CMS Sunday Communication 3-8-26
Chancellor Middle School
We hope everyone had a great weekend!
As of now, we will have four days of school this week (Friday, March 13th is currently a scheduled day off for students). Due to the number of snow days this year, the SCPS School Board will be voting on Monday night as to whether or not to make Friday, March 13th, a full day for students. Please stay tuned to the outcome and announcements made by SCPS regarding this after the school board meeting tomorrow night.
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 119 days of school, so missing 12 or more days of school at this point is considered chronically absent.
CMS Chronic Absenteeism by Grade Level:
6th Grade: As of 3-6-26, 15.6% of 6th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
7th Grade: As of 2-27-26, 19.7% of 7th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
8th Grade: As of 2-27-26, 17.7% 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
7th/8th Grade Homework Club (Attendance Recovery): 7th and 8th graders are welcome to stay after school on each Monday that school is in session for homework club. Students staying after need to have a note with permission from their parent, and a ride home at 4:30. These students should report to the front office at 3:00pm. Staying after school for two of these sessions recovers one day of absence (3 hours equals one day of absence recovery).
6th Grade Homework Club (Attendance Recovery): 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. Staying after school for two of these sessions recovers one day of absence (3 hours equals one day of absence recovery).
CMS PTO News:
Our next PTO meeting will be March 19th at 6:00pm. This date has be changed from previous communication. We look forward to seeing you!
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
Evolv Weapons Detection System: All students and visitors will be using the Evolv Weapons Detection System to enter the building starting Monday, March 9th (TOMORROW).
Parents: Please remind your students to remove these items from their bags before entering the building: Binders, Laptops, Umbrellas, Eyeglass Cases. These items get passed-around the Evolv scanner.
Please remind your students to clean out their backpacks of any trash, unnecessary items, etc.
Please understand that you, as a parent, will have to pass through the Evolv scanner to enter the building (to sign-out your student, drop off a forgotten item for your student, etc.)
Science SOL Review for 8th graders: The 8th grade Science SOL will cover material from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Science. While there are topics in the 6th grade content that are taught again in 8th grade, there are some things that are not. Would your child like a refresher course? We are here to help. We are offering Science SOL Review on Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00 in room 109 (near aux gym). We will bring the Science content to life! Students need a signed note to stay and a ride home promptly at 4:00pm. Hope your 8th grader can come.
Dates:
March 4, 11, 18, 25 -- (6th grade Science material review on March dates)
April 8, 15, 22, 29 -- (7th grade Science material review on April dates)
Integrated Reading & Writing (IRW) SOL – Grade 8: Our 8th grade students will take the Integrated Reading & Writing (IRW) SOL on Wednesday, March 11th in the morning. We are proud of the preparation our students have been doing and look forward to seeing them demonstrate their learning.
You can help your child feel confident and ready by:
-Encouraging a good night’s sleep the evening before the test.
-Making sure they eat breakfast that morning.
-Arriving to school on time.
-Reminding them to read carefully, take their time, and review their writing before submitting.
-Encouraging a positive mindset and confidence in their preparation.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Kristen Dillow, Instructional Coordinator at CMS, at kdillow@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
NJHS Meeting: NJHS members will meet on March 19 from 3-4pm in the health room.
School Supply Drive: CMS recently held a School Supply Drive for the classrooms of CMS. If you would still like to donate school supplies (pencils, erasers, notebook paper, hand sanitizer, wipes, etc.) have your child put it in the bin in the front lobby.
Mid-Year VALLSS Results: Over this past week, students were provided their updated Mid-Year 2026 VALLSS: Grades 4–8 results to bring home and share with families. These results reflect screening completed by students who received a Student Reading Plan and/or participate in Structured Literacy intervention classes. The VALLSS assessment provides detailed information about specific reading skills that support comprehension, including word reading, spelling, language, and reading fluency. The results help identify areas of strength and areas where additional, targeted instruction may be needed to support continued reading growth. Your child’s report includes subtest results from the mid-year screening and explains how each skill area may be contributing to overall reading performance. This information will be used to guide instruction moving forward, and families are encouraged to contact their child’s Structured Literacy teacher with any questions.
Art Appreciation Month Celebration – Tomorrow!
Join us Monday, March 9 from 4:00–5:15 PM for our Division Art Appreciation Month Celebration! Come view the incredible artwork created by our talented CMS students and enjoy a cookie reception before the School Board Meeting at 5:30 PM.
SCPS School Board Building
8020 River Stone Dr
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
We hope you’ll come out and celebrate our amazing young artists!
The following students will have their artwork showcased: Genesis Wright, Michael Barley, Alexandria Brooks, Angely Alvarez, Alisa Montieth, Aniyah Ruley-Wright, Alisson Vaquerano, Luna Hlusko, Emma Anderson, Amy Huby, Hanna Ligouri, Elizabeth Roe, Grecia Contreras, Ashley Herrera, Cindy P. Lovo, Diego Santos, Alisson Vaquerano, Vivi Quach, Raygan Henderson, Josselyn Hernandez, Mara Ceontea, Charlie Brinkley, Avery Benjamin, Brody Bowles, Emma Patzman, Emely V. Gonzalez, Michael Barley, Alyvia Watson, Huy Nguyen, Milan S. Beltran, Jose E. Amaya, Kayla Lee, Avah Ortega, Emma Streeter, Amelia Volpe, Anniston Threatt
Yearbook Club: The Yearbook Club will not meet again until late March. Please stay tuned for dates.
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:
Boys Basketball: NRMS will play at CMS in the semi-final playoffs on 3/9/26 at 4pm. There is no fifth quarter play.
Wrestling: The county championship will be on 3/11-12/26 at SMS at 4:30pm.
Spring Sports: Boys & Girls Track, Boys Soccer and Girls Softball tryouts will begin on 3/16/26 from 3-5pm.
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.