Cougar Tracks

tures, and races will

enhance our

knowledge of history.

Here are some im-

portant dates that are

coming up. Thank

you for all you do!

February 7 –

Bach and the Boom-

box at CMS

February 8 –

African American

Teen Conference 1:30

February 12 –

Honor Society Induc-

tion

February 15 –

Glow Dance after

school

February 19 –

President’s Day (No

School)

February 21 –

Reggie Dabbs assem-

bly

Sincerely,

Blake Thomas

Exciting Times at CMS From the Principal ’s Desk

It is an exciting time

at CMS! Every time I

turn around, I see our

students doing great

things. In athletics,

we are improving our

skills. In Fine

Arts, we are per-

forming concerts

and winning

awards. In instruc-

tion, we are grow-

ing in our weekly

assessments. Stu-

dents and teachers

are working hard

every day to im-

prove and learn. I

am so proud of the

students, parents,

and staff of CMS!

As spring approaches,

we know that tests

are just around the

corner. State testing

begins the first week

of April. The grade

levels are tested as

follows: 8th graders

take the test in Read-

ing, Math, and Sci-

ence; 7th graders and

6th graders - Reading

and Math. Parents,

we appreciate all you

do, and want you to

know it is important

that your child is on

time during any state

testing days. We will

send a more detailed

list of the dates for

the April testing as

we get closer to the

testing dates.

In closing, February is

Black History Month.

It is an international

celebration and trib-

ute to the African-

American culture and

contributions in our

society. It is a month

set aside to learn,

honor, and celebrate

the achievements of

black men and women

throughout history.

Education helps us

progress and grow,

and having a better

understanding of his-

tory, different cul-

Central Middle School Onl ine Parent & S tudent Newslet ter

Inside this issue:

8th Grade Megaminds 2

Eighth Grade Avengers 2

CMS Strings 2

Seventh Grade Defenders 3

Seventh Grade X-Men 3

Sixth Grade Guardians of

the Galaxy

3

Sixth Grade Justice

League

4

2016 A-F School Report

Card

4

CMS Track Season is

Here!

4

CMS News in Brief 4

CMS Hosts African Ameri-

can Teen Conference XXV

4

Simply Clip and

bring to the CMS

Library

8th Grade Megaminds Gearing up for Exams

Eighth Grade Avengers Looking for Fast-Paced Semester

video https://

www.youtube.com/watch?

time_continue=1&v=xwo9K

OK5xMY to get an idea of

what we will be doing. Stu-

dents have a permission slip

and will be required to type

a one page report on the

decline of amphibians due to

this fungus. The top 30 stu-

dents from each teacher will

be chosen to be a part of the

experience in helping the

research for Sam Noble Mu-

seum of OU.

On Team Megamind, we are

working on getting ready for

end of the year exams by

writing argumentatively.

We’re also learning how to

write cover letters and com-

pleting a research assign-

ment on how to get into a

career of the student’s

choice.

Science in Ms. Ford’s class

just completed earth science

and catastrophic events and

moving on to Earth’s geologi-

cal time. Honors class is

working on their ceiling tile

projects and their next date

to bring in is February 16th

half way completed. Oppor-

tunity for 8th grade students

to join Mrs. Harden and Ms.

Ford in an excursion to the

Wichita Wildlife Refuge on

March 28th to practice being

a real scientist! We will swab

and test frogs for chytridio-

mycosis, a fungal disease

that affects the health of

frogs. You may watch the

Page 2 February 2018

Saturday February 17,

2018 is OSSAA District

Solo/Ensemble for the

7th and 8th Grade Cou-

gar Strings. The stu-

dents are preparing

hard for this judging

event!

—Cheryl McLaughlin-

Stansberry

States. We will focus on Tex-

as independence, the Oregon

Country, and wrap things up

with the California Gold

Rush. In math, we are start-

ing functions. This is our

biggest unit of the year. This

is where your child will learn

about straight lines, slope,

input/output tables, etc. if

they are struggling with the

objective, they can

get added practice at

home by using

IXL.com. All stu-

dents know their

login and password.

IXL gives them ex-

planations when they

miss a question fol-

lowed by additional

practice. The pro-

gram can be used on

computers, tablets,

or cell phones.

The eighth-grade science

honors class had a blast

shooting off their water rock-

ets. The rockets helped us

understand motion and

Newton's Laws. Our next

unit will cover geologic time.

Each class will build and

label a 46 meter “living time-

line” to help us stay engaged

in what can be a boring sub-

ject.

