Cheney Middle School News

Hello Cheney Middle School families,

There’s something special about fall! The air gets a little crisper, the leaves start changing colors, and the occasional Pumpkin Spice Latte finds its way into our hands. But fall is about more than cozy sweaters and Monday Night Football. It’s a reminder that new seasons create space for fresh beginnings and fresh opportunities! At Cheney Middle School, we’re right in the middle of that seasonal shift. A new sports season brings new teammates, new challenges, and new opportunities to grow.

As we approach the end of Quarter 1 and prepare to begin Quarter 2 on November 2, our students have another opportunity to reflect, reset, and refocus. The transition from Q1 to Q2 doesn’t mean that anything is ending or that we’re starting over from scratch. Instead, it’s a chance to take what we’ve learned, celebrate our progress, identify areas for growth, and move forward with renewed energy. Maybe the first quarter brought successes to celebrate. Maybe it brought a few bumps in the road. Either way, there is always room to learn, improve, and try again!

Families, this is a great time to check in with your child. Celebrate the wins, talk about the challenges, and encourage him or her to think about one or two goals for the next quarter. A fresh start doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Sometimes, small changes in habits, effort, organization, or attitude can make a big difference. Let’s encourage our students to keep showing up, keep trying, keep supporting one another, and keep believing in what we can collectively accomplish.

Fall isn’t just about leaves falling; it’s about new possibilities! So, let’s welcome the changing season, finish Q1 strong, and head into Q2 ready to make it our best yet. And if an occasional Pumpkin Spice Latte helps us along the way, we won’t fight nature!

Fresh season. Fresh mindset. Fresh start. We’ve got this, CMS!

With excitement for all that’s ahead,

Amber Rudolph, Principal

School Hours - 8:40am - 3:40pm

Students allowed inside the Commons at 7:40am daily

Office Hours - 7:30am - 4:15pm

Main Phone Line - 701-356-2090

Email - cheney@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Website - Cheney Middle School

www.west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Transportation/Bus Barn - 701-356-2120

Important Dates for 2026-2027

• No School - Thursday-Friday, October 15-16
• Walk-A-Thon - Tuesday, October 20
• 6th Grade Band Showcase - Tuesday, October 27
• DEA Safety-focused Presentation - Tuesday, October 27, 9:00-11:00am
• End of Quarter 1 - Friday, October 30
• Orchestra Concert - Thursday, November 5
• 6th Grade - 6:00pm
• 7th Grade - 7:00pm
• 8th Grade - 8:00pm
• Choir Concert - Tuesday, November 10
• 6th Grade - 6:00pm
• 7/8 Grades - 7:00pm
• Show Choir - 7:00pm
• No School - Wednesday, November 11
• Picture Retake Day - Friday, November 13
• Band Concert - 7th Grade - Thursday, November 19, 7:00pm
• Band Concert - 8th Grade - Thursday, November 19, 8:00pm
• No School - Wednesday-Friday, November 25-27
• Choir Concert - Thursday, December 3 - Show Choir and 8th Grade with WFHS
• No School - December 24 - January 1

Check our Cheney Middle School website for the daily announcements! These announcements are read to the students every morning during advisory time.

This is it – the LAST WEEK to reach our goal for CMS Walk-a-Thon! We’ve collected $10,000 of our $25,000 school-wide goal so far; however, we still need your assistance. Take advantage of this break from school and ask family members and friends to contribute to CMS!

Fundraising Totals:

- 6th Grade: $3,498

- 7th Grade: $3,090

- 8th Grade: $2,685

Help Us Earn These AWESOME Prizes! When each grade-level team reaches its designated fundraising milestone, it receives the following prizes:

- $5,000 Grade Milestone: Students get to choose what to wear to school for the next day.

- $7,500 Grade Milestone: The administrators and counselors must wear inflatable outfits.

- $25,000 School-Wide Goal: Mrs. Rudolph and her fellow administrators will spend one night sleeping on top of the school building!

Each donation assists with the funding of CMS events, celebrations, and No-Tardy Taki Tuesday!

