CMS Cougar Communication

Hello CMS Students and Families,

Tomorrow marks the first day of Trimester 3, bringing a fresh start for all students. Grades will reset, offering a new opportunity to set goals, stay on track, and make the most of the trimester ahead. This is a great time to reflect on past progress and start strong with positive habits. Families, please encourage your students to embrace this new beginning with focus and determination. Let’s make the most of this fresh start together!

The next Cougar Communication will be sent on Sunday, 3/16. I hope you find the following information helpful.

Here's to a great week,

Brian Scharmann (he/him)

Principal
Christensen Middle School

Hi Parents!

As parents of middle schoolers, you play a crucial role in helping your children navigate their social and emotional development. One of the most impactful ways you can support them is by fostering empathy and kindness in their interactions with others. Encourage open conversations about respect, boundaries, and the impact of their words and actions on peers. Model positive behavior at home by addressing conflicts with understanding and respect. Teach your child to recognize and value differences, and help them build self-awareness by discussing how their feelings and choices affect those around them. Keep communication open—if your child struggles with peer interactions, listen without judgment and guide them toward making better decisions. Together, we can help our kids grow into compassionate, respectful individuals who uplift others rather than tear them down. As always, don't hesitate to reach out! Much thanks!

Ms. Allen, Counselor

dallen@lvjusd.org

(925) 606-4702 ext. 6578

If your student wants to participate in girls volleyball (February), wrestling (March), golf (April), or track and field (April), please make sure they have done the following:

1. Register for all sports that the athlete is planning on playing this year at athleticclearance.com.
2. All athletes planning on participating will need to have an updated physical. We require a signed physical by a doctor within the last 12 months. Here is a link to a physical form that can be used: LVJUSD Physical Form. Physical forms will only be accepted through athleticclearance.com.
3. CMS athletes must have received a 2.0 GPA on the previous trimester's final report card. Incoming 6th graders are not held to this requirement until an official grading period has been completed.

It is time to start planning the 8th grade promotion dance. We are looking for people to help plan an awesome event for our 8th graders! If you are interested in helping please email cms.2025.promotion@gmail.com to find out how you can get involved!

Our 8th graders are nearing a major milestone as they prepare to leave middle school and step into their next adventure. To celebrate, we’re organizing a special 8th Grade Promotion Dance—an evening filled with fun, friends, and lasting memories!

To make this event truly spectacular, we’re asking 8th-grade families to consider a flat contribution of $40 per student (though any amount is appreciated). 100% of donations will go toward food, entertainment, and decorations to create an unforgettable night for our students.

Make your contribution here: my.cheddarup.com/c/8th-grade-promotion-dance-copy

If you can give a little extra to support other families, your generosity would mean so much.

Thank you for helping us send off our 8th graders in style!

🆕

Students, join us in celebrating National School Breakfast Week from March 3rd-7th with a delicious lineup of morning favorites! Start your day right with Lucky Charms, fresh-baked bagels (Jalapeño Cheddar & Everything), warm cinnamon rolls, Poptarts, parfaits, and more!

Don’t miss out on this exciting week of tasty and nutritious breakfast options—fuel up for success each morning! 🍽️🥯✨

The CMS School Site Council (SSC) will meet virtually on March 4, 2025 fat 3:00PM.

To join the meeting, please use the following link: https://meet.google.com/rzo-ktsz-kha.

The agenda is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yWzH9iSHrwB3gslOxRIzqtHu1Lw8A1Us2mExwSz2zqk/edit?usp=sharing.

Are you concerned about the impact of smartphones, social media, and technology on today’s youth? Join Teen Esteem+ for an important conversation about the struggles of growing up in a digital age.

• 📅 Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2025
• ⏰ Time: 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
• 📍 Location: Pleasanton Library, 400 Old Bernal Avenue

A panel of experts will discuss key topics, including insights from The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, the effects of social media on mental health, and practical ways to help kids navigate the online world safely.

