Author: Heather Braswell-Ho

We are thrilled to invite you to join our official Cabin John MS PTSA WhatsApp Community!

We understand that timely communication is key. That’s why we’ve added this new community as an easy way to share urgent updates and reminders, complementing our existing PTSA communication channels. Check out ways you can stay connected:

• New – WhatsApp: Get instant time-sensitive PTSA announcements delivered straight to your phone or computer. Note: WhatsApp Download & Registration Required Before Joining
• Cougar Clips Weekly Newsletter: Our go-to resource for Weekly PTSA news, updates & event information
• Membership Toolkit: Provides access to our PTSA Directory, Spirit Wear Store, and Membership Registration & Donations
• CJMS PTSA Website: Our central hub for PTSA information, documents, policies, and key resources (Note: Refresh cache to see latest updates)
• CJMS Facebook Group: Provides a more interactive space where parents and members can ask questions, share resources, and engage in community discussions
• CJMS Facebook Page: A venue to share announcements and information with the broader school community

Click Here to Join Our New WhatsApp Community

*WhatsApp Download & Registration Required Before Joining

Join us for our CJMS PTSA restaurant fundraiser, Wednesday, January 14, at California Tortilla in Cabin John Village, anytime from 11 am–9:30 pm.

Stop by for lunch, an afternoon snack, or an easy dinner before the band concert – 25% of all sales support the CJMS PTSA. For in-store purchases, just tell the cashier you’re supporting the fundraiser. Ordering online or in the app? Just follow the flyer steps to participate. Mark your calendar, spread the word, and let California Tortilla do the cooking!

On Friday, January 16th, one of Cabin John Middle School’s requested S’Well Day activities is Cookie Decorating. If you have any leftover cookie decorating supplies from the holidays, CJMS would love to put them to good use! Please drop them off in the main office by the end of the day on Thursday, January 15th. Thank you in advance!

The Cabin John MS PTSA knows that a strong partnership among our families, school leaders and community members is important to the success of our students and school. That’s why we are participating in the National PTA School of Excellence program, which grows partnerships between PTAs and schools to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being of all students.

We need your help! As part of the process outlined by National PTA, we are requesting feedback from families, administrators and teachers at two points in the school year—the beginning and the end. Using the community feedback, we will build an Excellence Action Plan to strengthen family-school partnerships.

Please take 5-10 minutes to reflect on your experience at this school and complete this survey. Please complete this survey by December 23, 2025. If you have any questions, please email Debbie Fleischer at president@cabinjohnptsa.org. 

Complete the School of Excellence Survey

On December 1, MCPS released four additional boundary options for the Crown/Damascus Boundary Study (Options E-H). As with the four proposed in October, changes are proposed that will affect Cabin John and its feeder schools. CJMS PTSA prepared the following summary to help our community understand how MCPS proposes to use the Crown site and the proposed changes to Cabin John and the current feeder schools under each option. 

Summary of Proposed Options Impacting Cabin John MS and Feeder Schools

What should I do?

• Review the online mapping tool to understand how you may be affected, particularly in options where there is split articulation.
• Learn more about these options by watching a recording of the 12/01/2025 virtual meeting.
• Learn more about the positions of your individual communities by reviewing advocacy efforts of your elementary school and high school.
• COMPLETE THE SURVEY TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO MCPS by January 9, 2026. We have heard from MCPS and the Board of Education that meaningful feedback matters!
• If you have questions or want to share comments/concerns, reach out to Debbie Fleischer at president@cabinjohnptsa.org. 

Let’s make the holiday season extra sweet for our amazing teachers and staff! The annual CJMS staff cookie party is scheduled for Wednesday, December 17, and we need your help. At the cookie party, the teachers and staff will get to pack a box of delicious baked goods to enjoy. We need about 130 bakers to have enough cookies/treats for all teachers, staff and bus drivers. 

Please click HERE to sign up to bake or help with the event. Don’t have time to bake? No problem!

Click HERE to make a donation, and we will buy the cookies on your behalf.

Thanks so much for your support! We couldn’t do this without our wonderful Cabin John families.

Stock up on brand new CJMS merch to keep you cozy all winter long—hoodies, flannel pants, joggers, T-shirts, hats and more! The PTSA’s Online Spirit Wear Store is open for a limited time now through December 23. Make sure to click on each item to see the various color options. Your order will ship free to the school and be distributed in January. A portion of each sale supports the PTSA! 

Order here: 

https://cabinjohnmiddle2025.itemorder.com/shop/home

The Cabin John Middle School PTSA is proud to participate in the 2025-2026 National PTA Reflections Program.

We are now accepting submissions for this year’s theme: “I Belong!” 

Display your creativity via Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, or Visual Arts.

For details, submission forms, contest rules, and questions, please visit: https://cabinjohnptsa.org/reflections-arts-program/.  

Submission Deadline: Friday, December 5, 2025.

We are thrilled to invite you to join our official Cabin John MS PTSA WhatsApp Community!

We understand that timely communication is key. That’s why we’ve added this new community as an easy way to share urgent updates and reminders, complementing our existing PTSA communication channels. Check out ways you can stay connected:

• New – WhatsApp: Get instant time-sensitive PTSA announcements delivered straight to your phone or computer. Note: WhatsApp Download & Registration Required Before Joining
• Cougar Clips Weekly Newsletter: Our go-to resource for Weekly PTSA news, updates & event information
• Membership Toolkit: Provides access to our PTSA Directory, Spirit Wear Store and Membership Registration & Donations
• CJMS PTSA Website: Our central hub for PTSA information, documents, policies, and key resources (Note: Refresh cache to see latest updates)
• CJMS Facebook Group: Provides a more interactive space where parents and members can ask questions, share resources, and engage in community discussions
• CJMS Facebook Page: A venue to share announcements and information with the broader school community

Click Here Or Scan the QR Code to Join Our New WhatsApp Community

*WhatsApp Download & Registration Required Before Joining