October 2019 Principal Coffee Recap: The Journey Continues

Dr. A’s Principal Coffee was a pretty straightforward affair.  Read on to hear what’s upcoming for our little middle school angels.

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Better, Not Bitter Assembly

As part of Cedar Park’s anti-bullying week, motivational speaker Jesse LeBeau and his team visited Cedar Park to spread the message of taking action and becoming “better, not bitter.”  Watch Jesse’s story here, or better yet, check out the pictures of our kids ACTUALLY ENJOYING an assembly. 

Other anti-bullying activities included students adding their handprints & personal pledge to 12-foot banners, stating what they’ll stand up against.  Teachers also brought in cultural identity lessons to help educate students.

Middle School Boundary Roadshow

The 12 applicants to sit on the middle school boundary advisory committee have been chosen (two from each existing middle school).  Those meetings have started and at least half are open to the public and will be live-streamed on youtube. 

This BSD boundary road show will be at Cedar Park on Thursday, 12/5 from 6:30-8:30pm.  A full listing of events, FAQs, videos and other documents can be found at the BSD Middle School Boundary webpage.

Testing Takes Over: But Does it Matter?

8th graders will be taking the Pre-ACT8 on November 20th.  This is a district switch from the prior test, the PSAT, meaning we are back to finding baseline data.  Cedar Park had been seeing year over year growth in the PSAT. The Pre-ACT measures English, math, reading, and science, and includes information on plans and goals after high school as well as college readiness skills. 

Currently in BSD, students will take the Pre-ACT again in 10th grade and the ACT in 11th grade.  Students can also opt to take the SAT. More info about assessments can be found at BSD’s Assessment homepage.

TAG testing will also be taking place in November, on the 12th & 15th.  Forms for parents to fill out to have their student tested were sent home in the newsletter and are available in the office.  However, TAG is different from Summa, with different levels of distinction. Summa students are sent to a different program at Meadow Park.  TAG students have their learning differentiated in the classroom. 

But does it really matter?  Well, this led to quite a discussion about Summa, TAG, and taking higher level classes in high school.  The general consensus agreed that while Summa and TAG identification can be helpful in middle school, they are not necessarily required to take honors, AP, or IB classes at Beaverton or Sunset.

Since Beaverton & Sunset have distinct programming and offerings, it’s easier for parents to check out the individual schools themselves to see the various prerequisites, pathways, honors, and AP or IB options.  

Sunset Academic Program Planning 2019-20 (pdf)

Beaverton Academic Planning Guide 2019-20 (website)

Other Interesting Nuggets You’d Know if You’d Been Here:

  • The PACK store is on its way back!  Two generous parent volunteers have offered to chair this CPMS tradition.  Students receive tokens from teachers & staff for good behavior & positive qualities.  Students can then use those tokens to purchase fun stuff at the PACK store, open a couple days a month.  Because token hoarding is a real thing, Dr. A is offering pop-up donut shops and whole pizzas every now and then.

  • BSD is committed to creating a more comprehensive middle school experience, meaning middle school are working to better align their programming and grading practices.  Being an MYP schools means we have an 8-point grading rubric, which allows for nuance in grading scale something other middle schools do not have. BSD will continue to work toward equitable offerings at all their neighborhood middle schools.

  • The Parentvue/Canvas/Google Classroom conundrum continues.  Just a refresher: teachers are not mandated to use a specific platform to share classroom info.  While all must upload grades into Parentvue, any other online class management choice is up to them.  While Canvas & Google Classroom are nice for updates & assignments, look to Parentvue (especially now after last week’s grading day) for updated scores. 

  • Our new Cedar Park sign is in the works!  Mock-ups will be heading to Shannon soon.

See you all Thursday, 12/12 at 9am for the next exciting session with Dr. Anderson!

CPMS 5K Enjoys Success, Within $3000 of Goal

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Our fourth annual Cedar Park 5K crushed it on 10/3, as 980+ students ran, jogged, or lesisurely walked (8th grade-- looking at you!) our 5K route. We had flamingos, bubbles, music, some torrential downpours, and of course, energetic & awesome parents and staff who lined the course.

This year, our 5K team raised the bar with a $55,000 goal (a $5000 increase from last year's target) and our community has risen to the challenge. With our confirmed matching funds, we are 95% to our highest summit yet, with just $3000 left to FULLY FUND our 2019-20 budget and have the kids earn their all-school ice cream party.


Be a Hero & Donate to our ONLY Fundraiser, the CPMS 5K 

You still have options to take us over the top of our 5K mountain:

  • CASH/CHECK: Please send your cash/check donation in either a 5K pledge envelope (found in the front office) or in any envelope from home. Please include the pledge form and clearly mark the outside as "Cedar Park 5K." Envelopes can be turned into the front office through Friday, 10/25.


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Our Teachers ARE the Party

Not only do these teaching warriors WILLINGLY FACE hundreds of tweens and teens each day, they also aren't afraid to get silly and show their school spirit.

