Coupeville Middle School

Dear CMS Families,

As we head into the final week before spring break, there is a noticeable buzz of excitement in the air—and rightfully so! This time of year is something we all look forward to. With that excitement, however, we also tend to see an increase in off-task behavior and challenges with focus.

I want to take a moment to remind everyone that maintaining our school and classroom expectations remains essential. The way we show up this week matters—not only for our own learning, but for the learning environment of those around us. Staying engaged, keeping cell phones put away, minimizing time out of class, and treating others with respect are all part of finishing strong.

For students, it’s completely normal to feel like your mind is already on break. When that happens, try a few simple strategies:

Break your work into smaller, manageable chunks
Set short goals for yourself during class time
Take a few deep breaths and refocus when you feel distracted
Remind yourself that staying on track now means less stress later

For families, your support is incredibly helpful this time of year. A quick check-in each day about how things are going, reinforcing expectations around school responsibilities, and encouraging consistent routines can make a big difference.

Looking ahead to spring break, whether you are traveling or staying close to home, this is a wonderful opportunity to rest, recharge, and reconnect. For those staying local, here are a few simple and fun ways to spend time together:

Explore local parks, beaches, or trails
Have a family game or movie night
Cook a meal together or try a new recipe
Visit a nearby museum, library, or community event
Set aside time each day to unplug and connect

While it’s important to relax, maintaining some routine—like regular sleep schedules and a bit of structure—can help students transition back to school more smoothly.

To keep minds engaged without it feeling like school, students might:

Read a book of their choice
Work on a creative project (art, building, writing, music)
Try puzzles, brain games, or strategy-based games
Explore a personal interest or hobby
Spend time outdoors observing and learning about nature

These small activities help keep thinking skills sharp so that when we return, students are ready to finish the school year strong.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. I wish all of our students and families a safe, fun, and relaxing spring break—and a great week ahead as we wrap up this final stretch before it begins.

Warm regards,

Becky Cays, CMS Principal

Over the past several months, we have seen an increase in students using sensory tools—particularly stress balls like NeeDoh—as a way to manage stress and stay focused during the school day. When used appropriately, these tools can be very helpful. They provide a quiet outlet for excess energy, support self-regulation, and can help students remain engaged in their learning.

Unfortunately, we have also seen a rise in misuse that is creating safety concerns and disruptions to the learning environment. Specifically:

Some students have cut open stress balls, spreading the gel inside across classrooms and restrooms, causing damage and significant cleanup.
There are concerning social media trends, particularly on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, encouraging students to heat these gel-filled items in microwaves. This can cause the materials to break down or even explode, creating a serious risk of burns and injury.
Misuse of these items has led to lost instructional time and impacted shared spaces for all students.

We want to be clear: our goal is not to eliminate helpful tools, but to ensure they are used safely and responsibly.

Moving forward, we will continue to allow stress balls under the following expectations:

They are used as a personal tool to support focus and should remain in a student’s hands.
They should never be cut, broken, thrown, or altered in any way.
They are not to be heated or used in unsafe ways under any circumstances.
Any misuse will result in the item being taken away, and additional consequences may follow depending on the situation.

We also encourage families to have conversations at home about safe and appropriate use, as well as the risks associated with social media trends that can sometimes promote unsafe behavior. We appreciate your partnership in helping us maintain a safe, respectful, and focused learning environment. When used correctly, these tools can continue to support students in positive and meaningful ways.

Hello Coupeville Middle School Families,

Ms. Applegarth, our Student Assistance Professional, has been hard at work providing in class presentations about Adolescent Brain Development, Mental Health, Coping Skills and Substance Use Prevention.

The students have thoroughly enjoyed engaging in conversations, asking questions and participating in activities during Ms. Applegarth's engaging Prevention Education lessons. All lessons have been provided during your student's PE classes and have not affected other areas of academics. Students have grown to look forward to these lessons. During the lessons, students who actively participate and engage in conversations and activities are awarded raffle tickets that are then picked out of a basket at the end of the class and chosen students are awarded a small treat or prize.

The Prevention Education Series considers multiple different topics, including Fentanyl Awareness that is scheduled to be covered next week in class. We would like to notify families so they are aware that this is a scheduled lesson that students will be educated about.

Our Student Professional is an employee of NWESD 189. NWESD 189 partners with WA Friends For Life; an organization that creates the presentation to be introduced in classroom settings in hopes of educating students on Fentanyl Awareness and how to keep each other safe.

You are more than welcome to opt your child out of this lesson if you feel strongly opposed to them receiving the information.

Please feel free to email Ms. Applegarth at lapplegarth@coupeville.k12.wa.us with your student's full name and grade so she can make arrangements for your student during the presentation.

