Principals' Update

Happy September!

We are so excited about the beginning of this school year. We have had a great start to the 2026–2027 school year, and our students are already settling into their routines and showing us their incredible potential. Fall is a season of change, and just like the falling leaves remind us that growth often requires letting go of what feels comfortable, middle schoolers are learning to stretch themselves in new and important ways.

Each month, we will be sharing a message focused on ways we can help our middle schoolers grow and thrive. These themes are tied directly to our CENTRAL Code and to the social-emotional skills that prepare our students for long-term success.

For September, our focus is on being Capable. A Capable Trojan is:

A student who effectively monitors, regulates, and controls their emotions and behaviors in everyday situations.
A student who perseveres and completes tasks even when faced with new, unfamiliar, or challenging situations.

Being capable is really about self-management—the skill of regulating emotions, setting goals, and following through, even when things feel difficult or uncomfortable. Middle school is full of moments that bring discomfort, such as tough assignments, new schedules, or friendship challenges. Self-management is about learning to stay steady through that discomfort and finding a way forward, rather than shutting down or giving up.

Here is how capability and self-management show up across our grade levels:

5th Grade: Managing the transition to switching classes for the first time; staying calm when forgetting a book and remembering that mistakes are a normal part of the learning process.
6th Grade: Facing larger projects and expectations; leaning into the discomfort of long-term work by breaking tasks into smaller steps and sticking with them.
7th Grade: Handling increased independence; balancing commitments and sometimes choosing to say no to a fun activity in order to follow through on responsibilities.
8th Grade: Preparing for the transition to high school; learning to manage the stress of future decisions while remaining focused on today's responsibilities.

Family Tips for Building Capable Students

Normalize discomfort: Remind your child that feeling nervous or frustrated does not mean they are failing—it is a normal sign that they are learning and growing.
Practice "one small step": When a task feels overwhelming, help your child identify the very next actionable step they can take.
Celebrate resilience: Point out when your child pushes through a difficult moment, whether that means finishing a hard assignment, trying a new activity, or working through a personal conflict.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us on your student’s journey toward becoming a Capable Trojan who practices self-management, leans into discomfort, and builds resilience through challenge.

Dr. Ericka Bush, CIS Principal
Ms. Kim Martin, CIS Assistant Principal

General Information

WCHS Football Game Expectations

High school football games are a great time for many students. Please review these expectations and share with your child as these policies will be enforced at all home games:

Students (high school, middle school, and grade school) must remain on the
home side of the field, and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner.
Excessive horseplay, throwing items, unsportsmanlike conduct, etc. will not be permitted. Students will be asked to leave if behavior becomes an issue.
Parents/guardians must remain at the stadium with their middle school or
younger children.
No open containers or outside beverages of any kind are allowed in the stadium.
No coolers or backpacks are allowed. Bags may be subject to search.
JFL players must pay the student rate of $3, with the exception of JFL Night,
where they are allowed to enter for free when wearing their game jersey.
Students who leave the game will not be allowed to re-enter the facility.

CIS Extracurricular Expectations

We love when students come support their fellow classmates at extracurricular events! Please keep in mind that all spectators are expected to adhere to the following behavior during all Central events:

Students are expected to show good sportsmanship at all times. Central students cheer FOR our athletes, NOT against the opponents. Actions like booing, turning backs to players, taunting, and making noises during expected silent times, and cheering against the other team do not show good sportsmanship.
Spectators should not yell or attempt to talk to officials, coaches, or opponents.
Spectators are expected to be in the gym during gameplay. Spectators may not hang out in Holford Lobby/Foyer during games.
Spectators should stay off the court of play at all times, even during halftime.
Concession items are allowed in the gym. Spectators should pick up after themselves.
Students should arrange for transportation prior to the event.
Students in fourth grade or lower grade levels are to remain with their parents/guardians for the duration of the game. Students at this age level will not be allowed to sit in the CIS student section.
Fifth grade students must have a parent/guardian present throughout the game while the student is present.

Motorized Scooters/Bikes

We greatly appreciate the cooperation from all students and families in regards to no motorized scooters and ebikes! Please note, these items are not allowed on any school property in Washington when school is in session and not in session. This includes nights and weekends. Again, we appreciate the assistance from all families in ensuring this expectation is being adhered to.

