Eagle's Eye News

Challenger Middle School families,

I hope you all had a great weekend.

The parking lot in the morning has become a significant safety issue. If you drop off your student, you must go through the carline. We will have cones out Monday morning, preventing people from dropping off in the parking lot. Thank you for helping us keep our campus safe.

Thursday, February 2nd is our next PTSA general meeting. It will start at 5:30 in the cafeteria. I will give a state of the school's address, PTSA will have its quarterly meeting, our #EagleUp fundraiser will kick off, and we will have a Valentine's Day bake-off. Students can use the Google link below to sign-up to participate in the bake-off. Our #EagleUp Challenge fundraiser will last the entire month of February. It is our big fundraiser of the year for school improvements. More information in the coming weeks about the #EagleUp Challenge.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc4EyGMwrnMV1Pm-ySXu9koFTgwg5OGCAAXLDXDKkvRkO-5Zg/viewform

We invite you all to the Curriculum Showcase on Saturday, February 4 from 9:00-12:00 in the East Hall of the VBC. See below for more information.

We hope to see you all on Thursday, February 2nd.

Sincerely,
Bo Coln

Principal

Challenger Middle School

#EagleUp

February

2 - PTSA General Meeting @ 5:30 in the Cafeteria

4 - Curriculum Showcase

14 - Chick Fil A Spirit Night

Teachers select each grade level's students 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.

Coach Neeley

Boys' PE Coach

Head Football Coach

Athletic Director

CMS Families, if you have attendance questions, please send this information to Ms. Smith, our Student Data Generalist. Examples: doctor excuses and parent notes, or any questions you may have.

Submit Excuses:

E-Mail: melanie.smith1@hsv-k12.org (Preference)

FAX : 256-428-7621

Contact for Attendance Questions/Concerns:

E-Mail: melanie.smith1@hsv-k12.org

Phone: 256-428-7620, Option 3

If your student is absence due to Covid or a confirmed diagnosis of influenza, please notify our school nurse, Julie Poe, by email at julie.poe@hsv-k12.org or by calling the school at 256-428-7620.

Attached is the late registration flyer for you to share with your students and families.

The theme for this campaign is Video Reels! Encourage your students to create a short video about what they’re most excited to do on tour. These videos will be a great way to recruit new students to join!

• Send your video to www.worldstrides.com/reely-excited and we’ll upload it to your trip website. When you upload your video, you’ll also be entered into a drawing for a $1000 scholarship!
• Post your videos to your own social media pages using #WorldStridesReelyExcited and your own creative trip hashtag.

You’ll also receive 35 Rewards Points for each new sign up that registers between January 9 and February 24! And it gets even better - If you add 5 or more new sign ups during the campaign, the point value increases to 50 points each!! Remind your families that WorldStrides has extended payment plans and FLAG Financial Assistance is available. All they need to do is call our customer service team and inquire.

We will send you a weekly fun fact email as a tool to engage students and encourage more to sign up. If you want even more ideas, don’t forget to check out the teacher tool kit to keep up the trip excitement!

*Rewards Points may be used for scholarships, personal travel or Teacher Conventions at your discretion.

Here’s a template that you can send out to your parents:
SUBJECT: This is your last chance to join us in Washington D.C. – Extended payments plans available!!

ATTACHMENT: Reel themed e-flyer

Exciting news!! We still have room on our Washington D.C. trip! Check out our trip website here: https://worldstrides.com/custom/challenger-ms-dc-201774/

Our Trip ID is 201774 Use this to sign up at worldstrides.com/signup or by phone at 800-468-5899.

Please don’t hesitate to send me an email if you have any questions. I’m excited about this trip. I hope your child can join us.

Thanks so much!

Gus Cramer

Account Manager

K12-Discoveries

WorldStrides

218 W. Water Street, Suite 400
Charlottesville, VA 22902

877-382-0864 (direct)

There will be free parking in the City Parking Garage - P4 (opposite the main entrance to the VBC). Be sure to mention you are there for the HCS Curriculum Showcase to get free parking.

A representative from Crisis Services of North Alabama will visit 8th grade World History classes on Wednesday, Jan. 25 and Thursday, Jan. 26 to present information about Suicide Awareness and Prevention. This program is funded by the Huntsville Hospital Foundation to provide Suicide Prevention information to Madison City, Madison County, and Huntsville City school districts. The presentations will focus on educating students and faculty with ways to help protect themselves and others from suicidal risk. Suicide is a leading cause of death for youth and education on the warning signs of suicide, access to and knowledge about resources available, and direct, open communication about the topic of suicide have shown to be effective in the prevention and intervention of suicidal ideation for all age groups.

