CMS Families: 1) REMINDER – School is closed on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 for the Primary Election Day. 2) The CMS PTO and PBIS Committee will be hosting our end of the year “Fun Day” on Wednesday, June 5th, featuring the GO BIG BMX Air Show. In addition, there will be a special appearance by the ice cream truck later in the week to provide a free item to all students. This is courtesy of our PTO. 3) The purpose of this “Fun Day” is to celebrate the accomplishments of the PBIS program that CMS implements in order to increase positive behavior throughout the building. CMS wants to acknowledge the positive behaviors exhibited by our students throughout the course of this school year.
CMS 8th Grade Families: We will be holding our promotion ceremony on Monday, June 17, 2024 at 10:30 AM. The ceremony will take place on the turf softball field on the side of the building. Please bring your own chair to the event. Please sit in the outfield behind the student chairs. Please do not sit on the warning track or on any of the brown areas, as students will process here. There is no limit on the number of spectators that can attend. Should we have inclement weather, we will move the ceremony indoors to the gym and each student will be issued two tickets to the event. Immediately following the ceremony, parents may take their child home. 8th grade students will need to arrive at school by 9:15 AM, in preparation for the ceremony. Students should dress nicely to ensure a dignified atmosphere for the ceremony. Young men should wear pants, collared shirt, and shoes. Young ladies should wear an appropriate dress or skirt/pants with an appropriate shirt and shoes. High heels should not be worn on the turf field. Any student in violation of the dress code will not be permitted to participate. Promotion practice will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024, during the regularly scheduled school day. We require that every student who is going to be promoted attend this rehearsal. The 8th Grade Breakfast & Yearbook distribution will take place on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Our PTO has purchased a yearbook for ALL 8th grade students. Promotion practice will take place in the afternoon. We look forward to celebrating the CMS Promotion Class of 2024!
On Monday, May 20th we will be hosting our Band and Art Show. The art displays will be available for viewing in the Gym beginning at 5:30 PM. The Band performance will begin promptly at 6:05 PM in the Cafeteria. Please enter Door #11. On Tuesday, May 21st we will be hosting our Chorus and Dance Show. The performances will begin promptly at 6:00 PM in the Cafeteria. Please enter Door #11. Thank you for your continued support.
Check out this link for information on NJSLA testing, dress code reminders and our 3rd quarter newsletter https://5il.co/2k0fs
Colonia Middle School Parents & Guardians,
The New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) is the statewide assessment for the 2023-2024 school year. This computer-based assessment covers the areas of Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy. There is a Science section for 8th grade students ONLY. Students will be testing during morning sessions based on the schedule below:
Science for Grade 8 ONLY – (4/30, 5/1, 5/2, 5/3)
Math for Grades 6, 7, and 8 – (5/7, 5/8, 5/9)
English Language Arts (ELA) for Grades 6, 7, and 8 – (5/14, 5/15)
Make-Up Testing For All Grades – (5/10, 5/13, 5/16, 5/17, 5/20, 5/21)
Students are permitted and encouraged to use their own wired headphones/earbuds for testing (WIRELESS NOT PERMITTED). Students should bring their wired headphones/earbuds to each testing session. If students do not bring wired headphones/earbuds they will be provided. No student is to be in possession of a cell phone, smartwatch, or any electronic device during a testing session. All students will be testing on their school-issued Chromebook. Please make sure it is fully charged on each testing day. Our goal for this year is to maximize results for both our Math and ELA scores, as well as, achieve our highest possible student participation rate. For schools that fail to achieve 95 percent participation, any student below the 95 percent threshold will therefore be counted as “not proficient” in the calculation of proficiency rates even though they did not take the exam. For this reason, it is imperative that on testing days students come to school rested, be on time, take the test, and give their very best effort.
Thank you for your continued support.
Joseph A. Short
Principal, Colonia Middle School
Colonia Middle School Families,
On behalf of our entire staff, we would like to wish our families a safe and relaxing Spring Break. The students have been working hard and we hope they enjoy their time off. Our school-wide participation in the American Heart Challenge raised $5,141.00 for the American Heart Association. Our entire school community did an outstanding job! School resumes on Monday, April 8, 2024. Thank you for your continued support.
Best regards,
Joseph A. Short
Principal, Colonia Middle School
All schools will follow the scheduled early dismissal plan on Friday, March 29. High Schools @ 12:10 pm; Middle Schools @ 12:45 pm; Elementary Schools @ 1:10 pm; Full Day PreK @ 1:10 pm; Morning PreK @ 11:30 am; and Afternoon PreK - start @ 10:30 am & dismissed @1:10 pm. WTSD aftercare will be open for those who have pre-registered. All schools will be closed from Monday, April 1, through and including Friday, April 5. Classes will resume on Monday, April 8. Be safe and enjoy your spring break!
