CHMS Weekly Update

Middle School Picture Day is this Friday, September 12th. Students should have received a picture packet last week. If you need a picture packet, please contact the Middle School office. Students will get their pictures taken during their Social Studies class.

This year, we are introducing Week at a Glance documents for each grade level! These updates will provide families with an overview of what students are working on in their classes each week.

Please note that these documents are intended as a snapshot in time. Plans may shift as teachers adjust instruction to best meet the needs of their students.

If your child has a Resource Room class for Math, Reading, and/or ELA, you won’t see those classes listed in these documents. That’s because instruction in Resource Room is personalized to meet each student’s individual needs. If you’d like more information about what your child is working on, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their case manager or teacher

As we roll this out, we would love your input. Your feedback will help us determine how useful these updates are for families and guide any adjustments moving forward. Please feel free to email Mrs. Muscott at smuscott@chsd.us with your feedback!

Fall testing continues this week with all students taking the Reading NWEA on Tuesday, September 9th and the Math NWEA on Thursday, September 11th.

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.

5th Grade - Unit 1: Growth Mindset & Goal Setting

Lesson 2 - The Power of a Good Goal

This week your child will learn how to choose a goal that is specific and challenging and create a goal statement to guide them.

Try this at home: Ask your child to share their goal statement with you and explain what makes their goal specific and challenging. Share a time when you worked on a specific goal and discuss how it helped you stay focused.

6th Grade - Unit 1: Mindset & Goals

Lesson 1 - How to Grow Your Brain

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn about the brain’s ability to grow and change when they practice challenging things. Having a growth mindset supports your child’s success in school and in life.

Try this at home: Tell your child about a time you had to learn something new. Explain whether it was hard to learn and how you learned it. Ask your child if there’s anything they would like to learn to do this year.

7th Grade - Unit 1: Mindset & Goals

Lesson 1 - Creating New Pathways in Your Brain

This week’s lesson will help your child understand how their brain changes when they learn something new. They'll explore how overcoming challenges helps build new connections in the brain.

Try this at home: Tell your child about a time you had to learn something challenging and how you kept going despite difficulties. Ask them about something they've learned recently that was difficult at first but got easier with practice.

8th Grade - Unit 1: Mindset & Goals

Lesson 1 - Motivation

This week’s lesson will help your child explore what motivation is and why it matters. They’ll also reflect on why they feel motivated to do certain things but not others.

Try this at home: Tell your child about something that motivates you and why. Ask them what activities they feel motivated to do and what makes those activities enjoyable or important to them.

We will be hosting Activity Afternoons throughout the year. An Activity Afternoon is an after-school event, from 3:15 - 5:00, where students will be able to dance in the cafeteria, play in the gym, buy concessions, and more! We split these events into 5th/6th graders together and 7th/8th graders together, and the cost is $5 to get in the door. Money raised at these events goes back to the students to pay for things like field trips, concession items, behavior rewards, etc. If your child stays for an Activity Afternoon, please make sure they have transportation planned to pick them up at 5:00 PM.

**Special note! Pizza will be available for $2 per slice. Everything else (pop, candy, gaterade, chips) will be $1.

9/12/25 - 7th & 8th Graders

10/10/25 - 5th & 6th Graders

11/21/25 - 7th & 8th Graders

12/12/25 - 5th & 6th Graders

1/30/26 - 7th & 8th Graders

3/20/26 - 5th & 6th Graders

If you would like to volunteer to help supervise an Activity Afternoon, please send an email to Principal Muscott at smuscott@chsd.us and fill out the attached volunteer form and turn it back into the office. Forms can also be picked up from the Middle School office.

Chippewa Hills Middle School is excited to announce that our school has applied and been approved for affiliation with the National Junior Honor Society. The NJHS is a prestigious organization that recognizes and empowers outstanding students! Established in 1929, NJHS was founded with the purpose of creating enthusiasm for scholarship; stimulating a desire to render service; promoting leadership; encouraging responsible citizenship; and developing character in our students and school community.

With our newly established national affiliation, there are some changes being made to the membership selection procedure to align with the NJHS constitution and bylaws. More information about this process and the requirements for membership will be shared next week. Membership in this organization is an outstanding opportunity to develop the habits and standards which are important to success in high school, college, and a future career, so interested students who believe they may be eligible should be sure to stay tuned for more information!

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.

Girls & Boys Cross Country

Tuesday, September 9th - Away at Big Rapids - 4:30 PM Start Time - Bus Departs at 3:15 PM

Saturday, September 13th - Away at Sparta - 12:30 PM Start Time - Bus Departs at 10:15 AM

Mrs. Compson - Counselor

"Thank you for helping us prepare our 5th grader for the new school year, and easing his nervousness! We & the kids are fortunate to have you!"

Mr. Bendele - 7th Grade Science Teacher

"He's awesome"

Please see the attached PDF for information about an exciting opportunity for our students in the summer of 2027!

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!

Every student will enjoy free breakfast and lunch at school through September 30th, 2025. After September 30, the state legislature will determine whether funding for meals will continue.

To prepare for any outcome, we strongly urge families to complete and return the Child Nutrition and Benefits Application (linked below). This helps determine if your child qualifies for free or reduced-price meals and also provides important support for school funding.

Families are also encouraged to contact their legislators and share how important this program is for students.

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

The September breakfast and lunch calendars are attached below.

This November, Chippewa Hills voters will decide on a bond proposal that addresses some of our district’s most pressing needs. With nearly 1,800 students learning in buildings that range from modern spaces to schools built in the 1930s, it’s time to ensure our facilities reflect the needs of today’s learners and tomorrow’s opportunities.

The bond proposal focuses on three key areas:

Safety & Security – Updated entrances, secure learning spaces, and improved emergency systems.

Facility Upgrades – Repairing and modernizing aging buildings to provide safe, reliable learning spaces.

Community Space – Expanding gym space so students don’t have to practice late into the evening, while also creating facilities the whole community can use.

This is a responsible investment in our children, our schools, and the future of Chippewa Hills—without raising the current tax rate. The proposal maintains the levy at 2.41 mills, one of the lowest rates in the area.

Election Day is November 4.

Learn more about the bond and what it means for our students and community using the link below!

Monday, September 22nd - Early Release day for students, afternoon PD for staff

September 22nd - 26th - Homecoming Week!