CMS Cougar Newsletter - Week 6

🏁 The Week Ahead at CMS: Future Ready!

Dear CMS Families,

Get ready, Cougars - an exciting week is ahead! Covington Middle School is shifting into high gear for GEAR UP Week, September 21–25, as we encourage every student to dream big, explore future possibilities, and understand that the choices they make today can help shape the road ahead.

Our theme for the week is “GEAR UP FOR YOUR FUTURE: Choose Your Track. Chase Your Dream.” Although GEAR UP places a special focus on our eighth-grade Class of 2031, this week belongs to every Cougar. Whether our students are members of the Classes of 2031, 2032, or 2033, it is never too early for them to discover their interests, develop their strengths, set meaningful goals, and imagine all their futures can hold.

Throughout the week, students will explore college, career, technical, and military pathways while participating in special activities, classroom conversations, and spirit days designed to help every Cougar become Future Ready!

We will begin on Monday, September 21, with Take the Wheel: CMS Cougar Spirit Day! Students and staff are invited to wear their favorite CMS shirts, Cougar colors, and spirit gear as we celebrate the school community that supports every student on the road to success. The journey toward the future begins with believing in yourself—and knowing that an entire Cougar family believes in you, too!

On Tuesday, September 22, we will Explore Your Track! Students and staff are encouraged to wear clothing representing a college, career, military branch, trade, or technical program that interests them. This day is about asking questions, exploring possibilities, and discovering the many different routes that can lead to a successful and meaningful future.

On Wednesday, September 23, students will be invited to Meet Their Future by dressing like someone working in a career they may want to pursue. From educators, engineers, artists, athletes, healthcare professionals, and first responders to chefs, mechanics, entrepreneurs, scientists, and skilled tradespeople—the possibilities are endless. This will be a fun opportunity for every Cougar to imagine stepping confidently into the future!

On Thursday, September 24, we will Map Our Route by dressing for success. Students are invited to wear an outfit that makes them feel confident, capable, and ready to achieve their goals.

We will close the week on Friday, September 25, by celebrating the bright futures ahead for the Classes of 2031, 2032, and 2033. Students and staff are invited to wear their favorite sunglasses or “shades” because The Future Is Bright! Every Cougar has unique talents, interests, and dreams - and every Cougar’s future is worth preparing for and celebrating.

Our teachers are also joining the excitement with a Door Decorating Contest! Throughout the week, classroom doors will highlight colleges, programs, future pathways, and opportunities available to our students. These creative displays will transform our hallways into a celebration of possibility and remind our Cougars that there are countless roads they can take after high school. The best part is that our students will choose the winner! On Friday, students will vote for their favorite decorated door, and we will announce our GEAR UP Week College Door Decorating Champion!

As we encourage students to dream about their futures, we must also remind them of one of the most important steps they can take to reach those dreams: being present at school every day.

September is Attendance Awareness Month, and at CMS, we know that attendance is about far more than simply being counted present. Every school day provides valuable opportunities for students to receive direct instruction, participate in discussions, practice new skills, ask questions, receive feedback, and build meaningful relationships with teachers and classmates.

When students miss school, they miss much more than assignments. They miss explanations, demonstrations, conversations, collaboration, encouragement, and learning experiences that cannot always be recreated. Even occasional absences can add up and make it more difficult for students to remain connected, confident, and on track.

Strong attendance is one of the most powerful foundations for student success. The habits students develop in middle school - showing up, being prepared, completing responsibilities, and persevering when things become difficult - are the same habits that will help them succeed in high school, college, careers, military service, and life.

We are deeply grateful for the partnership of our CMS families. You can help by making daily attendance a priority, establishing consistent morning and evening routines, scheduling appointments outside the school day whenever possible, and communicating with us when your child is experiencing a challenge that may affect attendance. If your student is struggling academically, socially, emotionally, or with attending school, please reach out. Our goal is to understand the reason, remove barriers whenever possible, and help every student remain present, connected, and moving forward.

GEAR UP Week also provides a wonderful opportunity to begin or continue conversations about the future at home. Ask your student what subjects or activities they enjoy, what they believe their strengths are, which careers they would like to explore, and what kind of difference they hope to make in the world. Middle school students do not need to have their entire future figured out. They simply need opportunities to explore, dream, ask questions, develop strong habits, and believe their goals are possible.

The road ahead is filled with opportunity, and we cannot wait to celebrate GEAR UP Week with our students, staff, and families. Every day of attendance, every completed assignment, every challenge overcome, and every responsible choice moves our Cougars closer to the futures they deserve.

Show up. Gear up. Choose your track. Chase your dream. Your future starts now!

One Team. One Track. One Goal: Excellence for Every Student.

Lori Mattson
Principal

Covington Middle School 💙🐾

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Lesley Reynolds Nickell, the incredible talent behind Alleghany Highlands Sports Photos, for the countless hours, energy, and care she dedicates to capturing our CMS athletes during games and competitions. Her photographs preserve far more than a moment in time - they capture the determination, teamwork, courage, excitement, and Cougar pride displayed by our students. These images become treasured memories for our athletes, families, coaches, and entire school community. We are especially grateful for her generosity in allowing us to share her outstanding work and celebrate our students through her lens. Lesley, thank you for showing up, working tirelessly, and helping tell the story of CMS athletics one incredible photograph at a time. Your talent is extraordinary, your dedication is deeply appreciated, and the difference you make does not go unnoticed! 💙🐾

Our CMS students brought history and government to life through special Constitution Day activities!

Sixth-grade students in Mr. Linsin and Mr. Shiflett’s classes explored the founding of our nation and the Constitutional Convention through a series of educational videos and related readings. These resources helped students develop a stronger understanding of the events, ideas, and important decisions that led to the creation of the United States Constitution.

