CMS Cougar Communication

Hello CMS Students and Families,

It’s hard to believe, but we’re now just SIX weeks away from the end of the school year.

With sunny days ahead and so many exciting events happening on and off campus, this is a great time of year, but it’s also a critical time to stay focused. We’re encouraging all students to keep up the momentum, stay on top of academics, make positive choices, and finish strong.

A quick reminder for parents: P3 report cards were emailed last week. Please note that the link to access the report card expires seven days from the date it was sent. Be sure to open and download the file as soon as possible if you haven’t already.

Be sure to check out the updates below so you don’t miss any key information about what’s coming up this spring at CMS.

Here's to a great week,

Brian Scharmann (he/him)

Principal
Christensen Middle School

Hi Parents!

I came across this and thought I'd share as we truly need to raise resilient kids so that they can handle life's ups and downs. Dr. Becky Kennedy, founder and CEO of Good Inside, is a renowned parenting expert dedicated to helping parents raise resilient, confident children. Some of her key strategies include:

1. Reframing Behavior – Instead of seeing misbehavior as "bad," view it as a sign that a child is struggling and needs guidance.

2. Validation & Connection – Acknowledge children's feelings before addressing behavior. Saying, "I see you're really upset right now," helps children feel heard and calms their nervous system.

3. The 'Two Things Are True' Approach – Teaching kids that they can have two emotions at once, like "You're mad at your sibling, and you also love them," builds emotional awareness.

4. Setting Boundaries with Empathy – Boundaries are essential, but they should be communicated calmly. "I won’t let you hit. I know you're angry, and I'm here to help you," is firm but supportive.

5. Repair Over Perfection – Mistakes happen, both for kids and parents. Modeling how to apologize and repair after conflict teaches resilience and trust.

6. Focusing on Internal Strengths – Instead of praising results ("You're so smart!"), she encourages praising effort and character traits ("I love how you kept trying even when it was hard!").

These tools help children develop emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills, and a strong sense of self-worth.

Dawn Allen, Counselor

my.cheddarup.com/c/cms-staff-appreciation-week-extravaganza-2024-copy

Your support in making this happen for our staff is appreciated!

Good afternoon 8th grade parents,

As we prepare for the upcoming 8th Grade Promotion Dance, we’re seeking raffle prize donations to help make the event extra special for our students. If you work for a company or organization that offers donations for school events or raffles, we’d love your support. Gift cards, merchandise, tickets, services, any contribution can help make this celebration even more memorable.

If your employer is able to provide a donation, please reach out. We truly appreciate your help in making this a night to remember for our 8th graders!

Feel free to contact the CMS PTA Dance Committee at cmscougarspta@gmail.com.

Our 8th graders are nearing a major milestone as they prepare to leave middle school and step into their next adventure. To celebrate, we’re organizing a special 8th Grade Promotion Dance—an evening filled with fun, friends, and lasting memories!

To make this event truly spectacular, we’re asking 8th-grade families to consider a flat contribution of $40 per student (though any amount is appreciated). 100% of donations will go toward food, entertainment, and decorations to create an unforgettable night for our students.

Make your contribution here: my.cheddarup.com/c/8th-grade-promotion-dance-copy

If you can give a little extra to support other families, your generosity would mean so much.

Thank you for helping us send off our 8th graders in style!

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Mark your calendars to enjoy concerts from our middle and high school orchestras and bands! These events are sponsored by LVEF and all ticket proceeds will support music education in our schools! Tickets can be purchased at lvef.org

• Festival of Orchestras: Tuesday, April 22, 2025, from 7-8:30 p.m. at GHS

Our next general PTA meeting is April 23rd. This meeting will be virtual to make it easier to attend.

Click HERE to view the meeting agenda.

Meeting link: meet.google.com/art-budy-yue

On Saturday, April 26th, Livermore Sanitation will be giving away 2 bags of compost per household for Livermore residents at their offices located at 7000 National Drive here in Livermore from 8am until noon. The only requirement is that you must have an ID and be a Livermore resident. Drive in, pop the trunk or back hatch, and they will place the bags in your vehicle. Don’t need any compost? Maybe get together with Livermore parents and see about getting some for your school's garden!

The Society of Women Engineers at UC Berkeley invites middle school (6th-8th grade) female and non-binary identifying students to Tech Day, a free, day-long conference designed to introduce and inspire young minds in the world of technology.

• 📅 Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
• 📍 Location: UC Berkeley Campus

Through engaging workshops, hands-on activities, and mentorship opportunities, participants will gain valuable exposure to STEM fields and connect with like-minded peers and professionals.

