Eagle's Eye News

Challenger Middle School Families,

Happy May!

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. We have an amazing group of teachers at CMS. We are thankful for each one of them. We encourage you to celebrate them this week!

Duty Free Lunch and Morning Duty Sign-Up

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054EA4A72FA2FC1-63366778-2026

6th and 7th grade students will take i-Ready Reading on Tuesday, May 5. Please ensure your child is at school and on time Tuesday.

Spring Dance

Friday, May 8 from 6:00-9:00 in the Cafeteria

-Tickets are $10

-Concessions will be sold at the dance

-We will have a photo booth at the dance and students can buy photos for $1 each or $10 unlimited (cash only)

-Girls’ dresses should be finger-tip length or longer and strapless is not allowed

-The dance is for CMS students only

-If students are absent (miss more than half the day) on Friday, May 8 they cannot attend the dance.

Sign up to Volunteer! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4AAEA722A6FCC34-63605722-cmsspring#/

CMS Parent Lunch & Learn: Calm & Connected

Join us on Wednesday, May 6 at 11:30 a.m. in the CMS Library for a Parent Lunch & Learn focused on supporting student mental health and building strong family connections.

Guest speaker Jill Falling, MA, Professional Counseling, Manager of The Caring House, will share helpful strategies and resources for families.

As the weather is getting warmer, please be reminded of our dress code.

• Shorts/skirts must be mid-thigh
• No pajama pants; no house slippers
• All undergarments must be completely covered
• No hats, visors, and other head coverings (including sunglasses)

The dates for end of the year award programs and 8th grade graduation are listed below in the "Important Dates" section.

After school tutoring is every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 3:10-4:10 for any students who need extra help. There is no sign up required, students may come on an as needed basis. Students attending must report to Mr. Sivak's room (H109) after school. See the below flyer for more information. Please take advantage of this great opportunity for our students!

We are in the short rows!

Have a great week!!

#WingsUp #EagleUp #ExcellenceTogether

Sincerely,
Bo Coln

Principal

Challenger Middle School

james.coln@hsv-k12.org

May

5-8 - Teacher Appreciation Week

5 - End of Year i-Ready Reading for 6th and 7th Grade

8 - Spring Dance

18 - Senior Clapout at 1:00

20 - 6G Awards at 8:30

20 - 7G Awards at 10:00

21 - 8G Awards and Graduation at 8:30

Teachers select each grade level’s student of the week. Students earn student of the week by making it to class on time, being prepared, completing all assignments, being respectful to their peers and adults, having at least a C average, and being kind and helpful to everyone. Our students of the week exhibit SOAR behavior – Show Respect, Own Your Actions, Arrive Ready, and Reach Higher.

Certain strategies can help you to cope with stressful things that might or might not be out of your control. Learning these strategies can help you to keep your hope, resiliency, and positive attitude when things in your life are difficult. This is Mental Health Awareness Month and I want to focus on how you can learn to deal with stress in healthy ways. Stress can be managed. What’s in YOUR “stress less” toolbox? Use the acronym SMART to help you remember the ways!

S is for SIGNS! Recognize the signs of how your body is responding to stress (having difficulty sleeping, using drugs or alcohol, getting mad easily, feeling extremely sad, and having low energy).

M is for MAKING LISTS and setting goals! At the end of the day, celebrate what you have accomplished versus what you have not.

A is for ACTIVE! Exercise! Simply walking thirty minutes a day can help to alleviate stress and put you in a better mood, not to mention improve your physical health!

R is for RESONANT BREATHING! Learn about breathing exercises. Resonant Breathing is one technique when you inhale for the count of five, and then exhale for the count of five. Let’s try. I’ll count. Ready? Inhale...one...two...three...four...five/Exhale...one...two...three...four...five. Repeat several times.

T is for TRIBE! Nurture your connections. Stay close to the people who can help you, and ask for help when you need it. Such people are family, friends, people at church, or community, teachers, coaches, and counselors.

These are great tips for every member of your family. Let's try to control the stress as we navigate this very busy end of the school year.

