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CMCSS K-12 Virtual Teacher Named News Channel 2 Educator of the Week

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. After 23 years as an educator, Crystal McCoin, a third grade STEM teacher at Oakland Elementary, is trying something new – virtual teaching. Hundreds of CMCSS teachers are navigating the new world of CMCSS K-12 Virtual. For Ms. McCoin, she finds joy in teaching and watching her students’ excitement about learning. “I have been teaching a long time and thought I had seen everything, but have definitely had to step out of my comfort zone,” she explains. “I am always willing to try new things to see if something works better and to help the students learn.” This sentiment rings true for many virtual educators today. Educators are experts at creative thinking and our virtual teachers continue to rise to the challenge of engaging their students. From puppets to playing games, teachers at all levels aren’t afraid to try new things. Everyone understands that trying something different is crucial to maintaining a relationship with students. McCoin says the biggest difference with virtual learning is you have to work harder to build relationships with students. During her Zoom instruction time, her eyes are continuously scanning the faces for anyone who may be distracted. Phrases that would be typical to any classroom setting such as, ‘are you okay’, ‘show me your pencils’, ‘let’s sit up tall’ are now mixed in with the newest repetitive phrase for teachers ‘make sure you’re on mute.’ Ms. McCoin does not miss any opportunity to share a smile or encouraging word, because she knows the importance of building a relationship. “You get to see a little of their personalities but not as you do in the classroom setting,” she […]


October 22, 2020 Update – Remote Learning

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. Good evening, CMCSS families, We have a few important updates to the district calendar for traditional students. CMCSS will be implementing five pre-planned, district-wide remote learning days for traditional students before Winter Break. With remote learning, students will not report to the school building as they will access learning via the laptops provided by the district. Schools will provide more information to families on how to access remote learning and meals, for those who need them, in the coming days. The following are the planned remote learning days: November 2 (day before Election Day) November 23-25 (3 days before Thanksgiving Break) December 21 (day before Winter Break) The decision to implement these remote learning days was based on two factors. First, we received feedback from families after the calendar was revised in August regarding the shortening of Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. Implementing remote learning days will allow families to have that time together while still ensuring students are engaged in learning.  Secondly, these pre-planned remote days will allow our Technology Department to evaluate and repair any issues that could arise for students in the event that multiple schools or the entire district needed to transition to remote learning due to the circumstances of the pandemic. So far, the district has had around 2,500 of our almost 23,000 traditional students who have had to learn remotely for a period of time due to COVID-19 reasons since the first day of school. CMCSS students, faculty, staff, and administrators have worked hard to implement the district’s reopening plan and to keep our school buildings open for those families that chose the traditional option. District leaders […]


TNPromise Scholarship Applications Due Nov. 2, 2020

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (October 7, 2020) – tnAchieves, the local partnering organization for TN Promise, which provides two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee, is looking for both high school applicants and mentors to assist seniors in pursuing higher education. In Clarksville-Montgomery County, both the number of students who have applied for the scholarship and the adult mentors has seen a significant drop in 2020.  TNPromise Applicants The deadline for high school seniors submitting a TN Promise application is November 2, 2020. Due to disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, most Tennessee high schools are significantly behind last year’s TN Promise application rate. High school seniors who are interested should complete the TN Promise application, submit a FAFSA, and apply to a college. Tennessee high school seniors can submit a TN Promise application by visiting www.TNPromise.gov and applying online. As indicated, the scholarship will provide two years of tuition-free attendance at a community or technical college in Tennessee. Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not met by Pell, Hope, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. As part of the program, students will be paired with a partnering organization, provided with a mentor who will support them during the college application process and complete the community service requirement.  Mentor a High School Senior tnAchieves, the local partnering organization for TN Promise, needs volunteers to serve as mentors for the Class of 2021. tnAchieves mentors will serve their community virtually, working with local students to offer support throughout the college-going process. TN Promise allows any graduating high school […]


Fall Break October 12-16, 2020

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. Fall Break is next week, Oct. 12-16. This will be a well-deserved time off for CMCSS students, faculty, and staff. If you plan to travel over Fall Break, please click here to read the CDC’s guidance. It is essential to review this guidance to keep you and your family safe while traveling and keep our community and schools safe and open when you return.  Although meals will not be served over Fall Break, the Child Nutrition Department will be distributing nine days’ worth of no-cost meals this Fri., Oct. 9, from 1-2 p.m. at all CMCSS elementary schools. Meals will be served curbside. These meals are for all CMCSS students (both K-12 Virtual and traditional students) and non-enrolled children who are 18-years-old and under. School and district offices will be closed to the public during Fall Break and will reopen on Mon., Oct. 19. We hope everyone has a safe, fun, and relaxing break!