Family Support Services

Washington Weekend Snackpac

Washington Weekend Snackpac provides a bag of food items to children for weekends when school lunch and breakfast are unavailable. All food is nonperishable and provided to children free of charge. Bags are distributed on the last school day before a weekend or break. Any child who attends Washington schools who qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches through the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program is eligible to participate in Washington Weekend Snackpac. The program is run completely by caring volunteers and is funded through the generous gifts from Washington area churches, businesses, and residents of this community. We encourage you to take advantage of this program for your children.

Central Care Closet

What: Branches of Washington is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to assist children, youth, and their families by offering programs that provide free clothing, hygiene items, and snacks. On a monthly basis, volunteers will staff the care closet room at school and help students shop for free hygiene items, new/gently used clothing, and snacks. Clothing items include shorts, pants, shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts, shoes, coats, and new packages of underwear and socks. Hygiene products include shampoo, conditioner, 3-in-1, body wash, lotion, deodorant, feminine hygiene supplies, toothpaste, and toothbrushes.

Where: Central Primary and Intermediate Schools

When: Once per month

Who: Any student who qualifies for free or reduced-price school lunch can participate in this program. Students must have this permission form or the online form completed before they shop.

Questions?

How Much Does it Cost? All items in the Care Closet are free.
Who Donates the Items? Clothing and hygiene items are donated by Washington area churches, businesses, and residents.
How Can My Child Participate?
- Complete the information through this ONLINE FORM.
- Print and complete the permission form HERE, and return it to school. The CIS Office will also send a copy of this permission slip home with students who qualify. Families who wish to sign up may return the completed form to school with their child.

School Picture Day is on Thursday, September 10th in the morning. If you would like to order you can use the code 0558QS when going to www.inter-state.com/order.

Don't forget that our Central Spirit Store is open year round, so you can stock up on Trojan gear anytime and show your school pride throughout the year.

We recently completed a Hold and Secure drill, and we were very pleased with how well it went. As part of our ongoing commitment to school safety, we will conduct an Active Intruder Drill on September 18 with assistance from the Washington Police Department. More information about the drill and what families can expect will be shared closer to the date. Central follows the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) to ensure our students and staff have clear, consistent procedures to follow during a variety of emergency situations.

Arrival & Dismissal

Arrival Procedures

Drop off at Central Intermediate School begins at 7:40 a.m. Students are not permitted to enter the building before 7:40 a.m. unless students/parents have pre-arranged early arrival with a staff member.

Car Riders

Drop off at Central Intermediate School is at the CIS Main Entrance (Holford Gym doors) beginning at 7:40 a.m. Parents/guardians dropping off students MUST use the following procedures:

Drivers MUST enter the drop-off line from the Eagle Avenue entrance. Drivers are not to enter the car line from CPS. This stops the flow of traffic around the parking lot.
Drivers who wish to stay in their cars during drop-off MUST use the CIS drop-off line to drop off students. For student safety, drivers are not to drop students off on the street.
Drivers should pull forward as far as possible in the drop-off zone in front of the CIS entrance to allow as many cars as possible to drop off.
Students should be ready to exit the vehicle as soon as the vehicle stops in front of the sidewalk by CIS. When there is a pause in moving traffic, students should exit the vehicle quickly and enter the building.
Drivers who wish to have their students utilize the crosswalk in front of the main entrance should park their cars and walk students to the crosswalk. For student safety, please do not allow your child to walk across the parking lot alone.

Walker/Bicycle Riders

Walkers and bicycle riders should enter the building through the CIS Main entrance (Holford Gym doors).
Walkers crossing the streets near Central Intermediate School should utilize the crosswalks and crossing guards each day.
Bicycle riders should walk their bikes once they arrive at the sidewalk in front of Central Intermediate School.
Bicycle riders should walk bicycles in crosswalks.
Bicycle riders should park their bikes on the cement pad next to the Central Intermediate School Main Entrance.

Bus Riders

Central Intermediate School bus riders will be released from buses at 7:40 a.m. Bus riders will walk through the CIS Cafeteria and directly to their classrooms.

