Eagle's Eye News

Challenger Middle School Families,

We had a great first week back at school. It was wonderful having all the students back in the building. Report Cards and Practice ACAP Reports went home Friday. I encourage you all to look through that information and reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Students will take the 2nd i-Ready Reading Diagnostic Test on Tuesday, January 13. We will start testing around 8:30am and finish about 11:00. i-Ready measures individual student growth, so we are are eager to see their growth from August.

We have our monthly Title 1 Parent Meeting this Thursday at 10:00am in the AV Room. Joe Martin will be speaking on maintaining momentum. I encourage you all to attend if you are able.

As we begin a meaningful month of learning and remembrance, we want to share a final reminder that the Challenger Legacy shirt sale has been extended through Sunday, January 11. This is the last opportunity to purchase a commemorative shirt honoring the Challenger mission.

Order here: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/challengers-legacy/items

LAST day to order is TODAY, Sunday, January 11.

This January, students will learn about the history behind our school’s name as we honor the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger’s final mission. Through STEM lessons, hands-on activities, and reflective learning, students will explore the Challenger shuttle and its crew.

The month will conclude with two special events:

• “Reaching for the Stars: The 40th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of the Challenger Mission”

• Challenger Family STEM Night – Thursday, January 29 at 6:00 PM
  FREE pizza provided
  No student drop-off — families must attend together

Speedometry Registration Link
2025-2026 Registration Form

Thank you for partnering with us as we guide students through this important month of learning and remembrance. More details will be shared soon.

2026 DC Trip Information

If your current 8th grader is attending the 2026 Washington D.C. trip, all medication, prescription or over the counter, must be submitted to Nurse Julie Poe (julie.poe@hsv-k12.org)

Feb 4-18 with an appointment. Students are not allowed to carry their own medication during the duration of the trip.

After school tutoring is every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 3:10-4:10 for any students who need extra help. There is no sign up required, students may come on an as needed basis. Students attending must report to Mr. Sivak's room (H109) after school. See the below flyer for more information. Please take advantage of this great opportunity for our students!

Our ACAP dates for Spring 2026 are set. Please do not schedule appointments, trips, etc. those days. It is critical we have our students in the building for testing days. Thank you for your support.

Monday, April 13 - Science ACAP - 6th and 8th Grade Only

Tues, April 14 - Math ACAP

Wed, April 15 - ELA ACAP Day 1

Thurs, April 16 - ELA ACAP Day 2

Let's have a great week!

#WingsUp #EagleUp #ExcellenceTogether

Sincerely,
Bo Coln

Principal

Challenger Middle School

james.coln@hsv-k12.org

Thank you, National Defense Industrial Association, Tennessee Valley Chapter (NDIA-TVC) and Space and Missile Defense Working Group (SMDWG) for your $10,000 contribution to Challenger Middle School (CMS). With this generous donation, we will continue to have a Math Interventionist for the 2nd semester of the 25-26 school year. Ms. Regina Carter, retired CMS math teacher, will continue as our Interventionist. She will provide intensive math support to a select group of CMS students. We are excited about this on-going partnership and expect to see great math growth from our students.

January

13 - i-Ready Reading

15 - Parent Meeting at 10:00am in the AV Room (see below flyer)

28 - Commemoration Ceremony for the 40th Anniversary of the Challenger Shuttle Disaster at 9:00 in the Cafeteria

29 - STEM Night at 6:00pm

April

13 - Science ACAP - 6th and 8th Grade Only

14 - ACAP Math

15 - ACAP ELA Day 1

16 - ACAP ELA Day 2

We are only half way through the school year, but it's already time to start planning for next year. This year the Curriculum Showcase is earlier and it's in a new location. Please mark your calendars for the morning of January 24 and come learn about all of the awesome programs that HCS has to offer.

