Some of the Troup County School System students welcomed staff members back to school in this video message:

As TCSS welcomes new employees into the organization, we are also storing, counting, and shipping personal protective equipment to schools and office buildings as we prepare for the new school year.

Christy King, Health Services Coordinator for TCSS, said, “We know this equipment is essential to student and staff safety. We have been planning all summer and now we are seeing the equipment arrive. It’s important to prepare ahead of time for PPE needs because every healthcare facility and school district’s needs are the same when it comes to providing and ordering equipment. The demand may be greater than the supply, as we saw in the spring, and we want to ensure all of our PPE is in schools before staff and students return.”

Last August when Dr. Brian Shumate held his first Back to School Employee Kickoff, it was in the Troup High Auditorium. This year, it will look a little different because employees will see the kickoff message virtually as they prepare for students to come back to school on Monday, August 10th. Thanks to the City of LaGrange for their support in helping TCSS complete the virtual kickoff video. 



 

Here is our Sixth Grade Orientation Video. It shares important information about Callaway Middle School, as well as highlights some special faces from our faculty. Get to know Callaway Middle today! Click here to watch the video. 

The Pandemic EBT Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Form is now available online. 

You need your child's Georgia Testing Identification Number (GTID) to complete the application process. This number can be found online in the TCSS Infinite Campus Parent Portal. 

Steps to obtain your child/ren's GTID Number:

1. Look at the very top bar selections on troup.org. Select Infinite Campus.
2. Input your username and password under the Campus Parent Portal (or reset it if needed)
3. After logging in, select 'More' (on the left side of the screen - in the black box)
4. Select 'GTID' (in the middle of the screen - in the white box)
5. The GTID number will populate and you can copy and paste into the application.

Troup County School System is preparing for Back to School. You can view the plan, presentation, and additional Back to School information by selecting the photo below:

Welcome to our Virtual Honors Day for Callaway Middle School, Spring 2020! We are so glad you're here. Please share this video with your friends and family to celebrate this year we worked and learned together! 

Honors Day Video

In preparation for the upcoming school year, it is time to complete the Online Registration process. The Online Registration process allows us to gather the essential information needed for school without having to fill out tons of paperwork at the start of school. Online Registration is the first step in the process and parents can register all students from the same portal login. You will receive additional information throughout the summer through One Call emails as well as social media on the date/time of Open House for the 2020-2021 school year. 

Below is the link to begin the Online Registration Process. The second link is a form to complete IF you are having trouble or have questions with Online Registration. The third link is to the Online Registration Information page on the TCSS website. Additionally, attached to this email are two documents with instructions to help with Online Registration: Retrieve Username and Password and New User for Parent Portal. 

Begin Online Registration: https://campus.troup.org/campus/portal/troup.jsp

Google Form For Registration Issues: https://forms.gle/duvJgrqXtMKSmy6v9

Online Registration Page: https://www.troup.org/Content2/22342

For the second year in a row, TCSS is providing the online registration (OLR) format for parents to sign their children up for school. This process is completely digital and parents can begin by visiting the: Online Registration link. If you have forgotten your password, there is a link to retrieve a new password. 

Read entire story here
 

Parents of Junior University attendees, please take note: unfortunately, no sessions will take place this summer. Refunds will be processed to families ASAP.

Please note the Technology Repair days, listed below:

Wednesday, April 29, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Wednesday, May 13, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Parents may bring Chromebooks to the Technology Office at Building A, 100 North Davis Road, which is located at the top right of the location, up a hill. 

Mental Health leaders will be participating a Facebook Live Roundtable Discussion answering questions about COVID-19 Tuesday, April 21st at 2:00 p.m. 
LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton will serve as moderator. Zsa Zsa Heard, Dr. Justin Muller & Dr. Kelly Veal will be answering questions from the community about mental health.

WHO: LaGrange Mayor Jim Thornton, Zsa Zsa Heard, Dr. Justin Muller & Dr. Kelly Veal WHAT: Facebook Live Roundtable Discussion about Mental Health during COVID-19 WHEN: Tuesday, April 21st at 2:00 p.m. WHERE: www.facebook.com/lgtv.org/ www.facebook.com/lagrangegagov & http://lgtv.org/Home/LaGrangeTV WHY: To provide an opportunity to answer questions from the community about mental health during this COVID-19 pandemic

First, on behalf of all Callaway Middle School staff, we want to send our warmest thoughts and prayers to every student and their families during this unprecedented time. The school year did not turn out how we planned it, but we still have a lot to celebrate!

