Ridge Relay

Hello Eagle Families,

We hope you had a good day of virtual learning today and were able to stay in, safe and warm in this icy weather. If you had any power outages or technical problems, please just reach out to your teacher, and we will continue to work together to support our students.

Don’t forget that this Monday (2/15/2021) is a student holiday due to staff professional development. Leander ISD is continuing to monitor the weather and will notify us on Monday about the status of school for Tuesday.

While you are home, this may be a good opportunity to remember the School Quality Survey is now open and can be done in as few as 5 minutes! Take it now using this link or check in parent email inboxes for more information. Responses are 100% confidential! I encourage all parents to complete this survey. You may be thinking “Yeah, but I think things are going pretty well.” Great, we want to hear that too! Or you may be thinking “Some of it doesn’t apply to me.” There is a ‘not observed’ option as well. Please share feedback about your perception of your child’s school, student and academic support, family involvement, safety and behavior, school leadership, food service, and more.

Due to the weather, we will continue our book round-up next week to try to recover all of our missing library books. As you are home this weekend, please be on the lookout for those books!

We wish for you to have a weekend at home with your loved-ones, and continue to stay safe and warm this Valentine’s Day!

Go Eagles!

Mrs. Wendy Sturdevant

Eagle News 2/11/21

Leander ISD Mental Health Minute: February 15th

Instagram: Canyon_Ridge_MS

Twitter: @Sturdevant_CRMS

Viper Nation Academic Booster Club is offering yard signs again this year for all the schools in our area. They will only be placing two orders. The first deadline is February 15th, and we will place a second order in early April to give Seniors some extra time to get those college letters in.

Here is the form: CELEBRATE YOUR STUDENT WITH A YARD SIGN! (cognitoforms.com)

I know it seems crazy to already be thinking about next year, but we have now begun that process. Students received course registration information through Advisory classes this week. In addition, we hosted a parent webinar February 3rd to help with all of this information too. Some CRMS courses will require an application, and those will be specified on the choice sheet. As of today, the choice sheet submission is OPEN. Reach out to your child's grade level counselor with any questions.

(For current 8th grade students, your course transition is coordinated by VHS. More information can be found on Mrs. Gripentrog's webpage under 8th grade lessons and on the VHS the website.)

February 5:

Course selection open (6 to 7 google form, 7 to 8 google form)

February 12:

Choice sheet DUE for current 6th & 7th graders (6 to 7 google form, 7 to 8 google form)

February 16:

Webinar @ 5:30-6:30 for current 5th grade parents

February 19:

Applications due @ 4:30pm

Course Transition Resources:

Parent Letter

Courses and Transitions Website

Courses and Transitions Overview Video

Choice Sheet Walk through 6 to 7

Choice Sheet Walk through 7 to 8

Leander ISD is committed to listening and working to understand instances of racial inequity and other discrimination in our district. We want to support our students and families by shining a light on the truth that racism and inequity exist in LISD and use this information to make changes for the better.

As a district, we’ve received messages, had conversations, and heard from our Leander ISD families during Citizen Comments at Board meetings. But we know we can and should do more. Because we want to be purposeful in making progress, we are hosting 6 community listening sessions for parents, students, teachers, and staff in February 2021. We will present this feedback and additional action steps during an upcoming spring 2021 Board meeting.

Join the LISD Equity and Diversity discussion group on Remind

Listening Session Schedule

(Note: You must be registered to attend a listening session)

All sessions are 12 – 1 p.m.

• Feb. 10 REGISTER
• Feb. 16 REGISTER
• Feb. 22 REGISTER

All sessions are 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

• Feb. 15 REGISTER
• Feb. 18 REGISTER
• Feb. 24 REGISTER

Parents, the fourth grading cycle 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, and upcoming dates. Enjoy!

Counseling Newsletter – The Echo

Reflecting Positivity through CRMS Counseling Services

Volume 3 Issue 4

February 5, 2021

Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college-readiness program that places special emphasis on growing writing, critical thinking, teamwork, organization and reading skills. Are you interested in taking in being part of the AVID program next year? Applications are due Friday, February 19, 2021at 4:30.

