CMS Cougar Communication

Hello CMS Students and Families,

It’s the last week of Trimester 1, and we hope everyone enjoyed their three-day weekend! As we adjust to the time change and shorter days, it's a great time for students to make a final academic push. If your child has any missing assignments, this is the perfect moment to get those submitted to finish the trimester on a high note. Be sure to check Schoology to help them prioritize their academic work.

Thank you for your continued support! Let’s make this final week of the trimester count—both academically and in our community efforts.

The next Cougar Communication will be delivered to your inbox on Sunday 11/17. I hope you find the following information to be helpful.

Here's to a great week,

Brian Scharmann (he/him)
Principal
Christensen Middle School

Hi Parents! Encouraging your kids to listen to different points of view is essential for their critical thinking and empathy development. Here's what you can do:

1. Model Open-Mindedness: Demonstrate open-mindedness by listening to others’ perspectives, even if they disagree.

2. Create an Environment for Discussion: Make the home a safe space where your children can express different viewpoints without fear of judgment.

3. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Ask questions like, "Why do you think that person believes this?" or "Can you see any merit in the opposing view?" This will help your children analyze arguments critically without feeling forced to take sides.

4. Provide Diverse Reading Material: Introduce your kids to books, articles, or videos that present various perspectives.

5. Encourage Active Listening: Teach the importance of listening without interrupting or immediately forming a counterargument.

6. Emphasize Empathy: Instill empathy by encouraging your kids to understand the emotions and experiences that shape different opinions. You can say things like, "How do you think that person feels about this issue?" to foster deeper understanding.

7. Avoid Harsh Criticism of Opposing Views: Teach your kids that even if you disagree with certain viewpoints, you should avoid dismissing them outright.

8. Engage in Group Activities: Involve your kids in group settings where collaboration and different viewpoints are needed, such as team sports, debate clubs, or community projects. This teaches kids to work with others and respect diverse perspectives.

Dawn Allen, Counselor

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:

1. Register for all sports that the athlete is planning on playing this year at athleticclearance.com.
2. 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. Phsyical forms will only be accepted through athleticclearance.com.
3. 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.

• Girls Basketball - October
• 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.

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Young people have the potential to be a powerful force in elections—if they get involved and make voting a habit. To encourage students to become active voters once they are eligible, CMS will participate in the 2024 California Student Mock Election. Students will have the opportunity to cast their votes during lunchtime on election day.

The next School Site Council meeting of the year will be held virtually on Tuesday, November 5th, at 3:00 PM. To join the meeting, please use the following link: https://meet.google.com/rzo-ktsz-kha.

Agenda to follow...

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The CMS English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) will meet virtually on January 21, 2025 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. To join the meeting, please use the following link: https://meet.google.com/gfh-mxvx-tkm.

Agenda to follow...

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

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Jase Biel
• 7th grader - Quinn Illingworth
• 8th grader - Jaycen Lee

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

Congratulations to:

• 6th grader - Delaney Amador

• 7th grader - John Lee

• 8th grader - Beau Galbraith

Local real estate agent (and former LVJUSD teacher) Deborah Byrnes has partnered with us to recognize a CMS staff member each month for their contributions and service to our school community.

This month, we celebrate the outstanding efforts of Yard Duty Supervisor Catherine Christian. Catherine has gone above and beyond by developing a thoughtful system to collect food taken from the cafeteria but left uneaten, reducing waste while supporting individuals in our community who experience food insecurity. Her initiative not only helps minimize waste but also makes a meaningful difference for those in need. Catherine's dedication to creating a caring and sustainable environment at CMS exemplifies the spirit of service that strengthens our community. Congratulations, Catherine, on this well-deserved recognition—we are grateful to have you as part of the CMS family!

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.

Homework Club will be offered on Wednesdays from 1:30PM to 2:30PM. Homework club meets in the MPR and is a quiet place to get work done with support offered by CMS staff members.

The only way to guarantee your CMS 2024-2025 yearbook order is to purchase one from the Herff Jones Yearbook Order Center.

The price is $35 until February 1st. The prices include shipping to CMS in June. There will only be a limited number of copies available for purchase after this date.

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. Yearbook sales will end on April 14, 2025.

If you want to verify your yearbook order, please visit the Herff Jones 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.

We’re excited to announce that CMS will continue its partnership with Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) to offer the Girls Who Cod* club this year! Meetings will be held every Thursday after school from 2:45-4:00 PM in Room 204, starting on Thursday, October 10th.

Although it’s called Girls Who Code, students of any gender are welcome to join. If your student is interested, they can sign up using this Google Form.

