August 2016

Volume 12Issue #1

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

VISIT US AT OUR WEBSITE: www.chainoflakes.ocps.net

8700 Conroy Windermere RoadOrlando, Florida 32835407-909-5400

M I D D L E S C H O O L

Growing Together, Learning for Life

“Our focus...is to be the top producer of successful students in the nation.”

Cheron AndersonPrincipal

Jackie RamseyAssistant Principal

James MorseAssistant Principal

Grace Gregory6th Grade Dean

Kim Powell7th Grade Dean

James Brown II8th Grade Dean

CHAIN OF LAKES

VISION STATEMENTChain of Lakes Middle School is a community of students, parents and teachers, which strives to ensure that all members are successfully growing in academic and social development. We believe in educating the entire student in a safe, diversified environment in order to prepare for life’s opportunities and challenges. We promote academic excellence, a life-long love of learning and responsible citizenship.

SCHOOL HOURSM | T | TH | F9:25 a.m. - 3:55 p.m.W9:25 a.m. - 2:55 p.m.

Cheron AndersonPrincipal

Dear Chain of Lakes Family, Welcome to a new year at Chain of Lakes Middle School. As you and your children enjoy summer vacation, we are busily preparing for August 15th, our first day of the 2016-17 school year. Our faculty and staff remain committed to the following goals: providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students, helping teachers create positive and active learning experiences, and allowing everyone in our community to have a voice in the learning process. In order to meet our first goal, we will continue our emphasis on school wide policies and procedures so that all students demonstrate respect for every member of our learning community. Here’s how we can work together to reach these goals. Please prepare your student for this school year by talking to him or her about the importance of education. In addition, start the year right by setting up a study area and establishing the expectation that your child will complete homework, review class notes, study for test, and read on a daily basis. Make sure that you know what classes your child is taking and how to communicate with his or her teachers. Keep track of your child’s progress through progressbook.ocps.net as well as progress reports and report cards. Most importantly, take a few minutes each day to talk to your child about the school day. Small actions like these can make a big difference in your child’s education. Some important back-to-school information for you: New student Orientation for incoming 6th grade students will be held on two dates this year: Tuesday, August 9th and Wednesday, August 10th. There is an article within this newsletter that tells you which date you should attend. We will begin each evening in the cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. After an overview of middle school and some tips and advice, you will be able to pick up your child’s schedule and tour the campus. Please be aware that this not a meet the teacher event. The goal is for your child to find their class locations.

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Our 7th and 8th grade students can pick up their schedule August 12th between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. HOWEVER you could also move to the front of the line and get your schedule early on July 26th if you JOIN our PTSA. This is our KICK-OFF Fundraiser. Last year, we had 200 new memberships on our “Early Pick-Up” Day and this year we are hoping to double that number. Memberships will be $10. Please become involved by joining our PTSA, School Advisory Council (SAC), and Parent Leadership Council (PLC). Information about each of these organizations will be sent home during the first week of school. We are looking forward to a great school year in which we are “Growing Together, Learning for Life.”

Sincerely, Cheron Anderson Principal

First Day of SchoolFirst Day of School The first day of school is August 15th, 2016. Please help students start the new school year well by having them bring their three-ringed binders, paper, a pencil, and a pen. Students will receive their planners and other important information on this day so make sure to take time that evening to review all of these materials and respond appropriately. Report Cards/FCAT Scores Report cards and FCAT scores for students who attended COLMS last year are still available Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30pm p.m. in the front office. 8th grade students scoring below a level 3 on the FCAT Math exam will be placed into an additional math course to help them prepare for high school algebra. Our counselors will schedule students into the appropriate course(s) based on the student’s FCAT performance and state guidelines. Where to go for Assistance The start of a new school year should be a fun and exciting time, but too often, students are filled with apprehension, especially if this is their first year at a new school. We at Chain of Lakes Middle School would like students, before they ever step foot on campus, to understand where they can go to obtain assistance and solve any problems that may arise. A great place to start is with the classroom teacher. Teachers are a

