CMS News

Please read this newsletter all the way to the bottom for important information regarding the first week of school!

Universal Support Systems

• At Coopersville Area Public Schools, we are committed to high levels of learning for all students. To achieve this, we operate as a Professional Learning Community (PLC). This means our staff utilizes research-backed, global best practices provided by Solution Tree, a recognized leader in school improvement.
• Following their "Behavior Solutions" and "Behavior Academies" models, we view behavior and character development just like academics: as skills that can be taught, practiced, and mastered.
• View the CMS Letter HERE (Choose Middle School along the left side)

CMS Family Dashboard (Click here to access the site and the important documents)

See you Monday Broncos!

~ Mrs. Kosten

To help your child plan for Monday, here is our schedule which will include a short Welcome Assembly. We have built in extra time for our 6th Graders to get to the buses for the first two days.

NOTE: We are releasing at 10:40 AM to allow our buses extra time to return for the elementary dismissal.

Throughout this week, new students enrolled at CMS and this caused some schedules to change as we balanced class sizes. Please have your child check their schedule on Sunday night because there may have been slight changes!

If your child has one of the following issues with his or her schedule, please contact Mrs. DeRidder at hderidder@capsk12.org. Schedules will not be changed at this time unless one of the following is true:

- A core class is missing (ELA, Math, Science, History/SS)

- Is assigned to an incorrect grade (I.e. your child is in 7th grade but has 8th grade math)

- A class is repeated

- Has too many classes (Your child should have 6 classes and 1 Homeroom)

- A skills class is missing (Your child's teacher would have contacted you last year)

- Your child is in band and is missing band

Please fill out the Back to School documents linked on this resource page: HERE

As we prepare for a successful school year, we need your help with a quick but crucial task: completing the Education Benefits Form. You might be wondering: "If meals are already free for students, why do I still need to fill out this form?" While universal free meal programs ensure our students are nourished every day, the Education Benefits Form is about much more than lunch. It is the primary tool used by the state and federal government to determine how much grant funding our school receives to support student learning and well-being.

Educational Benefits Form

7th Grade List (English & Spanish)

8th Grade List (English & Spanish)

Please fill out the Back to School documents linked on this resource page: HERE

Please check the Parent Portal to see if your child's emergency contact information is correct. If the phone numbers or email addresses of either you or your emergency contacts have changed, please make those edits within the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus. Directions are linked below. You can also stop into the office at Chromebook Pick-up and our secretaries can assist you. Changes to primary mailing addresses will need to be done in person in our office. Thank you!

Directions to Edit Emergency Contact Information

You may notice signs around the district this year marking water sources as "Drinking Water" or "Not For Drinking." This does not mean our water is unsafe - it simply designates if that water goes through a specific lead reduction filter. Please see the attached letter with information provided by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, & Energy (Formerly DNR)

Filter First Letter

Perscription Medication Permission Form

School Ends: 2:25 PM

*Our doors open to students at 7:20 AM.*

Daily Schedule of Classes

For our 6th grade and new student parents, here are two videos explaining the drop-off process. There are a few options shown. For safety and to limit students walking in our parking lot, please prioritize dropping students in the drop-off lane closest to the building and only choose the parking lot if there are long lines in the drop-off lane. These videos are from when the west drive was added and the second one shows some modifications we found worked better than the original plan.Thank you!!

CMS offers a Homework Club to students from 2:30-3:15 PM daily supervised by a CMS staff member. Students are invited to work or read independently rather than receive tutoring. Students may be picked up in the front of school or walk home at 3:15 PM. Bus passes for the elementary busses will not be given to CMS students. There will be NO Homework Club on Monday, August 24 and we will start on Tuesday, August 25.

We are always excited with families would like be involved at CMS! If you are interested in helping out at CMS there are three main opportunities:

- Popping Friday morning popcorn

- Bronco Bashes are events for students to stay after school on one Friday a quarter to have some fun with friends. Activities like basketball, board games, corn hole, ping pong, etc. are available along with concessions. Adults are needed to supervise various areas in the building.

