connecting chippewa falls middle school with families...

CFMS • Principal Sue Kern • Grade 8/Grade 7 Trek Assistant Principal Jerim DesJarlais • Grade 6/7 Endeavor-Rising Stars Assistant Principal Derrick Kunsman

“Tons of opportunities, more things to love” 1

Dear Families,

May has always been one of my favorite months living in Wisconsin. Our world comes back to life with vibrant colors and sounds after several months of drabness. The rain cleanses our world, while at the same time funneling the important nutrients from the soil to the dormant plants and trees, so they can grow and stand tall. Birds return to fill our world with colorful song and the smells of budding trees and flowers reignite our sense of smell.

In the school, there is an undeniable shift occurring as well. The level of student energy and excitement builds into a crescendo that guides us into the much anticipated summer months. In addition to the academic work, the next few weeks are filled with many opportunities and experiences for our students. Ceremonies and whole school celebrations, field trips and concerts are just a few of the events planned that will provide students, parents, and staff the opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the incredible growth that has been made over the course of this year in all areas with our kids!

Research shows that the last few weeks of school can make a positive difference on how well your child transitions to their next year of learning in school. Our goal is to make these final weeks as positive and memorable as we possibly can. Please take the time to reflect with your child on the growth they have made as learners and young adults this year and find ways to celebrate their achievements at home as well!

In Partnership With You,

Susan Kern Principal

Connecting Chippewa Falls Middle School with Families and the Community

Chippewa Falls Middle School • 750 Tropicana Blvd • Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 (Phone) 715.726.2400 • (Fax) 715.726.2789 Mid-May 2017

End of the Year Reminders · Please Take Note

All fees MUST be paid before students can receive their yearbooks on the last day of school. Please make arrangements to do so in advance of June 6. Thank you!

Please reinforce the dress code guidelines with your children as we enter the season of warmer weather. Thank you for your assistance. This is the “Dressing and Grooming” information taken directly from the Student Agenda Planner:

“Shoes must be worn at all times. Head coverings, including scarves and bandanas, and outerwear are allowed only when entering or exiting the school. Inappropriate language, graphics displaying drugs, alcohol, tobacco products or other offensive printing on clothing is not allowed. Clothes that are too tight, expose the body inappropriately, constitute a health or safety hazard, or are a distraction to others are not acceptable. Clothing that features bare midriffs, shows undergarments, and/or sleepwear is not permitted. Examples of such clothing include (but are not limited to): tank tops, short shorts/skirts, biking shorts, low cut tops, and excessively torn clothing. Clothing accessories that may also be used as a weapon (e.g. chains, spikes, etc) are not permitted. Parents are asked to establish a proper dress code at home. Students may be asked to change if they come to school in inappropriate attire.”

The last day of school, Tuesday, June 6, will be an early release day for students. The middle school students will be dismissed at NOON that day following an all school celebration event in the morning for all of our students!

2 CFMS • Principal Sue Kern • Grade 8/Grade 7 Trek Assistant Principal Jerim DesJarlais • Grade 6/7 Endeavor-Rising Stars Assistant Principal Derrick Kunsman

“We are the Mighty Cardinals”

The Whole Child

Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8

Zach Schroeder Marley Sterling

Eric Kragness Kylea Maurer

Maddie Adams Austin Schultz

Kaden Spaeth Aria Yang

Evan Eslinger Kyrah Oemig

Madison Henneman Jacob Spaeth

Antolin Espinoza Ally Richardson

Abigail Crotty Conrad Ledebuhr

Cameron Dwyer Alexa Wickland

Creative Engaged & Outstanding

Congratulations to the following students who earned the title of CEO by the unified arts department for their outstanding effort in the classroom this past month.

Mr. Larson

This month's CEO from the Agricultural Department is Colton Lepper. Colton was an excellent student to have in class during fifth rotation. He also put his nose to the grindstone and was always willing to ask for help if he needed it. He led by example for his classmates and is very deserving of this award. He never made excuses - he just came to class each and every day and worked hard! Fantastic job Colton!

Mrs. Van Den Heuvel

Emma-Lyn Stephenson is a standout and my choice for CEO this month! Already as a 6th grader, she demonstrates a great work ethic and exemplary skills. Ms. Stephenson is a very thoughtful and diligent student artist. It is my pleasure to have her in class and to recognize her efforts and talent, congrats Emma!

Mrs. Forster

This month’s Business CEO is Caleb Weiner. He has proven to be a very creative and detailed student when it comes to completing his work. He asks questions that stem from critical thinking instead of lack of motivation. Caleb also strives to do his very best no matter if it is a preassessment for a summative. Thank you Caleb and keep up the good work!

Mrs. Hahn

In a highly energized and spirited class, David Hughes is a calming voice. I have enjoyed having David in class because he is always very attentive, asks meaningful questions, and is willing to take a chance. It is wonderful having a

kind and polite student like David walk through the door of my classroom.



Mr. Bobb

The Technology Education CEO for April is Erica Swanson. As the 6th grade manufacturing class president, Erica was able to develop a technique that kept her peers on task and allowed us to generate a profit from the sale of their cedar crates. Erica negotiated terms for workers in the shop and kept marketing people busy. I would put Erica at the top of her class and certainly expect a bright future for her. Great job Erica!

