Chippewa Falls Middle School

Dear CFMS Families,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits as we embrace the wonderful month of October. I am incredibly proud of our students and staff for the remarkable beginning to the school year we have experienced. It is evident that our commitment to "inspire, support, and learn" is at the heart of everything we do, and it shows in the bright faces and eager minds of our students.

The transition from summer vacation to the structured routine of school can be a challenging one for children, and adults. However, it is in these routines that we find comfort, stability, and the ideal environment for growth. Establishing a consistent daily routine at home can have a profound impact on your child's academic success. Simple practices like setting a designated time for homework, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and encouraging balanced nutrition can make a world of difference in their overall well-being.

Remember, we are the "Mighty Cardinals," and together we are committed to educational excellence for a changing tomorrow. Our dedication to providing the best possible education for your children remains unwavering, and we are excited about the countless opportunities and achievements that await us in the coming months.

Thank you for your continued support, trust, and partnership in your child's educational journey. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our school if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to further support your child's success.

Wishing you and your family a fantastic October!

In Partnership With You,

Derrick Kunsman

Principal

Family/Teacher Conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 22, and Thursday, October 24, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Please look for a message from your child's team on the week of October 14 with more information regarding your child's team conference format and individual signups.

Encore Open House

All of our encore teachers (physical education, technology education, family and consumer sciences, business education, music, art, agriculture, and world languages) will be available in an open house format on the nights of conferences. Please stop in, chat with those teachers, and check out those areas. If you are requesting an individual conference with any of these teachers, please contact them.

CFMS Staff Directory

Picture Retake Day will be held on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 during the school day. Any student that wants a retake, or has not had their picture taken yet will be able to do so.

**All students need to have their pictures taken for school purposes even if you do not plan to purchase a picture package.

• If you already ordered a package, but wish to take a new picture, we will print a new package at no additional cost. Please send the package with your child to school so we may see what needs to be changed and improved upon when we photograph the retake picture. You may also send a note if you wish.

• If you want to order pictures of the retake picture, you may do so by going to Strawbridge.net and using the school ordering code FM442328 in the “order now” box. This option is pre-pay ordering, so you will not be able to view your child’s image and it is valid for free shipping until 10/28. If you wish to wait to view the image first, you will need to wait until your child’s personalized ordering code is issued, and a $7 shipping fee will incur. (After 10/28, you will have to wait until the personalized codes are issued).

• If you still need to order a picture from the original picture day, please use the personalized ordering code that was issued to you with your package or proof.

Please fill out this form for additional support.

Because students move from classroom to classroom throughout the school day, attendance at the Middle School is taken and recorded each class period. Your child’s attendance information can be viewed on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

REPORTING ABSENCES

Parents are required to notify the school when their child is absent. Notification should occur no later than the end of the day on the day of the absence and must include the reason for the absence.

If your child is absent and we have not received notification, you will receive an automated voice message and/or e-mail referencing the absence. If for some reason, parents are unable to call school, the student must bring a note of explanation upon returning.

Unexcused absences will be handled as truancy cases and may lead to a juvenile court referral. It is the school district’s responsibility, not that of the student’s parent/guardian, to determine whether a student’s absence is excused or unexcused under state law and/or board policy.

Arriving Late?

• Parents must notify the school whenever their child will arrive later than 8:35 a.m. Notification on the attendance line should include estimated arrival time and the reason for the late arrival
• Report to the main office area (door 2 which is the flagpole door) to obtain an entry pass to class

Leaving Early?

• Call the attendance line
• Include the time your child needs to leave school, the time that they will return, and the reason they will be gone. Also include if your child is allowed to walk/bike home
• Your child will be given an Early Dismissal pass (they should try to pick this pass up in the Grade Level Office)
• Your student will show that pass to the main office and watch for their ride at the main office area (door 2 which is the flagpole door)
• Since we have a large school, we write your student's pass for 5 minutes earlier than the time requested
  

Make-up work is the responsibility of the student. Upon returning to school, students must contact teachers for make-up work. In typical situations, the number of days given to make up the work is equal to the number of days absent.

Students should refer to the Weekly Teacher Lesson Plans document and Google Classroom until reaching the three day threshold required to request homework be gathered for them.

When an absence does reach three consecutive days, guardians may contact the grade level office to request assignments be gathered for the student to do at home. If the student is going out of town for an extended period of time, the student is responsible for requesting homework from their teachers prior. Guardians must notify the grade level office well in advance of the future absence to ensure teachers have adequate time to provide homework to the student.

Two quick and helpful items for family members picking up students at the end of the day:

1. Please avoid parking on the south side of the street on Mansfield between Tropicana Blvd. and Bluff View Ln. Cars parked here makes it difficult for cars exiting to see and doesn't leave a lot of room for maneuvering out of the lot.

2. Please be mindful of Do Not Enter and One Way signs in and around our parking lots. No Vehicles should be entering the parking lot by the gym/football field after school. This is for bus traffic only.

The Cardinal Market is a convenient spot in our building where students can grab food items that your family may need for the week.

• Items available will vary from week to week
• Each Wednesday and Thursday students will receive an email with a form to fill out for that week's meals
• Students will only receive items on the weeks they complete the order form
• All of this is free of charge

We hope your student and your family can benefit from this convenient resource this year! If you have any questions or need any additional information, please email Rebecca Barrett-Brathol (barretrs@chipfalls.org) or call 715-726-2400 x2249.

Student Council kicks off the 2024-2025 school year with a meeting on October 3rd. Our first mission is to help our Cardinal Market.

From November 1st-22nd we will be collecting boxes of cereal, Ramen Noodles and Easy Mac in order to help supply the Cardinal Market with these items. Make sure to watch for sales during the month of October so you can help support this great cause. The grade level team that collects the most items will win DONUTS!!!!

Click on each picture to see who the Students of the Month are!

Absenteeism due to illness should be telephoned daily to your child's school secretary. Please be specific about illness (i.e. flu, strep, chickenpox, etc.) because it is helpful in the control of communicable disease. Thank you to families for calling your student's school when they are ill and for reporting the diagnosis made in the physician's office.

Reminder: Your child should not come to school if:

• They have a fever of 100.4 or higher before medication (Tylenol/Ibuprofen)
• They have been diagnosed with a contagious illness and have been on medication less than 24 hours.

Good hand washing habits are the number one way to prevent the spread of illness!

Thanks!

CFSD Health Office

Cardinals in Action is CFMS's family and teacher organization that supports our Middle School students and staff! All are welcome. Together we will enhance the school environment with programs and activities!

Cardinals in Action Newsletter

• Voyagers After School Programing

• Student Connections

• Family Connections Fall Newsletter

• Community Education Fall 2024 Brochure
  

The Cardinal CLC is a "school within a school" that serves as a community learning hub.

Website: https://cfsd.chipfalls.k12.wi.us/middle/
Location: 750 Tropicana Boulevard, Chippewa Falls, WI, USA
Phone: 715-726-2400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chippewafallsschool/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chippewafallssd/