• Apply now: tinyurl.com/Sp25TechDayApplication
• Stay updated: tinyurl.com/Sp25TechDayNewsletter
• For more details, visit: swe.berkeley.edu/techday.html

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the possibilities of a future in technology!

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The CMS English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) will meet virtually on April 29, 2025 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. To join the meeting, please use the following link: https://meet.google.com/gfh-mxvx-tkm.

The agenda is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pNK17o4oGuxT5BRCaErG5g0StgJxr2jbZq5RGZBE8P4/edit?usp=sharing

The CMS ASB-sponsored Summer in Greece themed dance for CMS students will take place on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Quad (weather permitting).

Students attending the dance must conform to the school’s dress code policy. Student faces must be visible—no masks. The clothing should not be obstructive, revealing, offensive or violent (NO Togas). Please do not bring any items containing sharp/pointed objects or materials that may accidentally strike another person. Inappropriate props will be kept in the office.

The dance event participation will be added electronically to the student’s ID account number prior to the dance for those students who purchase the item online at our RevTrak web store from April 25-May 1, 2025, for $7 or pay $10 cash or check in person during lunch time April 29-May 1 only. The opportunity to purchase online will expire on May 1 at 11:55 p.m. The store front icon located on the CMS website is your link to RevTrak. Dance event participation will not be sold on Friday or the day of the dance.

Students who earned a 4.0 GPA on their CMS March 2025 Trimester 2 report card will have the dance admission added to their ID card account automatically. RevTrak cannot honor free dance admission for 4.0 GPA students.

Students must present their current photo ID card at the door to enter the dance. Dance eligibility guidelines will be enforced. Students can request a replacement ID card in the school office Mondays through Thursdays.

Leadership will sell refreshments and snacks during the dance. Please send small denomination paper currency with your student if they plan to purchase food.

Parents should plan to pick up their child no later than 8:45 p.m.

Friday, 5/2 at 7pm at LHS Gym, featuring teachers and staff players from Altamont Creek, Arroyo Seco, Croce, Jackson, Lawrence, Christensen, East, and Livermore High Buy your tickets for the 5/2 event HERE

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🎉🥳🙌

The CMS School Site Council (SSC) will meet virtually on May 6, 2025 fat 3:00PM.

To join the meeting, please use the following link: https://meet.google.com/rzo-ktsz-kha.

Agenda to follow.

CMS will host our Spring Band Concert on Tuesday, May 6 at 7:00PM and our Spring Orchestra Concert on Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00PM.

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The CMS Open House will be on Wednesday, May 14 from 5:45PM-7:00PM There will be a short presentation in the Gym at 5:45PM. All of our classes will be open to provide a wonderful opportunity to see student work and to meet some of our fabulous staff.

Craving Chipotle? Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 14th, from 5-9 PM at 4691 1st St, Livermore, CA! When you dine in or order online for pickup using code P936KTK, 25% of event sales will be donated to the AVID program at Christensen Middle School. Your support helps provide resources and opportunities for our students. Remember, delivery orders and gift cards don’t qualify—so swing by and enjoy a meal for a great cause!

Thank you for making a difference!

This year the eighth grade trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will take place on Friday, May 16. In order to take part in this activity, students must have passing grades in all classes on their report card at the end of the second trimester, February 28, 2025. Students must continue to maintain passing grades during the third trimester to attend. Students who do not meet the participation guidelines will be restricted from attending the 8th Grade Field Trip.

Students attending the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom trip should report to their first period class at the usual time. Students enrolled in 0 period should attend 0 period. Buses will return to CMS at approximately 6 p.m. for parent pick-up. Students not attending the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Trip will receive an alternate schedule for the day.

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom only accepts card payments at all locations including restaurants, retail stores, games, ticket windows, and parking toll booths. You can either pay for purchases using a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, or a debit card. Only have cash? You can convert your cash to a prepaid debit card at one of the multiple kiosks located throughout the park and anywhere in the U.S. where Visa is accepted.

Outside food and drink is not allowed in the park, so students will need to plan on purchasing lunch.

More information on their policies can be found on their website: https://www.sixflags.com/discoverykingdom/plan-your-visit/park-policies.

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We have a traditional blue promotion gown ready for each of our 8th grade students to borrow for their promotion ceremony. Gowns will be distributed after school on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, to allow families to have the weekend to use the gowns in photographs, etc. Gowns will be collected at the conclusion of the ceremony in yellow bins as students and families exit the quad.