THANKS to all the staff members who gave us all whiplash and a good chuckle. While we appreciated everyone who dressed up, teachers earning the spirit awards for best costumes were David Waldrip, Darla McClelland, Liv Cruse, Kaitlyn Hitsman, & Melissa Ackerman. They will receive a pastry & drink of their choice, courtesy of New Seasons.

Jonathon O. & Hannah H.

Jonathon O. & Hannah H.

Congrats to our Fastest Runners!

Congrats to these hard-working students who pushed themselves to avoid their meandering classmates and finish first in their class. This year's course was closer to a LEGIT 5K in terms of distance (we added a half lap), so bravo to this crew for taking it all in a (rather fast) stride.

6th Grade: Luther B. & Jane M.

7th Grade: Jonathon O. & Hannah H.

8th Grade: Davis E. & Sophia W.

Special shoutout to 8th grader Davis E., who had the fastest time of all 986 CPMS students!

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Parent & Volunteer Turnout Was Legendary Yet Again

Thank you to the over 50 parents & community members who showed up to manage, support, & corral the 980+ students unleashed during our Cedar Park 5K. There's a hundred things on your to-do list, so THANK YOU for making CPMS a priority last 10/3.

Special shout out to our entire 5K leadership team, including Bettina Jeszenszky (chair), Erika Hammond & Jenna Dornblaser (day of logistics), Hannah Donohue (promotion), Katherine Rule & Tiffany Hahm (prizes), Brenda Swanson (donations), and Teresa Sem (matching funds).

The success of the 5K is a collective effort of staff, students, volunteers, sponsors, and the greater CPMS community. Even if you weren't with us on 10/3, all your time, donations, and effort did not go unnoticed. 

5K Corporate Sponsors Add Valuable Boost

Our corporate sponsors have been very generous and collectively added $11,250 to our fundraising efforts-- 20% of our goal! When you patronize the following businesses, please thank them for supporting excellence in education in our community.

Local Donations Made Event & Excitement Possible

Massive thanks to the following businesses for their generous donations for this year's 5K effort:

  • Columbia Sportswear

  • Franz Bakery

  • Handel's Ice Cream

  • Jamba Juice

  • Mod Pizza

  • New Seasons Market

  • Top Golf

  • Walmart Neighborhood Market

  • Winco

Matching Funds Make the Difference

Unsure if your company matches? Head to www.cedarparkptc.org/matching and use the “Double the Donation” search engine to look up your company.

Nike/Columbia/Intel Families: Feel free to donate directly to the Cedar Park PTC via the Benevity portal. Forward the confirmation to 5k@cedarparkptc.org. 

***Remember to submit matching funds requests to employers for your 5K donations promptly as some employers, such as Intel, have only a 60 day window to submit.

This fundraiser was most certainly, POWERED BY YOU, Cedar Park. Bravo.

Family Fun Night Continues to Grow!

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Cedar Park's annual Family Fun Night once again nailed it as a successful fall community-building event.

Stations included slime, friendship bracelets, ozobots, button making, an escape room, a cupcake walk, plus much more. Next year, our CPMS admins hope to expand this event even more.

Huge thanks to all our CPMS staff who hosted these stations & put on an incredible event for our Cedar Park parents and students.

Shoutout to our parent Art Lit leadership, Melissa Manos, Melanie Odom, and Maureen Louie, for creating the uber-popular button station. Your effort was noticed & appreciated! 

Also, Tona, those multiple emails added much-needed comic relief to a slow Thursday morning :) #loveyagirl #beenthere

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October 2019 PTC Board Meeting Summary: CPMS Off to Awesome Start

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Our October PTC Board meeting had a huge amount of useful info, including upcoming school news, plus fundraising and event updates. 

Read on to hear all the latest & greatest, brought to you in easy-to-read bullet points.  

Principal’s Report, Shannon Anderson

  • Dr. A is already soliciting high schools for 8th grade info in spring.  This year both Dr. A & the PTC will be more proactive in trying to get info earlier from both Beaverton & Sunset. The 2/24 PTC community meeting will hopefully (fingers crossed) include both Sunset & Beaverton reps.

  • The PTC-funded whiteboard tables are in & the kids/teachers are loving them.  With 38 tables here & assembled, the 6th and 8th grades are complete.  7th grade math classrooms should be done by December. One extra bonus has been how much room the new tables have created in the classroom.  

  • The remaining budget from the New Student Welcome line item (spent on our event last August) will be used by counselors for lunch with students who come to CPMS mid-year.  These types of outreach touches are part of the counselors focus on welcoming and acclimating our new students who move in throughout the year.

  • Eight apple tvs were recently ordered.  These classroom upgrades are going in waves, with about half of them already completed.  The goal is to have Apple TVs in every classroom by next year. All CPMS teachers will be receiving new computers in 2020-21 and Dr. Anderson wants to be sure everything is compatible and ready for that upgrade next fall

  • Additional balls have been purchased for recess. This is an ongoing need as balls are constantly being lost, popped, or worn to death.

