October 2020
Cheer practice is cancelled Tuesday 10/20 and Friday 10/23.
CMS Red Ribbon Week is October 19-29 !!
Spirit days are as follows:
October 19 and 20 - Peace Out to Drugs ~ Wear Tie Dye / Dress Like a Hippie
October 21 and 22 - Hats Off to Drugs ~ Wear a Hat
October 26 and 27 - Follow Your Dreams ~ Wear Your PJs
October 28 and 29 - Costume Day ~ Wear a costume for Halloween
Student Council: Thank you to everyone who took the time to run in the 2020-2021 student council election. We had 170 students both hybrid and virtual who voted. The students did a fantastic job of putting together how they want to continually improve student council. The votes were very close. The 2020-2021 Student Council Officers are as follows:
President: Kaitlynn Miller
Vice President: Alexis Miller
Secretary: Ashley Thoryk
Treasurer: Lillian Thoryk
Please continue to show your leadership at our meetings ~Mrs. Sorensen
Fee letters were mailed home to all students on October 8. Fees from past years and unreturned CLSD property are due now. Fees for the the 2020-2021 school year are due by November 5.
School Pictures came in and were sent home with students. Online learners can pick up their child's pictures during office hours. Please call before you come so we can have them ready for you.
Picture Retake Day: If you were absent on picture day you will need to have your picture taken on retake day. If you were not satisfied with your pictures you may have your pictures retaken at no additional expense. You must return the original picture packet on retake day. Students/parents entering the building for retakes must enter through the gym doors into the K-8 gym. Please park in the back lot by Copopa.
Tuesday, November 3 - Cohort B ~ 8:30-10:00am.
Wednesday, November 4 - Cohort A ~ 8:30-10:00am.
Wednesday, November 4 - Online-Only students ~ 10:00-12:00.
To purchase a picture package online, enter picture ID # EVTR49R49 at mylifetouch.com Please call the office at 440-236-5741 with any questions.
OneView EMA'S are OVERDUE!! Emergency Medical Forms on OneView must be completed for the 2020-2021 school year. This includes Hybrid and Virtual students. All parent/guardians must login, review the information and sign and date the bottom of the online form. It is imperative that the parent/guardian emails and phone numbers are correct in OneView to assure accurate and timely communication between the district and our families. Please complete the 2020-21 EMA for your children TODAY!
Lorain Public Library Access Card Application: Applications were sent home with all students. An Access Card does not need an ID, or a signature for registration – just date of birth and contact information. Applications may be turned in to the school office or directly to the library. Print an application HERE
5-8 Student Council: Any hybrid or online student interested in student council will need to join the CMS Student Council google classroom using the code: aoon3pg Email Mrs. Sorensen with any questions!
7/8 grade Spelling Bee: Hey 7th and 8th Graders! It’s time to prepare for the Spelling Bee! If you’d like to participate in this year’s spelling bee, join my Google Classroom using the code: ccnd4q6
Top students in the CMS Spelling Bee will have the opportunity to compete in the Chronicle Telegram Spelling Bee in Avon this spring. The winner of the Chronicle Telegram Spelling Bee will be sent to Washington D.C., with expenses paid, to compete in the national bee! SIGN UP NOW! ~ Mrs. Zietlow
5-8 Academic Challenge: Hey 5th-8th grade students! Are you interested in trying out for the Academic Challenge Team? Academic Challenge is a Quiz Bowl-like team. We study and learn about random topics in all subject areas, then compete with other teams to show our knowledge. Some of the topics of study on last year’s teams included candy, the periodic table, European xplorers, and U.S. Presidents.
Currently, practices for those who make the teams (approximately 6 students on each team) will be held virtually, twice per week. For tryout information, join my “class” in Google Classroom using the appropriate code below. ~ Mrs. Zietlow
5th & 6th Grade: 5nhi3b7
7th & 8th Grade: vdblkzx
2019-2020 Yearbooks: Extra yearbooks are available for purchase in the office for $15.
