CSMS "Frequently Asked Questions" for Students and Parents

1. Is there a school store? Yes, we have two. One sells CS apparel--located in the main office open every day. The other sells school supplies--located in the cafeteria open every Tuesday during lunches.
2. How often do students get to go to the bathroom during the day? Students have time between classes to use the bathroom or may use a pass in their agenda to leave class.
3. Are students allowed to have water bottles, and can we drink soda or Powerade instead? Water bottles and other drinks are not allowed during the school day unless there is an absolute need and it is approved through the child’s House office. Drinks may be purchased in the café during lunch but are not allowed out of the café. Also, drinks may be purchased after school at one of the vending machines located in the gym wing.
4. Will students automatically be put in the same house as our older brothers or sisters? No, a student’s house determination is based on many factors not just where a sibling was located.
5. Can 6^th graders take technology? Technology is taken by 7^th & 8^th grade students.
6. What if a student forgets their locker combination? Go to your house office and ask the secretary for help.
7. What time does school start? When does it end? School starts at 7:35, students may enter the building at 7:25. The day ends at 2:09.
8. Will students change houses each year at the middle school? No, there are 4 equal houses. When a student enters the middle school they will stay in the same house unless a change is necessary.
9. How do students open their locker? Lockers at the middle school are combination locks with 3 numbers.
10. If you’re in chorus, would students still get a study hall? Yes, you will most likely have a study hall.
11. What are some of the clubs and activities at CSMS? 6^th grade students can join the following middle school clubs: Newspaper, Drama, Leadership, and Yearbook. Also, 6^th grade students may sign up for PATHS classes after school for a nominal fee. We are also exploring the options for an intramural program during the 2006-2007 school year. 7^th & 8^th grade students can also be involved with the above as well as modified sports.
12. What is Fun night? Fun night consists of many different activities ongoing at the same time. We have a DJ for dancing, basketball, karaoke, DDR, board games, & walleyball. We also have a concession stand during fun night. 6^th grade Fun night is from 2:30-4:30 and 7^th & 8^th grade is from 7-9. Fun night is usually run once a month on Fridays.

      Additional Fun Night information – Who’s there to chaperone? Teachers and parents if they would like to   volunteer. Do students need to sign out to leave? No, students may leave when their ride arrives. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide a ride for their child. 

13. How much homework will be assigned? You should have homework from the classes you meet with each day. The building is on a block schedule for the core areas of math, science, social studies, and ELA. This means you will have 2 of the above classes on A-day and the other 2 on B-day. Blocked classes are about 80 minutes long.
14. Does the middle school have hall monitors? Yes, we have 3 hall monitors.
15. Do students eat lunch with their friends? Yes, students from each grade eat together. All 6^th eat together and so on…
16. Do students receive letters or number grades? Number grades with the exception of AIS class.
17. What is block scheduling? See #13.
18. How do chorus and band lessons work? Chorus will be part of your schedule every other day. Band lessons will occur once every 6 days during one of the student’s classes.
19. Are students able to take whatever classes they want, or do we have to take certain classes? Scheduling is done by your House guidance counselor and they will discuss your interests and advise students and parents what is mandatory.
20. Are there vending machines in the building?   Yes, there are machines in the cafeteria and some located in the gym wing. You are allowed to use the cafeteria vending during lunch and the gym area vending after school.
21. How much time do students have in between classes?   3 minutes.
22. Are classes close to each other?   Most classes are located in the same area as your locker with the exception of specials. 
23. How many teachers are in the middle school?  Approximately 120.
24. Do all grades ride the same bus?  Yes, grades 6 – 12 are on the same bus run.
25. How is a 5^th grade student scheduled into 6^th grade? We use information from the elementary school teachers and Principals to ensure equal placement of students into 6^th grade.
26. Can you explain how special classes work?   Phys Ed is scheduled every other day for the entire school year. Music, art, technology and home and careers are half year classes or 10-week classes for 6^th grade students.
27. How many different teachers will a student have? Students will have a different teacher for each class – you may have one of your core class teachers as an advisement (study hall) or reading teacher (6^th only).
28. Do you have 6^th grade sports?   No, although we are in the process of organizing intramurals for the winter months.
29. How many students total are there in the middle school?  It varies, but we have close to 1300.
30. Are there A, B, C, D, E, F days?   Yes, although most classes are run on an A/B schedule.
31. Will 6^th grade students see students in 7^th and 8^th grade? Students may pass each other in the halls but are not scheduled in classes together.
32. Do sixth graders eat lunch first?  Yes, from 10:37-11:17. Followed by 7^th then 8^th.
33. What are school lunches like?  There are three choices of lunch lines – the main lunch line as in elementary school, chicken patty/soup line and the salad/taco line.
34. How long is lunch?  Lunch is 40 minutes – All students by grade level go to the cafeteria during their lunch time. After 15 minutes if you are finished eating you may attend recess for the remainder of lunch. Though you can use the full 40 minutes to eat.

