No School on Monday, December 23rd - CHANGE IN SCHOOL CALENDAR

This is an important message for parents of all Central Cambria students.  Previously, we were scheduled to have a half day of school on Monday, December 23rd, 2013.  We would have been the only school with students attending Admiral Peary Vo-Tech that would have been in session on that date.  After an agreement with the Central Cambria Education Association, it has been decided that there will be no school for students or teachers on Monday, 12/23.  Please adjust your plans accordingly.  Students, please enjoy this early start to your holiday vacation!

Box Tops For Education Round 2 Update

Round 2 of our Box Tops for Education contest is underway.  The deadline to turn box tops in for the second round is December 20th.  Currently, we have a tie atop the leaderboard, with Mr. Gilkey and Mrs. Mazzarella's first period classes leading the way.  Mr. Moore and Mrs. Dziack's classes are in 3rd and 4th place.  

Last year we received over $2,000 from our box tops collection, which was used to purchase additional library books that students are now using with our Accelerated Reader program.  Every box top that you cut out and send in helps, and we appreciate your support and participation.

Mid-Term Progress Reports - Marking Period 2

Mid-Term Progress Reports will be sent home with all students on Friday, December 6th.  These will list grades for each class your student is enrolled in.  Please look for them when your child comes home next Friday.

Spirit Wear Sale

Over the past year, we have received requests from time to time for Central Cambria gear that is not focused on an athletic team, or that does not have a Red Devil logo on it.  While this is our school mascot, we recognize that there are some families who would prefer not to have that logo depicted on clothing their children wear due to their personal beliefs.  For these reasons, our Student Council is conducting a Spirit Wear sale that includes two Central Cambria logos, one of which uses the Red Devil mascot and pitchfork symbol, and another which includes a block "CC" without mention of the mascot.  Order forms were sent home with students yesterday.  We feel the items are reasonably priced, and our Student Council will not be turning a large profit on this particular sale.  Order forms are due back the week we return from Thanksgiving vacation so that items you order are ready to be delivered by the last day of school prior to the holiday vacation.  On the back of the order forms is a survey for parents and students to share suggestions of items you would like to see included in future spirit wear sales.  Additionally, we will be ordering some extra items to sell through our Devil's Den school store.  Proceeds from the sale will go into our student activities fund, which pays for class field trips, club activities, and other enrichment opportunities that arise throughout the school year.  Thank you for your support of our students.

Mike Hall Assembly

This morning, our students attended an assembly where they heard a positive message from Mike Hall, a motivational speaker from Charlotte, North Carolina.  Mike presented to our students last year, and we were fortunate to be able to schedule him again.  At the beginning of Mike's presentation, our students were told to get ready to laugh and to think, and that is exactly what happened.  Mike's message to our students today consisted of several important themes.  The first was to be thankful for the life you have, and to make positive choices to become the person that you want to become.  Mike spoke about how we allow negativity to impact us because we allow it to, whether it is in the form of comments from others or posts on social media sites.  The important thing for our students to remember is that they control whether or not those kinds of things have an impact on them.  I felt one of the most important questions Mike asked was "what are you doing with your mouth?"  He spoke about how our students can make Central Cambria Middle School an inviting place that students enjoy coming to simply by what they choose to say to other students throughout the day.  He challenged students to compliment one another, and told them they can make friends anywhere by using that strategy.  It is a personal choice to say positive or negative things to other kids.  One final important point Mike tried to get across to our kids was to think about the 5 people they spend the most time with.  Those 5 people will determine who our kids are 10 years from now.  If our students surround themselves with good, successful and positive people, that is what they will become.  Conversely, if they spend their time with those who cause trouble, that is where they may find themselves in the future.  Mike packed many powerful messages into his 45 minutes with our students, and mingled with many of them after the assembly, signing autographs and chatting with a large group of our kids.  To find out more about Mike Hall, please visit his website:  http://mikeisspeaking.com/ 

This assembly was funded by the Central Cambria Education Foundation http://cceducationfoundation.org/ as well as our Student Activities Fund, which is supported by our fundraising activities throughout the school year. 