Alexis “Alicia” Norton is Señora Arendt’s selection for April’s Spanish Student of the Month in the World Language Department. Alicia ALWAYS enters the class with a smile on her face and a Spanish greeting or question! She is

willing to take on any task and encourages others in class to participate. Alicia attended the World Language trip to the Concordia Language Villages at the end of March. She impressed everyone with her dedication to stay in the target language. Alicia is a natural leader who is able to motivate others. She is the definition of a true language learner! ¡Eres fenomenal, Alicia! Tristan “Tito” Kupczak is Señora Arendt’s selection for April’s Spanish Student of the Month in the World Language Department. Tito is a very mature and respectful student. He is always attentive and listening for class instructions. He turns in quality work in a timely manner. Tito has set a goal each unit to participate more and it is evident that he has been intent on achieving this goal. Due to his positive participation over the last few months, his Spanish skill set has significantly changed! ¡Buen trabajo, Tito!

Jennah “Valencia” Johnson is Señorita Wolner’s selection for April’s Spanish Student of the Month in the World Language Department. Valencia is an energetic, hardworking leader in Spanish class. She often has a smile on her face and demonstrates that she is ready to learn by her participation. Valencia is talented and has already grown her language skills in amazing ways. She regularly turns in high-quality work that is detailed and includes advanced sentences. Valencia helps others in class and leads by example. ¡Sensacional, Valencia! Max “Máximo” Kauphusman is Señorita Wolner’s selection for April’s Spanish Student of the Month in the World Language Department. Máximo is a kind, diligent Spanish student that is extremely talented. He is a leader in showing respect as he interacts with other students. Máximo is also an example to others in the way he is responsible, even in the midst of fun activities in class. He truly demonstrates what it means to work toward a goal and to do one’s best in language learning. Máximo is star Spanish student. ¡Bravo, Máximo! Shelby ‘Shy’m’ Loebertman is Mademoiselle Hemauer’s selection for April’s French Student of the Month in the World Language Department. Shy’m is a passionate and motivated student who continues to excel in French. She grasps new concepts very quickly and uses her knowledge to help others. She also volunteers during class discussions and turns in exceptional practice activities. Additionally, Shy’m shows that she loves learning outside of the classroom. At the end of March, she participated in the Concordia Language Villages trip and spent an entire weekend at French camp. She was an excellent representative of CFMS and was enthusiastic about learning and adventurous when trying new foods. Fantastique, Shy’m !

Alex ‘Théo’ Robinson is Mademoiselle Hemauer’s selection for April’s French Student of the Month in the World Language Department. Théo goes above and beyond to ensure that he is successful in French. Whenever he is absent, he is proactive and always gets his assignments beforehand or immediately when he returns. He is a very responsible student who is always prepared and ready to learn. At the end of March, he spent an entire weekend at a French immersion camp in Bemidji, MN. During the weekend, he strived to learn as much as he could about the language and culture. Théo comes to class every day with a smile on his face and is an absolute pleasure to have in class. Incroyable, Théo !



Vocal Music Band Orchestra

Lyla Barber Alexis Prosecky Hailey Shearer

Railynn Barnard Rayna Jakowicz

Isabella LonCavish Jillian Miller

Noah McGivern Landon Prokopinski

Miguel Stoll

Isabelle Berg Joanna Mower

Basia Olson Trenton Smith

Griffin Brandt Sydnie Danielson

Greta Hansen Amanda Zawacki

Cayden Blodgett Hailey Dahl

Conrad Ledebuhr Haley Mason

Brianna Buonincontro Zach Gaier

Adalyn Geissler Koan Huebler

Erin Karls Miles Lynch

Kaden Spaeth Mayson Tester

Jenna Nelson Grace Potter

Alisha Sommerfeld

Megan Davis Mark DeBruyckere

Laney Mercier Jami Revoir

Christina Davis Addy Frenette Kaiya Gunther Jayda Shutter Erica Swanson

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected as Physical Education students of the Month based on the following criteria: 1) Effort and Participation, 2) Great Attitude, 3) Respectful to Teachers and Classmates,

and 4) Leadership Qualities.

Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8

Madison Carroll Tyler Carroll

Antolin Espinoza Miigwan Isham-Tiry

Zeke Johnson Drew Olson

Kayla Pabich Courtney Phelps

Gabrielle Sweitzer Jaden Uttecht

Karson Balsiger Georgelle Benson Sophia Bluemke Cayden Blodgett

Monte Brown Devondre Jaquish Shannon Lindner

Joseph Luther Morgan Maurer Bryant Petska

Kaylee Schofield Chloe Schuebel Riley Thibedeau

Brady Butak Reyna Detienne

Daniel Fredrickson Carter Katz

Raven Keyeski Lisa Landwehr Nyah Matthews Alina McIntyre Myeshia Miller Alexis Norton Sidney Polzin Maliki Ralston

Nicholas Sousek Vincent Trott



Teacher Advisory (TA) and Just Act Right (JAR) lessons were developed after referring to school-wide behavior data. PBIS coaches meet weekly to evaluate the most recent data. Using this data, lessons are developed and explicitly taught to students. JAR lessons are taught weekly during TA. The JAR lessons are week-long areas of focus. The JAR lessons are visibly posted by every staff in his/her environment. Our JAR theme for this month is: Finish the Year Strong

Check Infinite Campus Weekly o If you have any missing work, finish it and then turn it in o If you need to do any redos, work through your teacher’s redo process

Continue Being Respectful to Your Learning Environment o Ask questions if you’re confused o Use work time o Bring required materials to all classes

Continue Being Respectful to People o Speak appropriately (indoor volume, school appropriate language) o Call people by their names o Use “I Statements” if you are upset