Oct. 6 | ACT Exam (all seniors) & Remote Learning (traditional 9th-11th graders)

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. On Tue., Oct. 6, all CMCSS seniors, both traditional and CMCSS K-12 Virtual, will take the ACT exam in-person at their enrolled school. To best meet the needs of seniors taking the ACT and follow health and safety protocols, Oct. 6 will be a remote learning day for traditional students in grades 9-11. With remote learning, students do not report to the school building as they will access learning via the laptops CMCSS provided them. Teachers will provide more information to students on how to access lessons from home. Last March, the ACT was cancelled for the Class of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the date is being made up on Oct. 6. The ACT is a graduation requirement in the state of Tennessee, and is important for students to qualify for college entrance requirements, the Hope Scholarship, CMCSS Work Ethic Distinction, benchmarks for Honors and Highest Honors diplomas, numerous scholarships, and determining class rank for seniors in January. On Oct. 6, all seniors will need to arrive at their enrolled school no later than 7:30 a.m. Traditional seniors who ride CMCSS transportation should be at their bus stop at the regularly scheduled time in the morning. Students will finish the exam by approximately 12:30 p.m. CMCSS K-12 Virtual seniors may leave after the exam. Schools will share more details with their individual school communities prior to Oct. 6.


COVID-19 Data Dashboard

Data regarding CMCSS COVID-19 student and school-level employee positive cases, quarantines, and FFCRA leave.


Immunizations required for 7th Grade Students

Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events may be not be relevant for the current school year. The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System would like to remind parents and guardians of 7th-grade students, that the state requires proof that your student has had a booster dose of tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine (known as Tdap). This requirement is necessary for your child to be admitted into the 7th grade. The state has not relaxed this requirement because of COVID-19. In fact, they are communicating that it is more important than ever to ensure your child is fully immunized. The Tennessee Department of Health has issued an immunization requirement for all students entering into the 7th grade and as follows: Documentation of Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis Booster (Tdap) after 10 years of age (on the appropriate DTaP/DT/Td line of the TN Certificate of Immunization). We can only accept a TN Certificate of Immunization. Pharmacy receipts and immunization cards are not acceptable documentation. Documentation is Due by Friday, October 2. Tennessee state law requires facilities to accept only the official Tennessee Certificate of Immunization. Proof of immunization must be on this certificate. For currently enrolled students in 7th grade, only proof of the new immunization is required on the new certificate of immunization. It is not necessary to copy the information from the previous certificate on to the new certificate. Your healthcare provider or the health department will provide you with the certificate when you take your child for his/her required immunization. School staff, including the school nurse, cannot complete or make changes to the certificate. This must be done by your healthcare provider. Please make arrangements with your healthcare provider, the Health Department, or one of the Immunization Partners on the attached list for your child to […]


COVID-19 Cases in CMCSS Schools

It is extremely important that all students, employees, and the community self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to visiting any CMCSS facility. Additionally, it is extremely important that parents/guardians do not send their child to school if they are awaiting results of a COVID-19 test or are exhibiting a new on-set of symptoms related to COVID-19.


No Cost, Curbside Meals

The USDA approved for CMCSS to continue serving free breakfast and lunch meals to all children 18 and under. The USDA stated that these free meals will be available through the end of the academic year in May 2021, or until funds run out. 


CMCSS K-12 Virtual Technology Update Sept. 3

CMCSS district leaders continue to address the intermittent outages and technology concerns of our CMCSS K-12 Virtual students. The Technology and Instruction departments are actively seeking solutions that are within our control.