Inclusive Playground News Story

Please open the link below to view a news story from WTAJ about the Ebensburg Regional Inclusive Playground project, which will be constructed outside of Cambria Elementary:

http://www.wjactv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/new-playground-allow-all-play-on-971.shtml

Thank You

Thank you to our parents and community members who shop at Target with their REDcard, and have designated it to donate 1% of each purchase to Central Cambria Middle School.  Target picks up the 1%, so it is not added to your total when you check out.  We deposited our 2013 check from Target earlier today in our Student Activities Fund.  This fund pays for field trips, events such as dances and Fun Fridays, class t-shirts, enrichment opportunities, and various other things that enhance student life at Central Cambria Middle School.  To learn more about the program, visit Target.com/TCOE.

Thank you to Best-Way Pizza and Italian Village Pizza for their generous donations of food for our staff during last week's parent conferences.  We appreciate the support from these local businesses. 

Thank you to all of our parents and community members who purchased items during our fall fundraiser.  Those items were delivered today, and students and parents picked those items up this afternoon.  All profits from the sale go into our Student Activities Fund.

Fundraiser Delivery - Wednesday, 11/13

Delivery of items ordered for the Central Cambria Middle School Student Council fundraiser will be taking place this Wednesday, November 13th, from 3 - 5 p.m. in the lower lobby by the middle school gym entrance.  Please remember that many of these items are frozen, and we do not have freezer space to store orders that are not picked up, so we will need everybody's cooperation in arranging for pickup tomorrow between 3 and 5 p.m.  If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Ball at the Middle School.

Parent Conferences - 11/14

Our last round of parent conferences will be held this Thursday, 11/14, from 3:15 - 6:30 p.m.  If you have not done so already, please contact your child's teachers to schedule a conference with them.

Parent Conferences

Parent Conferences will be held on November 6th and November 14th from 3:15 - 6:30 p.m. at the Middle School.  To schedule a conference, contact your child's teacher by email or call the middle school at 472-6505 and use the voicemail directory to leave a message for the teacher(s) you would like to schedule a conference with.  You may request a conference at any time, but these days are set aside for this purpose, so I encourage you to attend if possible.

Report Cards

Today is the end of the first marking period.  Report cards will be sent home with students this Friday, so please look for them when your child comes home on Friday.

Homeless Awareness Week

To Central Cambria Parents and Students:   

   

Did you know now that the average age of a homeless person is nine years old? Many students become homeless for various reasons; fire, flood, domestic violence, or loss of income for the family.  Students are homeless by living in shelters, cars, campers/tents and even living with family or friends due to lack of housing.

The Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program in Pennsylvania is a state funded organization which provides support to our children that become homeless.  If you would like to help your fellow classmates, and many others that are experiencing homelessness, you can bring in items (which are listed on the back of this page) during the week of October 28- November 1, 2013.  On November 1, to show our support to our friends in need, we are asking everyone to wear a Blue Shirt to school that day.

Thank you for your support!!

The Central Cambria National Honor Society and Interact Club.

Hygiene Products	School Supplies	Nonperishable Foods
§  Soap §  Shampoo §  Conditioner §  Hand Sanitizer §  Deodorant §  Tooth Brushes §  Tooth Paste §  Brushes/Combs §  Hair Accessories §  Shave Gel/Cream §  Used Clothing..must be new or slightly used. §  New bras and underwear.	§  Pencils §  Pens §  Highlighters §  Note Books §  Crayons §  Markers §  Pencil Sharpeners §  Erasers §  Rulers §  Glue Sticks §  Folders §  Calculators §  Books	§  Can goods §  Granola Bars §  Cereal §  Fruit Cups §  Pudding Cups §  Box Foods §  Bag Foods §  Peanut Butter §  Jelly

Picture Retakes

Picture retakes for students will be held on October 18th.  

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Event for Girls

5th and 6th grade girls are invited...To have fun, to meet women in STEM careers, and to learn how STEM could impact their futures!

The Johnstown Branch AAUW in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is providing a STEM event, “GIRLS TECH OVER!” for you!!

“GIRLS TECH OVER” will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

The event is FREE!!

The schedule for the event is:                           
9:00 AM                        Registration
9:30 AM                        Kick-off Demonstration
10:15 AM                      Session 1- Small group hands-on activities

11:15 AM                      Session 2- Small group hands-on activities
12:15 PM                      Session 3- Small group hands-on activities

1:15 PM                        Lunch and Prizes Awarded

2:00 PM                        Conclusion

Each girl will participate in three, fun, hands-on Stem activities. Lunch will be provided. 

