Eagle's Eye News
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Note from Principal Coln
Challenger Middle School Families,
I hope you all had a great weekend.
Our students will take the first i-Ready Diagnostic Tests this week. Students will take Math on Tuesday, August 20 and Reading on Thursday, August 22. Please ensure your child is at school and on-time those days.
We invite you to join our PTSA and be an active part of our school community!
https://cmsptsa.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true
Parents/Guardians, please complete the anonymous survey using the below link. We very much appreciate your feedback.
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/258601/p222
Please consider volunteering to help with our duty free lunch for teachers on Thursday, August 29. Thank you!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A4BAFAF22A7FC1-48313153-cmsduty
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0A4BAFAF22A7FC1-50695275-duty
Please remember the HCS dress code.
- 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
- Halter and spaghetti straps are not permitted unless covered
- All undergarments must be completely covered
This Newsletter has lots of vital information, so please read through everything. We want to make sure you are all well-informed of the happenings at CMS.
I hope you all have a great week!
#WingsUp
#EagleUp
Sincerely,
Bo Coln
Principal
Challenger Middle School
Important Dates
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
August
20 - i-Ready Math Diagnostic 1
22 - i-Ready Reading Diagnostic 1
22 - Parents' Meeting D.C. Trip 6:00pm in the AV room
27 - Steak-Out Spirit Night
29 - Duty Free Lunch
29 - Open House and PTSA General Meeting
30 - Half Day - 12:00 Dismissal
Counselor's Corner
A Note from Ms. Moak
Welcome back!
I hope you and your family had a fun and relaxing summer. It is my hope that this school year will be full of successful experiences for all of our students. Middle school is the shortest time in a child's schooling, but so much happens in these three years. I'm here to offer help and support with any problems that arise.
Most students have received their final schedules and I don't anticipate many more changes to occur. Please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns or questions about your child or their classes. The best way to reach me is through email at megan.moak@hsv-k12.org. You can also call the school at 256-428-7620 and ask for Mrs. Moak.
Best Wishes for a Great Year,
Mrs. Moak, School Counselor
You can still get a 2023-2024 Yearbook!!
$35 - purchase at Open House or through the front office
Challenger Care Closet
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. If you need to access our care closet, use the links below or reach out to the guidance counselors.
Want to help?
- Donate and drop off hygiene items (deodorant, brushes, soap, shampoo, new kids/adult socks, new kids/adult underwear)
- Donate gently used kid/adult shoes and clothes (we are currently good on clothes)
- Donate money to the Challenger Care Closet by a check made out to "CMS PTSA" or "CES PTA" or donate online
Morning Arrival Procedures
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 hallway 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 hallway or 6th grade hallway. Students that report to the hallways will remain in the hallways 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.
For the first week of school the homeroom classes with teacher names and room numbers will be posted in the hallways and cafeteria. We will have many teachers available to help students find their homeroom.
Afternoon Dismissal Procedures
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.
CMS 2024-25 Bell Schedule
Building / Classroom Procedures
- We will use the first several days to educate students on best practices, school/classroom procedures, and expectations.
- 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 E-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 Thursday, August 1. 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.
CMS Supply List 24-25
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
DRESS CODE
Shorts
- Mid-Thigh/Finger-tip length
- No more than 4 inches wide; must be able to see their hair
- No bandanas of any color
No hoods will be worn in the building
Jeans
- No holes above mid-thigh/finger-tip length
Halter and spaghetti straps are not permitted unless covered
All undergarments must be completely covered
Bus Routes and Bus App
Cell Phones
School Nurse
CMS Athletics
Message from the Athletic Director
Welcome to Challenger Middle School Athletics! We are so excited that you decided to jump on board and allow your son/daughter to participate in our sports teams here at Challenger. Below is some information and forms you will need in order for your child to participate.
First, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) allows for any student to participate in recognized school athletics beginning in 7th grade. Our district and school has the following recognized school sports for middle schools:
Fall Sports
- Football
- Volleyball
- Cheer
Winter Sports
- Boys Basketball
- Girls Basketball
- Cheer
- Boys Soccer
- Girls Soccer
Spring Sports
- Boys Track
- Girls Track
Additional sports not listed above are available at the high school level. Students in middle school are allowed to participate in those sports at their feeder high school (Grissom High School for us). If interested in this option, please reach out to the Athletic Director for Challenger, Coach Neeley via email at william.neeley@hsv-k12.org , for more information.
Next, the AHSAA requires ALL student-athletes to have certain paperwork completed by either a doctor/physician or a parent, depending on the form. As a way of keeping up with these forms, the AHSAA has partnered with DragonFly, a web-based company that allows for the upload or completion and storage of the required paperwork. Attached is a flyer on how to create an account for your child and yourself. Below is a list of required paperwork/documents needed in order to participate on a school team sport.
- Up to Date Physical Form (Back side must be completed and signed by a Doctor/Physician. IT CANNOT BE COMPLETED BY A NURSE PRACTITIONER!)
- Parent Release Form
- Concussion Form
- Copy of Birth Certificate
- Sportsmanship Course Certificate (Course completed through nfhslearn.com)
Finally, below is a list of our Athletic Coaching Staff and their email addresses so that you can contact them with questions you may have relating to their sports. Please keep in mind that these coaches are teachers in addition to their coaching duties, so they can be very busy. They will make every effort to respond in a timely manner, but sometimes it may be a little longer, especially during their given season.
- Athletic Director- William Neeley (william.neeley@hsv-k12.org)
- Head Football Coach- Curtis Graves (curtis.graves@hsv-k12.org)
- Head Volleyball Coach- Amelia Daniels (amelia.daniels@hsv-k12.org)
- Head Cheer Coach- Makenzie Hill (makenzie.hill@hsv-k12.org)
- Head Boys Basketball Coach- Lorenzo Jones (breds2004@yahoo.com)
- Head Girls Basketball Coach- Rich Goodson richard.goodson@hsv-k12.org)
- Head Boys Track Coach- David Rosenberger (david.rosenberger@hsv-k12.org)
- Head Girls Track Coach- Ryan Hagen (ryan.hagen@hsv-k12.org)
- Head Boys Soccer Coach- Patrick Greene (Patrick.Greene@hsv-k12.org)
- Head Girls Soccer Coach- TBD (For Inquiries about Girls Soccer, reach out to Coach Greene)
2024-25 Monthly Character Words
Challenger Middle School PTSA
Thank you to our awesome sponsors!
THANK YOU NDIA-TVC & SMDWG
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 1st 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.
CHALLENGER MIDDLE SCHOOL
Location: 13555 Chaney Thompson Road
Huntsville, AL 35803
Phone: 256-428-7620