CABIN JOHN MIDDLE SCHOOL
10701 Gainsborough Road
Potomac, Maryland 20854
August, 2015
Dear Cabin John Middle School Families,
Welcome to the 2015-2016 school year at Cabin John Middle School (CJMS). We are very excited
about opening our school for the fifth school year in this building! Our Instructional Leadership
Team (ILT) of administrators, resource teachers, specialists, and your PTSA Executive Board
collaborated during the summer to ensure your children will benefit from appropriate and challenging
academic programs this school year. Please review the following important dates, activities, and
school policies and procedures with your child. Remember, too, that beginning with this school year,
new bell schedules will be implemented throughout Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
See below for a summary of these new bell schedules:
LEVEL
High School
Middle School
Elementary School Tier 1
Elementary School Tier 2
TIME
7:45 AM–2:30 PM
8:15 AM–3:00 PM
9:00 AM–3:25 PM
9:25 AM–3:50 PM
LENGTH OF DAY
6 hours, 45 minutes
6 hours, 45 minutes
6 hours, 25 minutes
6 hours, 25 minutes
 Thursday, August 27, 2015 8:15 AM to 12 Noon Orientation for Students New to CJMS
All 6th grade and any 7th and 8th grade students new to CJMS will follow a class schedule to visit
classes and meet their teachers. Transportation is provided as shown on the bus route sheets
available by clicking the Transportation link provided on the CJMS website.
All Special Education students may not be provided transportation on this day, but parents are
encouraged to bring their child to school to participate in the mini-day activities.
 Monday, August 31, 2015
8:15 AM to 3:00 PM
First Day of School
Staff will assist students with locating their classrooms. All students will receive their schedules
on the first day of school. Grade level counselors will be available to answer student scheduling
questions.
All 6th grade students will report to the cafeteria
All 7th and 8th grade students will report to posted room assignments
 Tuesday, September 1, 2015
7:30 – 8:00 AM
Parent Health Information Meeting
The annual Parent Health Education Information meeting will be held in room 1301. Please sign
in at the main office before reporting to classroom 1301.
1
 Tuesday, September 8, 2015
6:00 PM to 8:45 PM
Back-to-School Night
Prior to the Back-to-School Night schedule, the PTSA will hold a meet and greet near the
cafeteria from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM. There will be a PTSA meeting beginning at 6:45 PM.
Parents will then visit their child’s classes following their child’s schedule beginning at 7:00 PM.
Carpooling is encouraged. MCPS bus transportation is also available from Stone Mill
Elementary, with an additional stop at Seven Locks Road and Scotland Drive. Specific times
will be published at a later date.
 Wednesday, September 16, 2015 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Back to School Picnic
Please join your school families for a variety of PTSA-sponsored activities, food, and music.
Food Trucks: Linda’s Luncheonette, Fred the Ice Cream Man, and more to come. Please bring
cash for the food portion of this event.
 Friday, October 9, 2015
All day
Individual Student Photographs
Mark your calendars now for Individual Student Photo Day. Photos will be taken during all P.E.
classes. Photo ID’s will be distributed at a later time and the photo will be included in the
yearbook. Make-up Individual Student Photograph Day is Friday, November 13, 2015.
 Monday, October 12, 2015
8:15 AM – 11:00 AM
MCPS Open House Day
Parents and Guardians are cordially invited to visit their students’ classrooms on Monday,
October 12th to observe their students and teachers during classroom instruction, physical
education, music, and art classes. Chairs will be set up in the back of each classroom on this day.
 Wednesday & Thursday, November 11-12, 2015
Early Release Days
School will be dismissed at 12:30 PM on Tuesday, November 11th and Wednesday, November
12th.
 Wednesday, November 11, 2015 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM Parent/Teacher Drop-in Conferences
Cabin John staff will be available for five minute, informal conferences beginning at 4:30 PM
and ending promptly at 6:30 PM Please join us and meet with teachers of your choice during
these drop-in conferences.
