Parent Teacher Magazine Charlotte-Mecklenburg School January 2105 | Page 6

Seven things families need to know about the School Options Lottery Application period is open until Jan. 26 The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools online School Options Lottery is open and will close at 10 p.m. Jan. 26, 2015. Here are a few tips for families to keep in mind as they prepare to make their selections. 1. Know the deadline Families can submit applications from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Jan. 26. 2. Know where to find the online application http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/application/Pages/Login.aspx The application is available online. A Spanish version will be available soon. CMS will provide free computer access at all CMS Learning Community offices, CMS schools and the Smith Family Center (1600 Tyvola Road) through Jan. 26. Computers at these locations will be available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families can contact Student Placement for assistance from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 980-343-5335. Spanish-speaking representatives are available at the Smith Family Center. 3. Make sure your child is enrolled as a current or future student Students new to CMS in the 2015-2016 school year must have enrolled in the system by Jan. 12 to be eligible for the first school options lottery. Students who enrolled after Jan. 12 will be eligible for the second school options lottery, which runs from March 9 to June 5, 2015. 4. Have your student identification and PIN numbers readily available CMS will send individual assignment notifications home with all current students beginning the second week in December. This mailing will include each student’s identification and PIN numbers, as well as directions for online application to the school options lottery. Students who are new to CMS will receive the information in the mail. 5. Attend informational session The School Option Lottery information sessions are available at the Smith Family Center from Dec. 8 to Jan. 26. Sign-up is available online for one-hour sessions in the morning, afternoon or evening. The annual School Options Fair will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 10 at Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology (1430 Alleghany St.). See the 2015-2016 School Options Guide for details on specific programs. 6. Know your options When you enter your student’s information, the application will automatically populate with the schools to which your student is eligible to receive transportation. You will have the opportunity to follow a link to see a list of more schools. CMS will offer 52 school options at 52 schools for the 2015-2016 school year. School options are Cooperative Innovative High Schools, Career and Technical Education programs and magnet themes including International 4 • Jan/Feb 2015 • Parent Teacher Magazine  Baccalaureate; Military and Global Leadership; Leadership and Global Studies; Montessori; Learning Immersion/Talent Development; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM); Traditional; Early College High School; Middle College High School; Visual and Performing Arts, and World Languages. All CMS students are taught the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Magnet programs are theme-based to promote students’ interests, abilities and talents. 7. Lottery notifications Lottery assignment notifications letters will be sent to families in midFebruary. The letters tell families of assignments won through the lottery process. For more information on the options lottery, call 980-343-5030, email [email protected] or visit www.cms.k12.nc.us/magnets. Preventing illness in school Elizabeth Traditional students learn about stopping the spread of cold and flu A bus brought students at Elizabeth Traditional Elementary the opportunity to learn how to avoid illness. The Healthy Habits School Bus presented by Lysol visited the school to interactively teach the students proactive measures for keeping germs away. A song and a dance introduced the students to various germs that live around them. They also learned not to spread those germs and how to properly wash their hands. The last activity had the students going on the Healthy Habits Bus to work with computer-based interactive activities to reinforce what they’d learned. Here are some suggestions for preventing the spread of cold and flu germs: nWash hands frequently with soap and water, especially before eating. nAvoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth. nCough or sneeze into a sleeve or elbow not hands. nDisinfect frequently touched surfaces. nKeep your child home when he or she is fevered or feeling sick. Establish a contingency plan for keeping a sick child at home or picking him or her up from school so you are prepared if illness strikes. nKeep your child at home for at least 24 hours after he or she is free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. nTalk with your healthcare provider about annual seasonal flu vaccines. The CMS health department is in daily contact with the Mecklenburg County Health Department during the flu and virus season.