CMS Cougar Communication

Hello CMS Students and Families,

As we approach the end of Trimester 2, now is the time for students to check Schoology, communicate with teachers, and buckle down on any missing assignments. Every effort counts toward improving grades and finishing the trimester on a high note! Families, please encourage your students to stay focused and reach out for support if needed. Let’s make the last few weeks of T2 count!

The next Cougar Communication will be sent on Sunday, 2/16. I hope you find the following information to be helpful.

Here's to a great week,

Brian Scharmann (he/him)

Principal
Christensen Middle School

We have noticed an uptick in respiratory illnesses in our schools and community, including colds, flu, and other seasonal viruses. As we continue to navigate these winter months, we encourage our students, families, and staff to take proactive steps to remain healthy!

This California Department of Public Health (CDPH) document can be found on our district website for health services and references the following ways we can help to prevent the spread of illness:

Handwashing: Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Cover Coughs & Sneezes: Remember to cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.
Stay Home When Sick: Please refer to our district’s Illness Exclusion Protocols webpage for more information as to when students should stay home from school.
Stay Up to Date on Vaccines: Flu shots and other recommended vaccines help protect against severe illness.

Boost Immunity: Encourage plenty of sleep, a balanced diet, and staying hydrated.

We appreciate your partnership in keeping our school community safe and healthy. If you have health related questions or concerns, please contact your health provider. If you need assistance connecting to a healthcare provider, our school nurse can provide resources.

Hi Parents!

I recently presented Respectful Listening to students. Listening is an important skill that helps children build stronger relationships, perform better in school, and navigate social situations with confidence. As parents, you can support your child in becoming a better listener by modeling good listening habits at home. Encourage them to make eye contact, wait their turn to speak, and reflect on what they've heard before responding. You can also create opportunities for active listening by having regular conversations without distractions, such as phones or TV. When children feel heard and understood, they’re more likely to practice those same skills with others, setting them up for success both now and in the future.

Dawn Allen, Counselor

If your student wants to participate in girls volleyball (February), wrestling (March), golf (April), or track and field (April), please make sure they have done the following:

1. Register for all sports that the athlete is planning on playing this year at athleticclearance.com.
2. All athletes planning on participating will need to have an updated physical. We require a signed physical by a doctor within the last 12 months. Here is a link to a physical form that can be used: LVJUSD Physical Form. Physical forms will only be accepted through athleticclearance.com.
3. CMS athletes must have received a 2.0 GPA on the previous trimester's final report card. Incoming 6th graders are not held to this requirement until an official grading period has been completed.

It is time to start planning the 8th grade promotion dance. We are looking for people to help plan an awesome event for our 8th graders! If you are interested in helping please email cms.2025.promotion@gmail.com to find out how you can get involved!

Livermore High School will visit our 8th graders in their Core classes on Thursday 2/6 to discuss enrollment and course selection for the 2025-2026 school year.

Attention 8th-grade students and parents! Join us for IB Info Night on Wednesday, February 6, at 7:00 PM in the GHS Theatre to learn about the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. Discover how IB offers a well-rounded, globally focused education and explore IB Middle Years courses (Grades 9-10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12).

Don’t miss this opportunity to see how IB can enrich your high school experience! For more details, email granadaeef@gmail.com.

The final step in the process to complete our district’s transition to by-trustee area elections will be an ACOE public hearing held in our LVJUSD Boardroom at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. This hearing is open to the public; details can be found on our district and school website calendars.

This webinar, presented by Kaiser, is designed to provide practical strategies and emotional guidance for families. They will cover communication techniques, co-parenting tips, ways to support student’s emotional well-being, and tips to help families adjust to their new family dynamic.

Space Telescopes: Observing the X-ray Universe at Las Positas College

There is no school on February 17, in observance of Presidents' Day.

We want to see more families riding their bikes to CMS. That’s why we’ve invited the BikeMobile to provide free tune ups & repairs for parents and children.

The BikeMobile can fix flat tires, adjust brakes and gears, and even replace broken or worn out parts like chains, seats, and tires. The only thing it can’t do is replace missing wheels or gears. While the mechanics work on your bike they’ll explain how to keep it running smooth. Bike or no bike, everyone is welcome to attend to learn about maintenance, safety, and more! This is a first come, first serve event. Space is limited to 20 people.

Bring your bikes to CMS blacktop on February 18th between 2:30 and 4:30. We look forward to seeing you there!

Also, be sure to connect with the BikeMobile on Facebook and Instagram

The 2024-2025 8th Grade Panoramic picture day is scheduled for the afternoon of Wednesday, February 19. All 8th grade students who are present on this day will be included in the photograph. Students should dress appropriately, as the LVJUSD dress code will be strictly enforced.

The school will display a copy of the photo in the school library.

Panoramic picture ordering information will be available before picture day. If you would like to purchase a copy for your student, the cost for the panoramic picture will be $25 and the laminated picture will be $30. Families wishing to order the panoramic will place their order on the Dorian Studio website. To order, visit the Dorian website at https://www.dorianstudio.com/search/account/45b92391-a724-49d6-9ac1-4673775f6300/ beginning on January 29, 2025.

