Cavalier Courier

Dear Cavalier Families,

Welcome to another great year at Community House Middle School! I am so excited to be welcoming back all of our families to an in-person school year! I hope that you have enjoyed the summer and are enthusiastic about the new school year. I understand that many families may still be apprehensive about returning to in-person learning. I want to assure you that at CHMS, our top priority is the safety of every child and adult in our school community. Please read carefully the following health and safety protocols that we will follow at CHMS this school year, or until further notice. Protocol is subject to change throughout the school year. This document is current as of Aug 17, 2021.

Online Symptom Screener or Temp Checks not required this year

Students and staff no longer need to complete the online symptom screener and have temperatures checked upon arrival to campus. Staff, students and families are asked to self symptom screen and temperature check daily. If your child is running a temperature over 100.4, is exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19, tests positive for Covid-19, or has been exposed to someone who tested positive, you should keep your child at home. Absences due to taking Covid precautions will be excused, regardless of whether or not you choose to see a medical professional.

Face Coverings Required

All students and staff must wear a mask at all times while indoors. Any mask exemptions require medical documentation from a physician using this form:

• 21-22 Student Face Covering Exemption Form (English Version)
• 21-22 Student Face Covering Exemption Form (Spanish Version)

Social Distancing

Inside the building, students will be distanced 3 ft apart to the greatest extent possible when masked, and 6 ft apart when not wearing masks (i.e. lunch and Teen Time). Students will be assigned seats in their classrooms, small groups and cafeteria so that we can maintain accurate seating charts for contact tracing, if necessary. Lunchroom capacity will be limited to 50%.

Visitors & Volunteers

Visitors and volunteers are allowed on campus on a limited basis.

• Visitors may come to school to conduct essential school business in the front office, but are not permitted in classrooms at this time.
• Parents/guardians will not be permitted to walk students into the building on the first day of school.
• Lunchroom visitors are not allowed at this time.
• Volunteers are allowed this year, and we are so grateful for that! The first step to becoming a Cavalier volunteer is to register through the CMS Website (https://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmsdepartments/cpfe/volunteers/Pages/default.aspx). Volunteers must re-register each year. Additionally, all volunteers must be approved by a CHMS administrator.
• All visitors and volunteers must wear a face covering and should maintain 6 ft social distancing to the greatest extent possible.
• Volunteers will be required to sign in/out in the main office. Be prepared to show/scan your driver’s license or government issued photo ID.

Open House/Meet the Teacher is August 24th

We will offer both in-person and virtual options for Open House. In-person participants must wear face coverings. Times will be staggered by last name to reduce crowds:

6th Grade (last name beginning with A-L) 9:00am-10:00am

6th Grade (last name beginning with M-Z) 10:00am-11:00am

7th Grade (last name beginning with A-L) 12:00pm-1:00pm

7th Grade (last name beginning with M-Z) 1:00pm-2:00pm

8th Grade (last name beginning with A-L) 2:15pm-3:15pm

8th Grade (last name beginning with M-Z) 3:15pm-4:15pm

Isolation/Care Room

We will maintain an isolation/care room, as we did last year, for students who exhibit COVID-like symptoms, or for students who are identified as a “close contact” to a confirmed positive case. This room will be monitored by a staff member whenever a student is present, and parents/guardians will be notified as soon as possible.

Gym and Teen Time

Students will be permitted to use the locker rooms and share equipment during both PE and Teen Time. We will limit activities that require frequent and close contact. We will continue to encourage frequent hand-washing and sanitizing after using shared materials.

Water Fountains

Students will be permitted to drink directly from the water fountains. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to/from school. We have water bottle filling stations in the building.

COVID Positive Protocol

At CHMS, we will follow state and district guidelines and protocols for contact tracing and quarantining due to testing positive or having exposure to an individual who tested positive for Covid-19. These are subject to change, but as of the opening of schools for the 2021-2022 school year:

• Students who are deemed a “close contact” (i.e. within 6 feet proximity for a duration of 15 minutes or more with an individual who tested positive) in a classroom setting (or bus) will not need to quarantine if face coverings are worn consistently by those exposed and infected.
• If someone is fully vaccinated and does not have any symptoms, they would not need to be quarantined if they are a “close contact,” even if they live with the positive individual. They are strongly encouraged to get tested 3-5 days after exposure.
• Fully vaccinated individuals who test positive must quarantine for the standard 10 days from the onset of symptoms, and may return after the 10 day quarantine as long as the individual is fever free and symptoms have improved.
• If a close contact is identified and face coverings were not worn consistently, here are the quarantine guidelines:
• 14 days for pre-k or students unable to wear face coverings and distance
• 10 days for anyone able to maintain precautions
• 7 days if the close contact has no symptoms and gets a negative PCR Covid test after the 5th day.

The health and safety of our students and staff will continue to be a priority at CHMS. We greatly appreciate your support and partnership this school year. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us!

Sincerely,

Brian Slattery,

CHMS School Principal

brian.slattery@cms.k12.nc.us

Next Wednesday, August 25th, will be the First day of school!
The first day for 6th graders.

The first day for new-to-Community House families.
The first day for last year’s virtual students.
The first day for (some) bus drivers.
The first day for new staff.
The first day of carpool — which is always a bit crazy the first few days.
Remember to be nice, be kind, and be patient.