Continue Being Respectful to Your Surroundings o Pick up trash and throw it away o Start cleaning out your locker o Push in chairs



Hello 6th grade girls and parents: The Science, Technology and Engineering Preview Summer camp for Girls (STEPS for Girls) is a program sponsored by and conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Celebrating its 21st year, the purpose of the program is to introduce girls to the possibilities of careers in science, engineering and technical fields. This program is a fun-filled, week-long resident camp at UW Stout. It is only for girls entering the 7th grade. At camp, participants will be introduced to the possibilities of careers in science, engineering and technology. They will spend their days exploring different types of science and manufacturing and building an obstacle-avoiding robot, from scratch, that they get to take home. There are also a number of recreation events along the way. While there is a tuition to attend camp ($450), there are a limited number of scholarships for families who qualify for free and reduced lunch or for campers who are members of underrepresented minority populations.

Visit the following link for dates, brochures and an on-line camper request form: http://www.uwstout.edu/steps/. If you have additional questions, please call us at 715-232-5510, or email [email protected]. For a fun video that was produced during the 2013 camp, go to the following link: http://youtu.be/UiX9s_M3amY. This video shows some of the great highlights of STEPS for Girls. We hope to have the opportunity to meet your camper this summer at STEPS!

Jo Hopp STEPS for Girls, Program Director University of Wisconsin-Stout 228D Jarvis Hall Science Wing 410 10th Avenue East Menomonie, WI 54751 715-232-5510 (STEPS) [email protected] [email protected]

2017 STEPS Summer Camp Dates

Week 1 – July 9-13 Week 2 – July 16-20 Week 3 – July 23-27 Week 4 – July 30-Aug 3

mailto:[email protected]

http://youtu.be/UiX9s_M3amY




Eau Claire County Land Conservation is a member of the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association (WI Land + Water). Each year WI Land + Water sponsors two different Conservation Camps. These camps are geared towards different age groups:

Sand Lake Conservation Camp – students entering grades 6-8

WI Land + Water Youth Conservation Camp – students entering grades 9-12

These camps are unique in that they are not lead by traditional “Camp Counselors”, but by working conservation professionals from across Wisconsin. We strive to provide hands-on activities in an outdoor setting. The link to the web site, which includes brochures and registration link: http://wisconsinlandwater.org/events/youth-conservation-camps

http://wisconsinlandwater.org/events/youth-conservation-camps

http://wisconsinlandwater.org/events/youth-conservation-camps



*To be involved in competitive activities at Chippewa Falls High School, ALL students MUST attend a Competitive Activity Code meeting WITH a parent/legal guardian – ONCE during their high school career.

FALL SEASON: Monday, July 31, 2017 at 6:30 p.m (HS Auditorium) Fall Competitive Activities Code Meeting

Individual Team Meetings begin at 7:15 p.m. (Meeting Locations Listed Below) If you plan to participate in any of the following activities while in high school, please plan to attend.

Football – Auditorium Cross Country – Back Gym Women’s Swim – Room 140

Volleyball – Front Gym Men’s Soccer – Cafeteria

Women’s Tennis – Room 244 Cheerleading (Football) – Room 143

Equestrian Team – Room 234 Marching Band – Band Room

Women’s Golf – Room 421 (Health Room)

Activity Fees Can Be Paid in Student Services: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.



The Weekend Kid’s Meals Program continues! The purpose of the program, offered through Feed My People Food Bank, is to provide food for your child during the weekend when school breakfast and lunch are not available.

There are no income guidelines or requirements. Anyone is welcome to participate in this program. The food is at NO COST to you or your child. If you choose to enroll, your child will receive a plastic bag each Friday with enough food for breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, plus snacks and fresh fruit. The meals have not been screened for various allergies; therefore, parents are responsible for determining if this program meets their student’s dietary and health needs. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Derrick Kunsman, Assistant Principal at [email protected] or 715.726.2400, ext. 1144.

Thanks for a great school year!

The Chippewa Area Mentor Program is ending the year with 214 students matched with a mentor! When you serve as a mentor, you enrich your own life as much as you do the life of a child. Mentoring leads to new experiences, connections, insights, and satisfaction. To those of you who serve as a mentor, THANK YOU for taking time to play a game or offer a listening ear. Your show of compassion has helped a child feel cared about, important, and believed in. If you are not a mentor and are interested in learning more about this life-changing experience, please call or email Ashley. We are taking applications for the 2017-18 school year as we already have students waiting!

All fees and/or fines need to be paid and your child must have a zero balance in their student fee account before your child will receive their yearbook on Tuesday, June 6, 2017. The cost of a yearbook is included in the student fee. You can check the student fee status on the Infinite Campus Portal. You may access the Infinite Campus Parent Portal by clicking on this link: https://chipfalls.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/chippewa_falls.jsp

You may access the Chippewa Falls Mobile by clicking on this link: https://g3.infinitecampus.com/mobile/findDistrict?districtNumber=1092&districtAppName=chippewa_falls&stateCode=WI&districtName=Chippewa%20Falls%20Area%20Unified&districtBaseURL=https://chipfalls.infinitecampus.org/campus/

If you have any questions or would like to set up a payment plan, you should contact Dianne in the front office at 715-726-2400, ext. 2214 or [email protected].