Now that Spring Break is over, we wanted to share a few updates:

1.  Beginning Monday, April 20th, the Troup County School System will begin distributing meals on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. The meal pick-ups will be available at our school drive-thru locations sites from 11:00 am – 12:00 noon.  Callaway Elementary will have drive-thru service at Callaway Middle. Long Cane Elementary will have drive-thru service at Long Cane Middle. Parents do not have to go to CMS for meal distribution, parents can go to the school closest to their location. Those who pick up on Monday will receive meals for Monday and Tuesday. Those picking up on Wednesday, will receive meals for Wednesday and Thursday. Those picking up on Friday will receive meals for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

2. As per district guidelines, TCSS is now entering Phase III of curriculum rollout which focuses on grade repair opportunities. Students have the opportunity for grade repair ONLY in year long classes or classes that were active in Term 3. For year long classes, grade replacement can take place in Term 1, 2 or 3. Below is a list of classes where grade replacement applies:

Parents, please take note: forwarded information--

In these uncertain times, we want to do all we can to provide resources to families who are looking for alternative child care options. As a reminder, our Quality Rated Child Care website, www.qualityrated.org houses up-to-date information about open child care facilities across the state. Additionally, our partners at Quality Care for Children provide this same service year-round through a helpline that can be reached by calling 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS (1-877-255-4254).
 
At this critical moment, we’re asking for your help in disseminating the message to your contacts and key audiences via your email, social media, and website platforms that any family can find child care programs that are open and best meet their needs by utilizing www.qualityrated.org or by calling 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS (1-877-255-4254).

To limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect the public, DFCS encourages families to access self-service options online during this period.

Self-service options include:

We miss you so very much, and Ms. Thornton has a special message for all our student body at CMS. 

CDC Information
Coronavirus Resource Center for Schools—at this time, these are the only available languages. Please share with family and friends. 

English:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Spanish: 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index-sp.html

Chinese: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index-Chinese.html

Fact Sheets on Coronavirus: What You Need to Know

English: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf

Spanish:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet-sp.pdf

Simplified Chinese: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet-chinese.pdf

Congratulations to Dominic Jacobs, winner of the Green Dot Challenge in Mrs. Linda Smith's classroom for Physical Science for February! Dominic won a $25 Apple Gift Card for working diligently through review and test preparation modules online.

Callaway Middle School Ambassadors recently traveled to Hogansville Elementary to celebrate Literacy Spirit Week! Ambassadors, who earn the privilege of representing CMS through an application and interview process, read picture and chapter books aloud to HES students. They even shared real talk with fifth graders about what Callaway Middle School is all about! 

Pictured are (not in order) Ava Charron, Arianna Cousins, Dasia Johnson, Elijah Johnson, Conner Johnson, Minkyung Kim, Serena Mitchell, Saralynn Pelt, Jayla Tigner, Shamaya Wilkinson, Chadwick Williams, Rosemary Griffin, and Chevion Henderson, CMS Ambassadors. Also pictured: chaperones Erin Dorman and Monica Johnson.

Students at Callaway Middle School enjoyed a special PBIS Movie Day on a Friday afternoon, complete with freshly popped popcorn! The Movie Day cost each student Cavalier Cash, which can be earned on a daily basis by choosing to be cooperative, mindful, and successful. Thank you to all the students who choose great behavior each day!

 Pictured are Marely Herrera, Ariah Hardy, Ameya Willis, Stephanie Herrera-Molina, Jaylen Williams, Kyren Johnson, and Montrez Cook, enjoying popcorn and fun time with friends at the recent PBIS Movie Day.

Congratulations to Coach Andre Johnson’s homeroom class at Callaway Middle School! They were the winners of our recent canned goods drive competition. Pictured are: Jaylen Johnson, Joseph Shuman, D’Arcy Harris, Emmetrion Smith, and Cameron Tucker, enjoying the pizza party reward.

It’s a jungle out there.... We had a WILD time at Callaway Middle School when Coach Smith’s 6th grade Health class hosted Wild Animal Safari staff for Community Relationships Week. A big thanks to Katie Harrison and Jordan Greenway for bringing out a sweet albino hedgehog and a lizard to help illuminate specific job tasks!

Dear Parents –

Please see the below images for best practices in preventing the spread of the common cold and flu, as well as an update from the Georgia Department of Public Health.

