Sunday Communication Chancellor Middle School 1-5-26
We hope everyone had a great weekend, and has had a great start to Winter Break!
We have four full days of school this week. There is no school for students on Monday, Jan 5th
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: Chronic absenteeism dramatically lowers a student's chances of college success. A recent study found that only 11% of chronically absent high school students made it to their second year of college, compared to 51% of non-chronically absent students.
At this point, we have had 82 days of school, so missing 9 or more days of school at this point is considered chronically absent.
CMS Chronic Absenteeism by Grade Level:
6th Grade: As of 12-19-25, 12.9% of 6th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
7th Grade: As of 12-19-25, 15.1% of 7th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
8th Grade: As of 12-19-25, 19.1% of 8th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
Perfect Attendance Monthly incentive: Any student with perfect attendance for the entire month will be rewarded with one recess period at the beginning of the following month.
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). Students who qualify will receive their invitation during homeroom on Tuesday, Jan 6th.
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:
Calling all CMS Businesses and Families! We are looking for sponsors for the 2025-2026 school year. We have several things planned for the rest of the school year such as: support for school dances, SOL encouragement, Honor Roll incentives, teacher/staff appreciation just to name a few but we need you! Different levels of support are listed here: https://forms.gle/rHCTn3Jrb6E3LiF79
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
6th Grade Homework Club: The next 6th grade Homework Club meeting will be January 12th from 3pm to 4:30pm. This is a great time for students to catch up on work, work on homework, get answers to questions about assignments or what they're learning, and to study for tests and quizzes. Students need a note from a parent or guardian and a ride at 4:30pm to stay.
Donation Request: Please help all of us to stay happy and healthy in the new year. Consider donating tissues, disinfectant wipes, and hand sanitizer to your child's teachers. Donations of pencils and glue sticks are welcome at any time.
Thanks for your consideration!
CMS Pep Squad: Practices for the CMS Pep Squad will resume on Tuesday, January 6th, after school until 5:00pm.
Rising 6th Grader Night: Our winter Rising 6th Grader Night will be held on Wednesday, January 21st, at 6pm. This is for current 5th graders who will be attending CMS next year (and their parents). This is a time to learn about the typical day of a 6th grader, learn about classes, and start to become familiar with the school itself. There will also be two sessions over the summer you can attend.
8th Graders Applying for Advanced Programs: 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.
Spring Immunization Clinic at CMS: This spring we will host another immunization clinic for any of our students in need of immunizations. Our CMS immunization clinic will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026. Consent forms have been mailed to the families of any rising 7th grade student that does not have proof of the vaccinations already on file in the school clinic. Signed original consent forms must be turned in to Nurse Tucker no later than January 28th, 2026. We cannot accept late forms.
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 re required to have an Attendance Success Plan put in place.
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 AthleticsWinter Sports:
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.