715-726-2400 ext. 2516

[email protected]

https://chipfalls.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/chippewa_falls.jsp

https://g3.infinitecampus.com/mobile/findDistrict?districtNumber=1092&districtAppName=chippewa_falls&stateCode=WI&districtName=Chippewa%20Falls%20Area%20Unified&districtBaseURL=https://chipfalls.infinitecampus.org/campus/



[email protected]



If your child takes a daily medication, please send only enough pills to get your child through the half day on June 6, 2017. Any extra medication will need to be picked up on or before the last day of school by a parent or it will be disposed of. If your child has an emergency medication at school, (ex. Epi Pen, Diastat), arrangements will need to be made to pick it up. Inhalers will be sent home with your child.

If your child has any medication at school that is NOT taken on a regular basis, (ex. Tylenol, Motrin, cough drops, cough syrup), please make arrangements to pick up this medication as soon as possible. Any medication left in the health office at the end of the last day of school will be disposed of. ATTENTION SOON TO BE 6th GRADERS: The Wisconsin Student Immunization law requires a Tdap, the adolescent combination vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). Please get these shots updated during the summer and turn in your shot record to the health office at the middle school.

LYME DISEASE As the weather warms, we’re all headed outdoors to enjoy the weather. So are the ticks!

Deer Tick bites can spread Lyme Disease — an infection that causes many symptoms including rash, flu-like symptoms and muscle aches. Ticks frequently live in shady, moist ground cover and also cling to tall grass, brush, shrubs, and low tree branches. Lawns and gardens may harbor ticks, especially at the edges of woods and forests. When you do venture into the great outdoors, follow these tips:

Wear a tick repellent.

Wear light colored clothing (ticks are easier to see).

Wear enclosed shoes and boots, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. Tuck pants into boots or shoes to prevent ticks from crawling up legs.

When outside, don't sit on the ground.

Check kids for ticks at least once per day—especially the head, armpits, belly button, groin, ears and behind the knees.

Wash all clothes after leaving tick-infested areas. If you find a tick on the body, use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to the skin. Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go, then swab the bite site with alcohol. If you notice a bull's-eye rash or other symptoms that can occur in Lyme disease — such as swollen lymph glands near a tick bite, general achiness, headache, or fever — call your doctor right away!

Melissa Panchyshyn MS, RDN, CD

May is National Bike to School Month. At the Chippewa Falls School District, we are celebrating, along with the nation, by having a Walk and Bike to School Day event on Friday, May 12. We are encouraging all students to participate by walking or biking to school on that day.

Walking and biking are fun and healthy ways to spend time with your child. You are your child’s most important role model for walking and biking safely. Children learn by watching others, so your own safe pedestrian behavior is the best way to teach these valuable skills.

How can you help? You can help your children by talking with them and showing them the correct safe behavior for walking and biking.



Consider starting with these tips: 1. Walk with your child to model correct safety behaviors. 2. For routes that will be repeated (like walking to school), walk with your child to help pick the safest route. Explain that it is important to always follow this route. 3. Stop at every curb and talk with your child about the importance of stopping to look for traffic in all directions before crossing. 4. Wait with your child at the curb and explain that it is important to wait until there is no traffic coming in any direction before crossing the road together. If you are at an intersection with a walk signal, explain that you wait until the walk sign appears and then look in all directions for traffic before crossing. 5. As you cross, help your child stay focused on crossing safely by holding his or her hand and walking directly to the other side of the street.

How to choose the safest route: Safe Routes to School offers more safety tips as well as maps with route suggestions that are deemed safest for student travel at each school in the Chippewa Falls School District. 1. Choose the route with the fewest streets to cross. 2. Avoid crossing busy or high-speed streets. 3. Pick places that have sidewalks when possible. If there are no sidewalks, the second choice is to walk facing oncoming traffic as far to the left as possible. Make sure to always follow this same route when walking with your child to a particular destination.

Developing your child’s pedestrian skills: Children’s ability to understand and make decisions about where to walk

and cross the street change as they grow and develop. Children age four to six:

1. Have limited judgment, making it hard for them to know where or when it is safe to cross the road. 2. Cannot gauge the speed of oncoming traffic. 3. Can be impulsive and lose concentration easily. 4. Have a hard time staying focused on one task, such as crossing the road.

Walk together

This age group needs to walk with adults who will make safety a priority. Children age four to six still are learning what it means to be safe. They should always be with an adult while walking. The best way for children to learn is by repeating safe walking skills with an adult.

Children age seven to nine:

1. Need supervision as they learn more complicated pedestrian safety skills. 2. Can begin to identify safe crossing sites with help and practice. 3. Can begin to learn how to identify traffic and stay focused while crossing the street with help and practice.

Teach lifelong skills

These years are the time to teach skills that prepare children to be safe walkers throughout their lives. Children age seven to nine can begin to learn more complicated pedestrian safety tasks. Even though they are older, they always should be with an adult while walking near or around traffic. The best way for children to learn is by repeating safe pedestrian skills with an adult.

Children age ten and older:

1. Need specific instruction and modeling as they learn more complicated pedestrian safety skills. 2. Can identify safe crossing sites with help and practice. 3. With help and practice, can identify traffic and stay focused while crossing the street.

Find a mix of independence and supervision

Children age ten and older gradually can learn more complicated pedestrian safety tasks. Even though they are older, they should still be with an adult while walking near or around traffic until they consistently demonstrate safe pedestrian skills. The best way for children to learn is by practicing safe pedestrian skills with an adult. As children grow, revisit these safety issues often to make sure they are still practicing safe behavior.

