Ridge Relay

We hope you are all had a lovely Valentine's Day!

I would like to take this opportunity to share our appreciation for all of our parent and community volunteers. We couldn't be more thankful to all of the wonderful Eagle volunteers.

PTA, Booster Clubs, AVID tutors, Mentors and all of our Volunteers, You make CRMS a better place for students AND staff. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Tonight, we kick off our track and field season! Please join me today at CRMS starting at 4:30pm to cheer on all of these student athletes. As well, this Spring is jam packed with student events like Library Readathon, Seussical the Musical, Soccer season, concerts, PTA Movie Night and so much more, so don't miss out on our upcoming Ridge Relays and events on our campus calendar. We have also included below some important campus-wide dates for you to be able to plan ahead.

*Reminder: This Monday, February 20th is a Student Holiday for a Teacher Professional Development.*

CRMS Yearbooks are on sale now! Click here to get yours before they sell out. Yearbooks are currently $45 when pre-ordered online. Any remaining yearbooks will be sold at the end of the year for $50 cash. Additionally, there are 8th Grade Shouts Outs available for purchase which allow families to design a special message with photos and text for their current 8th grader. The deadline to purchase 8th Grade Shout Outs has been extended from 2/1 to Sunday, 2/5/23 and final 8th gr Shout-out designs must be submitted by February 15th to be included in the yearbook.

• Friday, February 17: **New! End of the 4th Grading Cycle

(Due to the school closure for the ice storm, the end of the 4th six weeks will now end on Feb.17 (instead of the 10th). The school district has worked with UIL to get all this approved. The start of 5th six weeks will be Feb.21.)

• Monday, February 20: Teacher PD day/Student Holiday
• March 13-17: SPRING BREAK
  
• Monday, March 20: Teacher PD day/Student Holiday
• March 27-31: College & Career Awareness Week (each day during Advisory)
• Friday, March 31: Rumble at the Ridge
• Thursday, April 6: End of 5th Grading Cycle
• Friday, April 7: HOLIDAY
• Monday, April 10: Teacher PD day/Student Holiday
• Tuesday, April 25: STAAR-6th ELA
• Wednesday, April 26: STAAR-7th/8th ELA
• Wednesday, May 3: STAAR-8th Science
• Thursday, May 4: STAAR-8th SS
• Tuesday, May 9: STAAR-6th Math
• Wednesday, May 10: STAAR-7th/8th Math & Algebra
• Thursday, May 18: Viper Camp (all 8th graders to VHS for the morning)
  
• Friday, May 26: Half-day Early Release for students at 1:05 & Faculty meeting/lunch at 1:30pm

So, so, so proud that we have 3 Destination Imagination teams advancing to STATE! Check out all the awards that they earned:

Due to the inclement weather on February 1st, 2023, the Dairy Queen spirit night has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 22nd. Grab dinner at Mayfield Dairy Queen Four Points 5-8pm. Don’t forget to mention CRMS PTA and they will donate back to us!

Order here

Locally raised, heart healthy, free range, grass-fed Texas Longhorn Beef from Dear Run Land & Cattle in Buda.

Choose 1 of 3 packages offered and help support the CRMS PTA! Pick up will be 3/8/23 in Steiner Ranch.

Order deadline is 3/3/23.

Students at the Leander ISD Early College High school may earn up to 60 college credit hours completely FREE from Austin Community College while also earning their high school diploma.

Learn more at one of our 3 Townhall Q&A Sessions!

• 2/18 10AM: Virtual Session

• 2/20 at 6PM: Four Points Middle School (Library)

• 2/22 at 6PM: ECHS Campus (Tour ECHS Campus!)

Additional info can be found by clicking the links below:

echs.leanderisd.org

FAQ Page

Schedule a Tour (most Wednesdays)

Call us at 512-223-2650.

Ready to apply? Apply Now!*

*Submissions due prior to March 3rd.

This spring, Leander ISD will consider/adopt new instructional resources for six courses: American Sign Language I-IV, Chinese I-IV, AP US History, AP Calculus AB and BC, African-American Studies, & Mexican-American Studies. Members of our LISD community have opportunities and are encouraged to provide feedback on these resources from January 17 - February 24 (date extended from 2/17 due to ice days) through in-person viewing at Central Office and Cedar Park High School or by viewing the materials virtually on the district website. We will host three Q&A Zoom meetings with district curriculum experts that allow community members to explore the options, ask questions and provide feedback. For questions about the instructional materials selection process, please reach out to Matt Bentz, Chief Academic Officer.

As we observe African-American History Month, hear from Chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion DeWayne Street on how becoming an expert on the topic of African-American history has had a profound impact on his life and experiences.

