Challenger News

Back to School Night this year is on Thursday, August 27. Starting at 5:15 PM, we'll have representatives from community resources and Challenger clubs in the Shuttle Court for families to visit. ASB will host a Pizza Dinner Fundraiser. It's only $5 for a slice of pizza, a bottle of water, and a cookie. Payment will be cash only. Exact change is appreciated. The principal will host a Title I meeting in the auditorium 5:45 PM.

Starting at 6:00 PM, parents will follow their student's schedule to meet their student's teachers. Each class will take about 10 minutes and you'll have a 4 minute passing period. The event will end about 7:20 PM. Students will be given a flyer with their schedule to take home the day of the event.

Date: Thursday, August 27

Time: 5:15 - 7:20 PM

Location: Challenger Middle School, Shuttle Court

Book Fair: 5:15-7:20 PM, Library

Pizza Dinner: 5:15-5:55 PM, Cash Only - $5 for a slice of pizza, a bottle of water, a cookie, Shuttle Court

Club & Community Resource Fair: 5:15-5:55 PM, Shuttle Court

Title I Meeting: 5:45-5:55 PM, Auditorium

Classroom Visits: 6:00-7:20 PM - Families will follow their student's schedule. A flyer will be sent home on Thursday with the student that has the student's schedule. You may also login to PowerSchool to see the student's schedule.

PE Classes will be in the following rooms; Mr. Colby, Room 101; Mr. deLeon, Room 402; Ms. Nowakowski, Room 515; Ms. Zenker, Activity Room.

Period 1 6:00-6:10 PM

Period 2 6:14-6:24 PM

Period 3 6:28-6:38 PM

Period 4 6:42-6:52 PM

Period 5 6:56-7:06 PM

Period 6 7:10-7:20 PM

If you need assistance with PowerSchool, please contact Danielle Kirkendall, dkirkendall@sandi.net.

Challenger is looking for parents/guardians to volunteer on two different committees this year. The deadline to respond is August 21. Thank you for your support!

School Site Council (SSC) - School Site Council is a decision-making group that provides oversight on matters dealing with Federal and State funded programs. School Site Council also provides meaningful consultation with the principal to evaluate and analyze programs and activities so they are meeting the needs of all Challenger students. If you are interested in SSC, please complete the contact form at this link by August 21 Our School Site Council meets at 3:15 PM on a Wednesday once a month throughout the school year.


Site Governance Team (SGT) - School Governance Team works with school leadership to help determine the long-term direction of the school and design innovative solutions to increase student achievement. Our School Governance Team meets at 7:15 AM on a Wednesday once a month throughout the school year. Please complete this form by August 21 if you are interested in SGT.

Hello sports fans!!!

Welcome to the 2026 Fall season of sports. It is starting out hot, humid, and smoky. The poor air quality delayed the start of Physical Education, but with the improved air quality, we are back outside!!!

The fall season tryouts begin the week of August 24th (Tuesday, 8/25 and Thursday, 8/27) for Track & Field and Basketball. Remember to signup online and show up to all of the practices if you are interested in making a team. Also, check the district’s middle school sport’s website for the latest information.

- Coach Jon Colby, CMS Middle School Athletics Liasion

Challenger will begin after school tutoring on Tuesday, September 1 in room 102 from 3:10-4:00 PM. CMS students need to bring work and/or questions with them. All grade levels are welcome. Pick any day. It does not have to be with your own teacher.

CMS After-School Tutoring Schedule

• Monday: Sports Day - wear your jersey or team colors
• Tuesday: Denim Day - wear jeans, jean shorts, or jean jacket
• Wednesday: Color Wars - 6th grade (red), 7th grade (blue), 8th grade (green), staff (pink)
• Thursday: Picture Day - Dress like you would in your yearbook photo
• Friday: Challenger Day - wear Challenger colors or gear

Get hyped for the Challenger PTO Readathon, running from August 24 to September 4, as we read our way to our $10,000 goal!

It’s easy to join—simply register your student online at the PTO Pledgestar site, then rally friends and family to sponsor their reading minutes. The more they earn through reading, the more prizes they win, including a fidget toy, laps off PE Run Days, Pizza with the Principal, and even a Doughnut Party for the top-earning grade level! Funds raised go toward supporting school clubs, purchasing new PE equipment, and sponsorship of epic student activities.

Challenger's PTO is working to get The Launch Pad, our student store, opened by the end of the month. They are inviting students to apply to work as a student volunteer in the store once a week during lunch.

Students: Students need to complete the online application at this link which is also posted under the Quick Links section on our homepage. They will review the applications, conduct interviews, and have training sessions with students prior to opening.

Parents/Guardians: They also need parents/guardians to supervise the student volunteers in the store during lunchtime. If you are interested, please click on this link.

If you have any questions, please view the PTO website or contact the PTO at challengermiddleschoolpto@gmail.com.

