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Cinnaminson Middle School

#Pirate P.R.I.D.E.

October Newsletter

Posted Date: 09/30/26 (06:00 PM)


CMS Crow's Nest Chronicle title graphic with a pirate logo and school building.

October 2026

Important Dates at CMS

A calendar page with a red-circled date and a sticky note reading 'Mark you calendar!' with a pirate illustration and 'IMPORTANT CMS DATES' text above.
October 5th-9th: Week of Respect 
October 9th: Wear Blue and Gold for Bullying Prevention (more info below)
October 13th: BOE Meeting 7pm @ CMS Media Center
October 14th: CMS Picture Day- (more info below)
October 15h: CMSHSA Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night
October 16th: 7th & 8th Grade Harvest Dance (more info below)
October 30th: 6th Grade Halloween Dance (more info below)
 
Text reads 'MAKING CMS PROUD' over a vintage map background with a ship and compass.

Student Spotlight

A four-panel collage shows 7th-grade students creating planetary chalk art outdoors, including a drawing labeled 'JUPITER'.
A poster titled '8th Grade Pancake Lab' features photos of students cooking and a drawing of a pirate chef.
 
A pirate-themed banner on an aged paper background with the text 'SMILE!' below a cartoon pirate illustration.

Picture Day

October 14th- CMS PICTURE DAY

You don’t need to pre-order or send money on Picture Day.  All students need to bring is their smile!

Here’s how it works:
  • Within about 5 days after Picture Day, you’ll get an email* from Lors Photography with a link to preview your child’s photo.
  • You’ll be able to see the picture before you order and choose from different backgrounds and package options.
  • Order within 7 days to get the standard discounted price and have your photos delivered to the school.
  • Orders placed after 7 days will be mailed directly to your home (with a small shipping fee).

We hope this system makes things simple and convenient for our families!

*Guardian 1's email listed on Genesis will receive the email with the photo and link to order. 
The word 'RESPECT' is centered in bold black letters with red shadowing on an aged, tan parchment background.

Pirate P.R.I.D.E at CMS

A graphic displays the word 'PRIDE' with associated values: Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Empathy.

October’s Focus is RESPECT

This month, our focus is Respect—treating others, ourselves, and our school with care.
For Students:
  • Use kind words and listen to others.
  • Respect personal space, belongings, and differences.
  • Follow school expectations and care for our building.
For Families:
  • Model kindness and respectful communication.
  • Encourage children to consider others’ feelings.
  • Recognize and praise respectful behavior.
Together, we can help make CMS a welcoming place where everyone feels valued and respected!
 
A vintage map background features the text 'MARK YOUR CALENDAR' in bold black letters with red outlines.

Upcoming Student Events

A flyer for a 7th and 8th grade harvest dance on October 16th, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 at CMS.
A flyer for a 6th grade Halloween dance featuring Halloween decorations like pumpkins, bats, and spiders.
The 7th/8th Grade Dance will be held on October 16th from 6:00–8:00 PM
The 6th Grade After-School Dance will be from 2:45-5:00. 
Permission slips will be handed out in the homeroom the week before the respective dance. 
 
The words "CMS ATHLETICS" are displayed in bold, red-outlined black font on a parchment-like background.

Sports Updates

Winter Sports Physicals

Free sports physicals will be offered after school on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, in the nurse’s office. Physicals will be available until the 3:30 p.m. late bus.
Sports physicals are valid for 365 days from the date of the last physical exam on file. Parents must submit a hard copy of the sports physical packet. Emailed copies will not be accepted.
There is no need to call for an appointment; the submitted forms will serve as the student’s appointment. Please note that the sports physical is not complete until the student has been examined by our school physician.
Before submitting the packet, please ensure that:
  • The Health History form is fully completed in pen.
  • The student’s name and date of birth are written on every page.
  • If the student-athlete requires an inhaler, an Asthma Action Plan is submitted at least one week before the exam.
  • If the student has life-threatening allergies, an Allergy Plan is also submitted.
Students should confirm their physical with Mrs. Danielle Black, School Nurse. For additional information or questions, please contact Mr. Meile.
A collage of students participating in various fall sports, including soccer and field hockey.
Fall sports are in full swing at CMS! We’re so proud of all our student-athletes who came out, participated, and are having a great time!
 
A banner with vintage map styling features the text "COUNSELING CORNER" in bold black letters with red outlines.

