Crabapple MS Staff-Update
March 16
March 17-GMAS Secure Practice Test
March 17-Zone 5 Site Visit (1:30-3:30)
March 18-Chorus to LGPE
March 18-Rising 9th grade tours at Roswell HS
March 19- 8th Grade Career Day
March 19-PBIS District Walkthrough
Full-Time Teacher Allowance: $150 & Perfect Attendance Certificates
$150 - If you haven’t spent your allowance yet, now is the time! I originally sent out communication to spend by February. There are still a few that haven’t used it – we can allow an extension but need to get these orders processed asap!
Perfect Attendance Certificates – please consider spending your certificate soon!
- Both types of order require a yellow requisition form be filled out for Haga to review/sign. I have completed examples hanging outside my office. Please check the example to ensure the form is completed properly.
- Submit the Amazon order as normal online, type your name in the deliver to field and select the credit card ending in 0010. Once I process the order, Amazon will send you an automated email with an estimated delivery.
Please submit your orders asap! I will have to reallocate these funds very soon and want to ensure everyone gets what they need.
- Salvatore Off Campus on Monday, 3/16 : Due to meetings, I’ll be off campus on the PD Day. If you need something, email me, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
- March Media Center Programming:
- Contest for Students and Teachers: March Book Review Contest 2026.docx
Upcoming PBIS District Walkthrough on Thursday 3/19: It's that time of year! The District will be sending a representative to complete a Walkthrough to see our consistent implementation of PBIS! While this is not a test, it is a fidelity check, and it does impact our school ratings a bit. Please click HERE to see what the district is looking for on their walkthrough!
· Please emphasize the 3B's with your students (REP the 3B's - Be Respectful, Be Engaged, Be Prepared)
· Please tell students when they earn PBIS points
· Teachers/Staff: Our "Classroom Practice" is Relationships - see below in the Best Practice Reminder section
· Teachers/Staff: Our Discipline Data has been shared periodically at grade level meetings and staff meetings
o Update: 7th and 8th grade each have about a third more Minor Referrals than 6th Grade for the year (mostly in the Defiance/Disrespect/Disruption category)
o 67% of our students have NEVER had a single Minor Referral all year!!!
o 40% of our students who have earned a Minor this year have ONLY earned ONE all year!
o ONLY 11% of our students have earned more than 3 Minors this ENTIRE year! (And only 7% have earned more than 5 Minors this ENTIRE year!)
· We've got this!!! Thank you for all of your dedicated, consistent work with our students within our PBIS practices this year!!!
If you looked at the Walkthrough Document linked above, you saw the section that said "If Classroom Systems Trained" - Yes, CMS is Classroom Systems Trained 🙂 Here is the PBIS Classroom Practice (Best Practices) that we have been working on recently through the Newsletter:
Relationships Best Practices Reminder: Model Self-Regulation (Be Respectful) Our students are still kids figuring out their emotions, so try not to take their tough moments to heart. When we stay calm in our tone and body language, we help the whole room settle and make it easier for students to get back on track.
Upcoming PBIS Reward Event: Mark your calendars for Friday, April 3rd (yes, the day before Spring Break 😉) We are going to have a PBIS Reward Recess!!! A more detailed schedule is coming soon, but the general details are:
· Classes will be shortened by 2-3 minutes on Friday 4/03
· Homeroom will be at the END of the day - we will start the school day directly with 2nd Period
· During the End of the Day "homeroom" block, we will have a whole-school Extended Recess time
o 6th Grade will have "indoor" extended recess in the Gym and Cafeteria
o 7th Grade will have extended recess on the back field like normal
o 8th Grade will have extended recess along the carpool side of the school like normal
As I have attended events throughout the district, I see that many of you are wearing the Centegix Alert Badge and Employee ID as required by Board Policy EBB and Regulation EBB-R(1). With that said we are not at full compliance. As a reminder, all employees are required to always wear their district-issued identification badge while on Fulton County Schools property and must present identification when accessing locations other than their primary workplace. Please join me in maintaining our commitment to ensuring that our schools remain safe and well-prepared to respond effectively to any major crisis.
Points to Ponder: We all show up with unique perspectives and life circumstances. At times, it may be difficult to smile, patient and empathetic. However, of this I am certain. Regardless, I firmly believe that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Being kind to one another, our students and parents is important and good for the soul.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎉
SOLOMON – 17th
MARCH MADNESS
March Madness is almost here, and we’re kicking off our CMS Staff NCAA Bracket Challenge! Whether you’re a college‑hoops expert or you pick winners based on school colors, everyone is welcome to jump in.
