Annual School Report

General

In our second year as a school in the 2022-2023 school year, we served 636 students in grades 6 - 8 from the surrounding area that includes parts of Issaquah, Newcastle, Bellevue and Renton. Our school campus is located in Issaquah at the base of Cougar Mountain at the entrance to the Talus neighborhood off of SR 900. Students who are promoted from 8^th grade at CMMS typically attend Issaquah High School or Liberty High School based on district feeder pattern. Some students may elect to apply to Gibson Ek High School.

school spirit

Our mascot is the Falcon. This mascot was chosen by our first students in the Spring of 2021. Our first ASB student leaders named our mascot Felix in the fall of 2021. Our school colors are Royal Blue and Gold. Our school was named after input from staff and parents and determined by the ISD school board in spring 2021. Our name honors our special place on Cougar Mountain in the “Issaquah Alps” area.

Academics

CMMS teachers structure rich learning opportunities for students via engaging course work that is aligned with Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and closely matches the offerings at the other middle schools in the Issaquah School District. Core courses offer students a strong foundation in essential skills and knowledge. Students can self-select advanced learning opportunities and alternative pathways to meet student learning goals in Math, Science and English Language Arts. With an experienced and dedicated teaching staff, students at CMMS benefit from excellence and best practices in instruction.

• Math: All District middle schools have adopted the math curriculum, Connected Math Program (CMP). Students choosing an advanced path may complete Algebra 1 or Geometry by the end of 8^th grade. This allows CMMS students to enter high school on track to reach the highest levels of high school math.
• English Language Arts (ELA): Students engage in a CCSS aligned curriculum through the workshop model that allow students to receive high-quality instruction and to pursue topics and themes of greatest interest. Students explore fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry. Students engage in writing personal narratives, explanatory essays, argumentative essays, poetry, short stories and analytical essays. Advanced ELA courses with a higher-level reading and writing demands are offered at each grade level.
• Social Studies: Students study Ancient Civilizations, World History, Washington State History, US History and Civics. Skills emphasized include CCSS aligned speaking, listening, reading, writing learning activities. There is an emphasis on simulations, personal responsibility, non-fiction text, document analysis, critical thinking, research skills and civil discussions throughout grade levels.
• Science: Students study Life, Earth and Physical Science throughout their time at CMMS. Courses are inquiry and lab based with an emphasis on all components of the scientific process. Students choosing Path 2 would skip the Life Science course and would complete Biology by the end of 8^th grade for high school credit.
• Health & Physical Education (PE): Students in grades 6, 7 & 8 complete required courses in both Health and PE each school year. We believe that teaching our students health and fitness principles can lead to a life of healthy choices, resulting in more productive, active, and successful lives.
• Electives: Our elective offerings are in the areas of visual arts, music, technology and world language. Electives can be grade-level specific and are offered based on student interest and staffing.
  • Career and Technology Education (CTE) electives are offered and include: Computer Science (CS) Discoveries, Design and Modeling and Automation and Robotics I & II. Many of our CTE electives follow the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) curriculum.
  • Introduction to Drama
  • Leadership classes include Introduction to Leadership and Advanced Leadership.
  • Music programs include choir, orchestra and band. Student musicians have the opportunity to engage in festival and seasonal performances.
  • Spanish I is offered for high-school credit during a student’s 8^th grade year. This allows our students to enrich their middle school academic experience and reach even higher levels of world language learning in high school.
  • Study Skills is offered as a trimester and year-long elective.
  • Visual Arts include Exploratory Art, 3D Sculpture and Drawing & Painting.

Special Programs: Other programs to support students include:

• Inclusive English Language Arts & Math classes

• Continuum of Services for Students with Special Needs

• English/Multi Language Learner (ELL/MLL) classes & support

• LRC1 and LRC2 Special Education programming

• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)

• Positive Behavior and Social Emotional Support (PBSES)

• Second Step Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

• Swedish Hospital School Based Health Counselor (SBHC)

• VOICE Mentor Program

• PTSA Walkabout Volunteer program

• WEB (Where Everyone Belongs)

Student Recognition

• CMMS adopted the Falcon Four upon opening to which staff and students are “Safe, Kind, Engaged & Mindful”. These guide how we teach school-wide expectations and how we recognize students for their positive behavior.

• Talon Tickets are earned by students when they demonstrate behavior aligned to the Falcon Four. Talon Tickets are a way to recognize and reward students for positive behavior. In the 2022-23 school year students entered their Talon Tickets for weekly prize drawings.