Seventh-grade students in Mr. Nicely and Mr. Hanna’s classes explored the Bill of Rights and other important amendments, discussing how these protections continue to affect the lives of American citizens today. Students also learned how an amendment is ratified and why the process was intentionally designed to be challenging. To complete the experience, students took turns signing the Bill of Rights - creating a memorable connection to the work of our nation’s founders.

Students in Mr. Bradley and Mr. Caldwell’s Civics classes commemorated the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787, by exploring the meaning and purpose of this important document. After working to memorize and recite the Preamble, students examined excerpts from Articles I, II, and III to review the powers and responsibilities of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. They concluded the day outdoors, where they used their creativity to draw patriotic images and write the Preamble in chalk. It was a wonderful combination of learning, creativity, and fun!

We are grateful to our teachers for creating meaningful learning experiences that helped students understand not only what the Constitution says, but also why it continues to matter. We are proud of our Cougars for participating, asking questions, applying classroom concepts, and celebrating the rights, responsibilities, and freedoms of American citizenship! ❤️🤍💙

Strong attendance begins with a strong partnership between home and school. Families can help their students arrive every day, on time, and ready to learn by:

• Establishing consistent bedtime and morning routines.
• Preparing clothes, Chromebooks, backpacks, and school materials the night before.
• Scheduling appointments and family trips outside the school day whenever possible.
• Encouraging students to attend unless they are truly ill.
• Talking regularly about why attendance matters and how missed days can affect learning.
• Monitoring attendance through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
• Contacting the school promptly when an absence is necessary.
• Reaching out to CMS when transportation, health, anxiety, or another challenge is making regular attendance difficult.

We understand that families sometimes face circumstances beyond their control. Please do not wait until absences begin to add up - contact us early so we can listen, connect you with support, and work together on a path forward.

Attendance is not just a school responsibility - it takes all of us. When families and schools work together, students are more likely to feel connected, remain on track academically, and experience everything CMS has to offer.

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

Our students are having a great time learning the fundamentals of golf during our PE golf unit! They are practicing how to hit a drive, chip, and putt, while building their skills, coordination, and confidence.

Along with our golf skills, students are also working hard on their Canvas assignments and doing a great job staying engaged and putting forth their best effort!

We’re proud of all the hard work and progress we’re seeing in PE!

Mrs. Holesapple and Mrs. Gilbert turned a milestone birthday into an unforgettable day of learning as their classes celebrated Mrs. Holesapple’s 40th birthday with a special “40 for 40” Math Challenge!

Students worked together - and raced against the clock - to complete 40 fun review problems during class. With a birthday-themed twist, they practiced multiplying fractions, working with ratios, and calculating percentages. Who knew celebrating a birthday could include so much math?

The fun did not stop there! Students raced one another while singing “Happy Birthday,” graphed their own birthdays, analyzed the class data, and used their creativity to design their very own Squishmallows. Everyone was also treated to an Icee pop to celebrate the occasion!

Mrs. Holesapple’s first-period class gathered for a special picture with her growing Squishmallow collection - including several new additions given to her by students and staff for her birthday!

We love seeing our teachers transform learning into memorable experiences for our students. Thank you, Mrs. Holesapple and Mrs. Gilbert, for proving that math, creativity, teamwork, and birthday fun are the perfect combination!

Please join us in wishing Mrs. Holesapple a very happy 40th birthday!

Our CMS art students have been creating incredible pieces in Mrs. Thomas’s class! Sixth-grade students created pumpkin designs inspired by the bold patterns and signature dots of Yayoi Kusama. Seventh-grade students produced colorful Kristin Farr-inspired designs, while eighth-grade students demonstrated creativity and skill through beautiful oil pastel still life. We are proud of our talented Cougars and grateful to Mrs. Thomas for encouraging students to explore new artists, techniques, and ways to express their creativity!

Miss Burdette’s fifth-period theatre class proudly presented “The Claw” for family and friends on Friday, September 18, in the auditorium. The special performance celebrated the students’ accomplishments and growth in theatre arts during the first nine weeks. Following the show, students and guests enjoyed a cast party filled with theatre games, and each performer received a certificate recognizing their hard work and achievement. We are incredibly proud of these young performers for sharing their creativity, courage, and talents with our CMS community! 🎬🌟

Getting back into the rhythm of homework, studying, and managing time takes practice - especially when students are balancing school, sports, activities, and family time. Middle school brings growing responsibilities, and while that can feel challenging, our students are capable! With encouragement, clear expectations, and a plan, they can build habits that will serve them well beyond this school year.

Our teachers work hard to prepare meaningful lessons that challenge students and help them grow. Homework and practice give students opportunities to apply what they have learned, strengthen their understanding, and identify where they still need help. The goal is more than completing an assignment - it is understanding the learning behind it.

Many assignments are shared ahead of time, giving students several days to complete their work. Example: All CMS students are expected to complete 45 minutes of Zearn each week, with the weekly count resetting on Sundays. Spreading those minutes across the week can make this responsibility more manageable and provide regular math practice.

Families, please help your child look ahead and make a plan. If a game or activity means getting home late one evening, encourage them to use an earlier, less busy evening to work on assignments already available. A few minutes together at the beginning of the week can help students check due dates, plan time for studying, and avoid a last-minute rush.

Help them organize, and support them in taking ownership of their work. If your child is consistently struggling with an assignment or spending excessive time on homework, please contact their teacher so we can help.

We believe in our students’ ability to do challenging things. Together, we can help them turn “I’ll do it later” into “I have a plan!” 💙🐾

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