CMS Cougar Communication

Dear Students, Parents, and Families,

It is my pleasure to welcome all students and parents to Christensen Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year! Our amazing staff has a wonderful year planned, and we cannot wait to get started. In preparation for the new beginnings, there are a few things I would like to bring to your attention so that we are ready for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 13. There is lots of information here, but be sure to read through so you don't miss anything!

We urge you to become involved at Christensen! All parents are encouraged to join our PTA. Joining PTA can be done with a few clicks on the CMS Website. There are many ways to be involved in PTA activities, both big and small, depending on the amount of time you have. We would love to have you!

Throughout the year, we will send text updates, phone calls, and send email information to parents so it is important we have the most current phone numbers and email addresses for all of our families.

The CMS office will resume our normal office hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Please contact the office if you need assistance.

It is going to be an especially amazing year at Christensen! I am excited for the beginning of the school year as your Principal. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Brian Scharmann (he/him)
Principal
Christensen Middle School

All Christensen students and their parents are invited to attend our orientation. This is the first

opportunity students have to pick up their schedules prior to the first day of school. Parents are

encouraged to accompany their child to our orientation. If you are unable to attend the student

orientation, but have completed the online enrollment update process, come to the office during

regular office hours after orientation day to pick up student class schedules.

Please report to the quad at the times indicated below:

• Last names beginning with A through C: 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
• Last names beginning with D through G: 9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
• Last names beginning with H through L: 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Last names beginning with M through O: 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• Last names beginning with P through S: 11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• Last names beginning with T through Z: 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

We realize that the start of a new school year can be a stressful time, particularly for students who are new to our campus. As such, our campus will be unlocked and open to CMS families on Monday 8/12 from 4:00PM - 7:00PM . This is an optional opportunity for students who would like to visit one last time to become more comfortable with the location of their classes before the first day of school.

The first day of school will be Tuesday, August 13, 2024, and will follow our Wednesday bell schedule.

PERIOD 0 7:30 – 8:10
PERIOD 1 8:25 – 9:05
PERIOD 2 9:09 – 9:49

BREAK 9:49 – 9:55

PERIOD 3 9:59 – 10:44

PERIOD 4A 10:48 – 11:28
PERIOD 4B 11:23 – 12:03

4A LUNCH 10:44 – 11:19
4B LUNCH 11:28 – 12:03

PERIOD 5 12:07 – 12:47
PERIOD 6 12:51 – 1:31

Beginning August 14, students will follow the CMS Bell Schedule.

All students will be photographed during their PE class on August 16. Picture day information and online ordering are now available by visiting mydorian.com. The online ordering portal will be available beginning July 26 and up to four (4) days after picture day.

Parents and guardians are invited to the Welcome Back General PTA Meeting at 6:OOPM in the Multipurpose Room (MPR).

No school in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

CMS will host an in-person Back to School Night on Thursday 8/29 from 6:00PM - 8:00PM. Families will follow their student's bell schedule and move from class to class to visit our campus and meet their student's teachers.

On or after July 30, you will receive a personalized Powerschool Annual Student Update email for each of your students from the email address registration@lvjusd.k12.ca.us. Annual student updates include important information regarding parent, guardian, and emergency contacts; medical and health updates; and acknowledgments of parents’ rights and District policies and procedures.

If you do not receive your online enrollment instructions by August 1 or need assistance, please contact the CMS office at 925-606-4702. If you do not have computer access, a computer is available in the CMS office.

Also, if your family has moved over the summer, please call the office as soon as possible. Be aware that if you wait until the day of orientation to complete the enrollment update, you may experience a delay in receiving your child’s schedule.

To provide you with the best customer service possible, we respectfully ask that you complete the enrollment update as soon as possible. The online enrollment update process must be completed before students receive their schedules.

A P.E. uniform is required. All students are expected to have a gray t-shirt and royal blue shorts or purchase the Christensen P.E. attire at a very reasonable cost. (A gray t-shirt, royal blue shorts, gray sweatshirt, and gray sweatpants without logos are also acceptable.) Athletic shoes with white/light soles are also required.

