Cherokee Announcements for August 28, 2017

Hello Cherokee families!

Our first full week of school was excellent! Routines and procedures are being fine tuned and learning is ramping up. . . .

We wish each of you a fantastic week as well!

See below for some reminders and new announcements. Also, be sure to check the link in #3 to take you to our Cherokee Webpage. You will find updated Daily Announcements located near the top of the page.

You can receive this information through a few venues - 1) email if you have provided us an email address, 2) Remind text alerts if you signed up for them (send the message @principalp to 81010 to sign up), 3) Twitter (@CherokeeSPS or @DrPowersCMS), or via the Blog http://drpowersspot.blogspot.com/

1. Carline - please pull as far forward as possible before dropping off and picking up students. Please be aware of students walking and riding bikes. Students should use the crosswalk and sidewalk at all times. Do not use the west/athletic parking area for drop off or pick up during school hours as this is where our busses pick up and drop off. Thank you.

2. Bell Schedules for the start of school and all year - We use a variety of bell schedules throughout the school year to accommodate music and sports assemblies, character ed, Tribe Time, and other occasions. This LINK will take you to a folder with all of the schedules and the dates we will use them. Please pay special attention as class and lunch times vary for each schedule.

Tribe Time is held every Tuesday and Thursday. See the link above for all

schedules and dates.

3. Sports Schedules - These are all posted on our website http://cherokee.spsk12.org/pages/Cherokee_Middle_School  

Our first Cross Country meet is Saturday, Sept. 2 at Bolivar. Our first volleyball and football games are the week of Sept. 5th.

These games begin at 5:30 p.m. All students MUST have a ride to pick them up NO LATER than 15 minutes after the game ends or they will NOT be allowed to attend the next game.

Most volleyball games will be over by 7 p.m. and football around 8:30 p.m. Mr. Schreiner and Dr. Powers will also inform students attending without a parent if they need rides earlier. Thank you for picking up your children in a timely manner.

4. Our website (link above) also houses many other important items like Daily Announcements which can be found at the top of the webpage. Check our website on a regular basis as they are updated almost daily.

5. PTSA Spirit Wear - is available for purchase online through Thursday, Aug. 31st. Here is the link to view and place orders. https://www.sagemember.com/ws/ws.dll/CoStore?DistID=224756&CoStoreID=14847&Preview=1

6. PTSA fundraiser - Continues until Tuesday, Sept. 5th. You may also order online at this web address https://gaschoolstore.com/Login and use the code 2547354 to get to the Cherokee page.

All orders AND money must be turned in on Sept. 5th.

7. IGNITE - All of our students received their Google Chromebook on Thursday, Aug. 17th. This LINK will provide you information to help guide you through the process, provide info on optional insurance and how to connect to Canvas.

8. PTSA meeting - Our next meeting is this Tuesday, Sept. 19th at 7:30 a.m. in the library. Come join us and learn more about Cherokee and what’s going on with PTSA.

Here is a link to all important PTSA dates.

9. SPS Student Handbook - Is available at this LINK.

10. 2017 - 2018 School Calendar

11. No School Monday, Sept. 4th for Labor Day.

12. School Picture day - Friday, Oct. 6th. Packets will be sent home at least one week before the date.

     13) Progress reports - Will be updated by 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8th.

You are welcome to check grades via eSchool Home Access Center at any time. Your student can show you how to do so if you need help. Also, your eSchool and Canvas password and login are the same. See the IGNITE packet under item #7 above for details on how to login.

    14) Parent Teacher conference week - We will host parent teacher conferences on Monday, Oct. 23rd from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 26th from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Teachers will send out information on how and when to sign up in late Sept./early October. Thank you.

We are looking forward to an amazing year and we are excited to partner with each of you as we navigate the middle school years. If we can do anything to help please never hesitate to reach out to us via email, phone, or in person at any time.

I can be reached at wtpowers@spsmail.org, @DrPowersCMS or @CherokeeSPS, or 523-7210.

Have a great week and as always #GoIndians

Dr. Bill Powers

Cherokee Principal

Cherokee Announcements for Aug. 21, 2017

Hello Cherokee families!

What a great 1st week of school we had! It was great to see everyone and we hope you had a great weekend.

See below for some reminders and new announcements. Also, be sure to check the link in #3 to take you to our Cherokee Webpage. You will find updated Daily Announcements located near the top of the page.

You can receive this information through a few venues - 1) email if you have provided us an email address, 2) Remind text alerts if you signed up for them (send the message @principalp to 81010 to sign up), 3) Twitter (@CherokeeSPS or @DrPowersCMS), or via the Blog http://drpowersspot.blogspot.com/

1. Carline - please pull as far forward as possible before dropping off and picking up students. Please be aware of students walking and riding bikes. Students should use the crosswalk and sidewalk at all times. Do not use the west/athletic parking area for drop off or pick up during school hours as this is where our busses pick up and drop off. Thank you.