Thank you!

Lorie Hall, M.Ed.
Professional School Counselor

Challenger Middle School

lorie.hall@hsv-k12.org

phone: 256-428-7620

fax: 256-428-7621

Character Word of the Month: Honesty – “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.”

~ Thomas Jefferson

Guidance Lessons for January –

6th & 7th grade – Child Abuse Prevention

8th grade – Finalize and submit Four-Year Plans

DAR Youth Citizenship Award winner -

Congratulations to our DAR Youth Citizenship Award winner, Delilah Huynh! Last month 8th-grade teachers voted for the student who exemplifies honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism. Delilah is a fine example of these qualities; we are so proud of her! She will be recognized at the annual DAR Awards Ceremony in February.

Looking ahead to February -

Students will begin registering for classes for the 2023-2024 school year. Stay tuned for important information regarding course offerings and the registration process. We need parents to be involved in their student’s course selections!

The state legislature passed House Bill 123 which requires parents of students under the age of 14 to opt-in their students into mental health and guidance services. This also includes large group guidance. On Thursday (8/4) we sent home an Opt-In Form that must be signed and returned before our guidance counselor, Ms. Hall, can speak with any students about any social/emotional concerns. She can talk to them about anything academic/career, but until we have the attached form, she is unable to speak to students about social-emotional learning (SEL) type issues unless it is a crisis (cutting/suicidal behaviors, abuse).

Ms. Hall does guidance lessons with our students throughout the year and they are SEL related. In order for students to participate in guidance lessons, we must have the Opt-In Form signed and returned.

Below is the Opt-In form that went home with students. Please read over it and decide what is best for your family. If you have any questions contact Lorie Hall.

lorie.hall@hsv-k12.org

Once you are in MySchoolFees follow these steps:

1) Sign-In as guest

2) Select Challenger Middle School from the dropdown menu

3) Select the item you wish to purchase from the dropdown menu

**you don’t have to choose public items

• 2022-2023 Planner
• Yearbooks
• T-Shirts
• P.E. Uniforms
• Lockers

Please review the dress code with your student(s). We have been out of school for a while 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; must be able to see their hair​
• No bandanas of any color​

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

• No holes above mid-thigh

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 class our teachers will follow these steps.

• 1st Offense – Warning ​

• 2nd Offense – Take the phone for the remainder of the period ​

• 3rd Offense – Take the phone up and turn into the office. Record in the red cell phone log in the office. Student can get phone at the end of the day. ​

• 4th Offense - Take the phone up and turn into the office. Record in the red cell phone log in the office. Parent must pick up from the front office​

• 5th Offense – Student will turn in phone to the front office at the beginning of each day and get it back at the end of the day​

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 and/or COVID Symptoms. 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.

Greetings CMS Families,

If your son or daughter is in 7th or 8th grade this year and is interested in playing a sport for one of our school teams, please go ahead and get your child registered and in Dragonfly. This site is the place where the AHSAA houses all of its paperwork for athletics. There is a document linked below with directions on how to set up an account for your child and yourself.

Additionally, go ahead and get a physical form for your child completed and signed by a doctor. If you recently had a physical done, you can just send in the form for them to complete and return to you. However, please make sure you use the form that is linked below. The state requires a particular form that is updated regularly. As mentioned, a link to the form can be found below. For those that completed one last school year, they are good for 1 year through the end of the month they were signed and dated. For example- if it was signed on August 5th, 2020, it will be good through August 31st, 2021.

Go Eagles!!!!

Coach Neeley

The following protocols will be in place for winter sports:

• Spectators may be subject to metal detectors upon entering venues.
• Clear bag policy will be in effect.
• Spectators are asked to purchase tickets through GoFan.

View bag restrictions and other protocols at huntsvillecityschools.org/athletics.

Order your Papa Murphy's Take-'N'-Bake Heartbaker Pizza and Cookie Dough just in time for Valentine's day! Get a large cheese or pepperoni heart Take-'N'-Bake pizza + a tub of cookie dough for $25. Half of your order will go back to CMS! Orders are due Monday, February 6th at 3:00 p.m.

You can order through the online link OR turn in your order form and money (cash or check made out to "CMS PTSA")

Orders will be picked up by each individual, who ordered, anytime on Monday, February 13 between 2 pm-8 pm at the Papa Murphys located by the school.

HOME OF THE EAGLES

Location: 13555 Chaney Thompson Road, Huntsville, AL 35803, USA
Phone: 256-428-7620