T-shirts - $10.00 (Youth Large, Adult S-XXL) Shorts - $10.00 (Youth XL, Adult S-XXL)

To purchase any or all of the above items online, please visit the Christensen Middle School Web Store by clicking on the shopping cart icon https://www.livermoreschools.org/Domain/101. To pick up your prepaid merchandise, please bring a copy of your receipt and present it at the PE clothes area on Orientation Day.

Please write your child’s last name across the back of his/her P.E. shirt and on the nametag on the front of his/her shorts. No other writing is permitted on the clothes students wear in P.E.

California Assembly Bill 354 requires that all students entering grades 7-12 provide proof of a Tdap booster (Whooping Cough) before starting the 2024-2025 school year. All students must provide proof of immunization to the nurse’s office at your school. You may email a copy of your child’s immunization record to Mrs. Laronde at flaronde@lvjusd.org or drop a copy off in the CMS office Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You will NOT receive your schedule in August without having the appropriate booster shot record on file.

All students in grades 1-12 are issued a LVJUSD Chromebook as an essential learning tool. We recognize that accidental damage can occur as devices travel with students between home and school, and remain in their possession during school breaks and over the summer. We are pleased to offer parents the ability to protect your student’s Chromebook with optional insurance coverage from School Device Coverage. Replacement costs without insurance can be as costly as $315 per device. A $22 annual policy provides coverage for your student’s LVJUSD-issued Chromebook and covers the following:

• Accidental damage
• Cracked Screen
• Liquid Submersion
• Fire
• Flood
• Loss and Theft
• Power Adapter Replacement (one-time)

Not covered:

• Standard Wear and Tear

• Cosmetic Damage

• Abuse

Policies can be purchased online at https://schooldevicecoverage.com/signup. Policies purchased for the 2024-25 school year will provide coverage from the date of purchase through August 12, 2025. More information can be found on our district website or on your school’s homepage

The Student Transit Pass Program provides FREE Youth Clipper Cards to eligible middle and high school students. The Youth Clipper card provides unlimited free rides on LAVTA/Wheels. Students can add cash value to the Clipper card for 50% off BART fares and youth discounts on other transit systems that use Clipper. The pass makes it easier for students to travel to and from school.

All students attending middle and high schools in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District are eligible to receive a free Clipper card good for unlimited rides on Wheels and Rapid buses during the 2024/25 school year.

The Student Transit Pass Clipper Card CMS students received this year or in past years is valid through the student’s high school graduation date if the student remains enrolled in a participating Alameda County school and is under the age of 19.

New Christensen students should complete the online application for a Youth Clipper Card at https://stpp.formstack.com/forms/lvjusd_christensen. All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required including Parent or Guardian Signature. The office will verify the information submitted online and on the printed applications received in the office.

When CMS receives the youth clipper cards, the office will contact the students regarding the distribution of the cards.

We encourage parents, guardians, school staff and community members to join the CMS PTA. Please go to the Join Andrew Christensen PTA website (https://jointotem.com/ca/livermore/andrew-christensen-pta/join/register).

Show your support for our students by joining the CMS PTA. Our mission is to provide a positive middle school experience for every student and we are committed to putting students first. Members are not required to attend any meetings, but are encouraged to. Only PTA members can vote at the general meetings.

We appreciate your support.

Show your school spirit with new CMS spirit wear while helping raise money for the CMS PTA. Order at www.1stplacespiritwear.com

As we begin the school year, we are reaching out with an urgent plea. Our PTA is an integral part of our school community, but unfortunately, we are facing a critical challenge.

Per our Bylaws, the position of PTA President must be filled for our PTA to function effectively. Currently, this vital role remains vacant, and without a President, our PTA cannot fulfill its mission to support our students, teachers, and staff.

If you have a passion for our school and a desire to make a difference, please consider stepping forward as a nominee for the position of PTA President. Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or new to PTA involvement, your dedication and enthusiasm are invaluable.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our school!

😎

Email: bscharmann@lvjusd.org
Website: https://www.livermoreschools.org/Domain/101
Location: 5757 Haggin Oaks Avenue, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: 925-606-4702