Megan Moak

Challenger Middle School Counselor

megan.moak@hsv-k12.org

Bus Riders - exit the bus, enter through the main lobby doors, and go to the cafeteria or sit in their designated grade-level hallway

Walkers/Car Riders - enter through the main lobby doors, and go to the cafeteria or sit in their designated grade-level hallway

Breakfast is served in the cafeteria from 7:30-8:00. Students that choose to eat school breakfast will remain in the cafeteria until dismissed to homeroom. Students that do not wish to eat school breakfast will report to the designated grade-level hallway. Students that report to the hallways will remain in the hallways until released to homeroom.

Students are not allowed to enter the building with outside food. Any outside food needs to be thrown away before entering the building. Example - Students will not be allowed to bring in Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A food and drink.

For the first week of school the homeroom classes with teacher names and room numbers will be posted in the hallways and cafeteria. We will have many teachers available to help students find their homeroom.

All students are dismissed at 3:00.

• Bus riders will report to the cafeteria.
• Walkers will exit out the band/choir doors (South exit)
• Car Riders will exit through the main lobby doors.

Unless students are involved in a school sponsored after school event, all students need to leave campus at 3:00.

• Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school. Only water is allowed in the water bottles.
• Restrooms usage will be limited during transition times. Students will use the E-Hall Pass when leaving class and/or visiting the restroom during class time.
• Transitions time for students is 3 minutes between class periods. Students can visit their locker between classes. We expect all students to get to class on time.
• Student lockers are available upon request for $10. Students can purchase a locker during homeroom starting Monday, August 4. We will take cash or check. Checks should be made out to Challenger Middle School. Lockers will be assigned when students pay their homeroom teacher for their locker.
• Parents cannot bring in outside food for an entire class unless organized and initiated by the teacher.
• Students are not allowed to order food to be delivered to the school.
• Parents/Guardians must check out their child to eat any restaurant food brought into the school.
• Enjoying school or homemade lunch in the cafeteria with your child is welcomed!
• Outside drinks (Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A, Sonic, etc.) should be thrown away before entering the building. This applies when school doors open at 7:30am.

Please review the dress code with your student(s). We have been out of school for a bit and our students will need a refresher on acceptable school attire. Ex: length of shorts and shirts, holes in pants, leggings, and appropriate tops, no caps, etc.

Shorts

• Mid-Thigh

Head coverings​

• No more than 4 inches wide
• No bandanas of any color​
• No hats, no sunglasses

NO Pajama Pants, no house slippers ​
No hoods​ will be worn in the building
Jeans​

• No holes above mid-thigh/finger-tip length

CMS students will not use cell phones during the school day. Please ask your child to turn off their phone and put it in their locker or backpack. In the event your child has their phone out during the school day, our teachers will follow our wireless communication device policy.

Bus route and stop information for all registered bus riders is now available to view in the Powerschool Parent Portal. Registration is now also available for all parents of bus riders in the FirstView app. Please note that while registration may be completed now, routes and bus information will not be visible in the FirstView app until July 31.

Parents who previously had the FirstView app installed on their devices will need to delete the app that is currently installed on their device, and then download and install the new version of the app.

• Information about how to access the Powerschool Parent Portal is available on the Grades Online page of the HCS website.
• Information about accessing the FirstView app is available on the Buses & Transportation page of the HCS website.

For any questions regarding route assignments, please use the School Bus Transportation Comment Form or contact the First Student Customer Service Office at 256-361-0919.

Nurse Poe will continue to operate out of the clinic near the front office. If you have questions regarding medication, please call 256-428-7620, select Ms. Poe (Nurse), or email, Julie.Poe@hsv-k12.org . We ask that you monitor your student at home for illness. Students who are not feeling well should stay home and seek medical care as you see fit. Students with a fever or who have been throwing up may not return to the building until they are symptom-free for 24 hours.

Welcome to Challenger Middle School Athletics! We are so excited that you decided to jump on board and allow your son/daughter to participate in our sports teams here at Challenger. Below is some information and forms you will need in order for your child to participate.

First, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) allows for any student to participate in recognized school athletics beginning in 7th grade. Our district and school has the following recognized school sports for middle schools:

Fall Sports

• Football
• Volleyball
• Cheer

Winter Sports

• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball
• Cheer
• Boys Soccer
• Girls Soccer

Spring Sports

• Boys Track
• Girls Track

Additional sports not listed above are available at the high school level. Students in middle school are allowed to participate in those sports at their feeder high school (Grissom High School for us). If interested in this option, please reach out to the Athletic Director for Challenger, Coach Neeley via email at william.neeley@hsv-k12.org , for more information.

Next, the AHSAA requires ALL student-athletes to have certain paperwork completed by either a doctor/physician or a parent, depending on the form. As a way of keeping up with these forms, the AHSAA has partnered with DragonFly, a web-based company that allows for the upload or completion and storage of the required paperwork. Attached is a flyer on how to create an account for your child and yourself. Below is a list of required paperwork/documents needed in order to participate on a school team sport.

- Up to Date Physical Form (Back side must be completed and signed by a Doctor/Physician. IT CANNOT BE COMPLETED BY A NURSE PRACTITIONER!)

- Parent Release Form

- Concussion Form

- Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Form

- Copy of Birth Certificate

- Sportsmanship Course Certificate (Course completed through nfhslearn.com)

Finally, below is a list of our Athletic Coaching Staff and their email addresses so that you can contact them with questions you may have relating to their sports. Please keep in mind that these coaches are teachers in addition to their coaching duties, so they can be very busy. They will make every effort to respond in a timely manner, but sometimes it may be a little longer, especially during their given season.

- Athletic Director- William Neeley (william.neeley@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Football Coach- Curtis Graves (curtis.graves@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Volleyball Coach- Amelia Daniels (amelia.daniels@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Cheer Coach- Makenzie Hill (makenzie.hill@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Boys Basketball Coach- Lorenzo Jones (breds2004@yahoo.com)

- Head Girls Basketball Coach- Rich Goodson richard.goodson@hsv-k12.org)

-Head Boys Track Coach- Ryan Hagen (ryan.hagen@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Girls Track Coach- Alicia Clarke-Mayes (alicia.clarke-mayes@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Boys Soccer Coach- Patrick Greene (Patrick.Greene@hsv-k12.org)

- Head Girls Soccer Coach- William Neeley (william.neeley@hsv-k12.org)

Grab your CMS Superfan Home Game Punch Card for just $40 – it gets you into every home game for the whole season.

That’s right… ALL. THE. HOME. GAMES.

Show your pride, cheer your loudest, and save some serious cash.
Get yours online today @ https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-2026-cms-superfan-punch-card or send in cash to Coach Neeley – and let’s pack the stands, Go Eagles!!

𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗧𝗦𝗔 𝗧𝗢𝗗𝗔𝗬 @ https://cmsptsa.givebacks.com/shop?category=9257

We would 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 to have you join us!

𝑾𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒕 𝑪𝑴𝑺 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓? We would 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 to have you join us! Let us know what volunteer opportunities you are interested in @ https://forms.gle/CciFd7x5rxJ9m9sa7

CMS FAQs - Whether you are new or returning to CMS we know that the start of the school year can be overwhelming. Check out these CMS FAQs for tools and resources to help families support their child’s and CMS’ success! https://cmsptsa.givebacks.com/edit/w/cmsfaqs

Thank you, National Defense Industrial Association, Tennessee Valley Chapter (NDIA-TVC) and Space and Missile Defense Working Group (SMDWG) for your $10,000 contribution to Challenger Middle School (CMS). With this generous donation, we will continue to have a Math Interventionist for the 1st semester of the 25-26 school year. Ms. Regina Carter, retired CMS math teacher, will continue as our Interventionist. She will provide intensive math support to a select group of CMS students. We are excited about this on-going partnership and expect to see great math growth from our students.

HOME OF THE EAGLES

Location: 13555 Chaney Thompson Road

Huntsville, AL 35803
Phone: 256-428-7620