Please make your donation prior to Tuesday, October 20th: https://app.99pledges.com/fund/cheneys3rd

Walk-a-Thon Day: Tuesday, October 20th

If you would like to come and cheer on the learners at the Walk-a-Thon. Please head to the football field during one of the times below

- 7th Grade: 4th Period | 12:55 – 1:48 PM

- 8th Grade: 5th Period | 1:51 – 2:44 PM

- 6th Grade: 6th Period | 2:47 – 3:40 PM

NEW THIS YEAR: FuelEd Nutrition will be selling DirTeas, Energy Teas and protein bars throughout the Walk-a-Thon. FuelEd will donate 1/2 of all sales generated by CMS to CMS! If your child wishes to purchase anything, please send money with them.

Thank you for your continued support of Cheney Middle School! Let's finish strong, have fun, and perhaps even convince those administrators to sleep on top of the school!

💚🖤🤍 Go Packers!

My Movie 1.mov

A big shout out to our amazing principals who go above and beyond to support our CMS students, families and staff! We appreciate all that you do for Cheney Middle School!

We celebrated Homecoming Week by having the following dress up days: PJ Day, Classic Movies/Movie Stars, Dress Your Best, Country vs Rap, and Packer Nation Day.

We celebrated the WFPS 150th Birthday by treating our staff to donuts!

Why be a Packer Backer member?

Here is the link and below is some context: https://wfpackerbackers.com/membership-%26-merch

First of all, as the 2026 Fall season comes to a close, it's a great opportunity to recognize the many people who contributed to its success.

Thank You for a Great 2026 Fall Season!

On behalf of the Activities Department, thank you to all of our parents, staff, officials, and athletic trainers for your support throughout the 2026 season.

Your time, dedication, and commitment to our student-athletes helped make this a successful and memorable season. From cheering in the stands and volunteering behind the scenes to ensuring games were played safely and fairly, your contributions made a tremendous impact.

We truly appreciate all that you do. We could not provide these opportunities for our students without your support.

Thank you for being part of our team and helping create a positive experience for our student-athletes. We look forward to another great season ahead!

Physicals: All Players must have a physical that medically clears them to practice in their sports. Physical forms available at the clinic or online. All Physicals must be dated on or after April 15, 2026 and signed by physician to be valid. Both first and last name must be on the forms.

Please register on Arbiter and upload sports physical before you can participate.

Please make sure your athlete is https://students.arbitersports.com/programs and has a current Physical Eligibility Form uploaded (page 5).

Paper copies of physicals WILL NOT BE accepted! Your athlete may not be allowed to participate until they are registered and cleared to participate by the Athletic Trainers.

Physical forms can be found NDHSAA_Physical_Form_Approved_2019.

Participation fees must be paid prior to the first contest. You can pay as part of the Student Registration or cash/check brought into the Activities Office. If you have concerns regarding paying the activity fee, please reach out to the Activities Office

Order your 2026-2027 yearbook online through My School Bucks. Cost is $25

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Community Outreach Specialist (COS) Amanda Frazier will deliver an essential, safety-focused presentation to students regarding the critical dangers of illicit drugs. The session provides students with factual, age appropriate information about the risks associated with vaping, synthetic drugs, and widespread presence of lethal substances like fentanyl in counterfeit pills. COS Frazier will expose the deceptive marketing tactics used by illicit drug networks, especially across the popular social media apps and equip students with practical strategies to navigate peer pressure and make informed, life saving choices. By educating your children on these harsh realities, the presentation aims to empower them to recognize hidden dangers, protect their peers, and understand that experimenting with unregulated substances carries extreme, life-altering risks.

SRO Crouse had the honor of presenting Certificates of Excellence to some outstanding students. These students were "caught" inviting a classmate who was sitting alone to join them at their lunch table. This thoughtful act truly represents what it means to be a Cheney Middle School Packer! Well done students! Your kindness makes a positive difference!

Please remember to lock your bikes and scooters to the bike racks provided!!

Health Information

As the fall season begins, we want to work together to keep our students and staff healthy. Cooler weather often brings an increase in colds, flu, and other illnesses, so this is a good time to review our illness policy and ways we can support one another.

How you can help:

· Remind your child to wash their hands often with soap and water.

· Encourage covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.

· Make sure your child gets plenty of rest, eats balanced meals, and stays hydrated.

· Consider a flu vaccine for your child and family.

