Ridge Relay

Time is flying by and we are almost to the end of the year so don't miss these important dates!

*8th graders, TONIGHT, 5/5 at 9pm is the last time to order your class of 2028 VHS shirt - order it TODAY.

*7th & 8th grade families, TOMORROW is the last day for you to OPT-IN for your student to participate in the LISD Human Sexuality Curriculum starting in Science class lessons this week. Please see the links and information below. You must OPT-IN or your child will not be able to receive the lessons.

*We have been advertising the yearbook since August and now the deadline is really here, have you ordered yours?!?! Order by this Friday, May 10th - last day to order online - after that we will sell what we have left from the printer for cash and cannot get more.

Go Eagles!

Wendy Sturdevant

The Vandegrift High School PTSA is excited to offer all of our incoming Freshmen an option to purchase the “Second to None” Vandegrift High School Class of 2028 T-shirt that you can wear to Viper Camp on May 20th! T-shirts will be delivered back to your school prior to Viper Camp. You don’t want to miss this opportunity as these will not be sold again! Consider purchasing two for as they grow or keep one as a memento!

Join the VHS PTSA and get a discount on your T-Shirt! Different bundles are available to purchase at our online store at MemberHub. HARD DEADLINE to order t-shirts is SUNDAY, MAY 5 at 9:00pm – do not wait, order now!

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. For your child to be able to attend the presentations, you must submit this OPT-IN form by May 6, 2024:

Grade 7 Opt-In Form

Grade 8 Opt-In Form

Grade 7 & 8: May 8, 9, and 13 through science classes

• If parents 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.
• Parent Workshop Date & Registration:

Monday, April 29, 2024 6:00pm-7:30pm (Register Here)

Recorded Parent Workshop (Click Here to Access)

Available during the 2 week window of: April 30 - May 14

• To access additional LifeGuard information, please visit the LISD Human Sexuality Curriculum website.

As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, we want to invite our parents/community to come in to volunteer to provide duty coverage at various times around campus. This is a great way to show teachers appreciation by giving them a break or extra time to plan/grade, but also is a way for you to connect with CRMS by getting to know the staff, students and seeing how the systems at CRMS work during the school day. Please review the available slots here and click on the button to sign up. You are welcome to sign-up for as many time-slots that work for you. In particular, we would love to fill up the Thursday lunch duty spots so teachers can enjoy their well-deserved Teacher Appreciation luncheon that is being provided by our amazing PTA. :)

Please join us for our final PTA meeting of the year Monday, May 13th at 11am at CRMS as we approve next year's PTA budget and by-laws.

The Canyon Ridge Yearbook is available for sale HERE! Yearbooks are currently $45 until May 10th. Pre-order yours today! (After May 10th, we will sell any remaining yearbooks for cash only until they are gone. We sell out almost every year, so it is best to preorder so you don't miss out.)

If you have any questions, please reach out to Jared.Lichtenberger@leanderisd.org

Please note that we have a new yearbook vendor for this year, so please make sure you are purchasing with our link for Jostens Canyon Ridge Middle School Yearbook.

Click here to sign up and for more information.

CALLING ALL 2024 CANYON RIDGE 8TH GRADE STUDENTS - ALL ARE WELCOME!! We will have a delicious food buffet, DJ - Dance Party, a photo booth, candy station, games and much more. This is the perfect event for them to hang out with their classmates before soaring to be a Vandegrift Viper, or wherever their future may take them!!

WHEN: Friday May 17, 2024, 7 - 10 PM

WHERE: UT Golf Club Pavilion, 2200 University Club Drive

WHAT: EAGLES BLACK OUT GRAD PARTY!!!!!

ATTIRE: Dressy BLACK attire (think Sunday best, dance party, wedding, holidays!)

COST: Cost is $45/student. $50.00 at the door but would prefer to get everyone registered prior!

NOTE: This event is for CRMS 8th graders only. No students from other grades or other schools will be allowed in.

*This is not a CRMS school event. It is hosted off campus by community families but all students are welcome.

