We have a lot of reminders for February. Here are just a few for this week. Please keep reading below for many upcoming parent meetings and student events all month long.

• Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 1st is our Parent Webinars for current 6th and 7th graders about registration for next year’s classes. See links below.

• Wednesday, February 2nd is an Early Release day at 1:55.

• Friday, February 4th is National Wear Red day. We will wear red to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and help save lives.

Progress Reports are also now currently loaded in the HAC for families to see.

Follow us on social media:

Twitter: @Sturdevant_CRMS

Instagram: Canyon_Ridge_MS

Facebook: Canyon Ridge Middle School PTA

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 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 application, 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 28:

Students receive a preview of the choice sheet in advisory class.

February 1:

• Parent Webinar (passcode 774990) at 5:30-6:15 for current 6th grade parents
• Parent Webinar (passcode 774990) at 6:30-7:15 for current 7th grade parents
• If you are unable to attend, we will be recording both Parent webinar meetings and posting it on the counseling website this week.

February 4:

Students will complete a choice sheet in advisory class. Choice sheet will be brought home for a parent signature.

February 11:

Choice sheet with parent signature DUE for current 6th & 7th graders.

CRMS Families,

Yearbooks for the 2021-2022 school year are available online NOW! Order your yearbook before April 15th for $40. On April 15th, yearbook prices increase. Additionally, we are offering an opportunity for CRMS families to highlight their 8th grade students with a shout out. Shout outs are very similar to senior ads in a high school yearbook and are only available for 8th grade students. They can be purchased as an add on to the yearbook for $25. Shout outs must be purchased on or before January 31, 2022 and your short message and photos must be submitted by February 15, 2022. Our school orders a limited number of yearbooks each year. By pre ordering your yearbook now, you ensure that you will receive a yearbook. If you have any questions please email Jared Lichtenberger.

CRMS had 3 fantastic Reflections pieces that are advancing to State. Congratulations to these students on their fine work!

• Shreya Poladia, Literature, Pen is Mightier than a Sword!
• Shreya Poladia, Visual Arts, Embracing 5 Pilars of Humanity
• Delaney Shavulsky, Photography, Trash to Treasures

We can't wait to see our PE students in their Line Dancing Exhibition next Tuesday, February 8th at 6:00pm in the Main Gym.

Please note due to the number of students participating and gym capacity, we will only have space for 2 guests per student.

However, we are also making a video that we will share this week with all students to show the rest of your family members.

This year the Leander Independent School District has partnered with Uncharted Learning to provide students with an mxINC Entrepreneurship course for students in 7th and 8th grade. In our class students learn the attributes of what it means to be a great entrepreneur by thinking creatively about the needs of their community and by solving real-world problems through teamwork and collaboration. As part of a yearly growth process, our Entrepreneur teams are tasked to create a product that is eco-friendly and relies on recycled or repurposed materials. Students create their product, build product inventory, and then pitch their product to an audience. The product is then brought to our CRMS marketplace online and on campus. The project-based learning experience is a stepping stone towards preparing our students for success in business and marketing and beyond.

We are needing volunteers to serve on our Shark Tank Pitch Panel. Students will be pitching their product only. They are not seeking investment. Students were already given investments on their products through the LEEF Foundation. However, we want them to still go through the experience and “earn it” so to speak. Our volunteers can come for 1, 2, or all 3 periods. We have 3 classes and ideally we would like to have 3 panel members per class over the course of two days.

DATE AND TIMES:

Pitch Day #1 - Tuesday, February 8th

3rd period is from 10:30-11:20

6th Period is from 12:50-1:40

8th Period is from 2:35-3:25

Pitch Day #2 - Thursday, February 10th

3rd period is from 10:30-11:20

6th Period is from 12:50-1:40

8th Period is from 2:35-3:25

VOLUNTEERS SIGN UP HERE!!!!! (You can sign up for time slots in our Google Calendar.) Once you've signed up, I will contact you for more details. Thank you for helping our young entrepreneurs at CRMS! Your time and support does make a difference.

Sincerely,

Kristen Olsen, PhD

Canyon Ridge Middle School

mxINC Entrepreneurship

We are in need of 2 Instructional Assistants to support our students. It is a paid position here at the school in the community you live. Benefits are available and you follow the school calendar so you will get holidays and summers off.

Email Megan Prata today for more information or apply here.

