Middle School

Letter from the Middle School Director

December 8, 2023

Dear Middle School Families,     

It’s hard to believe Winter Break is just a week away when the high-temperature today is going to be 58 degrees! Ohio weather certainly keeps us on our toes. Next week, students will finish their semester classes on Monday and Tuesday and then head into mid-term exams (Form VIII) and standardized tests (Forms VI and VII). After testing concludes, we will have afternoon programming; students will have a full day of school. Students should still bring laptops daily and have warm clothes for extended outside recess, as the weather permits. 

Form VI and VII Standardized Tests: December 13-15
All Form VI and VII students will participate in The Comprehensive Testing Program (CTP-V) on December 13-15. These tests assess students’ skills in the areas of verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, reading, vocabulary, writing, and math. They are designed to measure content-specific curriculum-based performance with reasoning ability and conceptual knowledge. Testing sessions will begin at 8:30 each morning and be completed at approximately 12:00. Each afternoon, students will be involved in different form-level activities, so these will be full school days for your daughters. Students are expected to be in attendance for these assessments. 

Form VIII Mid-Term Semester Exams: December 13-15
Form VIII students have comprehensive semester exams in math, history, science, English, and world languages. Exams constitute 10% of the semester grade in S1 and 20% of the semester grade in S2. This scaffolding is designed to allow students to experience a longer, more comprehensive assessment with a lower risk for the first time in December and then repeat the process in May, with the exams accounting for a larger percentage of the grade (as they will in upper school). Form VIII students met with their advisors this week to talk about how to study, the importance of sleep and good nutrition, and how to manage stress. You can access the slides shared with students HERE.

EXAM SCHEDULE
Wednesday 12/13: Math/History
Thursday 12/14: Science/English
Friday 12/15: World Languages

Please note that Form VIII students also have full days of school during exams, with opportunities for additional study time and fun activities built in.

Warmly,

Pam Hartshorne
Middle School Director 

---

Middle School Information...   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022-2023 YEARBOOKS
Orders for the 2023-2024 yearbook are now OPEN, and as a reminder, if you order by December 31, you will receive a discount on your order. The Class of 2024 DOES NOT need to order a yearbook, as CSG will purchase one for each graduating senior.  Click here to order your copy of TopKnot (full yearbook PYC-US)  or Click here to order your copy of TopKnot Jr. (abbreviated yearbook: PYC-MS).  Yearbooks from 2022-2023 school year have been distributed to those students that purchased them. If you missed out on ordering last year, we have a few extra copies of Topknot and Topknot Jr. available for purchase. Please contact Yearbook advisor, Genelle Castro with any questions or concerns.  The deadline to purchase yearbooks is April 22, 2024.

STUDENT JUBILEE - April 2024
On the afternoon of Saturday, April 13th, the Center for Girls’ and Young Women’s Leadership will host a Student Jubilee, an opportunity for CSG students to have their own booth to sell a product or service. This will be part of the Center’s day-long celebration Investing in Women 2024.  Next week, students interested in participating in the Jubilee will receive a brainstorming packet to develop their ideas over Winter Break. Please be sure to mark these important dates on your calendar:

• January 10, 2024: Google form released to sign up for a Jubilee booth
• February 2, 2024: Student workshop on Jubilee preparation
• March 13, 2024: Google form commitment due for Student Jubilee 
• April 5, 2024: Student Meeting for Final Jubilee Preparation
• April 13, 2024: Student Jubilee

Please reach out to Dr. Emily Krichbaum, Director of the Center for Girls' and Young Women's Leadership, or Kamaya Prince Thompson, Assistant Head of School with any questions.

OWjL CAMP
The 43rd OWjL Camping season is approaching!  OWjL is a week-long residential summer camp for gifted and talented students currently (at time of application) in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. It is held in June on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.  New in July 2024 for 4th, 5th, & 6th graders:  We are happy to announce that OWjL Day Camp will be offered in 2024. OWjL Day Camp is a week-long summer camp for gifted and talented students currently (at time of application) in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. It will be held in July on the campus of Ohio Wesleyan University.  To qualify, students must meet the state definition of giftedness:  score in the 95th percentile on any one area on the most recent ability or achievement test, be above average proficiency test scores, or otherwise demonstrate talent or creativity.  The OWjL website provides expanded information on curriculum, camp programs and activities as well as camp dates, deadlines, scholarships, and fees. Camper applications must be submitted online by January 31, 2024. 

PICK UP GUIDELINES AND PROTOCOLS 
As fall sports have concluded, we have noticed an increase in carline traffic over the last week. We are sharing with all families important guidelines and protocols to ensure that the traffic patterns are clear and that students are safe. Please see this diagram for a helpful visual guide.  

Middle/Upper School 
Given the amount of traffic now that fall sports have concluded, we have added additional option for pickup.

• Option 1:  Columbia Ave
  • Do not queue before 3:30pm so PYC can dismiss
• Option 2:  Drexel Avenue
  • MUST queue through the Meuse Circle
    • Enter the queue from Broad Street
    • Do not turn into the lot from Drexel Ave.  
  • Do not queue before 3:35pm so Lower School can dismiss
  • Pick up at the flagpole in the Drexel parking lot, not the Meuse Circle
  • Do not pick up students on neighborhood streets (including across Drexel Ave.)

CHANGE IN ATTENDANCE REPORTING
Please report any absence, late arrival, or early dismissal to MSAttendance@columbusschoolforgirls.org or call the MS Office at 614-252-0781 x121 to leave a message before 8:30am.  Please refrain from emailing teachers directly and use the email above instead.  Thank you!  

ID BADGES
As part of our continued efforts surrounding safety and security at school, older students (Forms VI - XII) have CSG ID Badges to facilitate easier access to the school building.  These badges will give them access to school during school hours. Students do not have access to school after hours, except in cases of extracurricular activities where coaches have made special arrangements to do so. Badges are considered a part of the uniform, and students should wear them every day. Lost badges should be reported immediately to Division Directors, Advisors or Divisional Administrative Assistants. 

HEALTH REMINDERS
With the weather getting cooler and we're spending more time indoors, we are seeing the typical rise in colds and other illnesses.  Please continue to monitor your child for illness/symptoms and keep her home when sick. If your child is out ill for more than 24 hours, please provide a doctor's note upon return and/or a negative COVID-19 test. If your child does test positive for COVID, please notify Nurse Scheiderer and keep your child home for 5 days from the start of symptoms--which is considered Day 0. Your child will need to return in a mask for days 6-10. Please reach out to Nurse Scheiderer with any health-related questions.

---

---

 Middle School Resources 

---

   
Middle School Athletes of the Week 
 GAME SCHEDULE & ATHLETIC Calendar