            Lunch (con’t) –

a. Can students bring lunch?  Yes.

            b. Charging lunches?  Students may charge their lunch although there is a limit.

35. What are the consequences for not following school rules?   Every action has a consequence; they are listed in the student agenda.
36. How many classes do you have everyday?  You will have 2 core area classes (e.g., Math & ELA), and various special area classes depending upon your grade and schedule)

37. Guidance Counselors – what is their role? They schedule students and assist students with various social issues that arise. They also are a conduit between parents and teachers regarding parental concerns and much, much more.

38. House Assignments – When do we find out?  For 6^th only, a letter will be mailed to you in mid-August. Otherwise, students should remain in the same house in grades 7 & 8.

39. How is advanced math offered? Students will take this course off team for both 7^th and 8^th grade.

40. How many Marking periods are there? 4 marking periods.

41. How can parents communicate with teachers? Open houses, team conferences set up through the student’s guidance counselor, email, phone call to the House office.

42. Is there Homebase? No, starting this year students will have homeroom for approx. 7 minutes for attendance and announcement purposes.

44. What is the agenda and how is it used?  Agendas are used for organizing and maintaining daily assignments.              It is also used to travel within the building during the day.

1. What does it cost?  Agendas cost $4.
2. When can students purchase?  Agendas will be available at school visitation day in August and at the beginning of the year in house offices.
3. What if it is lost?   A new one will have to be purchased.  There is a limited amount of extras on hand so students need to keep their agenda in good shape and not lose it.
4. How do passes work? Passes are used to travel from room to room and to the bathroom.
5. How long between classes? 3 minutes.

      45. What is involved in changing clothes for gym? Students need to bring a change of clothes for PE class every other day. Students are to store personal items for PE in their gym locker.

46. Drop off/Pick up -

a. Students are allowed in the building at 7:25. If a student needs to enter prior to this    time please contact your House office.

b. Students that are picked up from school. We ask parents to sign their child out in the main office starting at 2:00 pm and wait in the cafeteria until dismissal.

c. No students are allowed to depart the bus at the high school.

d. Early Dismissal: If your child needs to leave school early for an appt. send a note with your child to their house office with the reason.  

47. After School Activities –

 a. Permission needed? Not generally, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the parent.

 b. Late bus/pick up – Students must have a signed late bus pass by a teacher or administrator. Late buses run at 3:10 on Monday –Thursday as well as 5:00 on Tuesday and Thursday. There is no late bus on Friday except for sports. If a student is picked up the parent does not need to sign the child out.

48. What are requirements for honor roll/high honor roll?  Overall GPA of 85% and 90% respectively.

49. What and why the House concept? The Houses were formed 5 years ago to break down the large size of CSMS into small more manageable groups. Each House has approx. 325 students with a Principal, secretary, and guidance counselor. Each House has their own office. The Blue and Red Houses are located on the 1^st floor and the Yellow and Orange are on the 2^nd floor.

50. With 4 Principals how does school administration work? First, we ask that you call and/or make an appt. with your child’s Principal with any issues, if they are not available then speak with the House guidance counselor. If it is an urgent matter that you need to speak with a Principal then any of administrators would be glad to assist you.

Visitors since July 5, 2006