Cougar Chronicle

In this Issue:

Welcome Pg. 1

Red Wave Pg. 2

Thank You Pg. 3

Parent Council Pg. 4

Cell Phones Pg. 5

Calendar Pg. 6

PBIS Pg. 7

Parent Education Pg. 8

September 2016

HOW TO CONTACT US

ATTENDANCE LINE:

728-2400 ext 4610

CENTRAL OFFICE:

542-4060

Welcome Back

Volunteer Opportunities

School Store ~ Volunteers are needed for the school store on

Wednesdays during lunch 11-12:35 and Monday-Friday

afterschool 3:25-3:40 pm.

Contact Erica in the FRC if you would like to volunteer porter-

frc@mcps.k12.mt.us 728-2400 ext 4613.

Tuesday, 9/6/16 – 7th & 8th grade Soccer begins Wednesday, 9/14/16 – PICTURE DAY Thursday, 9/15/16, 6th Grade Field Trip to UM 1:00 p.m. Monday, 9/26/16 – No School Professional Development Day Friday, 9/30/16 – Midterm/Quarter 1 Monday, 9/19/16 – Flagship Begins

Porter News Page 2

Check out our C.S. Porter Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Porter-Middle

Active 6 Active 6 is a Free program for all Missoula County 6th graders, stu-dents receive: Free Membership to the Y for the school year plus the summer. Register Today at the YMCA 3000 S. Russell For more information contact: 406-532-6281 active6@ymcamissoula.org http://ymcamissoula.org/active-6/

Dates for Red Wave Marching Band (grades 7-8): Red Wave Rehearsals at Washington Middle School (7th and 8th Grades) Thursday, September 15 - 3pm-4pm

(everyone), 4pm-5pm (percussion only) Wednesday, September 21 - 4pm-5pm Tuesday, September 27 - 4pm-5pm Thursday, September 29 – 3pm-4pm PERFORMANCE: UM Homecoming Parade – October 1 (9:45am arrival time)

Page 3 Volume 1, Issue 7

The CS Porter Robotics Team is ready to kick off the new season and we need a few

recruits.

CS Porter Robotics Team applications are available either at the office or by

Mr. Edge’s door. Applications are due to the office or

Mr. Edge by the end of the day Wednesday, Sept. 14th. Last year’s team

members need not apply. You are on the team!! See Mr. Edge for any ques-

tions.

C.S. Porter Soccer starts on Tuesday, Sept. 6th at 3:30 We will meet in the Gibson Gym. Have your gear on and be ready to start practice! You must have your $25 fee and your waiver turned in to the front office before the end of the week! Scholarships are available. See you Tuesday! Mrs.Vallejo and Mr. Shepherd

In Appreciation: A big thank you to the Thompson family for grilling at the

Welcome Back BBQ the Parent Council for donating the hamburgers.

Thank you Shane Clouse and Pink Grizzly for donating the mums for our plant-

ers in front of the school.

Porter News Page 4

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

The procedure for handling medications in the school is as follows:

1. Most medications, prescription and non-prescription, can and should be administered at

home.

2. If a child must take medication at school, it must be:

* Sent in the original container unopened

* Labeled with the student's name

* Over the counter medication needs to be accompanied by a form filled out and signed by a parent. (Forms are

available at the school office)

* Prescription medication needs to be accompanied by a form filled out and signed by a parent and doctor.

(Forms are available at the school office)

* Kept at the office, not in the classroom or in the student’s possession

* The student can carry inhalers with written permission from doctor and parent.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Parent Council Meeting Tuesday October 4th at 6:00pm in the

Library.

We need your help! All are welcome!

If you'd like to be added to the parent council email list please contact us at :

porterparentcouncil@hotmail.com

Parents help with school events such as dances, concerts, dinners, class activities and field trips. Any amount

of time you can volunteer is appreciated.

Eagle News Page 5 Page 5 Volume 1, Issue 7

5 Back-to-School Rules for Cell Phone-Carrying Kids (and 1 for Parents) Caroline Knorr Parenting Editor Common Sense Medial

Whether your kid is heading to school toting a brand-new device or is already a cell-phone pro, it's important to make sure everyone is

on the same page about what "responsible use" means. You can keep an eye on kids at home (kind of), but at school, they're on their own.

