Cobb Middle School
July 28, 2004

Dear Parents and Students,

Welcome to Cobb (or welcome back home).  We are excited about once again
being an “A” school that emphasizes reading and literacy.  I hope you are
having a wonderful summer and are ready for the 2004-2005 school year.  We
are certainly looking forward to working with you in your journey to obtain
the best education possible.

School begins on Monday, August 16, and the school hours for students are
7:30 a.m. -1:50 p.m. Supervision will be provided from 7:00 a.m. until 2:20
p.m.   Cobb will continue on a nine-week grading system with progress
reports going home halfway through each grading period.  Lunch prices for
this year are $.75 for breakfast and $1.75 for lunch.  Students will bring
home an information package on the first day of school with many important
forms and documents.  Please look for this package.

During the summer we have been working on our literacy plan, accreditation
for middle schools, and teacher preparation to increase student
performance.  Our main goals for the 2004-2005 school year include:
 * increase students’ reading, writing, science, and math skills
 * increase students’ learning in a safe environment
 * continue professional development for faculty in researched
based reading, math, science, technology and critical thinking strategies
 * continue to increase the involvement of parents, guardians,
and community resources as active partners in achieving successful student
performance
 * continue to implement Applied Science and Technology Magnet
Program
 * continue ISAC (Improving Student Achievement through
Collaboration for Accreditation)
 * participate in SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools)
Please note the following information:
 * Orientation for new students is Friday, August 13, at 10:00 a.m.
in the gym.

The 2003-2004 School Public Accountability Report (SPAR) for Cobb is
available for viewing at the school or can be viewed on-line at
www.leon.k12.fl.us/SPAR/.  The information in this report includes
important information about your child’s school, including:  test scores;
enrollment; and student discipline incidents.  It also includes information
on teachers having advanced degrees, teachers out-of-field and evaluation
statistics; school-community learning environment survey results; school
improvement plan results; advisory committee make-up; and adult literacy
program information. Feel free to view a full copy of this report by coming
to the school office or via the web, at www.leon.k12.fl.us/SPAR/. We
encourage your participation and input with regard to our continuing school
improvement efforts.

If you did not receive a grade level supply list, please visit our web site
at www.cobb.leon.k12.fl.us or stop by the school and pick up a copy.  Also,
if you shop at Office Depot, be sure to tell them Cobb is your school for
the “5% Back to Schools” program.   All students will need to buy an Agenda
Book the first week of school (cost is $4.00).  Please read the front pages
very carefully with your child.  We have found that the Agenda Book (the
same one they use at the high schools) is an extremely effective tool to
help keep students organized.  The Agenda Book will be on sale at New
Student Orientation on August 13.

Cobb has a Listserv, a program that automatically disseminates a single e-
mail message.  There is no fee to join the Listserv. It has been set up to
share information to parents from Cobb by e-mail, but isn’t intended as a
forum of dialogue between subscribers.  To Subscribe to Cobb’s parents’
listserv, go to the following internet address to view the “List Archives
at LISTSERV.LEON.K12.FL.US”. http://listserv.leon.k12.fl.us/ Click on
the “CMS-PARENTS” link and then select “Join or leave the list (or change
settings)”. In the next window you will be asked for your e-mail address
and name. Next, click “Join CMS-PARENTS” and accept the other default
settings.  Once you have signed-up to receive the mailing, you will receive
a confirmation request email THAT YOU MUST REPLY TO, to confirm your
identity and prevent third parties from subscribing you to a list against
your will. Simply wait for this message to arrive, and then follow the
instructions to confirm the operation.  I strongly encourage you to sign up
if you have access to email.

Enjoy your last few days of summer vacation and come back ready for an
exciting year at Cobb Middle School.  I look forward to working with each
of you!!  See you on August 16th!!!

Mark your calendar for some important dates:
 August 13 – Open House 10:00 A.M. Gym
 August 31 – School Pictures
 September 9 - Evening Open House 7:00 P.M.


Please try to attend.