To register go to http://www.johnstownpa.com/aauw/.  There is a STEM 2013 link on the left side of the webpage.  Click on the link to take you to the registration form. There is also a link to a consent form that must be signed by your parent/guardian and brought to the event.  Or call:   814-659-1682.

ARCC

Central Cambria Middle School kicked off the school year’s ARCC (Atmosphere of Respect, Courtesy, and Courage) Program, a school-wide initiative to promote a positive school environment and anti-bullying efforts, on August 30^th with a presentation from Stephen and Other Dummies.  Stephen Brubaker engaged the student body with his humor and outrageous props, while emphasizing a message for students to treat each other respectfully. This school year, the middle school will be using the “7 Habits®,” based upon the “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey, to encourage personal and school success, including taking personal responsibility, setting goals, building positive relationships, resolving conflicts, working collaboratively, and strengthening communication skills.  Please review the student planner for more information regarding the program.

Box Tops For Education - Round 1

The Middle School's Box Tops For Education collection has begun!  Last year, we were able to raise $2,500 through this program.  For those of you new to the program, here is how it works:

What you can do:  Cut out box tops labels from products that you buy and use.  Here is a list of participating products: 

http://www.boxtops4education.com/products/participating-products

Bring those box tops in to your first period class.  We will have a monthly competition between the classes.  The winning classes each month receive privileges in the cafeteria.  They will be able to get into the lunch line first without waiting for their table to be called.  We will have new winners during each round, so new classes may win during each round.  For each box top that is turned in, the school will receive money later in the year that we will be able to use to enhance our offerings for students.  Last year we devoted our Box Top money to purchasing new books for our Middle School library.  This is already paying off, as students have been flocking to our new offerings in the library.  We hope to continue this tradition this year with your help.  

For more information on the Box Tops program, please view this website: 

http://www.boxtops4education.com/homepageinterstitial

Mid-Term Progress Reports

This is a message for all parents.  Mid-term progress reports will be sent home with students this Friday, September 27th.  They will look just like a report card, with current grades for all classes listed.  On the back will be some information about the first month of school and upcoming events.  Please ask your child to see this when they get home on Friday.  If your child has a grade of 77% or below in a class, a detailed progress report from that specific teacher will also be included and sent home on Friday.

STEM Event for 5th & 6th Grade Girls

If you are a parent of a girl in 5th or 6th grade, please read the message below about an event promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM):

5th and 6th grade girls are invited...

To have fun, to meet women in STEM careers, and to learn how STEM could impact their futures!

The Johnstown Branch AAUW in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College is providing a STEM event, “GIRLS TECH OVER!” for you!!

“GIRLS TECH OVER” will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2013 at the Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.

The schedule for the event is:

  9:00  AM         Registration

  9:30  AM       Kick-off Demonstration

                         10:15 AM         Session 1- Small group hands-on activities

                         11:15 AM         Session 2- Small group hands-on activities

                         12:15 PM         Session 3- Small group hands-on activities

                           1:15 PM         Lunch and Prizes Awarded

                           2:00 PM         Conclusion

 Each girl will participate in three, fun, hands-on Stem activities. Lunch will be provided. 

To register go to http://www.johnstownpa.com/aauw/.  There is a STEM 2013 link on the left side of the webpage.  Click on the link to take you to the registration form. There is also a link to a consent form that must be signed by your parent/guardian and brought to the event.

  

FREE

  

http://www.johnstownpa.com/aauw/

Science Olympiad

The Central Cambria Middle School will be offering a new learning opportunity for students this year.  It is the Science Olympiad, and it involves a series of events and competitions that students will prepare for and compete in during the school year.  There are regional competitions, a state competition, and a national contest that the team can qualify for based on their performance against other schools.  Any student who is interested may sign up and participate.  The team of 15 students that will compete in the regional competition will be comprised of those students who win our team competitions at school.  Sign-ups take place starting on Monday, September 16, and forms are due back by Friday, September 20, 2013.  

