CMS Cougar Communication
11/30/2025
Message from Principal Scharmann
Dear Students, Parents, and Families,
As we begin December, it’s hard to believe there are only a few short weeks left before winter break. This final stretch of the calendar year is an important time for students to stay focused on academics, finish strong, and take pride in the growth they’ve made so far this year. Our classrooms are busy with learning, projects, and preparation for upcoming assessments, and I’m proud of the effort and perseverance I see each day across our campus.
I encourage families to help students maintain consistent routines, get plenty of rest, and stay engaged as we wrap up 2025 on a positive note. Together, we can ensure a successful finish of the calendar year and a smooth transition into 2026.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our CMS community.
Brian Scharmann (he/him)
Principal
Christensen Middle School
Spreading Joy Through Shop With a Cop
Each year, Livermore police officers partner with local schools to bring holiday joy to students and families in need through the Shop With a Cop program. We’re proud to share that Christensen’s own Mr. Scharmann and Ms. Gomes help coordinate this incredible districtwide effort.
This annual event pairs students with officers for a fun morning of shopping, smiles, and community connection, ensuring that every child can experience the magic of the season. If you’d like to contribute to making this year’s event possible, donations can be made directly through the GoFundMe link below:
Donate to Shop With a Cop 2025
Your generosity helps brighten the holidays for local children and strengthens the spirit of kindness that makes Livermore such a special community.
Message from Athletic Director, Mr. Moore
Registration is now open for anyone interested in participating in our athletics programs this year! Here are the requirements for being cleared to participate in Christensen Middle School athletics:
- Register for all sports that the athlete is planning on playing this year HERE.
- 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. Other forms signed by a doctor may be acceptable but must specifically clear athletes for participation in sports. Physical forms will only be accepted through Home Campus (link above).
- 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.
The tentative start dates for the athletic programs we offer are listed below. More specific information for each sport will be communicated through the morning announcements and this newsletter as each season approaches.
- Boys Volleyball - January
- Girls Volleyball - February
- Wrestling (Co-ed) - March
- Golf (Co-ed) - April/May
- Track and Field (Co-ed) - April/May
Please reach out to our Athletic Director, David Moore, at dmoore@lvjusd.org if you have any questions.
Community Food Resources
Message From the CMS PTA
CMS PTA Pie Fundraiser – Any 3 Pies for $48!
Looking for an easy (and delicious) way to support CMS this holiday season? The PTA Pie Fundraiser is back! Choose from nine incredible 10" varieties — Apricot, Apple, Dutch Apple, Boysenberry, Mixed Berry, Pumpkin, Peach Cobbler, Strawberry Rhubarb, and Caramel Apple — all perfect for family gatherings or gifts.
Each pie is $17, or mix and match any 3 pies for $48 when you use promo code Buy3 at checkout.
Orders are due by Sunday, December 7, and pies will be available for pickup after school on Monday, December 15. Any pies not picked up by 3:30 PM will be donated to CMS staff.
All pies arrive frozen and keep for up to a year — stock up while you can!
Order online here: cms-pta-pie-fundraiser-any-3-pies-for-48-with-promo-code-buy3.cheddarup.com
Save The Date
CMS Special Olympics Fundraiser at Dave’s Hot Chicken, Friday 12/12
Support our incredible CMS Special Olympics athletes by grabbing dinner at Dave’s Hot Chicken on Friday, December 12, from 4–8 PM!
Head to 4213 First Street, Livermore, and show the flyer or use the code GIVE when ordering through the Dave’s app or website at daveshotchicken.com. Dave’s will generously donate 20% of your order back to CMS Special Olympics.
Every order helps our student-athletes continue to shine—on and off the field. Thank you for supporting our Cougars and making a difference in our community!
Early Release day, Friday 12/19
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Winter Break, 12/22-1/2
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CMS School Site Council Meeting, Tuesday 1/13
The first CMS School Site Council meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, January 13 at 3:00 PM.
Join us at this link: Google Meet. Agenda to follow...
Winter Concert: Orchestra, Tuesday 1/13
Our Winter Orchestra Concert will be held in the Gym from 6:30PM-7:30PM.
Winter Orchestra Band, Thursday 1/15
Our Winter Orchestra Band will be held in the Gym from 6:30PM-7:30PM on Thursday 1/15.
Note the date of this concert has been changed from Wednesday 1/14 to Thursday 1/15.
ELAC Meeting, Tuesday 1/20
There will be a virtual English Learners (ELAC) parents' meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday 1/20.
Join us at this link: Google Meet, agenda to follow.
AMC 8 Math Test, Thursday 1/22
CMS is excited to offer the AMC 8 Math test after school on Thursday 1/22/2026 for students who are interested. A new practice test will be delivered each week to students who have registered all the way up to the test.
There will be no cost for students to take the AMC 8, but pre-registration is required.
For those who are interested in taking the AMC 8 with us, students must complete this short Google form from their LVJUSD Google account: https://forms.gle/rFP8ax4M1ZtyUBru5.
Have You Heard the Good News?
Students of the Week, Week of 11/17
Congratulations to our Cougar Kudos winners this week! These students were recognized for consistently demonstrating the CMS Core Values of Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be Kind.