First Step in Long-Range Plan, Zoning for Secondary School Relief

At the Nov. 15 Board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the Attendance Zoning Charter for the rezoning of the middle schools and high schools.

Unlike previous attendance zonings that often centered on the opening of a new school at the respective level, this upcoming rezoning is meant to accomplish the following two main objectives:

• To provide relief to current enrollment numbers
• To defer the timing of future school construction

This process has begun and the first set of scenarios will be published and released on Jan. 23. The district will be providing opportunities for our community to discuss, ask questions and provide input on scenarios presented. Four in-person and one virtual community forum have been scheduled with an electronic survey to also be sent via Remind on Jan. 23. Both middle and high school scenarios will be discussed at each forum.

In-Person Community Forums

• Feb. 8, Leander HS | 6:30 – 8 p.m.
  
• Feb. 13, Henry MS | 6:30 – 8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at Vista Ridge HS*
  (*Rescheduled from Feb. 7 at Cedar Park HS)
• Feb. 27, Wiley MS | 6:30 – 8 p.m.
• Feb. 28, Virtual/Zoom | 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Please read over the enclosed information regarding the Canyon Ridge Dance Team, our tryout requirements, and other important information about how to become a CRMS Dance Team Member:

Mandatory Parent/Candidate Meeting

Date - February 28, 2023

Time - 6:00 pm

Place - Zoom Webinar: LINK (Passcode: 820701)

Dyami Dancers Audition Clinic

Date - March 8th - March 9th

Time: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Location - CRMS main gym

What to wear- Black leggings, black t-shirt or tank, jazz shoes or tennis shoes.

Mandatory Team Fitting Date

Date - April 12th

Time: 4:45 pm - 6:15 pm

Location- CRMS dance room

**Payment due at fitting

**The time will be divided by alpha last name to prevent overcrowding in the dance room.

A - M - 4:45 pm - 5:30 pm

N - Z - 5:30 pm - 6:15 pm

Mandatory Summer Line Camp

Date- TBD (usually the 2nd or 3rd week of July)

Time - 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location - TBD

I know it seems crazy to already be thinking about next year courses, but we will begin that process soon. Students will be getting course registration and transition information through advisory class and Language Arts class in the coming weeks. In addition, we will be hosting parent webinars to help with all of this information too. Please plan to join us! Some CRMS courses will require an enrollment form/application/meeting/etc., and those will be specified on the choice sheet. For current 8th grade students, your course transition is coordinated by VHS. The dates below are for current 6th and 7th grade students.

January 17, 23, 30:

Students preview course registration information in advisory class. No selections made at this time.

January 26:

• Current 6th grade & current 7th grade webinar recordings shared here

Updated! January 30-February 8

Students complete a choice sheet in Language Arts class with their grade level counselor. Choice sheet will be brought home for a parent signature. Current 6th graders will now receive their choice sheets in classes 2/6-2/8.

Updated! February 10

Choice sheet with parent signature DUE by Friday 2/10 for current 6th & 7th graders.

February 13, 21:

Students have time in advisory class to complete applications and enrollment forms if necessary.

February 27:

Applications and enrollment forms DUE for current 6th & 7th graders.

5th to 6th Grade Transition Information Letter

• Monday, February 13th: 5th to 6th gr CRMS Transition Parent Webinar 2023

• Thursday, February 16th: 5th Grade student visits to CRMS, students will ride the bus from the elementary (SRE, LWBE & RRE) campuses to CRMS

The latest Special Programs Newsletter is here! The February Newsletter contains information about upcoming family events, summer camps, post-secondary life, destination life, self- determination, medicaid waiver lists, and more. Don't forget this Wednesday, our Family Education night will feature workshops on Behavior at Home, STAAR Talk, and Prompts. Click here to view the newsletter and learn more.

Exclusive new CRMS Spirit Wear:

Soft & cozy white hoodies and blue shirts available.

Other Sale items available too!

Purchase online now!

Leander ISD 6th grade students are about to study an important lesson on the early stages of puberty, including reproductive and sexual health, in alignment with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for Health Education. On March 6th-March 9th students will have an opportunity to learn the following lessons.

6th grade Lessons will be done in PE/Pre-Athletics/Dance classes. CRMS families: Opt in Form

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 March 24, 2023 will be screened to determine the need for additional G/T assessment and identification for the 23/24 school year. Those selected for additional screening will be notified and then will be assessed during the 22/23 school year. QUEST placement would occur in the 23/24 school year. Please contact your grade level counselor for the referral form.

In Leander ISD, students in Grades 7–9 are taught Human Sexuality Curriculum through presentations by LifeGuard, an independent organization. The topics covered in this abstinence-based curriculum are found in the Texas Health TEKS. All content has been reviewed by the Leander ISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) and is grade-level specific and developmentally appropriate.

