Sunday Communication, Chancellor Middle School 11-16-25
We hope everyone had a great weekend! We have 5 full days of school this week.
Upcoming days off: There is no school from Monday 11-24-25 through Friday 11-28-25, due to Thanksgiving Break.
Use this link to view the SCPS A-Day/B-Day Instructional Calendar. A-Days and B-Days will not change throughout the year. How they are listed on the calendar now is how they will stay, regardless of school cancellation (snow days, for example). A Days are underlined.
Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism: “Chronic absenteeism” means a student missing 10% or more school days for the year. Each week in this Sunday Communication there will be a fact/statistic/tip about attendance and/or chronic absenteeism.
This week’s fact: Research shows that students who are chronically absent from school more likely to have below grade level skills in math not just for the year they are chronically absent, but moving forward in math for at least the next 2 years, since math instruction continuously builds on itself through the years of schooling.
At this point, we have had 64 days of school, so missing 6 or more days of school at this point is considered chronically absent.
CMS Chronic Absenteeism by Grade Level:
6th Grade: As of 11-14-25, 14.2% of 6th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
7th Grade: As of 11-14-25, 15.1% of 7th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
8th Grade: As of 11-14-25, 17.5% of 8th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
Perfect Attendance Monthly incentive: Starting for the month of November, any student with perfect attendance for the entire month will be rewarded with one recess period at the beginning of December.
AttenDANCES (Attendance incentive dances):
6th Grade: Thursday, March 26th, from 3-5pm (those students with 13 or less absences at that time will be allowed to attend).
7th Grade: Friday, March 27th, from 3-5pm (those students with 13 or less absences at that time will be allowed to attend).
8th Grade: Friday, January 9th, from 3-5pm (those students with 8 or less absences at that time will be allowed to attend).
8th Grade Semi-Formal: Friday, May 15th, 6-8pm (those students with 16 or less absences at that time will be allowed to attend).
CMS PTO News: November is here!
1. Spirit Night at Paisano’s (Central Park): November 20th (All Day).
Dine-in, Carry- out or Delivery. Be sure to mention Chancellor Middle PTO at check out.
2. Coming soon in December!! Thirsty Thursday! (Thirsty Thursday Flyer)
Support your PTO while you wait for your student in the car line. Grab one of our offered drinks for $3 without leaving your car.
~Looking for a few volunteers to help during this time (2:00-2:45pm). Reach out to us for more details at Chancellormiddlepto@gmail.com
Please reach out if you have any questions: chancellormiddlepto@gmail.com
PTO memberships are still available: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwHc9Ctkq1AOY2UmdyJPY_umlGK69swX1ZgncCmJ3i5feFBw/viewform
Lockdown Drill: Virginia law requires schools to notify their community of upcoming lock-down drills. CMS is planning to have a lock-down drill on Thursday, November 20th. If you happen to be on campus that day and notice extra police presence, this is likely the reason.
Interim Reports: Teachers either sent interim reports home with students at the end of last week, or will be sending them home with students at the beginning of this week.
NJHS: The next 8th grade National Junior Honor Society meeting will be held on Monday, Nov 17 from 3-4pm in the health room. Members are asked to bring in either one cake mix or one pack of birthday candles for the next service activity.
Treasure House Supply Drive: CMS NJHS is holding a drive for the Spotsylvania Treasure House, now through November 21st. Drop off items in the collection boxes located in the CMS front lobby. Items needed include shampoo, conditioner, body wash, baby wipes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and deodorant.
Title Takedown: Title Takedown will meet this Tuesday (11/18) after school in the library from 3-4 p.m. Students should bring their completed books, notes, and practice questions. Please have a ride promptly at 4 p.m. See you there!
6th Grade Homework Club: The 6th Grade Homework Club will meet on Monday from 3pm to 4:30pm with Mrs. Sainz. Students can do work, ask questions, or study. All 6th graders are welcome as long as they have a note from a parent to stay and a ride at 4:30pm. This is also a great opportunity for attendance recovery for students who have been absent. For this week only, students staying for Homework Club should report to counseling at 3pm.
8th Graders Interested in Advanced Programs for High School: Any 8th grade student who is interested in applying to one of the advanced programs for high school, and have not yet done so, should pick up a Permission to Apply form in counseling. The online application will open on December 1, 2025 and is due by January 9, 2026. Additional information can be found on the Advanced High School Programs SCPS website. There are two remaining information nights. The are: Nov 19th at Riverbend High (CGS only) from 6pm-7:30pm, and Nov 19th at Spotsy High (CGS and IB) from 6pm-7:30pm. Questions about CGS can be directed to Dr. Tracie Omohundro at tomohundro@cgsva.org and questions about IB can be directed to Ms. Cathy LaRocco at clarocco@spotsylvania.k12.va.us.
