Transitional Transfers

Cherokee Families,

Current fifth (5th) families - if you desire for your child to attend a middle school OTHER than the school that serves your address, a transfer request from must be completed. (Cherokee does currently have openings for ALL grade levels for the 2014 - 2015 school year.) Transfers are approved based on building capacity and the order in which the transfers are received. The transfer forms may be picked up in the principal's office. The transfer form needs to be completed and sent to the principal of the school the child is requesting to attend. It is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian to send the transfer form to the requested school.
The deadline to submit the transfer request is 3 p.m. Friday, December 6, 2013.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at 523-7210, wtpowers@spsmail.org, or @CherokeeSPS

Have a great day,

Bill Powers
Cherokee Principal

Help Build Our Gardens

Cherokee Families,

We are calling for a work day for the Cherokee Gardens Project!

We need to build 7 raised-bed gardens and fill them with soil. Our work day will be Saturday, Oct. 12, from 9:00-2:00. Lunch will be provided, as will drinks. We need all interested folks to meet at the west entrance to the school with power drills, power saws (if available), wheelbarrows for hauling dirt from a pickup to the courtyard, shovels, rakes, gloves, enthusiasm, and muscles! If it rains, we will build but not haul dirt.

Please email Laurie Mertens-Price (lmertens@spsmail.org) if you can attend and/or have questions. We need a headcount so we will have plenty of hotdogs, chips, etc. 

Thank you so much for your continued support.

Bill Powers

Cherokee Principal

Picture Day and Free Flu Shot Clinic

Cherokee Families,

I hope this finds you all doing well.

Just a couple of quick reminders:

1. Picture Day is Tuesday, Oct. 8th. Forms were sent home today. If your student lost the form we have more in the office.

2. FREE Flu Shot Clinic Thursday, Oct. 10th. Forms were sent home this week. If your student didn't bring one home contact our nurse. These forms must be returned by Oct. 8th to participate in the FREE clinic on Thursday, Oct. 10th.

Thank you all very much and if you have any questions please contact us at any time.

Bill Powers
Principal - Cherokee Middle School

FOOD FIGHT!!

Cherokee Families,

It is that time of the year when we as a community are reaching out to help those less fortunate in the Ozarks. In conjunction with the Ozarks Food Harvest we are collecting non-perishable food items the week of Sept. 16 - 20.
Cherokee has been the winner of the Food Fight the last two years, but truly our community is the real winner!
Thank you all so much for instilling and modeling the love of giving and sharing. We have so much to be thankful for, but even within our own school and city there are so many without basic needs.
The Cherokee community never fails to surprise me in how giving you all are. Thank you!!

Another project we are participating in until Oct. 4th is the Sole Food Project. As a part of Sole Food Project we are collecting the following types of shoes: tennis, high heels, work shoes, sandals, flip-flops, etc. Please no shoes with holes. We have a box outside the main office to collect these until Oct. 4.

It was great to see so many of you last night! Our parking lot was full from 5 p.m. to almost 7 p.m. It is so great to have you all visit and be involved. 
I am blessed to be a member of the Cherokee community.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact us at any time - 523-7210, @MrPowersCMS or @CherokeeSPS, wtpowers@spsmail.org, or via Remind101 by texting @principalp to 858-914-4324.

Have a great weekend and Go Indians!

Bill Powers
Cherokee Principal

Busy Week Ahead

Hello Cherokee Families,

We have a very busy week ahead.
Today, Sept. 6, students are being given the first progress report of the year. These need to be signed and returned to the teams.
Next week we have our annual Book Fair. Proceeds go toward our library and purchasing books requested by our students. We also have our OPEN HOUSE on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the Book Fair will be open during Open House as well.

For our Open House we provide a free shuttle from the Community Blood Center to Cherokee due to limited parking. The shuttle will begin at approximately 4:45 and run until 7 p.m. Please take advantage of this service. We looking forward to visiting with you Thursday evening.

Our first Domino's Cherokee Pizza Day is Tuesday, Sept. 10. When you order please mention Cherokee and we will receive 15% of the total purchase. Cherokee's Domino's Pizza Day is always the 2nd Tuesday of the month.