This event is free and open to parents, grandparents, caregivers, and anyone invested in the well-being of our youth. 📩 RSVP by scanning the QR code in the flyer or emailing info@teenesteem.org. For more information, visit www.teenesteem.org.

Enjoy a delicious meal while supporting Christensen Middle School PTA! On Tuesday, March 11th, from 4-8 PM, 25% of event sales at Chipotle (4691 1st St, Livermore, CA 94551) will be donated to the PTA to help fund programs and activities for our students.

To participate, show this flyer in person or order online for pickup using code WJPT32Q at checkout.

Thank you for helping us make a difference—every bite counts!

💯

Thursday, March 13 from 7-8pm - This webinar will provide an overview of CAASPP testing and discuss the important reasons our students should participate. Common myths about standardized tests will also be debunked to help our parents better understand their impact on student learning and achievement.

Our Leadership students will host an elective fair on Friday, March 14, during both lunches to help students make informed choices for their electives for the 2025-2026 school year.

CMS 2025-2026 Course Selection Request Window will be open March 14-28, 2025. More information will be posted soon.

Mark your calendars for the CMS AVID Dine-Out Night at Pizza Guys (1545 N. Vasco Road) on March 19th, from 11 AM to 8 PM. Enjoy delicious pizza while supporting a great cause—20% of sales will be donated back to our school! Thank you for your support, and we’ll see you there!

Incoming 6th Grade Parent Information Night, 6-7 p.m. More information to follow.

For more information, go to Dorian Studio Photography

💐

2025 Science Odyssey:

• Save the date! The 2025 Science Odyssey will be held on April 9th-10th at Joe Michell TK-8! This is an incredible opportunity for students in grades TK-12 to showcase their passion for science and engineering with our community. Principals and teachers, please mark your calendars and share the attached flyers with your students and families.

• April 9, 2025: Student presentations are due to judges (exact times TBD)
• April 10, 2025: Science Odyssey Showcase
  Join us from 5:00 - 7:00 pm for student project exhibits, a planetarium show, a Trashion Show, live music, and community partner exhibits

• Ways to Participate:

• Science Odyssey Project for Judging – Open to students in grades 1-12. Registration is now open and closes on Friday, February 28th.
• Trashion Show – Open to students in grades K-12. Registration is now open and closes on Wednesday, March 26th.

For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.livermoreschools.org/scienceodyssey. Flyers with registration details for both the Science Odyssey projects and the Trashion Show are included in the attachments folder.

🌿✨ Calling All Future Fashion Designers! ✨🌿

Get ready to strut your stuff at the 6th Annual Trashion Show, part of the 2025 LVJUSD Science Odyssey! On April 10th at Joe Michell K-8 School, students K-12 will showcase their creativity by designing outfits made from recycled, repurposed, and found materials.

Categories include: 👗 High Fashion – Think Project Runway with a recycled twist! 🦸 Fantasy/Fiction – Bring your favorite characters to life! 🌍 Around the World – Celebrate global cultures through sustainable style!

Prizes will be awarded for Most Creative and Best Use of Recycled Materials in each category.

Check-in begins at 4:30 PM, the show starts at 5:30 PM, and awards will be presented at 6:30 PM.

Registration is open now through March 26th on the District website. Don’t miss your chance to turn trash into treasure! ♻️👠

The Society of Women Engineers at UC Berkeley invites middle school (6th-8th grade) female and non-binary identifying students to Tech Day, a free, day-long conference designed to introduce and inspire young minds in the world of technology.

• 📅 Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
• 📍 Location: UC Berkeley Campus

Through engaging workshops, hands-on activities, and mentorship opportunities, participants will gain valuable exposure to STEM fields and connect with like-minded peers and professionals.

• Apply now: tinyurl.com/Sp25TechDayApplication
• Stay updated: tinyurl.com/Sp25TechDayNewsletter
• For more details, visit: swe.berkeley.edu/techday.html

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the possibilities of a future in technology!

