CMS Cougar Newsletter

A Letter from the Principal

Dear Cougar Families,

It’s hard to believe the first quarter is already behind us! The past nine weeks have been filled with learning, growth, and so many moments of Cougar pride. As we wrapped up our first round of benchmarks, we’re incredibly proud of the effort and determination our students showed across all grade levels. They’ve demonstrated grit, perseverance, and a commitment to doing their best — and that’s something worth celebrating!

Benchmarks aren’t just tests; they’re tools that help us see where our students are and where we need to go next. The data helps our teachers tailor instruction, provide targeted support, and celebrate student progress. We’ve already seen exciting signs of growth — more students showing their work, taking their time, and truly taking ownership of their learning. These are the habits that build academic excellence.

Tomorrow marks the start of the second quarter, and with it comes a brand-new opportunity for every student. For those who have worked hard and done their very best, it’s a chance to keep the momentum going — to continue getting just a little bit better each day. For those who may not have put forth their best effort during the first quarter, this is the perfect time to start fresh and show us all what they are truly capable of achieving! Each new quarter is a blank page, and we can’t wait to see what our students will write on theirs.

As we look ahead to the next nine weeks, we’re focused on two key ingredients for continued success: attendance and effort. Every day matters. When students are present and engaged, they have more opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. Our October Attendance Challenge is still in full swing — the grade level with the highest attendance rate will win an Ice Cream Sundae Party! Mondays and Fridays remain our biggest challenge days, but together we can make a difference. Let’s finish strong and show that Attendance Matters!

Please remind your child that each new day is a fresh opportunity to learn something new, ask questions, and push themselves to be just a little better than yesterday. Their success is built one day — and one effort — at a time.

Thank you for your continued support and for encouraging your child to show up, stay engaged, and give their best. Together, we’re building confident, capable learners ready to tackle whatever comes next!

With Cougar Pride,

Lori Mattson

Interim Principal

Covington Middle School

Cougar Pride in Our School🐾

October is Anti-Bullying Month in Virginia, and at Covington Middle School, we’re proud to stand united in creating a school where every student feels safe, valued, and respected. Our staff works every day to build relationships that matter and to foster a culture of kindness — because every Cougar deserves to feel like they belong.

This week, we’re also kicking off one of our most important traditions of the year — Red Ribbon Week, October 20–24, 2025! This nationwide campaign reminds us all of the power of making healthy, positive, and drug-free choices. At Covington Middle School, being drug free means believing in ourselves, taking care of one another, and showing Cougar Pride in everything we do.

Our theme this year is “Cougars Choose to Be Drug Free!”
Each day, students and staff will show their spirit and commitment to living drug-free lives:

Monday, 10/20 – Rally in Red: Wear red to kick off Red Ribbon Week and show your pledge to live drug free!
Tuesday, 10/21 – Put a Cap on Drugs: Wear your favorite cap or hat to show that you’re putting a lid on unhealthy choices.
Wednesday, 10/22 – Unite for KINDNESS: Wear orange to stand against bullying and for kindness — because being kind is always cool!
Thursday, 10/23 – Inside Out Day: Wear your clothes inside out to celebrate being yourself and embracing what makes you unique.
Friday, 10/24 – Team Up Against Drugs: Wear your favorite team shirt or jersey to show that Cougars play strong and stay drug free!

Through Red Ribbon Week, our students will learn that every choice matters — and that choosing kindness, respect, and a drug-free lifestyle helps them build the bright future they deserve. Cougar Pride shines in every classroom, hallway, and activity at CMS, and this week, we’re showing that real strength comes from making positive choices and supporting one another.

Together, we are One School, One Team, and 100% Drug Free!

💻 Chromebook Reminder 💻

Cougars, please make sure to bring your Chromebook to school every day, fully charged and ready to use. This is especially important for our 1st Quarter Benchmarks! Having your device ready helps you stay on track with assignments, classwork, and learning activities.

Parents, your support in ensuring students come prepared with their charged Chromebook is greatly appreciated—it helps the school day run smoothly and keeps students engaged and ready to learn!

It’s time for Pink Out! The class that raises the most money for the Scholarship Fund for AHPS Seniors will win a pizza party - last year, they were thrilled to award $5,800 in scholarships to the graduating seniors!

Let’s make this year even bigger and brighter and do our part here at CMS — go Cougars! 💖

One of the most important skills your child will ever develop is the ability to read—and read well. At Covington Middle School, we see every day how hard our students and teachers are working to strengthen this essential skill. But we also see the challenge ahead: too many of our students are not yet reading at the level they need to thrive in middle school, high school, and beyond.

This is not a challenge our school can solve alone. We need our entire Cougar community—families, teachers, and students—working together to make reading a priority both in and out of school.

At CMS, we are making important shifts in how we teach reading, grounded in the Science of Reading and the latest best practices. Yet research is clear: the greatest gains happen when schools and families partner to support reading growth. When you make reading a regular part of your home routine, you are doing something that changes the trajectory of your child’s future.

Here are a few powerful ways to help at home:
📚 Make reading a daily habit. Just 15–20 minutes each night builds stamina, fluency, and confidence.
💬 Talk about what your child is reading. Ask questions, share reactions, and make reading a conversation.
👀 Model the love of reading. Let your child see you reading—books, magazines, even recipes count!
🗣️ Build language through conversation. Dinner, car rides, or bedtime talks strengthen vocabulary and comprehension.
🤝 Stay connected. Reach out to your child’s Language Arts teacher if you need ideas or support.

