China Spring Middle School

CSMS Newsletter

Parent & Student

Week of December 9- December 12

FROM MR. ELLIS

• david.ellis@chinaspringisd.net.

• This is our last regular week of the semester. Next week, on Wednesday and Thursday (12.18 and 12.19), students will be taking semester exams which count for a portion of their grade. They will have a few exams on each of those two days with class periods being extended to 90 minutes or more to make sure students have time to finish their exams. No early exams will be allowed. Students who miss exams will receive an incomplete and make up the exam when we return from Christmas break. 

• We currently have 159 Students who have not paid their class dues. The dues are $20 and can be paid by cash or check in the front office or through myschoolbucks.com

• CSMS is ALL about teaching and learning. Please make sure your student is coming to school prepared with necessary materials, including their iPad. Please reach out to your child’s teacher(s) should you have any questions. 

• Attention Parents: Students who attend a MS extracurricular event must not be roaming the school during the event.. All students wanting to attend can remain in the gym or at the stadium but must not wander through CSISD facilities or the school campus. Students not obeying this rule will be sent home. This is for the safety of all students and spectators who attend CSISD sporting and/or extracurricular events. Parents, please understand that students should not be completely without parental supervision at games in the stands and bleachers. If students violate the code of conduct during an extracurricular activity, it might necessitate you taking them home from the game. If you drop your student off, please be available to take a call from an administrator should we need to get a hold of you due to circumstances that happen in the stands or bleachers. 

• NO THIRD PARTY DELIVERIES ACCEPTED ON CAMPUS i.e. (DoorDash, UberEats).  Parents, we appreciate your cooperation because it has helped us create a much safer environment for students at school.

• CELL PHONES PROHIBITED at CSMS.  Student cell phones must be off and stored in a backpack or purse.  Should a student need to communicate with a parent/guardian via their personal cell phone, he or she should ask for permission to go to the office to call or text his/her parent. Cell phones distract from the teaching and learning that must take place each day. Thank you for keeping your cell phone put away.

• Please remind your student to charge their iPad every night and bring it to school fully charged and ready to go. 

INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS: Benchmark Testing: A Vital Step in Supporting Your Child’s Success

Mrs. Ghazzagh, Instructional Coach, sghazzagh@chinaspringisd.net

As part of our ongoing commitment to your child’s academic growth and success, we have been conducting benchmark assessments. These assessments are a critical tool that helps us measure students' progress and identify their strengths as well as areas where additional support is needed.

Benchmark testing is not just about evaluating performance; it is a way for us to gather valuable insights into how we can better serve your child. The data from these assessments will allow our teachers to:

• Tailor instruction to meet the unique needs of each student.

• Monitor progress over time to ensure your child stays on track.

• Identify trends across the school to guide enrichment and intervention efforts.

We want to emphasize that these tests are not for grades or report cards but are designed to help us refine our teaching strategies and provide every student with the best possible learning experience.

Your support plays a vital role in this process. You can help by ensuring your child gets quality sleep, eats nutrient-rich foods, and approaches tests with a positive mindset. Together, we can create an environment that fosters growth and achievement.

If you have any questions about the benchmark assessments or how we use the data to enhance instruction, please do not hesitate to reach out. We value your partnership in your child’s education and appreciate your support.

Thank you for being an integral part of our school community.

FROM MRS. BARTEE

• sbartee@chinaspringisd.net

• Lunch/Cafeteria Expectations

  • All students are expected to enter the cafeteria and be seated.

  • Coach Earp or another cafeteria monitor will release tables to get in line or go to the microwaves.  Students must stay seated until their table is released.

  • E-hallpass must be used to request a restroom pass.  Monitoring the restrooms ensures student safety.

  • Lunch monitors bring trash cans around for students to throw trash away.  There is no need for a student to get up to throw trash away.  If a student needs to throw something away after a trash can has already been brought by, they may throw their trash away when the bell rings.

  • Students are expected to stay seated unless they have permission to get up.

  • Students not complying with cafeteria rules will be escorted to a lunch detention classroom to serve out the remainder of their lunch period with Mrs. Bartee or another lunch detention teacher.

  • Students who are repeatedly assigned to lunch detention will be eligible for in-school suspension.

  • Please encourage your child to comply with lunchroom expectations.

  • Starting on Monday, both grade levels will have free-choice seating.  If students begin to fight over seating options, we will resume sitting by the class period before lunch.

• PLEASE NOTE:  Several CSISD campuses have different start times due to transportation needs.

  • Primary Campus Start Time – 7:50am

  • Elementary Campus Start Time – 8:00am

  • Intermediate Campus Start Time – 8:00am

  • Middle Campus Start Time – 7:55am

  • High Campus Start Time – 7:55am

• Attendance

  • Attendance is taken every day during every class period.

  • School starts at 7:55am.  If a student is more than 20 minutes late to school, he/she will be marked absent for first period.

  • When you know your child will be absent, please call the school office or email Mrs. Palmer (spalmer@chinaspringisd.net) to notify us of his or her absence.  This will keep you off of our call list for that day when we call absent students.

  • Every absence needs to be documented in writing with the front office within three school days of the student returning to school.