Leander ISD is launching the LISD Early College High School for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. This program is available to all current 8th graders who will be transitioning to 9th grade next year. ECHS allows students to earn up to 60+ college credit hours, and the opportunity to earn your high school diploma, with honors, while simultaneously earning an Associate of Arts in General Studies from Austin Community College upon high school graduation - with credits that are transferable to any public Texas institution. Our first Legacy cohort of 125 students will be selected via a weighted lottery - any 8th grader that applies will be entered into the lottery. Students attending ECHS will attend the ACC San Gabriel campus every day for their high school experience, and ECHS will be their home campus. Students will have leadership and extracurricular opportunities every week as they lead and participate in clubs, organizations, and intramural sports while attending ECHS. Transportation is available, and the program, fees and textbooks are 100% free to students who are admitted into the ECHS program. The applications for this program will go live on February 7th, 2022 at echs.leanderisd.org and will also be available from your MS counselor - deadline for applications is March 6th, 2022. You must submit a complete application to be entered into the lottery. We will host a parent/student webinar on February 10th from 6:30-7:30 pm with an opportunity for an open Q&A [ Webinar Zoom Info: https://leanderisd.zoom.us/j/89560766439 Password: LISDECHS - no pre-registration required ] . For more information, please visit echs.leanderisd.org, email echs@leanderisd.org, or call Clay Currier at 512.570.2210. Do not miss this amazing life-changing opportunity for your student!

In Leander ISD, we use a universal screener, such as MAP Growth and Istation’s Indicators of Progress (ISIP), to determine what the student knows, growth and is ready to learn next. Throughout September 2021, students in kindergarten through 8th grade were administered the first baseline assessment and then all students were recently administered the mid-year assessment. The assessment information will support teachers in knowing the instructional areas in which students have grown and are ready to learn.

Student reports for both ISIP and MAP are going home with all CRMS students to families the week of January 26th. Here is information on the reports and what ISIP and MAP are all about.

Attention 7th & 8th Graders, CRMS Eagle Track & Field begins on Monday February 7th. If you are going to participate in Track & Field you need to visit the CRMS Track & Field Website and fill out the Google Form to sign up. The CRMS Track & Field Information Packet and Schedules are posted on the website as well. You must have a completed LISD Physical Form turned in to the coaches to be eligible to participate. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Simmons or Coach Edwards.

Webinar for Boys & Girls Track & Field for Monday, February 7th at 6:00 PM

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.

When: Feb 7, 2022 6:00 PM

Topic: CRMS Boys & Girls Track Parent Meeting Webinar

Please click the link to join the webinar:

Passcode: 468332

Dyami Dancers Free Dance Class

• Open to all 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.
  

• Friday, Feb. 11th, 3:45-5:30pm

2022 - 2023 Dyami Dancers Audition Information:

• Mandatory parent/candidate meeting on March 1, 2022
• Dyami Dancers Audition Clinic - March 7th - March 8th
• Mandatory Team Fitting Date - April 7th
• Mandatory Summer Line Camp - July (usually the 2nd or 3rd week) TBD

Students who will be 7th or 8th graders in the 2022/23 school year are eligible to participate in cheer at CRMS! In class, we work to create an encouraging environment where cheerleaders can learn to stunt, tumble, and dance at their own level. If your student intends to be a part of the team next year, please join Coach McGrath and Coach May at the mandatory webinar on February 28th at 6pm. We will briefly discuss important dates, required forms, and answer any questions you have about the course. This webinar is required for new and current cheerleaders.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar. When: Feb 28, 2022, 6:00 PM

Topic: CRMS Cheer 2022-2023 Required Parent Meeting Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://leanderisd.zoom.us/j/81798607434 Passcode: 665504

Air Force Junior ROTC is a high school program to "develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community." AFJROTC students will present the many benefits of taking this elective in high school. This elective counts as a PE credit. In addition to physical training, students will get many leadership and community service opportunities. LISD buses VHS students over to AFJROTC at LHS for this high school program. A student information session will be held at CRMS on Friday 2/11/22 during advisory class. This is an optional student info session for 8th graders. In order to attend, please submit this RSVP form by Sunday 2/6/22. If submitting the form as a parent, you will need your child's LISD login information to access the form, so please do the form with them. Specific AFJROTC questions can be directed to Jeff Moffitt (jeff.moffitt@leanderisd.org). Other questions can be directed to Staci Cote.

Each year, LISD offers students an opportunity to take an Exam for Acceleration (EA) at no cost to the family. LISD offers four EA testing windows each school year. Click this link for more information and dates. Students and parents can request the exam through their grade level counselor. The next testing window and deadline to register is listed below.

Testing Window Three: March 7-9, 2022

Time: Arranged with student's counselor

Registration deadline: February 7, 2022

Location: CRMS

Logistics: Arranged with student's counselor & UTHS

Note: Students who pass an Exam for Acceleration in the March 2022 testing window will complete the 2021-2022 school year in his/her current class. Students will receive their acceleration in the 2022-2023 school year.

What would it be like to go to a school made of candy?

The Kindergarten - 12th grade ESS Art Contest starts today and from Jan. 24 - March 13.

$500 gift card for them and a $500 gift card for their school! Go to http://library.ess.com/artcontest for details.

