On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, our students and staff will practice a lockdown drill. Our team knows that lockdowns are sometimes a sensitive topic, but we must make sure our students and staff are prepared for all types of safety situations. In the same way that we regularly practice evacuation and shelter drills, we also practice lockdown procedures to support overall school safety.

During a secondary lockdown drill, teachers and students practice turning off the lights and quietly moving out of sight.
Students follow the instructions provided by their teachers throughout the drill.
Students participate in age-appropriate conversations about lockdowns and why we practice safety procedures.
Drills are conducted in a calm and supportive manner.
Our goal is to help students understand the importance of safety without creating unnecessary fear or making them feel that their school is unsafe.

Crown Point Community School Corporation uses Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to respond to safety situations. SRP is a consistent framework built around five specific actions. When staff, students, and families share an understanding of these procedures, we are better equipped to support student safety. Additional information about SRP is available on our website. You can read more about SRP on our website at this link.

Thursday, October 8

CPCSC middle schools will administer the College Board PSAT 8 assessment to our eighth-grade students on Thursday, October 8. Students will take this test during advisory on their Chromebook; it takes approximately two hours, is adaptive, and consists of Reading, Writing and Math questions. Not all content domains will have been taught prior to taking this test. Students are encouraged to try their best. This test does not count for a course grade.

Why is this Assessment Important?

The PSAT 8 helps measure your student’s progress in college and career readiness in literacy and mathematics. Students will continue taking College Board assessments throughout high school. Their 8th grade PSAT 8 scores provide an important baseline for college and career readiness.

The results can also help:

Support college and career planning
Identify areas of strength and opportunities
Connect students' interests and skills to future college and career options
Inform 9th grade course scheduling and academic planning.

The PSAT 8 is one tool that helps students, families, and educators make informed decisions as students begin planning for their high school and future goals.

Our middle schools are pleased to partner with Career+ Pathways™ (Skyepack) to provide our 7th grade students opportunities to explore careers and pathways that fit their interests.

Our students will take the Go-For-Growth (G4G) career interest assessment during an Advisory period on their Chromebook; you can see the G4G questions here. There are no right or wrong answers and this does not count for a grade; students are encouraged to select the option that best matches what they like/would like.

Throughout the year, our students will have access to career exploration activities and personalized guidance from Career+ Pathways™ career coaches who will meet with students during the school day. Students will receive information to help them plan for high school using their own interests and will learn about work-based learning.

We invite parents and guardians to stay informed and engaged in your student’s career exploration by having your student login to their Skyepack account in Buzz to show you their results and explore available resources.

If you have any questions, please contact Jacob Rodriguez, jrodriguez@cps.k12.in.us.

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) requires that all students in grades 3-8 participate in three ILEARN Checkpoints in addition to the ILEARN summative assessment in the spring each year.

The ILEARN Checkpoints are a component of the ILEARN through-year assessment for English/Language Arts (ELA) and Math. The Checkpoints occur seasonally in fall, winter, and spring, with an optional retest opportunity window opening concurrently.

Each Checkpoint has 20-25 questions to show how an individual child is performing on key skills and concepts from the Indiana Academic Standards. Families may refer to this guide that outlines skills and concepts that will be assessed for each Checkpoint for teaching and support as you prepare for these assessments.

The ILEARN Checkpoints help teachers and families understand how students are doing in their learning and guide what they need to work on next. These online tests are taken on your child's Chromebook. Please note that the ILEARN Checkpoints do not affect classroom grades.

For more information about the ILEARN assessment system, please visit the IDOE ILEARN website and/or reference the Family Support and Resources.

The following schedule will be followed for Checkpoint #1:

Week of October 19-23: ELA - Grades 6, 7, and 8
Week of October 26-30: Math - Grades 6,7, and 8

September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time to remind our students that they are not alone and that asking for help is a sign of strength. Parents and caregivers play an important role in creating a safe, supportive space where young people feel comfortable talking about their emotions and challenges.

Research by the National Institute of Mental Health shows that openly talking about suicide:

Does not cause or increase suicidal behavior or thoughts.
Reduces anxiety and lets people share heavy feelings in a safe way.
Increases connection and shows that you care and are willing to listen without judging.