As with any kind of boundary setting, these conversations can be tense. Fortunately, there are only five rules for them to remember -- and

one for you, to show that you're all in this together. (Tweens and teens can also play our animated, interactive Digital Compass game to

pick up digital-citizen skills.)

Here are our key guidelines for cell-phone carrying kids:

1. Respect the school's rules. Some schools permit students to use their phones at certain times: between classes, at lunch, on the play-

ground, even occasionally in class. Abusing this privilege could jeopardize your classmates' freedom. They'll be mad at you, and your

parents could rightly suspend your phone use.

2. Pick up when it's Mom or Dad. Ugh, it's the parents calling again. Well, guess who's paying for your phone? When your mom, dad, or

caregiver call, it's probably very important, so don't send it to voicemail.

3. Ask permission before downloading anything. Even if you have your own app store account,get sign off on any apps you download.

If something has in-app purchases, those costs could wind up on your parents' bill -- so they need to know what extra charges a download

may incur. They also need to make sure it's age appropriate and reasonably good for you.

4. Don't flaunt it. Owning a cell phone is a privilege that not every kid has access to. It's OK to be proud of your phone -- it's an expen-

sive piece of equipment for which you've been given responsibility -- but showing off could make other people feel bad. Also, it could get

stolen.

5. Use your phone for good, not evil. You'll see all kinds of misbehavior and mischief regarding phones in school. Set an example for

others by being respectful and responsible with yours. Ask permission before taking someone's picture. Take a moment to consider wheth-

er a text or video could hurt, annoy, or embarrass someone else. Turn off the phone when you're supposed to. Don't let the phone be

more important than someone standing right in front of you.

And here's our essential rule for parents:

Don't text your kid during the school day. Unless it's a real emergency -- like, you're going to the hospital -- resist the urge to text your

kid during the school day. Kids have survived for many, many years without talking to their parents while they're at school -- and they

need to be allowed independence. And if your kid texts you, make sure he's not breaking any rules to do so.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/5-back-to-school-rules-for-cell-phone-carrying-kids-and-1-for-parents?utm_source=082815%

20Parent%20Default&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly#

Page 6 Porter News

FRC News

What is in the FRC (Family Resource Center)? Books, videos and games! You can check them

out to take home. Information Galore! Call or stop by anytime to read the paper, get a cup of coffee

or to volunteer. Erica 728-2400 ext 4613, Room 206, porterfrc@mcps.k12.mt.us. Check out the

FRC website link from the C.S. Porter school website.

We have a large clothing exchange area in the FRC please stop by to check it out. If you have

any athletic shorts, sweat pants or gym shoes your child has outgrown we are always in need of

those.

The Backpack Food Program is starting for this year. Please contact Erica in the FRC if you are

interested in having a bag of non-perishable food sent home with your child for the weekend.

Dear CS Porter Middle School Parents,

Welcome to the 2016–2017 school year! CS Porter Middle School is a community of learners committed to excellence in a posi-

tive, safe environment. As a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school, CS Porter Middle School has a set of

expectations that have been agreed upon by our staff as an effective way to be proactive in supporting positive student be-

havior.

Students at CS Porter Middle School will be learning about these school-wide behavioral expectations at the beginning of the

year, and we will periodically remind students about these expectations throughout the year.

As a Positive Family Support (PFS) school, we know that the connection between home and school is essential, and we ask you

to partner with us to support the success and wellbeing of all our students. We know that students will learn school expectations

best if these positive behaviors are noticed at school and at home. Below, please see examples of our school expectation along

with what the particular behaviors should look like at the middle school. For more detail about our school expectations, please

review your Student/Parent Handbook/Planner with your student.

Be Safe:

Walk only.

Keep hands, feet, and objects to self.

Pay attention to surroundings and be aware of others.

Be Respectful:

Be an active listener.

Use appropriate language and volume.

Be courteous and respectful to everyone in class.

