Eagle's Eye News

Challenger Middle School Families,

We were finally able to complete a full week of school in 2024, which was great news for everyone.

We started our #EagleUp Challenge on Monday, January 29th, with a goal of raising $5,000 to support school improvements. Anyone can donate by visiting the fundraising website linked below. Your support is highly appreciated.

Papa Murphy's is hosting a spirit night on Friday, February 9th, between noon and 8pm. You can order two large heart-shaped pizzas (cheese or pepperoni) for just $25. The deadline for placing orders is Monday, February 5th. You can pick up your order from Papa Murphy's Whitesburg location on Friday, February 9th at 500 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, AL 35802. Please use the link provided below to place your order. https://cmsptsa.memberhub.co/store/items/982383

Our third PTSA general meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 8th, at 5:30 pm. There will be a brief school update followed by our 2nd annual Valentine's Day Bake-Off, and free pizza. We hope to see you there.

As we continue with the 2nd semester, please keep the following things in mind to ensure the success of your child. Your child succeeds when we ALL are working together for their benefit.

• Ensure your students are at school, on time, and ready to learn daily
• Ask your students what they learned at school
• Encourage students and monitor their progress
• Attend events, volunteer, and join organizations at our school
• Maintain regular communication with our teachers and administrators

We appreciate your support as always, #EagleUp. Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Bo Coln

james.coln@hsv-k12.org

Principal

Challenger Middle School

#EagleUp

February

8 - 3rd PTSA General Meeting at 5:30 and Valentine's Day Bake-Off

9 - 3rd 9 Weeks Progress Reports go home

9 - Papa Murphy's Spirit Night - Heart Shaped Pizzas

16 - Half Day. Student dismissal at 12:00

17 - HCS Curriculum Showcase @ the VBC

20 - Zaxby's Spirit Night 5:00-8:00pm

March

1 - #EagleUp Challenge ends

Teachers select each grade level’s student of the week. Students earn student of the week by making it to class on time, being prepared, completing all assignments, being respectful to their peers and adults, having at least a C average, and being kind and helpful to everyone. Our students of the week exhibit SOAR behavior – Show Respect, Own Your Actions, Arrive Ready, and Reach Higher.

• Send in Parent Excuses within 2 days of your child returning to school. Please include first and last name. Students can give excuses to their homeroom teacher or bring them to Ms. Smith's office.
• 8 acceptable parent notes will be accepted as official excuses.
• Students with an excused absence have 10 days to make up the work missed.
• Email melanie.smith1@hsv-k12.org about anything attendance or excuse related.
• A child is considered chronically absent if they miss 18 or more days of school. This means they miss 10% or more of the school year.
• Excused and unexcused absences count towards chronic absenteeism.

I love being the counselor at CMS. Thank you for making my job something I look forward to every day. #EagleUp

Megan Moak

Counselor

megan.moak@hsv-k12.org

The Challenger Care Closet offers clothing, toiletries, and other basic necessities to our elementary and middle school students and their families; making sure our students know they are cared for and can go to school with confidence. Use the links below to fill out a confidential self-referral form. Want to help? Check out our Amazon wish list using the below link. Thank you!

Students can enter the building starting at 7:30am. School starts at 8:00am.

Bus Riders - exit the bus, enter the cafeteria, and remain in the cafeteria until released to homeroom.

Walkers/Car Riders - enter through the main lobby doors and go to your right toward the gym or the cafeteria

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. Walkers/Car Riders that do not wish to eat school breakfast will report to the gym. Students that report to the gym will remain in the gym 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.

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 Teacher 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 for $10. Students can purchase a locker during homeroom starting Wednesday, August 2. 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.

Once you are in MySchoolFees follow these steps:

1) Sign-In as guest

2) Select Challenger Middle School from the dropdown menu

3) Select the item you wish to purchase from the dropdown menu

• Yearbooks
• T-Shirts
• P.E. Uniforms

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/Finger-tip length ​

Head coverings​

• No more than 4 inches wide; must be able to see their hair​
• No bandanas of any color​

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

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

The USDA has made available a program called the Community Eligibility Program (CEP). By participating in this program, a school serves free breakfast and free lunch to all students.

• Challenger ES
• Challenger MS

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 cell phone policy.

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.

Attention all 7th and 8th Grade Parents:

If your son/daughter is interested in playing a sport at Challenger Middle School and/or Grissom High School this school year, please make sure to create an account on DragonFly for you and your child. A flyer on how to do that is linked/attached below. In order for your son/daughter to participate or even tryout for a team at Challenger and/or Grissom, he/she must have an active physical (front page signed by you and your child & back page signed by a doctor - not a Nurse Practitioner) uploaded in DragonFly. A physical form is also linked/attached below. Below is a list of AHSAA sanctioned sports we offer at Challenger Middle School. If you are interested in a sport at Grissom, please reach out to Coach Neeley, the Athletic Director, about those options. The coaches for each sport below are also listed along with their email address for you to contact them with any questions you may have.

Sports We Offer

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

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

Cheerleading (FALL/WINTER)- Makenzie Hill ( makenzie.hill@hsv-k12.org)

8th Grade Boys Basketball (WINTER)- Lorenzo Jones (breds2004@yahoo.com)

7th Grade Boys Basketball (WINTER)- Ken Hargis (kenneth.hargis@hsv-k12.org)

Girls Basketball (WINTER)- Rich Goodson (richard.goodson@hsv-k12.org)

Boys Soccer (WINTER/SPRING)- Tegan McDermott/TBD (tegan.mcdermott@hsv-k12.org)

Girls Soccer (WINTER/SPRING)- Tegan McDermott (tegan.mcdermott@hsv-k12.org)

Boys Track (SPRING)- David Rosenberger (david.rosenberger@hsv-k12.org)

Girls Track (SPRING)- Ryan Hagen (ryan.hagen@hsv-k12.org)

We look forward to a great year at CMS both academically and athletically!!!!

-Coach Neeley, Athletic Director

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 have a Math Interventionist for the 2nd semester of the school year. Ms. Regina Carter, retired CMS math teacher, is joining our team. She will provide intensive math support to a select group of CMS students. We are excited about this 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