The 2022-2023 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. It’s exciting 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. The 6th-grade “Guys with Ties and Fierce Females” program is just one way we are promoting communication skills, manners, and effective life habits. A 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. Finally, we are seemingly on the backside of a global pandemic that exposed families to hardships not seen in several generations. The social and emotional well-being of students is the number one priority of our staff. 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 as human beings.
Our theme this year focuses on the word “Be.” “Be your best. Be kind. Be achievers. Be a Knight...” I wanted that theme to be open-ended. For example, students can "Be" their best by showing their talents in many ways. "Be innovative", "Be healthy" or "Be yourself" for example. Recognizing kids for "being" these things is important. The staff will be focusing on these character traits with our students as well as emphasizing them within our Portrait of Graduate that you probably saw on the splash page of our website.
“Wherever there is a human in need there is an opportunity for kindness and to make a difference.” I want our students to see those opportunities and make meaningful connections that make a difference. 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