Please join our AVID Application Google Classroom for all access on AVID information and all application materials (Code: wem7ozg)

Email Monica Diaz Carle (monica.diazcarle@leanderisd.org) if you need help or have any questions!

Want to be in a play? Do you know how to Melodrama? Is love your favorite color?

If the answer to any 2 of those questions is "YES!" - you should try out for the 2021 SPRING Show - ROMEO AND JULIET!

It's easier than biting your thumb!

1. Prepare and film your audition video (FLIPGRID).

2. Complete the AUDITION FORM.

3. Bribe your parents to complete the parent form.

Details and information are on the Romeo + Juliet Google Classroom (Code: 5vzotbd). Or email brandy.roth@leanderisd.org

Swim Try-out Information flyer

Physical Form

• Who is eligible: Current 8th graders at CRMS or FPMS, or any current VHS students not currently on the varsity swim team

• Date: Friday, February 12th

• Time: 7:30pm (arrival at 7:15pm)

• Location: Bella Mar Pool in Steiner Ranch

• Requirements:

• See Information document, and contact Coach Denison by January 29th to sign up for a tryout spot and receive the required questionnaire.

• A physical exam is required to tryout (see info. document and use the LISD specific physical exam form that must be emailed to the VHS trainers by Feb 5th)

Optional Zoom Information Meetings for Q&A with Coach Denison - offered on Friday Jan. 15th, Jan. 22nd, and Jan. 29th at 5:30pm. Contact Coach for zoom link - lisa.denison@leanderisd.org

In an effort to promote, recognize, and celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and nationally honored MLK Day of Service, ALL VHS feeder pattern schools are being challenged to complete acts of service/kindness.

The challenge will kick off on January 18th, MLK day, through February 15th, President's day. The school with the highest percentage of service/kindness acts will have their school colors proudly worn by all other schools in the feeder pattern. Acts of service/kindness can come in many forms. Here are some examples:

• Write a note of gratitude to a teacher, neighbor or friend
• Create positive messages with sidewalk chalk in your neighborhood
• Ask an elderly neighbor if you can rake their leaves
• Gather and donate items to a food bank or shelter

There is no act of service/kindness that is too small! To maximize our impact in the community, multiple submissions are encouraged and allowed!

Eagles, we hope that you will join us as we do acts of service and kindness. You will be able to submit your acts of service and kindness through your Advisory classes.

• Click HERE to access the submission link. The link will be active from 8:00 am, January 18th until 4:00pm on February 15th.
• Click HERE to view the VCA Community One Pager for more information.

Are you interested in taking a WHOLE YEAR of Advanced Theatre Arts next year? Here’s what you’ve got to do! Go to Google Classroom and join the Advanced Theatre Application Google Classroom. Class Code = nwcdm5s

Due Friday, February 19, 2021

Applying doesn't obligate you to take Advanced Theatre if you end up choosing Leadership, Art, Journalism, etc. but you can't choose Advanced Theatre if your application is incomplete.

Email Mrs. Roth (brandy.roth@leanderisd.org) if you need help or have any questions!

2020-21 Yearbooks are available for sale NOW! Don't wait to pre order your yearbook for this extraordinary and unforgettable year! Yearbooks are $40 through April 14th. On April 15th, the price will increase to $45. There is a limited supply, so order yours today! Click here to order.

Did you miss out on purchasing a CRMS yearbook from last year? We still have some yearbooks available that will be sold for a discounted price of $30. If you'd like to purchase last year's yearbook, please visit the front office at CRMS with $30 exact cash or check. Books will be sold on a first come, first served basis.

Since enrollment for next year is beginning to happen, we wanted to provide some information about high school gifted services for 8th grade QUEST-G/T students who are in-coming 9th graders. High School QUEST-Gifted services look differently than middle and elementary school QUEST. The attached High School QUEST Facts provides an overview of gifted services available to high school students.

Students are automatically enrolled in 9th QUEST English. The attached Side-By-Side shows how Advanced English and QUEST English differ and are similar.There are no separate QUEST-G/T projects as in middle school QUEST Studies. As in elementary and middle school, the QUEST-G/T teachers are available to provide additional support, as needed, through QUEST-G/T Lab, which is described in the attached High School QUEST Lab document.

