Welcome Back!

I am so excited to welcome everyone back for another amazing school year! While I'm sure many of our students wish summer could have lasted just a little longer, I can't wait to see their smiling faces back in the building and begin another year of learning, growth, and new opportunities.

This year, we are excited to welcome a new group of students to CMS while also celebrating our 8th graders as they begin their final year of middle school. It is incredible to witness how much our students grow and mature during these three important years, and I feel honored to be part of their journey.

We know that students are most successful when schools and families work together. The mission of CMS is to "work in partnership with the family and community to provide positive learning experiences for all children in order to encourage high scholastic achievement and good citizenship". That partnership is something we value deeply, and I want every family to know that my door is always open. Please never hesitate to reach out with a question, idea, concern, or simply to connect. Open communication is one of the best ways we can work together to support every student.

We are looking forward to another year of celebrating our students' academic growth while continuing to build their Trojan GRIT (Generosity, Respect, Integrity, and Thoughtfulness). Thank you for trusting us to be part of your child's education. Together, I know we will make this a fantastic year full of learning, growth, and memorable experiences.

Welcome back, and let's make it our best year yet!

Breakfast is served daily starting at 7:45 AM

Cost: $1.50

Lunch is available each day

Cost: $3.25

Free and Reduced Lunch Application

💡 Why It Matters:
Filling out the Free/Reduced Meal Application helps more than just individual families — it directly impacts funding for programs and support that benefit ALL students in our district.

📋 Action Needed:
We ask all families to complete the Free/Reduced Lunch application, even if you don’t think you qualify.
✅ The form is available on Final Forms.

Thank you for supporting our school community!

Reminder: Update Final Forms for the Upcoming School Year

Please make sure your Final Forms are updated for the upcoming school year. To complete this process:

Visit the district website: www.centerburgschools.org
Click on the “Final Forms” link (or use the direct link provided above).

If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to call the school office. If you require access to a computer or the internet, you are welcome to come into the school to complete your forms.

Thank you for your help with keeping our records up to date!

Attendance & Transportation Changes

If your child will be absent or if you need to change how your child is going home, please contact the office by:

Phone: 740-625-6055
Email: attendance.ms.hs@centerburgschools.org

Our secretaries check messages throughout the school day.

Bus Ride Requests:
If your child wants to ride the bus home with another student, both you and the other student’s guardian must notify the office by 1:30 PM. Your child must then pick up a note from the office to give to the bus driver.

These steps help us ensure all students get home safely. We appreciate your cooperation!

Did you know...? Why Daily Attendance Matters:

Missed Lessons = Falling Behind: Even one day can mean missing critical instructions and activities, making it harder for your child to catch up.
Impact on Future Success: Consistent attendance is a strong predictor of academic achievement and future opportunities.
Building Resilience: Regular attendance teaches your child the value of perseverance and responsibility—essential skills for success in life.
Stronger Friendships: Daily presence helps your child develop and sustain friendships, which are crucial for emotional and social development.
Healthy Routine: Attending school every day establishes a stable routine, promoting better mental and physical health.

Chronic absenteeism in Ohio is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason. As students approach this 10% threshold, Centerburg staff may reach out more frequently to check in and determine whether your family could benefit from any support, assistance, or resources the school can provide. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's attendance, please don't hesitate to reach out—we're here to help!

Who to contact if your child doesn't want to come to school: Mrs. Lybarger, x2312 or Mr. Ferrel, x2201

Staff at CMS are dedicated to creating positive learning environments for our students. Personal Communication Devices (PCDs) often disrupt instructional time for our students. For this reason, CMS is cell phone free. Students may not use their phones from 8:16 AM until 2:54 PM.

Our school policy states:

Personal communication device" (PCD) includes computers, tablets (e.g., iPad-like devices), electronic readers ("e-readers"; e.g., Kindle-like devices), cell phones, smartphones (e.g., iPhones, Android devices, Windows Mobile devices, etc.), and/or other web-enabled devices of any type.

Students may only use PCDs before and after school. Use of PCDs, except those approved by a teacher or administrator, at any other time is prohibited and they must be powered completely off (i.e., not just placed into vibrate or silent mode) and stored out of sight. NOTE: If Ohio Revised Code becomes more restrictive than this handbook policy, Centerburg Local Schools must follow ORC.

Penalty:

First Offense: Device is confiscated and brought to the office. Student may pick it up at the end of the day.

Second Offense: Device is confiscated and brought to the office. Student may pick it up at the end of the day. Student will receive a one hour after school detention.

Third Offense: Device is confiscated and brought to the office. Student may pick it up at the end of the day. Student will receive a two hour after Saturday School.

Fourth + Offense(s): Device is confiscated and brought to the office. Parent must pick up the phone from school. Student will receive a four hour after Saturday School.

The Department of Education & Workforce explain that “Studies show the rise of the use of cell phones contributes to several related harms in the daily lives of smart phone users, including social deprivation, sleep deprivation, and attention fragmentation. For students, these harms may contribute to an increase in youth mental health concernsand have negative impacts on academic performance. Youth mental health symptoms and disorders continue to rise at concerning levels in the United States, with at least 1 in 5 children reporting mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorders.”

Centerburg Middle School PBIS Update

Welcome to a new school year at Centerburg Middle School! We are excited to partner with our families and community as we work together to provide positive learning experiences that promote high academic achievement and responsible citizenship.

Our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program is built around four core values that guide our daily interactions:

Generosity
Respect
Integrity
Thoughtfulness

These expectations are taught, modeled, and reinforced throughout the school day in every classroom, hallway, cafeteria, and common area. Students also have dedicated opportunities during Trojan Time to strengthen these skills through lessons, discussions, and activities that support positive decision-making and character development.

By consistently practicing these values, we help create a safe, welcoming, and respectful learning environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to a fantastic school year as we work together to help every Trojan learn, grow, and thrive!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back!! I hope your summer was filled with fun and relaxation. Around here, we all know somebody’s mama, grandma, uncle, or best friends cousin…so let’s make it a great year!

A Few Friendly Reminders:

The school parking lot isn’t NASCAR .I know everyone’s trying to get to work, get coffee, or get back home before the dog figures out how to open the trash can—but we’ve got kids walking, buses stopping, and parents everywhere. So let’s all take it easy:

There are no trophies for the fastest drop-off.

Nobody gets a championship belt for passing three cars.

And if your tires squeal pulling into school…you’re doing it wrong.

Take a deep breath, wave at your neighbor, and enjoy the extra 30 seconds and make sure every student gets to school safely.

Please remind your kiddo(s) that hallways are for walking—not recreating the last two minutes of the state championship game.

Just because your teenager is taller than you doesn’t mean they’re grown. (Trust me—I remind them, too.)

If your kiddo says, “Everybody else was doing it,” I’ve been in law enforcement (and a mother of teens) long enough to know that’s rarely true.

If you wave at me from your golf cart, tractor, side-by-side, or pickup truck, I’ll wave right back.

Remember: My goal isn’t to get anyone in trouble. My goal is to help keep our school safe, build relationships, and make sure everyone gets home at the end of the day.

Thanks for trusting me with your kids. Here’s to a safe, successful, and memorable school year—and hopefully one with very little paperwork for any of us!

Deputy Rice