How to Join: Click the link below to enter our private group and create your bracket. Brackets will be available on Sunday, March 15. March Madness 2026 Group Password: CMSHuskies2026
Deadline: Brackets must be submitted before the first Round of 64 games tip off on Thursday, March 19.
The winner will receive a prize (and of course, bragging rights!).
It’s quick, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to bring a little friendly competition to CMS. Let the madness begin! Questions? Email Ms. Ess.
Information shared in previous staff newsletters.
Dear Fulton County Schools Zone 5 principals,
The Georgia Theta Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international educational organization, is pleased to offer scholarships to educators who are pursuing advanced degrees again this year.. Our members include many current and retired Fulton County educators and we are excited to contribute to the continuing education of deserving individuals employed by Fulton County Schools.
We are again accepting applications from all North Fulton Schools and would like to enlist your help in sharing this opportunity and distributing the attached application in your buildings.
Our application deadline is Wednesday, April 15, 2026; we appreciate your assistance in supporting other educators to advance excellence in education!
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:f9e99235-ca59-437d-a316-dc4e88fd414e
Remaining AVID field trips of the year
3/12- 8th grade AVID Day with the Hawks. We’ll be leaving campus at 11:30 AM but eating lunch beforehand. We won’t return until 11 PM.
4/2- 8th grade trip to UGA-leaving around 9:00 AM and returning during 8th period.
5/12- 7th grade trip to Georgia State leaving around 9:00 AM and returning during 8th period.
Rising 7th:
We are excited to begin preparing for the upcoming school year. March 9th – March 13th families have the opportunity to log into Infinite Campus to view student’s course recommendations for next year.
Please remember that these recommendations are not student’s class schedules. They represent the academic placements suggested by student’s current teachers and will be used later to build final schedules.
If you would like to review your child’s recommended courses, please follow the directions below.
Directions for Viewing Course Recommendations:
FCSIC - CS_HowTo_ViewStudentCourseRequest UPDATED.pdf
Course Verification Spanish.docx
Your child should have the following courses requested for next year:
- Math
- English Language Arts
- Science
- Social Studies
- World Language or Reading or Advanced Reading
Course Number Reference Guide
· On Level: xx.0xx0000
· Advanced: xx.0xx0040
· TAG Advanced: xx.2xxxxxx
· Accelerated: xx.xxx0060 or xx.xxx0050
· Co‑Taught: xx.9xx0000
· Small Group: xx.8xx0000
High school–level courses will appear as two entries labeled H1 and H2 or S1 and S2—one for first semester and one for second semester.
The review window will be open during the following dates:
· Round 1: March 9–13
· Round 2 (final opportunity): March 23–27
We encourage all families to review selections during one of these windows to ensure accuracy before scheduling is finalized. Once you have viewed, please complete the Microsoft form below to verify courses or request any changes.
Rising 7th: Please review course request in Infinite Campus and complete form below. – Fill out form
Thank you for your partnership as we prepare for a successful school year ahead!
Rising 8th:
We are excited to begin preparing for the upcoming school year. March 9th – March 13th families have the opportunity to log into Infinite Campus to view student’s course recommendations for next year.
Please remember that these recommendations are not your student’s class schedule. They represent the academic placements suggested by student’s current teachers and will be used later to build final schedules.
Please review your child’s recommended courses, please follow the directions below.
Directions for Viewing Course Recommendations:
FCSIC - CS_HowTo_ViewStudentCourseRequest UPDATED.pdf
Course Verification Spanish.docx
Your child should have the following courses requested for next year:
- Math
- English Language Arts
- Science
- Social Studies
- World Language or Reading or Advanced Reading
Course Number Reference Guide
· On Level: xx.0xx0000
· Advanced: xx.0xx0040
· TAG Advanced: xx.2xxxxxx
· Accelerated: xx.xxx0060 or xx.xxx0050
· Co‑Taught: xx.9xx0000
· Small Group: xx.8xx0000
High school–level courses will appear as two entries labeled H1 and H2 or S1 and S2—one for first semester and one for second semester.
The review window will be open during the following dates:
· Round 1: March 9–13
· Round 2 (final opportunity): March 23–27
Rising 8th Grade students will also have the opportunity to select high school connections courses they are interested in. Students viewed the powerpoint presentation below in HR on 3/5/26 but feel free to view it if you have questions about the high school credit connections offerings for students their 8th grade year!
Rising 8th Grade connections.pptx
We encourage all families to review selections during these windows to ensure accuracy before scheduling is finalized. Once you have viewed, please complete the Microsoft form below to verify courses, request any changes, and have students select and HS connections courses they may be interested in taking their 8th grade year.
Rising 8th: Review course request in Infinite Campus and complete form below. – Fill out form
Thank you for your partnership as we prepare for a successful school year ahead!
