Eagle's Eye News

Challenger Middle School Families,

I hope you all have had a great weekend, hopefully enjoying time with friends and family.

The #EagleUp Challenge is up and running and will continue through Friday, March 1. We need your support to reach our goal of $5,000 to support school improvements. Anyone can donate by visiting the fundraising website. Linked below will get you access. Your support is VERY appreciated.

https://app.memberhub.gives/7c3cfc/Campaign/Details

We have our Black History Month Program at 8:45 on Friday, February 16th in the Cafeteria. Our own HCS Superintendent, Dr. Clarence Sutton, is our guest speaker. We hope you will join us for this great event.

Your child's 3rd 9 weeks progress report went home on Friday. Please keep the following things in mind to ensure the success of your child. Your child succeeds when we ALL are working together for their benefit.

• Ensure your students are at school, on time, and ready to learn daily
• Ask your students what they learned at school
• Encourage students and monitor their progress
• Attend events, volunteer, and join organizations at our school
• Maintain regular communication with our teachers and administrators

We appreciate your support as always, #EagleUp. Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Bo Coln

james.coln@hsv-k12.org

Principal

Challenger Middle School

#EagleUp

February

16 - Black History Month Program at 8:45am in the Cafeteria

16 - Half Day - Student dismissal at 12:00

17 - HCS Curriculum Showcase @ the VBC from 9:00-12:00

20 - Zaxby's Spirit Night 5:00-8:00pm

March

1 - #EagleUp Challenge ends

Teachers select each grade level’s student 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. Our students of the week exhibit SOAR behavior – Show Respect, Own Your Actions, Arrive Ready, and Reach Higher.

• Send in Parent Excuses within 2 days of your child returning to school. Please include first and last name. Students can give excuses to their homeroom teacher or bring them to Ms. Smith's office.
• 8 acceptable parent notes will be accepted as official excuses.
• Students with an excused absence have 10 days to make up the work missed.
• Email melanie.smith1@hsv-k12.org about anything attendance or excuse related.
• A child is considered chronically absent if they miss 18 or more days of school. This means they miss 10% or more of the school year.
• Excused and unexcused absences count towards chronic absenteeism.

Hello, Eagle families. The course selection process has started and I'm sure that there are many questions. So far, only the rising 9th grade have received forms. If any current 8th grade students or parents have questions about Career Tech programs or the course forms, please reach out to Mr. Vasquez at Grissom, or send me an email. All grades will be starting the process in the next few weeks and be on the look-out for a parent meeting date.

#EagleUp

Megan Moak

Counselor

megan.moak@hsv-k12.org

The Challenger Care Closet offers clothing, toiletries, and other basic necessities to our elementary and middle school students and their families; making sure our students know they are cared for and can go to school with confidence. Use the links below to fill out a confidential self-referral form. Want to help? Check out our Amazon wish list using the below link. Thank you!

Students can enter the building starting at 7:30am. School starts at 8:00am.

Bus Riders - exit the bus, enter the cafeteria, and remain in the cafeteria until released to homeroom.

Walkers/Car Riders - enter through the main lobby doors and go to your right toward the gym or the cafeteria

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. Walkers/Car Riders that do not wish to eat school breakfast will report to the gym. Students that report to the gym will remain in the gym 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.

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.

• 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 Teacher 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 for $10. Students can purchase a locker during homeroom starting Wednesday, August 2. 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.

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

• Yearbooks
• T-Shirts
• P.E. Uniforms

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; 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/finger-tip length

The USDA has made available a program called the Community Eligibility Program (CEP). By participating in this program, a school serves free breakfast and free lunch to all students.

• Challenger ES
• Challenger MS

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 cell phone policy.

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.

Attention all 7th and 8th Grade Parents:

If your son/daughter is interested in playing a sport at Challenger Middle School and/or Grissom High School this school year, please make sure to create an account on DragonFly for you and your child. A flyer on how to do that is linked/attached below. In order for your son/daughter to participate or even tryout for a team at Challenger and/or Grissom, he/she must have an active physical (front page signed by you and your child & back page signed by a doctor - not a Nurse Practitioner) uploaded in DragonFly. A physical form is also linked/attached below. Below is a list of AHSAA sanctioned sports we offer at Challenger Middle School. If you are interested in a sport at Grissom, please reach out to Coach Neeley, the Athletic Director, about those options. The coaches for each sport below are also listed along with their email address for you to contact them with any questions you may have.

Sports We Offer

Football (FALL)- Curtis Graves (curtis.graves@hsv-k12.org)

Volleyball (FALL)- Amelia Daniels (amelia.daniels@hsv-k12.org)

Cheerleading (FALL/WINTER)- Makenzie Hill ( makenzie.hill@hsv-k12.org)

8th Grade Boys Basketball (WINTER)- Lorenzo Jones (breds2004@yahoo.com)

7th Grade Boys Basketball (WINTER)- Ken Hargis (kenneth.hargis@hsv-k12.org)

Girls Basketball (WINTER)- Rich Goodson (richard.goodson@hsv-k12.org)

Boys Soccer (WINTER/SPRING)- Tegan McDermott/TBD (tegan.mcdermott@hsv-k12.org)

Girls Soccer (WINTER/SPRING)- Tegan McDermott (tegan.mcdermott@hsv-k12.org)

Boys Track (SPRING)- David Rosenberger (david.rosenberger@hsv-k12.org)

Girls Track (SPRING)- Ryan Hagen (ryan.hagen@hsv-k12.org)

We look forward to a great year at CMS both academically and athletically!!!!

-Coach Neeley, Athletic Director

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 have a Math Interventionist for the 2nd semester of the school year. Ms. Regina Carter, retired CMS math teacher, is joining our team. She will provide intensive math support to a select group of CMS students. We are excited about this partnership and expect to see great math growth from our students.

HOME OF THE EAGLES

Location: 13555 Chaney Thompson Road

Huntsville, AL 35803
Phone: 256-428-7620