Updates for the week of 11.02.26

Team Crimson teachers took "Orange and Black" day to the next level!!

Our very own Ms. Johnson (pictured on the right) was honored to receive Royal Recognition this past week!  She faithfully holds down our front desk at CMS each and every day.  Please join me in congratulating Ms. Johnson on this special award!!

Here are the updates and information for this week:

1.  Day colors this week - Below is each day's color for this week!

2.  Unwanted Halloween candy - Please feel free to bring in any unwanted Halloween candy THIS WEEK to CMS, and we will donate it to Blue Star Families of Central Virginia, an organization that sends care packages to deployed service members.

3.  Slight change in morning routine - We are going to test out shifting our morning entry time to 8:20.  Students eating school breakfast may still enter at 8:05.

4.  BACON Bits Engineering Club - Modeled as a precursor to CHS’s BACON (Best All Around Club of Nerds) Club, our BACON “Bits” Club will provide an inclusive space for everyone to engage in STEM activities!  Please see these slides for more information as well as how to sign up!

5.  CMS athletics - Fall sports are officially in the books, and Winter season is HERE!  Gear up for Boys and Girls Basketball and Swim coming up next! Plus, our Cricket Club starts this Friday at Tonsler Park. Let’s make this Winter season our best one yet!"

Activities This Week:

Basketball Conditionings

Basketball conditionings will take place on Thursday from 3:30-4:45pm until the week of tryouts. Tryouts will be the week of November 16th. More details to come.

Winter Cheer Interest Form 

Is your student interested in trying out for the winter cheer team? Check out this flyer and have your student fill out this form. Feel free to reach out to one of the coaches with any questions.

Winter Swim Season

The winter swim season is approaching. Practices will begin the week of November 16th on Tuesday and Thursdays from 3:30-4:25. If your student is interested in swimming this year, please fill out the swim interest form. For more information, please reach out to Shannon Wilson.

Cricket Club

CMS Cricket Club is starting back up to finish out the Fall season. Sessions for the month of November will begin on Friday, November 6th from 3:30-5:30 pm at Tonsler Park. Additional sessions will be 11/14 and 11/21. Students will need their own transportation to and from Tonsler park if joining. For more information, please reach out to Ms. Mohammad.

CMS Athletics Page

For more information on athletics for the season, check out our CMS Athletic Webpage that is updated weekly with upcoming games/tickets/and upcoming sports.

6.  Items in Lost and Found - We have a looooot of items in our Lost and Found!!  We have moved the stash up into the lobby vestibule - please feel free to stop by any time from 8:00-4:00 to root through it for your child’s missing items.

7.  English curriculum fair - The school division is hosting an ELA curriculum fair at the CHS Media Center from 4:00-6:00 on M 11.02.26.  Please consider stopping by to review the curricular materials that are being considered for adoption.

8.  Art Reflections - Any current (2026-2027) 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student from Charlottesville City, may apply to Reflections: Central Virginia Regional Governor’s School For Middle School Students Gifted in the Visual Arts.  Reflections is an intense Art program for selected students who love to make Art, learn about Art and be around artists and other students who also love Art!

CMS will hold an interest meeting Fri, Nov. 13 from 8:30-9:00 in the CMS room 

2608 (Mr. Cook’s classroom).  For more information about the program or the portfolio

requirements please visit our website HERE or contact Aaron Eichorst at 

eichora1@charlottesvilleschools.org

Students who apply must plan to attend each day from (8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) every 

school day June 8-10, 14-17, and 22- 24. The program is held at Charlottesville High 

School and daily transportation is available. 

To apply, students must submit a portfolio consisting of four specific pieces of art along 

with a written application and a teacher recommendation. Completed applications may be submitted to CMS art teacher Abi Davis or to Aaron Eichorst CCS Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts by March 1, 2027. Selections will be made by a designated committee according to standardized criteria. Application materials may be obtained on our website, by contacting Aaron Eichorst or any of the Art teachers at your school. This program is supported by the Virginia Department of Education. 

9.  Ghost-inspired donation drive (repeat) - Our 6th graders are holding a donation drive inspired by the novel Ghost, by Jason Reynolds, to benefit the Shelter for Help in Emergency from 11.04.26-11.13.26.  Please consider donating household items and personal care/hygiene items!  Please see this flyer for more information on specific donation items.

10.  Does your child need a winter coat? (repeat) - If your child is in need of a winter coat, please complete this form so that our school mental health professionals can put them on the list to receive one in the next few weeks!

11.  School pictures (repeat) - School pictures are now available!  To see if your child's pictures are available to view, please log in to your account at mylifetouch.com. If you don’t have an account yet, you can create one using your email address.  To locate your child's photos, you'll need their Student ID or Portrait ID and Access Code. If you don't have this information, you can:

• Check your inbox for an email from Lifetouch that may contain your access credentials and a direct link to your child's images.

• Wait for your proof sheet to arrive, which will include your Portrait ID and Access Code.

• Contact the Lifetouch Help Center for assistance

Please note that pictures may not become available for all students at the same time, so check back later if you don't see your child's images yet.

12.  Toy Lift (repeat) - If you would like assistance from the Toy Lift in December, the applications are now open through November 12.

• Application in English: https://bit.ly/toylift2026

• Application in Spanish:  https://bit.ly/juguete2026

13.  Information from community partners - 

• Community Attention Youth Internship Program (repeat)

• Free tutoring (repeat)Parks & Rec Youth Basketball (repeat)

• Parks & Rec Youth Pickleball (repeat)

• CAYIP internship program (repeat)

• City of Charlottesville “Connect” Sites for after school (repeat)

Much love,

Summer Thompson

Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS M 11.02.26 - Professional Learning Day (no school for students) T 11.03.26 - Teacher Work Day (no school for students) F 11.06.26, 7pm - CCS One-Act Theater Festival @MLK/PAC T 11.17.26, 7pm - CMS Orchestra Concert @MLK/PAC W 11.26.26-Su 11.29.26 - Thanksgiving Break (no school)