CMS Cougar Communication

Dear Students, Parents, and Families,

As we move through the end of October and approach the close of the first trimester on November 7, there’s a lot to celebrate at Christensen Middle School. Our classrooms are buzzing with learning, students are settling into strong routines, and the energy around campus reflects the pride and spirit that make CMS such a special place.

We are also proud to share that our PTA FunD Run was a huge success — together, we raised over $10,000 to support classroom supplies, honor roll celebrations, and campus improvements. Thank you to all the families who donated, volunteered, or came out to cheer on our students.

Looking ahead, please note there is no school on Monday, November 10 and Tuesday, November 11.

Thank you for your continued partnership in making CMS a place where students feel supported, challenged, and proud to belong.

Brian Scharmann (he/him)
Principal
Christensen Middle School

Each year, Livermore police officers partner with local schools to bring holiday joy to students and families in need through the Shop With a Cop program. We’re proud to share that Christensen’s own Mr. Scharmann and Ms. Gomes help coordinate this incredible districtwide effort.

This annual event pairs students with officers for a fun morning of shopping, smiles, and community connection, ensuring that every child can experience the magic of the season. If you’d like to contribute to making this year’s event possible, donations can be made directly through the GoFundMe link below:

Donate to Shop With a Cop 2025

Your generosity helps brighten the holidays for local children and strengthens the spirit of kindness that makes Livermore such a special community.

Registration is now open for anyone interested in participating in our athletics programs this year! Here are the requirements for being cleared to participate in Christensen Middle School athletics:

1. Register for all sports that the athlete is planning on playing this year HERE.
2. All athletes planning on participating will need to have an updated physical. We require a signed physical by a doctor within the last 12 months. Here is a link to a physical form that can be used: LVJUSD Physical Form. Other forms signed by a doctor may be acceptable but must specifically clear athletes for participation in sports. Physical forms will only be accepted through Home Campus (link above).
3. CMS athletes must have received a 2.0 GPA on the previous trimester's final report card. Incoming 6th graders are not held to this requirement until an official grading period has been completed.

The tentative start dates for the athletic programs we offer are listed below. More specific information for each sport will be communicated through the morning announcements and this newsletter as each season approaches.

• Girls Basketball - October
• Boys Volleyball - January
• Girls Volleyball - February
• Wrestling (Co-ed) - March
• Golf (Co-ed) - April/May
• Track and Field (Co-ed) - April/May

Please reach out to our Athletic Director, David Moore, at dmoore@lvjusd.org if you have any questions.

Hi Parents, It’s not uncommon for our students to experience anxiety. If your child seems more worried and overwhelmed, here are a few ways you can support them:

• Listen. Let them talk without rushing to fix things. Sometimes, they just want to be heard.

• Validate their feelings. Even if the worry seems small to you, it feels big to them. Saying “That sounds really stressful” or “I can see why that would bother you” helps them feel understood.

• Ask open-ended questions. Ask what’s been on their mind. Avoid pressuring them to “just stop worrying.”

• Model healthy coping. Share how you handle stress — deep breathing, taking a walk, problem-solving — so they see that anxiety can be managed.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if I can be of help at dallen@lvjusd.org.

Dawn Allen, Counselor

The Christensen Middle School AVID Program is excited to host our 3rd Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive from November 3–6! Join us in supporting our community by donating nonperishable items for local families in need. All donations will go to Tri-Valley Haven.

Suggested items include instant mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, turkey gravy packets, canned vegetables and fruits, pumpkin pie mix, cranberry sauce, chicken broth, evaporated milk, and boxed Jello.

Donations can be brought to your 1st-period class, and the class with the highest number of items per student will win a prize. Thank you for helping us make a difference this Thanksgiving season!

The first CMS School Site Council meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, November 4 at 3:00 PM.

Join us at this link: Google Meet. Agenda to follow...

Make dinner easy and support the AVID Program at Christensen Middle School! Join us at Chipotle on Wednesday, November 5, from 5–9 pm at 4691 1st Street in Livermore.

Chipotle will donate 25% of event sales back to CMS AVID. To participate, order online for pickup using code 83LHMQM or show the flyer in the restaurant.