  • The grade-level PTC-funded experiences are already being planned.  Dr. A met with each grade level to brainstorm new ideas for these experiences, which typically take place in the spring.  Ideas tossed about included the beach, a theater, OMSI, and new science vendors.

  • Outdoor School for 6th grade will be this spring.  No official dates yet, but it will be March or later.

  • 8th grade has a new team: Atlantis.  In order to limit the 40+ class sizes in 8th grade science, Cedar Park has been granted a new science teacher, Ms. Howell-Kubler.  This meant that a large portion of 8th graders had a schedule change and the creation of a new team.

  • Cedar Park’s sign rebuild (funded by the PTC) has finally been given a project manager through the District. Dr. Anderson submitted some ideas, but they will come back with options within the next month.  Dr. A is hoping to have a brick and mortar sign outside the school, with four lines of marquee that can be easily changed, as opposed to using the gigantic ladder needed to change the sign on Cedar Hill Blvd.  Side note: Our previous wooden sign outside the school had a decades long life before it rotted away & was removed over a year ago.

  • All of the middle school students will get new chromebooks next school year. If students are having trouble with their chromebooks, they should see the library staff.

  • Cedar Park was recently awarded a community grant which will be used to fund recess games that will inspire more collaboration with students, such as life size jenga & connect four, cornhole etc. This was made possible through PIzza Schmizza’s H.E.L.P. outreach program.

  • The staff’s main focus year is socio/emotional learning.  The teachers are gaining professional development in this area and the students are learning emotional regulation, mindfulness, and breathing exercises.

  • The mIddle school boundary process begins next week.  Two reps from each middle school will be chosen. Some meetings will be open to the public.  You can learn more about the process here.

  • Family Fun Night was a success. Stations included slime, a cupcake walk, buttons, an escape room with over 150 attendees. The switch to the fall last year has made a huge difference and the admins are hoping to expand next year.

  • Cedar Park’s fifth grade open house will be Wednesday, 11/20 at 6pm.  They plan on having a presentation to students and parents, followed by a scavenger hunt/find-your-own adventure type event for families to explore the school.

  • The District is in need of parent feedback for their Student Success Act Survey.  This is a crucial step that is needed in order for BSD to apply for the state funds from the recently passed Student Success Act.  Read more about this bill and find a link to the survey here.

  • The BEF phone-a-thon is going on this week.  The Beaverton Educational Foundation does a lot of great work for all our district’s schools, including several grants and projects at Cedar Park in recent years.  So if you get the call, consider donating!

  • Next week (beginning the 21s) is an anti-bullying event promoting kindness & courage.  On Wed, 10/23, students are encouraged to wear orange.  Jessie Lebau will also be performing at an all-school assembly with a message of taking action and changing your life for the better.

  • Science teachers are up for a broader, better publicized Science Festival this January. Various ideas were tossed around and parent involvement may be necessary to create a more community-minded event. Possibly holding a parent-child portion before school was discussed, or possibly having a dedicated time during the day for each grade. 

President’s Report, Bettina Jeszenszky

  • 5K updates: While we have not reached our $55k goal, we are quickly closing in on the amount raised last year.  Historically, we are still knocking it out of the park, as this 5K is only in its 4th year and continues to grow and pull in a healthy amount for Cedar Park.

  • 5K notes: Things to consider for next year include reusing athletic.net timing as their service was excellent, attempting to better work with THPRD about their cross country schedule, possibly stapling 5K envelopes to the student schedules at Wolf Day, and seeing about adding ourselves to PayPal’s direct charity list.

Treasurer’s Report, Skye Kutansky

  • Year to Date Numbers:  5K expenses are looking right on target (prior to pledgestar fees), art lit has been spending money in prep for their first project, and staff appreciation will be catering a meal for the staff over conferences. Our expenses are around $11k this fiscal year (the white boards being the largest expense). Check out our YTD spending here.

Directors of Volunteers Report, Jenna Dornblaser

  • We have 20+ more volunteers added to our system this month

  • We are still in need of an 8th grade social coordinator

  • The PACK store co-chairs have been filled

  • Clothes Closet needs more volunteers for the late afternoon shift

And that’s all she wrote!  Join us for our October PTC Community Meeting on Monday, 10/28 at 6:30pm.  This meeting will begin with a Canvas/Parentvue tutorial for parents to better learn these platforms.  Plus… cookies. See you then!

Sunset Girls Basketball Tryouts, 10/24 & 10/27

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The Sunset Girls Basketball program is open to all 5th through 8th grade girls who live within the Sunset High School boundary.

Tryouts will be held:

Thursday, 10/24

  • 5th & 6th grade: 6-7:30pm

  • 7th & 8th: 7:30-9pm

Sunday, 10/27

  • 5th & 6th: 5-6:30pm

  • 7th & 8th: 6:30-8pm

Girls should plan to attend both nights of tryouts.

More info, including fees & season info, can be found at https://sunsetgirlsyouthbasketball.sportngin.com