The CMS English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) will meet virtually on April 29, 2025 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. To join the meeting, please use the following link: https://meet.google.com/gfh-mxvx-tkm.

The agenda is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pNK17o4oGuxT5BRCaErG5g0StgJxr2jbZq5RGZBE8P4/edit?usp=sharing

Congratulations to our PBIS students of the week! These students were selected for being KIND!

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Alondra Cruz-Avila

• 7th grader - Ryan Thompson

• 8th grader - Zoey Polonsky

Congratulations to our PBIS students of the week! These students were selected for being RESPECTFUL!

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Erin Shrestha

• 7th grader - Adrian Torres

• 8th grader - Aedan Boschen Shih

Congratulations to our PBIS students of the week! These students were selected for being RESPONSIBLE!

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Cal San Juan

• 7th grader - Colin Ryan

• 8th grader - Peyton Mabutas

CMS students had an incredible opportunity to participate in the "Design Your Future" event, hosted by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Bay Bridge and East Bay Chapters in partnership with Bay Area LEEDS. This inspiring event encouraged young girls to dive into the world of engineering through hands-on activities, mentorship, and interactive learning experiences.

We’re proud of our students for engaging in this experience and exploring future possibilities in STEM! 🚀🔧💡

This past weekend, students from Christensen Middle School showcased their math skills at the Diablo Chapter MATHCOUNTS Competition! Competing against some of the best young mathematicians in the region, our students took on challenging problems in algebra, geometry, and problem-solving. We are so proud of their hard work, dedication, and teamwork!

A big congratulations to all participants for representing Christensen with enthusiasm and perseverance. Go Cougars!

Please take a moment to give a Shout Out to a deserving CMS staff member. Please complete this 3 question Google Form to give a Shout Out. Gratitudes will be shared with staff in our weekly internal newsletter.

Homework Club will be offered on Wednesdays from 1:30PM to 2:30PM. Homework club meets in the MPR and is a quiet place to get work done with support offered by CMS staff members.

The only way to guarantee your CMS 2024-2025 yearbook order is to purchase one from the Herff Jones Yearbook Order Center.

Books will be sold directly through the publisher. Use a credit card to order your yearbook. Go to www.YearbookOrderCenter.com or call 1-866-287-3096 and use School Code 16490. Yearbook sales will end on April 7, 2025.

If you want to verify your yearbook order, please visit the Herff Jones yearbook website at www.yearbookordercenter.com. Click Find Your Order. You will enter the email address used when you placed your order. The school number is 16490.

Calling all students who love nature and getting their hands dirty—our CMS Garden Group is welcoming new members!

The group meets every Tuesday during both lunches in the school garden area. No gardening experience is needed—just an interest in plants and making our campus a greener, more beautiful place.

Students interested in joining can complete this Google Form to sign up. We hope to see you out in the garden soon! 🌱

We’re excited to announce that CMS will continue its partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) to offer the Girls Who Code club this year! Meetings will be held every Thursday after school from 2:45-4:00 PM in Room 204.

Although it’s called Girls Who Code, students of any gender are welcome to join. If your student is interested, they can sign up using this Google Form.

Support the CMS AVID program by attending a Giants game!

Here is some information about the fundraiser:

• Monday - Thursday games in April and May (some exclusions apply)
• Seating Areas: View Reserve and Bleachers
• $15 tickets

• Link: https://fevo-enterprise.com/group/GiantsschoolfundraisingNG
• Promo Code: christensenms

The latest edition of the CMS 8th Grade Class of 2025 Events newsletter with specific dates and details for our 8th graders is available here: https://secure.smore.com/n/qn0ycu.

We’re excited to share a variety of upcoming resources and workshops to support families in our community!