Be Responsible:

Be on time.

Be prepared.

Complete and turn in assignments.

In addition to helping students know what our expectations are and supporting them in meeting these expectations, being a PBIS

school also means that we have a clear system for rewarding students’ positive behaviors. At our school, students are

acknowledged for exhibiting the behaviors that we expect by earning Cougar Coupons and special privileges. Please ask your

student to tell you more about these opportunities. If your student does not know about Cougar Coupons, encourage him/her to

ask their CREW teacher or Mr. Solberg.

Please take this opportunity to talk to your child about the expectations at school and the importance of continuing to demon-

strate safe, respectful, and responsible behaviors at school and at home. With your continued support and involvement, CS

Porter Middle School will remain a school where students can feel good about themselves and excel.

We’re looking forward to a great school year!

Positive Family Support V 3.0

Porter News Page 8

Parent Education Series

The Parent Education Series offers free classes at MCPS in conjunc-

tion with The Lifelong Learning Center. Classes will discuss a range

of topics from self-esteem to your child’s temperament. Your child

does NOT need to attend any of the schools for you to participate. Classes are 2 hrs. long. Childcare is

free. Individual Training Request forms for early childhood credits are available. Call 721.7690 to register or

online at the Life Long Learning Center class website www.MissoulaClasses.com.www.MissoulaClasses.com.

Kelso’s Choice assumes that all young people are capable of becoming peacemakers. Parents will gain the tools

to teach their children conflict management skills, thereby helping them become their own peacemakers. Child-

care is free.

Helping Your Child Handle Peer Pressure

Tuesday, September 20, 6:30-8:30PM

Presented at Paxson Elementary School

Responding to peer pressure is part of human nature but some kids are better equipped to resist

than others. This workshop will identify and define what peer pressure is, why it is hard to re-

sist, and to help foster them to think for themselves and walk away when need be! Childcare is

free. Individual Training Request forms for early childhood credits are available.

Smoother Mornings

Tuesday, September 27, 6:30-8:30 PM

Presented at Hawthorne Elementary School

Morning time is often filled with stress and conflict. Parents are trying to get everyone out of

the house on time and children often have a different agenda. Children can and need to be part

of the solution. When children are involved in establishing the morning routine they are more

invested in making it work. Children are capable (age-appropriately) of managing their time

and being helpful. In this class we will discuss tools for setting clear expectations and natural

consequences, maintaining consistency, and thus simultaneously eliminating our nagging and

empowering our children-­– reducing morning tension! Childcare is free. Individual Training Re-

quest forms for early childhood credits are available.

Eagle News Page 9 Page 9

Attendance Hotline Remember to call the Attendance Hotline 728-2400 extension 4610 if your child is sick. You can the attendance hotline 24 hours a day, every day.

CS Porter Student Council is up and running! We have meetings every Wednesday morning at 7:30 am in Ms. Wolferman's room. We will be giving speeches and voting for officers on 09/14. Student Council will be updating information on the school website soon and hopefully often!

Porter playground is going to have a really cool piece of equipment on our playground soon. 2015-2016 Student Council purchased a Gaga Ball Pit. It is going to be the ac-tivity that keeps people moving, having fun, playing hard and cooperating well. If you would like to help put the pit together, please contact Korey Wolferman via email at kwolferman@mcps.k12.mt.us.

All parents that are interested in volunteering in any capacity at our school dances, please contact Korey Wolferman via email kwolferman@mcps.k12.mt.us and let her know how you would like to be involved. We appreciate all the adults that enjoy vol-unteering!

Upcoming Music Events:

6th Grade Band/Orchestra/Choir Concert - Tuesday October 25th @ 7pm in the Cougar Gym. Students in their music rooms at 6:30pm

7th Grade Band/Orchestra/Choir Concert – Wednesday October 26th @ 7pm in the Cougar Gym. Students in their music rooms at 6:30pm

8th Grade Band/Orchestra/Choir Concert – Thursday October 27th @ 7pm in the Cougar Gym. Students in their music rooms at 6:30pm

All students must leave campus after school. Students may not hang out between school and the concerts.