Counseling Corner

A Cinnaminson Middle School poster for World Day of Bullying Prevention, featuring a cartoon pirate mascot and text encouraging students to dress in blue and gold.
Dear Middle School Families,
Every October, CMS recognizes the Week of Respect. During the Week of Respect, our school will join schools across New Jersey in recognizing the importance of creating a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment for every student. 
Our goal is to help students:
  • Treat others with kindness and respect
  • Celebrate differences and value inclusion
  • Practice responsible digital citizenship
  • Learn how to recognize, prevent, and report bullying
Families play an important role in reinforcing these messages at home. Consider asking your child:
  • What does respect look like at school?
  • How can you help someone who feels left out?
  • What can you do if you witness bullying?
By working together, we can help all students feel connected, supported, and empowered to make positive choices every day.
Thank you for partnering with us to promote a culture of respect and kindness.
Sincerely,

Your Counseling Team
Mrs. Emig-Tait (Last names A-K)
Mrs. Gwen Luecke (Last names L-Z)
Mr. Bill Sinn ( School Social Worker)
Mrs. Jennifer Berry (Counseling Secretary) 

NASA Astronomer Visiting Lecture - Open to the Community!


Wednesday, October 14th
3-6pm, Mount Laurel Campus, Votta Hall
Free admission and open to the public! Experience a fun event with space-related activities including a presentation at 5pm from Antara R. Basu-Zych, a UMBC astrophysicist working with NASA and specializing in X-ray emission and black holes. There will be an inflatable planetarium, telescope and astronomy-based demonstrations. No RSVP is required, but additional information can be found here - RCBC NASA Astronomer Visiting Lecture
A promotional poster for an astronomy event featuring a starry galaxy background, a telescope silhouette, and event details.
A promotional flyer for BCIT Discovery Night on Oct 22, 2026, featuring student activities and campus details.
 
A vintage-style banner with the text 'A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE' in bold, red-outlined letters.

Nurse Update

Are You Planning to Get Your Flu Shot?

Now is a good time to get your flu vaccine. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine each year, with rare exceptions. Getting vaccinated can reduce your risk of getting the flu and can also reduce the risk of serious complications if you do become sick.
September and October are generally good times to get vaccinated, and the CDC recommends being vaccinated by the end of October if possible. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for your body to develop antibodies that provide protection.
In addition to getting your flu vaccine, everyday habits can help reduce the spread of illness. Wash your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, get plenty of rest, and stay home when you are sick.
Please monitor your child for symptoms of illness each morning. If your child is sick, please keep them home and follow your healthcare provider’s guidance. If you have questions about when your child should return to school, please contact the school nurse.
For more information:

Head Lice: What Parents Need to Know

Head lice are common among school-aged children. They do not spread disease and are not related to cleanliness. Head lice crawl and are most often spread through direct head-to-head contact. Sharing hats, brushes, combs, or towels can also spread lice, although this is less common.
To check for head lice, look closely at the scalp and hair, especially behind the ears and at the back of the neck. Look for live, crawling lice and nits (eggs) attached close to the scalp. A fine-tooth lice comb can be helpful when checking the hair.
If live lice are found, treatment should be started. Over-the-counter and prescription treatments are available. Follow the treatment directions carefully, including any instructions about repeat treatment. Continue checking the hair after treatment as directed.
Can My Child Go to School?
Yes. Children with head lice do not need to be sent home early. After treatment has begun, they can return to school. Nits may remain in the hair after treatment and are not a reason to keep a child out of school. The CDC and National Association of School Nurses do not support “no-nit” policies.
There is no need to extensively clean your home. Focus on treating the affected person and checking household members and close contacts.
If you are unsure whether your child has head lice or have questions about treatment, please contact your healthcare provider or school nurse.
Information adapted from guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Association of School Nurses (NASN).

 
A vintage-style graphic announces October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month, set against an aged parchment background.