This spring, Leander ISD will consider/adopt new instructional resources for six courses: K-12 Health & PE, 6th Grade Social Studies, AP Environmental Science, Kinesiology, Marketing, and Nutrition & Dietetics. Members of our LISD community have opportunities and are encouraged to provide feedback on these resources from January 18 - February 18 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 Jennifer Collins, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum.

• All 7th PACE & 8th Math STAAR Field Test: February 17th

For more information on the Field Test on 2/17/22: Field Test at CRMS letter (Spanish letter)

• 8th grade Science STAAR: May 5
• 8th grade Social Studies STAAR: May 6
• 6th grade Math STAAR: May 10
• 7th & 8th grades Math & Algebra 1 STAAR: May 12
• 7th & 8th grades Reading STAAR: May 16
• 6th grade Reading: May 17

PTA has new Spirit Wear in Stock! Grab a soft, warm hoodie or a baseball tee for the cool days that are surely coming! We also have a new PTA t-shirt and girls youth PE shorts in smaller sizes. Show off your CRMS Pride and Eagles Spirit and visit our website to purchase! Eagles Spirit Wear - Canyon Ridge Middle School PTA

Students from Vandegrift High School began a homework help service in 2012. Today Viper Nation Homework Help continues as a student-led, free tutoring service for elementary, middle and even high school peers in our community. To sign up your student for one of the Tuesday evening sessions, please visit https://signup.com/go/zmqysDO.

Leander ISD updated our Health Response Protocols and on August 17th, elevated to a new Yellow Stage. Please review and partner with us to keep people healthy and schools open:

• COVID-19 Update: New Health Response Protocols
• August 6th Update to COVID Notifications, Contact Tracing and Dashboard data
• August 17th Update: Mask Requirement for All
• Leander ISD COVID dashboard

CRMS Frequently Asked Questions - COVID

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/

Many have generously reached out and asked how you can donate or support the teachers/school during this time. If you are wanting to donate and unsure how, we will gladly accept donations on campus of the following:

• bottled water
• masks
• paper towels
• hand sanitizer
• Clorox wipes

Currently, there is no state funding for PPE this year, so donations will be accepted and very appreciated! You can drop off in the school front office at your convenience during school hours.

Home Access Center (HAC) provides families with an online tool where they can view helpful student information to support and guide their children through the educational process. From home or work, at any time of the day or night, parents can access the web portal to track academic achievement.

Features include:

• Grade notifications,

• Class schedules

• Attendance records.

Visit the Home Access Center page to learn more. Please allow time for our campuses to complete schedule and teacher assignments in the coming days prior to the start of the school year.

Beginning Aug. 5, Leander ISD parents can enter their home address into Infofinder to look up their child’s bus route number, pick-up/drop-off times, and bus stop locations for the 2021-22 school year. Bus routes are subject to change, so LISD parents are strongly encouraged to confirm their child’s bus information again the week prior to the start of school.

The Transportation Department will continue to use the Remind platform to communicate delay notifications and other important updates. Bus riders and their guardians will be added to a Remind “class” for their assigned bus route.

All students at CRMS must have a working computer/device with a keyboard. If you do not have your own device, that is okay! Click on this link to sign-up/re-enroll and pay the 2021-2022 mLISD non-refundable security deposit so you can get your computer as soon as possible!

Our schools and teachers use Remind to send text messages and emails to our parents. Make sure you log into Remind to set up your notification preferences, see archived messages, and send messages directly to your teachers and school staff. Download the mobile app (Google Play, Apple) for the best user experience.

Click here to learn more about Remind.

As Leander ISD Child Nutrition Services will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch meals to all students for the 2021–22 school year, low-cost meals are not being served at this time. To manage your student’s meal balance for snacks or extras beyond the meal service, please create your Titan Family Connect account (formerly MealTime). Leander ISD school menus, along with complete nutrition information, are available through Nutrislice.

School start and end times for elementary, middle and high school are listed below.

• Elementary School: 7:40 a.m.–2:55 p.m.
• Middle School: 8:10 a.m.–3:25 p.m.
• High School: 8:40 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

90-minute Early Release Schedule for 2021–22 School Year

• Elementary School: 7:40 a.m.–1:25 p.m.
• Middle School: 8:10 a.m.–1:55 p.m.
• High School: 8:40 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

*District Calendar linked below

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

*Randall's will donate to CRMS PTA if you select us as your Good Neighbor Program just because you shop there! Complete this form and then e-mail to good.neighbor@randalls.com or take to any store customer service location..

*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: Spirit Wear is restocked. Porch pickup is very close to CRMS.

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 2021-22:

• 6th: Monica Diaz Carle/Sabrina Anderson
• 7th: Cassandra Ricks/Katie Young
• 8th: Leah Cox /Staci Cote

Email: Wendy.Sturdevant@leanderisd.org
Website: crms.leanderisd.org
Location: Canyon Ridge Middle School, Country Trails Lane, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-570-3500
Twitter: @Sturdevant_CRMS