WFPS illness policy: please keep your child home if they have:

· A fever of 100.4°F or higher (must be fever-free for 24 hours without medicine before returning).

· Vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours.

· A persistent cough, sore throat, or difficulty breathing.

· A contagious illness such as strep throat, pink eye, or flu (students may return after at least 24 hours on antibiotics, if prescribed, and when feeling well enough for school).

· Please refer to the WFPS website www.west-fargo.k12.nd.us/families/health-services/illnesses for more health and illness related information.

Review your contact information in Infinite Campus:

-It is also important that we can reach you quickly if your child becomes ill at school.

-Be sure we have the most up to date phone numbers.

Have a safe and healthy fall!

Nurse Amber

Responsibility & Accountability

October's Schoolwide Focus: Responsibility

This month, our schoolwide focus is RESPONSIBILITY! Middle school is an important time for students to develop independence, strengthen organizational skills, and take ownership of their choices, actions, and learning. Responsibility isn't about being perfect. It's about following through on commitments, learning from mistakes, asking for help when needed, and making positive choices.

Counseling Lessons: Choices & Consequences

Our school counseling lessons this month also focus on personal responsibility, choices, and consequences. Students are learning that while we cannot always control what happens to us or the actions of others, we can control how we choose to respond. Every choice has the potential to lead to positive or negative consequences.

Through discussions, real-life scenarios, and reflection, students are encouraged to pause before reacting, consider their options, and take accountability for their decisions. We emphasize that making mistakes is part of learning, but taking ownership, making things right, and choosing a better response next time are essential life skills.

Our message to students: "You can't always choose what happens to you, but you can choose what you do next."

Parent-Teacher Conferences & Academic Responsibility

We hope you had an opportunity to connect with your student's teacher team during conferences and that your conversations were productive and informative. Conferences are a great opportunity to celebrate growth, identify areas for improvement, and establish goals for continued success.

As students develop independence, we encourage families to help reinforce these important academic habits:

• Planners: Students are expected to fill out their planners daily to track assignments, upcoming assessments, and important deadlines.
• Schoology: Families are encouraged to check Schoology with their student using their school-issued iPad to monitor assignments, assessments, and due dates.
• Packer Time: Students have opportunities to work on homework, complete assignments, and seek assistance during Packer Time.
• Classroom Responsibility: Students are expected to use classroom work time wisely, stay engaged, and complete assigned tasks.

Our goal is for families to check WITH their student, not FOR their student. This encourages accountability while helping students develop the independence and organizational skills needed for success.

Tips for Building Responsibility at Home

Parents and caregivers play an important role in helping middle school students become responsible and accountable. Here are a few simple ways to encourage these skills at home:

1. Establish daily check-ins: Spend five minutes reviewing planners, Schoology, and upcoming responsibilities together.
2. Give age-appropriate responsibilities: Chores, caring for pets, and managing personal belongings help build independence.
3. Allow natural consequences: When appropriate, resist the urge to immediately fix forgotten assignments or poor planning. These experiences provide opportunities for growth.
4. Encourage problem-solving: Instead of providing solutions, ask, "What is your plan?" or "What could you do differently next time?"
5. Recognize effort and follow-through: Celebrate when your student takes initiative, follows through on commitments, or takes ownership of a mistake.
6. Model accountability: Show students that adults also make mistakes, apologize, problem-solve, and take responsibility for their actions.

Conversation Starters for Home

• What is one responsibility you handled well this week?
• What is something you could take more ownership of?
• What part of a difficult situation was within your control?
• How might a different choice or response lead to a different outcome?

Remember: Responsibility is not about doing everything alone. It's about taking ownership, making thoughtful choices, following through, and knowing when to ask for help. Together, we can help students build the confidence, independence, and accountability they need to be successful in middle school and beyond!

CMS Counseling Team

Sabrina Forde-Kerbaugh (6th Grade)- Sforde-kerbaugh@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Robin Nein (7th Grade) - Rnein@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Terri Kroll (8th Grade) - Tkroll@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

Developing all learners well-being for tomorrow’s world

CMS Counseling

Partner food pantries – GREAT PLAINS FOOD BANK

West Fargo Eats – Lutheran Church of The Cross

Home | FirstLink

2-1-1 Information and Referral Helpline

Bridget Hins - bhins@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

701-499-1729

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." – Charles W. Eliot, American educator and former President of Harvard

Did you know that your child has access all year long to the CMS digital library collection? Click the link to learn how to download the Destiny Discover app to any device that has web access: https://youtu.be/p46sDz0L9h0.