Also, remember you can get info from Cherokee by following this blog, Twitter @CherokeeSPS, Remind101 by texting @principalp to 858-914-4324, our website http://cherokee.spsk12.org/pages/Cherokee_Middle_School and please don't hesitate to call or email us any time.

Have a great weekend and see you all soon.

Bill Powers
Cherokee Principal

Our First Break

Cherokee Families,
I just want to take a minute to thank you all and let you know we are having a great start to the 13 - 14 school year!
During our first 12 days of school we have had a couple of assemblies and fire drills and our students have been outstanding in their attention to details, procedures, and expectations and when I have visited classrooms our students are highly engaged in the learning.
We know that doesn't happen just with what we do at school, but by the amazing job you all do in preparing our students for school. Thank you!

I also want to remind you all you can stay connected with Cherokee in a variety of manners - all core teachers have a webpage on the Cherokee web page - http://cherokee.spsk12.org/pages/Cherokee_Middle_School

Several teachers are using Remind101 to send reminders to students and parents about assignments, tests, and other important dates as well. Check with your student and/or teacher to find out more information.

You can also connect via our school Twitter account @CherokeeSPS and/or Remind101 by sending a text to 858-914-4324 with the message @principalp

You may also reach me via telephone at 523-7210 or email wtpowers@spsmail.org

We want to be as connected and transparent as possible in order to work with one another to have a successful 2 or 3 year experience at Cherokee.

Sincerely,

Bill Powers
Principal

Welcome to Cherokee Middle School!

Welcome back to all returning families and hello and welcome to all of our new families.

I hope each of you is having a wonderful summer and is preparing for the start of school on Aug. 14th.

Over the next few weeks you will start receiving more information about our orientations. You can also find much of this information on our website at http://sps.k12.mo.us/chms/index.htm

My hopes are we can stay connected and remain as transparent as possible with our school website, this blog, Cherokee Twitter page @CherokeeSPS, Remind101 (receive text messages by Texting @principalp to (858) 914-4324 to sign up) and via AlertNow phone messages. You may also reach me via email at wtpowers@spsmail.org or telephone 417-523-7210.

I look forward meeting each of you and to our journey together over the next 2 - 3 years here at Cherokee.

Go Indians!

Bill

MAP Test Information from DESE

 

Dear Cherokee Families: 

DESE requires schools to share the following information with you prior to the MAP test each year.

The Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) assesses students’ progress toward mastery of the Show-Me Standards which are the educational standards in Missouri. The MAP includes assessments in the subject areas of communication arts (grades 3-8), mathematics (grades 3-8), and science (grades 5 and 8).

The grade-level assessments use two different types of questions or items: Multiple choice items are composed of selected response questions developed specifically for Missouri/or the survey portion of TerraNova, a nationally normed test. Constructed response items require students to supply an appropriate response rather than making a selection from a list of choices.

Missouri’s Show-Me Standards are assessed on state tests and classroom assessments. There are 40 content standards that provide a solid foundation of knowledge and basic skills every student should acquire in mathematics, science, communication arts, social studies, health/physical education, and fine arts. These standards define the body of knowledge that every student should experience within the K-12 curriculum. There are also 33 process standards that include skills students should master in order to successfully gather, analyze, and apply information, communicate effectively, recognize and solve problems, and become responsible citizens.

While intended to establish higher expectations for all of Missouri’s public school students, the 73 Show-Me Standards do not represent everything a student should or will learn. However, graduates who meet these standards should be well prepared for future endeavors in continuing education, the work force, and civic responsibilities.

Achievement level scores provide a measure of what students can do in terms of the content and skills assessed by the MAP, which are typically found in the curriculum for the grade or grade span being assessed. “Proficient” or “Advanced” levels of achievement are desirable.

On the student report, the triangle next to the box indicates the achievement level your student reached at the time of testing. The “Overview of Performance” panel to the left contains your student’s actual score along with the state mean score. The score range for each achievement level is indicated on the right side of the boxes so you may compare your student’s score to the range of scores in each achievement level. The achievement level attained by your student indicates he/she can perform the majority of what is described at that level and the greater part of the content and skills described in the level(s) below. Your student may also be capable of performing some of the content described in the level(s) above, but not enough to have adequately demonstrated a complete understanding of the content at the time of the assessment.