All 8th graders are invited to attend the 8th Grade Promotion Dance on Friday, May 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In order to participate in this activity, students must have passing grades in all of their classes by Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Eighth grade students attending the dance must present their current CMS photo ID card at the door for admittance. Students who do not adhere to the District dress code will not be permitted to enter the dance.

The Promotion Ceremony begins promptly at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, in the CMS Courtyard.

A blue promotion gown will be provided to each student to borrow for use during the ceremony. Gowns will be returned at the end of the evening.

In order to participate in this activity, students must have passing grades in all of their classes for the third trimester. We encourage our eighth graders to see this event as one for which they "dress for success." Jeans, flip flops, and hats are not appropriate for this event and are not permitted at the ceremony. Note that it is possible for students not to have the grades for the Six Flags trip but still be able to participate in the other two promotion-related activities.

Promoting students need to arrive in the gym no later than 5:30 p.m. on the night of promotion, May 29. All students are expected to be dress code appropriate (no gum, hats, strapless, spaghetti straps, halter-top dresses, sagging pants, etc.). In addition, all students must wear the royal blue Promotion Ceremony Gown. This is an important event and we want to ensure that all students are dressed appropriately.

There will be no reserved seating at the promotion ceremony. The gates will remain locked on the day of promotion until 5:15 p.m. We ask that all families respect the handicap seating areas and are considerate of others. We have limited seating with the chairs available. We also ask that families do not bring noisemakers (as they can create distractions), balloons (which can obstruct the view), or animals to the ceremony. Thank you for your cooperation.

We look forward to seeing you at the promotion ceremony. Please call the office at (925) 606-4702 if you have any questions.

Congratulations to our PBIS students of the week! These students were selected for being SAFE!

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Adrian Mora

• 7th grader - Ashley Darling

• 8th grader - Grady Isselhardt

Congratulations to our PBIS students of the week! These students were selected for being KIND!

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Charlize Torres

• 7th grader - Ellie Cameron-Chiao

• 8th grader - Daniel Sandoval-Granados

CMS proudly hosted The Great History Challenge, welcoming schools from around the Bay Area for a day of academic competition. Congratulations to our amazing students whose hard work and dedication paid off—several of them have qualified for the national round in Orlando!

A big shout out to:

• 8th Grade: Drake Manwell

• 7th Grade: Shiv Juneja and Kirk Meeker

• 6th Grade: Cylie Plant, Kayden Jorge, Brady Nyholm, and Mazin Khaled

You all crushed it and made CMS proud!

State and district testing is just around the corner. Please help us by encouraging students to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and bring their fully charged Chromebook each day. Here's a look at our upcoming testing schedule:

• April 28 – May 2: 8th Grade CAST Science Exam

• May 5 – 9: ELA CAASPP Summative Exam (All Grades)

• May 12 – 16: Math CAASPP Summative Exam (All Grades)

• May 19 – 23: District Math Final Exams (6th, 7th, and 8th Grade)

Thank you for your support as we help students show what they’ve learned this year!

Please take a moment to give a Shout Out to a deserving CMS staff member. Please complete this 3 question Google Form to give a Shout Out. Gratitudes will be shared with staff in our weekly internal newsletter.

Homework Club will be offered on Wednesdays from 1:30PM to 2:30PM. Homework club meets in the MPR and is a quiet place to get work done with support offered by CMS staff members.

We’re excited to offer breakfast service to help students fuel up for a successful day! Breakfast is available at the following times:

• 7:00 AM – 7:25 AM
• 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM

Please note that service ends promptly at these times to ensure students have enough time to get to class. We appreciate your support in encouraging punctuality so everyone can start the day on the right foot!

Now's your chance to let your 8th grader know how proud you are of them! A ribbon promotion lei is the perfect accessory for EVERY 8th grader at CMS. Leis will be handed out after school the week prior to promotion ceremony.

PTA SPECIAL: $2 OFF PERSONALIZATION if anyone in your family is a member of the CMS PTA. Subject to verification. Please use code CMSPTA when ordering. Click here to order: https://8th-grade-promotion-lei-2025.cheddarup.com/

The last day to order 8th grade promotion leis is Friday, May 2nd.

Calling all students who love nature and getting their hands dirty—our CMS Garden Group is welcoming new members!

The group meets every Tuesday during both lunches in the school garden area. No gardening experience is needed—just an interest in plants and making our campus a greener, more beautiful place.

Students interested in joining can complete this Google Form to sign up. We hope to see you out in the garden soon! 🌱

Support the CMS AVID program by attending a Giants game!

