Join the CJMS Coding Club (MCode)! We are a club where students will learn the foundations of computer science and the basics of programming languages such as Python and will use those skills in fun projects and exercises. For more information about the club and registration, go to: bit.ly/mcodeclass.

We have multiple classes for varying levels of experience with computer science at Cabin John. Our beginner Python class is open to all and teaches the fundamentals of computer science through the widely-used and popular programming language Python and will be given projects to help them develop their programming skills as well as logical and problem solving skills. Our intermediate Python class builds on the skills taught in the beginner class as students learn to build data structures and learn Object-Oriented Programming.

This club is free, and students will need their laptops (or school-provided chromebooks) for either class. Interested students will have the opportunity to participate in both school-wide and multi-school Coding Fests. 

The beginner class will begin Thursday, October 24th, and the advanced class will begin Thursday, November 7th. If you are interested, email cjmscoding@gmail.com for more information and register with the link above.

Dear Cabin John MIddle School Families:

I wish to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning CJMS families. I am excited to accept the role of PTSA President for the 2024-2025 school year, and look forward to leading the CJMS PTSA this term. As a parent of a current CJMS 6th grader, I strongly believe that community engagement makes a big difference in providing quality and fun learning experiences to our students. While a biologist in my professional life, I served previously as Stone Mill ES PTA Secretary (’23-’24), MCCPTA delegate (’21-’23), and room parent. Please join me in welcoming our new PTSA Board and Chairs:

Treasurer Selena Liang 
Secretary Jasmine Joung 
1st Vice President Isha Patel 
2nd Vice President Varsha Morar 
MCCPTA/Wootton Cluster Delegate Priyanka Kamat 
Membership Co-Chair Emily Cevallos
Communications Co-Chair Amy Rogstad
Back to School Picnic Chair Gabriel Lai 
Multicultural Night Chair Isha Patel 
Spelling Bee Chair Richa Tyagi 
Webmasters Ruby (SSL volunteer)
Book Fair Co-Chair Alexandra Downey

Please join me in gratitude towards our Past-President Yen Wang and Gabriel Lai for organising, and to everyone who attended and volunteered at our Back to School Picnic and first PTSA meeting on 8-28-24. The next two PTSA events include the Wootton Cluster Fall Festival on October 26 (noon-4pm) and Scholastic Book Fair November 15-22. Forthcoming announcements will include the Signup Genius for Book Fair volunteers, details of our next PTSA general meeting to vote on new CJMS PTSA Bylaws, and to call for and vote upon more event chairs. Please consider volunteering for the following open positions:

MCCPTA/Churchill Cluster Delegate OPEN 
NAACP Delegate OPEN
Membership Co-Chair OPEN 
Communications Co-Chair OPEN

Webmaster OPEN 
Spiritwear Chair OPEN 
Book Fair Co-Chair OPEN 

Wishing you all a great year ahead!

With thanks,

Banoo Pightling
2024-25 CJMS PTSA President

Mrs. Tamara Hardy, our Counseling Secretary and Registrar, represented CJMS at a great NAACP Parents’ Council meeting on 9-18-24! 

The PTSA position of Parent NAACP Delegate is OPEN. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact pres.cjms@gmail.com and Byron Johns (Chair, Education | Parents’ Council NAACP-MC bajusa@yahoo.com)

Notable resources to share from the meeting include:
1. Information on voting in November: 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ilrYaBYdmY4HUrJfXVUwRMuMyQPPZulx1POz1346U4I/edit#slide=id.g28ffb7dcd54_0_0

2. The meeting agenda and presentation: 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/77ajsjualcyv1c1go4nu9/Agenda-18Sept2024-Final.pptx?rlkey=kvuhajo3bp5gqowvm9wsm2sq5&st=ovpew1le&dl=0

3. The meeting summary: 

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7nwdhd8as9wsf3iel9p07/PC-Meeting-Summary-18Sept24.docx?rlkey=pdayvhwhpkt2f7fke800ettj4&st=jkg4hyb0&dl=0

4. Interested parents can register for the Town Hall with the Superintendent hosted by the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity & Excellence here: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDCALUD9AdEmhTplmLilgvaiAWKFBWCwv9wRvgOJ1xUTbN1A/viewform

Churchill HS is looking for middle school student volunteers at our girls’ varsity soccer games as ball runners.