TCSS is closely tracking the news of the new coronavirus. While we have NO confirmed cases here in our schools, it is important to us to be actively monitoring notifications from state and national experts in the field and sharing available information with you.

Again, at this point, there are no known cases of the virus in Troup County. We are aware of the concerns from our community, and we want to take this opportunity to share with you that we are implementing a communication plan, convening a crisis team to develop actionable plans (if needed), and educating staff and families on steps that will help prevent the spread of the virus.

Callaway Middle School has cooperative, mindful, and successful students… who successfully enjoyed a recent PBIS Game Day Celebration! To reward a record-crushing 207 students who earned Cavalier Cash for choosing positive behaviors, CMS held a Game Day, where students could play chess, cards, or board games with friends. A guest appearance was made by the staff from Lagrange Memorial Library, who generously brought out their Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 with virtual reality for students to try as well.

Question: Who supports students daily to have school success and to plan a future career pathway? Answer: These determined ladies! Callaway Middle School recognizes our school counseling staff during National School Counseling Week, celebrated during the first full week of every February. Pictured are Freda Weldon, counselor; Tiffany Cindrick, counselor; and Deborah Lanier, counselor’s office secretary, being presented with a banner by CMS 8th graders Shemeria Hubbard, Isac Turner, De’Asia Owens, and Mikell Berry.

Congratulations to our own Courtney Agurs, who has the honor of being named the Troup County School System Middle School Teacher of the Year! We are so proud of Mrs. Agurs and her latest accomplishment. On to County finals! 

Callaway Middle 8th graders in Mrs. Deitrice Koetter’s class were handed a tough task: can you present an English/Language Arts topic to your peer students, creatively use technology, and check for understanding? Kaziah Andrews and Armani Harris were up for the challenge! Their fellow CMS students were spellbound...and they all learned so much from the experience!

Biographies come to life at CMS!! Students in Ms. Stewart's 6th grade ELA Classes presented their biography projects with style, technology, and even costumes! Pictured are Titus Seymour, Ariah Hardy, Claudia Walker, and Molly Doherty, CMS 6th grade students. 

These girls have goals! Meet the Girls With Goals, a mentorship group at Callaway Middle School.  Along with their mentor and advisor, Mrs. Wendy Brewer, they support their school and community, engaging in service projects such as providing breakfast for the entire faculty and staff of CMS! We can’t wait to see what these hard-working, goal-oriented ladies have in store next!

Parents, students, and staff, please let us know how you can help support Sam Washington, member of the State School Superintendent's Student Advisory Council. He is heading up a service project, named Callaway Island, which will benefit CMS students who need to practice self-regulation. https://youtu.be/rkwHiXbjpwM

Neither snow nor rain nor tornadoes nor fog stays these Callaway anglers from the swift completion of their appointed tournament! Although the Lake Eufaula fishing tournament was rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday due to weather, Callaway Middle and High students fished hard and safely, having one team to weigh in with 8.65 pounds and 3 fish. Next up for the intrepid Callaway anglers: Lake Seminole, with the goal of qualifying for the State Classic! Thank you to all the students, parents, and staff for your support of the Callaway Fishing Team.

Parents, please fill out the survey found at https://gshs.gadoe.org/Pages/Parent.aspx . Even if you have already completed one for a child at another school, please do so on behalf of your Callaway Middle student as well. 

Callaway Middle School students recently enjoyed a field trip to the Chick-Fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia. The field trip was planned especially for students in sports management, team sports, and the CMS Ambassadors.

Congratulations to our Lexile #GoalGetters at Callaway Middle School! All students took the Reading Inventory test in fall and winter 2019, and CMS students who received the Highest Lexile Score Achieved are as follows: 6th Grade: Jim Brown (not pictured), 7th Grade: Quentin Prickett, 8th Grade: Jaxon Redden. CMS students who were recognized for Highest Lexile Score Growth: 6th Grade: Anthony Eskew and 8th Grade: Minkyung Kim. Need more great news? An entire CMS class raised their Lexile scores by an average of 76 points from fall to winter! Well done, Mrs. Brewer’s A Block Class!

CMSclasslexile.jpg -- Pictured is Mrs. Brewer’s A Block English/Language Arts class, who raised their collective Lexile scores by an average of 76 points. Congratulations for a job well read! 

CMSgoalgetterlexile.jpg -- Pictured (L to R): Minkyung Kim (Highest Growth, 8th), Jaxon Redden (Highest Lexile, 8th), Quentin Prickett (Highest Lexile, 7th), and Anthony Eskew (Highest Growth, 6th). Not pictured: Jim Brown (Highest Lexile, 6th). 