Every time you read together, talk about a book, or encourage your child to keep going when it gets hard, you are helping them build a skill that opens doors for life.

Together, we can build a community where every Cougar becomes a confident, capable reader. Your partnership matters. Your involvement matters. And most of all—our students’ futures matter too much to do anything less than our very best.

📚 Cougars… Keep Reading and Reaching!

The Covington Middle School Library is thrilled to announce that our 2025 Read-A-Thon is in full swing — and our Cougars are off to an amazing start! Students have jumped right in, showing enthusiasm, focus, and a true love for reading. It’s inspiring to see so many Cougars taking charge of their learning and proving that readers truly are leaders!

The Read-A-Thon runs from Wednesday, October 1 – Friday, October 31, 2025, giving our students the entire month to set goals, challenge themselves, and celebrate their reading growth.

Families can still join the fun by activating their child’s personal page to track reading progress and cheer them on throughout the month! If you haven’t yet, simply visit:
https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/UHvfyF/1?utm=email
and follow the quick steps to get started.

We love using Read-A-Thon because it:
✅ Builds reading skills in a fun, engaging way
✅ Motivates students to set goals and celebrate success
✅ Encourages family and community support with minimal time commitment

We can’t wait to see how many minutes our Cougars will log by the end of the month! Let’s keep the momentum going — Cougars read with pride, purpose, and passion! 💙📖

Mrs. Dujardin's Classroom:

Students explored the culture of Colombia, South America by crafting maracas and enjoying traditional arepas — delicious cheese-filled corn cakes.

🔢Math Update

We are thrilled to celebrate our Math Students of the Week — learners who consistently go above and beyond in effort, attitude, and engagement!

Algebra: Faith Shull

These students truly embody what it means to be a Mathlete! They ask thoughtful questions, participate actively, stay focused in class, and show respect to both their teachers and classmates.

Our math classes continue to focus on developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills — breaking complex problems into smaller steps, exploring multiple strategies, and understanding the “why” behind each solution. It’s not just about getting the right answer — it’s about building confidence and flexibility as thinkers.

Consistent attendance plays a key role in this growth. Every day in class provides opportunities to strengthen skills, collaborate with peers, and make meaningful progress. We’re so proud of all our students who are showing up, working hard, and giving their best effort each day!

⚽️❤️ PE & Health Update:

PE/Health Update:

This week, our students will hit the field for soccer! We can’t wait to see their soccer skills in action through a variety of fun games and activities.

In Health, Mrs. Wheeler’s classes will begin LifeSkills Training (LST) — a program focused on building confidence, making positive choices, and developing essential life skills.

🔬 Science Update

6th Grade:
Our 6th graders dove into their new unit on the Properties of Water! This week’s lab had them exploring surface tension, displacement, and the scientific method using just pennies and a cup of water. Students were amazed by how many drops of water could fit on a single penny — a fun and hands-on way to see science in action!

7th Grade:
Seventh graders began their Cell Processes unit with a focus on cell transport. They also enjoyed another visit from Mrs. Hodges with Alleghany County 4-H, who guided students as they tested their catapult models — an exciting blend of science, engineering, and creativity!

7th Grade Reminders:

• Cell Projects are due Thursday, October 31st.

• Ms. Hinkle’s classes: Please bring a pack of Skittles on Monday, October 20th for an upcoming activity.

8th Grade:
Our 8th graders kicked off their Periodic Table unit and are hard at work on their “Adopt an Element” project, learning about the unique properties and real-world uses of their chosen elements. They also completed their first quarter benchmark, reflecting on how far they’ve come and setting goals for continued growth in quarter two.

🎶 The Weekly Beat 🎶

Choir:
Our choir students are getting into the holiday spirit as they begin preparing music for our December 18 concert! They are also continuing work on the All-District Choir piece, “Beautiful Dreamer,” focusing on vowel clarity and tone production to create a rich, unified sound.

Band:
Our 7th and 8th grade band students had a great week sight-reading new pieces and exploring potential repertoire for future performances. Their enthusiasm and teamwork are really shining through!

Booster Reminders for Families:

• Performing Arts Boosters Meeting: Parents interested in supporting our programs are invited to the next meeting on October 27 at 6:30 PM in the Alleghany High School Cafeteria.

• Krispy Kreme Donut Fundraiser: Orders are ready for pickup on October 22 from 4–5 PM in the CMS Cafeteria. Thank you to everyone who supported our music students!

Special Opportunities:

• Tri-M Music Honor Society: The first full meeting for new and returning members will be October 23 in Curfman Hall from 4–5 PM, followed by a recital rehearsal from 5–6 PM.

Our performing arts students are making beautiful music, showing incredible dedication, and creating memories that will last a lifetime!

🎨Art Update:

Artists of the Week

We are excited to recognize the amazing creativity that continues to happen in our art classrooms! Congratulations to this week’s Artists of the Week:

• 6th Grade: Alexis Downer

• 7th Grade: Kinsley Jefferson

• 8th Grade: Gianna Leslie

Your hard work, creativity, and dedication light up our school. Keep shining, COUGARS!!

Covington Middle School

Asst. Principal: Mr. Marty Wood

Asst. Principal/Athletic Director: Mr. Zach Hamilton

Main Office: 540-965-1410

Attendance Email: Attendance Notes
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