After reviewing the three attached documents, if you have any additional questions, please email the LISD Director of Gifted Services at kathy.wood@leanderisd.org.

High School Quest Description

High School Quest Facts

High School Quest Lab

Side by Side Advanced English/Quest English

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: Spirit Wear has recently been restocked. Porch pickup is very close to CRMS.

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!

Grab & Go Library Curbside hours have been updated:

Tuesdays 10:30-11:30am

Wednesdays 4:00-5:00pm

See the CRMS Library website for all the details and MORE on how to get books from your CRMS Library at curbside or on-campus! Thank you for checking at home and returning all library books during curbside hours or on the cart in the hallway outside the CRMS Library!

CRMS Basketball games Livestream now available online!

Update as of 1/4/2021:

As part of our efforts to keep our students, staff, and community safe by minimizing the spread of COVID-19 and maintaining in-person operations for students who depend on our schools, we will be limiting attendance at all athletic and fine arts events effective immediately.

Each student-athlete or performer will be allowed two spectators to attend games and events. We will permit siblings under five to attend with their parent or guardian. Coaches, sponsors and directors will contact students and families with details for their games and events.

We will notify our families of updates to this policy as we monitor the conditions of COVID-19.

To ensure you have the most accurate and up to date information on our sports schedules, please visit the Athletics Website.

• Here is the Leander ISD General Spectator information for all Leander ISD athletic events.

• Everyone entering the stadium/gyms will be required to wear a face mask the entire time they are at the school event.

• You will be asked health screener questions when you arrive and must be completed by each person attending. If you have symptoms, please do not attend.

• Stadium and gyms will have reduced, limited capacity and we will not be able to allow anyone to enter when at capacity.

• Seating will be marked off on bleachers for social distancing. Please do NOT sit on the blue tape.

• We ask that when your child’s game is over, please leave the stadium/gym, so that we can let in more families for the following games.
  

• MS game tickets will be sold at the gate of each event. No presale tickets for MS events.

• Limited passes will be accepted.

• No student athlete passes will be allowed.

• Concession stands will be open with prepackaged food items and drinks for sale.

• Hand sanitizer stations will be provided and restrooms will be open. Water fountains will not be available.

Deadlines for Parents to change from Virtual to In-Person Learning & Date Students Return to In Person Learning:

Returning to in-person for the 1st time this year? Here is some CRMS info to assist in your transition.

• Deadline - December 11 for 4th 6-weeks beginning January 5th OR January 19th*
  

*Due to the Holiday Break and recommended local health guidelines, students who wish to change from virtual to on-campus learning, can delay their student's on-campus return date. Please see the Change Form linked above to make your selection.

• Deadline - February 5 for 5th 6-weeks beginning February 16
• Deadline - March 26 for 6th 6-weeks beginning April 5

In the fall of 2021, Leander ISD will use the label Advanced instead of Pre-AP to identify courses that are designed to challenge as well as prepare students to be successful in future AP and/or IB courses.

The College Board is requiring the use of their national curriculum in order for courses to be

labeled Pre-AP. Leander ISD is committed to differentiating and meeting the needs of each and every student as we currently do through the LISD established curriculum and instruction. Leander ISD will, therefore, not adopt the national standardized curriculum required by the College Board’s Pre-AP program. Furthermore, Leander ISD has demonstrated successful outcomes in both AP and IB programs and does not foresee any negative impact on student success as a result of not adopting the College Board Pre-AP program.

In order to simplify naming conventions of advanced course pathways leading into AP and IB,

Leander ISD will use the label Advanced instead of Pre-AP/IB. This is only a name change of

the label Pre-AP to Advanced. There will be no changes to the local Leander ISD curriculum or

expectations for students in these courses.

**Please note that we will no longer be using the Student Google Form due to a district-wide switch to this new screener app.**

Leander ISD has licensed a NEW Frontline Health Portal to provide you with a convenient way to complete your child’s COVID-19 self-screen prior to arriving at school every day. You may download the Frontline App, or use the attached QR Code to register and login to your portal.

