Centennial Parents/Guardians,
Please note the following weekly announcements.
1. End of Term 1 & Fall Break
Term 1 ends on Wednesday, October 21. This is a Teacher Professional Development Day, and there will be no school for students. The final school day of Term 1 for students will be Tuesday, October 20. Fall Break will be Thursday, October 22, through Monday, October 26. Students will return to school on Tuesday, October 27, which marks the beginning of Term 2 and will be an A Day.
As we approach the end of the term, we encourage parents/guardians to review their child’s grades and assignments in PowerSchool and Canvas. Please reach out directly to your child’s teachers with any questions or concerns about academic progress.
2. Create a Parent Canvas Account
Canvas is an important resource for keeping up with your child’s assignments and academic progress. We highly encourage parents/guardians to regularly review Canvas. Parents can create their own Canvas Observer account.
A tutorial for creating a Parent Canvas account is available here: Canvas Observer Account Creation Tutorial
To create an account, you will need a pairing code from your child. Your child can generate one by following these steps:
Log in to the Student Canvas account.
Select Account.
Select Settings.
Select Pair with Observer.
Use the generated pairing code when setting up the Parent Canvas account.
Please note that pairing codes expire after a limited period of time. If your code expires before you use it, simply have your child generate a new one.
Canvas Login: Canvas Login
3. October Message from Administration
Please read this month’s message from Assistant Principal Jeremiah Tijerina: October Administration Message with Assistant Principal Tijerina
4. Career Fair – Presenters Needed
We are excited to announce that we are beginning to plan a Career Fair for Centennial Middle School students this school year!
The Career Fair will give students an opportunity to select and attend presentations from individuals currently working in a variety of careers. Our goal is to expose students to different professions, pathways, and possibilities for their futures.
Although we are still finalizing the date and other details, we wanted to let families know early because we would like your help finding professionals who are willing to share their careers with our students.
Soon, we will provide additional information about how you, or someone you know, can volunteer to serve as a Career Fair presenter. We anticipate asking presenters to commit approximately 90 minutes, during which they would facilitate several sessions of approximately 20 minutes each (with added transition time).
Please start thinking about family members, friends, colleagues, community members, or others who may be interested in sharing their profession with CMS students. We look forward to providing more information soon!
Questions may be directed to our Centennial counselors
Last Names A–GQ: Ben Young | beny@provo.edu
Last Names GR–N: Arica Sumner | aricas@provo.edu
Last Names O–Z: Katie Webster | kwebster@provo.edu
5. Red Ribbon Week – October 27–30
Centennial will celebrate Red Ribbon Week from October 27–30. Red Ribbon Week encourages students to make healthy choices and live a drug-free lifestyle.
Students are invited to participate in the following dress-up days:
Tuesday, October 27 – Don’t Fall for Drugs: Wear fall colors: red, yellow, orange, and brown.
Wednesday, October 28 – Team Up Against Drugs: Wear a sports/athletic jersey or team shirt.
Thursday, October 29 – Be a Hero! Stand Up Against Drugs!: Dress as your favorite superhero.
Friday, October 30 – Don’t Let Drugs Haunt Your Future: Wear a Halloween costume.
Students will also have opportunities to participate in Red Ribbon Week activities during lunch and PACK lessons throughout the week.
6. Fee Waiver Applications Due October 15 – Final Reminder
This is our final reminder that we are asking all fee waiver applications to be due Thursday, October 15. Information regarding school fees and fee waivers is available on the Provo City School District website: School Fees & Fee Waiver Information. If you have questions, please contact our Finance Secretary, Kim Hurtado, at kimh@provo.edu.
7. PTA Reflections – Entries Due October 27
The theme for this year’s PTA Reflections Contest is “What My Culture Means to Me.” Students are encouraged to express their creativity through a variety of artistic categories. Learn more about this year’s contest, categories, and submission requirements here: 2026–27 PTA Reflections Information. Entries are due Tuesday, October 27.
8. STEM Projects & District STEM Fair
Students interested in participating in the District STEM Fair can begin working on their projects now, either individually or in a group of up to three students.
Here is a suggested timeline to help students plan:
October: Brainstorm ideas and develop a testable question.
October/November: Gather materials and begin trials.
November/December: Revise as needed, analyze data, and develop conclusions.
December/Early January: Create the STEM Fair presentation.
January: Submit the presentation.
February: Participate in the District STEM Fair.
Exact dates for the District STEM Fair have not yet been announced, but the event typically takes place in February. Questions can be directed to Nicole Murray at nicolemu@provo.edu.
9. Halloween Costume Guidelines
As Halloween approaches, we want students to have fun and show their creativity while keeping the school day safe, respectful, and appropriate for learning. Please keep the following expectations in mind when planning Halloween costumes:
School-Appropriate Costumes: Costumes must follow the school dress code and may not include inappropriate, offensive, or disruptive content.
Faces Must Be Visible: Masks and full-face coverings are not permitted. Face paint is allowed as long as students remain easily recognizable.
No Weapons or Weapon-Like Props: Toy, fake, replica, or costume weapons are not permitted at school.
Keep It Kind and Respectful: Costumes may not mock, stereotype, or portray a culture, race, religion, disability, or other group in a disrespectful manner.
Keep Makeup School-Appropriate: Please avoid excessive fake blood, realistic injuries, or graphic/gory costume elements.
Props and Accessories: Costume props must be safe and school-appropriate and may not interfere with classroom instruction or other students.
Be Ready for a Normal School Day: Students must be able to sit at a desk, walk safely through hallways, and participate in regular classroom activities. Costumes that are excessively large or obstruct walkways may need to be adjusted or removed.
Shoes Are Required: Appropriate footwear must be worn throughout the school day.
When in doubt, keep it simple! If a costume or costume element becomes unsafe, distracting, disruptive, or inappropriate for the school environment, a student may be asked to remove or change it.
Best,
Centennial Middle School
Mission
We empower and equip our pack to become a collaborative community in which each person feels safe, develops academic skills, and faces challenges.
Vision
Empower learners for life by building community, scholarship, and resilience.