Please note: Delivery orders and gift card purchases do not count toward the fundraise

🛑

🏫🚫

🟢

Our ASB will distribute the prepaid fundraiser items on Thursday, November 13 after school between 2:35 and 4 p.m. in room 207 (just to the left of the gym). The school does not have the facilities to store the merchandise because some of these items require refrigeration. Please make transportation arrangements for your student to enable the timely pick-up and delivery of these perishable items.

All ASB fundraiser sellers need to stop by the Gym Foyer after school on Thursday, November 13, to pick up the orders for their customers.

Please email our Activities Director, Ms. Mills, at mmills@lvjusd.org with questions or concerns. Thank you for your understanding and support!

Take a break from cooking and support CMS at Calafia Kitchen on Friday, November 14, from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM!

Stop by 1502 N. Vasco Road for breakfast, lunch, or dinner — dine in or take out — and a portion of your order will help fund programs and events for our students. It’s an easy (and delicious) way to support the Christensen PTA and our Cougar community!

Mark your calendars for November 14, 2025 — it’s the annual Ruby Bridges Walk-to-School Day, officially recognized by the state of California. This special event was born from a group of young school patrollers at Martin Elementary who, inspired by Ruby Bridges’ courage, asked: Why isn’t there a day named after her?

📝💯

Support our incredible CMS Special Olympics athletes by grabbing dinner at Dave’s Hot Chicken on Thursday, December 12, from 4–8 PM!

Head to 4213 First Street, Livermore, and show the flyer or use the code GIVE when ordering through the Dave’s app or website at daveshotchicken.com. Dave’s will generously donate 20% of your order back to CMS Special Olympics.

Every order helps our student-athletes continue to shine—on and off the field. Thank you for supporting our Cougars and making a difference in our community!

There will be a virtual English Learners (ELAC) parents' meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday 1/20.

Join us at this link: Google Meet, agenda to follow.

CMS is excited to offer the AMC 8 Math test after school on Thursday 1/22/2026 for students who are interested. A new practice test will be available for pick up each week in the office beginning the week of 10/27 all the way up to the test.

There will be no cost for students to take the AMC 8, but pre-registration is required.

For those who are interested in taking the AMC 8 with us, students must complete this short Google form from their LVJUSD Google account: https://forms.gle/rFP8ax4M1ZtyUBru5.

Congratulations to our Cougar Kudos winners this week! These students were recognized for consistently demonstrating the CMS Core Values of Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be Kind.

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Alyssa Roth
• 7th grader - Lincoln Syth
• 8th grader - Paige George

We are so proud of these students for setting a great example for their peers—way to go, Cougars!

Congratulations to our Cougar Kudos winners this week! These students were recognized for consistently demonstrating the CMS Core Values of Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be Kind.

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Easton Burns
• 7th grader - Alexandra Lugo
• 8th grader - Taylor Houser

We are so proud of these students for setting a great example for their peers—way to go, Cougars!

At CMS we like to celebrate the people who keep our school running in big and small ways, so we made up our own tradition — CMS Site Tech Appreciation Day on October 16. This day is all about recognizing our amazing site tech, John Sprugasci. John is the quiet hero behind so much of what makes teaching and learning happen smoothly. From fixing Chromebooks and classroom tech glitches to setting up new systems and answering the never-ending “Just one quick tech question,” he does it all with patience, expertise, and a incredible Fantasy Football knowledge.

Thank you, John, for everything you do to support our students, staff, and school community. CMS wouldn’t run the same without you.

This week we recognize School Psychologist Week and celebrate the incredible work of our own Dr. Frank Alviso. Dr. Alviso plays a vital role in supporting student well-being, social–emotional growth, and learning. From collaborating with teachers and families to providing one-on-one support to students, his work helps create a safe, caring environment where all students can thrive. Please join me in thanking Dr. Alviso for his compassion, expertise, and dedication to our school community.

A huge thank-you to our CMS PTA for helping make our campus feel more welcoming and vibrant. With their support, we now have new banners proudly displaying our Cougar spirit and core values along the front of the school. The parking lot and drop-off circle also received fresh signage to help improve traffic flow and create a safer, more organized arrival experience. These additions have brought new color, pride, and visibility to our school, and we are grateful for the continued efforts of our PTA in enhancing the CMS campus for students, families, and staff.

We’re proud to share that Christensen Middle School has been awarded two Rotary Club of Livermore Valley community grants this year! Congratulations to Ms. Garner, who received funding to support our AVID program and provide students with materials and opportunities to help prepare them for college and career success. Congratulations as well to Ms. Guerzon, who received grant funding to purchase new instruments for our growing Orchestra program, helping more students access music education with quality equipment.