From February 23rd through April 17th, the Math Department will be using homeroom time to support a select group of students who are on the cusp of reaching the next achievement level on the 2026 Milestones assessment. Students will attend two sessions per week for seven weeks and will check in with their homeroom teacher before heading to their review session. Please take a moment to look over the document below and note any students from your homeroom who will be participating. If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Ess. Thank you!
- 9-WEEK Grading window 3/11/26-3/13/26
- Grades due 3/13/2026
- Grades are due by 11:59 pm on 3/13/2026
- All Grades must be entered and posted in Infinite campus.
- ALL COURSES MUST HAVE:
- 2 Majors; 3 Minors; 3 Practice
- Annoying grading compliance emails coming soon.
- PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING THIS GRADING TIMELINE: Grading One Pager - CMS 2025-2026.docx
- Please make sure your percentages match in Infinite Campus and Canvas for Majors, Minors, and Practices.
- Example:
- Need help posting grades? Click on the links below:
Talent Show
Later in March, we will host our Huskies Got Talent Show. Auditions must be submitted by Monday, March 2 and emailed to crabappletalent@gmail.com. Please join us for this live event on Wednesday, March 25.
Please contact Ms. Priddy for more information or if you have any questions.
Quick survey: EF Japan 2027 tour support
I am organizing an EF Educational Tour to Japan for summer 2027 that is open to all CMS students. If you have a moment, please complete this very short, 3-question survey to help us determine staff interest in helping promote the trip and/or chaperoning. Your feedback will help us plan next steps and ensure the trip is successful for our students. We’ll also keep this list for future travel opportunities!
The survey takes less than a minute to complete: International Travel for Students (Crabapple MS) – Fill out form
Thank you so much for your time and for always supporting opportunities that expand our students' experiences beyond out classroom.
Please feel free to reach out directly if you have any questions. nelmsmr@fultonschools.org
March Staff Meeting Date Change
We are going to move the March 18 staff meeting to March 25. This will be the Georgia Milestones proctor training and all certified staff need to be present unless you are out for the day. The change has been made on the master calendar, but please adjust your personal calendars as well.
Orchestra Morning Practice Studio
Is before school on Wednesday and Thursday mornings: 8:15am to 9:10am. Open to all Orchestra students for practice, mentoring and tutoring.
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.
Staff Swag
In researching about the staff jackets, I learned that our PTA does have a swag store. I think this is news to many. We are currently working with PTA to see if we can offer a 1 item discount for staff members. More info. to come. In the meantime, take a look and see if there is anything you like.
March is Youth Art Month! We’re celebrating with spirit days each Friday! March 13th is dress like your favorite visual Artist. Think Van Goh, Andy Warhol, and Frida Kahlo.
March 20th is Funks/artsy socks.
March 27th is dress in your favorite color.
Thank you for supporting the Arts! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
2nd Semester
March 9- Course Verification and Grades Update
March 2-Interact Club Update and PBIS District Walkthrough
Feb 23- Music in Our Schools Month and Staff Swag
Feb 16-After School Detention and GMAS Staff Training Update
Feb 9- Grades (Progress Reports) and March Staff Meeting Update
Feb 2- Progress Report Grading Reminder and MTSS Position
Jan 26-TKES Mid Year & Student Leadership Update
Jan 19- Five-Step AVID Note Taking Process and School Social Worker Schedule Change
Jan 12- Bookkeeper Update and Mandated Reporter Refresher
Jan 5- AVID Update and New Dismissal Process
1st Semester
December 15- Grades and Staff Digital Accessibility
December 8- Holiday Concerts, POTY/TOTY Nominations, MLK Awards Nominations
December 1- Holiday Countdown Calendar and Underground Spirit Week
November 17- Student Attendance Update and Facilities Reminder
November 10- Building Events Procedure and Grading Reminder
November 3- Bookkeeper News and Veterans Day Reminder
October 27-PBIS Halloween Celebration and 504 Need to Know
October 20-Parent and Student Payment Directions and School Pictures
October 6- PBIS Staff Assessment Survey and Canvas Support Update
September 29- Revised Morning Help Session Process and Q1 Grading Update
September 22- TKES Goals and COPPA Update
September 15- Extended Learning and RTI Update
September 8- TKES Reminder and Student Attendance Update
September 1-Clubs and Teacher Mini Grant Update
August 25- Grading and AM/PM Procedure Update
August 18- PBIS, Centegix Badge, and BOY Media Center Update
August 11- Vanguard, Yearbook, Handling Medical Emergencies Follow-up.
July 30 -Important Dates for the Year, PBIS resources, Staff Handbook, Duty Schedules, Master Schedule, and Substitute Information
July 25 - Summer Need to Know Information