Megan Moak

Challenger Middle School Counselor

megan.moak@hsv-k12.org

Bus Riders - exit the bus, enter through the main lobby doors, and go to the cafeteria or sit in their designated grade-level hallway

Walkers/Car Riders - enter through the main lobby doors, and go to the cafeteria or sit in their designated grade-level hallway

Breakfast is served in the cafeteria from 7:30-8:00. Students that choose to eat school breakfast will remain in the cafeteria until dismissed to homeroom. Students that do not wish to eat school breakfast will report to the designated grade-level hallway. Students that report to the hallways will remain in the hallways until released to homeroom.

Students are not allowed to enter the building with outside food. Any outside food needs to be thrown away before entering the building. Example - Students will not be allowed to bring in Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A food and drink.

For the first week of school the homeroom classes with teacher names and room numbers will be posted in the hallways and cafeteria. We will have many teachers available to help students find their homeroom.

All students are dismissed at 3:00.

• Bus riders will report to the cafeteria.
• Walkers will exit out the band/choir doors (South exit)
• Car Riders will exit through the main lobby doors.

Unless students are involved in a school sponsored after school event, all students need to leave campus at 3:00.

• Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school. Only water is allowed in the water bottles.
• Restrooms usage will be limited during transition times. Students will use the E-Hall Pass when leaving class and/or visiting the restroom during class time.
• Transitions time for students is 3 minutes between class periods. Students can visit their locker between classes. We expect all students to get to class on time.
• Student lockers are available upon request for $10. Students can purchase a locker during homeroom starting Monday, August 4. We will take cash or check. Checks should be made out to Challenger Middle School. Lockers will be assigned when students pay their homeroom teacher for their locker.
• Parents cannot bring in outside food for an entire class unless organized and initiated by the teacher.
• Students are not allowed to order food to be delivered to the school.
• Parents/Guardians must check out their child to eat any restaurant food brought into the school.
• Enjoying school or homemade lunch in the cafeteria with your child is welcomed!
• Outside drinks (Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A, Sonic, etc.) should be thrown away before entering the building. This applies when school doors open at 7:30am.

Please review the dress code with your student(s). We have been out of school for a bit and our students will need a refresher on acceptable school attire. Ex: length of shorts and shirts, holes in pants, leggings, and appropriate tops, no caps, etc.

Shorts

• Mid-Thigh

Head coverings​

• No more than 4 inches wide
• No bandanas of any color​
• No hats, no sunglasses

NO Pajama Pants, no house slippers ​
No hoods​ will be worn in the building
Jeans​

• No holes above mid-thigh/finger-tip length

CMS students will not use cell phones during the school day. Please ask your child to turn off their phone and put it in their locker or backpack. In the event your child has their phone out during the school day, our teachers will follow our wireless communication device policy.

Bus route and stop information for all registered bus riders is now available to view in the Powerschool Parent Portal. Registration is now also available for all parents of bus riders in the FirstView app. Please note that while registration may be completed now, routes and bus information will not be visible in the FirstView app until July 31.

Parents who previously had the FirstView app installed on their devices will need to delete the app that is currently installed on their device, and then download and install the new version of the app.

• Information about how to access the Powerschool Parent Portal is available on the Grades Online page of the HCS website.
• Information about accessing the FirstView app is available on the Buses & Transportation page of the HCS website.

For any questions regarding route assignments, please use the School Bus Transportation Comment Form or contact the First Student Customer Service Office at 256-361-0919.

Nurse Poe will continue to operate out of the clinic near the front office. If you have questions regarding medication, please call 256-428-7620, select Ms. Poe (Nurse), or email, Julie.Poe@hsv-k12.org . We ask that you monitor your student at home for illness. Students who are not feeling well should stay home and seek medical care as you see fit. Students with a fever or who have been throwing up may not return to the building until they are symptom-free for 24 hours.

Welcome to Challenger Middle School Athletics! We are so excited that you decided to jump on board and allow your son/daughter to participate in our sports teams here at Challenger. Below is some information and forms you will need in order for your child to participate.

First, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) allows for any student to participate in recognized school athletics beginning in 7th grade. Our district and school has the following recognized school sports for middle schools:

Fall Sports

• Football
• Volleyball
• Cheer

Winter Sports

• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball
• Cheer
• Boys Soccer
• Girls Soccer

Spring Sports

• Boys Track
• Girls Track

Additional sports not listed above are available at the high school level. Students in middle school are allowed to participate in those sports at their feeder high school (Grissom High School for us). If interested in this option, please reach out to the Athletic Director for Challenger, Coach Neeley via email at william.neeley@hsv-k12.org , for more information.

Next, the AHSAA requires ALL student-athletes to have certain paperwork completed by either a doctor/physician or a parent, depending on the form. As a way of keeping up with these forms, the AHSAA has partnered with DragonFly, a web-based company that allows for the upload or completion and storage of the required paperwork. Attached is a flyer on how to create an account for your child and yourself. Below is a list of required paperwork/documents needed in order to participate on a school team sport.

- Up to Date Physical Form (Back side must be completed and signed by a Doctor/Physician. IT CANNOT BE COMPLETED BY A NURSE PRACTITIONER!)

- Parent Release Form

- Concussion Form

- Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Form

- Copy of Birth Certificate

- Sportsmanship Course Certificate (Course completed through nfhslearn.com)

Finally, below is a list of our Athletic Coaching Staff and their email addresses so that you can contact them with questions you may have relating to their sports. Please keep in mind that these coaches are teachers in addition to their coaching duties, so they can be very busy. They will make every effort to respond in a timely manner, but sometimes it may be a little longer, especially during their given season.

- Athletic Director- William Neeley (william.neeley@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Football Coach- Curtis Graves (curtis.graves@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Volleyball Coach- Amelia Daniels (amelia.daniels@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Cheer Coach- Makenzie Hill (makenzie.hill@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Boys Basketball Coach- Lorenzo Jones (breds2004@yahoo.com)

- Head Girls Basketball Coach- Rich Goodson richard.goodson@hsv-k12.org)

-Head Boys Track Coach- Ryan Hagen (ryan.hagen@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Girls Track Coach- Alicia Clarke-Mayes (alicia.clarke-mayes@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Boys Soccer Coach- Patrick Greene (Patrick.Greene@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Girls Soccer Coach- William Neeley (william.neeley@hsv-k12.org)

Grab your CMS Superfan Home Game Punch Card for just $40 – it gets you into every home game for the whole season.

That’s right… ALL. THE. HOME. GAMES.

Show your pride, cheer your loudest, and save some serious cash.
Get yours online today @ https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-2026-cms-superfan-punch-card or send in cash to Coach Neeley – and let’s pack the stands, Go Eagles!!

𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗧𝗦𝗔 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 @ https://cmsptsa.givebacks.com/shop?category=9257

We would 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 to have you join us!

𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒕 𝑪𝑴𝑺 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓? We would 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 to have you join us! Let us know what volunteer opportunities you are interested in @ https://forms.gle/CciFd7x5rxJ9m9sa7

CMS FAQs - Whether you are new or returning to CMS we know that the start of the school year can be overwhelming. Check out these CMS FAQs for tools and resources to help families support their child’s and CMS’ success! https://cmsptsa.givebacks.com/edit/w/cmsfaqs

Thank you, National Defense Industrial Association, Tennessee Valley Chapter (NDIA-TVC) and Space and Missile Defense Working Group (SMDWG) for your $10,000 contribution to Challenger Middle School (CMS). With this generous donation, we will continue to have a Math Interventionist for the 2nd semester of the 25-26 school year. Ms. Regina Carter, retired CMS math teacher, will continue as our Interventionist. She will provide intensive math support to a select group of CMS students. We are excited about this on-going partnership and expect to see great math growth from our students.

HOME OF THE EAGLES

Location: 13555 Chaney Thompson Road

Huntsville, AL 35803
Phone: 256-428-7620