In English class, we are fo-

cusing on the

elements that go

into successful

research. In the

upcoming weeks

classes will

begin reviewing

argumentation

and put those

skills to work in

argumentative

essays. Remind

students that

they can practice and study

any skill on iXl or USA Test

Prep. This will help them on

any objective that they

might be struggling with.

On Thursday, February 1st

our team will travel to Cam-

eron University for a college

exploration day. There stu-

dents will be given the op-

portunity to explore the cam-

pus and several different

departments.

As a team we are looking

forward to another fast

paced, and learning filled

semester!

In reading we will be finish-

ing up our in-class novel

“Bud, Not Buddy” and writ-

ing book reports that explain

important literary elements

and literary devices that

were used in the novel. We

will be doing our next unit

on research as we discuss

source validity, appropriate

research questions, and pri-

mary and secondary sources

of information. Last month

several of our students did

an excellent job in the Geog-

raphy Bee. This month in

United States History the

students will be completing

manifest destiny as we fill in

the continental United

Seventh Grade X-Men Excel

Sixth Grade Justice League off to a Great Start

and Chinese New Year to

practice reading skills be-

fore we take our next Inter-

im Assessment

(Benchmark) and begin a

new novel in early March.

In Geography, we are

wrapping up our study of

Europe and will be

“moving” to Asia.

We’ll be traveling in space

as we study the life cycle of

a star in Science.

In Language Arts, we are

preparing to write an argu-

mentative essay by learn-

ing to write hooks, thesis

statements, counter-

arguments, rebuttals, and

conclusions.

We are finishing up equa-

tions and inequalities in

Pre-Algebra. Our next

standard will be direct and

indirect variation

(proportion).

The X-Men are preparing

to excel on our Reading

and Math OSTP assess-

ments. We are restructur-

ing our Academic Achieve-

ment/CAT class to focus on

reading and math skills.

We also want our parents

to be watching for our Pre-

Enrollment forms for 8th

Grade that will come home

on Friday, February 2. The

forms will need a Parent/

Guardian’s signature and

will need to be returned to

your student’s First Hour

Teacher or Mr. Slawson no

later than Friday, Febru-

ary 9th.

It is important for each

student and his or her par-

ents to discuss electives

before selecting them;

many classes close early

because of limits on class

size. Please return pre-

enrollment forms even if

you are unsure if you will

be attending Central Mid-

dle School next year. That

way, you will be guaran-

teed to get the courses you

want. Please direct any

questions to the 8th Grade

Counselor, Glenda Brown.

A new month will bring

some new topics of study

for our students. In Read-

ing, we are finishing The

Outsiders by taking our

novel test and watching

the movie to compare and

contrast it to the book. We

will also use a variety of

topics like the Olympics

they would like to do.

Measurement is an area

that 6th graders typically

struggle in, so they can

always use some extra

practice on this skill. Mr.

Mietchen’ s Science classes

have been working on dif-

ferent organ systems. Mrs.

Pool’s World Studies Clas-

ses have been learning

about Canada and will con-

tinue learning about our

neighbors to the North as

we enter February.

Team Justice

League has

had a great

start to the second semes-

ter. In Reading and Lan-

guage Arts classes, stu-

dents have been learning

all about relevant and reli-

able research methods and

will continue to use these

skills as they complete

their own Civil Rights

leader research. Ms. Floyd

and Mrs. Morlett’ s classes

will also be reading I Am

Malala, the autobiography

of Malala Yousafzai. Ms.

Long’s Pre-Algebra stu-

dents will be finishing up

their unit on solving ex-

pressions, equations and

inequalities. Next, they

will be moving to central

tendency and graphs. After

that, it is on to measure-

ment – both converting and

estimating in standard and

metric. Students may work

ahead on these skills in

ixl.com or any activities

Page 3 February 2018

Math – Direct and indirect

deviation

Science – Earth and the

universe

Geography – WWII propa-

ganda posters and Asian

Travel Brochures

ELA – Argumentative pa-

per and research

Reading – Preparing for

state testing

Seventh Grade Defenders

6th Grade

The young scientists have

been busy learning about ecol-

ogy with a specific focus on

how energy flows in and out of

a specific ecosystem. They

have learned everything from

abiotic factor to tertiary con-

sumer. We will know be focus-

ing our ecology topic more on

specific relationships and in-

teractions between organisms

in certain populations and

communities. We have also

joined the 21st and put all of

our notes online, parents can

access them at:

http://mrs-ervin-s-science

class.webnode.com .

