Sunday Communication
Chancellor Middle School
2-22-26
We hope everyone had a great weekend! We have five full days of school scheduled for this week.
The next scheduled day with no school for students is Friday, March 13.
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: Studies have shown that students who are chronically absent from school are more likely to have difficulty maintaining positive social relationships.
At this point, we have had 109 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 2-20-26, 15.3% of 6th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
7th Grade: As of 2-20-26, 18.5% of 7th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
8th Grade: As of 2-20-26, 20.4% 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.
Saturday School Information and Registration
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
Save the Date:
Spirit Night at Panera in Central Park Thursday February 26th from 4-8pm (in person). Must show the flyer to cashier (flyer linked below
PTO Panera Spirit Night Flyer
*Placing mobile, online or kiosk orders be sure to enter the promo code FUND4U before making payment in order for CMS to receive credit. Online orders placed all day at Panera in Central Park will count towards our fundraising goal.
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
February Students of the Month: Each month, teachers select two students of the month for each grade level. Students are selected based on being respectful, responsible, and productive. Congratulations to our February students of the month:
February Students of the Month Photo
In photo, from left to right:
8th: Lucien Porche, 8th: Shawnise Johnson, 7th: Allison Bonilla Hernandez, 7th: Steven Guevara Amaya, 6th: Sarah Unroe, 6th: Liam Wilson
6th Grade Homework Club: 6th grade homework club meets every Monday from 3pm to 4:30pm in the counseling office. Students need to have a note from a parent giving permission to stay, and a ride home at 4:30.
Title Takedown Club: Title Takedown will meet on Tuesday, February 24th, after school from 3-4 p.m. in the library. Students--be sure to bring your books and notes with you. See you then!
CMS School Supply Drive: CMS is seeking school supply donations, to benefit our students at staff here at CMS. We are looking for pencils, folders, notebooks, glue sticks, and backpacks. We will be collecting donations all next week (Feb 23 – Feb 27),
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!
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: CMS will play at SMS on 2/25/26. CMS will play at TMS on 2/26/26. The fifth quarter will start at 3:50pm.
Wrestling: SMS will compete at CMS on 2/25/26. TMS will compete at CMS on 2/19/26. The match will start at 4:15pm.
Pictures: The boys basketball and wrestling team will take their individual/team pictures on 3/4/26.
Chancellor High Baseball: 8th graders that are 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 graders that are zoned to attend Chancellor High School should bring their current physical with them to tryouts on Feb. 23rd
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.