Sunday Communication
Chancellor Middle School
4-5-26
We hope everyone had a great Spring Break!
We have five full days of school scheduled for this week.
At the March 9th school board meeting, the school board voted to have no school for students on Tuesday, April 21st. This is due to that day being a special election day, and most of our school sites are used as voting places
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 132 days of school, so missing 14 or more days of school at this point is considered chronically absent.
CMS Chronic Absenteeism by Grade Level:
· 6th Grade: As of 3-27-26, 15.2% of 6th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
· 7th Grade: As of 3-27-26, 17.0% of 7th grade students are chronically absent for this school year.
· 8th Grade: As of 3-27-26, 20.6% 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):
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:
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
March Students of the Month: Each month, the teachers from each grade level select two students to be Students of the Month. These students consistently display the character traits of being respectful, responsible, and productive. Congratulations to these students!
March Students of the Month Photo
(in photo, from left to right)
6th: Jamari Jacobs
6th: Afia Boafo
7th: Bradley Gray
7th: Victoria Edwards
8th: Corey Cato
8th: Jenna Dooley
7th Grade Science Lab Donations: 7th grade science teachers are requesting large bags of TWIZZLERS candy and large bags of colored marshmallows for a lab opportunity. Items are needed by Thursday, April 7 after Spring Break. Email Mrs. Tate at jtate@spotsylvania.k12,va,us for further details. THANK YOU!
Math 6 SOL Review Student Incentives: Math 6 teachers, Mrs. Currier, Ms. Shelton, and Mrs. West, are asking for donations of individual bags of chips, canned soda, full-size candy bars, or Little Debbie Snacks. Please send in any donations to Mrs. Currier, Ms. Shelton, or Mrs. West no later than Thursday, April 30th. These treats will be used as incentives during our SOL review. Thank you!
History on Wheels: CMS is hosting an exciting opportunity for any of our history loving students! “History on Wheels” is a program starting soon that meets on Saturdays at CMS. Students will take field trips to local historical sites giving students an up-close, interactive learning experience! Please see the flyer linked below for more information, including the link to sign-up. Sign-up by April 8th!
8th Grade Semi-Formal Dance: The 8th grade semi-formal dance will be held on Friday, May 15th, from 6-8pm.
Cost for a ticket will be $10. Ticket sales aren’t available yet (stay tuned), however tickets will be sold both online and in-person.
Students must have 16 absences or less by the date of the dance in order to qualify to attend.
Students must not have any ISS or OSS from April 6th to the date of the dance in order to attend.
Only CMS students, and only CMS 8th graders, are allowed to attend the dance.
STEM Showcase: SCPS families: mark your calendar to visit the STEM INNOVATION SHOWCASE at COURTLAND HS on Saturday, April 11 from 9-1pm. Drop in for any amount of time and find out how students in SCPS are using science, technology, engineering design, and math to make a difference! Local community organizations will also have interactive displays for all ages and lots of fun things to see and experience. This is an event for the whole family and it is FREE!
National Junior Honor Society: The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is a prestigious national organization that recognizes middle school students who go above and beyond in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. To be eligible for induction into the CMS Vertex chapter, 7th grade students must demonstrate a strong commitment to their academics by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Because NJHS members serve as role models for their peers, we also look for students who show consistent dedication and integrity; therefore, candidates must have fewer than 10 days missed during the school year and have no discipline referrals on their record from 6th or 7th grade. This organization offers a wonderful platform for our students to develop leadership skills and give back to the community through impactful service projects. 7th grade students who meet the above criteria will be receiving more info soon.
Educational Agriculture Expo: The SCPS Chapter of FFA is hosting an Agriculture Expo for the community on Saturday, April 25th, from 10am-2pm at Courtland High School. The event will feature local agriculture exhibits, student organizations, and opportunities for students to learn about agriculture and the careers that go along with it. This event is free of charge.
Please see the attachment linked below for more information!
Educational Ag Expo Flyer
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)
Chancellor High School Athletics Fundraiser Golf Tournament: Chancellor High School Athletics Department is hosting their annual fundraiser golf tournament on Friday, May 15th, 2026. Please see the attachment linked below for more information, registration, etc.
Riverbend High School Cheer: For rising 9th graders who will be attending Riverbend High School, if you are interested in participating in Cheer as a 9th grader, there is an interest meeting on Monday, April 20th, at 6:30pm in the Riverbend High School cafeteria. Please see the attachment linked below for more information.
CMS Library Book Reminders:
-Books can be checked out for up to 3 weeks at a time before needing to be turned in or renewed.
-If a student's book is damaged or lost during a student's checkout, that student is responsible for paying for the replacement of the book.
-Parents can pay for lost or damaged books in person or can send cash or a check (made out to Chancellor Middle School) with their student. Any lost books found within 6 months of payment will be refunded.
CMS Yearbook: Advance/online sales for the yearbook are closed. We will have a limited amount available for in-person sales in May when the yearbooks are delivered.
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.
o Cell phones must be off and away (in backpack/bag, not in pocket of clothing).
o This also includes smartwatches, earbuds/headphones, and AI/AR glasses.
o 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, and/or13 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 Soccer & Girls Softball: CMS will compete at TMS on Monday, 4/13/26. POMS will compete at CMS on Wednesday, 4/15/26. The fifth quarter play will start at 3:50pm.
Boys & Girls Track: CMS will compete at POMS on Wednesday, 4/15/26. The track meet will start at 3:50pm.
Practices are Monday-Friday. The expectation is for all participants to be present and on time for all dates, practices and games. 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, and you must also pass through the Evolv Weapons Detection System.
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.