The 2023-2024 school year is upon us which means many new opportunities for students, parents, and staff. It’s exciting for me to see many of the students for the first time since last spring and to see the growth both in physical stature and maturity. I thank the parents for the role that they are playing in that maturation process with their children. We value that CMS has the opportunity to be a part of that growth, as well as the partnership that our school can form as a school with parents. That partnership means everything to the development of children.
Crestview Middle School provides students opportunities to grow in the transitional years between elementary and high school where young adolescents learn skills that are necessary for entering enter young adulthood. In doing so, CMS focuses on the growth and maturity of the whole child. Our staff prides itself on being child-centered. CMS students experience career and real-world explorations through the utilization of various community partnerships: Van Wert Career Connections, the Soil and Water Conservation Center, the United Way, the ADAMHS Board, and DARE to name a few. These are in addition to the various “specials” classes that allow creativity outside the “four cores.” Also, students are given the opportunity to participate in community service projects that reveal the importance of being a good citizen. A highlight of our year is always “Celebrating Christmas Caring”. Each grade level selects a service project to do that benefits our school and the local community. In addition, aA collaborative focus and peer-to-peer interactions with culminating projects like the 7th-grade Renaissance Fair and weekly cooperative learning experiences in the classroom create opportunities for students to sharpen crucial soft skills. 7th and 8th graders also spend a great deal of time during the year learning about the Ohio and United States governments in preparation for the respective field trips to Columbus and Washington, D.C. Crestview’s focus has always been on excellence in the classroom as it relates to academics. As students progress through the middle school years the curricular expectations build toward high school; however, the student-centered support structures are in place should they struggle. With team time daily, teachers are afforded the opportunity to discuss interventions and strategies that support overall student growth and development, not just in the classroom. Also, our teachers spend time working with students to see that they are safe and have opportunities for success outside the academic realm.
This year we will start to forge forward with our new Crestview Middle School PBIS Initiative. PBIS stands for “Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.” The initiative focuses on several areas that will create opportunities for students to shine in a positive light. Those for areas “Be Responsible. Be Respectful. Be Honorable. Be a Knight.” This also is a version of our theme from last year that will serve as our CMS theme for this year. The staff will be infusing PBIS concepts in lessons as well as emphasizing them within our Portrait of Graduate competencies. In the words of Mother Teresa, “Never be so busy as not to think of others.” I want our students to see those opportunities and make meaningful connections that make a difference and understand how their words and actions affect others.
Please feel free to email at [email protected] or call me at 419.749.9100 option 3 if you have any questions or concerns. You can also follow me on Twitter, @CK_Coach and on my YouTube Channel, for news and views as it relates to education and our middle school. Let’s make this the best school year yet!
Sincerely,
Trent Kreischer
#WeAreCrestview