Consider these tips as you teach your child safe walking and biking practices: 1. Obey all traffic signs and signals. 2. Choose routes that provide space to walk and bike that have the least amount of traffic and lowest speeds. 3. Look for traffic at all driveways and intersections. 4. If possible, cross at a crosswalk or at an intersection with a walk signal. 5. Stop at the curb and look for traffic in all directions (left, right, left, to the front and behind). At an intersection, it is important to look in front and in back to check for turning vehicles. The second look to the left is to re-check for traffic that is closest to you. 6. Wait until no traffic is coming and start crossing; keep looking for traffic as you cross the road. 7. Wear reflective gear if it is dark or conditions limit visibility, such as rain or snow. 8. Talk with your child about what you’re doing and why as you walk and bike. Although you might be able to see quickly that it is safe to cross the road or make other decisions while walking and biking, your child may not know or understand why it is safe. Help your child understand and learn safe walking and biking skills by practicing them each time you walk or bike near or around traffic and taking the time to talk through new situations. As a driver, you can also be a role model for safe behavior. Respect pedestrians and use the drive time to teach your child about signs, signals and other traffic rules.



Educational Excellence

While schools, parents, and communities can do much to promote excellence, it really is up to each student to achieve excellence. The President’s Commission counsels students: "Even with your parents' best efforts, in the end, it is your work that determines how much and how well you learn. When you work to your full capacity, you can hope to attain the knowledge and skills that enable you to create your future and control your destiny." The Presidential Academic Award challenges the individual student to have high expectations, to work hard, and to develop discipline in study habits. At Chippewa Falls Middle School, we recognize student efforts through the following accolades:

HONOR ROLL

Students must meet the following criteria by the end of the academic year to be eligible to make the honor roll at Chippewa Falls Middle School.

The student must demonstrate proficiency (P) on the skills and knowledge that were expected to be learned by the final trimester of the school year in each class assessed, and must exhibit proficiency in all lifelong learner characteristics.

PRESIDENT’S AWARD FOR EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT (8th grade only)

This award should not be compared to the President's Award for Educational Excellence or be seen as a second tier award. It is meant to encourage and reward students who work hard and give their best effort in school.

The student must meet proficiency (P) or exemplary (E) status in each category of the lifelong behavior characteristics, in each class assessed, every trimester, at each grade level, to be eligible for this award.



PRESIDENT'S AWARD FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE (8th grade only)

To be eligible for the President's Award for Educational Excellence, students must meet the requirements in Category A and Category B.

A. Academic Achievement: The student must be proficient (P) or exemplary (E) in all standards assessed by the end of the year, in each content area on the student’s report card, and must meet proficiency or exemplary status in each category of the lifelong behavior characteristics, in each class assessed, every trimester, at each grade level. B. Standardized Achievement Test: Achievement in the 85th percentile or higher in math or reading is required. Students who earn Presidential Excellence or Achievement honors will receive notification and their award in the mail sometime over the summer, as these awards are determined using State Assessment results, which are not returned to the school districts statewide until after the school year has been completed.

6th Grade: Sixth graders are wrapping up the One-Step Equations unit. In May, we will be starting our work with Integers. (Common Core Standards 6.NS.5, 6.NS.8). Students will be learning about integers and their opposites in relationship to position and distance from one another on a number line. Students will also use ordered pairs to graph points on a four quadrant coordinate plane. This will allow them to determine distance and direction to a specific location.

7th Grade: Seventh grade students will be solving real-world and mathematical problems involving area, volume and surface area of two and three-dimensional objects composed of triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons, cubes, and right prisms in the next unit. They will end the year learning statistics and probability.

8th Grade Pre-Algebra: In 8th grade pre-algebra, students recently completed their Systems of Equations Summative. Students will have to complete a retake if they did not meet proficiency.

The last two units of the year include Pythagorean Theorem and Volume. For the Pythagorean Theorem unit, students will be asked to find a missing side of a right triangle. After students practice solving for a missing side, they will be asked to solve word problems that include the Pythagorean Theorem. For the Volume unit, students will be asked to find the volume of a cylinder, cone, and sphere. Once students learn and understand the formulas, they will apply them to word problems.

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to your student's pre-algebra teacher. 8th Grade Algebra: We are coming to the end of a successful year in Algebra. The students are currently being challenged to solve quadratic equations. We are putting their multiplication skills to the test, while they factor expressions, and students are applying the Zero Product Property. In short we are finding ways to apply the students’ elementary math skills to solve some very complex equations. We will end the year by investigating quadratic functions, which can be applied to situations like the flight of a football through the air or projected profits of a company.



2016-2017 Music Department Dates to Remember

Tuesday, May 9 ...................................Choir Concerts: 6:00pm · 6th grade mixed choir and 7th/8th boys choir 7:30pm · 7th grade girls and 8th grade girls

Tuesday, May 16 .................................Orchestra Concerts: 6:00pm · 6th grade orchestra

7:00pm · 7th grade orchestra

8:00pm · 8th grade orchestra

Tuesday, May 23 .................................Band Concerts: 6:00pm · 6th grade band

7:00pm · 7th grade band

8:00pm · 8th grade band

Summer Reading

Please remember that reading during the summer is important to prevent a slide in the skills that they have gained during the past school year. That practice in reading can be done in a number of different ways. Some students enjoy working on crafts or various projects during the summer. Make sure that they have the opportunity to read and follow the directions that accompany that new craft or project. Some students love to cook; encourage them to try new recipes that require the following of directions. Of course, some of us enjoy relaxing with a good book. Several of the sixth and seventh grade classes have helped to compile a list of must read books for students before they leave

the Middle School. It was fun to see how excited students were when they talked about these books!

