Chamblee Middle School Newsletter
Bulldog Bulletin

Issue 01
August 22, 2008

Welcome to the New School Year

It's been an exciting couple of weeks, and we're all pleased that the school year is underway. Welcome to the first issue of this year's Bulldog Bulletin.

Look forward to receiving an email copy of this newsletter every two weeks. We provide you with up-to-date news and event information along with an updated School Calendar in every issue.

Message from the Principal

Thank you to our wonderful PTSA for making this Bulldog Bulletin a reality. Special thanks go out to Melissa Wilks for her expertise, flexibility, and willingness to make this all happen. I am excited about the improved communication that this Bulletin will cultivate between the Chamblee Middle School faculty and staff and our wonderful students and parents! There are so many wonderful things happening at CMS, and this bulletin will help us get that information out to you, our customers, in a more timely manner.

Parents, we are here to assist you and your child at all times, and we are only a phone or email away. We are committed to making your middle school experience as positive, productive, and memorable as possible for you and especially your child.

For those of you who missed our first PTSA meeting on August 19 and my first Principal's Report for 2008-09, please find a copy of it in this Bulletin. I look forward to seeing you all at our Curriculum Nights in September. Please note that I need nominees (now) for our two parent openings on School Council. I know I have wonderful parents out there who are willing to commit their time and passion to improving Chamblee Middle School. We need you!

Cynthia Jackson

Important Announcements

  1. Sports physicals will be held at CMS on 8/26/08 at 4:00 pm in the gym. You must have an updated physical in order to play any sport. Physicals are $25 and are good for one year. See Coach Jett for further details.

  2. The Math Team will hold its first meeting the week of 8/25. 8th graders interested in math team should plan to stay after school on 8/26/08. 7th grade math team tryouts will be on 8/28/08. Math team members should make arrangements to be picked up by 5:30 pm. Come out for math team and see how things add up. Meet in front of the building after school.
  3. And the answer is ... the Quiz Team! The CMS Academic Team will also begin practice the week of 8/25. Interested 6th and 7th graders should come to practice on 8/26/08. Practice for 8th graders will begin on 8/28/08. Practice will end by 5:30 pm, so make your transportation arrangements. Meet in front of the building.

  4. The baseball team has its next practice on 8/23/08 from 10-12 at Dunwoody Park. It's not too late to join. For more information see Mr. Donegan in room A108.

  5. Any 7th graders interested in being Peer Helpers must turn in their applications to Ms. Winkler in the counseling office.

  6. The character word for August is "School Pride."

Picture Day is Coming

School pictures will be taken on Thursday, August 28. We want to make sure every student has their picture taken on that day. The picture will be used for the yearbook and for your student's identification card. An order form with various package prices will be sent home with students by Monday. So please make sure your student is dressed appropriately for Picture Day.

Curriculum Night

The purpose of Curriculum Night is to give parents/guardians an understanding of the curriculum, the teacher's expectations, and to establish communication networks. This is an opportunity for parents/guardians to come and see what their child will be doing throughout the entire year. You will have the opportunity to learn about school resources and to meet faculty and staff as you follow an abbreviated version of your student's schedule.

Tuesday, September 2 at 7 pm
8th Grade Resident Students

Thursday, September 4 at 7 pm
6th/7th Grade Resident Students

Monday, September 8 at 7 pm
7th/8th Grade Magnet Students

Fall Fundraiser - Magazine Sale

The Fall Fundraiser for CMS will kick off on September 2 and will run through September 23. This PTSA fundraiser will benefit many worthwhile areas at CMS, such as the media center, trophy case and gymnasium acoustics. We encourage participation from students, parents and teachers. Packets will be sent home with students on September 2.

School Council

Parents or guardians of children enrolled at Chamblee Middle School (CMS) are invited to nominate two parents or guardians of children enrolled at CMS who would be interested in serving on the CMS School Council. At the present time, the CMS School Council has two parent or guardian openings, and it is for these openings that we are seeking nominations.

Please be aware that election to this council will involve a commitment of time for both training and monthly meetings.

The School Council has a membership of one principal, two teachers, four parents/guardians (with two being business persons), and one business person who is not a CMS parent/guardian. It is organized to provide advice and recommendations to the school principal and, where appropriate, to the local board of education. It serves the purpose of bringing parents and community together with teachers and school administrators to share ideas for school improvement.

Nomination forms are in the front office. Nominees will be posted at CMS from August 25, 2008 through September 2, 2008.

