Orders for the 2019-2020 yearbooks are underway and due by the end of November. They are $38. Click for more details and how to order.
Box Tops for Education Contest!
Would you like to win Apple AirPods with charging case?
Bring an envelope with your Box Tops to the main office or the media center and drop it off in the boxes. Don’t forget to write your name and grade in the envelope.
Every ten Box Tops means a possibility to enter the contest. You can leave as many envelopes as you wish since they will be cumulative, so we will counting and adding your Box Tops every time you donate. All the proceeds will fund CJMS programs.
Students can participate in our Box Tops contest until January 10, 2020.
The winner will be announced the third week of January 2020.
Call for Parent Input: 2020-21 School Calendar
Now is your chance to weigh in on the MCPS 2020-21 School Calendar!
The Board of Education has drafted 3 different calendar scenarios that reflect different start and end dates for SY2020-2021. To view the 
calendar scenarios, please visit this website.
All scenarios for the calendar include:
- 182 student instructional days
- Full spring break
- Full professional day for grading and planning at the end of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters
- Possible make-up days both during the school year and extending the school year
The Board of Education requests that all parents/teachers review the calendar scenarios on our website and the accompanying explanations. They also request feedback on the calendar options in the survey on the calendar options website. The Board of Education will adopt a final calendar later this year. Community feedback on these scenarios informs the discussion and decision-making process.
THIS WEEKEND: Nov. SSL Event @Horse Rescue, Sunday, November 3 – 8am-1pm (5 SSL)
Got plans Sunday? Come get some SSL hours in this fun and unique community event!
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090C48A8AF229-horse
Sunday, Nov. 3, for this unique SSL event, kids will have the opportunity to learn what a horse rescue and rehabilitation not-for-profit organization does and meet the horses that are currently being rescued and rehabilitated. Starting at 8am, the kids will learn how to ‘muck out’ a barn where the horses live. At 9:30am, kids will help re-map a stream flowing through the property by digging a trench. For RSVPs over 25, there may be a barn painting project as well. Please go to the signup for all the details! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity for your kids to meet rescued horses and the compassionate people that rescue them.
Have You Joined? Let’s Start November With a FULL PTSA Membership!
Earlier, you should have received an email from our PTSA Membership Chair regarding verifying your information in AtoZ and to sign up for membership in the PTSA. In order to be listed in the CJMS PTSA Directory, you will need to VERIFY your information by following the steps outlined in that message. During this process, as usual, we request both the standard MEMBERSHIP fee and a modest DONATION.
We don’t have an aggressive fundraising campaign and rely on our membership drive for much of our support to the school community. We continue to provide support to CJMS on several programs and efforts detail on our Membership page. Here are some of the new requests from the school for the 2019-2020 school year. Collectively, we need to increase our funds by $10,000 to support all of these requests. Your
Membership is critical to attain that success for our school. Please email a Membership Chair, Eve Pincus at membership.cjms@gmail.com, with any questions.
Some NEW initiatives requested for 2019-2020:
Through our efforts last year, the school was able to support a major upgrade of the TV Studio and it is now a modern, updated system to benefit the students and the school.
- Updated technology for the school – The school is scheduled for a tech refresh from the County but not all of it is covered. The school needs our support for new Chromebooks, computer upgrades, and a 3D printer.
- Curriculum changes and assistance – Novels are part of the new curriculum but the County only provides for in-school books. Additional funding is needed to enable books to go home with the students. In addition, the PTSA supports student financial aid requests and Instructional Aid support.
- Science Greenhouse – Cabin John would like to start raising funds to support the construction of a science greenhouse, similar to other middle schools in our area.
- Joining online takes a few steps, but is easy!
Questions on membership? Contact Eve Pincus.
Preparing for Success 2019
Hosted by the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Foundation, this year’s Preparing for Success Conference is titled “Navigating Life, the Streets & Social Media” on November 16, 2019.
Montgomery College and the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Foundation are hosting the 17th annual “Preparing for Success” program for local students. The all-day seminar program is designed for middle school and high school students and parents. This year’s theme is “Navigating Life, the Streets and Social Media”. The event will be a town hall discussion that kicks off with a key note speaker and follows with presentations on safety issues that teens and parents face each day. The program is free to students and parents. A light breakfast and lunch will be served to attendees. Students have a chance to win prizes and giveaways for their active participation.
To register (free!) and for a full parent agenda please see: http://preparing4success.com/
SGA Events: Canned Food Drive Through 10/31
Help the SGA close out October strong with the canned food drive to support Manna. Through October 31, the SGA is collecting canned goods (https://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/cabinjohnms/news/news.aspx?id=651889)
County High School Options with Details and Deadlines
Please see the High School Programs for 2020 spreadsheet outlining the numerous choices our students have for high school. NOTE — this spreadsheet only represents centrally-managed options (many high schools also have signature programs that are exclusively available to students in that boundary and those options are not included in this list).
While the HS information meetings are largely geared toward current 8th graders for the 20-21 school year, I’d also encourage 7th grade families to look at this list and begin the conversation with students now as the “decision date” of where to apply (and figuring out what might really be of interest) will be here before you know it. All these are “open” for anyone wanting to learn more.
Final Days of the Book Fair!
Our Book Fair will be held this Friday, October 11th through the18th at Cabin John. You can also shop online through October 19.
Shop at this link: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=cabinjohnmiddleschool
All proceeds go directly to the school for important improvements to our media center.
The Book Fair Needs HELP!
The Book Fair is at the Cabin John Media Center this week and we are in need of desperate help this Thursday, October 17.
Please consider helping out at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050a48a5a92fa2fc1-2019
Thanks for your help — this is a great community event that greatly benefits our school!