All schools will follow the scheduled early dismissal plan on Friday, March 29.
High Schools @ 12:10 pm; Middle Schools @ 12:45 pm; Elementary Schools @ 1:10 pm; Full Day PreK @ 1:10 pm; Morning PreK @ 11:30 am; and Afternoon PreK - start @ 10:30 am & dismissed @1:10 pm. WTSD aftercare will be open for those who have pre-registered.
All schools will be closed from Monday, April 1, through and including Friday, April 5.
Classes will resume on Monday, April 8.
Be safe and enjoy your spring break!
Colonia Middle School 8th Grade Families,
We are so proud of the accomplishments of this 8th grade class. As we enter March, I would like to provide our 8th grade families with an update on our scheduled events for the end of the year:
Tuesday, June 11th – 8th Grade Trip to Medieval Times
(Please return your permission slip by 3/8/24)
Wednesday, June 12th – 8th Grade Dance at the Sapphire Grand
(Details will be provided in the coming weeks)
Thursday, June 13th – 8th Grade Breakfast & Yearbook Distribution
REMINDER – Our PTO has purchased a yearbook for ALL 8th grade students
(Promotion practice will take place in the afternoon)
Friday, June 14th – 8th Grade Promotion Practice All Day
Monday, June 17th – 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony at 10:30 AM
(Details will be provided in the coming weeks)
Tuesday, June 18th – Last Day of School
Thank you for your continued support and have a great weekend.
Joseph A. Short
Principal, Colonia Middle School
Due to the impending storm, all schools in the Woodbridge Township School District will be closed on Tuesday, February 13, 2024.
CMS Message from Principal Short - 2.1.24:
Colonia Middle School Families,
As we begin our second semester today, I wanted to express my appreciation to our entire school community. I continue to live by my professional motto, “It is a PRIVILEGE to work at this school.” The meaning is very simple:
-It is a PRIVILEGE to work with your children.
-It is a PRIVILEGE to work with our families.
-It is a PRIVILEGE to work with our dedicated staff.
-It is a PRIVILEGE to work with our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
-It is a PRIVILEGE to work with our stakeholders in the community.
I am very proud of what our students have accomplished so far this year and we will continue to work in providing the best possible middle school experience. Here are a few reminders:
-Monday, February 5th – Marking Period 2 Report Cards available on Parent Access at 8 AM.
-We are participating in the township-wide “Have-A-Heart” food drive to support our local food banks. We are encouraging students to bring in non-perishable food items to their Period 1 Classes up until 2/16/24.
Thank you and enjoy your evening.
Joseph A. Short
Principal, Colonia Middle School
Colonia Middle School Families: We are participating in the township-wide "Have-A-Heart" food drive to support our local food banks. We are encouraging students to bring in non-perishable food items to their Period 1 class up until Friday, February 16, 2024. See flyer for more details: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gUA7jYMdNzkt_gVJaQYLeAK-2-IduKBNksTSddjvitQ/edit?usp=sharing
Thank you in advance. Joseph A. Short, Principal, Colonia Middle School
CMS Families,
1.) Our students continue to work hard and achieve at the highest level. 78% of our students made the Honor Roll for Marking Period 1.
2.) Our Boys and Girls Basketball Teams have secured the #1 seed and will play for the district championship. The Boys Team will play on Wednesday, January 10th at 6:00 PM in the Woodbridge High School Gymnasium. The Girls Team play immediately after, at approximately 7:30 PM. Please come out to support Colonia Middle School.
3.) We wish all of our families a Happy Holiday Season and a Joyous New Year. Please enjoy our CMS Holiday Video Card using the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6yniVjYmFo
Warmest regards,
Joseph A. Short
Principal, Colonia Middle School
Please see the following letter and flyer regarding our new Vehicle Idling Informational Program: https://5il.co/2bbu8 https://5il.co/2bbhv
Please note: Sports physicals for the CMS Bowling team are due by January 8, 2024 and physicals for all Spring sports are due by March 11, 2024.
Check out our 1st quarterly CMS Newsletter! https://5il.co/295rb
Click here to see what is happening in our schools for American Education Week https://5il.co/28tti
Colonia Middle School Families,
On behalf of our entire staff, we would like to wish our families a safe and enjoyable Fall Break. The students have had an outstanding first two months and we hope they enjoy their time off. School resumes on Monday, November 13, 2023. Marking Period 1 Report Cards will be available on the Genesis Parent Access at 8:00 am on Friday, November 17, 2023.
Best regards,
Joseph A. Short
Principal, Colonia Middle School
CMS 8th Grade Families,
Our PTO will be purchasing a yearbook for all 8th grade students this year. A very special THANK YOU to our PTO for this generous donation.
Best regards,
Joseph A. Short
Principal, Colonia Middle School