The Carbon Garden: Sowing Seeds for Carbon Caption at Las Positas College

🏁

Our Leadership students will host an elective fair on Friday, March 14, during both lunches to help students make informed choices for their electives for the 2025-2026 school year.

Mark your calendars for the CMS AVID Dine-Out Night at Pizza Guys (1545 N. Vasco Road) on March 19th, from 11 AM to 8 PM. Enjoy delicious pizza while supporting a great cause—20% of sales will be donated back to our school! Thank you for your support, and we’ll see you there!

Save the Date for LVJUSD’s 2025 Science Odyssey. Student presentations and judging will take place on April 9, 2025, with the exhibits open to the public on April 10, 2025.

The CMS English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) will meet virtually on April 29, 2025 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. To join the meeting, please use the following link: https://meet.google.com/gfh-mxvx-tkm.

Agenda to follow.

Congratulations to our PBIS students of the week! These students were selected for being RESPECTFUL!

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Anand Sagar

• 7th grader - Lucas Garcia

• 8th grader - Wednesday Camargo

Congratulations to our PBIS students of the week! These students were selected for being RESPONSIBLE!

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Rosario Mendoza

• 7th grader - Jasleen Kaur

• 8th grader - Lucciano Villamizar Rojas

On Friday 1/24 over 20 CMS students participated in the AMC 8 Math Test, winners to be announced at a later date...

Please take a moment to give a Shout Out to a deserving CMS staff member. Please complete this 3 question Google Form to give a Shout Out. Gratitudes will be shared with staff in our weekly internal newsletter.

Homework Club will be offered on Wednesdays from 1:30PM to 2:30PM. Homework club meets in the MPR and is a quiet place to get work done with support offered by CMS staff members.

The only way to guarantee your CMS 2024-2025 yearbook order is to purchase one from the Herff Jones Yearbook Order Center.

Books will be sold directly through the publisher. Use a credit card to order your yearbook. Go to www.YearbookOrderCenter.com or call 1-866-287-3096 and use School Code 16490. Yearbook sales will end on April 7, 2025.

If you want to verify your yearbook order, please visit the Herff Jones yearbook website at www.yearbookordercenter.com. Click Find Your Order. You will enter the email address used when you placed your order. The school number is 16490.

We’re excited to announce that CMS will continue its partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) to offer the Girls Who Code club this year! Meetings will be held every Thursday after school from 2:45-4:00 PM in Room 204, starting on Thursday, October 10th.

Although it’s called Girls Who Code, students of any gender are welcome to join. If your student is interested, they can sign up using this Google Form.

Support the CMS AVID program by attending a Giants game!

Here is some information about the fundraiser:

• Monday - Thursday games in April and May (some exclusions apply)
• Seating Areas: View Reserve and Bleachers
• $15 tickets

• Link: https://fevo-enterprise.com/group/GiantsschoolfundraisingNG
• Promo Code: christensenms

The latest edition of the CMS 8th Grade Class of 2025 Events newsletter with specific dates and details for our 8th graders is available here: https://secure.smore.com/n/qn0ycu.

The Education Office of the Consulate General of Spain and the California Department of Education would like to invite all California students to participate in the 2024–2025 “Escribo en Español” writing contest. “Escribo en Español” encourages students in grades three through grade twelve to further their Spanish writing skills by providing awards for the best prose and poetry. The theme for this year’s contest is “El planeta en peligro." All the necessary documents to participate can be found here. If you have any additional questions, please direct them to Sonia Cabrerizo Diago e Inés García Sal by email at escriboenespanol@educacion.gob.es.

Calling all young poets! The City of Livermore and Poet Laureate Peggy Schimmelman invite middle and high school students (ages 13+) to participate in the Teen Poet of the 2nd Semester Contest.

Theme: "On the Outside." Interpret this however you like—being outdoors, feeling excluded, keeping a secret— get creative! Any style of poetry is welcome.

🏆 Winner Receives:

• ✔ A certificate from the City
• ✔ A $25 gift card to a downtown business
• ✔ Public recognition (featured in print, social media, and a public library display)

📅 Deadline: May 2, 2025

🌳 Bonus Opportunity!
Submit a poem mentioning “My favorite tree” by March 31, and it may be featured at the City’s Arbor Day celebration, with a chance to read your poem at the event!

📩 How to Enter: Email your poem to Poet_Laureate@LivermoreCA.gov using a personal email (school emails cannot be accepted). Include your name, grade, school, and teacher’s name.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your poetry—get writing and submit your poem today! 🎉

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

😎

program the CMS PTA has been running for the past five years. It's a great program that supports the fine arts at CMS. The theme for next year is Made By Me and CMS usually starts collecting entries in early November. We can't continue CMS PTA Reflections without your help. The chairperson's job is more behind the scenes and so appreciated. It's also a great way to be more involved in your child's school. If interested, please email cmscougarspta@gmail.com. The current CMS Reflections chair is happy to get you started, but has an exiting 8th grader and cannot continue being a CMS chairperson.

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