Ridge Relay

This Wednesday, September 11th, we will recognize a National Day of Service and Remembrance (9/11 Day) and Texas First Responders Day. It is a chance to help others in tribute to those killed and injured on September 11, 2001, first responders, and the countless others who serve to defend the nation’s freedom at home and around the globe. September 11, 2024, is the 23rd Anniversary of that tragic day and we will never forget. On this day, we honor those who aid us in emergencies. Police, firefighters and EMTs rush to help those who are in emergency situations and in many cases place their lives in danger to do so. When you see a police officer, firefighter or EMT tell them thank you for helping and keeping you safe. We encourage our Eagles to step forward to serve in a remarkable spirit of unity, honor, and compassion and in recognition of first responders. Remember, even a small act of service is a giant act of patriotism. Honor. Serve. Unite.

Also, as we countdown to our 20th Celebration this Friday, we will have a Spirit dress-up week for our students and faculty. We encourage all Eagles to enjoy the celebration dress-up and join in the fun!

Go Eagles!

Mrs. Wendy Sturdevant

Join us Wednesday, September 11th at 6:30pm for a Volunteer Webinar meeting to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

We are so excited to welcome lots of volunteers to the CRMS Library and other areas across campus again this year - it takes a big team to make all these dreams work! We need help with several events, including decoration set-up and take-down, helping at the event, item donations, as well as special projects (painting, wrangling the 3D printer or Cricut, sewing), display designs and mini-contests, on-site support (book covering, maker days, morning circ desk, and more.

• Library events this year include Trivia Night & Film Festival, Academic and Project Showcases, Game-A-Palooza, Read-A-Thon, Reading Rumble, and Book Fair - see the library website for dates.
• Our library has the absolute best volunteers, and there are lots of ways and different times of year you can help. It's a great way to get involved on campus and get to know other families and staff, and the support makes our library programs the best they can possibly be for all different kinds of students.
• Please contact Jamie Wright for the virtual Meet link, and feel free to share with interested CRMS community members.

We are so excited to host our 20th Celebration on Friday September 13th, from 5-8pm. There will be a ceremony at 6pm to honor our amazing school and students' success for 20 years and all festival activities are included in the ticket price.

Buy your tickets and find out more information here.

We would love help making this event a success! Please sign up on this link to volunteer in the fun!

This year, the state of Texas has new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for all of our MS Science classes so our teachers and students are noticing a difference in our science lessons. It is exciting to see the hands-on labs and inquiry already taking place. Here is a video from a Leander ISD campus that piloted it last year as a preview of what to expect this year. And grade-level communication about current units of study:

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

Attention Parents! Has a teacher or staff member at CRMS made a difference that you believe merits recognition? If so, nominate him or her to receive the Golden Eagle Award. Each week, from the Eagle community's nominations, a worthy faculty or staff member will be awarded the Golden Eagle. Recipients of the Golden Eagle Award have the privilege of keeping the coveted Golden Eagle statue in their office or classroom until the next faculty or staff member is recognized. Please nominate someone today!

Golden Eagle Award Nomination Form

You are invited to the upcoming TAGT parent webinar, Balancing Brilliance: Nurturing Executive Function and Mental Health in Gifted Kids, on September 10, 2024, at 6:30 PM CST!

This free hour-long webinar is designed to empower parents with the knowledge and skills to better understand and help their gifted children develop and enhance their executive function abilities. Led by Dr. Erika Lucas and supported by current research, this webinar is a valuable resource for any parent seeking to navigate the intricacies of their gifted child's executive function. RSVP here.

This webinar will have a live Spanish translation during the event. Learn more about the speaker and download the Facilitator's Guide.

Our student-led clubs and activities are starting to kick-off for the 2024-2025 school year such as Library/Book Club, Creative Writing Club, Art, Destination Imagination and Student Council.

We continue to update our CRMS Clubs & Organizations page as students get their clubs started for the year but here is current information from our Library on many activities happening around campus, and where you can sign up for Library Club and Creative Writing Club too.

And if you have a club that you want to start that isn't listed on our website, please speak to a staff member about being your interest and they can assist you with the new club form to help you get it started!

Destination Imagination (DI) is an extracurricular, school-sponsored program that fosters students' creativity, team-based problem-solving skills, and life skills. Each team must have a team manager to facilitate team practices. More information will be found on the CRMS Clubs Page. Deadline to turn in applications is October 2, 2024.

CRMS families, if your child is proficient in a language and would like to pursue testing opportunities to earn high school credit for this language, please contact your school counselor for information on 2024/2025 testing. The testing date for fall 2024 is October 11, 2024 on the CRMS campus. The deadline to register for fall testing is September 20, 2024 or when all slots are filled. Testing slots are limited due to the nature of the test and classroom capacity. Once the slots are full, your child can be added to the spring 2025 list. Testing is open to all grade levels, but recommended for grade 7/8 students.

All Pro Dads starting at CRMS! This new opportunity is for dads to spend time with their children at school, strengthen their relationship, connect with other CRMS dads and learn more about our school. We will host the sessions about once a month for dads to connect at school and get involved at CRMS.