Here is some information about the fundraiser:

• Monday - Thursday games in April and May (some exclusions apply)
• Seating Areas: View Reserve and Bleachers
• $15 tickets

• Link: https://fevo-enterprise.com/group/GiantsschoolfundraisingNG
• Promo Code: christensenms

Our ASB President, Shree Manickaraja, is launching an exciting new initiative called WasteEasy, part of the Zero2Hero project. This program empowers students to help keep our campus clean by reporting or picking up trash—and earning points for every piece they remove!

Even better, those points can be redeemed for awesome prizes like Starbucks deliveries to your classroom or gift cards to your favorite spots.

Shree is inviting every CMS student to join the WasteEasy movement and help make our school the cleanest and greenest it can be. Signing up is quick and easy, and your impact starts right away!

Let’s make CMS shine—join WasteEasy, sign up today!

Click here for more info (must be accessed with an out-of-district email)

The latest edition of the CMS 8th Grade Class of 2025 Events newsletter with specific dates and details for our 8th graders is available here: https://secure.smore.com/n/qn0ycu.

Altamont Creek is celebrating its 25th anniversary on May 16th and will be creating a special collage featuring photos of current and former staff, teachers, students, and families—and they’d love to include yours! Please upload your photos HERE to be included in this exciting milestone event. More details about the event will be available soon!

• Earth Day at Sycamore Grove Park: Sunday, April 27, 10:00 - 2:00 pm

• City Nature Challenge, April 25-28- See flyer for details

This week’s staff spotlight is Chad Harper, PE Teacher at Christensen. Please visit LVJUSD’s Facebook or Instagram page to learn more about Chad!

Child Nutrition is seeking on-call substitute workers. We have flexible hours available and provide on the job training.

Livermore Public Library is busy planning fun and educational events for the community. Highlights of Upcoming Events:

• April 25 - Día del Niño Celebration
• April 26 – Korean Culture Festival
• Wednesdays at 4pm, Maker Madness for ages 9-15

In addition, registration for the Summer Learning Program opens the last week of April, and information will be coming out about the Free Lunch Program offered at Rincon and Springtown libraries this summer.

This spring musical has multiple showings on May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd at the LHS Theater. Tickets available at the Livermore HS Webstore!

We are fortunate that our district’s partnership with Tri-Valley Wheels provides free transportation to our students, many of whom use it daily to get to and from school. Please remind your students to respect the guidelines around priority seating for senior citizens and those with disabilities when riding the bus. Drivers may ask passengers occupying priority seating to move if it is needed for those it has been prioritized for.

There has been a lot of discussion recently about e-scooter and e-bike safety. To help clarify rider requirements and potential penalties for not following the rules of the road, the Livermore Police Department has created an informational pamphlet.

Calling all young poets! The City of Livermore and Poet Laureate Peggy Schimmelman invite middle and high school students (ages 13+) to participate in the Teen Poet of the 2nd Semester Contest.

Theme: "On the Outside." Interpret this however you like—being outdoors, feeling excluded, keeping a secret— get creative! Any style of poetry is welcome.

🏆 Winner Receives:

• ✔ A certificate from the City
• ✔ A $25 gift card to a downtown business
• ✔ Public recognition (featured in print, social media, and a public library display)

📅 Deadline: May 2, 2025

🌳 Bonus Opportunity!
Submit a poem mentioning “My favorite tree” by March 31, and it may be featured at the City’s Arbor Day celebration, with a chance to read your poem at the event!

📩 How to Enter: Email your poem to Poet_Laureate@LivermoreCA.gov using a personal email (school emails cannot be accepted). Include your name, grade, school, and teacher’s name.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your poetry—get writing and submit your poem today! 🎉

Are you a passionate young writer with a love for poetry and a vision for change? The 2025 Youth Poet Laureate program is now accepting applications! This prestigious opportunity recognizes talented youth who use their voices to inspire, uplift, and make a difference in their communities. If you're between the eligible ages and have a strong portfolio of original work, this could be your chance to shine!

Don't miss out—apply now and take the next step in your poetic journey! Check out the flyer for more details.

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.

The PTA is providing a whole school treat on May 27th! We need volunteers to help us pass this out from 11:00-12:30. If you can help out please email us at cmscougarspta@gmail.com

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

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program the CMS PTA has been running for the past five years. It's a great program that supports the fine arts at CMS. The theme for next year is Made By Me and CMS usually starts collecting entries in early November. We can't continue CMS PTA Reflections without your help. The chairperson's job is more behind the scenes and so appreciated. It's also a great way to be more involved in your child's school. If interested, please email cmscougarspta@gmail.com. The current CMS Reflections chair is happy to get you started, but has an exiting 8th grader and cannot continue being a CMS chairperson.

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