Congratulations to:
- 6th grader - Olivia Cosgrove
7th grader - Mason Miller
8th grader - Ethan Bombon
We are so proud of these students for setting a great example for their peers—way to go, Cougars!
Helpful Information From CMS
P.E. Clothes
A P.E. uniform is required. All students are expected to have a gray t-shirt and royal blue shorts or purchase the Christensen P.E. attire at a very reasonable cost. (A gray t-shirt, royal blue shorts, gray sweatshirt, and gray sweatpants without logos are also acceptable.) Athletic shoes with white/light soles are also required.
T-shirts - $10.00 (Youth Large, Adult S-XXL) Shorts - $10.00 (Youth XL, Adult S-XXL)
To purchase any or all of the above items online, please visit the Christensen Middle School Web Store by clicking on the shopping cart icon https://christensen.livermoreschools.org/. To pick up your prepaid merchandise, please bring a copy of your receipt to the CMS front office.
Please write your child’s last name across the back of their P.E. shirt and on the nametag on the front of their shorts. No other writing is permitted on the clothes students wear in P.E.
Math Club Returns to CMS
Math Club at CMS is open to all students and meets every Monday after school from 2:40‑3:40 in Room 905. In Math Club, we work together to tackle challenging problems from MathCounts, and we also hold practice competitions to help prepare students who want to compete district‑wide. It’s a great place to build problem‑solving skills, make math fun, and deepen understanding — come join us and be part of a team!
Order your 2025-2026 CMS Yearbook
The only way to guarantee your CMS 2025-2026 yearbook order is to purchase one from the Varsity Yearbook Order Center.
The price is $35 until February 1. The price will increase after February 1 to $40. Yearbook sales will end on April 6, 2026. There will only be a limited number of copies available for purchase after this date. The prices include shipping to CMS in June.
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 Code16490.
If you want to verify your yearbook order, please visit the Varsity 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.
Helpful Information From LVJUSD
Livermore Library’s Winter Reading Program- All ages are invited to participate in the Winter Reading Program December 1st to January 15th.
Encourage students to register on the Beanstack app (see QR code on flyer) or visit a local branch to pick up a paper game board. Readers earn raffle tickets for time spent reading and can enter to win a variety of prizes.
DonorsChoose Giving Tuesday Match!
On Tuesday, December 2nd, every donation to any DonorsChoose project will be matched! All LVJUSD projects can be found at http://donorschoose.org/lvjusd.
Chromebook Insurance Deadline Extended
The order window for families to purchase Chromebook insurance through School Device Coverage (SDC) has been extended through the end of December. Once the window closes, no new policies may be purchased until the beginning of next school year. The policies are between SDC and the family, any changes to the student device (swapped for repair) must be communicated to SDC by the parents.
LHS Boys Volleyball Clinic, 1/1-1/3
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Alameda County Student Transit Clipper Card Program
The Student Transit Pass Program provides FREE Youth Clipper Cards to eligible middle and high school students. The Youth Clipper card provides unlimited free rides on LAVTA/Wheels. Students can add cash value to the Clipper card for 50% off BART fares and youth discounts on other transit systems that use Clipper. The pass makes it easier for students to travel to and from school.
All students attending middle and high schools in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District are eligible to receive a free Clipper card good for unlimited rides on Wheels and Rapid buses during the 2025-2026 school year.
The Student Transit Pass Clipper Card CMS students received this year or in past years is valid through the student’s high school graduation date if the student remains enrolled in a participating Alameda County school and is under the age of 19.
New Christensen students should complete the online application for a Youth Clipper Card at https://stpp.formstack.com/forms/lvjusd_christensen. All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required including Parent or Guardian Signature. The office will verify the information submitted online and on the printed applications received in the office.
When CMS receives the youth clipper cards, the office will contact the students regarding the distribution of the cards.
Save the Date - 2026 Science Odyssey
- February 25, 2026 Student presentations are due to judges - times TBD
- February 26, 2026 Student project exhibits, a planetarium show, trashion show, live music and community partner exhibits will be held at Joe Michell TK-8 between 5-7 pm.
Calling All Student Writers!
The City of Livermore and Poet Laureate Peggy Schimmelman invite students to enter the Livermore Teen Poet of the First Semester contest! This semester’s theme is “Tomorrow.”
What will happen tomorrow? What do you hope, know, or fear will happen? Use your imagination—any style or interpretation of the theme will be considered.
- Deadline: December 5, 2025
- Who Can Enter: Middle and High School students
- How to Submit: Email your poem to PLLivermore@gmail.com
- . Include your name, private (non-LVJUSD) email address, grade level, school, and teacher. One poem per student. (No AI-generated poems, please.)
- Recognition: Winning poets will receive a Certificate of Achievement from the City of Livermore. With the poet’s permission, selected poems may be published locally and displayed in the Livermore Civic Center Library.
CMS PTA
Join the CMS PTA!
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.
CMS PTA Spirit Wear Fundraiser
Show your school spirit with new CMS spirit wear while helping raise money for the CMS PTA. Order at www.1stplacespiritwear.com
CMS PTA Socials
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Christensen Middle School
Email: bscharmann@lvjusd.org
Website: https://www.livermoreschools.org/Domain/101
Location: 5757 Haggin Oaks Avenue, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: 925-606-4702