CMS Cougar Newsletter - Week 4

FIGHT FORWARD: ANOTHER WEEK IN OUR RACE TO EXCELLENCE

Dear CMS Families,

What an incredible week it has been at Covington Middle School! Our students were given opportunities to learn, celebrate, connect, and create memories that extended far beyond the classroom.

The Virginia 250 Mobile Museum brought Virginia’s history directly to CMS, allowing our students to explore the people, events, and contributions that have shaped our Commonwealth and our nation. We continued our America 250 Celebration by gathering as one CMS family around the flagpole for the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, and patriotic songs. It was a powerful moment of unity, reflection, and school pride.

We concluded our celebration with our first PIT STOP of the school year. Watching our students and staff come together was a wonderful reminder that strong relationships, belonging, and positive experiences are important parts of learning. We were also proud of the special group of students who were the winners of our Family Engagement night with Cool Speak - they won lunch at Cucci's and had a great time.

Our students also shared their creativity through the Creative Commonwealth Sticker Competition. We are incredibly proud of our CMS art contest winners, who will move forward to represent our school in the statewide competition! Please look for a special section in this newsletter recognizing these talented students and their outstanding work.

Attendance Matters - Every Student, Every Day

September is Attendance Awareness Month, but at CMS, attendance matters every month, every week, and every single day.

Every lesson taught, relationship built, assignment completed, and special opportunity experienced begins with one essential thing: students must be here. When students miss school, they miss much more than a day of instruction. They miss important explanations, classroom discussions, hands-on learning, time with trusted adults, connections with classmates, and opportunities that cannot always be recreated.

Absences add up more quickly than many people realize. Missing just two days each month can place a student on the path toward chronic absenteeism. Even when absences are excused, the student has still missed valuable learning that can be difficult to recover. Middle school moves quickly, and one missed day can make the next day - and the days that follow - more challenging.

We understand that illness and unavoidable circumstances happen. However, whenever students are healthy and able to attend, we need them at CMS - on time, prepared, and ready to learn. Families, please continue partnering with us by establishing dependable morning routines, scheduling appointments outside the school day whenever possible, and contacting us when your child is facing a barrier that affects attendance. We want to help.

Our students cannot benefit from the people, programs, celebrations, and opportunities available at CMS if they are not here to experience them. Attendance is not simply about being counted present - it is about being connected, supported, challenged, and given every opportunity to succeed.

We are proud of our students, grateful for our families, and thankful for every staff member and community partner who helped make this remarkable week possible. There are many exciting opportunities still ahead, and we do not want any student to miss them!

One Team. One Track. One Goal: Excellence for Every Student.

Every Student. Every Day. No Exceptions.

With gratitude and Cougar pride,

Lori Mattson
Principal

Covington Middle School 💙🐾

During our CMS America 250 Celebration on Friday, we proudly recognized the CMS winners of the VA250 Creative Commonwealth Sticker Competition! Through this statewide contest, students were challenged to design an original sticker celebrating Virginia’s history, culture, and contributions to our nation as America prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary.

We are incredibly proud of the creativity, thought, and talent demonstrated by our amazing CMS artists. A special thank-you goes to our art teachers, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Thomas, for bringing this opportunity to our students and encouraging them to connect art, history, and personal expression in such a meaningful way!

Although our CMS winners have been recognized, every student who created a design and would like to enter the statewide competition may still do so! Students must have a parent or guardian complete the required permission form and return it to their art teacher. CMS will then submit their artwork for them.

All parent permission forms must be returned by Friday, September 11.

Statewide winners will receive $250 in Virginia 250 merchandise, have their artwork produced as an official Virginia 250 sticker, and receive recognition through Virginia 250 promotional channels and events. The official statewide submission deadline is October 1, and winners will be announced October 12.

We would love to see even more of our talented CMS students share their creativity with the Commonwealth! Learn more about the contest at VA250.org/sticker-contest.

We want to extend a very special thank-you to a group of our eighth-grade young men who demonstrated what Cougar Character truly looks like.

After 589 students and our staff gathered around the flagpole for our CMS America 250 Celebration, these students noticed papers that had been left behind. Without being asked, they took it upon themselves to stay and pick them up.

Their actions may have seemed small, but what they demonstrated was incredibly powerful. They saw something that needed to be done, took ownership of their school, and left the area better than they found it. They did the right thing - not because someone was watching or because they expected recognition, but because it was the right thing to do.

Graham Kenny, Ryder Anderson, Conner Fisher, Colton Higgins, Koltan Tolley, and Dalton Vance we noticed your character, ownership, unity, accountability, respect, and pride in CMS. We are incredibly proud of you. Thank you for setting such a positive example and showing everyone what it truly means to be a CMS Cougar!

This is character. This is leadership. This is CMS. 💙🐾

Strong attendance begins with a strong partnership between home and school. Families can help their students arrive every day, on time, and ready to learn by:

• Establishing consistent bedtime and morning routines.
• Preparing clothes, Chromebooks, backpacks, and school materials the night before.
• Scheduling appointments and family trips outside the school day whenever possible.
• Encouraging students to attend unless they are truly ill.
• Talking regularly about why attendance matters and how missed days can affect learning.
• Monitoring attendance through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
• Contacting the school promptly when an absence is necessary.
• Reaching out to CMS when transportation, health, anxiety, or another challenge is making regular attendance difficult.

We understand that families sometimes face circumstances beyond their control. Please do not wait until absences begin to add up - contact us early so we can listen, connect you with support, and work together on a path forward.

Attendance is not just a school responsibility - it takes all of us. When families and schools work together, students are more likely to feel connected, remain on track academically, and experience everything CMS has to offer.

