Sunday Communication 5-3-26 We have five full days of school scheduled for this week. Use this link to view the SCPS A-Day/B-Day Instructional Calendar. A-Days and B-Days will not change throughout the year. 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: A good night’s sleep is the best way to help a student’s body be physically prepared to attend school the next day. Parents can assist in this by doing things like consistent bedtimes, and having a cut-off time for the use of electronics. At this point, we have had 151 days of school, so missing 16 or more days of school at this point is considered chronically absent. CMS Chronic Absenteeism by Grade Level: · 6th Grade: As of 5-1-26, 15.1% are chronically absent for this school year. · 7th Grade: As of 5-1-26, 17.3% are chronically absent for this school year. · 8th Grade: As of 5-1-26, 21.3% are chronically absent for this school year. 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). Also, any students with any ISS or OSS between April 6th and the date of the dance will not 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 :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: We are looking for a few awesome parents and guardians to join the CMS PTO Board next year. No special experience needed just willingness to help and share your ideas! Nominations for 2026-2027 PTO Board are due by April 24th. Please reach out if you have any questions. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yjKV-e1rwHrHAhxRRnlqWa4OIdR25XCAj73PXDOp3ws/edit 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 click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwHc9Ctkq1AOY2UmdyJPY_umlGK69swX1ZgncCmJ3i5feFBw/viewform Mental Health Awareness Spirit Week: This week, all SCPS schools are having a spirit week for mental health awareness (May is Mental Health Awareness Month). Monday 5-4: May the Force of Calm be with You! Wear comfy clothes. Tuesday 5-5: Talk About it Tuesday! Wear green to break the silence. Wednesday 5-6: Shine Bright! Wear neon. Thursday 5-7: We are Family! Wear school spirit gear. Friday 5-8: Growth mindset! Wear your favorite hat. SOL Testing: As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we are excited for our students to showcase all the hard work they’ve put in this year during our upcoming SOL testing! Testing will take place on the following dates: · Tuesday, May 5: Math (all grade levels) We are so proud of the effort and growth our students have shown, and we know they are ready to do their best. To help them feel confident and prepared, please encourage a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast on testing days. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our Instructional Coordinator, Kristen Dillow, at kdillow@spotsylvania.k12.va.us. Thank you for your continued support—we’re looking forward to a great testing week! End of Year School Clinic Reminders: · Medications: Medications should be picked up by a parent/guardian or adult designee by 3:00pm on the last day of school, May 29th. Please contact Nurse Tucker if you need to make alternate arrangements or if you wish for the medications to be discarded. Students with permission to self-carry inhalers or EpiPens may pick up their extra dose from the nurse. Medications for students attending summer school must be picked up by the parent/guardian and taken to the summer school site. nurse cannot transfer the medications. · Immunizations: Rising 7th grade students are required to have proof of immunization on file in the clinic for the following vaccines : Meningococcal, TDaP and HPV (optional). Please send a copy of your student's immunization record to the school nurse before the start of 7th grade. All 6th grade students are eligible to receive the vaccines now and it is recommended that parents make appointments with your pediatrician or the Spotsylvania Health Department at 540-507-7400 as soon as possible and not wait until the summer months when there will be fewer appointment spaces available. History on Wheels: CMS kept the registration for Saturday "History on Wheels" open. (There is one Saturday left in the program.) This program is designed to strengthen students’ understanding of key history content and skills through engaging, hands-on learning experiences and field trips. What You Need to Know: · Program: History Standards & Skills Review · Remaining Dates: o May 9, 2026 Fredericksburg Area Museum (Former Chancellor Middle and Chancellor High Art Teacher and local artist Mr. Carlos Moore will be leading a history based art project at the museum for the students). · Times: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Bring a water bottle, snacks provided · Registration Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepNT-c5hLeUM6L9-V8JAmUeWMTUqSGPO5dgh9n_YZ94kLO-g/viewform SCPS Mental Health Awareness Event: Tuesday, May 5 at 5:30 PM at Massaponax High School! SCPS is hosting a resource fair with wellness activities and community partners as well as a student/administrator panel to discuss mental health trends and wellness strategies among our students. Please see this FLYER for more details. Cursive Handwriting: Students interested in learning cursive handwriting are invited to stay after school with Miss Dixon beginning on Monday, May 4. Sessions will be held Mondays through Thursdays until 4:10. The last session will be on Wednesday, May 27. Permission slips are available outside of the upstairs restrooms. Dress Code Reminder: With the weather significantly warming-up now, we would like to remind our students/families about this particular part of the dress code: “Students must wear clothing that covers their skin from chest to mid thigh with opaque (non see-through) fabric in front, back, and on the sides.” (Page 33 of Spotsylvania County Schools Student Code of Conduct) 8th Grade Semi-Formal Dance: The 8th grade Semi-Formal dance will be on Friday, May 15, from 6-8pm. Any 8th graders with more than 10% absences by that point will not be allowed to attend. 16 absences or less by May 15 will be allowed to attend. Also, any students with ISS/OSS between Spring Break and the day of the dance will not be allowed to attend Tickets for the 8th grade formal will be on sale from Tuesday, May 5th until Thursday, May 14th before school. Tickets are $10. Students may also purchase tickets online, and their physical ticket will be delivered during homeroom May 5th-14th. Price: $10 per ticket. Current CMS 8th grade students only. Please note that tickets will also be available for purchase in person during the school day starting on Monday, May 4th - Thursday, May 14th. All tickets—whether purchased online or in person—must be secured within the sales window. Tickets are non-refundable, and all school expectations and guidelines apply. Students MUST attend school on the day of the dance. We look forward to celebrating with our 8th grade students! Thank a Teacher: Thank a Teacher started in 2016 with one goal: to thank as many Virginia public school teachers as possible during National Teacher Appreciation Week in May. With thank-you notes designed by students and distributed by the Virginia Lottery, Virginia's residents can thank their favorite public school teachers and help them win a cash prize and supplies for their schools. Every digital thank-you note a teacher receives includes a unique code that can be used to enter a drawing to win $2,500 from the Virginia Lottery and its' partners and $2,500 in supplies for their school. The four lucky teachers who win will be surprised at their school. Send your digital Thank a Teacher note before May 8! CMS Library Book Reminders: · All library books are due this Friday, May 8th. · 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. -Cell phones must be off and away (in backpack/bag, not in pocket of clothing). -This also includes smartwatches, earbuds/headphones, and AI/AR glasses. -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 Soccer & Girls Softball: NRMS will compete at CMS on Monday, 5/4/26. CMS will compete at SMS on Wednesday, 5/6/26. The fifth quarter play will start at 3:50pm for boys soccer. There is no fifth quarter play for girls softball. Boys & Girls Track: TMS will compete at CMS on Monday, 5/4/26. SMS will compete at CMS on Wednesday, 5/6/26. The track meets 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. | 