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great source of information, and have the ability to solve classroom level concerns. The next best place to go for any student is his/her respective grade level office. Here, a student can speak with their guidance counselor or administrator, pick-up or drop off important information, or just ask general questions. Let’s say you lost your schedule; the grade level office can easily print a new one for you. Having a problem with another student? The guidance counselor or administrators are great resources to help mediate conflict. No problem is too small or large. Finally, the front office is also a great place to go for any form of assistance. Here, you will find our registrar, bookkeeper, School Resource Officer, and the principal. But regardless of where a student chooses to go for assistance, we encourage all students to report problems as soon as they arise. Every adult on our campus is ready to assist with any problems or concerns. If you have any questions, or would like further information related to this topic, please feel free to contact a grade level counselor at 407-909-5400. 6th Grade New Student Orientation New Student Orientation for incoming 6th grade students will be held on two dates this year: Tuesday, August 9th, for students who attended Eccleston, Metrowest, and Orlo Vista Elementary Schools. The second date will be Wednesday, August 10th, for student who attended Palm Lake, Eagles Nest, Windermere, and Windy Ridge Elementary Schools along with any other schools not listed. We will begin each evening in the cafeteria at 6:00 p.m. our events will start on time and end on times so please plan accordingly. After a brief overview, you will be able to pick up your child’s schedule and tour the campus. Please be aware that the purpose of this event is four you to pick up your student’s schedule, get information about bus transportation, and help your student locate his or her homeroom location and classes. Not all teachers will be in attendance on these dates. 7th and 8th Grade Schedule Pick-Up Our 7th and 8th graders can pick up their schedules on August 12th between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Please remember that students who do not have updated immunizations on file, who do not have a current documented address on file, or who have not met textbook/Media Center obligations will not be able to get their schedules at this time. Homeroom locations and bus schedules will also be available on this day. Please note that you will not be able to meet your student’s teachers on this day as this is not a “Meet your Teacher” event and all teachers will not be present. Open House for “Meet the Teacher” will be on September 20th, so mark your calendars now.

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Internet Services for OCPS Students

Students who are el igible for free or reduced lunch can obtain internet access for $9.95 a month plus taxes. They also qualify to purchase a refurbished computer for $162 plus tax and shipping. Flyers will be placed in your mailbox today. Please provide each student in your reading class with this valuable information and encourage them to act fast as this offer expires August 31, 2016. Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Dress Code Student dress should reflect a neat and student-like appearance to provide a safe and orderly environment. Clothes shall be worn as they are designed—suspenders over the shoulders, pants secured at the waist, belts buckled no underwear as outerwear, no undergarments exposed. Clothing with holes, tears or inappropriate patches will not be allowed. Bare midriffs and bare sides should not show even when arms are extended above the head. Clothing that is too tight or revealing is unacceptable. This includes but is not limited to: Leggings, jeggings and spandex type pants. Garments and/or jewelry which display or suggest sexual, vulgar, drug, alcohol or tobacco related wording/graphics or may tend to provoke violence or disruption in school shall not be worn. Gang paraphernalia, jewelry, tattoos or other insignias which display, suggest, provoke or may tend to provoke violence or disruptions are not allowed.

The following items have potential to cause disruption or threat to a safe and positive school environment and are prohibited: • Hats, caps, visors, sunglasses or bandanas. • Sleepwear • Chains hanging from the neck, belt, pocket or attached

to a wallet. • Jewelry that contains any type of sharp object. • Body piercing(s). (Including but not limited to: eyebrows,

nose, lips, and tongue). • Hemlines of shorts, dresses, skirts and skorts shall be no shorter

than mid-thigh. • Sleeveless shirts are not permitted—this includes tank tops,

thin strap shirts, sleeveless sports jerseys, any shirt that hangs off the shoulder, etc.

Shoes shall be worn at all times. The following are not acceptable: • Slides / flip flops • Cleated shoes • Backless shoes of any kind

A copy of the Orange County Public Schools dress code is available on the OCPS web site: www.ocps.net.

Communication is Key Stay connected to Chain of Lakes Middle School by following us on Twitter at @COLMS_OCPS or “Like” our Facebook Page.

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‘Chain of Lakes Connection’August 2016

Published Four Times Per YearOrange County Public Schools

P.O. Box 271Orlando, FL 32802-0271

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Below is the list of items that all students need for the school year. 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade3 inch, 3-ring binder – one will be used for all classes

3 inch, 3-ring binder – one will be used for all classes

3 inch, 3-ring binder – one will be used for all classes

Loose leaf paper* Loose leaf paper* College ruled paper*Hand Held pencil sharpener with cover

