CHMS Weekly Update

We had a great first week of the 2026-2027 school year! We will continue to review the Warrior Expectations around the building this week, and we will also begin our Second Step curriculum during Homeroom on Wednesday. Check out the information about Second Step below!

There is NO SCHOOL on Friday, September 4th or Monday, September 7th!

On Thursday last week, we had our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) Kickoff Assemblies! During these assemblies, we introduced staff, reviewed our WARRIOR expectations, and explained our reward systems to acknowledge our students' positive behavior throughout the year. This year, we had a candy connection again. Every student left the assembly with a baggie containing the four different candies and a note about how each piece connects to one of our expectations.

Please see the attached letter that explains the Second Step program and what your child will be learning about this year!

The 5th grade Second Step program is part of the Elementary model, so their lessons are formatted a little differently. There will be a "Homelink" document attached each week if families would like to use it to reinforce these lessons at home. Each week, we will add a little description to this newsletter for all grade levels to explain what topics will be discussed in their lesson.

5th Grade - Unit 1: Empathy and Skills for Learning

Lesson 1 - Empathy and Respect

Why This Lesson Matters: Empathy and communication skills have been shown to increase school success and decrease youth involvement in problem behaviors, such as substance abuse and aggression. Empathy is a crucial foundation for healthy communication and interpersonal relationships. Empathy and perspective-taking skills help students establish better peer relationships and offer help and emotional support to others. These prosocial behaviors, in turn, are linked to better grades and higher achievement. Beginning with this lesson, skills related to empathy are taught throughout the curriculum.

6th Grade - Unit 1: Mindset & Goals

Lesson 1 - A Soundtrack for Success

This week’s lesson will help your child explore how music can be a powerful motivator during challenges. They’ll contribute a song to a classroom ”Success Playlist” and reflect on how music can support their goals and mindset throughout the year.

Try this at home: Share a song that inspires or motivates you. Ask your child what song they picked for their class playlist and why they chose it.

7th Grade - Unit 1: Mindset & Goals

Lesson 1 - Designing Your Future

This week’s lesson will help your child set personal goals and reflect on the effort needed to achieve them. They’ll create a vision board to represent their goals and what motivates them.

Try this at home: Share a goal you once set for yourself and what helped you stay motivated to achieve it. Ask your child about the goals they included on their vision board and how they plan to work toward them.

8th Grade - Unit 1: Mindset & Goals

Lesson 1 - Adjust & Achieve

This week’s lesson will help your child understand the importance of persistence when learning something new. They’ll attempt a self-selected challenge multiple times and reflect on ways to improve after each attempt.

Try this at home: Share a time when you had to try something multiple times before you got better at it. Ask your child about the challenge they attempted in class and what strategies they used to improve.

ParenTeenConnect.org, a free website for parents and their teens created by the makers of Second Step® Middle School, is a great resource for middle school families. It provides expert advice and practical tools for dealing with real parent-teen issues.

Picture Day at the middle school will be during the school day on September 9th! Forms will be sent home soon!

At three points throughout the school year, all students take the NWEA for math and reading and the Acadience Reading test for a more diagnostic look into student reading abilities. Our 5th and 6th graders also take the Acadience Math test. Yes, this is a lot of testing, but it ensures that students receive the appropriate interventions and supports during throughout the year.

We will start our Fall testing this year with our 7th and 8th graders completing Gate 1 of the Acadience Reading assessment on Monday, August 31st. Check out the Fact Sheet linked below for more information about how the test is structured.

Fall testing will continue with 5th and 6th graders completing the Acadience Reading assessment on September 1st and 2nd respectively. All students will take the Reading NWEA on Tuesday, September 8th and the Math NWEA on Thursday, September 10th.

The Acadience Math assessment will be given to our 5th and 6th graders during math classes in the upcoming weeks as well.

It is very important that students do their best on these assessments. We use the data from these assessments to ensure that each student is receiving the interventions and supports that they need!

