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As a reminder, there will be no school on Monday, January 18 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King., Jr. Day. Classes for all students will resume on Tuesday, January 19, with traditional students continuing to learn remotely.

As we shared before Winter Break, the district has a contingency plan for a prioritized return to in-person learning for our youngest students. On Monday, January 25, CMCSS Pre-K through sixth-grade traditional students will return to in-person learning. Seventh through twelfth-grade traditional students will continue learning remotely until further notice. Next week, schools will be reaching out to parents and guardians of students in seventh through twelfth grade who are in self-contained, special populations classrooms to share more information about a phased return to in-person learning the week of January 25. After evaluating this phased return, the district will share more information about the return to in-person learning for all traditional students in upper grades.  

On average, there have been around 300 more students per grade level impacted by COVID-19 cases in the district’s upper grades than lower grades. CMCSS is prioritizing an in-person return for younger students and those in self-contained classrooms due to the greater difficulty distance learning poses for these students, the lower transmission rates among younger children, and the greater childcare burden placed on families with younger children. The district is hopeful this phased approach will help address staffing issues due to COVID-19 related leave and the substitute shortage that are expected to continue as the pandemic still exists.

Due to the ever-changing circumstances of the pandemic, families should always have plans in the event that school buildings are closed and remote learning must take place. Additionally, the Tennessee Department of Health’s requirements for contact tracing and quarantines are still in place. Therefore, families should have plans in the event a child must transition to remote learning due to being a close contact to a positive case. 

Finally, as Onsite Employee Health and Wellness partners with the Montgomery County Health Department to distribute vaccines to CMCSS employees in the coming weeks, the potential exists that schools will temporarily transition to remote learning in order to expedite the vaccination process. The Communications Department will communicate with families as soon as plans are finalized.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System offers several non-traditional schools and programs of choice for students. Read below for more information on these innovative programs designed to provide families the opportunity to choose schools and programs that will help their children reach their potential. Please note that CMCSS will not be offering open enrollment in specific grade levels at select schools for the 2021-2022 school year. Unless otherwise noted, the application period is January 15 through February 15, 2021.

CMCSS K-12 Virtual

CMCSS K-12 Virtual is an at-home educational experience that provides families the opportunity for both structure and flexibility in learning. Students accepted into CMCSS K-12 Virtual will be immersed in direct instruction from CMCSS teachers and also provided the opportunity for independent application of skills. Previous CMCSS K-12 Virtual participants will be screened to determine successful participation in the virtual setting.

Eligibility: CMCSS incoming kindergartener through 12th grader who is self-motivated, organized, and, with the help of teachers and learning mentors, can take responsibility for their own learning
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2021
Application Link: Click here for the online application.

For more information, visit cmcss.net/k-12virtual.

Moore Magnet Elementary STEM School

STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and math, is embedded kindergarten through 5th grade at Moore. Students apply the knowledge they gain across the curriculum to solve challenges aligned with real-world problems tied to local community issues. Moore was one of the first schools in the state to receive the prestigious Tennessee STEM School Designation. Additionally, Moore was the first Montgomery County Green Certified School.

Eligibility: CMCSS incoming kindergartener through 5th grader
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2021
Application Link: Click here for the online application.

For more information, visit mooremagnetelem.cmcss.net.

Barksdale Elementary Spanish Immersion

The Spanish Immersion program is a proven method of educating children by immersing them in the Spanish language so they become bilingual. In a language immersion program, the classroom environment becomes the setting for language acquisition through subject content instruction, educational discourse, and social interactions. In the 2021-2022 school year, the Spanish Immersion Program will be enrolling a limited number of kindergarten students. Students who enter the program need to be committed to continuing Spanish dual-language learning through 5th grade at Barksdale.

Eligibility: CMCSS incoming kindergartner; early literacy benchmark screening required
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2021
Application Link: Click here for the online application.

For more information, visit cmcss.net/immersion.