Books and Book Series Divergent Series - Veronica Roth Harry Potter Series - JK Rowling City of Ember Series - Jeanne DuPrau Legend Series - Marie Lu Cinder Series - Marissa Meyer The Maze Runner Series - James Dashner The Hunger Games Series - Suzanne Collins Matched Series - Ally Condie The Uglies Series - Scott Westerfeld Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series - Jeff Kinney Lightning Thief Series - Rick Riordan Smile; Sisters; Drama - Raina Telgemeier Soul Surfer - Bethany Hamilton A Child Called It - Dave Pelzer Hoot - Carl Hiaasen The Raft - S.A. Bodeen The Fault in Our Stars - John Green Wonder - R.J. Palacio Out of My Mind - Sharon Draper Rules - Cynthia Lord Holes - Louis Sachar If I Stay -Gayle Forman Bystander - James Preller Prisoner B-3807 - Ruth and Jack Gruener Red Kayak - Priscilla Cummings In A Heartbeat - Loretta Ellsworth Girl Stolen - April Henry Taking Flight - Kelly Rae Roberts Dragonborn Series - Michael Dahl My Name is America Series Ruby Holler - Sharon Creech The Missing Series - Margaret Peterson Haddix Paper Towns - John Green An Abundance of Katherines - John Green Will Grayson, Will Grayson - John Green Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life - Wendy Mars Simon vs The Homo Sapiens Agenda - Becky Albertalli Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children - Ransom Riggs Looking for Alaska - John Green

Authors Jessica Burkhart Eoin Colfer John Green Tim Green Dan Gutman

April Henry Will Hobbs Anthony Horowitz John Kloepfer Gordon Korman

Mike Lupica James Patterson Gary Paulsen Rick Riordan



6th Grade: What do a forest fire, an oil spill, and a flood all have in common? All of these things will definitely damage an ecosystem for years after the event. Throughout the month of May, 6th grade students will be starting an ecology project where they will be researching the effects of a natural disaster on the living and non-living parts of an ecosystem. Students will choose their disaster and develop a poster project to show their learning. The students will then be sharing the information they learned about their ecosystem with other students on May 18 and 19 with a gallery walk. The students and teachers are very excited about this learning opportunity and can’t wait to see the final projects!

7th Grade: This spring, students have been hard at work learning about the wonderful world of physics. Students are learning how Newton’s Laws of Motion are present in their everyday lives. We will end the physics unit with another engineering challenge where students will need to design, build, test, and modify an egg collision car to see Newton’s Laws in action! 8th Grade: Our life science students will soon be able to predict the chances of a pea plant having offspring with purple flowers. In our unit on heredity, students have been studying Mendel and his pea plant experiments in the search for understanding how traits are inherited. Later this month, our life science students will begin exploring the Theory of Natural Selection. Students will be able to explain what the theory is and describe evidence to support the theory. As a part of this unit, your student will become part of a flock of birds with a specific type of beak and have to try and find food for survival in various habitats. The flock will need to determine which habitat they are best suited for and provide evidence to support their claim. Happy eating!

Changing Tomorrow

On Thursday, April 13, our 8th grade students experienced our first Junior Achievement Day! Partnering with Junior Achievement of Wisconsin-Northwest District, our students were provided an opportunity to communicate with over 35 local business professionals.

Our day started with a keynote presentation from Evan Middlesworth, owner of Pine Hollow Recording Studios, to learn more about his career and his path to get to where he is today. Using interest inventory results that students completed in Career Cruising, we found out that ⅓ of our 8th grade students currently aspire to work in some aspect of the Arts, A/V Technology and Communications Career Cluster.

After the keynote presentation, students took part in three rotations. The rotations included classroom sessions learning from local professionals about soft skills and learning about how to find a job. The third rotation was a career expo that was set up in our library. The concluding Teacher Advisory (TA) activity was an opportunity for students to map their future.

Our school and district is focused on providing Academic and Career Planning (ACP) activities like Junior Achievement Day so our students can begin thinking about areas of interest and be intentional with planning courses in high school to help them along their journey!

A special thank you to all of the business professionals who took time to participate in this special day!



On April 21, a group of 7th and 8th grade students participated in a field trip to two local businesses and the Chippewa Valley Technical College, which focused on careers in manufacturing. The students visited TTM Technologies, Inc., which employs over 400 people in Chippewa Falls and is one of the world's largest printed circuit board manufacturers. The students also toured Advanced Laser in Chippewa Falls, which is an innovative fabrication company, providing custom metal parts to a wide-range of industries and companies. The students then visited classrooms and talked with professors at CVTC and learned about the programs that lead to careers in manufacturing.

Students who have shown interest in vocational classes got a chance to see first hand the relationship between projects and activities they're involved with at school, and how those skills translate to real-world applications. In addition to seeing the benefit of learning technical skills while in school, the students learned how important it is to gain other soft skills that make them more employable. Students heard employers talk about how important it is for their employees to be accountable and responsible by showing up to work every day, put forth effort and pride in their work, and to work well with others in a collaborative setting. This trip was very beneficial to our students and hopefully helped reinforce the importance of developing these skills while in school in order to be more successful in a future job setting.