Students from Vandegrift High School are organizing a TEDxVandegriftHS conference for our LISD community! TEDxVandegriftHS’s theme this year is Uncharted Waters, an exploration of novel ideas and innovations
Join us on the 18th of May from 3:25 - 6:25 pm at The PAC at Vandegrift High School to see 4 unique, inspiring speakers talk about the things they are passionate about and interested in!
GET YOUR FREE TICKETS WITH THIS LINK

Order 2024 CRMS School Supply Packs Online NOW until Tuesday, May 21, 2024

• Enter the school ID: CAN091 (3 letters /3 numbers)

• Supplies will be distributed to students during the first week of school.
• Prices increase $5 on May 22, 2024
• Final deadline to purchase is June 16, 2024.

• School supply pack informational video

If you choose to not buy a packaged school supply pack, here is the 2024/25 CRMS School Supply List for the start of the school-year.

• CRMS 2024 Back-to-school Information Webinar: August 1, 2024, 6:00pm, Zoom link ( Passcode: Eagles!)

• Eagle Camp for Incoming 6th grade students (and new to CRMS students): August 7, 2024, 9:00am-12:00pm
• Open House for 6th-8th grades: August 8, 2024, 6:00-7:30pm

Sign-up & pay now to keep your device over the summer and be prepared to start the school year on day 1. 8th graders will turn in their old devices and get a brand new device the last week of 8th grade to have their new HS device before summer!

LEANDER ISD's goal is to provide students with increased access to digital content, resources, and devices to support anytime/anywhere learning. Leander Mobile Learning Initiative (mLISD) has been specifically created to make the best use of our resources in order to support student engagement in learning.

High School Students: $60.00 per year

Middle School Students: $40.00 per year

A non-refundable security deposit is required to participate in this program. Sign up and pay for your student's 2024-2025 non-refundable security deposit now. All incoming 6th grade students who pay, will be issued their device at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year. Students who qualify for Free and Reduced meals will not need to pay the annual deposit but will need to turn in a signed acceptance form or register through EdPay. Click on this website: mLISD Information and Payment Website for more information and to pay the security deposit.

Hardship Scholarship opportunities are available. Please contact your child’s counselor or send an email to mlisd@leanderisd.org for more information. Please include the following information in your email:

• The student’s name

• Campus

• Student ID number

• Parent phone number

Click here for more information regarding scholarships.

mLISD Quick View Information Brochure -English

mLISD Quick View Information Brochure -Spanish

In an effort to enhance security, safety of our students and staff and to improve the efficiency of our routes, for the 2024-25 school year, all eligible bus riders – new and returning – will be required to register for transportation if they wish to utilize transportation to and/or from school. In the past, routes for general education students were created based on eligible riders. Going forward routes will be created based on actual riders.

To guarantee transportation on the first day of the 2024–2025 school year, bus registration must be received by Friday, June 14. Registrations received after this date will be processed as soon as possible in the order in which they were received.

Improvements

• Reduce overcrowding on buses
  This change will enable the Transportation department to more quickly identify when a bus is approaching its maximum seating capacity
  
• More accurate bus stops
  By switching from eligible riders to actual riders, the Transportation department can set bus stops based on a more accurate bus route roster.
  
• Improved security
  Through this registration process, bus drivers will more quickly be able to ensure only approved riders are on the bus.

Read more from Leander ISD Transportation here

Note: Routes for special education students will continue to be created for eligible actual riders. Once deemed eligible by the student’s ARD committee, parents will use the registration form to notify the Transportation department that their student intends to utilize special education transportation services.

State Required Immunizations for Students in 7th Grade during the 24-25 School Year

Dear Parents/Guardians,

In order to be compliant under Texas Administrative Code regarding immunizations, an updated immunization record is required for your incoming 7th grade child. The updated immunization record must include the required Tdap booster and 1 quadrivalent Meningococcal vaccine (after the age of 11). To avoid exclusion, your child’s campus nurse must receive the updated record prior to the first day of school. Please visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website to view a full list of K-12 immunization requirements.

If you are unsure whether your child has received these required immunizations, please contact your physician. You may request a copy of your child’s immunization records by emailing student.records@leanderisd.org.

We hope this early communication prevents missed instructional days in your child’s upcoming 7th grade school year. Please contact Rachael Kristoff at Canyon Ridge Middle School should you have any questions regarding state required immunizations.

