CMS K-8

A wonderful place where we all learn and grow . . .

Celebrating 40 wonderful years

of learning and growing.

CMS K-8 VISION STATEMENT

CMS is committed to educational excellence where the learning experience combines traditional academics with an individualized approach to learning based on the child’s physical, intellectual, social, and emotional needs.

CMS K-8 MISSION STATEMENT

The CMS K-8 Mission is to develop passionate, lifelong learners who strive for academic excellence by cultivating their creativity and imagination through hands-on, interdisciplinary social studies-based units and vibrant arts infusion. We foster the academic, social and emotional development of each child while building a caring and ethical community that celebrates diversity and encourages strength of character.

The information below is a quick reference

for our day-to-day school procedures.

 SCHOOL HOURS FOR THE 2021/22 SCHOOL YEAR:

Office Hours:   8:00am-4:00pm

Doors Open:    9:00am

School Hours:  9:15am-3:50pm

SCHOOL INFORMATION:  

Main Office:    (203) 899-2840

Fax:                  (203) 899-2844

Address:          46 Concord Street, Norwalk, CT 06854

Website:          cms.norwalkps.org

OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION:

Principal:                                Medard Thomas          thomasm@norwalkps.org

Curriculum & Instruction

   Site Director:                      Jennifer Scanlan          scanlanj@norwalkps.org

Administrator Assistant:     Susan Mathews          mathewsm@norwalkps.org

School Nurse:                        Breege O’Reilly            oreillyb@norwalkps.org

Social Worker:                       Elisa Campisi                campisie@norwalkps.org

Bilingual Parent

   Coordinator:                        Juliana Nunez-Smith  nunezsmithn@norwalkps.org

Communications/Lottery:   Terry Lakin                   lakint@norwalkps.org

Complete List of CMS Staff Contact Information: MEET OUR TEAM

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook

• CMS Parents’ Group (Private Group)
• Columbus Magnet
• Columbus Magnet en Español

ATTENDANCE/ABSENCE/TARDY:

As per Norwalk Public Schools Policy, if your child is going to be absent from school, you are required to contact the Main Office or your classroom teacher. If we don’t hear from you, your child will be marked with an “unexcused absence” and you will receive a   phone call. When your child returns to school he/she must bring a note explaining the reason for the absence.

Students arriving at school after 9:20am will be listed as tardy and must be signed in at the front desk. Frequent unexcused absences or tardiness will result in further investigation by administration. Please remember that attendance and punctuality directly correlate to your child’s success in school.

ENTRANCES/EXITS:

There are two main entrances to CMS.  All entrances are monitored by video surveillance and are locked during school hours. All other external doors are for the use of staff or in the case of emergency only.

• The “Front Door” is located on Arthur J. Perschino Way.  The front door is used for student drop-off and pick-up and for all visitors entering the school. A security guard is on duty during school hours and all visitors must show identification and sign in at the front desk.

• The “Rain Door” is the door closest to the parking lot on the Chestnut Street side of the building and is used by students arriving and departing by bus and for the drop-off and pick-up of students in the SACC before and after school program.

Visitors:

All visitors, including parents who are volunteering at the school, must enter through the Front Door and sign in at the front desk.  All visitors are required to present ID and wear a visitor’s badge while in the school building.

Parking: 

There are marked “Visitor” parking spots in the Chestnut Street parking lot. All remaining parking spaces are reserved for CMS staff and other Norwalk Public School employees. Additional parking is available in the basketball court/lot located behind the school yard and adjacent to Arthur J. Perschino Way.  This alternate lot may be accessed by continuing down Chestnut Street (passing CMS on right) and turning right on Merritt Place and driving behind the King Kennedy Apartments to the adjacent basketball court/lot.

COMMUNICATIONS

School-Wide Communications

Communications emailed from the school office to all CMS families are generated through the PowerSchool program. These communications may include Principal’s messages, school delay/closure information, reminders of important dates, and the weekly Thursday Notice (see below). To receive these communications, please make sure your contact information in PowerSchool is correct and up to date.

Bilingual Parent Coordinator

CMS K-8 has a Bilingual Parent Outreach Coordinator on staff to assist our staff and PTA with communicating with our Spanish speaking families. In addition, all important school/classroom communications are translated into Spanish.

Thursday Notice:

CMS publishes a weekly newsletter containing important information on current happenings, upcoming school activities, and NPS and community events. This digital communication is emailed to all CMS families on Thursdays.

Classroom Teachers:

Messages regarding a student’s absence, change of plans, or other classroom-related information should be directed to the classroom teacher. Your teacher will let you know the best means of communication. Each classroom has its own phone extension which corresponds to the classroom number. Phone calls to the classrooms will automatically be put through to voicemail.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS/DELAYED OPENINGS/EARLY DISMISSALS: 

Delayed Opening:

When schools have a delayed opening, before school programs operated in Norwalk Public Schools will also have a delayed start for the same amount of time as the schools. For example, if an elementary school opens two hours late due to snow, CMS would open at 11am instead of 9am. The afterschool program would also start two hours later (opening at 9am instead of 7am). Breakfast is not served on delayed opening days.