Parent Corner

Taking a child to the emergency room isn't anyone's first choice for accessing mental health care. But when a child's safety is the most immediate priority, because he is a danger to

himself or others, it can be a lifesaver. Knowing what to expect when you get there, and what the ER staff can (and can't) do for your child, helps keep you grounded in a stressful situation.

https://support.childmind.org/page/m/40ac343e/69ff5b85/71809d55/6ebab91c/848257698/VEsE/

https://support.childmind.org/page/m/40ac343e/69ff5b85/71809d55/6ebab91c/848257698/VEsE/



On childmind.org, we offered a detailed look at what happens at the ER when your child's emergency is psychiatric. It's written by a parent who's been there more than once, and reviewed by a veteran psychiatrist. It's a step-by-step guide to navigating the process, being as helpful as possible to your child, and dealing with your own painful feelings. Above all, the author stresses that emergency care doesn't mean you've failed as a parent, but that you've stepped up in a difficult situation and acted to protect your child. — Caroline Miller, Editorial Director

Taking a Child to the Emergency Room What the ER can (and can't) do for your child when the emergency is psychiatric. An open letter from a parent who's been there.

Intensive Treatment for OCD and Anxiety A speeded-up form of cognitive behavioral therapy helps kids get their life back in weeks rather than months.

Eating Disorders and College Why the first years away from home are a perfect storm for anorexia and bulimia, what to watch for and how to help.

What Behavioral Therapies Work on Childhood and Adolescent Depression? Cognitive behavioral and interpersonal therapy have both proved effective in reducing symptoms.

Early Treatment for Psychosis The right care for teenagers and young adults who have a first psychotic episode decreases later relapses by more than 50%.

Building Bridges 4 Children (BB4C), the district’s 4-year-old early learning program is currently accepting registrations for the 2017-18 school year. BB4C is open to all children who will be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2017. Please bring your child’s birth certificate with you when you register your child. The district has partnered with the following sites to ensure a quality early-learning program designed for children this age.

CESA 11 Head Start

2820 E Park Avenue Chippewa Falls

715-723-1211

Circle of Friends Early Learning Center

1750 Hallie Road Chippewa Falls

715-552-9696

Kids USA Learning Center Inc.

656 Lakeland Drive Chippewa Falls 715-726-1507

MACS St. Charles Borromeo

429 W Spruce Street Chippewa Falls 715-723-2161

YMCA Early Learning Community

630 Miller Street Chippewa Falls

715-723-5135

Monkey Business Early Educational Community

1300 Lowater Road Chippewa Falls 715-723-7444

123 Look @ Me Early Learning Center

2964 County Rd F Eau Claire

715-874-4779

Rhymes-N-Rainbows

5051 171st Street Chippewa Falls 715-723-8000

Shared Blessings Child Development

Center

520 E Grand Ave Chippewa Falls 534-220-7051

For additional information, contact a BB4C partner site or the BB4C Coordinator. The 2017-18 registration materials are available at BB4C partner sites and on the BB4C website (http://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/bb4c/). Dana Sommerfeld, BB4C Coordinator at 715-726-2414 ext. 3004 or via email at [email protected]

Please remind your student to check the Lost and Found areas on a regular basis for lost items. He/she can check in the laundry room down in the phy-ed area AND the front office. That lost item you or your student has been looking for may be there!

https://support.childmind.org/page/m/40ac343e/69ff5b85/71809d55/6ebab91d/848257698/VEsF/

https://support.childmind.org/page/m/40ac343e/69ff5b85/71809d55/6ebab922/848257698/VEsC/

https://support.childmind.org/page/m/40ac343e/69ff5b85/71809d55/6ebab923/848257698/VEsD/

https://support.childmind.org/page/m/40ac343e/69ff5b85/71809d55/6ebab920/848257698/VEsA/

https://support.childmind.org/page/m/40ac343e/69ff5b85/71809d55/6ebab921/848257698/VEsB/

https://support.childmind.org/page/m/40ac343e/69ff5b85/71809d55/6ebab926/848257698/VEsO/

http://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/bb4c/




After logging into your portal account, click onto the tab at the top: “Switch Students”. In doing so, you will see a dropdown of all students for whom you are guardian. By selecting their name, you will get a new screen showing the index of information available to you. Based on the grade level of your student, access to the following information may be available on the Parent Portal:

The Schedule will give you a grid of your child’s classes Attendance offers calendars with specific attendance information Reports contains a list of printable reports for grades, missing assignments, schedules, and assessments

including AIMS testing results Fees tab will show any monetary amount due The Calendar will notate any significant date for which your student has an assignment due or test scheduled Messages lists all school notices for each of your children’s schools Under User Account, you will be able to change your password, check the access log, and change the way we

contact you – including a section for checking/changing your email address

If you wish to view specific assignments, the dates they are due, or points earned on an assignment, go to “Schedule” – then click onto the class name. Scroll down to the grids. The grids are set up in the order of oldest first – you may have to scroll down to locate the most current.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR PARENT PORTAL ACCOUNT If you have not yet created a parent portal account, feel free to call or email your child’s school and request information. We will email you instructions and a 32-character code required to activate your account.

You will then select a personal username and password. Your parent portal may be accessed through our website at http://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us and clicking on the Infinite Campus logo at the top of the screen. Clicking onto Infinite Campus Portal will open the login screen for you. If you have further questions, feel free to call the school district’s help desk at 715.726.2413.

Mobile Device Portal Setup Campus Mobile Portal will give you real time information on your son or daughter enrolled in the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District. You will get access and notification sent to you regarding school lunch accounts, assignments, attendance, grades and schedule changes. The school district ID for this download is LXNWQL. This information is also available on your parent portal account, as are more directions on the set up.

