Ridge Relay

We have had a wonderful first three days back with students! We appreciate your patience as we work together to get back-to-school systems rolling smoothly.

For morning drop-off, we made some progress this week with the line moving more efficiently. So please remember to NOT stop in the middle of the crosswalk or near a particular door. Please pull all the way up towards the gate before allowing your child out of the car and allow for as many cars as possible to unload. Also, remember on rainy days, we have less walkers/bikers and many more cars, so please allow for extra time and patience.

At Canyon Ridge Middle School, we believe in continuous improvement. We would love to have your feedback! Please provide your feedback (good or improvements) here for the first week of school, Open House, Eagle Camp and our Back-to-School Webinar.

Please join me and give a shout-out to our PTA, CATCH committee and Cups & Cones for providing healthy popsicles as a first day of school treat for all students!

Back-to-School Resources:

• Back-to-School CRMS Parent 2022 Webinar for all families Recording (from 8/8/22)
• CRMS Virtual Open House 2022

CRMS Library Hours M-F 8:35 AM - 4:40 PM

Library opens Monday morning August 22 for students

Library Parent Volunteer Tea

Thursday, August 25 9-10:30 AM in the Library

Our Library depends on fantastic CRMS parent support to keep our library services and programs running and make books accessible to all students! If you want to be added to our Library Parent Volunteer List, sign-up HERE!

First Library Club meeting for students: Thursday Sept. 8 at 8:35 AM.

Library Club meets the 2nd Thursday each month and is open year round to all 6-8 graders. Students can join ANYTIME during the year!

More questions? Visit the CRMS Library website for: Online catalog, Library Club info, special events, databases and ebooks, Lone Star Reading list, help videos and more!

Contact Mrs. Illingworth with any questions at maryvirginia_illingw@leanderisd.org

All CRMS students will take their school picture this Friday (8/26) during their Social Studies class period. Paper order forms will be distributed this week also through Social Studies classes or you can order online here.

(If your student is absent or misses picture day for any reason, there will be a make-up picture day on Friday, 10/21/22.)

Dream Dinners is extending their fundraiser. Please consider placing a full/standard (at least 12 medium or 6 large meals) September order (pickup dates in Steiner Ranch (9/8) available through 9/30). This will help CRMS earn an additional $20. You can place your full September order online, selecting the date and time that works best for you. Be sure to put "CRMS" in the special instructions so that they can give the school credit. Place your order by August 27 online at www.dreamdinners.com/northwestaustintx.

Want to support our local Vandegrift High School? Game Day T-Shirts are being pre-sold until the end of the day on Monday 8/22. Order your shirts using the link below to guarantee yourself a shirt. Bundle Packs are also available for sale at a discounted price. We will be at CRMS during lunch on 8/31 to hand out pre-ordered shirts. Shirts can also be purchased at this time for $20/shirt but we encourage pre-ordering to guarantee correct shirt sizing.

If you purchased a shirt before 12pm on 8/19 using this link that shirt will need to be picked up at Vandegrift or you can contact pamjacops@gmail.com and she will arrange for it to be at CRMS for pickup on 8/31.

Online Orders for White Out and the Bundle Discount 4-pack will close on Monday 8/22 at noon. Any remaining shirts not sold online we will be sold while supplies last.

The game day shirts are worn at:

• 9/2 WHITE OUT (Cedar Park @Gupton)
• 9/16 BLACK OUT (Stony Point @Monroe)
• 10/14 PINK OUT (Round Rock @Monroe)
• 10/28 HOMECOMING (Vista Ridge @Monroe)

Items will be available for pick up at CRMS during lunch before the game.

The shirts are Comfort Colors Brand T-Shirts.

PICK UP ONLY, NO DELIVERIES, NO REFUNDS

Join us on our CRMS Campus-based Site Committee

Sign-up Here for more information.

The input of our parents, staff and community is so critical as we work together to support all of our stakeholders. We will meet quarterly. Meetings are held on Zoom so you can join from anywhere. Please note: as part of the committee, there is no prep or time commitment for you outside of our meeting times. The committee shall meet at least 4 times throughout the school year to serve exclusively in an advisory role such as approve staff development, review campus needs and improvement plan, activities, etc.