Hand Held pencil sharpener with cover

Hand Held pencil sharpener with cover

(6) 100 page spiral notebooks (5) 100 page spiral notebooks (5) 100 page spiral notebooksPencils #2* Pencils #2* Pencils #2*Pens(blue or black, no gel)* Pens (blue or black, no gel)* Pens (blue or black, no gel)*Hi-lighters Hi-lighters Hi-lighters(2) Glue sticks* (2) Glue sticks* (2) Glue sticks*Ruler Ruler RulerColored pencils Colored pencils Colored pencilsSchool scissors Graph paper Graph paperDry erase markers School scissors Calculator (basic 4 function)Dividers Dividers DividersIndex cards Index cards Index cardsPencil pouch Pencil pouch Pencil pouchPost-it-Notes Post-it-Notes Post-it-NotesReinforcements* Dry erase and regular markers Dry erase and regular markers

(2) 2 pocket folders Reinforcements*Calculator (basic 4 function) School Safety scissors

(1) composition notebook (2) red pens Reinforcements* (2) composition notebooks *Please replenish throughout the year as needed*The following donations would be greatly appreciated:• Boxes of facial tissue, hand sanitizer, pencils, reams of copy paper, and Clorox wipes.

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School Supply List

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Where in the World is OCPS Reading?? Students, parents, and educators are encouraged to visit SummerReading.ocps.net to obtain reading lists by grade level, search for books, apps, interactive literacy websites, e-books, parent resources, and literacy events around town. Students may also access the Scholastic’s Summer Reading Challenge via this site. This challenge encourages students to read and log

their minutes electronically. This summer we are challenging the students in OCPS to read 20 million minutes.

The theme this year is ‘Where in the World is OCPS Reading?’ Bus shelters around Orange County and OCPS Social Media will be sharing the literacy message and

encouraging families to have students read this summer while hash tagging and posting pictures of their reading adventures to #OCPSReads. Students and Parents who post pictures of their student reading will be eligible to win prizes

from the district. Categories will include things like most creative picture, best quote, best location etc... Please update your school social media accounts to join in the fun, and allow students to represent their schools while reading. For example: “@{Insert School Name} Discovering the Titanic while on the beach #OCPS Reads”. For more information check out: https://www.ocps.net/cs/services/cs/currareas/read/summer.reading/Pages/default.aspx

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PTSA Information and News We in the COLMS PTSA hope that you are relaxing this summer and finding time to enjoy your children during their summer break! Be assured that we are working hard to provide you with lots of opportunities to get involved in your child’s future at Chain of Lakes Middle School. There are a few things we want to let you know about so that you can plan accordingly. As a special incentive, on Tuesday, July 26 you may join the PTSA for $10 AND pick up your child’s schedule early! You may come anytime between the hours of 7:30 am and 4:30 pm. (Please note that your child’s vaccination record must be current.) On Monday, August 22 at 6 pm we will be having our first PTSA meeting. Please join us in room 813 to find out more about us and how we need you to make this year a successful one! My email is karafletch@gmail.com if you would like to get involved in chairing or co-chairing a committee.

7th Grade Immunizations All incoming 7th grade and returning students need to have turned in their updated immunization card and physicals prior to being able to receive their schedule for next year 2016-2017. All schedules will be pulled of any student who is missing their physical form or immunization form Florida 680 and will not be allowed to attend classes the first day of school. Please get these in so you may begin classes on August 15, 2016. Where can my child get immunization shots? See your private physician or visit one of the Orange County Health Department five clinics. Call 407-836-2600 for clinic locations.

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c o n n e c t i o nOrange County Public Schools

Chain of Lakes Middle School8700 Conroy Windermere RoadOrlando, Florida 32835

Non Profit OrganizationUS Postage PAID

Orlando, FLPermit #885

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PE Uniforms Students who are taking Physical Education as an elective this year, may go online NOW and purchase their PE Uniform. If you purchase, online early, you can your uniform ready to picked up on schedule pick up day. Go to the following link to buy your PE Uniform today. https://www.schoolpay.com/parent/mip/11278114380265447776452432695.

Athletic News Soccer tryouts are held the first week of school so be prepared! All county paperwork, including the OCPS sports physical, must be competed and turned in to the front office or to Mrs. Pirolli prior to attending tryouts. Forms can be found in the front office and on our school website. Exact dates and times of tryouts will be announced the first day of school but please note that they will begin the first week of school and will be held at the end of the school day. OCPS offers three other sports at the middle school level, volleyball (October), basketball (January) and track (March). County paperwork may be completed and turned in at any time in order to be prepared for tryouts. Paperwork needs only to be turned in once for students to be eligible for all sports offered during that school year. Check our school website frequently for updates on tryouts and game information.

Chain of Lakes Middle School

Athletics