August 24, 2019 | Issue 1
Principal's Updates

Dear CFMS Families,

Welcome Back! It was wonderful seeing all of the new and returning faces this week! Students were greeted by teachers eager to make this year one of the best. The cafeteria was also updated over the summer to welcome the students back to their building - Just 7th and 8th and wow does it feel roomy!

This promises to be a year filled with countless opportunities as we strive to continue to find ways to maximize each student's potential! I pledge to you that the 2019-2020 school year will be one of engaging and meaningful work in our classrooms, combined with special events, clubs, activities and athletic teams certain to encourage our Tigers to be involved and stay connected! It's sure to be a  great  year at CFMS!

Proud to be a Tiger,

Laila Discenza
Principal, Chagrin Falls Middle School
342 E. Washington Street
Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022
(440) 893-7695 x 4301



News & Announcements
MS Welcome Back Dance Friday, August 23
The dance is from 7-9 pm in the MS Cafe. Tickets are $8.00.
The dance is a fundraiser for the MS cheer squads.
CLICK HERE for the flyer.


Great pictures from the first day of school. Photo gallery is also accessible from the left hand side of the MS homepage.


Important Dates
September
12th - Curriculum Night at 7:00 pm
17th - Picture Retakes 9:15-10:00 a.m. Students will be called over P.A.
CLICK HERE for ordering information.
  • New Parent Coffee at 8:30 am in SANDS
20th - Walk to School Walk to Town




Important Info For Families
Reporting Student Absences?
Please report all absences by calling the attendance line 440/247-4790 by 8:00 a.m. This will ensure that we have accurate information regarding the location and safety of your child. When students are well enough to work on assignments they can check google classroom. Items can be sent home with another child or picked up by a parent by calling the office.

Appointments during the school day? Please send your child to school with a note and have them turn it in to the staff member on duty in the cafe in the morning. They will be given a pass to come to the lobby and sign out at the time you want to pick them up. Be sure to bring a note back from the doctors office to hand in to the office verifying the appointment. If you schedule an appointment after your child has already left for school, call the office and we will get the pass to them.

Dropping off items from home? Please bring them to the lobby with their first and last name printed clearly on the item. Students with after school items will be called at the end of the day. Students with items needed during the school day will be called between classes. If your child is aware you are dropping off the item write on it DON'T CALL. This will limit the number of students who need to be called over the P.A. between classes. During these first few weeks of the new school year, help your child exercise their executive function skills and review their planner in the evening and pack items needed for the school day in the back pack before going to bed. Locker rooms are staffed in the morning for students to store after school needs in lockers until the final bell of the day. Athletes may want to consider bringing empty water bottles with them and use our water bottle filling stations to fill them with fresh cold water before practices and games.

For general information on Middle School please CLICK HERE to view the parent tip sheet. This information is also located on the MS homepage.
CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS
Ms. Fenton's ART class is looking for EXTRA LARGE box donations. Please contact her if you have appliance boxes that could be used for an art project. amy.fenton@chagrinschools.org
ATHLETIC NEWS
Home volleyball on 8/26 and 8/28
Home 7th grade football on 8/28

Go TIGERS!
CLUB NEWS
Book Fair
Mrs. Jameson is looking for book fair volunteers. Our book fair will run early this year!  Please click here  if you are interested in volunteering for our back to school book fair. 


Student Council Homeroom Representative Elections Next Week
Next Thursday (8/29) we will be holding our homeroom representative elections for student council. Each homeroom (1st period class) will elect two students to serve on this year's student council. Homeroom representatives help to organize various school events and communicate ideas and activities with their homeroom throughout the year. Interested students should be good communicators, responsible, motivated to participate in various school events, and able to attend our meetings every other Thursday morning at 7:00am.

In order to run, students must pick up and complete an application, which includes a parent signature. Applications can be picked up from homeroom teachers, from Mr. Patterson, or on our student council bulletin board. Students must submit their completed application to their homeroom teacher prior to the start of school on Thursday, August 29th. Students running will give a brief (1 minute) speech to their homeroom on Thursday, August 29th about why they would be a good candidate. Each homeroom will then vote and elect two representatives from each class.

We are looking forward to a great year! If you have any questions, please contact Kyle Patterson or Kathleen Aranavage.

Kathleen Aranavage Kyle Patterson
Kathleen.Aranavage@chagrinschools.org Kyle.Patterson@chagrinschools.org
440/893-7695 ext 4312 440/893-7695 ext 4307
SUPPORT ORGANIZATION NEWS
Annual CF Booster Club Tailgate : 9
9/13/2019 @ 5pm on the high school campus.

Be sure to check your child's take home folder from the first week of school.
Our support organizations included important information for parents and families that you will want to review. If you did not attend our walk through on August 14th your child was given their folder in school. If any child did not come home with a folder please have them stop in the office to get one. Any membership forms can be sent back to school with your student to be turned in during homeroom and will be collected in the office by individual organizations. Throughout the year remember to check FLYER CENTRAL in quick links on the District homepage to see information about events sponsored by our support groups.
MENTAL WELLNESS CORNER
  this month’s topic….anxiety about returning to school


Coming back to school and the return to school-related stressors can be anxiety provoking for students no matter how old. With some simple steps and a plan to support children, the return to school can be less daunting.  
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
We are back in the swing of things! Excitement and nerves often carry students through the first few days of school as we begin to settle in. As your child adjusts to being back, it is important to continue to maintain good routines to help manage all the responsibilities that come with school. Evening routines may include a homework plan of when and where homework will be completed and then organizing homework into their folders and backpacks to prevent a chaotic morning. The more prep that can be done in the evening, the better the start of the day will typically go. Ensuring your child eats a healthy breakfast in the morning will help carry them through the school day feeling their best.

The start of school can be stressful for many students as they readjust to academic demands and also navigating the social scene that may have shifted over summer break. This past week I visited all students in their classrooms to remind them of where they can find me and how they can meet with me. Please let me know if there is anything I can help with as your child kicks off this school year. My door is always open!

Kyle Patterson
School Counselor
Chagrin Falls Middle School
440-247-5500 x4307
@PattersonCFMS
342 E. Washington Street
Chagrin Falls, OH 44022

Main Number: (440) 893-7695
Administration: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4301
Adm. Asst.: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4302
Athletic Office: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4337
Attendance: (440) 247-4790
Clinic: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4304
Fax: (440) 247-4855
Guidance: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4307
Lobby: (440) 893-7695 ext. 4303