Sincerely,


Lynda Roser
Principal

P.S.  7th graders must receive all of their immunizations before they can
start school.  Documentation MUST be provided or your child cannot start
school.   Students who come to school, but have not had their
immunizations, must be sent home.  Call your doctor or the Leon County
Health Department to obtain the necessary paperwork and the schedule for
the remaining free clinics at the Health.

SAFETY
Parents, please note, use the student pick-up/drop-off on Lucy Street off
of Hillcrest. For student safety, please do not drop off across the street
from Cobb, but use the designated student pick-up area only.  We need ALL
parents to assist us with our after school Safety Plan.  We are concerned
that too many students are unsupervised from 2:20 until 5:00 P.M. and
later.  Please note the current rules that are in place for reasons of
child  safety:
• General campus supervision is from 7:00 A.M. to 2:20 P.M.
• School dismisses at 1:50 P.M.
• All students must go to an authorized area, bus stop, parent pick
up or a supervised after school activity by 2:00 P.M
• Supervision is provided at the bus stop until the last bus leaves.
(Approximately 2:05)
• Supervision is provided at parent pick up until 2:20 P.M. (see
posted signs)
• No school child is authorized to be in an unsupervised area after
2:20.
• ALL after school activity students must be picked up by 4:00 P.M.
Because we find that many parents believe their child is staying for the
homework center or some other supervised after school activity and they are
not, we are taking the following safety measures:
• ALL students that are unauthorized and unsupervised on campus after
2:20 will be taken to room 2 located in the first hallway.  We will
determine the nature of the problem and notify parents accordingly.
• Parents will be asked to sign their student(s) out of room 2 after
2:20.
• ALL after school activity students must be picked up by 4:00 P.M.
as a condition of continued participation.
Parents, please work with us to insure that all of our students are always
safe.  See Mr. McDaris if you have questions.
DRESS CODE FOR COBB MIDDLE SCHOOL
All students are expected to dress in a manner that respects the rights of
all and demonstrates appropriate Cobb campus attire.  If a student is not
in compliance of the dress code, parents will be called to bring
appropriate attire.
1. Dress, skirts, and shorts lengths (including slits in clothing)
should be no shorter than 6 inches from the top of the knee. (Slits in
skirts cannot be more than 6 inches from the top of the knee.) Six (6)
inches is equivalent to a $1.00 bill.
2. All shirts or dresses must have a shoulder seam of at least 3
inches, with no cleavage visible, shirts must cover the chest, back and mid-
section included, when arms are raised. Shirts must not show excessive
armpit areas. Form fitting or overly tight clothing can not be sexually
provocative.
3. Pants shall not be sagging nor shall they allow any undergarment or
part of the body to be exposed.
4. All clothing, jewelry, and/or personal possessions shall not
contain the following:
• racially offensive images or slogans
• drug, tobacco, or alcohol information
• sexually suggested words, pictures, or graphics
• gang related (bandanas, pants with one leg up, etc.)
• violence (graphics, words or pictures representing violence)
5. No hats, hoods, caps, headbands, sleepwear or head coverings will
be allowed during school hours. (Items will be confiscated.) Hats are
allowed during PE only.
6. Curlers, finger-nail polish, and other hair grooming aides (i.e.
hairspray, perfume, cologne, etc.) should be used at home and should not be
brought to school.  Combs and hairbrushes should not be used in classrooms.
Cobb's Mission Statement
"The community of Cobb Middle School strives to encourage and establish
academic excellence and social and personal growth in a creative learning
environment."
Belief Statements
1. Student learning is the chief priority for the school.
2. All students can learn.
3. Students learn in different ways and should be provided with a
variety of instructional approaches t o support their learning.
4. Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning
process.
5. Curriculum and instructional practices should incorporate a variety
of learning activities t o accommodate differences in learning styles.
6. Each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social,
emotional and intellectual needs.
7. Assessments of student learning should provide students with a
variety of opportunities to demonstrate their achievements.
8. A student's self esteem is enhanced by positive relationships and
mutual respect among and between students and staff.
9. A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes student
learning.
10. Cultural diversity increases students' understanding of different
people and cultures.
11. Teachers, administrators, parents, and the community share the
responsibility f o r advancing the school's mission.
12. Cobb's commitment to continuous improvement enables students to
become confident, self-directed, lifelong learners.