• Please review the directions below for setting up your portal to register and create a Frontline account. You may do this through the Frontline Health Portal app or through the web address, Click Here.

(It is recommended you use a desktop computer to register, once registered the Frontline Health App and QR code will work with ease)

• Use the primary email that you provided to the district and confirm the Portal Terms of Use.

• You will receive an email with a temporary password and a link to confirm your account.

• You will need your child’s Student ID # to add your child to the account

Important Note: All children in a family can be added to the same exact account. As well as families that have multiple homes, both parents can create an account for their child with their own email.

If you are having technical difficulties, there are two ways to receive technical support: 1) Call the Help Desk or 2) Enter a Technology Help Ticket:

1. How do I contact the Help Desk?

Call: 512-570-0566
Help Desk Hours: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. M-F

2. Technology Help Ticket: http://servicemanager.leanderisd.org/

Thank you for your assistance with the required daily screener!

***DO NOT REGISTER IF YOUR CHILD IS STILL VIRTUAL, THIS IS ONLY FOR IN-PERSON STUDENTS***

If anyone in your household tests positive for COVID, please notify Mrs. Sturdevant or our school nurse, Rachael Kristoff, immediately. Also, since we are in between holiday breaks, if your child is in-person & was with someone over the holiday break that has now tested positive for COVID, you must notify the nurse of the exposure. We are doing our best to properly contact trace & keep all of our students & staff safe.

We encourage our families and staff to do their part to minimize the spread of COVID-19.

By coming to school, you are attesting that you confidently answered “NO” to ALL of the questions related to COVID-19 symptoms and have a very low risk of carrying or spreading COVID-19. If you answered “YES” to ANY of the questions, you are to stay home. All screening information will be kept confidential by the campus administration and the campus nurse.

Students experiencing ANY of the symptoms from the list, in a way that is not normal for the student, MUST REMAIN AT HOME and a parent/guardian should email the CRMS Attendance Clerk (CRMSAttendance@leanderisd.org) and provide the student’s Full Legal Name, Student ID Number, date and reason for absence.

***Students who are required to stay home due to COVID-19 related symptoms can still access learning virtually if they feel well enough to attend virtual classes.

@AusPublicHealth is offering risk guidance for gatherings to help keep #1LISD healthy & safe. With the recent surge in COVID cases in central Texas, we're especially mindful of how the pandemic continues to affect our community and potentially our schools. Our most important goal is keeping our campuses open so that our students can learn and our families can thrive. We can't do it alone. Please do your part to celebrate safely during the holidays so that we can support and safeguard our teachers, students and students.

To minimize the spread of COVID-19 and ensure everyone has a safe and healthy holiday season, Austin Public Health is offering risk guidance for gatherings. En Espanol

Many have generously reached out and asked how you can donate or support the teachers/school during this time.

If you are wanting to donate and unsure how, we will gladly accept donations of bottled water, paper towels, hand sanitizer or Clorox wipes on campus.

Please note: there are COVID EPA requirements on certain products so please check those before purchasing. As long as the item meets the those requirements, is sealed and brand new, we can accept deliveries of donations during office hours on campus.

As the upcoming school year takes shape, we want to ensure the information families need to make important decisions is easy to access in our Launch to Learning 2020-21 guides.

• COVID-19 Health Response

• Teaching and Learning Guide

• Special Programs Guide

We know that our community still has questions, so we’ve worked hard at cultivating an expansive, updated FAQ section of the Launch to Learning site. The latest additions will be highlighted green for a few days and then moved into a queue under the appropriate heading.

AP/Counselor by grade-level:

• 6th: Cassandra Ricks/Shirley Dean
• 7th: Mandi Vogel/Staci Cote
• 8th: Monica Diaz Carle/Lauren Gripentrog

Instagram: Canyon_Ridge_MS

Email: wendy.sturdevant@leanderisd.org
Website: https://crms.leanderisd.org/
Phone: 512-570-3500
Twitter: @Sturdevant_CRMS