Do you love spending time outdoors? Would you like to join a team of students, parents, and staff to help create a habitat for local native plants and wildlife? We're forming a team to plan the planting of the first Miyawaki Forest in the Tri-Valley right here at CMS!

To learn more, check out this short video. If you are interested, please fill out this Google Form so we can plan our work for the year.

If you are interested in participating in MATHCOUNTS this year, plese take a moment to complete this short Google form so that we can communicate to all that are interested.

MathCounts is a middle school mathematics competition that builds problem-solving skills and fosters achievement through an in-person "bee" style contest held in January. The CMS Math Team will meet and practice in preparation to compete against other schools in our district.

Practices are held on Mondays after school in room 905. E Mail Ms. Giorgio at mgiorgio@lvjusd.org for more information.

CMS is starting the CMS Miyawaki Forest Team with the help of Ann Brown, from the Tri-Valley Air Quality Climate Alliance and the CMS PTA. With the help of a team of students, parents, and staff, they will plan and provide a habitat for local native plants and wildlife right on CMS campus!

You can help plant a legacy for your student and family by sponsoring a tree or shrub in the new CMS Miyawaki Forest! Your contribution will help students create a thriving mini-forest of California native flora right in the Quad!

Preparation began this summer, tuned for volunteer dates. CMS will be the first site in the Tri-Valley to create this solution to biodiversity loss, poor air quality, water conservation, heat islands, and climate disruption. Every tree or shrub planted by students will give them hope and agency to be a solutionary!

The Team is seeking donations to help fund the planting of the first “Miyawaki Forest” in the Tri-Valley right here at CMS. Donations to help supply the team with the tools and plant life they need to make this amazing educational experience happen at several sponsorship levels can be made at our Cheddar Up CMS Miyawaki Forest Fundraiser site.

• Sponsor an Eco-System for $100
• Sponsor a Mini Forest for $50
• Sponsor a Grove for $25
• Sponsor a Tree for $15
• Sponsor a Shrub for $10

Thank you for your support!

LVJUSD Halloween Costume Protocols

• No weapons or replica weapons
• No blood or gore
• No skates or roller blades
• Costume masks may be worn during parades only
• In keeping with our District’s student dress code policy (BP 5332), no costumes shall include: “clothing, accessories, and jewelry shall be free of writing, pictures, symbols or any other insignia which are crude, vulgar, profane, obscene, libelous, slanderous, or sexually suggestive. Clothing, accessories, or jewelry that degrade any cultural, religious, or ethnic values, that advocate racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice or discrimination, or that promote sex, the use of tobacco, drugs, or alcohol, or any unlawful acts are prohibited.”

Volunteer Opportunity! Make an impact in your community, serve on the Parcel Tax Committee! The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District invites the Livermore community to apply for two positions on the Parcel Tax Citizens' Oversight Committee. Members serve a two-year term. Members of the senior community and business community are encouraged to apply. Applications are available online or at the front desk at 685 E. Jack London Blvd., Livermore.

Did you know that Child Nutrition is serving up hundreds of fresh, delicious salads every day at all secondary sites across the district? Encourage families to join in on the healthy fun and enjoy these tasty, nutritious options! Check out the flyer for more details! 🎉

We’re excited to spotlight our new Concha bread, served for breakfast! This delightful, fluffy pastry is sure to brighten your morning. Perfectly sweet and a must-try for all! Share the news and get ready to indulge! Check out the flyer for more yummy details! 🎉

Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy, 2024-25 Competitions - Open to students in grades 6-8 and 9-12 respectively. Deadline October 31, 2024.

The City of Livermore’s *Teen Poet of the First Semester Contest* is now open! Winners will receive certificates from the city and a $25 gift card to a downtown merchant. If a CMS student wins, Mr. Scharmann will also Doordash them lunch!

Encourage your student to submit their work and show off their creative talents.

Good luck to all our CMS poets!

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.

Show your school spirit with new CMS spirit wear while helping raise money for the CMS PTA. Order at www.1stplacespiritwear.com

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Artists, dancers, photographers, musicians, and writers! Next year's PTA Reflections theme is, "Accepting Imperfection." If you will be a student at CMS next year, you can already start creating a piece to submit in November of 2024. You can find more information on the CMS Reflections program here or click entry form. Entries that receive an Excellence and move onto Peralta judging will receive a $25 gift certificate from the CMS PTA.

Email: bscharmann@lvjusd.org
Website: https://www.livermoreschools.org/Domain/101
Location: 5757 Haggin Oaks Avenue, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: 925-606-4702