Academies of CMCSS

College and career academies are schools within a school, aligned to a specific career theme. They are college and career preparatory small learning communities in which students focus their core class experience around a common career interest. Students share many of the same teachers, allowing educators to collaborate with each other in the coordination of lesson planning and classroom activities that align with the academy theme. Incoming high school freshmen will have the opportunity to apply to eight different college and career academies across the district. Rising sophomores interested in joining an Academy should talk with their school counselor.

Eligibility: CMCSS incoming 9th grader
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2021
Application Link: Click here for the online application.

For more information, visit cmcss.net/academies.

Middle College at Austin Peay State University (APSU)

Middle College is a unique collaborative program between CMCSS and Austin Peay State University. This program enables junior and senior high school students to complete a high school education while receiving direct and invaluable access to free college courses at the same time, while on a college campus. Through grants and scholarships, Middle College students are not required to pay tuition nor do they incur the expense of college textbooks.

Eligibility: CMCSS incoming 11th grader; 2.85 GPA or higher; maturity for a college environment; good attendance and behavior; and on track to graduate
Application Dates: Rolling Admissions Process
Application Link: Click here for the online application.

For more information, visit middlecollege.cmcss.net.

Early Technical College at Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT)

The Early Technical College at TCAT is a unique, hands-on learning experience that allows students a no-cost opportunity to work towards an industry certification while also completing the necessary high school courses for graduation in the state of TN. Students can choose one option from four pathways, earning up to two certifications for the chosen pathway. Students who qualify can use funding from TNPromise to complete TCAT diplomas following HS graduation.

Eligibility: CMCSS incoming 11th grader; 2.2 GPA or higher; maturity for a college environment; good attendance and behavior; and on track to graduate
Application Dates: Rolling Admission Process
Application Link: Click here for the online application.

For more information, visit cmcss.net/tcat.

CMCSS students’ report cards for the second nine weeks of the 2020-21 school year will be available on Monday, January 11. Since traditional students are learning remotely at this time, report cards will not be printed by the school. Report cards can be accessed online using the CMCSS Parent Self-Service webpage – parents.cmcss.net.

If you have any issues accessing your child’s report card using CMCSS Parent Self-Service, please contact your child’s enrolled school.

CMCSS will extend remote learning for all CMCSS traditional students through Fri., Jan. 22. The goal is to bring all traditional students back for in-person learning on Mon., Jan. 25.  However, the district has a contingency plan for a prioritized return for pre-k through sixth-grade traditional students it will be prepared to share later if the conditions do not improve for a full return.

On average, there have been around 300 more students per grade level impacted by COVID-19 cases in the district’s upper grades than lower grades. CMCSS would prioritize an in-person return for younger students due to the greater difficulty distance learning poses for our youngest students, the lower transmission rates among this age group, and the greater childcare burden placed on families with younger children. 

While many school systems across the state and nation had limited to no in-person learning over the fall semester, CMCSS faculty, staff, and administrators worked diligently to make traditional learning possible for the parents who chose that option for their children. Over the past week, Clarksville-Montgomery County’s community spread has remained above .8%, and this rate is projected to increase over the next few weeks due to holiday gatherings and travel. In the months before Winter Break, schools across the district struggled with staffing issues due to COVID-19 related leave and the substitute shortage. District leaders remain hopeful that this extended remote period will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and improve staffing issues so there are less disruptions to learning and schedules. The CMCSS Communicable Disease Team will continue reviewing data and updating families if there are any necessary changes.

At this time, all employees who are not on leave will be expected to report to their work location at their regularly scheduled time. The only exceptions will be some employee groups who will have alternative assignments communicated to them by their supervisors. This is subject to change based on the conditions of the pandemic.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a substitute teacher to help address the district’s staffing concerns, please visit cmcss.net/employment for more information. 