Meet your PTSA Executive Board

Beverly Moon - Co-President
Beverly has served as Co-President, Co-Vice President and Homeroom Coordinator of Special Events at Kittredge Magnet School. In addition she served as Co-President, Recording Secretary, on the School Choice Committee for DeKalb County and as a Room Parent at Ashford Park Elementary for 7 years. She is a Preschool Director. She has a 7th grade student at CMS and a 5th grade student at Ashford Park Elementary. Beverly has lived in the Chamblee community for 15 years.

Kim Thompkins - Co-President
Kim has served as Co-President, Recording Secretary, and Room Parent at Kittredge Magnet School. She works full-time as a Marketing Manager at an Architectural and Engineering design firm in Atlanta. She has an 8th grade student at CMS.

Monique C. Logan - Co-Vice President
Monique has served as a 6th and 7th grade Team Parent at CMS. She was also a PTA President at Smoke Rise Elementary and has served on various PTA committees. Monique is a Professor of Rhetoric and Composition, and Technical Communications at Southern Polytechnic State University. She has an 8th grade student at CMS.

Charlene Zeigler - Co-Vice President
Charlene has been a PTA volunteer since her children have been in Elementary School in DeKalb County. She has served as Treasurer for Henderson Mill Elementary School PTA. She has co-chaired the Reflections Program at both Henderson Mill Elementary and Kittredge Magnet Schools. In addition, she worked on the Promotion Committee assisting with the 6th Grade Party and Promotions Ceremony at Kittredge. She has a 7th grade student at CMS and a 5th grade student at Henderson Mill Elementary. Her husband, Ray, serves on School Council at Henderson Mill Elementary.

Sandy Green - Treasurer
Over the past several years Sandy has volunteered in a variety of positions with the PTA. Sandy served two consecutive years as PTA Treasurer for Ashford Park Elementary. She has also served as PTA Vice President for the same elementary school. She subsequently served two years as committee chair for Pictures at Kittredge Magnet School. Sandy recently accepted an early retirement package from one of the utility companies. She is looking forward to spending more time with her family and having more time for volunteer opportunities. Sandy has a 7th grade student at CMS and a 5th grade student at Montgomery Elementary.

Jo-ann Kimborough - Recording Secretary
Jo-ann has been an active PTA member for the past eight years. She served as the President of the PTA at Huntley Hills Elementary & Montessori School. Last year, she served as the Parliamentarian of the CMS PTSA. Jo-ann served as the Huntley Hills Elementary representative on the DeKalb County School Choice Design Team Region I Steering Committee and is the Parent representative for CMS on the DeKalb County Parent Advisory Board. Mother of three, Jo-ann's other volunteer activities include working with Huntley Hills PTA, Wolf Pack Troop 70, Girl Scout Troop 21447 and Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School at First Congregational Church. Jo-ann works full time as the Grants Manager for a local museum.

Wanda Snipes-McKelvey - Parliamentarian
Wanda served as a Co-Vice President on last year's CMS PTSA Executive Board. She chaired the School Store and was an active volunteer for Teacher Appreciation, Field Day and a Room Parent. She is team mom for her son's baseball team and sits on several non-profit boards. Wanda has an 8th grade student at CMS.

PTSA Volunteers are Needed

This is the Year of the Volunteer. Make a Difference - Be A Volunteer.
The PTSA needs your help in the following areas:

Lost and Found: One to two hours per week - sorting and hanging clothing; sorting and distributing lost books, binders, etc.
Media Center: Two hours per week - checking books in/out; collecting money for fines, printing, etc.
Attendance Office: One to two hours per week
School Store: One hour per week
Office Volunteers/Copying: One to two hours per week
Team Parents: One to two hours per week
Communications: One to two hours per week
Other areas for volunteer opportunities include:

Book Fair
Bulletin Board
Campus Beautification
Career Day
Cultural Arts
Fundraising
Health and Safety
Hospitality
Partners in Education
Reflections
School Pictures/Yearbook
Sign Board
Special Events
Volunteer Coordinator

If you are available to help, please email Charlene Zeigler, PTSA Co-Vice President at char_cpa@hotmail.com.

PTSA Membership

Please join the PTSA. The PTSA helps parents, students, school staff, and communities work together to share ideas about programs and activities that benefit children. Our PTSA provides information and resources that strengthen the connections between children, parents, schools, and the community. Membership is just $5.00 per person. A Blue Membership envelope is available in the front office.