For more information on Science Olympiad, please visit their website:    http://www.soinc.org/

Girls' Cross Country Team Helps Out at 9/11 Flight 93 Memorial Service

Please read this great article about our middle school girls' cross country team helping out at the Flight 93 memorial service on Wednesday, September 11th:

http://pa.milesplit.com/articles/110919-central-cambria-middle-school-xc-team-assists-at-9-11-flight-93-national-memorial

Walk Now For Autism Speaks - October 19

A benefit walk to support autism awareness and research will be held on October 19, 2013 at People's Natural Gas Field in Altoona.  Check-in time is 11:00 a.m. and the walk begins at noon.  There is no set fee to register, but participants are encouraged to set a goal and raise money to be donated.  The team name is: Central Cambria.  The walk is fun for the whole family, and there will be games and activities throughout the day.  For more information, contact Ms. Keegan at 703-609-9697 or lkeegan@cencam.org.  You can also visit www.walknowforautismspeaks.org.  

Picture Dates Reminder

Student pictures will take place Wednesday and Thursday of this week.  8th grade pictures will take place on Wednesday, September 11th.  6th and 7th grade students will have their pictures taken on Thursday, September 12th.  Please plan accordingly.

Week 1 Wrap-Up

Our first week of school began last Tuesday, when students received their schedules and locker assignments.  For 6th graders, learning to open their locker is always a challenge.  After the first few days they have improved tremendously.  The other area where we ran into some trouble was in getting all of our students through the lunch lines on the first two days of school.  We gave our 6th graders an extended lunch period as a result. By today, the 5th day of school, we seem to have the process down and all students were able to get through the lunch lines with plenty of time to spare.  The week ended with an assembly by Stephen and Other Dummies on Friday morning followed by a pep rally at the end of the day.  Our students helped to get the varsity football team fired up for their opening game of the season by cheering and clapping along with our high school marching band.  It was an exciting way to cap off our first week of school.  

Pictures

Student pictures will take place next week.  6th and 7th grade students will have their pictures taken on Thursday, September 12th.  8th grade pictures will take place on Wednesday, September 11th.  Please plan accordingly.

Back To School Information

The time is drawing close for the opening of the 2013-14 school year.  Here is some information that you should know prior to the first day of school on Tuesday, August 27, 2013:

• All students should report to the auditorium upon their arrival to school on the first day.  We will send you to your first period class from the auditorium.  Students will not be receiving a schedule in the mail, as these will be distributed on the first day.  If schedules are available to be viewed in MMS prior to the first day, we will post that on our Twitter account.
• Meet the Teacher Night will be held on Wednesday, August 28th from 7 - 8:30 p.m.  There will be an optional Meet the Principal presentation at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium.

COVER THE BUS FOR SCHOOLS IN MOORE, OKLAHOMA

Please read the following press release regarding an effort taking place this week to provide aid to tornado victims in Oklahoma:

I’m sure you all know of the recent devastation that took place from the tornado that wiped out Moore City in Oklahoma.  Once again, the Central Cambria School District in collaboration with First Student, will be holding a fundraiser to benefit the schools in Moore City that were completely leveled.  In the fall we packed two buses for New Jersey residents who were devastated by the hurricane.  As usual, First Student and Central Cambria families and faculty always come through to help people in need.

All students will have a chance to “cover the bus” with buses.  The students can write a note to a student on this bus, and then cover our bus with them.  Any monetary amount will entitle a student to get a bus sticker to place on the bus.  All monies will be directly forwarded to the Moore City Schools.  Our plans are to have the  bus parked in front of the High School on Wednesday, May 29^th for the High School, Middle School and Cambria Elementary students.  On Thursday May 30^th, the bus will be parked at the Jackson Elementary for those students.  Your child’s teacher will be provided with the buses for your child to write a note, or simply sign their name and contribute to this very worthwhile cause.

SO, LET’S COVER THAT BUS!!!!!!!!!!!

Cafeteria Balances

Our cafeteria management would like to remind all students and parents that all negative balances on lunch accounts must be paid before the end of the school year.  Beginning Monday, May 13th, students will not be allowed to charge items, including a meal, for the last three weeks of school.  Students must have money in their account or cash in hand to make any purchases in the cafeteria.  If you are unsure of your child's account balance, please contact the cafeteria or have your child ask a cashier during lunch.