📌 Immigration Clinics via Zoom – Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Receive guidance on immigration-related questions in a confidential virtual setting.
📧 Contact gbarattino@livelafamilia.org (Subject: Immigration Clinics)

📌 Spanish Mental Health First Aid – March 1 & 15, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Learn how to support mental health needs within the community through this essential training.
📧 Contact gbarattino@livelafamilia.org (Subject: Mental Health 1st Aid)

📌 Spanish Step by Step Family Preparedness Clinic – Saturday, March 1, 2025 | 2:00 – 3:30 PM (By appointment only)
Assisting parents in completing their Family Preparedness Packets for peace of mind.
📧 Contact gbarattino@livelafamilia.org (Subject: Family Packets)

📌 Spanish Parenting Workshops via Zoom – Thursdays | 9:00 – 10:00 AM
A supportive space for parents to learn and share strategies for raising children.
📧 Contact gbarattino@livelafamilia.org (Subject: Parenting Workshops)

🎉 Día del Niño (Honoring Children) – Drumming Circle

📍 Rincon Library | Friday, April 25, 2025
Celebrate children with a special Drumming Circle!
📞 Contact Estefany Lopez at (510) 432-2350 for more details.

We encourage families to take advantage of these valuable resources and events! 💙

Hey Christensen Middle School students! The 30th Annual Growing Up in America (GUA) Art, Essay & Video Contest is here, and we want to see your creativity! Hosted by AACI in partnership with NBC Bay Area, this year’s theme is "Facing My Fears."

Fear can protect us, but it can also hold us back. Share your experiences, stories, and reflections on courage and overcoming fear through art, essays, or videos for a chance to win cash prizes!

• 🏆 Cash prizes available
• 📅 Deadline: March 15, 2025
• 🌎 Open to all Christensen Middle School students

Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your talent! Submit your work at www.aaci.org/gua.

Calling all young poets! The City of Livermore and Poet Laureate Peggy Schimmelman invite middle and high school students (ages 13+) to participate in the Teen Poet of the 2nd Semester Contest.

Theme: "On the Outside." Interpret this however you like—being outdoors, feeling excluded, keeping a secret— get creative! Any style of poetry is welcome.

🏆 Winner Receives:

• ✔ A certificate from the City
• ✔ A $25 gift card to a downtown business
• ✔ Public recognition (featured in print, social media, and a public library display)

📅 Deadline: May 2, 2025

🌳 Bonus Opportunity!
Submit a poem mentioning “My favorite tree” by March 31, and it may be featured at the City’s Arbor Day celebration, with a chance to read your poem at the event!

📩 How to Enter: Email your poem to Poet_Laureate@LivermoreCA.gov using a personal email (school emails cannot be accepted). Include your name, grade, school, and teacher’s name.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your poetry—get writing and submit your poem today! 🎉

We encourage parents, guardians, school staff and community members to join the CMS PTA. Please go to the Join Andrew Christensen PTA website (https://jointotem.com/ca/livermore/andrew-christensen-pta/join/register).

Show your support for our students by joining the CMS PTA. Our mission is to provide a positive middle school experience for every student and we are committed to putting students first. Members are not required to attend any meetings, but are encouraged to. Only PTA members can vote at the general meetings.

We appreciate your support.

Show your school spirit with new CMS spirit wear while helping raise money for the CMS PTA. Order at www.1stplacespiritwear.com

😎

program the CMS PTA has been running for the past five years. It's a great program that supports the fine arts at CMS. The theme for next year is Made By Me and CMS usually starts collecting entries in early November. We can't continue CMS PTA Reflections without your help. The chairperson's job is more behind the scenes and so appreciated. It's also a great way to be more involved in your child's school. If interested, please email cmscougarspta@gmail.com. The current CMS Reflections chair is happy to get you started, but has an exiting 8th grader and cannot continue being a CMS chairperson.

Email: bscharmann@lvjusd.org
Website: https://christensen.livermoreschools.org/
Location: 5757 Haggin Oaks Avenue, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: 925-606-4702