To accommodate the primary school bus routes, some CIS students will be dropped off as early as 7:30 a.m. These students are expected to enter the CIS Cafeteria immediately upon arrival and remain there until they are dismissed at 7:40 a.m to head to their classrooms.

This space will be supervised by staff, and all cell phones should be put away during this time. Students are welcome to read, talk quietly with friends, or relax while they wait. Thank you for helping us maintain a calm and respectful environment to start the day!

Dismissal Procedures

Dismissal time for fifth through eighth-grade students begins at 2:46 p.m. and at 2:51 p.m. Dismissal runs as follows:

Bus riders, walkers, and bicycle riders will be dismissed from the Intermediate School at 2:46 p.m.
Car riders will be dismissed from CIS at 2:51 p.m.
Siblings who wait for CPS students will be dismissed from class at 2:51 p.m. and will be supervised in Holford Gym until CPS dismissal. Students waiting for siblings must report directly to Holford Gym at 2:51 p.m. Students are not permitted to wander the hallways or go to other classrooms after school.

CPS Siblings

CIS provides supervision for students picking up CPS siblings. Students should report to Holford Gym at 2:51 p.m. if they are picking up a sibling. CIS students are not allowed to wait outside for CPS siblings and must be supervised in the gym unless they are with a parent/guardian.

Walkers/Bicycle Riders

Once dismissed, students are to leave the school immediately.
Walkers crossing the streets near Central Intermediate School should utilize the crosswalks and crossing guards each day.
Bicycle riders are to walk bicycles in crosswalks and on the sidewalk in front of the school.

Car Riders

Car riders are dismissed from CIS beginning at 2:51 p.m. Parents/guardians picking up students MUST use the following procedures:

Drivers MUST enter the drop-off line from the Eagle Avenue entrance. Drivers are not to enter the car line from CPS after 2:40 p.m.
Drivers who wish to stay in their vehicles during pickup MUST use the CIS drop-off line to pick up students. For student safety, drivers are not to pick up students along the street.
Drivers should pull forward as far as possible in the pickup zone in front of the CIS entrance to allow as many cars as possible in the line.
Students exiting the building will be asked to look for their rides immediately. Students whose rides are not yet in the dropoff zone will be asked to walk to their right when they exit the building so cars can continue to pull forward.
Students will not be permitted to walk to alternative pickup locations.

Drivers may choose to park in the CIS parking lot to avoid the pickup line. Drivers choosing this option MUST exit their vehicle and meet their child near the crosswalk. For their safety, students are not permitted to enter the parking lot until their ride is there to meet them.

Behavior Expectations & Policies

26-27 Central District 51 Student/Family Handbook

CIS Behavior Expectations

At CIS, we believe in creating a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment where all students can learn and grow. Students are expected to treat others with kindness, follow school rules, and make responsible choices throughout the day, whether in the classroom, hallway, cafeteria, or on the playground. We teach and reinforce these expectations regularly and work together as a team to support positive behavior. When students make mistakes, we see it as a chance to reteach and help them learn from the experience. However, when behavior becomes unsafe, disruptive, or disrespectful, appropriate consequences will follow, and families will be contacted as needed.

All of our behavior expectations, policies, and procedures are outlined in the CIS Student-Family Handbook, which we encourage all families to review together at the beginning of the school year. Below are a few key expectations students will encounter during the school day. Reviewing these ahead of time helps set everyone up for a safe, successful, and respectful school year.

Positive Behavior = Fun Opportunities!

At CIS, we love celebrating students who consistently make positive choices and follow school expectations. One of the most exciting rewards is getting to attend ROCK—a fun, PTO-sponsored evening event filled with games, junk food, and friends! Students with no detentions or suspensions are eligible to attend!

Please also note that tardies count toward detentions, so arriving at school on time each day is an important part of staying eligible. We encourage families to help students build strong routines and take pride in their positive behavior!

Toys and Fidgets

To help keep our classrooms focused and free of distractions, we remind all students that they must leave all personal toys, trading cards, and fidgets at home. These items are not allowed at school or on the bus due to the messes and distractions they have caused previously.

If your child requires a sensory tool or fidget as an official accommodation, please ensure it aligns with their documented 504 Plan or IEP. Otherwise, any personal items brought to school may be collected by staff and held for a parent or guardian to pick up.