Want to make a direct impact at Challenger? Your PTO membership is the key. We are a non-profit dedicated to funding essential programs that enrich the middle school experience, from hosting exciting events to providing support for families in need. Your donation goes directly to supporting the school - 100% of it. Join the PTO, have a voice and a vote, and see your support create real results for our students!

$15 Membership Fee - Join Today!

• Monthly Zoom Meetings
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Connect with Parents, Teachers, and the Principal
• Stay Informed
• Support Our Kids!

Want to just donate? Click here.

Our PTO meetings are normally held on the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30-7:30 PM on Zoom. Calendar invitations will be sent to members.

Questions or concerns? Email challengermiddleschoolpto@gmail.com.

Use a Parent Account to Sign In to the Portal

• Contact Info - Review contact and update contact information including emergency contacts.
• Health Form - The school nurse needs your student's health information to provide the best support.
• Housing Form - Please share your housing status with the counselors.
• LCFF - Help the school get more money to support students. Look for the icon at the bottom of the screen.
• Universal Signature - Read the Family Resource Guide and sign the annual notification form.

Effective August 14, the Extended Learning Opportunity Department (ELO) has reopened the PrimeTime After School (NOT Before School) enrollment application links for families requesting to enroll their students.

Blocksi allows parents to control their child’s Chromebook when it’s off campus in the following ways:

• Turn off internet access
• Block websites
• Block website categories during specified hours

You're invited to the Grand Opening of the Mira Mesa Epicenter at 4:00 PM on Thursday, September 10. There will be student performances, a ribbon-cutting, food, and tours of the building.

The Mira Mesa Epicentre is a renewed community and teen center space that will also serve as the headquarters for the County’s SD Nights program. Features include a multifunctional pickleball and basketball court, a garden, open lawn area, rentable community space, music room, game room, demonstration kitchen, and flexible study and work areas.

The San Diego County of Education is offering a webinar series for parents and caregivers of middle and high school students.

• Session 1: Online Safety 101 - Tuesday, September 1, 6-7 PM
• Session 2: Internet Crime Prevention - Tuesday, September 16, 6-7 PM

For more details and to register, please read this flyer.

Spanish interpretation will be available for all sessions.

If your child doesn't have health care, there are low or no cost health coverage programs available for your kids. Please check out the information in the flyer posted below for more information.

Health Coverage For All Flyer: English Spanish

California state law, the California Healthy Youth Act, requires that comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education be provided to students at least once in middle school and once in high school, starting in grade 7. A school district may also provide comprehensive sexual health or HIV prevention education earlier than grade 7 consisting of age-appropriate instruction and medically accurate information on any of the general topics. In keeping with these requirements and guidelines, San Diego Unified School District offers comprehensive sexual health education in grades 6, 8, and high school. The California Healthy Youth Act, corresponding CA Education Code, and other instructional resources can be found on the Sexual Health Education Program’s website.

Instructional materials may be previewed on the SHEP curriculum website. Parent presentations and powerpoint slides may be viewed in English and Spanish on this website.

Please note that parents/guardians may excuse their child from the sexual health instruction for this school year by providing an electronic or written note in their preferred language to their student’s Science teacher. The note should simply state that they are excusing their child from the instruction, include their child's name, and be generated or signed by the parent or guardian. There is no need for any reason to be stated in this note.

California requires that this instruction be inclusive of all students, encourage students to communicate with parents/guardians about human sexuality, and provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to develop healthy attitudes concerning adolescent growth and development. Therefore, the following topics must be and are included in our curriculum:

• Information about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including transmission, FDA approved methods to prevent HIV and STIs, and treatment
• Information that abstinence is the only certain way to prevent unintended pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs, and information about the value of delaying sexual activity
• Discussion about social views of HIV and AIDS
• Information about gender, sexual orientation, and the harm of negative gender stereotypes
• Information about healthy relationships and skills to avoid unhealthy behaviors and situations

In addition, instruction in grade 8 and high school must and does include:

• Information about accessing resources for sexual and reproductive health care
• Information about pregnancy, including FDA approved prevention methods and pregnancy options

Instruction will be provided by district Science teachers or health agency educators trained in the curriculum. These health agencies may include Family Health Centers of San Diego, Operation Samahan, Planned Parenthood, and San Ysidro Health Center. Instruction will be taught the last two weeks of semester 1 (6th grade students with Science semester 1), or the last two weeks of semester 2(6th grade students with Science semester 2 and 8th grade students).

Parent Notification Letter: English Spanish Tagalog Vietnamese Arabic

• August 24-28, Bookfair
• August 24-28, ASB Spirit Week
• August 27, Picture Day, during PE classes
• August 27, Back to School Night
• August 28, Minimum Day, Students released at 1:15 PM.
• September 7, Labor Day, No school
• September 18, First grading period (P1) ends