This provides a direct link to

their google classroom as well

as other links. If a young sci-

entist ever needs help, prac-

tice, or forgot an assignment,

they can access it on google

classroom. This link works for

any 6th grader on either team!

In geography, the Guardians

will begin studying the United

States and Canada.

In math, we are working on

converting fractions, decimals,

and percent as we continue

students will begin to under-

stand how each of these play a

role in our lives.

Ms. Miller’s English class just

completed a study of primary

and secondary sources and

how to organize the infor-

mation. After our CFA, we will

learn how to identify relevant,

reliable, and valid sources of

information for research.

Ms. Claborn’ s reading class

will begin studying character

and plot.

This is a glow in the dark

dance hosted by the Cen-

tral Cheerleaders to raise

money for our cheerleading

organization. There will be

blacklights, laser lights, a

photobooth, neon face

painting and great dance

music.

Tickets are $3 and will be

sold at lunch on Feb 14.

Wristbands will be passed

out the day of the dance to

those who purchased tick-

ets. Novelty items and con-

cessions will also be sold at

the dance.

Students must have rides

waiting no later than 4:30.

STUDENTS MUST HAVE

ID to purchase and attend

the dance.

2016 A-F School Report Card Parents are encouraged to access the Lawton Public Schools Website and view our

2016 School A-F Report Cards. The Lawton School Report Cards are available at the

following website address: http://afreportcards.ok.gov/

If you do not have internet access at your home, you may request a copy of the school

report card at the principal’s office.

CMS News In Brief

ALL 6th grade students

will be given a Pre-

Enrollment Form for 7th

Grade that will need a

Parent/Guardian signature

and will be returned to

their First Hour Teacher or

the student's counselor no

later than Friday, Febru-

ary 9th. It is important for

each student/parent to dis-

cuss electives before select-

ing them due to the fact of

closed classes because of

class sizes. If you have any

questions Contact Jerry

Slawson, Seventh Grade

Counselor.

Glow Dance

CMS Neon Glow Dance

will be, Thursday Feb 15,

after school until 4:30, in

the small gym.

Pre Enrollment Dates

for the 2018-2019 School

Year

On Friday, February 2nd

ALL 7th grade students

will be given a Pre-

Enrollment Form for 8th

Grade that will need a

Parent/Guardian signature

and will be returned to

their First Hour Teacher or

the student's counselor no

later than Friday, Febru-

ary 9th. It is important for

each student/parent to dis-

cuss electives before select-

ing them due to the fact of

closed classes because of

class sizes. If you have any

questions Contact Glenda

Brown, Eighth Grade

Counselor.

On Tuesday, February 6th

Central Middle School

Phone: 580. 355. 8544

Fax: 580. 585. 6452

E-mail: bthomas@lawtonps.org

1201 N.W. Fort Sill Blvd.

Lawton, Oklahoma 73507

Teachers Teach ... Students Learn ...

It's Our Future

W e ’r e o n F a ceb oo k

Face book .com /

lawtoncentralms

CMS Track Season is Here!

please bring your

physical to practice on

February 6. You will

not be allowed to prac-

tice if you do not have

a current physical.

You will also need to

sign and return a

Parent/Athlete Con-

tract that we will give

out during the first

day of practice. If you

have any questions,

please contact Coach

Leighow, Coach

Slawson, Coach

McKillip or Coach

Svec.

Track Season is here!!

We are looking for

runners in both

sprints and distance,

jumpers and throwers!

Practice will start

February 6 from 3:20-

4:45 Monday through

Friday, so please

make sure you have a

ride or can walk home

if you want to partici-

pate. We will practice

at Lawton High’s

track or, if in case of

inclement weather, we

will practice in Cen-

tral’s main gym. Par-

ents may pick up at

LHS track or on the

north side of Central’s

gym at 4:45.

YOU MUST HAVE A

PHYSICAL ON FILE

FOR THE CURRENT

2017-2018 SCHOOL

YEAR TO RUN! If

you have not played a

sport this school year,

CMS Hosts African American

Teen Conference XXV

The African American Teen

Conference XXV will be held

on February 8th at 1:30 in the

CMS Library.

All Social Studies Teachers

and Mr. Slawson has the

forms to register.

Forms were due in Mr.

Slawson Office no Later than

Jan. 31st. Space is limited to

the first 40 students.

The Title this year is “ Afri-

can Americans in Times of

War”