 Thursday, April 28, 2016
During PRIDE
Panoramic 8th Grade Group Photograph
Eighth grade students will pose for a group photo and have the opportunity to purchase a photo.
There will be no make-up date for the 8th grade group photo.
 Friday, April 29, 2016
All Day
Spring Individual Portrait Day
Have your child’s photo taken with a variety of backgrounds selected from the on-line proof that
will be available after the photo session, during all gym classes. A link to purchase will be
available on the CJMS Website after April 29, 2016.
Extra-Curricular Activity (ECA) Fees Update
ECA fee remittance forms were mailed directly to all students earlier in the summer. The ECA fee is
a one-time fee for the 2015-2016 school year, and covers participation in all school-sponsored
athletics, intramurals, and after-school activities, such as (but not limited to) homework club, art
club, book club, and Student Government Association (SGA). The preferred method of payment is
online by credit card using the Montgomery County Public Schools Online School Payments (OSP)
portal at the following website: http://osp.osmsinccom/MontgomeryMD/ . The OSP portal is secure
and parents will receive a receipt via email. ECA fees can also be paid by check, cash or money
order. Thank you for helping to sponsor your students’ Extra-Curricular Activities programs at
CJMS!
2
Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation (BHI)
The Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education (MCPS) and CJMS are committed to
creating an environment that is free of bullying, harassment, or intimidation so that schools are safe
places in which to learn. CJMS will not tolerate verbal, physical, or written (including electronic)
bullying, harassment, or intimidation of any person on school property, on school buses, or at schoolsponsored functions. We will not tolerate reprisals or retaliation against individuals who report acts
of bullying, harassment, or intimidation, or who are victims, witnesses, or others with reliable
information. Forms for reporting such incidents are linked to the CJMS website, the MCPS website,
or a hard copy may be picked up from our office by any member of the school or community. Please
visit http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/forms/pdf/230-36.pdf to download a copy.
All children will be provided with a copy of this form to bring home the first week of school.
Cabin John Middle School News
We bid a fond farewell to our outgoing CJMS staff members. Best wishes are extended to retiring
teachers, Mrs. Sally Colacicco, Reading Specialist; Mrs. Bonnie Resop, Mathematics Resource Teacher;
Mrs. Beth Richard, Media Specialist; Mrs. Manette Tao, Physical Education and Health Teacher; Mrs.
Robyn Wagman, Physical Education/Health Resource Teacher & Arts Team Leader; and Mrs. Ellen
Burstyn, Media Assistant. The following staff members are pursuing other endeavors: Ms. Nichole
Adams, Art Teacher; and Mrs. Cheryl Fry, Mathematics Teacher; and Ms. Jennifer Hicks, Substitute
Attendance Secretary.
Please join us in welcoming staff members new to CJMS: Ms. Lisa Alderoty, Digital Literacy Teacher;
Ms. Madison Averill, Mathematics Teacher; Ms. Rebekah Bernstein, Autism Teacher; Ms. Sonia
D’Agnese, Art Teacher; Mr. David Gentzel, Physical Education/Health Resource Teacher & Arts Team
Leader; Ms. Kate Heald, Instructional Data Analyst; Ms. Erin Lawlor, ARS Special Education Para
Educator; Dr. Sheri Massey, Media Specialist; Ms. Ellen Marshall, ARS Teacher; Ms. Laura Schrader,
Mathematics Resource Teacher; Ms. Jin-Ru Lin, Media Assistant, and Mr. Christian Pope, Autism
Program Special Education Para Educator.
We invite all parents to work collaboratively with our outstanding school staff in creating a
challenging, enriching, and enjoyable school year for every student. We look forward to welcoming
the students on Monday, August 31, 2015 and seeing all parents at Back-to-School Night on
Tuesday, September 8, 2015, as well as during Parent/Teacher Conferences in November. If you
have any questions, please call the CJMS main office at 301-469-1150.
Thank you for your continued support and for being a part of the CJMS family.
Sincerely,
Dr. Paulette L. Smith,
Principal
William G. Everly,
Assistant Principal
Sweta D. Zaks,
Assistant Principal
3