Inaccurate News Story

Earlier today, it was reported to us that TV-10 news reported that a 6th grade student was arrested for writing the threat that was found in a bathroom last month.  If this report ran as described, you need to know that it is completely false and inaccurate, and there is no information implicating any of our 6th grade students with this incident.  The media did not receive that information from anybody here at school, and I am sorry that they chose to run an inaccurate story without having factual information.  It is our policy not to comment publicly on disciplinary matters involving students, but when false information is put out into public view I feel an obligation to set the record straight.

Parent Group Seeks Assistance

The following letter was read at our recent school board meeting this past Monday evening.  We have been asked to post this information for parents.  A group of parents is trying to raise funds to provide full-time police coverage of the middle school/high school campus for the remainder of the school year.  Please read this message and if you choose to contribute, send money into the middle school or high school office.  Thank you.

Dear Parents and Students,

We are a group of concerned parents who, in light of the written threat discovered on April 23, would like to hire a police officer for the middle and high school from now through the end of this school year.  A donation of just $2 per student would enable us to hire this additional protection for our children.  If you would like to contribute to this fund, please send your donation to school with your student(s) as soon as possible, as the current officer is at the school through today May 10^th.  We need to raise the funds now!  We are also asking any concerned community members to donate as well.  These Donations may be dropped off at the Middle or High school offices or mailed to: Central Cambria 206 Schoolhouse Road Ebensburg, Pa. 15931.  Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Concerned Parents of Central Cambria

Making the Best of a Situation - CCMS Style

As many of you know, the past two weeks have been eventful here at the Central Cambria Middle/High School campus.  As a result, today's attendance was well below our normal levels.  However, for the students who came to school today, we made our best effort to make it worth their time.  We began the day with increased security procedures as students came into school.  From there, we took a census of the number of students in attendance.  Once we knew the numbers we would be working with, our student council advisors came up with an impromptu plan of activities for the day.  We had what amounted to a Fun Friday event during school.  Students were allowed to sign up for several activities, including board games, playing sports in the gym, a crafts room, and a computer room.  We held two sessions of these activities.  We then had lunch in the courtyard adjacent to the cafeteria since it was a beautiful, sunny day, which our students were able to enjoy.  In the afternoon the kids went to the gym to watch a movie, followed by some games and dismissal from school.  I believe that those who came had one of their most enjoyable days of the school year.

I want to thank our teachers for their assistance in coming to school early this morning to assist with our increased security procedures, their flexibility in planning, facilitating, and leading activities throughout the day, and their leadership in making our students feel safe and secure at school.  I also want to thank our local and state law enforcement agencies for their presence, visibility, and cooperation.  

Today was not a story about some rogue criminal disrupting the school environment, inciting panic and fear, and bringing the educational process to a standstill.  Today was a story of cooperation, or maintaining normalcy in abnormal conditions, of coming together as a team and doing what is best for the students of Central Cambria.  I am proud of the team we have assembled at the Middle School, and of the groups who have assisted us in the past days and weeks.  I look forward to the remaining 22 days of the school year.

Progress Reports

Mid-term progress reports will be distributed to all students during 8th period on Monday, May 6, 2013.  If you have concerns regarding your child's grades, please contact the teacher of the class.  If you have further questions, contact Mr. Santini.

Parent Information

This afternoon, I met with our students to provide them with an update on the investigation into the written threat that was discovered last week.  Students were given a letter to take home summarizing much of that information.  If your child did not share that information with you, please call or email me tomorrow and I will make sure you receive a copy.  The highlights of the letter are as follows:

• We have taken several steps to ensure the continued safety of your child while at school.  This includes an increased police presence, including an officer assigned to the middle/high school complex for the remainder of this week.
• This Friday, students will not be permitted to bring backpacks or other bags to school.  Bags with athletic/sports equipment needed for after-school activities will be checked upon arrival and kept in a secure location.  Any bags that students bring to school could be subject to random search.
• If parents are uncomfortable sending their child to school this Friday, it will be considered an excused absence providing that a signed excuse is turned in on Monday.

If you or your child have credible information that would assist in the investigation, please contact me as soon as possible.  