The Guess How Many Books Are in Our Library contest winner was Zack Braun, who guessed 19,928; the exact number is 19,915.

Congratulations to September & October’s Library Trivia winners: Takhir Ydyrys, Brooklyn Markel, Abigail Quast and Sophia Tande! They each received a new book and a bag of treats for their wealth of knowledge.

New additions we’re excited about in the CMS Library:

Level up by Daka Hermon: Keenan is used to running. He loves it. He is good at it. He is a track star, after all. Now he and his mother are escaping his father, trying to start a new life in Tennessee. But he has never been on the run like this before. This new town has monsters of its own. The students in his school seem to be under some sort of trance, and Keenan is the only one who isn't affected. Which means he is the only one who can do anything about it. It's time for Keenan to stop running and face his fears. He cannot let the monsters win.

No place on Earth by Andrea Beatriz Arango: After his parents separate, 11-year-old Gustavo moves with his mother and sister from Puerto Rico to Yellowstone National Park. Struggling with nightmares, anxiety, and exhaustion that causes him to fall asleep in school, Gustavo finds the transition overwhelming. Gustavo befriends loner classmate Kordell, who introduces him to lucid dreaming and a shared “dreamscape.” While Gus avoids sleeping (and nightmares) at all costs, Kordell finds that dreams seem to be a welcome escape from his real life . . . until one day, they’re no longer enough.

Shook by Julian Randall: After a broken ankle sidelines his dream of making the varsity basketball team, eighth grader Shake must overcome anxiety, shifting relationships, and self-doubt to find his way back to the court and himself. Described as “stunning, witty, and powerful.”

Styx and stones by Gary D Schmidt: Simon expected more from life than being orphaned in ancient Greece and stuck in the Underworld for eternity. Determined not to forget who he is, he commits himself to escaping Hades. Along the way, he faces the monster Cerberus, befriends the tormented Sisyphus, and becomes Persephone's favorite servant. Then, after centuries of failed attempts, he is finally thrust into modern times--and into the stall of a middle school bathroom. Naked. With the help of Zeke, a nerdy rich kid on the social fringes, Simon learns to navigate this amazing and bewildering world. And with Simon's help, Zeke begins to question his comfortable life and understand the true meaning of friendship.

This could all go bad by Spencer Hall: On the night before his eighth-grade graduation . . . Jensen's two best friends, Maleek and Cooper, show up to kidnap him (OK, recruit him) to compete against a group of girls . . . in a series of escalating dares, Jensen knows it's now or never: face his fears once and for all, or face a life of spinelessness forever. The boys set out on an epic race against the clock that includes faulty skateboards, internet-famous ferrets, and a stolen golf cart.

Too perfect to die by Juliana Goodman: "Bring It On", but with murder, this heart-pounding YA thriller follows Jonty, a star cheerleader forced to track down a killer and achieve her dream--before it's too late.

Ultimate paper airplanes for kids by Andrew Dewar: n this clever origami book with folding papers, paper airplane expert Andrew Dewar presents his ultimate collection of easy-to-fold, high-performance planes for kids who are fascinated by aviation, technology, or origami. These planes are brightly colored and designed to fly beautifully every time.

You started it by Jackie Khalilieh: A painful breakup and revenge plot lead to unexpected love. Boy dumps girl. Girl strikes a bargain with boy’s new neighbor (after she totals his bike). They’ll fake date, making her ex-boyfriend jealous. Described as “honest, wise, and wholeheartedly romantic, starring a cast of endearingly flawed characters who feel like real friends.”

Students who participate in the Fall Reading Challenge, aka the Pin Challenge, can earn rewards (collectable pins) and tickets to enter toward over 45 grand prizes, such as gift certificates to Jimmy John’s and Ulta, an Owala water bottle, a charging port, squishies, a Ronaldo jersey, books, snack baskets, etc. To learn more about the challenge, click here.