Ms. Applegarth does feel strongly that all students should receive this education, as there is no harm in being prepared and having these conversations early. But, we also want to consider the subject at hand and the sensitivity we must also provide for families who feel that their students may not be ready for these conversations.

Please feel free to review the presentation below.

https://wafriendsforlife.com/sites/default/files/2026-02/FFL_Middle%20School_Presentation%20%283%29.pdf

Thank you for your time in considering this for your student.

**Lessons to follow our Fentanyl Awareness Presentation will include Healthy Relationships and Communication.

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Family Talks - Substance Use Prevention.pdf

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Attention Middle School Students interested in Track! The start of the season is right around the corner with the first day of practice on Tuesday, April 14th. Make sure you get all of your paperwork completed in Final Forms and that you have a current physical uploaded. Questions? Please see Ms. Cays or Ms. Waldner! Can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks for a great adventure!

We would like to remind students and families of the proper process for communication during the school day, especially when a student is not feeling well or needs to contact a parent or guardian.

If a student is feeling sick or has a concern that requires contacting home, it is very important that they come directly to the office (and/or the health room). This allows us to ensure their safety, provide appropriate support, and accurately communicate with families. Students are always welcome to call their parent or guardian from the office, and staff are happy to assist.

At times, we receive calls from parents or guardians regarding their child, but the student has not yet communicated with any staff member. For health and safety reasons—particularly when illness is involved—we need students to report to the office so we are aware and can respond appropriately. Likewise, parents or guardians are always welcome to contact our office staff if they need to get a message to their student during the school day. We are happy to help relay information or connect you as needed.

While we want students to remain connected to their families, we also want to ensure that cell phones are not being used during school hours. Using the office as the point of contact helps us balance communication, safety, and a focused learning environment.

Thank you for your partnership and support in helping us keep all students safe and accounted for throughout the day.

On Friday, April 17th, 7th Grade Washington State History classes will visit the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle. We will meet in the PAC at 7:50 AM and return before 2:30 PM, allowing students to use regular transportation.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Community Foundation for Coupeville Public Schools, all ticket and transportation costs are covered. We are seeking 12 district-approved chaperones—please contact Ms. Austin (maustin@coupeville.k12.wa.us) or Mr. Volkman (bvolkman@coupeville.k12.wa.us) by Friday, March 13th (aka Parent-Teacher Conferences) if you are interested. We’re looking forward to a great trip!

As we move through March, we want to revisit an important daily readiness habit: charging Chromebooks each night.

Arriving to school prepared is a key part of being ready to learn. For our students, that preparation includes bringing a fully charged Chromebook and necessary materials each day. While loaner Chromebooks are available for emergency situations, they are not intended for situations where a device was simply not charged. On many days, we run out of loaner devices, which can limit students’ ability to fully participate in class.

We appreciate your partnership in helping students build responsibility and independence. Here are a few practical strategies that families have found helpful:

Create a charging routine: Plug in the Chromebook at the same time each night (for example, right after dinner or before bedtime).
Designate a charging spot: Choose one consistent place in the home where the Chromebook is always charged overnight.
Pair it with an existing habit: Charging the Chromebook can happen at the same time as brushing teeth, packing a backpack, or setting out clothes for the next day.
Use reminders: Phone alarms, smart device reminders, or a checklist near the door can prompt students before bedtime.
Pack it before bed: Once charged, place the Chromebook directly into the backpack so it’s ready to go in the morning.

These small, consistent steps can make a big difference and help students develop habits that will serve them well beyond middle school. Thank you for your continued support in helping our students come to school prepared and ready to learn—and for partnering with us to build responsibility and respect across our Wolf community. 🐺

All middle school students who are interested in participating in athletics must sign up in Final Forms. Please click on the link HERE to register if you do not have an account. You may also log in at this link if you've already created an account.

Spring Season brings the opportunity for middle school students to participate in Track and Field. In order to participate, students must complete forms posted on Final Forms including emergency information, and an uploaded, current medical physical (physicals are generally good for two years). Fees for sports are as follows and may be paid to Ms. Rosalie Fix in the high school office.

(If you qualify for free or reduced programs, fees may be waived. You will find an additional form in Final Forms to complete this process.)

Please take a moment to look through our CMS Student Handbook for the 2025-2026 school year. Students are reviewing sections in their advisory class periods to ensure they are familiar with our school procedures and policies.

Are you in need of crisis resources? Please see the attached resources or feel free to reach out to Arianna Bumgarner at abumgarner@coupeville.k12.wa.us.

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Crisis Resource List - Spanish.pdf

Crisis Resource List - English.pdf

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