CMS Cougar Newsletter
March 30, 2026
A Letter from the Principal - Week of March 30, 2026
One Team. One Track. One Goal: Excellence for Every Student!
A Letter from the Principal
Dear Cougar Families,
As we move into the final stretch of the school year, our focus is clear - finishing strong, staying focused, and showing up ready to learn each and every day. This is an exciting and important time for our students and staff, and we are proud of the positive momentum building across our school.
We will be wrapping up our benchmark assessments this week, with Civics on Tuesday and Science on Wednesday. We encourage all students but especially our 8th graders to come to school well-rested, on time, and prepared to give their very best effort. These assessments play an important role in guiding instruction and supporting student success.
We would also like to take a moment to celebrate the outstanding progress in our Language Arts Department. Across multiple grade levels, we are seeing meaningful improvements - especially in areas of mastery. These gains are not by chance; they are the direct result of the dedication, persistence, and instructional focus of our teachers and staff, who continue to push forward despite the challenges we all know exist.
A few highlights so far from our Quarter 3 benchmarks include:
- 6th Grade: Growth in mastery from 52% (Q1) to 67% (Q3), along with steady recovery in average scores after Quarter 2
- 8th Grade: Strong rebound in average scores (57% to 70%) and a significant increase in mastery from 37% to 57%
We are incredibly proud of this growth and look forward to building on this success as we move through the final quarter.
Report cards were sent home on Thursday. If you have any questions or if your child needs additional support, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher. We are committed to working together to ensure every student is successful.
We would also like to extend a special congratulations to Amanda Sanchez-Moreno for her outstanding performance at the Radford Regional Spelling Bee. We are so proud of her hard work, determination, and the way she represented Covington Middle School!
Looking ahead, we are excited to launch our April Madness Attendance Challenge. Each first period class will compete in a bracket-style competition, similar to March Madness, to determine our CMS April Attendance Champion. This fun and engaging initiative highlights something incredibly important—attendance matters. In order for this to be our best quarter yet, we need every student present, on time, focused, and ready to learn each day.
Thank you for your continued support of Covington Middle School. Together, we can make this final quarter the strongest one yet for all of our students.
Sincerely,
Lori Mattson
Principal
Covington Middle School
SPRING SPORTS PHOTO CREDITS: Lesley Reynolds Nickell, with Alleghany Highlands Sports Photos - THANK YOU!!!
Home Track Meet at AHS
A beautiful day for a track meet!
Ready, Set, Go!
Due to our unexpected virtual day on Friday, we are excited to share that our Scholastic Book Fair will remain open for one more day on Monday, March 30 through student lunches!
This is a great final opportunity for students to browse and purchase books to grow their home libraries with stories they’ll enjoy again and again. The easiest way for your child to shop independently is by creating an eWallet - it’s simple to set up and allows friends and family to contribute funds.
When setting up an eWallet, you’ll also have the option to support Share the Fair, helping ensure that every student has the chance to take home a book. Thank you for helping us make this event special for all of our students!
Don’t miss this last chance to shop—happy reading! 📖
For full details, and to create an eWallet, visit our school’s Book Fair homepage: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/covingtonmiddleschool
More than ever, we need to get students reading. Studies prove* that children with more books at home have higher-level reading skills, and attain more years of education overall.
Happy Reading!!
At Covington Middle School, we are excited to announce that our After-School Tutoring Program is up and running and ready to welcome your student! This program is designed to provide additional time and targeted instruction to help students strengthen key academic skills, close learning gaps, and build confidence in their abilities.
During these sessions, teachers work with students in small groups to focus on specific areas where extra support is needed, while also reinforcing important concepts currently being taught in class. Students will receive individualized guidance, practice, and help with current assignments - all within a structured and encouraging learning environment.
Tutoring sessions take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45–6:00 PM and will continue through May 5, with a special session on that day.
We encourage families to partner with us in taking advantage of this opportunity to help students grow as learners, strengthen their skills, and feel confident in their academic progress. Permission forms are available in the Main Office.
Our 7th grade students are getting ready for an exciting day of career exploration! On Tuesday, March 31, students from Covington Middle School will visit Mountain Gateway Community College for Roadrunner Day.
During this interactive field trip, students will tour the campus and experience hands-on learning opportunities while exploring careers in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, computer and information technology, and many other fields. This event helps students begin thinking about their future while seeing how classroom learning connects to real-world careers.
Experiences like this are incredibly valuable for our middle school students as they begin discovering their interests, talents, and the many pathways available to them after graduation. We are excited for our students to learn, explore, and be inspired!
Please contact Mrs. Steege should you have any questions regarding this important field trip for our 7th grade students!
6th grade | Taniya Peterson | coil built ceramics
7th grade | Maci Mullins-Doran | Animal Study, oil pastels
8th grade | Sawyer Bland " one point perspective city
Contact Info
Covington Middle School
Principal: Ms. Lori MattsonAsst. Principal: Mr. Marty Wood
Asst. Principal/Athletic Director: Mr. Zach Hamilton
Main Office: 540-965-1410
Attendance Email: Attendance Notes
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