The TerraNova National Percentile (NP) compares your student’s score to a sample of students across the nation. For example, a student whose NP is 65 scored better than 65 percent of the students in the nation who took the TerraNova test.

Sincerely,

Bill Powers

Principal

Cherokee Middle School

Please Vote April 2

Dear Cherokee families: 
Supporting students and teachers is a primary focus of my job as principal. I work every day to make sure they have the tools and resources they need to succeed.
As enrollment in our school district continues to grow that is becoming more and more challenging. Class sizes are growing and even if we had the funding to hire more teachers, many of our schools don’t have the space to add classes. On April 2, we will have the opportunity to vote on two proposals that will help address these growing pains.
If approved, Springfield Public Schools will:

1. Hire more teachers;
2. Replace aging computers and upgrade internet access in every classroom in every school in the district;
3. Expand elementary classroom space at three elementary schools to address crowding at a number of schools;
4. Remodel Kickapoo High School; and
5. Renovate Glendale High School’s cafeteria and library.
 
These improvements can be made with only a minimal investment from our community. Our tax levy is one the lowest in Missouri. In a comparison of 39 Missouri school districts, including the largest and those surrounding Springfield, SPS ranks 35th.
I’m sure you can see the advantages these projects will have for our students and teachers, plus an investment in education is an investment in the future vitality of our community. Our neighborhoods will be strengthened by modern school buildings; students will have better quality learning environments with access to modern technology; and two of our high schools will receive much-needed renovations.
Please remember to vote Tuesday, April 2, on Proposition Teachers for Kids and Proposition Classrooms for Kids.

Bill Powers
Principal
523-7210
@MrPowersCMS
wtpowers@spsmail.org

Are you registered to vote?

A levy and a bond proposal to help hire more teachers and fund important school improvements in our school district will be on the ballot April 2, 2013. If you are not currently registered to vote in Springfield and want to vote in this election, you must register to vote by Wednesday, March 6.

You may register at our school office, any public or college library or the Greene County Clerk’s Office. Just bring with you some form of identification such as a driver’s license or Social Security card.

On the ballot will be Proposition Teachers for Kids and Proposition Classrooms for Kids. Approval of both propositions is necessary to address our needs.

If approved, Proposition Teachers for Kids would allow our school district to hire more teachers to keep pace with growing enrollment. Approval of Proposition Classrooms for Kids would support students and teachers with the classroom space, technology and facilities they need to succeed.

For more information about how our students and schools will benefit from these propositions, visit www.springfieldpublicschoolsmo.org.

Changes to Lunch Charging Policy

Dear Cherokee Families:

I want to let you know about a change Springfield Public Schools is making that will affect student lunch charges in the future. Due to increasing balances in unpaid lunch charges, SPS will implement a new charge policy, effective Monday, Feb. 4.

From that date forward, elementary school students who do not have money to pay for their lunch will be allowed to charge lunch two times; middle and high school students will be allowed to charge lunch one time.  The current practice of no breakfast charges will continue.

After charging the maximum lunches allowed, students will be provided a deli lunch, which includes a fruit, a vegetable and a protein. Students may not receive a regular hot lunch until they have paid off their outstanding lunch charges.

We know how important a nutritious lunch is for students and it is our desire to provide a hot lunch to every child who wants one. However, unpaid lunch charges have become excessive and we cannot continue to absorb these costs.

If your child is in a position where he or she must frequently charge lunch, please remember the following:

1.     Your child may be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals at school if your family meets certain income guidelines. Please consider filling out the application to determine your eligibility. Applications are available in every school office or can be completed online at the following link: https://horizon.sps.k12.mo.us.

2.     It is easy to add money to your student’s lunch account using the online service MealpayPlus.  For a small fee, MealpayPlus accepts MasterCard and VISA credit cards; or you may make an electronic debit from your checking or savings account.

3.     If your financial situation has temporarily changed due to family illness, unemployment or other unforeseen circumstance, please let me know. There may be community resources available to temporarily pay the cost of your child’s lunch until you can make other arrangements.

If you have additional questions please contact me or call our nutrition services department.

Thank you for working with us to ensure that your child continues to receive a hot lunch and for your assistance in helping us control costs.

Sincerely,

Bill Powers

Principal

Cherokee Middle School