Parents, please note the important dates for this week! Your student has two field trips, which required completed permission slips, and there are two on-campus meetings with your student and you. Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. at Callaway High School is the On to High School Parent Meeting for rising 9th graders, and 8:30 - 3:25 p.m. on Friday, January 17 for 9th Grade Advisement with middle and high school counselors during students' regularly scheduled Social Studies class time in the media center.  

Almost halfway there, 8th graders! We are so proud of you and how far you have come. Future CHS transition dates are listed here. 

Sensory Jump

Wednesday, Dec 11th  4-8 pm

Hosted by SkyZone in Newnan 

Cost:

60 Minutes = $10

120 Minutes = $20

Contact SkyZone at 678-745-9900

We invite our special needs guests to enjoy the freedom of jumping and playing in a quieter more relaxed atmosphere, while still enjoying the Sky Zone experience!  Join us as our team helps create an evening of fun for your family! The park will only be open to guests with special needs and their families. 

Sensory Santa

Dec 10-17

Hosted by Ashley Park Newnan and Pure Grin Photography

354 Newnan Crossing Bypass

Newnan, GA

Families with children or adults with sensory sensitivities can enjoy the time-honored tradition of a visit with Santa, in a more subdued and calm environment.

Professional Photography (flash-less) will be available on this day where photo packages may be purchased.

Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are still welcome. Please reserve these spaces for children with autism and other special needs.

To make an appointment:    

http://www.puregrin.com/santa-visits

Callaway Middle School has been designated a “Grief-Sensitive School” by the New York Life Foundation, receiving a $500 Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative grant to help create a bereavement support plan and encourage ongoing staff development in order to better support its grieving students.

Parents and students, please take note: final, or semester, exams for the first semester, as required by TCSS Board policy, will take place on Thursday, December 19 for E, C. and A Block classes. Friday, December 20 will be the final (semester) exam date for B & D block classes. The rotation that week will be E - D - C - B - A. 

Callaway Middle School’s chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) recently completed a service project with goody bags containing candy and a meaningful message that were delivered to the City of Lagrange Public Works employees. Thank you to FCA and advisor Coach Heather Smith for always being mindful of others, during any season!

Callaway Middle School held its first Fall Math Night this past week; parents, teachers, and students played games, shared concrete ways to improve math skills, and won prizes for showing what they learned. Thank you to all the families and staff members who supported this evening of math mania...we look forward to our Spring Math Night for tons more fun!

The month of November is celebrated as Family Engagement Month in Georgia.  This is a time the state chooses to recognize the contributions of parents and to encourage Title I schools to raise awareness of the important roles parents play in a student's education.  We at Callaway Middle School appreciate you and all the hard work you do in your student's life.  Thank you for being a VIP partner in your student's education on the daily. Feel free to use one of the images we are posting below to update your profile pic or cover photo on social media to show that you are THAT parent...that engaged, informed, amazing parent that we are so thankful fo

Congratulations to Anja McCord for being a finalist in the REACH GA scholarship program! REACH (Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen) Georgia is a needs-based scholarship program that was created in 2012. TCSS awarded this to five eighth grade students, including Callaway Middle School’s own Anja McCord. Anja says this is the first scholarship she has been awarded. “It feels great knowing that I am representing my school. It’s a great feeling being the first,” she said. “I want to major in political science when I grow up and I know this scholarship will help me.”

Thank you to all the students, teachers, parents, and support staff in all areas of school life that made this possible! Callaway Middle School improved from the previous year, and we are committed to continuing our quest to meeting and EXCEEDING our goals! 

Math matters! Calvin Neely, franchise owner of Kona Ice, spoke to 6th grade classes at Callaway Middle for career exploration. He shared that basic math, including mental math, and communication skills were key to success as an employee or owner in his business. 

 Any gamers out there? The Callaway Middle School Media Center was the hot spot when staff members from Lagrange Memorial Library stopped by to play on the PlayStation 4 Virtual Reality system with CMS students during lunchtime.

Samuel Washington, son of Christy and Joshua Washington, has been selected as a member of State School Superintendent Richard Woods’ 2019-2020 Student Advisory Council. According to the Superintendent’s office, more than 1,000 applications were received, and Samuel was one of 130 middle and high school students selected to serve on the council. 

Student Advisory Council members will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom, along with other issues related to education, and will serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools. Members will also engage in community service projects to benefit Georgia students and schools.