Principal's Report:
August 19, 2008 PTSA Meeting

    Successes:
  • This is the beginning of the 3rd year in our beautiful new building.
  • As of August 18, 904 students are actively enrolled at CMS.
  • We added a chorus teacher, Andrew Sudduth, an 8B math teacher, Angela Cho, and a special education teacher, Tabitha Foster to the CMS Family.
  • We welcomed Courtney Trice, front office administrative assistant, to CMS and said a sad farewell to Karen Mills.
  • We also added a PE/Health teacher, Tamara Nelson, and an 8D science/social studies teacher, Danah Jenkins.
  • CMS made Adequate Yearly Progress. We have made it every year that the NCLB guidelines have been in place.
  • We successfully welcomed the 71 rising 7th graders from the CMS annex at Sequoyah Middle. The Annex was dissolved and those students have moved to the main campus.
  • We held a very successful Open House on August 6. Look at the DCSS website, and you will see and read about CMS's successful Open House. Thank you to the PTSA and the CMS faculty and staff for making that happen.
  • We had a wonderful pre-planning week for the teachers. Our theme for 2008-09 is "212 degrees for 180 days."
  • What a fantastic PTSA. They have gotten more done this summer than I have ever see a PTSA accomplish. They are awesome!
  • The District laid several thousands of dollars of sod on our field. We put in an application for Site Improvement. It was not funded, but the District provided us with sod. Our football team started practicing on it on August 18.


    • Challenges:
  • We must keep the field in good shape. It is the only outdoor space we have.
  • We want to improve the acoustics in the gym. We want to get the word out in hopes that we have a community member who can advise us on how to improve that area for our kids and community at minimal cost.
  • Spanish: Our Spanish teacher, Rebecca Alvarado, is very ill. She will be out for maybe 60 days. We have canvassed the district trying to find a Spanish speaking sub, but we continue to search.
  • Meet the instructional needs of all of our subgroups: Students with Disabilities, Hispanics, Black, White, and Economically Disadvantaged.
  • Meet the needs of our below grade level learners ( Level 1's).
  • Meet the needs of students who score Level 2 and Level 3 on CRCT.
  • Strive to motivate, challenge, and engage all students and always keep rigor in the curriculum.
  • Continue to build unity among our faculty and staff.
  • Continue to build unity and a sense of family with our students when so many are bused from very long distances.
  • Dress code and gum. Please help us to reinforce that shirts are to be no longer than pocket length; otherwise, they must be tucked in at all times. No gum is allowed at CMS.
  • There are 2 parent openings on School Council to fill.
  • There is 1 teacher opening on School Council to fill.


    • Goals:
  • CMS is synonymous with excellence.
  • Bridge achievement gap between subgroups (SWD, ELL and regular ed. students)
  • CMS will strive to move Level 2 (meeting standard) to Level 3 status (exceeding standard).
  • Improve student attendance.


    • Reminders:
  • School nominations are due now to Mr. Trice for parent nominations to School Council.
  • Curriculum Night 9/2/08 - 8th grade resident; 9/4/08 - 6th/7th resident; 9/8/08 - 7th/8th grade magnet.
  • 9/18/08 - Evening Conference Night - Call 678-874-8232 to make appointment after 9/15/08.
  • Progress Reports issued 9/15/08.

School Store

The School Store is having a Clearance Sale. The School Store has a limited amount of White, Gold and Blue Chamblee Bulldog T-Shirts for sale for $5.00. We also have a limited amount of Gray Hoodies on sale for $10.00. New Hoodies will be delivered soon.

Lost and Found

The Lost and Found is located in the Attendance Office. Please be sure to check this location for your lost items.

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Chamblee Middle School
3601 Sexton Woods Drive
Atlanta, GA 30341
Office: 678-874-8202
Fax: 678-874-8210

School Calendar
AUGUST
28 Picture Day

SEPTEMBER
1 Labor Day Holiday (No School)

2-23 Fall Fundraiser

2 PTSA Board Mtg at 6pm

2 PTSA Meeting at 7pm

2 Curriculum Night: 8th Grade (Residents) 7pm

4 PTSA Meeting at 7pm

4 Curriculum Night: 6th/7th Grade (Residents) 7pm

8 Curriculum Night: 7th/8th Grade (Magnet)

8 PTSA Meeting at 7pm

15 Progress Reports Issued

18 Parent Conference Night 4:15 to 6:15pm

OCTOBER

2 Picture Make Up Day

13 School Holiday (No School)

14 PTSA Board Mtg at 6pm

14 PTSA Mtg 7pm Topic: Gangs Speaker: DCSS Officer Head of Gang Squad

16-22 ITBS Testing Window

17 Progress Reports Issued

21-29 CoGAT Testing Window - 7th Graders

27-Nov 7 Renzulli Testing Window - 7th Graders

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