Every student matters. Every day counts. We need them here. 💙🐾

Our students had an incredible time celebrating America’s 250th anniversary at CMS! The celebration began with a visit from the Virginia 250 Mobile Museum, giving our students the unique opportunity to explore Virginia’s rich history right here on our campus.

This unforgettable experience was made possible through the hard work and support of Delegate Terry Austin and Marian Paxton. We are incredibly grateful to both of them for helping bring the mobile museum to CMS and creating such a meaningful learning opportunity for our students. Thank you for investing in our students and making this special experience possible!

On Friday morning, our entire student body gathered around the CMS flagpole to begin our schoolwide America 250 celebration. Mr. Bradley opened the program and introduced CMS student Penelope Thompson, who beautifully performed our national anthem. Mrs. Burdette then led everyone in singing “America the Beautiful,” followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. It was truly special to see all of our students and our staff gathered together to begin this memorable day!

Our celebration concluded with an assembly in the auditorium where Mr. Linsin spoke to the entire school, followed by special activities put together by this amazing staff. Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Thomas provided fun for everyone in the cafeteria with a patriotic craft, a fun time in the gym thanks to the hard work of our PE staff Mr. Akers, Mr. Skidmore, and Mr. Carter. We also had an engaging guest speaker, Phil Amick (board member with the Alleghany Genealogical Society) and plenty of opportunities for our students to learn, connect, and have fun together. Each student also received a festive “Red, White & Boom” ice pop to cool them off from the heat - thanks Mrs. Morris for making sure everyone got one!!

A special thank-you goes to our incredible faculty and staff for the time, energy, teamwork, and care they poured into creating this experience for our students. We are so grateful to everyone who helped make our CMS America 250 Celebration such a tremendous success!

Our sixth-grade mathematicians put their skills to work this week as they explored fractions, decimals, and percentages! Students practiced making connections among these different forms and challenged themselves to place values in the correct order. Through hands-on learning, teamwork, and plenty of mathematical thinking, our students discovered that numbers can look different while still representing the same value. Take a look at our young mathematicians in action!

Our CMS 6th grade scientists wrapped up their Scientific Method unit this week and put their knowledge to the test with a quiz! Now, we are excited to begin exploring new material. Next week, our sixth and eighth-grade students will dive into their Matter units, while our seventh graders investigate important discoveries involving DNA. There is so much more to question, explore, and discover in our science classrooms!

September is here, and we hope everyone is settling back into a healthy school-year routine. Routines help students feel prepared, focused, and ready to learn - and one of the best places to begin is with some good NEWS!

N is for Nutrition. Our brains need healthy food to function at their best. Remember, CMS provides free breakfast and lunch to every student each school day. Good food provides the fuel students need to learn, grow, and succeed!

E is for Exercise. Although students are active during PE, they also need opportunities to move after school and on weekends. With fall and cooler temperatures approaching, it is a wonderful time to get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and be active. Exercise produces endorphins that help us feel better, manage stress, and stay focused.

W is for Water. Staying hydrated is especially important during these hot temperatures. Students may bring clear water bottles to CMS, so please encourage your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Our bodies - and our brains - need water to perform their best!

S is for Sleep. Sleep is essential for learning, memory, focus, and emotional well-being. Middle school students need approximately 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Establishing a consistent bedtime and putting away phones and other devices can help students receive the rest their brains need.

Cougar families, help your student get the good NEWS every day so they can feel their best, learn their best, and be their best!

The Mobile Dentist will visit CMS on Thursday, September 17, providing convenient dental care right here at school! Services may include dental exams, cleanings, fluoride, sealants, and cavity treatment when needed. In most cases, there is no cost for students insured through Medicaid or CHIP; private insurance and affordable self-pay options are also available. Registration is required, so families should visit MySchoolDentist.com or call 800-409-2563 to sign up. Healthy smiles help our students stay healthy, keep learning, and thrive!

Getting back into the rhythm of homework, studying, and managing time takes practice - especially when students are balancing school, sports, activities, and family time. Middle school brings growing responsibilities, and while that can feel challenging, our students are capable! With encouragement, clear expectations, and a plan, they can build habits that will serve them well beyond this school year.

Our teachers work hard to prepare meaningful lessons that challenge students and help them grow. Homework and practice give students opportunities to apply what they have learned, strengthen their understanding, and identify where they still need help. The goal is more than completing an assignment - it is understanding the learning behind it.

Many assignments are shared ahead of time, giving students several days to complete their work. Example: All CMS students are expected to complete 45 minutes of Zearn each week, with the weekly count resetting on Sundays. Spreading those minutes across the week can make this responsibility more manageable and provide regular math practice.

Families, please help your child look ahead and make a plan. If a game or activity means getting home late one evening, encourage them to use an earlier, less busy evening to work on assignments already available. A few minutes together at the beginning of the week can help students check due dates, plan time for studying, and avoid a last-minute rush.

Help them organize, and support them in taking ownership of their work. If your child is consistently struggling with an assignment or spending excessive time on homework, please contact their teacher so we can help.

We believe in our students’ ability to do challenging things. Together, we can help them turn “I’ll do it later” into “I have a plan!” 💙🐾

Covington Middle School

Asst. Principal: Mr. Marty Wood

Asst. Principal/Athletic Director: Mr. Zach Hamilton

Main Office: 540-965-1410

Website: https://cms.ahps.k12.va.us/

Location: 606 South Lexington Avenue, Covington, VA 24426

Phone: 540-965-1410

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CovingtonMSCougars

Instagram: cmscougars2023