Take time to check in with your student, listen without judgment, and ask how they are really doing. Pay attention to significant changes in mood, behavior, friendships, or routines, and encourage your child to talk with a trusted adult when they need support. A simple conversation can make a meaningful difference.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. You can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org

*The Guidance Dept. has provided a Presentation for our students to view in their Advisory classes starting on Monday, Sept. 28 through Thursday, October 1. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Guidance dept. 219-663-2173 ext. 13111.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month! In partnership with the Crown Point Community Library (CPCL), we are celebrating by inviting all of our sixth-grade students to receive new library cards. CPCL library cards are free, and they open the door to a variety of books, including eBooks and audiobooks, and expand access to databases that help our students conduct academic research.

CPCL library card applications were distributed to all sixth-grade students on Tuesday, September 8. To receive a new library card, applications should be completed, signed, and returned to your student’s social studies teacher no later than Monday, September 28. If your student has previously been issued a CPCL library card, or if you are unsure whether they have one, please complete and return the application anyway. If an existing patron record is found, the library will issue a new card using the student's existing patron number.

We are working to keep our school’s Community Closet stocked with snacks and quick meal options for students in need. These items help support students during the school day and provide food that can be taken home when needed.

If you are able, we would greatly appreciate donations of individually packaged items such as:

Cheez-Its
Granola bars
Applesauce pouches
Pop-Tarts
Goldfish
Pirate’s Booty
Mac and Cheese Cups

Your generosity helps ensure that our students have access to the nourishment they need to stay focused and cared for, both at school and at home. Donations may be sent in with your child or dropped off at the Main Office during school hours.

A green chalkboard with a light wood frame displays the message, “Are You Interested in Volunteer Opportunities?” in large white letters. Smaller text near the bottom reads, “Submit Your Volunteer Form Now!” The design is simple and focused on encouraging school volunteer participation.

Many activities throughout the school year require volunteers, and all volunteers must complete a background check. A new Volunteer Form must be submitted each school year, even if you have volunteered in the past.
Many of our volunteers support the PTA and assist with the numerous events and opportunities available throughout the year. If you are interested in volunteering, we encourage you to complete the CWMS Volunteer Form now. Volunteer Form - CWMS
Please note that some background checks require fingerprinting, and those results can take up to one month to be processed. Completing your volunteer form early helps ensure you're approved in time for upcoming events.

A small desk calendar with a red top and spiral rings, showing a month grid on a white page.

Sep 23 - Safety Lockdown Drill
Sep 28 - Oct 1 - Suicide Prevention Presentations in Advisory
Oct 2 - Bulldog Bash
Oct 2 - Choir Concerts (6:00pm/7:15pm)
Oct 7 - Fall Pep Rally
Oct 8 - PSAT 8/9
Oct 9 - End of 1st 9 Weeks
Oct 12-16 - Fall Break, No School
Oct 21 - Orchestra Concert (6:30pm)
Oct 29 - Picture Retakes
Nov 25-27 - Thanksgiving Break, No School
Dec 18 - End of 2nd 9 Weeks and 1st Semester
Dec 21 - Jan 4 - Winter Break, No School
Jan 5 - Students return to school
Jan 18 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School

Responsibility - 09.04.26

Another one of the pillars of the Bulldog Blueprint is Responsibility. As you become a mature teenager, you begin taking on more responsibilities and independence. With this, you must be more responsible. This means being prepared, planning for your day, and having your priorities in line. This also means you make good decisions, weigh the outcomes, and own your decision. The more responsibility you portray, the more trust you will gain from the adults and peers in your life.

Kindness - 09.11.26

You know that these characteristics are what we believe makes up a Bulldog: Respectful, Hard-Working, Responsible, and Kindness. Write these things down and apply them to your life every day. Respectful, Hard-Working, Responsible, and Kindness. The last character trait is Kindness but it should be the first thing you focus on while interacting with other people. Use your words to build people up, not tear them down. Understand that all of us come from different experiences. We are not all the same but we all have feelings and the ability to build one another up. Today I challenge you to improve your interactions with your friends, family, teachers and everyone you come in contact with!