FAQ's

What should I do if my child is struggling academically at CMS?

First, contact the teacher to find out their insight on the situation. If necessary, arrange a meeting with the teacher and have the child present so that they are an active participant in the process. If the academic problem continues, you can contact the assistant principle and a Student Study Team Meeting (SST) can be set up to explore the situation in greater depth.

My child is spending hours on their homework every night. What should I do?

Make sure your child is clear on their assignments. Sometimes students will procrastinate and study for tests the night before when they have known about the test for a number of days. This holds true for long term projects as well. Make sure that your child is writing down their assignments in their planner and that they have a homework buddy they can call if they are confused. If your child is in middle school, they can also check the homework calendar online to double check due dates. If the problem continues, check in with the teacher and/ or counselor to see if a SST meeting needs to be set up.

My child is having trouble with their peers. How can I help them?

Its important to be a good listener and to hear their side of things- but also remembering that there are two, sometimes three sides to every story. Encourage your child to talk it out with their friends first privately, but explain that if it would be helpful to have an adult or older peer mediate, the school can provide that for them.

My child is reporting that they are being bullied/ harassed at school. What steps do I need to take?

Corte Madera does not tolerate bullying/ harassment. It is best if the child can report this immediately to an adult (teacher, yard duty, principal, assistant principal etc.) right when it happens so it can be dealt with. However, if your child feels uncomfortable doing this, then you as the parent need to report this to either the teacher, assistant principal or principal immediately.

My child is wanting to change their electives. Is this possible?

Yes. We can look at other options during the first couple weeks of the semester to see if there are openings, but there is no guarantee. Students need to come see the dean within these first 2 weeks so that we can go over options. We do not like to change electives after the first couple weeks of school because it is disruptive to the course. Students can also try to become Teacher Assistant’s during their 7^th and 8^th grade year, however they need teacher and parent permission to do so.

When do I need to start planning for high school for my child?

I recommend you and your child start doing some research on different schools in the area during your child’s 7^th grade year. On the high school link, there is a list of schools that many of our CMS students have attended and this may be a good start. There will be an 8^th grade orientation in early September during Back to School Night where you will receive a lot of information on open houses, application deadlines etc. Most 8^th graders will shadow during the first semester of their 8^th grade year and applications for private school and intra-district transfers are due usually around January of their 8^th grade year.

My child says there is nothing to do at lunch. What kinds of activities are available for them?

There are many student driven games occurring during lunch recess- 4-square, handball, kickball soccer, flag football, and basketball to name a few. In addition, the library is also open at lunch as well as the art classroom (on rainy days), the Marker Space, the game room in room 503, and additional activities will be offered throughout the year. If your child is having trouble joining a game or doesn't know where to go at lunch, please let the assistant principal know and she will try to facilitate this.

We’ve had a traumatic event occur in our family and I’m worried about how my child is handling it. What should I do?

If this has occurred, feel free to let the dean and/or teacher know about it and we can keep an eye on your child while they are at school. It is helpful for us to know this information because students do have a tendency to act out, or withdraw in times of family stress. The dean is also available to “check in” with your child so that they know there is an adult they can talk to on campus if they choose. The dean also has a list of outside therapists if you feel this is necessary.