Dyslexia Awareness Month

Definition
A general term for disorders that involve difficulty in learning to read or interpret words, letters and other symbols but that do not affect general intelligence.
Facts
  • Dyslexia is the most common learning disability. Individuals with this medical condition have difficulty in the areas of language processing
  • 1 in 5 people suffer from dyslexia.
  • About 70 to 85% of children who are placed in special education for learning disabilities are dyslexic.
  • Dyslexia does not reflect an overall defect in language, but a localized weakness within the phonologic module of the brain (where sounds of language are put together to form words or break words down into sounds).
  • People with dyslexia are usually more creative and have a higher level of intelligence.
  • Those with dyslexia use only the right side of the brain to process language, while non-dyslexics use three areas on the left side of the brain to process language.
  • Children have a 50% chance of having dyslexia if one parent has it. And a 100% chance if both parents have it.
  • Dyslexia ranges from mild to severe. Around 40% of people with dyslexia also have ADHD. And those with dyslexia use about 5 times more energy to complete mental tasks.
  • Dyslexia is not a disease so there is no cure. It’s a learning disability that includes difficulty in the use/processing of linguistic and symbolic codes, alphabetic letters representing speech sounds or numbers and quantities.
  • Dyslexics do not “see” words backwards. The “b-d” letter reversal for example is mainly caused by deficits in interpreting left and right.
  • The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 15% of the population has dyslexia.
Famous People with Dyslexia:
  • Jennifer Aniston
  • Keanu Reeves
  • Albert Einstein
  • Anderson Cooper
  • Octavia Spencer
  • Steven Spielberg
  • Thomas Edison
  • Bella Thorne
  • Keira Knightly
  • Channing Tatum
  • Richard Branson
  • Whoopi Goldberg
Recommended Literature
Possible books to use with your students to help explain Dyslexia:
  • Ages 5-8: It’s Called Dyslexia (Written by: Jennifer Moore-Mallinos)
  • Ages 10+:  My name is Brain Brian (Written by: Jeanne Betancourt)
Click on the link to find a suggested list of Dyslexia Friendly Books.  The following books are considered dyslexia friendly for ages 9+.  They are all specifically written to help readers who have visual stress and for dyslexic readers to enjoy.   

 
A banner with vintage map background reading Cinnaminson Middle School Home and School Association.

CMSHSA NEWS

A collage of five different crewneck sweatshirts, each featuring customized Cinnaminson Pirates designs and patterns.
This is a combined sale effort to benefit CEHASA & CMSHSA!

All orders will be submitted to the vendor on 10/2 to be made then will take a few weeks for processing.

These items will not be held in our inventory.


If you could share this in your communication pieces, I’d appreciate it!

Thank you for your support!!
A flyer for Cinnaminson Middle School Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A on Thursday, October 15th, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
A promotional flyer for Shady Brook Farm's FallFest fundraiser, featuring event details, dates, and promo code CES2026 for Cinnaminson Elementary.
 
A vintage map background features a pirate-themed logo for 'PG PROJECT GRADUATION'.

Project Graduation – Volunteers Needed!

Project Graduation is a volunteer-led committee dedicated to providing our graduating seniors with a safe, drug- and alcohol-free celebration following graduation. Throughout the year, the committee works to raise funds and plan an exciting and memorable event where our graduates can celebrate together in a safe environment.

We are currently looking for parents and community members to join the Project Graduation Committee. You do not need to have a senior—or even a student at the high school—to get involved! We welcome volunteers from all of our schools and grade levels.
While we are busy planning this year’s Project Graduation, this is an event that every Cinnaminson student will eventually have the opportunity to enjoy when they graduate. Keeping this tradition going takes the support and involvement of our entire community.
Whether you can help with fundraising, planning, volunteering, or simply bringing new ideas to the table, we would love to have you join us! Please email any questions to cinnaminsonschoolspg@gmail.com

Please join us for our first meeting!
📅 Thursday, October 1 at 6:00 PM
📍 Cinnaminson High School Library
Come learn more about Project Graduation, meet the committee, and find out how you can get involved. All are welcome!

Stay connected and follow Cinnaminson Project Graduation on:
ParentSquare: Click Here to Join (https://www.parentsquare.com/groups/join/jw4fncwh46)
Instagram@ cinnaminsonhspg
Facebook@Cinnaminson High School Project Graduation

Thank you for helping us continue this important tradition for our students!

 
A hand holds a phone displaying the ParentSquare app, promoting school communication.
A hand holds a phone displaying the ParentSquare app, with school news visible.
 

Breakfast & Lunch at CMS

CMS Breakfast Menu
CMS Lunch Menu
 
2026-2027 District Calendar
Board of Education Calendar
CMS Student Handbook
 
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Cinnaminson Middle School

📍 312 N. Forklanding Road, Cinnaminson, NJ 08077
📞 (856) 786-8012