- One option during our BRIDGE Time from 1:50-2:25 Tuesday-Fridays if for students to choose a "School Culture" activity. We always appreciate adults who are willing to share their talents or interests! Examples might include playing chess or card games, knitting, sharing life experiences, playing various sports, nature walks, etc. A staff member would connect with a volunteer to determine dates and topics. Come share your knowledge, passions, or experiences!

CMS Volunteer Interest Form

• There will be a la carte items available for sale.

• Students must have cash or money on their food service account to purchase a la carte items.

• Students can bring cash or a check made out to CAPS food service.

• Families can also add money with a credit card (additional fees apply) at: coopersville.family portal.cloud

• Click here for additional information!

6th Grade Families: Middle School students can enter a personal ID number in the lunch line and the Media Center rather than scan a card like in the elementary buildings. When your child receives his or her ID card in August, please work to memorize the 8 digit ID number. Students can still carry and scan their card but most find memorizing the number more efficient. Many students tell me that they already had the number memorized due to using it for Lexia at South Elementary.

Lockers: It is never too late to begin practicing using a combination lock! In fact, nervousness about getting into a locker is often the #1 stressor on the first day of middle school. Consider purchasing a combination lock and practicing with it leading up to August 25. Even if the numbers are different, the motions for opening the lock are easier with practice. Many helpful videos can be found on www.youtube.com.

(If this helps.....the staff located near the locker banks have keys to open the lockers. Reassure your child that an adult would love to help them rather than let our students become frazzled!)

Combination Lock Directions

You may have heard about the new law in the State of Michigan involving the use of cell phones in school. The passage of this law will create limited changes at CMS because we have been a cell phone free school for 7 years. As a district, CAPS remains committed to supporting student well-being, academic achievement, & a positive school culture and we protect and promote these priorities at CMS through clear expectations around cell phone use during the school day.

At Coopersville Middle School, students are expected to keep their cell phones in their lockers from 7:20 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each and every day. This policy is not just in response to the new law, it’s rooted in research, shared values, and a desire to help our students thrive. This policy compliments the expectations at CHS as well.

When we partner together as a school and family community, great things happen for our students! I encourage you to have conversations at home about the why behind this policy, reinforcing that this isn’t about punishment, it’s about protecting their potential!

Cell Phone Research & Data for Families

If you need to reach your child quickly, please call our Main Office at (616)997-3400. If your child needs to contact you, he or she simply needs to ask a staff member and, at an appropriate time, he or she will be allowed to use the phone in the office or take their cell phone to the office to make the connection.

Thank you for your continued support as we foster a learning environment where all students feel safe, focused, and empowered. Your partnership is crucial!

Athletic Programs: Before any student athlete can participate or practice, current physicals are required to be turned in. You will also need to create an account on Final Forms. You can submit your physical form on FinalForms or turn in to the office.

• A current year physical is one given on or after April 15th of the previous school year (for the 2026-27 school year, the physical must be dated on or after April 15th, 2026).

Fall:

6-8th Boys Soccer, 7-8th Girls Volleyball, 6-8th Co-Ed Cross Country, 7-8th Football (6th Coopersville Youth Football Program)

Winter 1:

7-8th Boys Basketball, 6-8th Competitive Cheer

Winter 2:

7-8th Girls Basketball, 6-8th Wrestling

Spring:

6-8th Boys Baseball, 6-8th Girls Softball, 6-8th Co-Ed Track, 6-8th Girls Soccer, 6-8th Coed Tennis (Boys 6-8th Coopersville Lacrosse Club), (Girls 6-8th Lacrosse Co-op with Jenison)

• Students must maintain academic eligibility to participate in school sponsored athletic teams. Details on eligibility are listed in the student handbook.

• Students MUST have health insurance to participate in athletics at CAPS.

Attention all incoming 7th and 8th graders: Are you interested in playing football this year? Sign up on FINAL FORMS and email Coach Hondorp ( CHondo0365@gmail.com ) to join the team, IT'S NOT TOO LATE! Practice starts August 17th, Upload a sports physical to FINAL FORMS and you're ready to play!

Registration Link

Hand To Hand Registration Link: HERE

Email: lkosten@capsk12.org
Website: https://coopersvillebroncos.org/middle-school/
Location: 198 East Street, Coopersville, MI, USA
Phone: 616-997-3400