First Day of School Recap

We had a successful first day of school at the middle school, with 411 students coming through the door this morning for the first day of classes.  This is the largest number of students we have had since the 2012-13 school year.  Students started their day in the gymnasium, where their first period teacher called their names and walked them to their classroom.  Sixth grade teachers assisted students with learning how to open their lockers.  All students were given their class schedules during first period, assigned a locker, and given school supplies to start the year.  Students were able to spend time in each of their classes today.  Lunch is usually a challenge on the first day of school due to our sixth grade students learning the procedures for the first time.  Our cafeteria staff did a great job in getting almost all of the students through the line by the end of the period.  All students had time to eat their lunch and were sent to their 7th period class when they were finished.  It was great to see the excitement on the faces of our students, the helpfulness of our teachers and aides as students progressed through the day, and the energy in the building as a new school year begins. 

Our student handbook is now available through this link:

CCMS Student Handbook 2017-18 

Please review the handbook with your child, including school rules and information such as the dress code, cell phone policies, and other items of note.  We will be sending a signature page home later this week that will need to be returned to school.  The handbook will be posted on our website in the near future.  We are no longer having agenda books printed out, as we felt the money would be better served purchasing classroom materials and technology for students to use.

Special thanks goes out to our school counselor, Robin Ribarich, for her excellent work in preparing student schedules for the start of the year.  Kudos as well to our nurse, Jackie Springer, for ensuring that our students are in compliance with the new state regulations regarding immunizations.  I was pleased that we did not have to send any students home due to non-compliance with those requirements today.  Thank you to our parents for aiding us in this effort.  Finally, I need to acknowledge our teachers, who volunteered to help direct students to the gym this morning, assisted with lunch duty, and made the first day run smoothly for all involved.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time during the school year.  

Thanks,

Mr. Santini

Back to School Information for Central Cambria Middle School Students & Parents!

Welcome to the 2017-18 school year!  The sounds of helmets hitting, whistles blowing, and the marching band practicing mean that the start of school is right around the corner.   I hope that you have all had an exciting summer filled with family time, vacation, and other fun activities.  We are excited to start the 2017-18 school year on Wednesday, August 23rd.  Due to the ongoing renovation of the auditorium, all students will report to the high school gym when they arrive at school on the 23rd.  Students will be seated by grade level.  Each teacher will take their first period class to their classroom, where students will receive their schedules and other important first day of school information.  Students will then proceed through the rest of their schedule throughout the day.

All students will be assigned a locker, which will be a new experience for our incoming 6th grade students.  6th grade teachers will be spending time assisting students with the task of learning how to open their lockers.  For any incoming 6th grade student, or any students new to the district, who would like to practice this ahead of time, the school will be open on Wednesday, August 16th from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  We will have two lockers available for students to practice on.  There are helpful videos on YouTube that you can also use to learn this skill, such as this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmx4WCAj77A&feature=youtu.be.

Over the summer, a renovation project was started on our auditorium.  New seating, carpeting, stage curtains, and other upgrades will be completed.  The goal was for this project to be completed by the start of school, but it is looking like it may extend into September before it is finished.  We are excited for our students to see the finished result when it is completed.


All of our beginning of the year school forms have been placed online.  Parents are asked to access and complete these forms by logging into the Skyward family access portal and filling out the information listed.  You can update your contact information, fill out a free or reduced lunch application, bring your own technology form, and several others through the Skyward site.  We believe this will save you some time and aggravation with keeping track of this information as it is all located in one place, and can be completed from a computer, smartphone or tablet.  We ask that you update any information that has changed since the end of the last school year, and provide the school with any other updated information, such as custody agreements, health needs, etc. that the school needs to know about. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in completing these forms.  Should you run into any problems, please contact Tracey Heeney (theeney@cencam.org) for assistance.

There are new requirements for health immunizations required by the state for the 2017-18 school year. You can find more information regarding these requirements here: http://www.health.pa.gov/My%20Health/Immunizations/Pages/School-Immunizations-FAQs.aspx#.WY2-uLLyvrd.

Our annual Meet the Teacher Night will be held Wednesday, August 30th.  Parents will move to their child's first period class at 7 p.m., and will follow their child's schedule to each ten-minute class period.  Parents may register and pick up a copy of their child's schedule starting at 6:45 p.m. in the middle school entrance lobby.  We hope to see you at Meet the Teacher Night.

We are excited to get this new school year started, and look forward to the return of students on August 23rd.  If you have any questions, please call or email at any time.  Stay tuned to the blog and our Twitter page for the latest updates throughout the school year.

CCMS End of Year Dates & Events

May 15 Middle School Chorus & Band Concert - 7 p.m.  Auditorium

May 16 & 17 Algebra Keystone Exam testing

May 17 Step Up Day - Incoming Jackson students have orientation to the middle school

May 18   CCMS Fit & Fun Day

May 19 Step Up Day - Incoming Cambria students have orientation to the middle school

May 20 Little Devil Triathlon

May 19 - 21 First Lego League National Competition - LegoLand Resort, San Diego, CA

May 22 - 25 Final Exams - All Core Subject Courses except those with a Keystone Exam

May 23 7th Grade Field Trip to Outdoor Odyssey

May 24 6th Grade Field Trip - Altoona Railroaders’ Museum & Altoona Curve

Senior Memory Walk

May 25 8th Grade Field Trip - Johnstown Flood National Memorial

May 26 High School Relay for Life Day - Middle School will eat lunch during 5th period

May 29 Final Student Grades Due - 4th Marking Period & Final Grades

May 31 8th Grade Picnic - Duman Lake County Park

June 2 CCMS Awards Assembly - 8:00 a.m. - Auditorium

8th Grade Kennywood Trip

June 5 Last Day of School - CCMS students are dismissed at 9:30 a.m.

