CMS Cougar Communication

Hello CMS Students and Families,

It’s hard to believe, but this is our final newsletter of the school year! As we head into the last few days of school, I want to thank you all for a fantastic year. Your partnership, encouragement, and support helped make this year a success, and we are truly grateful.

We’re especially looking forward to sending our 8th graders off with a bang! Wishing everyone a strong finish and a restful, well-earned summer break.

Here’s to a great week,

Brian Scharmann, Principal

Hi Parents! As we close in on the last days of this school year, some thoughts for planning the summer....As much as our kids need some relaxing summer fun, don't forget to encourage them to keep up with their reading...READ, READ, READ...it will pay off in the Fall. Also, encourage them to substitute some of their technology with activities that may include some fresh air and exercise or something that will get them off the screen such as art or music, etc. Most importantly, take time with your kids and have fun! Enjoy!

Dawn Allen, Counselor

We’re excited to celebrate our 8th graders at their upcoming Promotion Dance and need your help to make it a success! We’re looking for volunteers to assist with setup before the event, supervision during the dance, and cleanup afterward.

Your time and support will mean so much to our students and help ensure everything runs smoothly. Whether you can help with setup, cleanup, or both, we’d love to have you join us.

Thank you for being a part of making this special night unforgettable!
Please use the link below to sign up and indicate which time slot works best for you.

https://www.evite.com/signup-sheet/4924504209358848/?utm_campaign=send_sharable_link&utm_source=evitelink&utm_medium=sharable_invite

Thanks for your help,

CMS PTA 8th Grade Dance Committee

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We have a traditional blue promotion gown ready for each of our 8th grade students to borrow for their promotion ceremony. Gowns will be distributed after school on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, to allow families to have the weekend to use the gowns in photographs, etc. Gowns will be collected at the conclusion of the ceremony in yellow bins as students and families exit the quad.

Note that all library fines must be clear and students must be passing all of their classes in order to receive a gown.

Join us for an evening of talent, energy, and entertainment at the Christensen Middle School Talent Show!

• 🗓 Date: Wednesday, May 21
• 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
• 📍 Location: CMS MPR

Come support your fellow students as they take the stage to sing, dance, act, and showcase their unique talents. It’s going to be a night to remember!

Popcorn, snacks, and drinks will be available for purchase—students are encouraged to bring small denomination cash if they’d like to buy refreshments.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Yearbooks will be delivered to students in class on Friday 5/23.

All 8th graders are invited to attend the 8th Grade Promotion Dance on Friday, May 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In order to participate in this activity, students must have passing grades in all of their classes by Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Eighth grade students attending the dance must present their current CMS photo ID card at the door for admittance. Students who do not adhere to the District dress code will not be permitted to enter the dance.

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Students may not bring their backpacks on the last day of school. All students will be released to go home at 12:25 p.m. on Thursday, May 29. We will not be releasing 8th graders early. If you need to sign your child out before 12:25, please remember those students who are promoting will be rehearsing until approximately 11 a.m. It is important that all students who are participating in promotion be at the rehearsal.

Students will attend periods 1-6 using the Last Day of School Bell Schedule. Zero period classes will not meet. Breakfast will be available but there is no lunch service.

Period 1 8:25 - 9:02 a.m.
Period 2 9:06 - 9:43 a.m.
Period 3 9:47 - 10:24 a.m.
Period 4A/4B 10:28 - 11:05 a.m.
Period 5 11:09 - 11:45 a.m.
Period 6 11:49 - 12:25 p.m.

The Promotion Ceremony begins promptly at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, in the CMS Courtyard.

A blue promotion gown will be provided to each student to borrow for use during the ceremony. Gowns will be returned at the end of the evening.

In order to participate in this activity, students must have passing grades in all of their classes for the third trimester. We encourage our eighth graders to see this event as one for which they "dress for success." Jeans, flip flops, and hats are not appropriate for this event and are not permitted at the ceremony. Note that it is possible for students not to have the grades for the Six Flags trip but still be able to participate in the other two promotion-related activities.

Promoting students need to arrive in the gym no later than 5:30 p.m. on the night of promotion, May 29. All students are expected to be dress code appropriate (no gum, hats, strapless, spaghetti straps, halter-top dresses, sagging pants, etc.). In addition, all students must wear the royal blue Promotion Ceremony Gown. This is an important event and we want to ensure that all students are dressed appropriately.

