CJHS Charger Connection

October 9, 2026

From the Principal...

Chiddix Students and Families,

It is hard to believe Quarter 2 is right around the corner! I am incredibly proud of our students and the progress they have made during the first quarter.

As we prepare for Quarter 2, we want to share a few important updates:

Learning Lab & Schedule Changes
Learning Lab rotations for students with IEPs and general education students who are not currently receiving intervention will begin on Monday, October 19, the first day of Quarter 2.

October 19 will also be our Data Day, when our staff will finalize intervention placements and make any necessary schedule adjustments based on student needs and progress. Student schedules will be updated during the week of October 19 for students impacted by these changes.

If your student’s schedule is updated, we encourage you to review the changes with them and help them understand their new schedule. If you have questions about a schedule change, please reach out to your student’s grade-level administrator.

Quarter 2 Focus: Tardies to Class
One area we will be focusing on during Quarter 2 is being on time to class. We continue to have students receiving tardies more frequently than we would like, and we want to work together to help students develop strong habits around punctuality.

Beginning in Quarter 2, students who receive 5 or more tardies during the school day will receive a lunch detention. During the lunch detention, we will be discussing supports needed to get to class on time and time management if needed. This includes tardies to any of Periods 1–7. Students will receive a lunch detention beginning with their 5th tardy and for subsequent tardies.

Thank you for partnering with us to support our students. We are excited to begin Quarter 2 and continue Charging Forward Together!

Go Chargers! 🧡🖤

Have a great weekend!

~Mrs. Mables, Principal

mablesc@unit5.org

~Mr. Tripp, Associate Principal

trippd@unit5.org

~Mrs. Eddleman Assistant Principal

eddlemanc@unit5.org

Important Dates...

Monday, October 12th - Indigenous People's Day - No School
Wednesday, October 14th - 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Fall Orchestra Concert at Chiddix
Thursday, October 15th - 8:15 AM - 10:15 AM Picture Retakes
Friday, October 16th - End of the 1st Quarter
Monday, October 19th - First day of the 2nd Quarter
Wednesday, October 21st - 11:45 AM Early Release Day
Monday October 26th - Friday, October 30th - Spirit Week
Friday, November 6th - Progress Conferences - No School for Students

PBIS Kick-Off Week

We need your help!

Students at CJHS use House Points earned in our PBIS Matrix for positive behavior and are able to spend that monthly at our school store. Given that we have almost 700 students in our building and they are deeply invested in this store, it is crucial we keep this store stocked consistently throughout the entire year. Ms. Meszar, our Spirit Coach, will be updating this list constantly throughout the year based on student suggestions, with the most suggested items currently being self care supplies, fidgets, accessories, and stationary. We are looking for items big and small, so if you have anything you would like to donate to our store to sell, please email meszarj@unit5.org. Thanks!

Amazon Link to Purchase Items for our School Store

House Points Update

Team Ignis is keeping the lead for house points. Keeping being respectful, responsible, and safe to earn those points.

Advisory

Check out our upcoming Advisory topics by grade level.

Positive Principal Students

We are proud to recognize our students who received positive principal recognition for demonstrating the character traits that make Chiddix such a special place!

Keep making positive choices, leading by example, and charging forward together! We are proud of you, Chargers!

20 Book Challenge

Shoutout to Emma Marsh who reached 10 books already! Keep it up!

E-Learning Day Schedule and Student Expectations

E-Learning days can be used in lieu of emergency days. As a result of this, our students will be learning virtually on a day that would have previously been considered a “snow day.” The number of e-learning days may not exceed the number of emergency days in the approved school calendar, which is five per ISBE requirements. E-learning days will count as student attendance days, and as work days for employees. If all E-learning days are exhausted emergency days may still need to be utilized.

Student Expectations:

Students are required to login during the above assigned times following our e-learning schedule. Teachers will take attendance and provide synchronous instruction. This is a regular school day and attendance is required. Teachers and staff will provide synchronous instruction and asynchronous learning activities. Office hours are also available for students who may have any questions or concerns.

As in any regular school day, students are expected to behave appropriately while online and consequences will be given for any failure to comply.

If your student is not able to connect due to not having their laptop or internet issues, please contact their teachers so that they may work with students to make up synchronous and asynchronous work.

Progress Conferences

We will have Progress Conferences on Friday November 6th from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Families will sign up through PTC Fast as we have done in previous year. Be on the lookout for information to sign up in the next newsletter.

As a reminder, students do not have school this day.

AG in the Classroom

Do you want to shoutout a Chiddix staff member?

The purpose of this form is to provide recognition to CJHS staff members for outstanding work in our school building. This form is open to any district staff member, community member, family member, parent/guardian, students and anyone else who would like to recognize someone that works for our school. You may also choose to recognize someone in the building who isn't a classroom teacher, but supports our building in a non-teaching role (administrative assistants, teaching assistants, food service, custodians, etc.)

We believe that recognition should be timely and authentic in order to serve people best. Thank you very much for taking the time to recognize someone at Chiddix, and thank you for supporting our work with students and each other!

CJHS Staff Recognition Form

Chiddix Dine to Donate

Eat Good Food for a Great Cause: Portillo’s Fundraiser Night!

Craving Italian beef, hot dogs, or a chocolate shake? Grab dinner at Portillo's and support Chiddix Jr. High PTO at the same time!

When: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Portillo’s (202 Landmark Drive, Normal, IL)
How it works: Portillo’s will donate 20% of the proceeds to Chiddix Jr. High PTO! Show the flyer in-person or use the online/app ordering code PORTILLOS51 at checkout (pickup orders placed during event hours only).

See you there!

Charger Athletics

Registration for Athletics

Registration is completed on each school's 8to18 website. If your student plans to participate in a sport this school year, please complete registration as soon as possible.

Click on your school's 8to18/Snap site link and get registered today!

Registration on the 8 to 18 website indicates all of the following forms have been properly submitted:

The Athletic Code of Conduct
Agreement to Participate
Athletic Concussion Policy
A current physical must be on file. A current physical is a physical dated 395 days(13 months) from the day it is issued. The physical must be current throughout tryouts and the sports season.
- Physicals:
  - Turned into the main office between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm
  - Or uploaded on the 8to18 registration page (preferred method)

Check 8to18 for your team's schedules and results!

Registration Help Sheet

Basketball

Here are some boys basketball announcements.

Check out our Boys Basketball Website! https://sites.google.com/unit5.org/chiddixboysbasketball.

CJHS Boys Basketball tryout registration has opened, and tryout dates and times have been released! Registration for tryouts will close on 10/16 at 4:00 PM.

In order to try out, all participants must be registered for tryouts. You can register on the Chiddix Snap Manage Athletics Site (Link). All participants must have an updated physical on file with the office as well! We hope to see you there!