Check out the resources linked below for more information about the assessments students will take this year.

The middle school doors open to students at 7:30 AM, and students should go down to the cafeteria if they arrive before 7:50 AM. Students who are dropped off in the car loop may use the Central Office entrance and then head down to the cafeteria from there. If they need to talk to someone in the office, or if parents/guardians need to come into the building, they should use the Middle School's main entrance. Remember, breakfast is free and encouraged for all students!

Our day ends at 3:00 PM. When students are dismissed from class, it is important that they grab their belongings and head out to their pick up location quickly. Our buses are on a tight schedule so they can get to the elementary buildings on time. For students who get picked up in our car loop, it is expected that they are picked up by 3:15 PM. Also, students who are picked up in our car loop should remain on the sidewalk in front of the building to wait for their ride. Students should NOT walk away from the building down toward Arthur Rd or M-66.

Need a ride to the Secondary Complex? Shuttle buses are available for students attending the Middle School, High School, and Mosaic who need transportation from one of our elementary schools.

Shuttle buses depart promptly at the following times:
Barryton Elementary: 7:40 AM
Mecosta Elementary: 7:40 AM
Weidman Elementary: 7:35 AM

Please plan to arrive at least 5 minutes early so students are ready to board before the bus departs.

Shuttle buses are also available in the afternoon to transport students back to the elementary schools.

Questions about transportation? Contact the CHSD Transportation Department at 989-967-3435.

Student/Parent Handbooks were distributed at Open House and Orientation last week. It is linked below for anyone who missed it! Please take some time to read through it. If you have any questions, you can contact Mrs. Muscott at smuscott@chsd.us.

Please remember that students get in free to any athletic events at Chippewa Hills! However, middle school and elementary students must be accompanied by an adult. Additionally, students should not plan to stay after school for evening events as there is no supervision for them.

Events will be listed here once they begin!

Mr. Jarnigin - Custodian and Bus Driver

"He is a awesome bus driver. He makes sure everyone is safe on the bus, and he's an awesome janitor because he does his job and doesn't mess around."

Mr. Burtis - Assistant Principal

"Mr. Burtis is willing to jump in and help in any way possible. He is building relationships with staff and students. I think Mr. Burtis is a great addition to our Warrior Family."

The Middle School has a Parent Club! Please go to their Facebook Page (linked below) and click "follow" to stay up-to-date on what they have going on and ways to volunteer! Our first meeting for the 2026-2027 school year is September 1st at 6:00 PM at the Corner Cup.

Chippewa Hills is once again proud to offer FREE breakfast and lunch to ALL students for the 2026-2027 school year!

Note: Milk without a meal, a la carte items, and second meals will still need to be purchased.

The August breakfast and lunch calendars are attached below.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is excited to announce a premier youth scholarship competition for the 2026-2027 school year. The contest's powerful patriotic theme is chosen by our Commander-in-Chief: "What A Veteran Taught Me About America"

This program gives middle school students a unique opportunity to express their views on democracy and patriotism through a written essay.

• The Prize: The national first-place winner receives a $5,000 award, with a total of $55,000 in national awards distributed to state winners. Prizes are also awarded at the local Post and District levels.

• The Format: A typed, anonymous essay in English, exactly 300–400 words in length. No graphics, color, or poetry are allowed.

• Submission: Students must submit their typed essay along with the signed Official Student Entry Form (linked below)

Friday, September 4th - No School!

Monday, September 7th - No School! Happy Labor Day!

Tuesday, September 8th - Reading NWEA

Wednesday, September 9th - Picture Day during the school day. Forms will be sent home soon!

Thursday, September 10th - Math NWEA

Friday, September 18th - 7th/8th Grade Activity Afternoon from 3:00-5:00

Friday, September 25th - Early Release Day

Monday, September 28th - No School for Students - Staff PD Day