Join us starting September 27th at 8:05am to learn more.

RSVP ahead of time so we have you checked-in to save time when you arrive.

Support CRMS in a PTA Membership Battle against Four Points. The principal from the losing school will wear the rival’s mascot head at the football game on October 8. Join online today!

Help save Principal Sturdevant from the shame of wearing the Falcon head like last year! Click this link to join the CRMS PTA for as little as $15.

Anyone can join PTA! It’s open to parents, teachers, grandparents, students, neighbors, friends, and anyone who cares about our school. Please join and recruit others!

Hello families, the latest Special Programs newsletter is here! Learn about our new Assistant Superintendent of Special Programs and Services, upcoming family events, Special Education, 504, Child Find Leander Collaborative Partners, The Special Programs Parent Advisory Council, and community resources.

The CRMS PTA Reflections Arts Program encourages students to tap their inner creativity and express themselves through their artwork. CRMS submissions are due by October 20, 2025.

For the 2024-25 school year, students are invited to reflect on a common theme — "Accepting Imperfection" — and submit original artwork in one of six categories. Click on the links listed below for category rules:

• Dance Choreography. (Spanish)
• Film Production (Spanish)
• Literature (Spanish)
• Music Composition (Spanish)
• Photography (Spanish)
• Visual Arts (Spanish)
• Accessible Arts Division (Spanish) - option for students with disabilities

Reflections has been a staple arts program in many schools allowing students to find a creative outlet in many categories.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions to our CRMS PTA Reflections Chair Swati Shah at reflections2425@gmail.com.

Referrals for G/T services are accepted year-round. Students referred for testing by October 1, 2024 will be screened to determine the need for additional GT Assessment and Identification. Those who qualify for additional assessments will be notified in October for the Winter Testing Window. Notification of results will be sent before the end of the fall semester to schedule for the spring semester based on availability. Contact your grade level counselor for the referral form.

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/

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.Please note why the student was absent or what kind of appointment they had (medical/dental) otherwise it will be unexcused due to lack of info.

• 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 latest a student may be picked up early is 4pm due to our end-of-day dismissal.
  

• 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 1000 students so it will take 2-4 business days to show the update. We appreciate your patience and understanding that our team is working tirelessly to support all of our Eagles!

Leander ISD has partnered with MySchoolBucks as our new online store. You can easily pay online for school items and add money to your student's lunch account. We are adding new items to the store everyday.

Create your free MySchoolBucks account to conveniently and securely pay for your student’s school fees online or with the mobile app.

With MySchoolBucks you’ll be able to quickly browse school items in our School Store, be notified when fees are due, and make payments from anywhere!

Get Started Today:

1. Go to myschoolbucks.com or download the mobile app
2. Create your free account and add your students using their school name / student ID or birthdate
3. Add school items or invoices to your cart
4. Check out using your credit / debit card or electronic check.

We appreciate you using this online option as a way to help reduce the amount of physical cash and checks that our staff would need to handle for these school fees.

If you need assistance with your account, you can find helpful how-to videos and answers to commonly asked questions by visiting myschoolbucks.com. Or, you can contact MySchoolBucks directly by logging into your account to start a chat conversation or give them a call at (855) 832-5226.

Thank you,

Leander ISD

Please Note:

• $$$ account for snacks, additional food
• Snacks may not always be available all year long due to staffing shortages
• For the 24/25 school year, students who qualify for reduced price, breakfast will be free and lunch will be reduced.
• You must apply each year for free/reduced lunch.

2024-25 Leander ISD Important Bus Information: Register to Ride

All eligible students will be required to REGISTER to RIDE the bus for the 2024-2025 school year. Please use the link provided to be sure that your student is registered to ride the bus if you are planning to utilize LISD transportation services.

Reminder: All Middle School students need a laptop/device for school. If you do not own your one, you can get one from the district:

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 students who pay, will be issued their device the first few days 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

Middle School Student’s spring 2024 STAAR score results should be available to parents on the Texas Education Agency Family Portal beginning June 14th.

Directions for Accessing your Child’s STAAR Report Card from TEA:

• Click on the TEA Family Portal Login
• If you know your child’s unique access code, found at the bottom of STAAR reports from previous administrations, enter that code in the Access Code box. Enter the date of birth using the drop-down menus. Click on the blue Go button to access results.

• If you do not know your child’s unique access code, you can still access STAAR results if you know your child’s social security number and date of birth. Click on “How do I look up my access code?” link below the Sign-On Button and enter the following information:
• TSDS ID or PEIMS ID (often same as social security number)
• Child’s date of birth
• Child’s legal first name
• Click “Search”

Additionally, results may be accessed through the Home Access Center (HAC) after June 14th:

• Log into your Home Access Center (HAC) account.
• Select the Grades tab
• Select Texas Test Scores
• Click on the link to STAAR English/Spanish – this will log you into the parent portal and you will see assessment results.

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]

AP/Counselor by grade-level for 2024-2025:

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

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