2. Bell Schedules for the start of school and all year - We use a variety of bell schedules throughout the school year to accommodate music and sports assemblies, character ed, Tribe Time, and other occasions. This LINK will take you to a folder with all of the schedules and the dates we will use them. Please pay special attention as class and lunch times vary for each schedule.

Tribe Time is held every Tuesday and Thursday. See the link above for all

schedules and dates.

3. Sports Schedules - These are all posted on our website http://cherokee.spsk12.org/pages/Cherokee_Middle_School  

4. Our website (link above) also houses many other important items like Daily Announcements which can be found at the top of the webpage. Check our website on a regular basis as they are updated almost daily.

5. PTSA Spirit Wear - is available for purchase online through Aug. 31st. Here is the link to view and place orders. https://www.sagemember.com/ws/ws.dll/CoStore?DistID=224756&CoStoreID=14847&Preview=1

6. PTSA fundraiser - Began Friday, Aug. 18th with our kickoff assembly. All students were given a packet with info. You may also order online at this web address https://gaschoolstore.com/Login and use the code 2547354 to get to the Cherokee page.

All orders AND money must be turned in on Sept. 5th.

7. IGNITE - All of our students received their Google Chromebook on Thursday, Aug. 17th. This LINK will provide you information to help guide you through the process, provide info on optional insurance and how to connect to Canvas.

8. PTSA meeting - Our first meeting is this Tuesday, Aug. 22nd at 7:30 a.m. in the library. Come join us and learn more about Cherokee and what’s going on with PTSA.

Here is a link to all important PTSA dates.

     9)  Eclipse 2017 - The first solar eclipse in the United States in almost 40 years offers Springfield Public Schools teachers and students a unique learning opportunity. On Monday, Aug. 21, SPS teachers will incorporate the eclipse into instruction in a variety of ways to make it relevant for students of all ages. To ensure safety, SPS is providing eclipse-safe viewing glasses for all students and staff as well as safety videos and approved lesson plans.

Students will not be permitted to look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed sun through unfiltered cameras, telescopes, binoculars or other optical devices, with or without glasses.

If you prefer that your child does not participate in eclipse activities, please return the opt-out form sent home with students last week, or emailed/posted to Canvas, to the school by Monday, Aug. 21.  The form may also be downloaded here.  Those students who opt out will complete an alternative activity from inside the school building during the eclipse.

10) SPS Student Handbook - Is available at this LINK.

11) 2017 - 2018 School Calendar

We are looking forward to an amazing year and we are excited to partner with each of you as we navigate the middle school years. If we can do anything to help please never hesitate to reach out to us via email, phone, or in person at any time.

I can be reached at wtpowers@spsmail.org, @DrPowersCMS or @CherokeeSPS, or 523-7210.

Have a great week and as always #GoIndians

Dr. Bill Powers

Cherokee Principal

Cherokee Announcements Aug. 16th, 2017

Hello and welcome back Cherokee families!

We are so excited to be back to school! The last week has been fast and furious as we make last minute preparations for our 930+ students.

For those of you new to Cherokee - I will send these messages out once per week, usually Friday or Monday, with updates, upcoming news, and important information.

You can receive this information through a few venues - 1) email if you have provided us an email address, 2) Remind text alerts if you signed up for them (send the message @principalp to 81010 to sign up), 3) Twitter (@CherokeeSPS or @DrPowersCMS), or via the Blog http://drpowersspot.blogspot.com/

1. Carline - please pull as far forward as possible before dropping off and picking up students. Please be aware of students walking and riding bikes. Students should use the crosswalk and sidewalk at all times. Do not use the west/athletic parking area for drop off or pick up during school hours as this is where our busses pick up and drop off. Thank you.

2. Bell Schedules for the start of school and all year - We use a variety of bell schedules throughout the school year to accommodate music and sports assemblies, character ed, Tribe Time, and other occasions. This LINK will take you to a folder with all of the schedules and the dates we will use them. Please pay special attention as class and lunch times vary for each schedule.

3. Sports Schedules - These are all posted on our website http://cherokee.spsk12.org/pages/Cherokee_Middle_School  

4. Our website (link above) also houses many other important items like Daily Announcements which can be found at the top of the webpage. Check our website on a regular basis as they are updated frequently.

5. PTSA Spirit Wear - is available for purchase online through Aug. 31st. Here is the link to view and place orders. https://www.sagemember.com/ws/ws.dll/CoStore?DistID=224756&CoStoreID=14847&Preview=1

6. PTSA fundraiser - Begins Friday, Aug. 18th. Stay tuned as students will receive a packet with info and we will post to our website and share here next week.

7. IGNITE - All of our students will receive their Google Chromebook on Thursday, Aug. 17th. This LINK will provide you information to help guide you through the process, provide info on optional insurance and how to connect to Canvas.

We are looking forward to an amazing year and we are excited to partner with each of you as we navigate the middle school years. If we can do anything to help please never hesitate to reach out to us via email, phone, or in person at any time.

I can be reached at wtpowers@spsmail.org, @DrPowersCMS or @CherokeeSPS, or 523-7210.

Have a great day and first week of school and as always #GoIndians

Dr. Bill Powers

Cherokee Principal