My Username: _________________________________ My Password: ______________________________

Breakfast and lunch menus for all schools are posted monthly at http://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us//foodServices.cfm.

Breakfast is available at all schools. The cost of breakfast at the Middle School is $0.85. Additional items can be purchased separately and will be charged individually.

Lunch price is $2.50 per meal, which includes one milk. Milk can be purchased separately for $0.35. If you send a lunch from home, you may want to consider sending a beverage if you do not want to incur a milk charge on your account. Additional items can be purchased individually. Students on free or reduced meals will also be charged for items purchased in addition to the meal.

Limiting Meal Purchases/Expense: At the middle and high school levels, students are allowed to purchase additional items along with their traditional lunch and/or breakfast meal. Restrictions can be placed on an individual student’s account to prohibit excessive a la carte purchases. It does not mean the student cannot have it, but rather they must provide cash at the time of purchase. Additionally, a dollar limit can be set per student.

Free and Reduced Price School Meals: All students on free or reduced meals are entitled to ONE breakfast and ONE lunch per day. Milk only or extra items are charged at full price. Meal applications are accepted any time throughout the school year. Thus, if your financial situation changes, please complete an online application on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Paper applications are also available in the front office at the middle school and at the Administration Office. Please direct all meal account inquiries/questions to Jill at 715.726.2581, x1903.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

http://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/foodServices.cfm



Staff Spotlight



Parent/Guardian Resources

Regular School Day EARLY RELEASE Days NO SCHOOL – Full Days

Breakfast Bell: 8:05am Drop Off: 8:15am Start Time: 8:30am Dismissal: 3:44pm

September 30 October 27 January 19 February 16 April 13

Same Drop Off and Start Time as regular school day

Dismissal: 1pm June 6 dismissal

is at NOON!

November 23-25 December 22-January 2 January 20 February 17-20 March 20-24 (Spring Break) April 14 April 28

Parents/guardians are required to notify the school when their child is absent from school. The attendance line is for reporting absences AND requesting passes to leave or return from an appointment. Please be assured that messages left on the attendance line or the grade level office line are retrieved in a timely manner. Office staff are alerted when voicemail messages are recorded. The handset lights up and an envelope blinks on the phone screen.

If you need a pass for your child to leave school for an appointment, please leave a detailed message on the attendance line (#1 on the automated menu) as soon as possible to ensure a pass is issued and delivered to your student in a timely manner. Phy ed classes present a challenge for last minute calls for appointments. Clearly state the name of the child, the time to be released or the return time if applicable and the reason they will be gone. Students can pick up their passes to leave from the respective grade level office or they will be delivered to the student in their classroom.

If your child has an appointment, have them bring the appointment slip/medical note from the appointment, which will help us clearly document the absence in attendance.

If we do not receive a phone call from a parent/guardian for a child who is absent from school, an electronic message will be sent home after 4:00 p.m. on the day of the absence. If you receive an automated call, please call the attendance line to report your child’s absence.

The Chippewa Falls Middle School utilizes an automated attendant to ensure your calls are routed quickly and efficiently. Our phone menu options are:

Reporting Absences/Request Passes: Press 1 (listen for prompt to be routed to the correct grade level mailbox)

Nurse’s Office: Press 2

School Counselors: Press 3 (listen for prompt to select the school counselor you wish to speak with)

Athletic Directors: Press 4 (listen for prompt to direct you to either Mr. Britton or Mrs. Fjelstad)

Grade Level Office: Press 5 (listen for prompt to be connected to the grade level office you need)

Main Office: Press 6

The district mobile app has all of our district information, including our website and Facebook Page. The district has a mobile app that can be downloaded from iTunes/Google Play.



The middle school public website can be found at http://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/middle/ School calendars, athletic schedules, teacher webpages with lesson plans, and more can be accessed through the site.

The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District Facebook page offers regular updates on events, student activities, school closings, pertinent up-to-date information about our district, and adult education opportunities. The Facebook page is accessible through the district website or by searching for the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District.

Follow items of interest—share your insights. We are tweeting such things as updates on projects in our school and great things students and staff are doing. Find the Middle School’s Twitter account @CFMSCardinals #CFMSRocks and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District’s Twitter account @ChippewaFallsSD #MightyCardinals.

Be sure to access our Daily Announcements online to get the latest information about what’s happening in our building. On the middle school website, click on the “About Our School” tab and select “Daily Announcements”.

For all bus related questions, please contact: Chippewa Yellow Bus Company at 715.726.2454. Their office is located at 510 E. South Ave., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. Your child’s safety is of utmost importance to us. If a parent/guardian needs an alternative pick-up/drop-off location or their child is riding home with a friend, a completed bus deviation signed by the parent/guardian must be turned into the front office for approval. Bus Deviation forms are available in the school office.

The district shall make reasonable accommodations, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format as necessary for a disabled person to participate in a scheduled activity. Please submit your request to a building administrator at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled event.

http://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/middle/



Photo Album Finale

Kudos to 8th grade students, Lexi Norton and Abby Wiberg for initiating and coordinating a recent fundraising effort for Agnes’ Table. A grand total of $1125.00 was raised through student and staff donations. We’re proud of the leadership skills demonstrated by Lexi and Abby and we’d like to thank all who donated to this worthy cause!

connecting chippewa falls middle school with families...

Documents