Issue 1 Home of the Curtis Cougars Curtis Chronicles

Issue 1

Home of the Curtis Cougars

Curtis Chronicles

Walter & Lois Curtis Middle School

Sept. 6, 2017

Important Dates

Letter from the Principal

Sept 6, 6.30 pm ? 7.30 pm Math & Science Clubs Parents Meet

@ CMS Cafeteria

Sept 22, 4.30 pm ? 6.00 pm Orchestra All-Region Workshop

@ CMS

Sept 27, 6.00 pm ? 7.30 pm Digital Learning Parent Night

@ CMS Cafeteria

We have had two wonderful weeks to start our school year! Your students have done an amazing job getting right back into the swing of school and I'm so proud of their hard work. We have many clubs starting up in the next week or so, and we hope to have as many students engaged with a group of students other than those in their classrooms, as possible. Please take a look at the clubs featured in this weeks' newsletter as well as check our webpage for club updates and information. Our NJHS and PALs students are still collecting diapers, wipes and formula for our fellow Texans who are victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Thank you for your support of Curtis and your students!

Sincerely,

Sonya Pitcock, Principal

Sonya.pitcock@

Curtis Twitter - @curtiscougars

Keep in touch with us : CurtisMSPTSA Check out PTSA's new website:

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CURTIS STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Sonya Pitcock, Principal

My name is Sonya Pitcock and this is my 5th year as the principal of CMS. Before that I was an assistant principal at Curtis for 6 years. Even before that I was a science teacher at Curtis for 10 years. Even before that, I was a substitute teacher at Curtis! I love this campus and the families we serve and I feel very lucky to have been able to spend my career here. I hope to be here for many years to come! I'm an Allen Eagle through and through and was a graduate of Allen High School as well. (I won't say how long ago...but if you figure it out, please don't mention it!) I have 3 children in the district, twin 3rd graders and a kindergartner, and love the work our teachers and staff do every day to serve all kids in Allen ISD. I'm proud to be part of a community that values education and supports our schools 100%. I look forward to another great school year with your students!

Sara Cooley, Assistant Principal ? 8th Grade

I am so excited to join Curtis Middle School for my 21st year in education. Previously, I taught Math in Stillwater, OK for 10 years and at Allen High School for 9 years. While at AHS, I served as department head for 5 years and was selected as District Teacher of the Year for 2013 ? 2014. Last year I was a secondary math coordinator in Frisco ISD, but I realized quickly how much I missed the students and AISD.

I am originally from Oklahoma, and am a proud alumni of Oklahoma State University. My husband, Cameron, and I have two children, Cara Beth, a 6th grader and Riggs, a kindergartener both at Story Elementary. In my spare time, I can be found at (or on the way to) my daughter's soccer games/practices.

From L to R: Matt Falbo, Sara Cooley, Sonya Pitcock, and Anthony Arnold

Curtis Chronicles

Sept. 6, 2017

CURTIS STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Matt Falbo, Assistant Principal ? 7th Grade

Hello Cougars, Parents, Families, and Friends!!! I am excited to begin the 2017-2018 school year. This will be my 3rd year as an Assistant Principal at CMS and my 12th year in education. I began my career teaching history and coaching basketball, football, and track in Prosper ISD. I spent time as a high school basketball coach and history teacher in Lovejoy ISD and I also taught history in Mckinney ISD.

My wonderful and very patient wife, Allena, is a 2nd grade teacher in Frisco ISD. We have a rambunctious almost 2-year-old son Preston and a crazy Doberman named Duke. I spend, as much time with my family as I can, and love watching Preston grow, be silly, learn new things every day. When I am not with my family I am an exercise enthusiast. This year I competed in 3 Spartan races, 4 triathlons, and a handful of 5k races. I have already started to plan my competitions for next year. I am also a 3rd generation New York Yankees fan and enjoy yelling at the TV when the Yanks play. I am looking forward to a great school year and can't wait to see all the Cougars reach their fullest potential.

Anthony Arnold, Assistant Principal ? Operations

Hello, I am the Assistant Principal for Operations. The Assistant Principal for Operations works primarily to ensure that the daily operations of the building run smoothly. Though I may not be assigned students, I still engage students on a daily basis for various reasons. I have been in public education since 1993 in Lubbock, Arlington, McKinney and now Allen. I am going into my 5th year here at Curtis and I have become an Allen Eagle in so many ways.

My wife is an elementary art teacher, and I have three children, Abby ? a Texas Tech accounting student, Jacob ? an Oklahoma City University musical theater student, and Lydia ? who is a junior and plays golf at McKinney Boyd.

I have been known to ride bikes often. So if you see a cyclist on the rode....it might be me!

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Hello from your Curtis Counselors! We are so excited to be with you and your students this year. This is just a reminder that we have been able to add a new counselor to our family in order to better serve you and your child. We meet with students according to the first letter of their last name: Loren Clanton (A-G), Roxanne LeCroy (H-O), and Amy Smith (P-Z)

Allen ISD's Character Education Program: Be the ONE Be the ONE is an initiative to link Allen ISD schools in their efforts towards service learning and character education. The goal of Be the ONE is to create positive gains in the value structure of the students, faculty, parents, and community. Be the ONE is a common thread between the schools that will demonstrate to the community that Allen schools are working toward a common goal in the areas of service learning and character development. The activities that each campus implements need to promote a connection between youth and their community, good citizenship habits, enhance self-esteem, link personal and community values, and enrich academic performance. At the start of each month, a new character trait is introduced to students, staff, and parents. Campus counselors incorporate these core values utilizing various means - guidance lessons, parent newsletters, campus announcements, and campus-wide activities.

Month Character Trait

September Respect

For additional information on AISD's Character Education Program, please contact your child's campus counselor.

Want a Be the ONE T-shirt?

Curtis Chronicles

Sept. 6, 2017

Back to school tips/reminders:

r Believe in yourself. "To succeed, we must first believe that we can." Michael Korda. r Be organized: use a planner & your folders, break down assignments, get organized before

going to bed. r Manage your time well (eliminate disruptions). r Be successful in class: be prepared, adapt to different teachers, do your homework,

participate. r Take good notes and go back over them. r Read to learn: survey, read, and review. r Study smart: find a good place, know your style, get started, organize time.

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