Thank you for your cooperation in supporting a productive learning environment for all students!

Academics

CIS Homework Assistance

Homework Assistance is an after-school opportunity for all students to work on school assignments, receive extra help from teachers, and stay caught up on their learning in a quiet, supportive environment.

Starting Tuesday, September 8, Homework Assistance will be offered on the following days:

5th-8th grades:
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 2:51 – 4:00 p.m.

Here’s how it works:

2:51 – 3:30 PM – Students can get help from any of their teachers.
3:30 – 4:00 PM – Students work with the supervising teacher for that day.

At least one teacher from each grade level will stay after school on these days to provide support.

Students who are staying for Homework Assistance should report directly to the assigned Homework Assistance classroom after the second bell rings at dismissal. Students must be picked up from Homework Assistance by 4:00 PM. If rides are later than 4:00 PM on multiple occasions, your child may not be able to attend in the future.

Whether you need help with a tough assignment, time to catch up on missing work, or just a quiet place to focus—Homework Assistance is for you!

In extracurriculars? No problem! Talk to your coach or sponsor about a schedule that allows you to take advantage of both.

🚍 Transportation is available for students who attend Homework Assistance and need a ride home.

Homework Assistance Transportation

Transportation Procedure for Mandatory Homework Assistance

Form Submission: Please complete the Google Form linked below if your child requires transportation home from Mandatory Homework Assistance. Forms are also available on grade-level websites and Google Classrooms.
Timing: Forms must be submitted by 3:00 PM the day before transportation is needed.
Notification: Once submitted, the form will notify your child’s teacher, the transportation department, and the office.

Transportation for Non-Mandatory Homework Assistance

Students who stay for Homework Assistance to have a quiet place to work or receive extra help are also welcome to use transportation.
Form Submission: Complete the form linked below according to your child’s grade level and arrange this with your child’s teacher ahead of time.
Regular Use: If your child regularly stays for Homework Assistance and would benefit from transportation, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher to set up a regular transportation plan.
Submission: Forms must be submitted by 3:00 PM the day before transportation is needed.

We’re looking forward to supporting our students and making Homework Assistance more accessible.

4th Grade Homework Assistance Request Form

5th Grade Homework Assistance Request Form

6th Grade Homework Assistance Request Form

7th Grade Homework Assistance Request Form

8th Grade Homework Assistance Request Form

If you have questions about Homework Assistance, please contact your child's teachers, Dr. Bush, or Ms. Martin.

Benchmark Testing & Renaissance Home Connect

As part of district-wide efforts to improve student achievement, all Central Intermediate students take benchmark assessments three times per year (fall, winter, and spring) to measure their academic progress and growth. All Central Intermediate students will take benchmark assessments during the following weeks:

Fall Benchmark: Monday, August 24 - Friday, August 28

Winter Benchmark: Monday, December 7 - Friday, December 11

Spring Benchmark: Monday, April 26 - Friday, April 30

Please take a moment to read the CIS Benchmark Assessment Family Letter for detailed information about benchmark testing.

If you would like immediate results from your child's benchmark assessments, sign up for Renaissance Home Connect to get the most up-to-date information on your child's benchmark test results and Accelerated Reader.

Renaissance Home Connect

Log into your child’s Renaissance account, or have them log in for you.

Username: Last two digits of student's 8th grade graduation year, first initial, last name
- Example username: 29msmith
Password: Student's 4-digit lunch PIN
- Example password: 1234

Once logged in, scroll to the bottom of the screen. On the bottom left of the screen, click "Get Email Updates."
On the next screen, add your preferred email address.
Scroll down to preferences. Here, check any assessments for which you would like to be notified.
- Recommended: Accelerated Reader Tests, STAR Reading, STAR Math

The next time your student takes an AR test or a STAR reading or math assessment, you will be notified via email of the results within minutes of test completion!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding Home Connect through Renaissance, please email or call Mrs. Perko (mperko@central51.net), reading interventionist, or Mrs. Hahn (ehahn@central51.net), math interventionist.

Important Dates

Click the Trojan head below to see what events are happening at Central this month!

Central School District 51Central Primary and Central Intermediate School