CCMS Important Dates - End of Year 2017

Please refer to this list of upcoming dates between now and the end of the school year. The dates of events at the end of the year, including the Awards Assembly, Kennywood Trip, and others, are subject to change based on the needs of the high school. We will update this list if there as changes become necessary.

March 23 Movie Night - CCMS - 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

March 29 Faculty Meeting

March 31 MP3 Grades Due at 8:00 AM

April 4 - 7 English Language Arts PSSA Testing - Mornings

April 4 Reading Competition Team at Forest Hills

MP3 Report Cards go home with students

April 21 CCSD Decision Day - K - 12 Post-Secondary College & Career Awareness Event.  Teachers and

students are encouraged to wear a shirt representing one of the colleges they attended or

support.

April 25 - 27 Mathematics PSSA Testing - Mornings

May 2 & 3 Science PSSA Testing - Mornings

May 4 CC Gallery K-12 Portraiture Show - 6 - 8 p.m. in the CC Gallery

SuperConference at Mt. Aloysius - Selected Students

May 10 Try Math-A-Lot Event - 3:00 - 8:00 PM  Middle School & High School facilities

One Book One Community Event at St. Francis - Selected Students

May 11 Camp Cadet presentation - 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.  Auditorium

May 15 Middle School Chorus & Band Concert - 7 p.m.  Auditorium

May 16 & 17 Algebra Keystone Exam testing

May 17 Step Up Day - Incoming Jackson students have orientation to the middle school. Cambria date

TBD.

May 18   CCMS Fit & Fun Day

May 19 - 21 First Lego League National Competition - LegoLand Resort, San Diego, CA

May 22 - 25 Final Exams - All Core Subject Courses except those with a Keystone Exam

May 23 7th Grade Field Trip to Outdoor Odyssey

May 24 6th Grade Field Trip - Altoona Railroaders’ Museum & Altoona Curve

High School Relay for Life Day - Middle School will eat lunch during 5th period

May 30 8th Grade Field Trip - Johnstown Flood National Memorial

May 31 8th Grade Picnic - Duman Lake County Park

June 2 CCMS Awards Assembly - 8:00 a.m. - Auditorium

8th Grade Kennywood Trip

June 5 Last Day of School

All field trips are pending school board approval.

Bathroom

Recently, signage was installed outside of a gender-neutral bathroom in the C-wing.  This hallway is a shared space where both high school and middle school students travel to access the music rooms and the library.  Posting this signage has raised some questions regarding the usage of this facility.  Recognizing the rights of all students, we have made this facility available in our school, similar to those facilities you may see in a restaurant, airport, mall, or other public places.  Guidelines for the use of this restroom are as follows:

• The restroom is intended to be a single-use facility.  Therefore, upon entering, a student needs to lock the door behind them.
• The door needs to be left open upon exiting the restroom.
• All students are expected to follow the guidelines previously outlined for use of any restroom:
• Obtain teacher permission if the restroom needs to be used during class time.
• Refrain from excessive travel time in the halls when moving to and from the restroom.
• Use the restroom closest to your classroom if possible.  If a student prefers to use the gender neutral restroom in the C-wing, return to your assigned classroom promptly.

The purpose of the designation of this space is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for all students.  Students are expected to use this facility appropriately, just as any other area in the building.  Thank you in advance for your cooperation toward this goal.

At Central Cambria Middle School, every student who comes through our doors is "our" student, and we will continue to treat every child with respect and dignity.  If any parents or students have questions or would like to discuss this information on an individual basis, my direct number at the school is 814-472-6505 extension 500.  You may also stop by the office at any time during the school day.  I welcome those conversations and will do my best to answer any questions or concerns that you may have.  Thank you - Mr. Santini

Valentine's Dance

The middle school Valentine's Dance will take place on Valentine's Day, Tuesday, February 14th from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  If athletic events are rescheduled to this date due to weather, the dance date will be moved.  At the present time it is scheduled for February 14th.

Hoops for Hearts

All Hoops for Hearts envelopes and donations are due this Friday, January 27th.  Students can place envelopes in the red bucket in the middle school office. The Hoops for Heart event supports the American Heart Association.

Spring Sports Physicals

Spring sport physical forms are being distributed this week during lunch.  In-school physicals will be done February 16th at the high school and during the month of February for middle school students.  For a physical to be completed at the school, the PIAA forms must be turned in to the school nurses by February 1st.  For any questions, please call the school and ask to speak to Mrs. Springer, our middle school nurse.

Book Fair

This year's Book Fair will take place on the following dates:

8th grade:  Tuesday, February 21st.
6th grade:  Wednesday, February 22nd.
7th grade:  Thursday, February 23rd.
Last Day:  Friday, February 24th.
Parent Visit Night:  Thursday, February 23rd from 6 - 8 p.m.