CMS Cougar Newsletter - Week 12

Every Day Counts. Every Cougar Matter

Dear CMS Families,

The past two weeks have brought opportunities to learn, celebrate, and make memories at CMS! From spirit days and StoryFest to Halloween fun, our students have had opportunities to express their creativity, experience something new, and enjoy being part of our Cougar community.

During Red Ribbon Week, we paired school spirit with important conversations about healthy choices and protecting our students’ futures. We want every student to know that their choices matter, their goals are worth working toward, and there are caring adults ready to help them along the way. Our October focus on bullying prevention reinforced another message we will carry throughout the year: every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and included. The words we use, the way we treat others, and our willingness to speak up or seek help can make a difference.

StoryFest provided an opportunity to experience storytelling and the arts beyond our classrooms. Thank you to our staff and families for helping make this experience possible. Opportunities like these invite students to use their imaginations and discover new interests while sharing an experience with their classmates. We are truly grateful for our Transportation Director, Ms. Lemaster, and her entire staff of bus drivers. There is so much hard work that goes into putting all these plans together so that our students have these opportunities - Thank You AHPS Transportation Department!

Our Halloween celebration brought plenty of creativity and Cougar spirit! Students and staff arrived in wonderful costumes, and it was a joy to see their imagination, humor, and effort on display. Congratulations to our costume contest winners, who were recognized and received prizes! Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the day special. A special thank-you to our staff for joining in the fun - their costumes were spectacular! These moments of connection help make school a place where students feel they belong.

At the heart of every school day is the important work happening in our classrooms. Our staff continue to work incredibly hard to plan meaningful, engaging lessons that help students understand challenging concepts, practice new skills, and grow as learners. We appreciate the preparation, care, and energy they bring to this work. It is essential that every student takes full advantage of these opportunities.

That means arriving on time with materials ready, listening carefully, following directions, participating in learning, and allowing classmates to learn without interruption. It also means completing and turning in assignments on time, asking questions when something is unclear, using feedback to improve, and continuing to try when the work becomes difficult. Every student’s effort matters, and every student’s choices affect the learning of others. We want our students to take pride in their progress and understand that success grows through consistent effort and responsible habits.

Families, please talk with your child about what they are learning, check their assignments and progress together, and encourage them to ask for help when needed. Celebrate their persistence and improvement along with their grades. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to their teachers. Working together, we can help students take ownership of their learning and make the most of each school day.

As we support classroom learning, we also need your partnership in an area that requires improvement: cafeteria behavior and hallway conduct. We have seen difficulty with yelling, excessive noise, following directions, and responding respectfully to adults. These expectations have been taught and reviewed throughout the school year, and we need students to demonstrate them consistently.

In the cafeteria, students are expected to use appropriate voices, remain in their seats, follow staff directions, and clean up after themselves. In the hallways, students should walk, use a conversational voice, keep their hands and belongings to themselves, and move promptly to their next class. Respectful responses to every staff member are expected throughout the building.

Our sixth and seventh graders will continue with assigned cafeteria seating as we work to strengthen these habits. We also want to recognize our sixth graders for the improvement they showed in the cafeteria this past week - we noticed, and we are proud of their progress! We appreciate the positive leadership our eighth graders have shown and encourage them to keep setting a strong example.

Please take a few minutes to discuss these expectations with your child. Remind them that their behavior affects the people around them and that they have a responsibility to help make shared spaces comfortable and safe. We will continue to teach expectations, recognize improvement, and address concerns as we work to get these areas back on track. Every area of our building should be a safe and welcoming place for all students.

Our work to support academic growth continues as well. VALLSS reading support groups are underway, with Ms. Neubert providing additional instruction to address identified reading needs. We appreciate the teamwork that makes this support possible and look forward to helping students strengthen their skills and confidence.

This week, our sixth and eighth grade science classes will visit the Water Treatment Facility on Thursday and Friday. These visits will help students connect their classroom learning to the work happening in our community. Please watch for trip information and directions from the school.

Our winter sports season is off to a fabulous start! Both our boys and girls basketball teams head into this week with 2–0 records! Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches on a strong beginning. We are proud of your hard work and teamwork and look forward to cheering you on throughout the season. Keep bringing that Cougar pride to the court and the classroom!

As November begins, we are encouraging our students to practice gratitude through their actions: thanking someone who helps them, treating others kindly, taking care of shared spaces, and giving their best effort in class. There are opportunities every day to show appreciation and contribute something positive to our school.

Thank you for your continued partnership, encouragement, and support. Together, we can help our students enjoy the special moments, learn from challenges, and build the habits that lead to success.

We love our students, we are proud of them, and we believe in them!