Spring Immunization Clinic at CMS: This spring we will host another immunization clinic for any of our students in need of immunizations. More information will be coming regarding this in the coming weeks/months, including parent permission forms (opt-in). Our CMS immunization clinic will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Reporting Student Absences: When your student is absent, please call the school or send an email to chancellormsattendance@spotsylvania.k12.va.us so that we can excuse the absence. Students who reach 5 unexcused absences or 10 total absences are required to have an Attendance Success Plan put in place.
Advanced High School Programs: SCPS is holding Information Nights for 8th graders and their parents interested in the advanced high school programs of Commonwealth Governor’s School and the International Baccalaureate Program.
Tues, Nov 18: Riverbend High School (CGS)
Weds, Nov 19: Spotsylvania High School (IB)
See the informational flyer linked here: Advanced High School Info Nights
Next Yearbook Club Meeting: The Yearbook Club will not resume meetings until after Thanksgiving. The next meeting will be held December 17, 2025.
CMS 2023-24 Yearbooks: Yearbooks from 2023-2024 (which have our current 8th graders in them as 6th graders when they first entered Chancellor Middle School) will be on sale at a discounted price of $7.00 starting on Monday November 17, 2025. Please see Mrs. Thompson by the 7th grade stairwell during homeroom or outside of the library during 8th grade lunch to purchase your yearbook. The yearbooks will be sold for two weeks.
CMS Yearbook: The Yearbook is now available for purchase. Purchase your Yearbook early and receive a discount. You are able to purchase online or send in your money and order form by your child. Order forms have been sent home.
ORDER ONLINE AT WWW.STRAWBRIDGE.NET ONLINE CODE: YB33988
Cell Phones / Personal Technology: This year, just like every previous year, students are not allowed to use cell phones in school at CMS. Last year, the Governor of Virginia made an executive order that extends to all public VA K-12 schools, restricting the cell phone usage by students from the beginning of the day to the end of the day.
Cell phones must be off and away (in backpack/bag, not in pocket of clothing).
This also includes smartwatches, earbuds/headphones.
Students who fail to follow these rules will have their device confiscated, and also face possible disciplinary consequences.
Social Media: Each year we like to remind our parents about the behavior of students on various social media platforms, groupchats, online video games, etc. Throughout each year, we receive reports of students being mean on these platforms, starting or getting into drama, hurt feelings, etc. CMS has no control over social media. The platforms are not willing to work with schools (to investigate, delete posts/accounts, block users, etc). Further, this is happening away from the supervision of school adults and outside of school time. Please, parents, be mindful of what your child is doing with their phone/device. There are many apps that can help parents monitor what their child is doing on their device. If your child has a negative interaction on one of these platforms, please have them block/delete that “friend”, or remove/delete the app from your child’s phone/device. Parents – if you see what some adults act like on social media, you can only imagine how 11, 12, 13 year olds may act.
Medications and Treatments in School: Students who require medications or treatments in school, including self carry/self administered medications like inhalers or EpiPens, or over the counter medications like Tylenol or allergy tablets, must have orders/forms signed by a healthcare provider each school year. You can find the forms on the School Division website under Health Services. Nurse Tucker can provide hard copies of most forms upon request.
CMS Athletics:
Winter Sports:
Girls Volleyball: Will play SMS on Tuesday, 11/18/25 at CMS. CMS will play at BMS on Tuesday, 12/2/25. The fifth quarter will start at 3:50pm and the cost is $3.
Boys Basketball: Tryouts begin January 6th-8th from 3-5pm. Boys basketball is available for grades 6-8.
Wrestling: Tryouts begin January 6th-8th from 3-5pm. Wrestling is available for boys and girls for grades 6-8.
Tryouts/practices are Monday-Friday. The expectation is for all participants to be present and on time for all tryout dates and practices. Students are required to bring appropriate attire. All participants must be picked up by a parent or guardian no later than 5:15PM.
Requirements: Students must have the Revised April 2025 six page athletic physical form completed and turned into the school's nurse, Mrs. Tucker. In addition, all students and parents must complete the Online Concussion training and the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training. Students must also adhere to the Spotsylvania Code of Conduct and must maintain passing grades in all subjects in order to try out and maintain eligibility throughout the sports season.
All information and links concerning sports, physicals, and concussion training can be found and accessed on the Chancellor Middle School Website at the following link: https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/o/chancellorms/page/athletics
Please contact Athletic Director, Mr. Threatt, with any questions: fthreatt@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Ongoing Reminders:
Please call the school to make any changes to your contact information (phone numbers, email address, postal address, emergency contacts). This can be done any time throughout the year.
When visiting the school, you will be asked to show a government-issued photo ID in order to enter the building.
Dismissal is at 2:45pm. If you need to pick-up your student early, please be aware that early pick-up ends at 2:30pm.
In the morning, buses unload at 7:40am and students go to breakfast if they wish, then report to homeroom. Car-riding students can be dropped-off as early as 7:20am, and we will provide them supervision in the gym. Please do not drop off your student any earlier than 7:20am. They will not be allowed in the building and there will be no supervision of them if they get dropped-off before 7:20am.