  • Attendance warning letters will be sent home once a student reaches three (3) unexcused absences.  Additional warning letters will be sent home after five (5) unexcused absences.  Once a student reaches seven (7) unexcused absences, Mrs. Bartee and Chief Wachsmann will require parents to meet with them at the middle school in person to discuss truancy prevention measures and to make a plan for improving school attendance.  After ten (10) unexcused absences, truancy charges will be filed against the parent, and Judge Richardson will contact the parent to schedule a court hearing.

• Weekly Attendance Update – It is our goal at China Spring Middle School for our average daily attendance rate to be at or above 97%.  This past week, we fell short of our goal with an average daily attendance rate of 96.21%.  Please keep coming to school every day for every class period.  Please make healthy choices and get well soon if you are ill.

  • Monday, December 02

    • 7th grade – 95.63%

    • 8th grade – 96.05%

  • Tuesday, December 03

    • 7th grade – 96.07%

    • 8th grade – 96.43%

  • Wednesday, December 04

    • 7th grade – 96.07%

    • 8th grade – 96.44%

  • Thursday, December 05

    • 7th grade – 96.51%

    • 8th grade – 96.44%

  • Weekly Average

    • 7th grade – 96.07%

    • 8th grade – 96.34%

    • Campus – 96.21%

FROM OUR PARENT VOLUNTEERS

We wanted to communicate  all the plans for the 2024-2025 school year so you can plan accordingly. Please see the dates and additional info below.

• Catered Teacher Appreciation Lunch 5/8/25

Randomly throughout the year we will ask for monetary donations to stock popcorn, sodas, and water all year for the teachers and staff.
If you want to donate $75 now you will be done for the year. You can drop cash or check (CSMS) at the front office or Venmo, Kristin-Clements-4. Otherwise, we will send emails leading up to the event and you can donate then, if you can!

We appreciate all the support you have shown for CSMS. The Fall Dance, “Let’s Glow Crazy,” was a huge success, and the students had so much fun.  The teachers also send their thanks for the delicious Thanksgiving meal that we provided for them on the Thursday before the Thanksgiving Break.  Thank you all so much for helping to make these events possible for our students and teachers! 

Amanda Talbert, parent volunteer

Kristin Clements, parent volunteer

FROM MRS. MCADAMS, School Counselor

• amcadams@chinaspringisd.net

• We are finishing up the 504s for 7th grade. If you have an 8th grade 504 student, please reach out to me if you would like to schedule a meeting.

• Please contact me if your child has any counseling needs. 

• Bullying can be verbal, physical, through social exclusion, or via digital sources.

• If you are being bullied or someone you know is getting bullied please report it to Mrs. Bartee or Mrs. McAdams.

• NJHS News:

  • Upcoming NJHS Events:

    • Christmas Breakfast Party for NJHS members, December 19th at 7:30 am in the library.

    • 7th grade applications will be going out on Wednesday, December 4th.  You can pick up those applications in the front office.  The applications will be due on December 19th… NO LATE applications will be accepted.  

    • 7th grade Induction Ceremony in January 

    • Change Request Form for Schedules can be picked up from the front office starting Thursday, December 12th to Wednesday, December 18th.  NO LATE EXCEPTIONS!  It will be the blue form!

FROM NURSE NIXON,  School Nurse

• lnixon@chinaspringisd.net

• If you wish for your child to take medication at school, there is a medication form located on the CSISD Health Services website.  Parent and doctor signatures are required.

As the season transitions from warm summer days to cooler fall weather, we’d like to share some health tips to help keep our students healthy and thriving. Seasonal changes can bring about colds, allergies, and other illnesses, so a few proactive steps can make a big difference:

1. Handwashing: Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water. This simple habit reduces the spread of germs, especially after coughing, sneezing, or touching shared surfaces.

2. Staying Hydrated: Even as temperatures cool, staying hydrated is essential. Drinking water regularly supports immune health and overall well-being.

3. Dressing in Layers: Fall weather can be unpredictable. Dressing in layers allows children to stay comfortable and avoid sudden chills that may lead to colds.

4. Healthy Sleep Routines: A well-rested child is better equipped to handle daily activities and fend off illness. Aim for consistent sleep schedules, even on weekends.

5. Balanced Nutrition: Nutrient-rich foods support immune function. Including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps keep kids healthy and energized.

6. Annual Flu Shot: We encourage you to consult your family doctor about flu shots. The CDC recommends the flu vaccine as an effective way to reduce the risk of influenza.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or if there’s any way we can support your family’s health. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping our school community safe and healthy this season!

FROM MRS. PALMER,  Registrar/Attendance Clerk

• spalmer@chinaspringisd.net

• DUES: Class Dues are $20 - we accept Cash or Check made out to CSMS or you may pay online through Myschoolbucks.com - Store, Browse All, Class Dues.

• If you have an absence excuse note for your student, you may email Mrs. Palmer or bring the note to the front office.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 12.09.2024 - Basketball vs. Gatesville (Girls Away, Boys Home)

• 12.10.2024 - MS Choir Concert

• 12.18.2024 & 12.19.2024 - Semester Exam Schedule

• 12.19.2024 - Last school day before Christmas break

BELL SCHEDULE