night Away!
Follow the Road to the Candy Land Dance
Follow the Arrows!
Dear Families,
We're excited to host your students at the upcoming school dance! To ensure everyone has a wonderful and safe evening, we want to share some important details:
Drop-off (5:30 PM - 6:00 PM):
- Follow the RED Arrows
- Staff will be present to guide students safely from vehicles to the entrance
Pick-up (7:45 PM - 8:00 PM):
- Follow the YELLOW Arrows
- Students will be waiting in a supervised area
- Please be prompt as students will be outside during this time
Note: There's a football game happening simultaneously, so following these time windows and routes will help everyone avoid traffic congestion.
Important Reminders:
- Students who leave the dance without staff permission cannot be readmitted for safety reasons
- We want everyone to have fun! If any behavior concerns arise, we'll work with families to ensure their student gets home safely
We appreciate your support in making this a memorable evening for our students. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for all.
Looking forward to a fantastic event!
Candy Land Dance - Drop Off (RED Arrows) Pick up (Yellow Arrows)
We Want To See You On Time!
Let's Go Shopping!
The Holiday Sale has begun!
Holiday Sale Info
PTA Reflections Contest
National PTA Reflections Introduction
Is your student a creative artist, musician, photographer, author, dancer or film maker? Check out PTA's Reflection Contest where they can unleash their inner artist and compete in a national competition! Deadline for entry is Tuesday, December 3.
Learn more about our national art program at PTA.org/Reflections
SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL PTA'S YOUTUBE
SUBSCRIBE TO NATIONAL PTA'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL 🔔 https://www.youtube.com/subscription_... FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 📲 😃Facebook: / parentteacherassociation 📸Instagram: / nationalpta 🐤Twitter: / nationalpta 📌Pinterest: / nationalpta
Veteran's Day - November 11th 7:00-8:15AM-Last Day to Sign Up - November 8th
Scripps National Spelling Bee
Dear Congress Parents and Guardians,
This year, we will use the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s online testing platform to hold our school’s spelling bee via an online spelling test.
The first step to spelling bee participation for your speller is registering for the online testing platform by visiting https://online-test.spellingbee.com .
I encourage you to watch this video tutorial that will walk you through the registration process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ThKRsffiFc
Once you have registered, I will be able to assign the appropriate test to your speller. Your student must complete the test before the deadline of January 10, 2025. Tests can be taken on any device with a web browser, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge are our preferred browsers. Scripps does not support Safari for desktop or Internet Explorer.
The student from Congress Middle School with the highest score will move on to compete at the next level. Again, this year, our school-level competition will be administered via VIRTUAL SPELLING BEE.
Our school champion will then move on to represent Congress in the next level of the spelling bee program, which also may include online tests in lieu of in-person spelling bee events.
Remember, the first step to spelling bee participation is to register at http://online-test.spellingbee.com . Please register your speller at your earliest convenience as I will begin assigning tests to students soon. If you have already registered in the online testing platform for another student, you can log in to your account and add an additional competitor to that same parent account. There is no need to register a different email address for each speller in your household.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions about our school spelling bee program. I look forward to having your student compete to represent our school!
Sincerely,
Marianne G. Curtis
Marianne G. Curtis
Library Media Specialist
NJHS Co-Sponsor
Spelling Bee Coordinator
Northland Career Center Open House - November 14th
PTA Fundraiser
Winter Activities
The Book Fair Is Coming Soon!
What's Your Adventure?
The eFair will be from November 18th to December 6th. Help your reader and the school and support the eFair.