Texas House Bill 1525 requires that students must opt-in to participate in the LifeGuard presentations. Please see below to access the opt-in form:

• CRMS 7th Grade Opt-In Form
• CRMS 8th Grade Opt-In Form

When will CRMS host LifeGuard this year?

• Grade 7 & 8: May 15-17, 2023 during Science classes

How can parents/guardians preview the material?

• If you wish to preview the curriculum, you may do so at your home campus. Parents/Guardians may contact their campus to schedule an appointment for viewing.

• LISD will host a virtual parent workshop via Zoom; future times are listed below. Parent workshops are designed to give parents helpful tips for communicating with their children (grades 7-9) about human sexuality, allow them to review the district curriculum, explore statistics from health officials, and ask questions of LifeGuard and LISD staff.
• To access additional LifeGuard information, please visit the LISD Human Sexuality Curriculum website.

Parent Workshop Date & Registration:

• Thursday, February 23, 2023 6:00pm-7:30pm (Register Here)
• Recorded February 23, 2023 Workshop (Click Here to Access)

During its consent agenda on 1/26/2023, Trustees approved the 2023–24 academic calendar, closing out a months long process of community feedback and consideration of multiple options.

Thank you CRMS community for joining PTA—your donations are funding teacher gifts that directly support students in CRMS classes! #StrongerTogether

All of these teachers and staff received a PTA gift right the day before the holiday break :)

Are you looking for a way to volunteer and make a real difference in a child’s life? We have students at our campuses that need you! You can choose to volunteer at the campus(es) that works best for you.

If you are interested in becoming a HEROES Mentor, please complete a volunteer application and then submit your mentorship interest form.

Visit the Mentoring page for more information on how to get involved.

You can specifically request to mentor at CRMS or any campus.

*Randall's has agreed to add CRMS to the Good Neighbor Support program and it is SO easy! Email below, then do your regular shopping and Randall's will donate back to the CRMS PTA.

Simply copy/paste the below message to send an email to good.neighbor@randalls.com with the following:

Hello,

Please link my customer account connected to phone number [type your Randall's phone number] with Good Neighbor Charity #14216 for Canyon Ridge Middle School PTA.

Thank you,

[type your name]

*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.

• Absence notes should be emailed to crmsattendance@leanderisd.org within 48 hours.
  

• When you email the school, please include the student's first and last name and ID #. Student nicknames can cause confusion with attendance coding.

• If you will be picking up your child from school early, please call the school (512-570-3500) 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.

• If you feel like there is an error for a particular class period, please email the teacher directly first. For example, if your student was tardy and the teacher accidentally already marked the student absence, email the teacher because the attendance office has to have it in writing from the teacher before attendance can update anything

• There is a turn around time in updates if a student was with the nurse, AP, counselor, etc. It is not necessary to email the attendance office. Please remember that we have over 1100 students so it will take 1-2 business days to show the update. We appreciate your patience and understanding that our team is working tirelessly to support all of our Eagles!

These hotspots are intended for those who have limited or no internet access at home, which impacts their ability to do homework. The hotspots connect them to the internet through cellular networks instead of your traditional cable/broadband networks that may not be available or affordable to some students.

Here's the link to a form the students/families need to fill out to request a hotspot.

Did you know that virtual learning is still offered in Leander ISD as a school of choice? If you know of a Leander ISD student that may benefit from virtual learning they are still enrolling students in grades K-8. Here is the informational flier with more details. Reach out the remotelearning@leanderisd.org with any questions.

Did you know that we have student-created clubs at CRMS like D&D gaming for students?!?! Along with Library/Book Club, Eagle Allies, Art club and so much more! Check out our clubs & activities website and if there is something new you want to add there is a link at the top to help you get a new club started too:

https://sites.google.com/leanderisd.org/crmsclubs/clubs-home

Our students love our outdoor “recess” time after lunch each day but our basket of sports equipment is almost empty. If you have any sports equipment in your garage that you would like to clean out and donate, we will gladly accept footballs, volleyballs, soccer balls, kick balls and basketballs. It does not need to be new--we welcome used equipment that we can put to good use for all of our students. Please drop off your donations anytime during school hours in the front office. Thank you for helping to provide for this valuable outdoor time for our Eagles!

The South Location of the Leander ISD PTA Clothes Closet is up and running! This resource provides free clothing to families with students who reside within the LISD boundaries in grades PRE-K through the SELF (18+) program. The South Location can be found at River Place Elementary School in Portable #3 & #4. See flyer for address, shopping dates, and shopping hours.

If you would like to contribute to the clothes closet, you may donate gently used shoes and clothing at the green bin outside of Four Points Middle School located near the football field. Additionally, you can help out by purchasing off of their Amazon Wish List.

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/

*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