Early Dismissal:

When there is early dismissal due to inclement weather or any other unsafe conditions, all after school programs are cancelled.

When there is a scheduled early dismissal as shown on the school calendar, after school programs will begin as soon as school is dismissed and will remain open until their regularly scheduled closing time.

Information Sources:

The official Norwalk Public Schools website and social media channels are your best sources for information on weather-related delays and closings.  Our automated School Messenger phone system will be activated when necessary. 

ARRIVAL, DEPARTURE & TRANSPORTATION

Bus Transportation is provided following the guidelines below:
1.  Students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 who live more than 1 mile from the school.
2.  Students in Grade 4 through Grade 8 who live more than 1-1/2 miles from the school.

If you are not certain of eligibility, please contact the CMS school office for further information.

Students are required to be at bus stops 15 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time, this is to ensure ample time for the routes. A bus can arrive up to 15 minutes after scheduled arrival time and still be considered "on time" at the school. During the first few weeks of school it is important for students to adhere to this policy. As the weeks go by and the community becomes adjusted to the opening of school the actual arrival time will be closer to schedule.

Correspondence and requests regarding busses should be sent in writing to the NPS Transportation Office.

Norwalk Public Schools
Transportation Office

125 East Avenue

P.O. Box 6001 Norwalk, CT 06852

For additional information please contact the Norwalk Public Schools Transportation Office at 203-854-4074 or send an email to Transportation@norwalkps.org.

Bus Service is provided by DURHAM SCHOOL SERVICES (203)438-4192.

Arrival Procedures for Student Drop-Off:  

• Parents bringing their children to school by car should be aware that the bus lane on Chestnut Street is to remain clear at all times.
• Arrival for students being dropped off begins at 9:00am.
• Parents/guardians dropping off students may begin queuing in their cars at 8:45 via the King Kennedy Apartment access to Arthur J. Perschino Way.
• Children should remain in their seats and not exit the car until it is in the drop-off area in front of the school.  Children exiting from the passenger side of the car should walk around the front of the car to the Front Door where they will be greeted by CMS staff members.

 Dismissal Procedures for Student Pick-Up: 

• In the past we began dismissal at 3:20pm. Due to new end-of-day time of 3:50, the start of dismissal may be adjusted.
• Students being picked up wait in their classrooms or in designated waiting areas on the first floor. Monitors outside radio in the names of students being picked up and the students exit the front door. Please be patient.  To expedite this process, place a name sign in your car window.
•  Students being picked up by walk-up also wait in their classrooms or designated areas on the first floor. Parents must wait at the Playground Door and give their child’s name to the Door Monitor. The Monitor radios names of students to be sent to the Playground Door for pickup.
•  Students left waiting after dismissal is over will be sent to the Main Office and parents must come to the front door to pick up their children.

Dismissal Procedures for Students Leaving School Early: 

• If a special circumstance, such as a doctor’s appointment, requires your child to be picked up early from school, you must send a note to the school in advance, indicating the day and time of this request and the name of the person who will be picking up your child.
• Parents/guardians picking up before 3:00pm must sign students out at the Security Desk.  Anyone other than a parent/guardian or caregiver picking up a student must show proof of identification.
• Due to the business of dismissal, students will not be available for early pick up between 3:10 and 3:30pm.

Change in After-School Plans:

Parents must inform the school or classroom teacher if there is a change in their child’s after-school plans either by written note, email, or voicemail message.  Please note that messages regarding students’ change of after-school plans must be left before 3:00pm.

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE:

Before and after-school child care is offered at CMS through the YMCA of Norwalk/Wilton School Age Child Care (SACC) program.  The SACC program is designed to meet the needs of the children and their parents.  Parents can be assured that their children are being cared for in an enriching environment where the top priorities are safety, supervision and fun!  Registration forms are available by contacting a representative at (203) 762-8384 x213 or online at:

http://www.wiltonymca.org/norwalk/programs/school-aged-child-care/

♦ SACC parents should only use the Rain Door.  Please ring the bell for admittance.

♦ If school is dismissed early due to inclement weather, the SACC program is also cancelled.

SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST:

Free Breakfast and Lunch will be offered to all Norwalk Public School students through June, 2022.

Breakfast and lunch are available to all students through the Chartwell’s Food Service Program. A monthly menu is published so that parents/students can select the dates that they wish to order breakfast and/or lunch.  Each meal is completely balanced and nutritious. Students may opt to bring a packed lunch from home if they prefer.

Parents may also view lunch menus and payment procedures on the CMS homepage at cms.norwalkps.org and click on the “Lunch Menus” Quick Link.