Sunday Communication Chancellor Middle School 2-15-26
We hope everyone had a great weekend! We have four full days of school scheduled for this week. There will be no school for students on Monday, February 16th (tomorrow).
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: According to the U.S. Department of Education, students who are chronically absent are 2.5x more likely to drop-out of school than their non-chronically absent peers.
At this point, we have had 105 days of school, so missing 10 or more days of school at this point is considered chronically absent.
CMS Chronic Absenteeism by Grade Level:
· 6th Grade: As of 2-13-26, 15.0% of 6th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
· 7th Grade: As of 2-13-26, 16.6% of 7th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
· 8th Grade: As of 2-13-26, 19.0% 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 Semi-Formal: Friday, May 15th, 6-8pm (those students with 16 or less absences at that time will be allowed to attend).
Saturday School for Attendance Recovery: CMS is offering Saturday School sessions in order to help students “recover” absences so that they can qualify for AttenDANCES or other attendance incentives. Attending one Saturday School Session (8am-11am) makes-up for one day of absence. Click the link below to learn more about Saturday School (including the dates offered), and to register your student for Saturday School.
CMS PTO News:
We are hosting a treat for our teachers and staff on Friday, February 27th. See the link for our wishlist items. Thank you for your donations and support!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044DA9AC2EA1FCC16-62192524-february
Thirsty Thursday will be this week (February 19th), in the afternoon parent pick-up line, where soft drinks will be sold.
Save the Date: Spirit Night at Panera (Central Park Location) February 26th 4-8pm.
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: 6th grade homework club meets every Monday from 3pm to 4:30pm. However, 6th Grade Homework Club will not meet on Monday, February 16 (tomorrow), as there is no school.
From CMS Health/PE Dept.: We would like to inform you that starting next week, your student will soon be participating in lessons from The Prevention Project, a curriculum designed to educate and empower students to prevent human trafficking and exploitation.
The Prevention Project provides age-appropriate material that helps students:
· Understand the concepts of personal safety and boundaries
· Recognize warning signs of grooming and exploitation
· Develop skills for healthy relationships and digital citizenship
· Learn how to seek help and support if they or someone they know may be at risk
Our goal is to equip students with knowledge and practical tools to protect themselves and others. The lessons will be presented in a sensitive, respectful, and age-appropriate manner by trained staff during health class. If you wish to opt your child out of this Human Trafficking lesson, please contact your child's PE teacher as soon as possible.
We encourage you to talk with your students about what they are learning in this program. Thank you for your continued support in helping us create a safe and informed school community. Please contact your child's Health/PE teacher if you have any questions or concerns.
Lost and Found: Items in the lost and found (located near the cafeteria entrance) will be cleaned-out and donated after school on February 20th. If your student is missing anything, please have them check the lost and found this week.
CMS Talent Show Practices/Meetings in February and March:
Who: MC's/Hosts & Performers
Dates: Fridays, Feb. 20, Feb. 27; March 13, March 27
Time: 3-4:30pm
*Make sure to have a signed permission slip/letter and a ride to go home.
Who: Stage Crew
Dates: Fridays: March 6, March 20
Time: 3-4pm
*Make sure to have a signed permission slip/letter and a ride to go home.
ACCESS Testing: All English Language Learners (ELLs) in Virginia are required to take the WIDA ACCESS assessment each year. This assessment measures students’ English language proficiency and progress in the four language domains: Listening, Reading, Speaking, and Writing.
If your child is identified as an English Learner, they will participate in this required assessment. The testing window is January 20 through March 6.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the WIDA ACCESS assessment, please contact your child’s ELL teacher or the school’s testing coordinator.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s education.
American Heart Association Challenge: Mustangs Have Heart!
We are teaming up with the American Heart Association during the month of February to learn how to save lives. Whether you want to earn service hours, win Super Bowl tickets (2027 Super Bowl), or just help your community, there is a place for you on our team!" Staff, Parents and Students can participate.
Complete Finn’s Mission to learn how to help save a life by learning hands only CPR and the warning signs of a stroke & earn 8 Service Hours from the American Heart Association!
Everyone who completes the mission will get entered to win two tickets to next year’s Super Bowl!
Students can quickly find our Heart Hero site at the top of the Student Dashboard or scan the QR code on the flyer that was sent home before the snow break. Families can also go directly to the American Heart Association site at www2.heart.org to register.
Sign up, raise at least ten dollars, complete Finn’s mission and you can get cool gear, a chance to win Super Bowl tickets and learn how to save a life!
Scheduling Information for 26-27 School Year
All 7th and 8th grade students have received information about choosing classes for next year. Students received their course request form, which was accompanied by a parent letter on the reverse side. All of the information that was shared with students is also posted in the ChMS Canvas classroom. 7th grade students have been asked to return their scheduling forms to their science teachers by February 13th. 8th grade students should have already turned their forms in to their history teacher.
6th graders will receive information about next year's classes on Monday and Tuesday, February 9th and 10th, during their science classes. They'll receive their course request form at that time. This information will also be posted in the ChMS Canvas classroom on February 11th. Students will be asked to return their forms to their science teacher by February 17th.
All course requests will be entered and available to view on StudentVue and ParentVue after March 7th. Students will also receive a Course Request Verification sheet, which can be used to request any desired changes prior to the end of the school year. Please direct any questions related to courses and scheduling to the grade level counselor for your student:
6th Grade Mrs. Sainz asainz@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
7th Grade Mrs. Friedman kfriedman@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
8th Grade Dr. Bolar lbolar@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Yearbook Club: The Yearbook Club will not meet again until March. The date will be determined closer to the time. Thanks for the flexibility thus far and I look forward to seeing all of the students in March.
Chancellor High School Baseball: Are you an 8th grader interested in playing baseball? Chancellor High School is holding tryouts for their JV Baseball Team on Monday Feb 23rd from 3pm to 5pm at the Chancellor High School baseball field. All 8th interested graders that are zoned to attend Chancellor High School should bring their current physical with them to tryouts on Feb. 23rd.
SCPS Job Fair: SCPS is holding a job fair on Saturday, March 7, from 9am-12pm at Massaponax High School. This is a job fair for licensed positions, teachers (elementary, middle, high), school counselors, social workers, speech-language pathologists, and ESOL teachers.
Please see the flyer linked below for the QR code for registration:
Riverbend's Grizzly Mile Bear Cub Run: Mark your calendars for Riverbend's Grizzly Mile Bear Cub Run on Saturday, March 28, 2026!
8:00 AM - Grizzly Mile (14 & under)
8:30 AM - Bear Cub 300m Run (10 & under)
Here is the link to register: https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/Fredericksburg/GrizzlyMile and the flyer is linked below:
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:
Boys Basketball: FMS will play at CMS on 2/18/26. SMS will play at CMS on 2/19/26. The fifth quarter will start at 3:50pm.
Wrestling: CMS will compete at FMS on 2/18/26. CMS will compete at SMS on 2/19/26. The match will start at 4:15pm.
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 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.
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.