Ridge Relay

With STAAR testing starting this week at CRMS, we want to make you aware of some important details during testing. School will be closed to visitors during STAAR testing on 4/25, 4/26, 5/3, 5/4, 5/9 and 5/10. As always, please make sure your child arrives on time, eats breakfast, and brings their water bottle/healthy snack/book. As well, on days when your child is testing, we will not be able to get them out of a testing room early for pick-up so please plan accordingly for any upcoming appointments. You can find all of our campus testing dates and details here.

We want our students to do their best and show what they are capable of! We must take it seriously and follow STAAR testing procedures. However, please also reassure your student(s) that STAAR tests are not the only measure. We absolutely do not want testing to cause stress or anxiety for our students. If there are any concerns, please reach out to your grade-level counselor - we are here to support our students through this process.

Get your Vandegrift Class of 2027 T-Shirt for Viper Camp

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 2027 T-shirt that you can wear to Viper Camp on May 18th ! 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.

HARD DEADLINE to order t-shirts is SUNDAY, MAY 7 – do not wait, order now!

Order a yummy dinner from Dream Dinners by April 23rd and you can pick it up at CRMS on April 26th.

Link: https://dreamdinners.com/session/975440

Parents of students who have signed up for 7th grade Athletics should log-on for the webinar on Monday, May 8* at 6:00pm. Meeting is for current 6th graders' (boys and girls) families to learn more about athletics in 7th grade at CRMS.

You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: May 8, 2023 06:00 PM
Topic: Incoming 7th Grade Athletics 2023 Parent Meeting

Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://leanderisd.zoom.us/j/84501440230

Passcode: 555784

*Please note this meeting was moved from May 9th to May 8th due to a conflicting Athletics event. We hope you can join us on Monday, May 8, 2023

Canyon Ridge Middle School will be sending two groups to compete at National History Day. Out of projects from across the state of Texas, these were recognized as among the very best in their categories;

Abigail Xu's Anna May Wong: The Toll of Stardom placed second in the Junior Division Individual Documentaries category

Cora Harper, Vinisha Gandhi and Sean Paz's Project Echo -- The Satellite that Changed the World placed second in the Junior Division Group Websites category

These students will go on to compete at National History Day in Washington, DC from June 11-15th.

Plan ahead for CRMS events for the upcoming 2023-24 School Year:

• August 7, 2023 at 6:00pm - CRMS Back to School family webinar

• August 9, 2023 - Eagle camp for 6th graders & new-to-CRMS students

• August 10, 2023 - Open House

2023-2024 School Calendar

Parents, the fifth newsletter from the CRMS counseling office is available via the link below. The newsletter serves to highlight CRMS students, provide an overview of guidance lessons, insights from the counselor’s book study, middle school tips, and upcoming dates. Enjoy!

Counseling Newsletter – The Echo

Reflecting Positivity through CRMS Counseling Services

Volume 5 Issue 5

April 2023

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees has scheduled a bond election for Saturday, May 6. Early voting is from April 24 to May 2.

The proposed bond — which is divided into three propositions totaling $762.82 million — includes:

• projects to address student and staff safety at every LISD campus

• two new elementary schools in fast-growing areas

• repairs and updates at several campuses

• a new facility for the LISD Special Education 18+ Transition Services Center

• replacement of music instruments

• renovations at the district's two Performing Arts Centers

• and more.

The bond would not impact the LISD tax rate.

You can learn much more about the bond by watching this video and by visiting www.leanderisd.org/bond2023. Also, look for posters displayed on campus describing how the bond would affect the specific schools serving your area of the district.

Rising 9th Graders - Next year's course requests are now viewable in Home Access Center. The window for requesting updates to next year's courses request has also opened. For more information on viewing your course requests and making a change, see the April 2023 Update from VHS.

Respite Recruits: PTA is coordinating volunteers to assist our teachers!

BYOV (Bring your own Vacuum) or use one of the school's! Help us vacuum classrooms to provide relief to our teachers who have been vacuuming due to custodial shortages. If you have some time, we can use the help! Open to any parent (not just PTA), community member or high school students looking for volunteer services hours.

Sign-up today to volunteer at CRMS this Spring.

Parents and community members must have completed this short volunteer approval form.

If you wish to make a change to your child's requested courses for the 23/24 school year, parents should submit a course change request form. This form is located on the CRMS Counseling website. Parents will need to submit this form for each course you would like to change from the original submitted choice sheet. The last day for course change requests is May 26, 2023 at 12pm. Late requests will not be accepted.

The transfer window for currently enrolled students for the 2023–24 school year is open from March 21 through April 14. Transfer Application for Currently Enrolled Students Families will be notified of their request status at the beginning of May, 2023. After April 14, additional transfer requests will not be considered or accepted. Contact the campus registrar with any questions, 512-570-3515.

Leander ISD is excited to announce the continuation of Leander Virtual Learning Academy for the 2023-24 school year. The virtual academy is for students in elementary and middle school grades. We offer small class sizes, synchronous learning, digital and hands-on-learning experiences which aligns with Leander ISDs curriculum. All current and new students must apply. Questions regarding our program can be emailed to remotelearning@leanderisd.org

2023-2024 Application: https://forms.gle/Qx3pE85Cu4cQeR4q6

Is there a #1LISD staff member at CRMS who you've seen go above and beyond in their role and responsibilities and who highlights the district's 10 Ethical Principles? We would love to feature them across our social media platforms.

Staff Spotlight Submission Form

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.

• 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

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 final testing window of 22/23 and the deadline to register is listed below.

Testing Window Four:

• Time: June 6-June 8, 2023

• Registration Deadline: April 21, 2023 @ 10:30am

• Location: Reagan Elementary School

• Logistics: Arranged with LISD & UTHS

Note: Students who pass an Exam for Acceleration in the June 2023 testing window will complete the 2022-2023 school year in his/her current class. Students will receive their acceleration in the 2023-2024 school year.

Exclusive new CRMS Spirit Wear:

Soft & cozy white hoodies and blue shirts available.

Other Sale items available too!

Purchase online 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. 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 : May 15-17, 2023 during Science classes
• Grade 8 : May 11, 15 & 22, 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)

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 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!

To complete or renew your volunteer registration, click the appropriate link:

New volunteer in LISD | Returning LISD volunteer

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!

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