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Eagle's Eye News

Sunday, August 3, 2025

Eagle's EyeNewsSunday, August 3, 2025
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Welcome to the 2025-26 School Year

Challenger Middle School Families,


We’re so excited to kick off the 2025-26 school year! As summer wraps up, we can’t wait to welcome our students back on Monday, August 4. It was great seeing and meeting many of you all on Friday. We’ve missed you and are looking forward to a fantastic year together!


We want this to be our best year yet, so in order to do that your child must have support from home AND school. A strong partnership will make a huge difference in your child's education. We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring they...

1) Attend school daily, arrive on time and prepared

2) Complete ALL assignments given by our wonderful teachers

3) Read daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills

4) Share their school experiences with you, so you are aware of their school life

5) Inform you if they need additional support in any area or subject

6) Know that you expect them to succeed in school


Please consider joining our PTSA as our students can greatly benefit from your involvement and contributions. Outreach and recruitment of parent and community volunteers are vital to the success of our school.

https://cmsptsa.givebacks.com/shop?category=9257


Every Sunday afternoon I will send out a Smore Newsletter, like this one, with vital information for the week. I encourage you to read through it and talk with your child about the happenings at Challenger Middle School.


I understand the new school year can bring anxiety, but please remember that our teachers and staff are here to support you every step of the way, starting tomorrow.


2025-2026 #WingsUp #EagleUp #ExcellenceTogether


Sincerely,
Bo Coln

Principal

Challenger Middle School

james.coln@hsv-k12.org

Grade Level Newsletters Grade Level Newsletters

6th Grade Newsletter
7th Grade Newsletter
8th Grade Newsletter

Important Dates Important Dates

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR

August

4th - 1st day for students

4th - Yogurt Mountain Spirit Day (Make sure to mention Challenger with your purchase)

28 - Open House and PTSA General Meeting at 6:00pm

29 - Half Day - Noon Dismissal

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Newcomers&M2M Orientation 8.1.25.pdf
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Athletics Presentation 8.1.25.pdf
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5.3 MB

THANK YOU NDIA-TVC & SMDWG THANK YOU NDIA-TVC & SMDWG

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 1st 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.

Morning Arrival Procedures Morning Arrival Procedures

🚷The faculty parking lot is NOT a drop off zone🚷 🚷The faculty parking lot is NOT a drop off zone🚷

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.

OpenGate Info

Afternoon Dismissal Procedures Afternoon Dismissal Procedures

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.

CMS 2025-26 Bell Schedule CMS 2025-26 Bell Schedule

Building / Classroom Procedures Building / Classroom Procedures

  • We will use the first several days to educate students on best practices, school/classroom procedures, and expectations.
  • 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.

CMS Supply List 25-26 CMS Supply List 25-26

P.E. Uniforms P.E. Uniforms

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PE Prices 2025.pdf
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Dress Code Dress Code

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/Finger-tip length ​
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

Cell PhonesπŸ“΅ Cell PhonesπŸ“΅

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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.
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Wireless Communication Devices.pdf
This PDF contains HCS policies for Wireless Communication Devices.
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Bus Information🚌 Bus Information🚌

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.

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Transportation Information 25-26.pdf
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Transportation Information.Spanish.pdf
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Attendance Attendance

Attendance Procedures

School Nurse School Nurse

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.

CMS Athletics CMS Athletics

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)

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Revised 2018 Form 5 Physical.pdf
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Girls Basketball Fundraiser Girls Basketball Fundraiser

Click Here To Donate

2025-26 Monthly Character Words 2025-26 Monthly Character Words

Challenger Middle School PTSA Challenger Middle School PTSA

Meet the new CMS PTSA Board & Committees for the 2025-26 school year! Meet the new CMS PTSA Board & Committees for the 2025-26 school year!

Each board and committee member brings a unique energy and heart to everything they do!

Join PTSA Today Join PTSA Today

π—π—’π—œπ—‘ 𝗣𝗧𝗦𝗔 𝗧𝗒𝗗𝗔𝗬 @ https://cmsptsa.givebacks.com/shop?category=9257

We would π—Ÿπ—’π—©π—˜ to have you join us!

Volunteer Volunteer

𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒕 π‘ͺ𝑴𝑺 π’•π’‰π’Šπ’” 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 π’šπ’†π’‚π’“? We would π—Ÿπ—’π—©π—˜ to have you join us! Let us know what volunteer opportunities you are interested in @ https://forms.gle/CciFd7x5rxJ9m9sa7

Back to School SPIRIT DAY Back to School SPIRIT DAY

We are so excited to partner with Yogurt Mountain once again and celebrate our first day of school. Don't forget to MENTION Challenger when you check out, so a percentage comes back to our school! We can't wait to see all your smiling faces!!!

CMS FAQ's CMS FAQ's

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

Click Here To Order Spirit Wear

PTSA Sponsors PTSA Sponsors

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CHALLENGER MIDDLE SCHOOL

HOME OF THE EAGLES

Location: 13555 Chaney Thompson Road

Huntsville, AL 35803
Phone: 256-428-7620

Bo Coln
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