Thank you,

Mr. Santini

Sweet Frog Spirit Fundraiser

Central Cambria will be competing in the Spirit Week held by Sweet Frog. All you need to do to compete is to go get a Sweet Treat at Sweet Frog in Johnstown and wear your CC gear!  The Central Cambria Education Foundation will receive a percentage of sales on Sunday, May 5th from 6:00 - 9:30pm for anyone who visits Sweet Frog and mentions that they are from Central Cambria.  In addition, the school district with the most spirit sales for the day they are assigned will receive an extra $250 donated to their school district, bragging rights, and an appearance by the Sweet Frog at the winning school district.  So show off your school pride and help a great cause!

Fun Friday Recap

This past Friday, the Central Cambria Middle School hosted its inaugural Fun Friday event.  The event was designed as a benefit for the Children’s Miracle Network.  Admission cost was $5 at the door.  The evening started out with a short kickoff assembly in the auditorium to explain the schedule and rules for the night.  Students were able to participate in a number of activities.  There was a movie room, an arts and crafts room, and a game room which students could move freely between throughout the night.  The commons area served as a Zumba room, and many students got their blood pumping with this activity throughout the night.  In the gym, the first event was a dodgeball tournament, which featured some impressive skill and dexterity by the winning team.  Our 3 on 3 basketball tournament was cut short before a winner could be determined due to the talent show.  Speaking of the talent show, this event served as the grand finale of the evening.  We had 12 acts with the courage to get up on stage and perform in front of their peers, each with their own unique skill and ability.  Overall, the experience was very positive for everybody involved, and we hope to continue our Fun Friday next year.

Upcoming Events

Here is a listing of upcoming events at the Middle School:

May 1 - Camp Cadet assembly for 8th grade students

May 2 – 6^th grade field trip to Altoona Curve

May 6 – Progress reports for 4^th marking period sent home with students

May 16 – Middle School chorus and band concert

May 24 – Fit & Fun Day – all middle school students

May 28 – 7^th grade field trip to Outdoor Odyssey, pending school board approval

May 28 – 9/11 Assembly, speaker & film – 8^th grade students

May 29 – 8^th grade field trip to Flight 93 Memorial, Quecreek

May 30 – Middle School Awards Assembly

May 30 – Kennywood trip – 8^th grade students – after awards assembly

May 31 – 8^th grade picnic at Duman’s Lake – all 8^th grade students

June 4 – Last day of school for students.  High School commencement at St. Francis

Scheduling Meeting for 8th Grade Students

A meeting will be held for parents of current 8th-grade students regarding scheduling for next school year.  This meeting will take place Thursday, April 4th at 6:00 p.m. in the high school/middle school auditorium.  High school guidance counselors will present information related to the scheduling process for 8th graders.  All 8th grade students will be scheduling their elective courses for the 2013-14 school year on Monday, April 8th in their social studies classes.

Spring Fling Dance

Since our Valentine's Dance had to be postponed due to weather and other events scheduled over the past month, we have moved the dance to this Thursday.  It is now the Spring Fling, and will take place from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  Parents are asked to drop students off at the front entrance of the high school, where the buses park.  The dance will be held in the cafeteria.  Students will be dismissed out the same entrance.  The cost of the dance is $2 per student, paid at the door.

Writing PSSA

The Writing PSSA test for 8th grade students began this week.  Students completed the first two sections of the test on Monday, and will finish sections 3 and 4 on Wednesday.  This is the first of several tests our 8th grade students will be completing this spring.  In April, 6th through 8th grade students will take the reading and math PSSA.  8th grade students will take the science PSSA at the end of the month, and some of our 8th graders will take the Algebra I Keystone Exam in May.  For 8th grade students, this spring will mark the last time they will take PSSA tests, as they will take Keystone Exams when they get to the high school next year.

Ski Club Announcement

Parents and Guardians,

The ski club will be going to Blue Knob on Wednesday, February 27^th and Friday March 1^st.  I know this is short notice, but we are trying to get our remaining two trips in so we do not conflict with the start of spring sports practice next week.

Thanks for your cooperation,

Bill Corrente - Advisor

Upcoming Events

We are back at school on another wintry morning, and I wanted to share with you some upcoming events taking place at the Middle School this week.

Ski Club - this week's trip will take place on Wednesday of this week.  It has been moved due to Friday's weather forecast and Thursday's Valentine's Dance.  Students will depart and return at their usual ski club times on Wednesday.  All students were notified of this change two times today, and given a letter to take home to parents.