Thank you,

Rachael Kristoff RN, BSN

Canyon Ridge Middle School Nurse
512-570-3507
512-570-9258 confidential eFax

During our course registration parent meetings and student information sessions, we shared with you that the Leander ISD Off Campus PE (OCPE) guidelines for 2024-25 were revised. At this time, those updates will be postponed and the OCPE program will continue without the removal of recommended activities. To access OCPE guidelines and application, please visit the Leander ISD OCPE website. All off-campus PE student applications for the 2024–25 school year must be submitted via OCPE Form no later than 4 p.m., Friday, May 31, 2024.

If OCPE impacts your CRMS Course requests for the upcoming school year, please apply according to the Leander ISD OCPE guidelines page linked above AND utilize the course change form located on the CRMS Counseling website. The last day for CRMS course change requests is May 24, 2024 at 12pm. Please contact your grade-level counselor if you have any questions about this process.

The April Special Programs & Services Newslettercontains information about upcoming events, Special Programs Parent Advisory Council, Disability Awareness, and Academic Corner.

Special Programs Spring Family Workshops Save-the-Dates

Learn about upcoming family events, 2024 Summer Camp Guide for students and adults with special needs, social studies at home activities, and community resources.

Check out the Summer Camp dates at both CRMS and VHS now!

Registration starts May 1st - May 30th:

• 2024 Canyon Ridge Middle School Co-Ed Track and Field Camp, 4th-8th Grades
• 2024 CRMS Sports and Games Camp Co-Ed, 3rd-5th Graders
• 2024 CRMS Sports and Games Camp Co-Ed, 6th - 8th Graders
• 2024 Canyon Ridge Middle School Get Ready for Volleyball Tryouts 7th and 8th Girls

Parents: Here is an opportunity to recognize a Canyon Ridge Middle School teacher or staff member who has made a difference! Every week, a faculty member will be chosen as the Golden Eagle recipient. If the teacher or staff member you nominated is recognized for this award, you will be invited to come to campus and join us to present the award with the admin team. Please complete this brief form to honor a CRMS teacher or staff member.

During its consent agenda, Trustees approved the 2024–25 academic calendar, closing out a months long process of community feedback.

Key features of the calendar include:

• First day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024, the same week as in 2023–24
• Last day of school is Friday, May 23, 2025, maintaining an end date before Memorial Day
• Preserves two dedicated teacher workdays incorporated into the schedule before school starts
• Student early release days for teacher work time: Dec. 20 and May 23
• Continuous Improvement Conference: Nov. 4–5, aligning with Tuesday’s student holiday for Election Day.
• Spring Break: March 17–21, aligning with Austin Community College
• Staff development days during the school year will balance new learning with teacher planning and collaboration time: Sept. 23, Oct. 7, Jan. 6, Feb. 17, March 24 and April 21

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]

Important Attendance Reminders:

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

• 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 cannot allow 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 almost 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!

The Leander ISD Transportation Department uses SMART Tag – a system that provides accurate, near real-time monitoring of where and when students load onto and unload off of their school bus – to help promote student safety and security, keeping parents, school administrators and the district’s transportation department more informed.

Returning bus riders are asked to continue to use the SMART Tag card they were issued last year. If they do not have a card, the student will punch in using their lunch number (student ID) when getting on and off the bus. Bus drivers will begin to issue cards in September for new bus riders.

The online parent portal allows parents and guardians to register to receive alerts for when the bus will arrive at their child’s stop; see a live map of their child’s bus; and view a riding history for their child. Be sure to register if you have never done so.

By Wednesday, Aug. 9, 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 2023–24 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.

During the 2023–24 school year, Leander ISD will welcome back Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) as its food-services provider. That’s right – that means Crispitos are coming back!

All students who qualify for free meals during the 2023–24 school year will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. In 2023–24, students who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive free breakfast meals and lunch for $0.40.

For elementary students who do not qualify for F&R meals, prices will remain the same from last year. At elementary school, 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.

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/

AP/Counselor by grade-level for 2023-2024:

• 6th: Dr. Ashley Thompson1 / Kimberly Mills
• 7th: Leah Cox / Jillian Baaklini
• 8th: Brian Bass / Staci Cote

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