An Introduction to Section 504

In Spanish

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 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.

We need your help with returning student enrollment! If your student(s) attended a #1LISD campus for the 2021-22 and they will be in school with us again this year, please fill out your returning student enrollment form on the Home Access Center. This article details the how-to's and FAQs: https://bit.ly/3PYmFKx

• The last day for schedule change requests was May 26th, 2022. We cannot accommodate schedule changes due to teacher or period preference. However, if there is an error in your student's schedule please let their grade level counselor know.

• CRMS families, be sure to check/update information in Home Access Center this week. If you are unable to get into HAC, try "forgot password". HAC is where you will also be able to view your child's schedule, grades and attendance during the school year.
  

Leander ISD Board of Trustees approved a revised bell schedule that will impact the 2022-23 school year. During the June 13 Board meeting, members voted to place Bus Route Redesign and Bell Schedule on the June 23 agenda. During the meeting, Board members voted to amend the recommendation, approving the following start times:

• Elementary – 7:30 am to 2:45 pm (shifts 10 min earlier)
• HIGH School – 8:15 am to 3:35 pm (shifts 25 min earlier)
• MIDDLE School – 9:05 am to 4:20 pm (shifts 55 min later)

*District Calendar linked below

• Students taking PE/dance/cheer/band on campus will purchase/use a standard combo lock. You do not have to have this on the 1st day of school. More directions will be provided by the teacher for those specific programs.

• Once again this year, academic lockers will not be available, unless there is a medical need. If there is an individual medical need, please contact your student's Assistant Principal for assistance.

As the start of the new school year is fast approaching, I wanted to remind you that the State of Texas requires all students to receive a Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) and a Meningococcal Vaccine (MCV4) prior to the start of 7th grade. Many times, these immunizations are given at your student's well-visit with their doctor. Please review your student's immunization record and submit an updated copy to the school nurse (Rachael Kristoff). You may contact her by email or by phone for any questions. Please reference the Texas Department of State Health Services for Students for additional information.

Thank you,

Rachael Kristoff RN, BSN

Canyon Ridge Middle School Nurse

512-570-3507

512-570-9258 confidential eFax

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

New volunteer in LISD | Returning LISD volunteer

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.

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.

Get ready Eagle families! The countdown to school has begun. The CRMS coaching team and the new Athletic Booster Club board are working behind the scenes to get another great year of CRMS sports underway. Here is the link to our first newsletter. Read the Athletic Booster Club Newsletter and get connected today!

Is your child interested in joining our District Championship Cross Country team? There will be a mandatory meeting on Friday, August 19th at 8:00 AM in the Small Gym for athletes interested in joining the team. This meeting is for student-athletes only. There will be a webinar on August 24th at 6:00 PM during which Coach Edwards and Coach Lichtenberger will share the details of our Cross Country program with parents. All runners will need an updated physical turned in to the coaching office on, or before, the first practice (Monday, August 22nd). Please email Coach Edwards or Coach Lichtenberger with any questions.

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 next testing window and deadline to register is listed below.

Testing Window One: September 21-23, 2022

Registration deadline: August 24, 2022

Location: CRMS

Logistics: Arranged with student's counselor & UTHS

Note: Students who pass an Exam for Acceleration in the September 2022 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.

Here is our CRMS Virtual Open House 2022, where you can get information from your individual teachers.

Open House for 6th-8th grades, took place on Thursday, August 11 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Virtual Open House for 6th-8th graders, Tuesday, August 23rd: The school district has released a second possible Open House date for middle schools; however, since CRMS will be opening the building for all families prior to school starting on August 11th, we will only have the virtual Open House available on August 23rd and will not be opening the building to families.

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!

For the most up-to-date information regarding LISD’s COVID-19 protocols, including a quick reference guide and frequently asked questions, visit our COVID-19 Health Protocols page.

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/

Turn your sound on and please watch this video from CRMS students!

*Randall's will donate to CRMS PTA if you select us as your Good Neighbor Program just because you shop there! Complete this form and then e-mail to good.neighbor@randalls.com or take to any store customer service location..

*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