CMCSS will continue offering USDA approved no-cost meals through the end of the academic year in May 2021. Weekday meals are available Mondays from 1-2 p.m., and weekend meals are available Fridays from 1-2 p.m. at all CMCSS elementary schools.

Finally, please follow the guidance of our local, state, and national public health officials and medical experts to keep your family, friends, and neighbors healthy by reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Welcome back from our Winter Break.  We will have a Pajama Day on Monday, January 4, 2021.  Wear your school appropriate pajamas and slippers.  We will also watch “The Polar Express.”

We hope you will join in our 12 Days of Christmas Fun!

Thursday, December 3:  “Spirit of the Season” Day:  Wear your favorite holiday shirt or sweater!

Friday, December 4:  “Tree Topper” Day:  Dig out your favorite holiday hat or headband!

Monday, December 7:  “Holiday Mask” Day:  Decorate your mask with Holiday cheer!

Tuesday, December 8:  “Jingle Bells” Day:  Wear bells!

Wednesday, December 9:  “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” Day- Wear all white!

Thursday, December 10:  “Christmas Stocking” Day:  Wear your favorite holiday socks!

Friday, December 11:  “Deck the Halls” Day:  Wear your favorite holiday accessories!

Monday, December 14:  “Wacky Tacky Christmas” Day:  Wear  your wackiest Christmas gear!

Tuesday, December 15:  “Christmas Vacation” Hawaiian Day:  Wear your Hawaiian shirts, hula skirts, and sunglasses!

Wednesday, December 16:  “Candy Cane Lane” Day:  Wear red and white!

Thursday, December 17:  “Santa’s Helper” Day:  Dress as one of Santa’s reindeer or Elves.

Friday, December 18:  “Settling in for a Long Winter Nap” Day:  Wear your school appropriate pajamas and slippers.

Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase your yearbook!  Order your East Montgomery School yearbook today and take home the memories for a lifetime!  Order as many copies as you’d like by filling out the order form below or you can order online.  Online orders do have an extra service fee.  Yearbooks will be on sale until March 1, 2o21.  Order forms can be returned to your child’s teacher or you may complete the online order form.  Virtual students can drop their order forms off at the school.  Soft cover yearbooks are $15 and hard cover yearbooks are $20.  Cash and checks will be accepted.  Please make checks payable to “East Montgomery Elementary School.”  Personalized yearbooks are only available online.  For online orders, please visit:  http://pictavo.com  and click on parents.  Look on the bottom of the page and click on “GO TO NEW PICTAVO COMMUNITY.”  Enter the school #93383 and click “Let’s go,” and then shop my school.

Starting on Monday, September 28, car riders will be allowed to enter the building at 8:15, instead of 8:10. Car Circle ends promptly at 8:35 each morning. Afternoon Car Circle will still begin at 3:10.

It is time to kick off Read ‘N’ Quiz! This year’s theme is “Your Reading Adventure is Out There!” For those who are new to Read ‘N’ Quiz, it is a great way to encourage and create excitement in reading. A student reads a book, then takes a quick test to show comprehension and earns points towards fabulous prizes! PreK – 2^nd grade will receive 1 Book Buck for every 3 points earned. 3^rd – 5^th grade will earn 1 Book Buck for every 5 points earned. During each library specials, students will be given their Book Bucks and have the opportunity to spend them on some awesome prizes. Prizes for this month are listed below. Some prizes may change throughout the year depending on availability. So what are you waiting for? Read! Read! Read!

Important Car Circle Information! It is important to have your car tag hanging up and visable in your car, any time you are in Car Circle. If you do not have your car tag, you must park in the parking lot and walk into the school to sign your child out through the front office. Safety is our utmost concern! We cannot release a student in Car Circle to any car that does not have their car tag displayed. Please help your child memorize their car tag number. This simple request will make afternoon pick-up flow smoothly and as quickly as possible. Please also make sure you child is able to unbuckle their seat belt and knows how to open and close the car door. Parents and guardians are to remain in their cars at all times!