Valentine's Dance - Due to a last-minute scheduling conflict, our Valentine's dance will not be taking place this Thursday.  We will be holding a "Spring Fling" dance in early March.  More details on the time and date will be forthcoming once they are determined.

Box Tops For Education - Our final round due date is this Friday, February 22, 2013.  This is the last date that you can turn box tops in during the 2012-13 school year.  You may continue to collect them to be turned in next fall.  So far, it is a heated race among our top 3 classes to see who is going to come out on top in our final round, and earn the privilege of being dismissed to the lunch lines first for the next month.  Mrs. Lashinsky, Mrs. Dickert, and Mr. Moore's classes make up our top 3 as of the time this post was written.

Mid-Term Progress Reports - Progress reports for the 3rd marking period will be sent home with all students this Friday.  Please ask your child to see this and review it when they come home on Friday.  If the weather would cause a cancellation on Friday, these will be sent home on Monday of next week.

Hoops For Heart

Over the past several weeks, our students have been gearing up for our Hoops for Heart event.  Yesterday, this event took place in the high school gymnasium.  We had three basketball games pitting the students against the teachers.  In our 6th grade game, the teachers pulled out a convincing victory, but were not so successful against the 7th or 8th grade teams.  We also had a 3-point shooting contest and a hot shot contest which students participated in.  Our students raised $4,385 for the American Heart Association.  This averages out to more than $10 raised per student.  Overall the event was a great success.  Credit goes to Ms. Getz for organizing the entire operation.

Ski Club Announcement

Parents and Guardians,

Due to the delays, early dismissals, and cancellations, our ski club has been extended beyond the original dates.  Our scheduled trips will be as follows:  February 22^nd, March 1^st, and March 7^th (Thursday).  We may have to move our trips to a different day if we feel the weather will not cooperate on those selected dates.  You will be notified in advanced of any changes to the selected dates.  Thanks for your cooperation.

Mr. Corrente

CDT Scores

Our students have been taking the Classroom Diagnostic Tool in the areas of math, reading, and science over the past month.  The weather has delayed some of our classes, but they should all be finished up by next week.  The CDT is a test that provides our teachers and students with data indicating their strengths and weaknesses in specific areas that will appear on the PSSA test later this spring.  All students took the test in September, and again this past month.  If you would like to set up a meeting with me to review your child's scores, and what they indicate about their learning, please email me at csantini@cencam.org.

Box Tops Round 3 Update

Our current Box Tops For Education standings, by 1st period class, are as follows:

1) Mrs. Lashinsky  2) Mrs. Dickert  3) Mr. Corrente  4) Mr. Moore  5) Mr. Dumm

The final round deadline is February 22nd.  Thank you to all who have contributed so far to the collection!

Update to Our Parent Scoop.it Page

I have added some new articles to our parent Scoop.it page.  Topics include helping your child with homework, 6 ways to help kids become quality readers, an article providing tips for grandparents wanting to help save for a grandchild's college costs, and articles about the Common Core State Standards.  Click on the link to view the page:

http://www.scoop.it/t/central-cambria-middle-school-parent-resources

New Vision and Mission Statements for the Middle School

At the top of our blog, you may have noticed that we have removed the "Belong, Learn, Contribute" tagline and added our vision and mission statements.  You may also have wondered where these came from.  Allow me to explain.

At the start of the school year, I led the staff through the process of developing some building goals for the 2012-13 school year.  One of those goals was to create a vision and mission statement to guide our work with students.  We wanted to define our purpose so it was clear to everybody working within our school.  To do this, teachers were split into small groups and asked to come up with a word that defines what we do here.  We also looked at feedback students had given at our beginning of the year assemblies.  We took those words, displayed them on a smart board, then attempted to construct statements using what we felt were the most important words that captured the essence of what we want to do within the middle school.  The staff then voted, and we narrowed our choices down to three finalists.  We tweaked each choice one last time, then put them up for a vote using the surveymonkey.com website.  What you see on our header is the final result of our work.  When we are working at our best, our school will function as a unified team to challenge and inspire your child to succeed in the world.  There are many things that will lead us there, but that is the ultimate goal.  Our mission in trying to achieve that vision will be to collaborate with each other, and to support our students to be successful while we are challenging them to do their best.  We believe these goals match what we want to do, collectively, as a school, and that they contribute to the Central Cambria School District mission.