Questions about our library; need a book recommendation? E-mail tnelson@west-fargo.k12.nd.us

National School Lunch Week (NSLW) is an annual nationwide celebration, established in 1962 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, that highlights the vital role school lunches play in students’ health, well-being, and academic success.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Breakfast - $2.00
• Lunch - $3.00

The National School Lunch Program provides nutritionally balanced, reduced-cost or free meals to children each school day. The program is managed by the USDA. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or the Temporary Assistance Program for Needy Families (TANF) can get free meals regardless of their family’s income. Also, children can get free or reduced-price meals if their household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Chart.

West Fargo Public Schools encourages all families to complete the free/reduced meal application, as the federal program provides more than just meals:

• School Funding: The amount of funding the district receives is dependent on our rate of free/reduced students, as is our eligibility for additional grant funding. Ensuring our free/reduced rate is an accurate representation of our district is vital in providing a valuable education.
• School Meals: Most commonly associated with the free/reduced application is the opportunity to receive free or discounted school meals for children. Eligibility is based on family size and income.
• Activities: Families enrolled in the federal free/reduced meals program are eligible for fee waivers associated with student activities.
• College Applications: Families enrolled in the federal free/reduced meal program are eligible for fee waivers associated with the college application process at select universities.
• Standardized Tests: Families enrolled in the federal free/reduced meal program are eligible for fee waivers associated with national standardized tests (ACT, SAT, and AP Exams).
• Student Fees Assistance: All children in households who qualify based on income, or receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or the Temporary Assistance Program for Needy Families (TANF) can get free student fee assistance. Release of information question MUST be checked 'yes' on your online application. If you submitted a paper application you must also fill out the release of information form. Also, your children can get school fee assistance if your household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Chart.
• Instructions for Filing
• Apply today!
• Menus
• My School Bucks
• More Foodservice Information

No outside food deliveries (restaurant delivery, Door Dash, etc) for students will be allowed.

To be in compliance with the state law, Senate Bill 2354, Cheney Middle School will be implementing a fairly restrictive personal device policy during the school day. This law requires all ND school districts to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices during instructional hours. In addition to cell phones, it will also include smartwatches, tablets, and laptops, etc. At Cheney, this restriction will be in effect from the moment learners walk in the front door until the last bell at 3:40pm.

CMS rules regarding personal device usage (cell phone, smartwatch, personal laptop, etc.) will be as follows:

• Cell phones, smart watches, and all other personal devices that can send and receive messages are OUT-OF-SIGHT and OUT-OF-USE from 7:40am until 3:40pm.

• Devices CANNOT be kept on the learners (in a pocket, etc.). They must, at a bare minimum, be kept in a CLOSED backpack pocket.

• Devices CANNOT be utilized or checked before school, during passing times, or at lunchtime.

Consequences:

• First offense: The device is brought to the Main Office, picked up by the learner at the end of the day.

• Second offense and beyond: The device is brought to the office, picked up by the parent/guardians at their convenience.

A few other notes:

• The law addresses personal student devices like cell phones, laptops, and smartwatches. It does NOT include Bluetooth headphones, as they do not have the capacity to send and receive messages.

• Learners with medical notes denoting required access to devices will be placed on special plans.

• We encourage all families to utilize email to communicate with learners, as they will have access to their Outlook accounts.

• Our office staff is ready to receive and deliver important messages for learners.

If you have questions about the state law, please contact your legislators (find your legislator here).

Thank you for your support!

One of the most important factors of student success is being present!

Please help your student get to school every day and on time.

Absences

• If your child will not be in school, please call the school office at 701-356-2090 or email: cheney@west-fargo.k12.nd.us before the school day begins, with the following information:
• Child's First and Last Name
• Reason for Absence
• In the event a child needs to be picked up prior to the end of the school day, a parent/guardian must contact the school office by phone or email and request the child be dismissed from class. If your child is aware of what time they are leaving, they can inform the teacher and may come to the office at that time. The parent/guardian does not need to come into the office as long as they have contacted the main office.

Tardies and Detention

• Every 5th unexcused tardy (no call from parent/guardian or late for class without an excuse) will convert to an unexcused absence and the student will be assigned detention. This is per class period and will adhere to the attendance policy.
• Students who skip classes will be given time in detention to make up for at least every minute they miss. A pattern of skipping will result in a meeting to consider educational alternatives for the student.