We are all going through “the firsts” together. And, together we will get through this!
Welcome back students, parents, teachers and staff!

We are excited to see you all!

Best, 2021/2022 - CHMS PTO Board

Dear Community House Middle School Families,

Welcome back to all returning families and a special greeting to families new to our Community House Middle School community. We are looking forward to a successful 2021/2022 school year! We are excited to be using a new platform for our newsletter that will hopefully make it easier to receive PTO news and events.Community House Middle School is a large school and our goal is to always keep you informed.

The PTO at CHMS is dedicated to supporting students, parents, faculty and staff in the best way possible. Your support and/or involvement is crucial to our success. With shrinking budgets, larger class sizes and increasing demands on our teachers there has never been a more important time for you, as parents, to get involved and join our PTO community. The following is a small sample of the ways the PTO supports the school and your children:

• Technology – updates and maintenance as needed; Microsoft certification programs

• Financial support for students in need
• EOG study material

• Smart board replacements and additions;

• Books and other media for Media Center

• Professional development for our teachers

• Health Room Supplies

• Social Studies software program;

• Science Lab Supplies

• Campus beautification

• Support our sister school, Albemarle Road Middle School

Please consider supporting our school and the PTO to make your child’s education a very successful experience . We cannot do this without YOU! Together we can accomplish great things and make this a wonderful year for our CHMS family!

Angela Kennedy,

2021/2022 - CHMS PTO President

commhousepto@gmail.com

• VOLUNTEER! - You are a valued part of the Cavalier Family! If you have time in your schedule, we would love to have you here! Families can play an active role at our school by volunteering through the PTO. There are many opportunities throughout the school year when we need your help. Ben Franklin once said, “You tell me and I forget. You teach me and I remember. You involve me and I learn.” Even if you work full time, part time, or if you are a stay at home parent, we have a place for everyone.

• GET CONNECTED - CHMS is a large school. We do our very best to keep you informed and in the know.
• Visit the PTO website at https://communityhousepto.weebly.com
• Sign-up for our bi-weekly newsletter notifications by clicking on the link below and scrolling to the bottom of the newsletter and selecting the orange button that says "Follow Community House Middle”. https://www.smore.com/xkg0ce
• Sign-up for ’Remind’ to get text or email reminders from the CHMS PTO. Text: @chmspt to: 81010

• DONATE – Contribute to Community House’s Annual Capital Campaign. This is the MAIN fundraiser for the entire year. 100% of your donation will be used to support the PTO’s initiatives and CHMS directly. Your contribution, whether small or large, is greatly appreciated and needed. In addition to funding all the needs of our school, this year we will have a fundraising focus to provide shade structures for the students to use during Teen Time. Please donate at https://www.pay4schoolstuff.com

August 24 -Open House

6th Grade (last name beginning with A-L) 9:00am-10:00am

6th Grade (last name beginning with M-Z) 10:00am-11:00am

7th Grade (last name beginning with A-L) 12:00pm-1:00pm

7th Grade (last name beginning with M-Z) 1:00pm-2:00pm

8th Grade (last name beginning with A-L) 2:15pm-3:15pm

8th Grade (last name beginning with M-Z) 3:15pm-4:15pm

August 25 -First Day of School

September 6 -No School - Labor Day

September 8 - City BBQ Food Night - 5-9pm

September 16 -Teacher Workday

September 17 - General PTO Meeting/Principal Coffee Chat 9:30am

September 29 - Burger 21 Food Night - 5-9pm

October 06 - Early Release Day

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH 5-9PM

We are having a fundraiser at City Barbeque Ballantyne on Wednesday, September 8th! Order online or head on over to show your support and enjoy some BBQ—we’ll get 20% of sales from everyone who shares a picture of this post at the register or uses our fundraiser code FundA when they order at https://www.citybbq.com/order or in the City BBQ app! Please take a snapshot of this post to show to the cashier at checkout.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29TH 5-9PM

We are having a fundraiser at Burger 21 Ballantyne on Wednesday, September 29th! Order online or head on over to show your support and enjoy some delicious burgers, salads, milk shakes and so much more—we’ll get 10% of sales from every sale. Thank you so much for eating out to help us out.

Executive Board:

President -Angela Kennedy

President Elect -Carol Bower

Treasurer - Jackie Gyoerkoe

Secretary -Lauren Rosenbaum

VP Communications -Debora Pupo

VP Fundraising -Jenna Seiler

VP Special Events -Carol Bower & Jen Longueira

VP Hospitality - Carrie Roberts

VP at Large -Chris Schwiegrath, Tammy Johnson & Yuni Piedra

Committee Chairs:

Book Fair - Tammy Johnson & Angela Kennedy

Campus Beautification - OPEN

Family Nights Out/ Required Fees - Jenna Seiler

SLT - Heather McAfee

Rebates - Jennifer Smith

School Mates - Sheela Sathish

School Store - Lisa Felty

Spirit Week - OPEN

Volunteer Coordinator -Yuni Piedra

Please, help us complete the board so that the PTO can continue to successfully carry on it’s mission of supporting Community House students, teachers, staff and families.Please email commhousepto@gmail.com to learn more about the open positions.

If you would like to contribute information to the Courier, please email CHMS PTO commhousepto@gmail.com. All submissions are due by Wednesday in order to appear in the Courier for Friday. Please note the Courier is biweekly (1st & 3rd week of every month).