Middle School Principal’s Letter
Thank you for reading this week’s version of the News and Views. It has been another terrific week of teaching and learning in the middle school. Our students are challenging themselves and each other as learners. Students had an opportunity to set SMART Goals this week. Each student set a minimum of two goals.
Our focus next week will be the Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences. On Monday, October 21st, we will have a drop-in session that will begin at 2:00 pm and will end at 5:00 pm. We are doing something a little different this year. All core teachers will be available starting at 2:00 pm, and the elective teachers will be available starting at 3:10 pm.
On Tuesday, October 22nd we run an “arena-style” conference format. The Middle School Auditorium, the MS Cafeteria, and classrooms on the Lower Level will be set up “arena” style, and tables will be organized by subject area (i.e., Math/Science, Social Studies/Language Arts). On that day, all crossover teachers will be available.
Please use this link to sign up for an appointment on Monday afternoon. Each parent will get five minutes with the teacher. We expect that your son/daughter attends the conference with you on both days. The link will close on Sunday morning at 8:00 am.
Conferences are structured to last no more than five minutes to maximize the time available for all parents to meet with teachers. Teachers will keep track of the time and inform you when your five minutes has come to an end. We also stagger the schedule by family’s last name to avoid overcrowding and excessive wait time, as well as to provide short breaks and lunch for teachers. The program for Tuesday is below:
8:00 – 9:50: Student’s last name A -K
9:50 – 10:00: Break for all teachers
10:00 – 11:50: Student’s last name L – Z
11:50 – 12:20: Lunch break for all teachers
12:20 – 1:50: Student’s last name A -K
1:50 – 2:00: Break for all teachers
2:00 -3:45: Student’s last name L – Z
On Thursday, October 24th we will be having our Halloween Social outside the MS cafe. The social will go from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. And I kindly ask you once again, that students are picked up right on time.
The Advancement Office is asking parents to fill out a short survey about how communication is retrieved or received from CAC. Please help us gather this important information by filling out the 5min survey here.
I will be hosting a Principal’s Coffee Morning on Wednesday, November 13th. The topic for this session is of special interest to FATHERS, and it will be held in room 115, from 8:00 am – 9:30 am.
Our focus for the November 13th Coffee morning will be on the topic of The World Needs A Father. The more I think about it, the more I realize as an educator that being a father is the one profession where there isn’t any training provided. Because a doctor goes to school for a set number of years before they can graduate and practice. A soldier spends time training before going off to war, and a teacher attends a teacher’s college before earning their credentials to teach.
Nevertheless, the most influential profession that we call fatherhood has no training required in order to earn the title of being a father. Have we missed the plot? Have you ever stopped, and wondered, what if there was a manual that came along with how to be a father, would I be a better father? What if there was a link between being a husband and a father? What if an opportunity presented itself for you to learn how to be a better father, and, a better husband, would you consider it?
“Virtually every major social pathology has been linked to fatherlessness.” – Stephen Baskerville
I am calling all fathers to join us on Wednesday, November 13th from 8:00 – 9:30 in room 115 for a presentation on The World Needs a Father.
Thanks for your continued support of the Middle School.
In Partnership,
Courtney Bailey
Middle School Principal
This Week’s Soaring Eagles Award Winners!
Announcements
Middle School Halloween Social
Join us for some spooky fun from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on October 24! An entrance fee of 20 LE will be required to cover costs for 2 slices of pizza and a soda. Please be sure to dress up in your best costume and get into the Halloween spirit, as there will be a costume competition and trick or treating during the event. We hope to see you all there!
STUCO Advisory Halloween Candy Donation Competition
Throughout the week leading up to the Halloween Social (October 20-24), there will be an advisory candy donation competition to help make the Middle School Halloween Social as sweet and enjoyable as possible. Bring in as much candy as you can because the stakes are high: The advisory that brings in the most candy donation will receive a 3-day elevator pass and free entrance to the social. The last day to bring in candy donations is Thursday morning, Oct 24th. Please make sure that candy is individually wrapped pieces.
CAC PTO’s Halloween Celebration
Visit by Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth – 29th & 30th October
On 29th and 30th October, CAC will be visited by Mr Luke Kasim, the Director of Recruitment for Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY). CTY is a leading U.S. center for academically talented students and offers a range of summer and online courses and opportunities for highly able students from grades 2 to 12. On 29th October at 6:30pm Mr Kasim will deliver a presentation in the CAC Theater to all interested parents. This presentation is open to anyone, but those from outside the CAC community will need to register at the link. CAC parents can just come along. For more information, see the event flyer.
On 30th October, Mr Kasim will be based in the MS Conference Room and will be available for individual meetings with parents where he can answer questions or discuss options for individual students. To book a time with Mr Kasim, please use this form. If you are unable to make an individual appointment, or if you just have a general question, there will be two open drop-in times during the day:
11:00 – 12:00pm
3:00 – 4:00pm
If you have any questions about the CTY visit, please email Selena Gallagher: sgallagher@cacegypt.org
From the MS/HS Library
Battle of the Books Practice Round – November 6
The BOB practice round that was scheduled for next week has been postponed to November 6, to avoid a conflict with another MS event.
Students have plenty of time to continue reading the books. We have multiple print copies of all the titles, and also ebook and digital audibooks on the Sora app. Download the app to your mobile device or access it from your computer from the link above.
Biblionasium has a BOB challenge for MS students. Read all six books and receive a Biblionasium badge. The challenge is available to all MS students who are enrolled in Biblionasium.
Stephen Davies author visit coming soon
UK author Stephen Davies will be visiting CAC November 18-21. He is the author of several picture books and chapter books, and will be speaking to classes in the ES and MS. We are working on having some of his books available for pre-order. Stay tuned for details.
Summer checkouts due now
MS students with overdue items from the summer will be blocked from accessing Skyward until they have cleared their accounts. Please return all of your library materials promptly.
Three Cheers
Three Cheers to our teachers and students for getting back into the flow of teaching and learning after a week of trips.
Three Cheers to all the parents who help to sell pizza on Wednesday during lunch.