CMS Launch Points

Parents there will be no Launch Points next week. Enjoy the long weekend.

Monday, 11/2

Annual Food Drive begins
Basketball (grades 5-8) and Cheerleading (grades 4-8) Signups outside Mr. Mason’s Room
Little 5 Cross Country Race (grades 5-8) at the Wildwood Convention Center at 3:20 PM (families provide transportation after school) - Check the Gamechanger App
Soccer (grades 6-8) - Check the Gamechanger App
Drama Club (grades 5-8) - Check Remind App
CMS Choir (grades 4-8) in the Music Room from 3:00-3:45 PM
Homework Club (for enrolled students) in Spanish Room 3:00-4:00 PM

Tuesday, 11/3

Basketball (grades 5-8) and Cheerleading (grades 4-8) Signups outside Mr. Mason’s Room
Drama Club (grades 5-8) - Check Remind App
STEM Club (grade 3) in the Library 3:00-3:45 PM
Cre8 Club (grade 4) in the Art Room 3:00-3:45 PM
History Club (grades 6-8) in Mr. Mingee’s Room 3:00-3:45 PM
Homework Club (for enrolled students) in Spanish Room 3:00-4:00 PM

Wednesday, 11/4

Basketball (grades 5-8) and Cheerleading (grades 4-8) Signups outside Mr. Mason’s Room
Drama Club (grades 5-8) - Check Remind App

Thursday, 11/5

School Closed - NJEA Convention

Friday, 11/6

School Closed - NJEA Convention

Other Upcoming Dates

Crest Memorial’s fall production of Matilda, Jr. (grades 5-8) will be performed in the school gym on Friday, Nov. 13th at 7:00 PM and Saturday, Nov. 14th at 1:00 PM. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Watch your email for information on purchasing tickets.
School will dismiss at 1:10 PM on Wednesday, Nov. 18th, Thursday, Nov. 19th and Friday, Nov. 20th for Parent/Teacher Conferences. During the week of Monday, Nov. 9th, a link will be sent to parents of students in grades PreK through 5 to sign up for conferences. No appointment is needed for students in grades 6-8; middle school teachers will be available in the cafeteria during conference times.
The annual food drive ends on Thursday, Nov. 19th.

Next Week's Lunch Menu

Monday, 11/2: Cheeseburger on a Bun or Turkey & Cheese Hoagie
Tuesday, 11/3: Cheese Pizza Slice or Turkey & Cheese Hoagie
Wednesday, 11/4: Regular or Spicy Chicken Tenders with a Roll, or Turkey & Cheese Hoagie
Thursday, 11/5 — School Closed (NJEA Convention)
Friday, 11/6 — School Closed (NJEA Convention)

PB&J Uncrustable Meal is always a third lunch option.

Helpful Reminders and What’s New at CMS

Tomorrow, Friday, 10/30: School will dismiss at 1:10 PM. Please make arrangements to pick up your child accordingly.
Halloween Parade & Pumpkin Decorating Tomorrow: Join us tomorrow morning! PreK celebrates from 9:00-10:00 AM (check Remind App for details). Grades K-5 will begin their parade at 10:00 AM followed by pumpkin decorating until 11:30 AM. Students in all grades may come to school dressed in their Halloween costumes.
Fall Back: Don’t forget to “Fall Back” this weekend! Clocks should be turned back one hour at midnight on Saturday.
Parent/Teacher Conferences: Mark your calendars for 1:10 PM dismissals Wednesday, Nov. 18th through Friday, Nov. 20th for Parent/Teacher Conferences. Details on scheduling with classroom teachers will follow shortly.

PTC & 8th Grade Parent News

Stock’s Pound Cake: Today is the last day to submit your orders for Stock’s Pound Cake. If you have orders or money to submit, please be sure to do so before the end of the day. You can also reach out to Denise Bannon at 908-578-1355 to coordinate your purchases.
Trunk or Treat: We had a great time participating in the first annual Trunk or Treat hosted by the Wildwood Crest Police Department. We would like to thank the “Crazy Cat Ladies” Ella Truempy, Emma Sciarra, Denise Bannon, Kari McLaughlin and Regina Murphy!
Halloween Dance: What a BLAST we had at our Halloween Dance on Friday evening! There were great treats, games and some impressive dance moves. Many thanks to the set-up and clean-up crew (many of whom did double duty that day): Ella Truempy, Emma Sciarra, Denise Bannon, Tami Swetsky, Joanna Little and Kate O’Connell.
Thank You: We also want to thank our cheerleaders! And a big thank you to our peer leaders, along with a few future peer leaders, who helped with the dance. James, Richard, Aliyah, Adrianna, Willow, Julsie, Alana and Adelina were great at helping all of the kids have a good time!

This Week’s CMS Difference Maker is — Madden Perry

Eighth grader Madden Perry has started the year as a standout soccer player who gives a hundred percent effort every time he steps on the field. Teammates and coaches rely on his strong play, but what sets him apart is that he always puts the team first. His impressive work ethic leads by example. That same drive carries into the classroom, where Madden is an outstanding student and a role model for his peers and for the younger CMS students who look up to him. Madden, thank you for showing what effort and team-first thinking look like every day. If you know someone making a difference in the CMS community, please help us recognize their efforts by completing the following form: https://forms.gle/nxU6guDtB3aDy3wT8

When Caring Turns Into Pressure — Helping Your Child Feel Valued, Not Measured

This week’s perspective comes from Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic — and What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace, a journalist who partnered with researchers at the Harvard Graduate School of Education to survey more than 6,000 parents nationwide. Wallace set out to understand why so many capable, well-supported kids feel anxious and worn down. Her central finding is worth considering as conference sign-ups go out shortly. The children who do best, in school and in life, are the ones who feel they matter for who they are, not for what they produce. Our staff see the early signs in every grade. The second grader who tears up a drawing because it isn’t perfect. The fifth grader who asks “Is this for a grade?” before deciding how hard to try. The seventh grader who shrugs off an 88 because it isn’t a 95. None of these kids are being pushed by parents who don’t care. Most are being pushed by parents who care enormously. Consider these research-backed insights:

Ask about the day before the grade. Wallace found that parents who said they valued kindness over grades still, in practice, asked about grades first. Kids notice the order. Lead with “Who did you eat lunch with?” or “What was funny today?” and let the schoolwork come up on its own.
Keep the response short. When a disappointing grade comes home, try a calm, matter-of-fact line: “That one was tough. What do you think happened?” Then stop. The longer the lecture, the more a child hears that the grade is what we really care about.
Give your child a job that matters. Mattering has two halves: feeling valued and adding value. Feeding the dog, setting the table, or helping a younger sibling with a reading log tells a child they’re needed, not just evaluated.
Watch your own scoreboard. Wallace found that parents’ worry about the future often leaks out as “constructive” pressure. If you catch yourself comparing your child to a cousin, a classmate, or your own younger self, that’s the moment to pause.
Ask about the whole kid at conferences. When you sit down with your child’s teacher in November, add one question that isn’t about performance: “What does she light up about?” or “Who does he look out for?” The answers often tell you more than the grade book does.

Question of the Week: When your child comes home from school, what do you usually ask about first, and what might that question tell them matters most to you?

Parents, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Share your perspective by going to: https://forms.gle/HDqEiGeikPjt5ahd8

About Launch Points

CMS’s weekly newsletter is focused on providing families with a list of upcoming events, a brief article on how to support student success and an opportunity for parents to share perspective on student support articles.