Randall Middle School
October 2, 2019
Events
10/01-10/04 Book Fair
10/10 Picture Day
10/14 Columbus Day, No School
10/21 PTO Meeting at 6:00 p.m.
10/25 Professional Development Day, No School
10/25 HS Student Council Harvest Festival
10/31 Randall Middle Harvest Day
Note from the Principal
Hello Randall families and happy fall. We have had a very positive start to the school year here at Randall. It has been a tremendous effort to bring together this school and I have appreciated the support of our families throughout the process. We have received a number of volunteer applications and the district is in the process of having them approved. I look forward to seeing many of you throughout the school year.

Randall has received some press to start the school year. If you haven’t had the chance, here are a couple of articles posted by the Cortland Standard.




Thank you to everyone who took a few minutes to complete and return the feedback survey that was sent home. This information helps us to improve and make our future plans. We will take the opportunity to ask for input at various times during the school year. We also welcome your feedback at any time. Please click here to fill out our live feedback form . This can also be located on the Randall website.

Within the next few weeks we will be launching live-streamed video announcements through our morning news club. The announcements will be student driven and broadcast live daily for our school community. Families will be able to access an archive of our announcements on the Randall website.

I am excited for the rest of the school year. We are going to continue to grow and ensure students learn essential content, interact in positive ways, and engage in new experiences. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out.
Positivity Project
This year we are continuing to promote student learning of positive character traits through the positivity project. These concepts build from year to year starting in Kindergarten. The core foundation of this work is instilling in students that other people matter and that we need to celebrate our unique differences and strengths. 

This month we will be focusing on being present and giving others attention. Through this lens, we will also be learning about integrity, perspective, creativity, and bravery. 
News from School Counselor
As the school counselor at Randall Middle School, I provide prevention and intervention counseling; consult with parents, teachers & other helping professionals to meet the needs of students, along with implement a K-6 school counseling curriculum. This year, I hope to implement two counseling groups for students: Changing Families & Friendship. Please keep an eye out for a permission slip sent home, containing more information, if you would like your child to participate in a counseling group this year. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you!
Carly Hewitt
Band News
Thank you to all parents and families for your patience and flexibility as we work through a complete change in the band program at the elementary/middle school level! It’s awesome to have all of the 5th and 6th grade band students in one building!

Band rehearsals will take place on Days 1 and 2, and they are a part of the students’ specials schedules in their classroom. We are currently waiting on some sound tiles to be installed in the band room to make it safe for a large group to play in the room, and as soon as they are installed, we will be able to start rehearsals!

Students will have lessons one day every six day cycle. Their day will stay the same, but the time will rotate each cycle so that they are not missing the same class every time they have a band lesson. Band Leadership Team students have been selected in each class, and will help the students in their class remember their lessons each day.

There is a Randall Middle School Band Remind set up so that I can send messages and reminders to everyone at once. If your child turned in their band forms, you should have received an invitation via text or email. If you did not, please email me and I will gladly add you to the Remind!

Thank you again for all of your support and flexibility during this transition time, and please let me know if there are any questions or concerns!!

Corinne Bennett
Randall Middle School Band Director
607-758-4170 ext. 7131
Art News
Our 5th and 6th graders are learning how to draw people just like Keith Haring. Those who have finished drawing are now making Crazy Keith Collages.  

6th graders have each received a sketchbook to try and create one sketch a week in. The creativity I have seen so far has been so exciting!

Remember, we are always artists in our studio!
Cortland Fire Department Open House
On Saturday, October 5th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Cortland Fire Department will host its annual open house. The purpose of the open house is for students and their families to ensure that they have a safety route to escape in case of a fire or other hazardous situation. For more information check out their website and facebook page .
News From The Math Specialists
Hello, 5th and 6th grade families! Your two math specialists are here to support you and your child this year with any questions you may have about the math curriculum and the common core methods. We can refer you to some websites that can help you make sense of the math at home. Feel free to drop us an e-mail anytime at jtpace@cortlandschools.org or s snyder@cortlandschools.org  We look forward to working with your mathematician(s) at Randall this year!
Picture Day
We know how important picture day is for you and your child. In order to make picture day go smoothly please have your child prepared to get their picture taken. If you wish to purchase pictures please fill out the form that was sent home or you can order photos online this year by visiting: www.orderisafmerkur.com  with order code: 43524BA.
Picture day is October 10th!
Library Book Fair
Currently at Randall Middle School students are enjoying the Scholastic Book Fair! Scholastic promotes literacy by providing schools with a large assortment of books for students to take home and cherish. Tyler Cranfield says "The fair brings more variety because we don't have all these books in the library collection." Students get to choose from favorites as well as newly released selections. Profits from the book fair help to fund new books for the library collection and well as supplies for Robotics club and Makerspace club. The book fair runs until October 4th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.!
Dismissal
Please try to make all phones calls for dismissal change before 2:30 p.m. Changing dismissal any later in the day causes confusion for our main office, teachers, and students. Please be mindful that a consistent routine is the best way for students to get to feel comfortable in school and constant changes can cause anxiety.
The Public Library has
Many Programs!
School Lunch is a Healthy and Delicious Option!
Follow us on Twitter @CECSD_Randall