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C0B4EAFA72DA1FD0-51099702-girls

Students will be able to earn SSL hours, and experience competitive HS sporting event at the same time. The games are all home games at Churchill. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or text 202-294-1563.

CJMS Mathcounts Club tryout will take place in the school cafeteria on Friday, September 20 from 3:15pm. About 24 students with the highest scores will qualify for the Mathcounts Club. Club members will meet weekly on Sundays 9:30-11:30am for training and testing. The performance in these tests will form the basis for the coaches to select up to 12 Mathcounts Club members to form the CJMS Mathcounts Team. 

Mathcounts Competition Series is the nation’s premier middle school math competition consisting of a series of competitions. See https://www.mathcounts.org/programs/competition-rules-faq for more information. 

CJMS Mathcounts club aims to foster students’ interest in math. Competition schedule for the Mathcounts series can be found at
https://www.mathcounts.org/programs/critical-dates

Please register for the tryout at the link below:

CJMS Mathcounts Club 2024-2025 Tryout

Contact cabinjohnmathcounts@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Model UN (or MUN) is an authentic simulation of the United Nations General Assembly in which students act as country delegates and engage in acts of diplomacy, negotiation, and decision making. The program is offered through Global Minds, LLC, founded in 2021 by former Bells Mill/Cabin John parents, Audré Park and Shreelata Durbhakula. 

Global Minds offers three 8-week instructional sessions (Fall, Winter and Spring) throughout the year, and serves as administrators to register students in local Model UN conferences at the U.S. Department of State, universities, high schools and middle schools throughout the DMV area.

CJMS Model UN is open to 6th – 8th graders. Siblings receive a 5% discount. To cancel registration for a full refund, request cancellation 24 hours before the second class.For detailed information, visit the website at 

Global Minds, LLC or the flyer here.

Date & Time: Fall Session starts, Thursday, September 19 at 3:15pm – 4:15pm (8 weeks). Ends on Nov. 9

Room location to be announced.

Cost: $225(

There are additional student expenses ranging from $20 ~  $60 that are charged by individual conferences)

Registration is open now.   To register, click here.

Students requesting financial aid: Please email globalmindsmun@gmail.com

Order your school supplies for 2024-2025 now!  Short window so please don’t delay. Orders are due on June 21st!

Our school tailored supply kits have everything you need for Cabin John Middle School.  We have one kit that includes a zipper/shoulder strap binder and one without, all other elements of the kits are the same. 

Our program runs only up to June 21st!  Each kit will be delivered to your home during the week of August 18th, in time for the new school year. 

Please contact Nicole Diresta at ndiresta@outlook.com with any questions and please spread the word.

https://www.shopttkits.com

Account #32303

Order your school supplies for 2024-2025 now!  Short window so please don’t delay.

Our school tailored supply kits have everything you need for Cabin John Middle School.  We have one kit that includes a zipper/shoulder strap binder and one without, all other elements of the kits are the same. 

Our program starts today and runs only up to June 21st!  Each kit will be delivered to your home during the week of August 18th, in time for the new school year. 

Please contact Nicole Diresta at ndiresta@outlook.com with any questions and please spread the word.

https://www.shopttkits.com

Account #32303

The Board of Education and Interim Superintendent Monique Felder have stated that they are considering an increase in class size, among other budget adjustments under consideration, in order to meet the FY 2025 operating budget parameters set by the County Council.  We need to decrease—not increase—class sizes, which already are too large.  

If you agree, please sign the letter linked here to make clear that the Board should not increase class size as a way to address the budget shortfall.

This letter will be shared to the Board of Education on Tuesday, June 4th.  If you are inclined to sign, please do so before Tuesday.

Thank you,

CJMS PTA

The Churchill Field Hockey team is hosting a field hockey skills clinic for students currently in 3rd-8th grades, from any school. The clinic will be held at Churchill on Saturday, June 8, from 9-11am, is open to players of all levels including true beginners (we love beginners!), and costs $20.

Current Churchill varsity team members will lead the skills instruction. Participants will need shinguards, a mouthguard, a water bottle, and a stick (we have a limited number of sticks available if you’d like to borrow one).

We also have a limited amount of goalie equipment available if anyone is interested in trying goalie. Borrowing equipment is free, but requires letting us know ahead of time on the sign up form. We will collect payment by check on the day of the clinic.

Please make the $20 check out to WCHS Booster Club and write ‘field hockey’ in the memo. Cash is also possible, but checks help us to keep track of things more easily. 

Click the link here to go to our registration form.