As always, I welcome your feedback at csantini@cencam.org or 472-6505.

EARLY DISMISSAL

Middle School and High School students will be dismissed at 10:45 this morning.  You may pick your child up at any time before 10:45.  Elementary is cancelled today.  

Snow - Please Be Safe This Morning

As you are probably already well aware as I write this, we are experiencing a snow storm that came on very quickly.  Buses for middle and high school were already out on their runs.  Our buses will stop at every stop, but may be significantly late depending on where you are located.  Please be safe and keep your children safe, first and foremost.  Secondly, if you are driving your child to school, please use common sense and good judgment.  If you need to bring them in late or keep them home due to road conditions, please do so.  Do not be in a hurry.  The elementary schools are on a two-hour delay today.

Cancellations Today!

Due to the snow storm and cold temperatures this afternoon into the evening, all after-school activities (practices, CIS program, etc.) at the Middle School are cancelled.  This includes the Ski Club trip to Blue Knob.  I decided to cancel the Ski Club trip for two reasons: 1) the weather seems to be worse at this point in the area Blue Knob is located in, and 2) The cold temperatures combined with snow on the roads gives me serious concerns about our ability to get kids home safely from Blue Knob later tonight.  We have time in the ski season to reschedule the trip, and will do so.  Students impacted by these cancellations have been asked to come to the office to call parents using the school phone or their cell phones.  There will also be a Global Connect call coming out as well.  Please call Mr. Santini at 472-6505 ext. 500, email csantini@cencam.org, or send a direct message to our Twitter account @ccmsprincipal if you have any questions.

Box Tops round 3 is on!

Round 3 of our Box Tops for Education contest is going on right now.  This will be our final round for the 2012-13 school year.  The deadline for round 3 is February 22nd, 2013.  Please continue to collect and send box tops in to your child's first period class.  Proceeds from round 1 totaled over $700, which we will be using to purchase books for our library.  Thank you for participating and making the program a great success.

PSSA Review PowerPoint

Ms. Minor, our Americorps worker at Central Cambria Middle School, has created a great review PowerPoint for the Math PSSA.  While it is focused on 7th grade, it contains material that is applicable to much of the 6th grade eligible content as well.  You and your child may view it at any time by following this link:

http://websites.pdesas.org/fmazzarella/2013/1/16/480432/file.aspx

Report Cards

Report cards went home with all Middle School students today.  Please review these with your child when they get home from school, and contact Mr. Santini or your child's teachers if you have any questions or concerns.

2:30 Dismissal Today for Middle School Students

Middle School and High School students will be dismissed at 2:30 today to allow our buses to complete their runs and get all students home safely in this cold weather.  If you pick your child up at school, you may arrive at the Middle School starting at 2:20 to do so.  Any student that needs to wait on a ride will be asked to do so in the lobby, and not out in the cold.  

Update Your Contact Information

The weather patterns up to this point in January can be described as a winter wonderland.  When you are out shoveling in the morning you may have other adjectives that you choose to use.  The winter weather has reinforced the importance of having updated contact information in our system so that 1) you are receiving our Global Connect calls to inform you of delays and cancellations and 2) so we can contact you in case of an emergency with your child at school.  If your phone numbers, email address, home address, or other information has changed, please come to the Middle School to fill out a new emergency card or call our secretary, Mrs. Farabaugh, and ask her to update your information.  

Central Cambria Middle School Book Fair

Central Cambria Book Fair
Tuesday, February 19 through Friday, February 21
To learn more about the book fair, to preview items, or to make purchases check out:

http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/centralcambriams

School Store Update

The Devil's Den school store, researched, created, and run by Mrs. Niebauer's 6th grade enrichment class, is off to a great start.  The store has been open for just two months, and has already earned enough business to cover all initial start-up costs and is running a profit.  The store is introducing new products on a regular basis to maintain student interest and continue to develop sales.  All proceeds from the store will go into our student activities fund to pay for activities and materials for students that fall outside the scope of our normal budget.

End of 2nd Marking Period

This Thursday, January 17th, marks the end of the 2nd marking period and the halfway point of the school year.  Report cards will be coming out next week, and we will have more information as to the exact day posted on the blog when that is determined.