• The “Falcons in Focus” program is a monthly student recognition program that honors students who uphold our community values. Students are nominated by teachers and other staff members and receive a special certificate outlining how they exemplified a student-chosen quality or trait. Winners are celebrated via weekly bulletins and video presentation shared during Soar Homeroom.

   

Cougar Mountain Middle School is dedicated to helping all students make the learning gains necessary to be successful. Staff members work in collaborative teams to build instructional skill and to support students with academic struggles. Embedded and class specific interventions are designed to address the needs of students achieving below grade level in these subject areas. Additionally, all teachers have class policies that allow for students to redo assignments and/or assessments in order to best capture what students know and are able to do. CMMS runs the program NEST Afterschool (NEST= Need Extra Study & Tutoring) to further support student learning and achievement.

We believe at CMMS that it is important for students to take part in opportunities outside the classroom in order to learn, grow and make positive connections. Almost all clubs, activities and athletic teams have a CMMS staff member as the advisor or coach. Students are encouraged to start new clubs and activities and to take part in sports teams regardless of their prior experience.

Clubs, Sports & Activity Opportunities include: Art Club, ASB Leadership, Board Game Club, Chorus, Drama/Musical, Dungeons and Dragons, Extreme Strings Orchestra, Jazz Band, Knitting Club, Ping Pong Club, Robotics Club, Timber Bridge, WEB (Where Everyone Belongs), & Yearbook

Athletic Opportunities include Co-ed Cross Country, Girls’ Volleyball, Intramural Volleyball, Co-ed Softball, Co-ed Wrestling, Girls’ Basketball, Intramural Girls’ Basketball, Boys’ Basketball, Intramural Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Soccer, Intramural Girls’ Soccer and Co-ed Track.

Our Soar Homeroom Class meets four times a week and promotes the academic and social-emotional well-being of our students. It is a time for community building, social-emotional lessons, expectations teaching, assignment retakes and redos, student recognition, as well as student mentor-led lessons on a variety of topics to support student success.

We regularly promote school-wide spirit days and host student-led assemblies to mark special events and seasonal transitions. Assemblies are a chance to provide leadership opportunities for students and to build community in our school. Special assemblies have included the Veteran’s Day Assembly in partnership with our neighboring Timber Ridge senior living community as well as Winter Assembly with a staff vs. student basketball game.

We believe at CMMS that it is important for students to take part in opportunities outside the classroom in order to learn, grow and make positive connections. Almost all clubs, activities and athletic teams have a CMMS staff member as the advisor or coach. Students are encouraged to start new clubs and activities and to take part in sports teams regardless of their prior experience.

Clubs, Sports & Activity Opportunities include: Art Club, ASB Leadership, Board Game Club, Chorus, Drama/Musical, Dungeons and Dragons, Extreme Strings Orchestra, Jazz Band, Knitting Club, Ping Pong Club, Robotics Club, Timber Bridge, WEB (Where Everyone Belongs), & Yearbook

Athletic Opportunities include Co-ed Cross Country, Girls’ Volleyball, Intramural Volleyball, Co-ed Softball, Co-ed Wrestling, Girls’ Basketball, Intramural Girls’ Basketball, Boys’ Basketball, Intramural Boys’ Basketball, Girls’ Soccer, Intramural Girls’ Soccer and Co-ed Track.

Our Soar Homeroom Class meets four times a week and promotes the academic and social emotional well-being of our students. It is a time for community building, social emotional lessons, expectations teaching, assignment retakes and redos, student recognition, as well as student mentor-led lessons on a variety of topics to support student success.

We regularly promote school-wide spirit days and host student-led assemblies to mark special events and seasonal transitions. Assemblies are a chance to provide leadership opportunities for students and to build community in our school. Special assemblies have included the Veteran’s Day Assembly in partnership with our neighboring Timber Ridge senior living community as well as the Winter Assembly with a staff vs. student basketball game.

We know the best way to serve our students is to hear from them and use their input to continue to make our school safe, inclusive, supportive and fun. There are a number of ways we encourage student voice at Cougar Mountain Middle School, including:

• Associated Student Body (ASB) elected student officers
• Soar Homeroom Senate
• Students Advisory to the Principal
• Student surveys during Soar Homeroom

Student voice is used regularly and in meaningful ways to improve the experiences of students. These opportunities are open to any student who is interested.