We are grateful to the Rotary Club for investing in our students and to Ms. Garner and Ms. Guerzon for their initiative, passion, and dedication to enriching the CMS experience.

Support CMS teachers by helping fund their classroom projects through DonorsChoose! Each contribution, big or small, directly supports learning opportunities and resources for our students. Check out the current projects and consider making a donation to make a difference in our classrooms.

• Ms. Garner's AVID Supplies

Math Club at CMS is open to all students and meets every Monday after school from 2:40‑3:40 in Room 905. In Math Club, we work together to tackle challenging problems from MathCounts, and we also hold practice competitions to help prepare students who want to compete district‑wide. It’s a great place to build problem‑solving skills, make math fun, and deepen understanding — come join us and be part of a team!

Neon Clear is back at CMS! This exciting STEAM program blends academics, athletics, arts, and adventures to give students hands-on learning and unique experiences—from STEM projects and painting to trapeze, scuba, and even flight lessons.

Program Details:

• Thursdays, 2:45–4:00 PM

• Room 204 at CMS

Students who participate in academic, athletic, and artistic activities can even earn a scholarship toward an adventure opportunity. Space is extremely limited, so don’t wait—Register for Neon Clear 2025–26 today! Note, registration must be done by parents/guardians and student cannot register using their lvjusd.org email addresses.

The only way to guarantee your CMS 2025-2026 yearbook order is to purchase one from the Varsity Yearbook Order Center.

The price is $35 until February 1. The price will increase after February 1 to $40. Yearbook sales will end on April 6, 2026. There will only be a limited number of copies available for purchase after this date. The prices include shipping to CMS in June.

Books will be sold directly through the publisher. Use a credit card to order your yearbook. Go to www.YearbookOrderCenter.com or call 1-866-287-3096 and use School Code16490.

If you want to verify your yearbook order, please visit the Varsity yearbook website at www.yearbookordercenter.com. Click Find Your Order. You will enter the email address used when you placed your order. The school number is 16490.

As always, we have our Sandwich/Salad Menu and our Cafe Menu (featuring Grab and Go Options), in addition to our rotating hot entrees.

Students in grades 3–8 are invited to dance down First Street with the Livermore High School Dance Team during the Livermore Holiday Parade on Friday, December 6!

Participants will receive poms, a holiday sweater, and a fun clinic session (only one practice required). Space is limited, and registration closes October 23, so don’t wait to sign up!

All proceeds benefit the LHS Dance Team. For more details or to register, scan the QR code on the flyer or contact vcastro@lvjusd.org

• February 25, 2026 Student presentations are due to judges - times TBD
• February 26, 2026 Student project exhibits, a planetarium show, trashion show, live music and community partner exhibits will be held at Joe Michell TK-8 between 5-7 pm.

The City of Livermore and Poet Laureate Peggy Schimmelman invite students to enter the Livermore Teen Poet of the First Semester contest! This semester’s theme is “Tomorrow.”

What will happen tomorrow? What do you hope, know, or fear will happen? Use your imagination—any style or interpretation of the theme will be considered.

• Deadline: December 5, 2025
• Who Can Enter: Middle and High School students
• How to Submit: Email your poem to PLLivermore@gmail.com
• . Include your name, private (non-LVJUSD) email address, grade level, school, and teacher. One poem per student. (No AI-generated poems, please.)
• Recognition: Winning poets will receive a Certificate of Achievement from the City of Livermore. With the poet’s permission, selected poems may be published locally and displayed in the Livermore Civic Center Library.

We encourage parents, guardians, school staff and community members to join the CMS PTA. Please go to the Join Andrew Christensen PTA website (https://jointotem.com/ca/livermore/andrew-christensen-pta/join/register).

Show your support for our students by joining the CMS PTA. Our mission is to provide a positive middle school experience for every student and we are committed to putting students first. Members are not required to attend any meetings, but are encouraged to. Only PTA members can vote at the general meetings.

We appreciate your support.

Show your school spirit with new CMS spirit wear while helping raise money for the CMS PTA. Order at www.1stplacespiritwear.com

😎

Email: bscharmann@lvjusd.org
Website: https://www.livermoreschools.org/Domain/101
Location: 5757 Haggin Oaks Avenue, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: 925-606-4702