With Cougar pride and appreciation,

Lori Mattson
Principal, Covington Middle School💙🐾

Photo Credits: Lesley Nickell - all sports photos - Thank You!

A heartfelt thank-you to People's Bank for another special delivery - bringing snacks and treats again for our staff! We are so grateful for all those at People's Bank that continue to show such kindness to our CMS faculty and staff.

These thoughtful gifts brighten busy days and remind our hardworking staff that they are supported and appreciated - your generosity means SO much to CMS. Thank you for taking such wonderful care of our Cougar family!

The second quarter is underway, and we are asking every CMS family to help make attendance a priority. Let’s work toward being at school every single day - on time, prepared, and ready to learn! Each day brings opportunities to strengthen skills, ask questions, build friendships, and connect with caring adults who want our students to succeed.

When students miss school, they miss more than assignments. They miss explanations, classroom discussions, hands-on activities, and support when they need it. Even occasional absences can add up, making it harder to keep pace and feel confident. Consistent attendance helps students stay connected and build on their learning each day.

A new quarter is a wonderful opportunity to strengthen routines. Setting consistent bedtimes, packing charged Chromebooks and school materials the night before, and preparing for the morning can help students arrive ready for success. Please schedule appointments outside school hours whenever possible, monitor attendance through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, and notify the school when an absence is necessary. When students are ill, please follow school health guidance.

Our Attendance Recovery Program provides opportunities for students to earn back missed time. We want families to be aware of this support and encourage their students to make the most of these opportunities. Recovery goes hand in hand with building strong daily attendance habits and making the most of the learning ahead.

If transportation, health, anxiety, or another challenge is affecting your child’s attendance, please reach out early. We want to listen and work with you to help your child attend regularly and feel supported.

Your child’s presence matters - to their learning, to their classmates, and to our entire Cougar community. Let’s make this quarter one of strong attendance, steady effort, and meaningful growth!

Every student matters. Every day counts. We need them here! 💙🐾

Our seventh grade math students are putting their problem-solving skills to work with two-step equation word problems (pictured below)! Students are practicing translating real-world situations into equations and solving them step by step. A spiral review also helps students revisit previously taught concepts and strengthen their understanding.

In Mr. Arritt’s eighth grade math class, students are using their whiteboard tables to work out math problems right where they sit! These surfaces give students space to show their thinking, make adjustments, and work through each step as they build their understanding.

Keep working hard, Cougars - your effort adds up!

PE wrapped up our badminton unit this week! It was exciting to see students having fun, improving their skills, and making great progress throughout the unit.

BLANKET BATTLE UPDATE!!

The competition is heating up!

• Skidmore/Turner: 84 blankets

• Carter/Akers: 99 blankets

We are now over 180 blankets total!! This is AWESOME, Cougars!

Thank you for your generosity and for helping make a difference in our community. Keep up the great work, and let's see how many more new blankets we can collect!

Fun activities in Mrs. Dujardin’s classroom give students opportunities to work together, encourage one another, and build friendships! Through shared experiences, students practice teamwork and kindness while strengthening positive peer relationships and a sense of belonging.

Our CMS artists are exploring color, creativity, and expression! Sixth graders are creating Pop Art-inspired pieces, seventh graders are bringing landscapes to life with colored pencils, and eighth graders are creating their own interpretations and Emma chose - The Scream by Edvard Munch. We are proud of the imagination and effort our students bring to their artwork!

Monday, November 2

Basketball: Boys, Covington Middle 47, Craig County 28

Axyl Knick led the Cougar boys with 13 points, Brooks Gilbert added seven, and both Graham Kenny and Easton White scored six each.

Girls, Covington Middle 37, Craig County 19.

The Cougars outscored Craig 26-9 in the second half to pull away for the victory.
Taniya Peterson had 11 for the winners, Mackenzie Wyatt had eight, and Ellie Flenner and Camila Lopez-Merodio both added six.

Thursday, November 5

Basketball:

Girls (2-0), Covington Middle 21, James Madison Middle 17

Annistyn Dewberry and Camila Lopez-Merodio both had five points for the winners, while Taniya Peterson and Ellie Flenner had four each.

Boys (2-0), Covington Middle 29, James Madison Middle 17.

Led by Liam Tingler with 10 points, and six each from Easton White and Brooks Gilbert.

Covington Middle School

Asst. Principal: Mr. Marty Wood

Asst. Principal/Athletic Director: Mr. Zach Hamilton

Main Office: 540-965-1410

Website: https://cms.ahps.k12.va.us/

Location: 606 South Lexington Avenue, Covington, VA 24426

Phone: 540-965-1410

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CovingtonMSCougars

Instagram: cmscougars2023