Free and Reduced Lunch forms were given to all students on their 1st day of school. If your student did not bring one home, please call the office and we will send one home.
All students will receive free breakfast and lunch through the end of December thanks to a nationwide waiver. We are grateful and hope this will ease some of the financial burden that many of our families are dealing with at this time.
Lorain County League Athletic Passes: Due to Covid 19 restrictions mandated by Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health, Columbia Middle School is selling Lorain County League passes for admittance to home and away Lorain County competitions for fall 2020. Each family who would like to purchase a Lorain County League pass for admittance to home and away conference games may do so in the school offices. LC8 athletic competitions; football, cheerleading, and volleyball; will allow 2 fans per athlete. Tickets will not be sold at the gate. If you plan to attend a home and/or away competition, a LC8 game pass must be purchased.
Two passes are available per volleyball, cheerleaders and football players. The cost is $20 per pass for the season for middle school volleyball and football players. The cheerleaders are performing at home games only. Cheerleading passes are $10. Admittance for cross country meets are dictated by the venues. Please contact your coach for information if you would like to attend one of these events.
Please note: All middle school volleyball games will be played at Columbia High School this year. The gym may need to be cleared between 7th and 8th grade games due to social distancing rules. This will be mandated on a game to game basis and an announcement will be made if it will be enforced.
Columbia Middle School is taking all safety precautions to make the start of the 2020-2021 school year as safe as possible for our students and staff. Please take the time to read our CMS Restart Guide. Also, to help avoid some confusion for the upcoming school year, CMS will have short video clips available soon in regards to procedures at CMS- stay tuned!
Power School Information: Access PowerSchool from the MS website (toggle on left). If you are using the mobile app the district code is ZZGS.
Incomming 7th grade Students: The Ohio Department of Health, under Ohio Revised Code 3313.67 requires all students entering the 7th grade to provide written proof that they have received a dose of Tdap (tentanus, diphtheria,pertussis) and MCV4 (meningococcal) by September 25. 2020 Immunization Form. Your child may have already had this vaccine; however, the school may not have proof on file. Please provide an updated copy of your child’s immunization record that shows the dates that the MCV4 and Tdap vaccine were given. Students without prooof of these vaccines by September 25 may be subject to exclusion from school. If your child has not received the Tdap and MCV4, you may obtain it from your healthcare provider or other community providers such as Lorain County Public Health. Schedule an appointment with Lorain County Public Health at (440) 284-3206. You may drop off the immunization proof in the office or email b[email protected] (Please call the office at 236.5741 before you arrive to make sure we are available).
Are you interested in knowing what we offer at our middle school? Click on the link to check out our CMS Course Selection Guide for the 2020-2021 school year. See Mrs. Figliano with any questions.
New students attending CMS for the 2020-2021 year: You must contact our registrar, Liz Wenzel. See the enrollment/registration tab under the school district website for more information. Once online forms are completed, please call Mrs. Wenzel at 440.236.1236 or email at [email protected] to set up an appointment to complete the enrollment process. We request you do not arrive at the administration center without an appointment.
Academic Fees: Academic fees for the 2019-2020 school year are overdue. Students who participate in extracurricular activities that require bus transportation will be denied that privilege if fees are not paid. Fees may be viewed on your child's PowerSchool account and paid on the PayForIt system by credit card. Payment is also accepted in the office with cash (exact amount), check or credit card or mail your payment to the middle school. If you require a payment plan, contact Mrs. Bowes in the main office. A signed payment plan contract will allow students with outstanding fees to continue to use school transportation.
Snack Safely: At Columbia Middle School and Copopa we have a growing number of students and families dealing with serious peanut and tree nut allergies- the food allergy that claims more lives each year than any other. Columbia Schools makes every effort to reduce exposure and cross contamination for these children. We do not intend to make this K-8 facility a nut free building, but we are dedicated to providing a safe environment for all our children. In order to do so we will closely monitor and manage our practices and what we allow into this facility as it relates specifically to snacks and treats. It is our hope to prevent cross contamination.
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