There will be no reserved seating at the promotion ceremony. The gates will remain locked on the day of promotion until 5:15 p.m. We ask that all families respect the handicap seating areas and are considerate of others. We have limited seating with the chairs available. We also ask that families do not bring noisemakers (as they can create distractions), balloons (which can obstruct the view), or animals to the ceremony. Thank you for your cooperation.

We look forward to seeing you at the promotion ceremony. Please call the office at (925) 606-4702 if you have any questions.

Different groups on campus will have items for sale at the promotion ceremony:

• Drinks – $1

• Candy Leis – $10

• Kukui Nut Leis – $15

• Ribbon Leis – $20

Cash only, please bring small bills.

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Elementary School offices will remain open to the public from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. through Friday, June 6th.

Middle and K-8 School offices will remain open to the public from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. through Friday, June 13th.

High School offices will receive final confirmation regarding their summer office hours next week.

District Office Summer Hours:

The District Office continues to be open to the public Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., excluding Fridays in July: 7/11; 7/18; and 7/25. We are also closed for holidays: Juneteenth (June 19) and Independence Day (July 4).

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

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Kelsey Way

• 7th grader - Dean Amos

• 8th grader - Peyton Mabutas

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

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Nicholas Vazquez

• 7th grader - Ryan Rodriguez

• 8th grader - Bailey Mohamed

Congratulations to our outstanding CMS students for their exceptional achievements at this year’s Science Odyssey! These students demonstrated creativity, curiosity, and dedication across a variety of categories, earning top honors among participants from across the district:

• Shree Manickaraja (8th) – 1st Place, Computer Science (Waste Reduction)

• Brunello Fernandes (6th) – 3rd Place, Science Investigation (Air Quality)

• Wes Pereira (6th) – 3rd Place, Science Investigation (Air Quality)

• Theodore Widner (6th) – 3rd Place, Science Investigation (Air Quality)

• Anand Sagar (6th) – 3rd Place, Computer Science

• Joshua Hobbs (6th) – Honorable Mention, Science Investigation (Air Quality)

• Saanvi Madhu (6th) – Honorable Mention, Science Investigation (Water Conservation)

• Sabhyata Dubey (7th) – Honorable Mention, Engineering

• Nishant Sahoo (7th) – Honorable Mention, Engineering (Geology)

• Nithik Bondili (8th) – Honorable Mention, Science Investigation

We are incredibly proud of these students for representing CMS with excellence and innovation. Way to go, Cougars!

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We are thrilled to share that our very own Michelle Gomes has been named the LVJUSD Classified Employee of the Year! Ms. Gomes is the heart of our school, known for her calm leadership, kindness, and dedication to students, staff, and families. Her behind-the-scenes work keeps our campus running smoothly, and her impact is felt across the entire school community. Congratulations, Ms. Gomes, on this well-deserved recognition!

State and district testing is just around the corner. Please help us by encouraging students to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and bring their fully charged Chromebook each day. Here's a look at our upcoming testing schedule:

• May 19 – 23: District Math Final Exams (6th, 7th, and 8th Grade)

Thank you for your support as we help students show what they’ve learned this year!

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.

We’re excited to offer breakfast service to help students fuel up for a successful day! Breakfast is available at the following times:

• 7:00 AM – 7:25 AM
• 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM

Please note that service ends promptly at these times to ensure students have enough time to get to class. We appreciate your support in encouraging punctuality so everyone can start the day on the right foot!

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

Our ASB President, Shree Manickaraja, is launching an exciting new initiative called WasteEasy, part of the Zero2Hero project. This program empowers students to help keep our campus clean by reporting or picking up trash—and earning points for every piece they remove!

Even better, those points can be redeemed for awesome prizes like Starbucks deliveries to your classroom or gift cards to your favorite spots.

Shree is inviting every CMS student to join the WasteEasy movement and help make our school the cleanest and greenest it can be. Signing up is quick and easy, and your impact starts right away!

Let’s make CMS shine—join WasteEasy, sign up today!

Click here for more info (must be accessed with an out-of-district email)

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Child Nutrition is seeking on-call substitute workers. We have flexible hours available and provide on the job training.

California students in grades 6-12 are invited to submit a podcast, narrative essay, or photo essay to the Climate Storytelling Contest, presented by the California Coastal Commission. Students choose one of three mediums, and answer the following prompt: What are your feelings towards climate change? How can those feelings be turned into action? Entries can be submitted online by 5pm on May 29, 2025. For rules, prize information, and entry form, please see here.

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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