CMS Knightly News

Email: cms@matsuk12.us
Website: matsuk12.us/cms
Location: 9250 East Bogard Road, Palmer, AK
Phone: (907) 761-1500

December 20th - Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

December 23rd - January 3rd - Christmas Holiday🎄

January 2nd - Volleyball Open Gym at CMS - 12 - 2 pm

January 3rd - Volleyball Open Gym at CMS - 12-2 pm

January 6th - Quarter 3 Begins

January 6th - Wrestling Begins

January 6th - Girls 7th & 8th grade Volleyball begins

January 6th - NYO begins

January 6th - Chess Club begins

January 7th - Cross Country Skiing begins

Head to our CMS webpage for more information from our Athletics & Activities Department, the Library and our Counselors! In the top right hand corner of our page be sure to click on the grey square box with the three lines for more links to important and up to date information.

CMS Volleyball Open Gym

Dates: January 2nd and 3rd

Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Location: CMS Gym

Who: Open to all girls at CMS interested in playing volleyball.

Come join us for a fun opportunity to practice and play volleyball! Whether you're looking to improve your skills or just have fun, we welcome players of all levels. See you there!

Bus passes are required for students to ride an unassigned bus or to disembark at an unassigned stop. Bus passes are issued at the school office and require a note or email from the parent/guardian. Please include bus number and stop description. You may email the CMS Secretaries at carrie.holmes@matsuk12.us or brenda.kennedy@matsuk12.us or send a note with your student.

The front office is very busy at the end of the day so we appreciate you notifying us early as to changes in your student's after school transportation. Thank You.

If a student has already boarded the Bus for the evening, parents need to call the Front Office to request their student be released from the Bus. For safety reasons, students are not allowed off the Bus without notification from the Office.

For the latest information on SPORTS game schedules and news please click here to navigate our Athletics page for up to date schedules and information. GO KNIGHTS!

To participate in ALL SPORTS students must be registered on BigTeams, have all the forms completed and signed and have a current sports physical on file. Let's make this season a memorable one for all our athletes!

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call the front office at 761-1500.

Exciting news! The Colony Middle School CROSS COUNTRY SKI CLUB is gearing up to begin January 7th through March 4th.

Is your student eager to enjoy fresh air, stay active, and dive into a thrilling new sport? Thanks to the generous support of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, students will have the incredible opportunity to experience cross-country skiing once a week, on Tuesdays, from January all the way through March.

Worried about gear? Don't be! We have a fantastic collection of cross-country ski equipment available for students to borrow throughout the entire season, completely free of charge. Ski gear checkout will begin on December 11th after school and continue each day until Dec.19th. Gear is first come first served.

To make things even more convenient, we've arranged bus transportation to Government Peak Recreation area every Tuesday after school, returning to CMS by approximately 4:30pm. No worries if your student is new to skiing; our dedicated coaches, Mr. Wargo and Mrs. Ramirez will be there to teach and support students of all skill levels. Absolutely no prior experience is required!

If you're interested, sign up on Big Teams or have a friendly chat with Mr. Wargo or Mrs. Ramirez, our amazing coaches. When signing up, please click Big Teams and be sure to look under the ACTIVITIES section where you will find Cross Country Skiing. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the front office at 761-1500 or our coaches by email at emily.ramirez@matsuk12.us or benjamin.wargo@matsuk12.us.

We can't wait to see your student hit the trails and have a blast with the Colony Middle School cross-country ski club!

Girls 7th & 8th grade Volleyball begins right after Christmas break on January 6th! It's not to early to get your athlete signed up on Big Teams with a current physical on file (physicals are good for 18 months). The CMS office will also be closed through the holiday break, so getting your student signed up before December 20th would be very helpful and appreciated! If you have any further questions or need assistance, please reach out to the front office at 761-1500.

*girls 6th grade volleyball begins March 3rd.

Wrestling begins after Christmas break on January 6th! Now is a great time to get your athlete signed up on Big Teams with a current physical (physicals are good for 18 months). The CMS office is closed during the holiday break and would greatly appreciate having students signed up by December 2oth! If you have any question or need any assistance please feel free to call the office at 761-1500.

Are you a middle school student with a passion for sports and culture?

The Native Youth Olympics (NYO) is calling all young athletes to come together and celebrate Indigenous traditions through athletic competition.

What is NYO?

NYO is a unique sporting event that combines traditional Indigenous games with modern athletic competition. It’s a chance to:

• Test your skills: Compete in exciting events like the Alaskan high kick, Stick pull, Seal Hop, and more.

• Learn traditional arctic hunting skills: All events once supported traditional hunting techniques.

• Make new friends: Have fun in practice and meet athletes from across the district.

6th grade NYO starts January, 6th and 8th grade athletes are welcome and encouraged to attend practice starting in January as well. Please be sure to sign your student up on Big Teams. If you have any questions or need any further assistance please call the front office at 761-1500.

CMS has some exciting clubs your students can join! Currently running is Science O - every Tuesday, Japanese/Anime Club - every other Tuesday, Battle of the Books - every Thursday, E-Sports every Wednesday and Chess Club will be starting January 6th! In order for your student to participate, please register them on BigTeams.com. and be sure to choose Activities. Club fees are $30 payable on SchoolPay or you may bring a check or cash to the front office. If you need any further assistance please feel free to call the front office at 761-1500.

Dreaming of an unforgettable adventure?

If you missed out on our trip to Spain, don’t worry! We have an exciting new opportunity for you. Picture yourself exploring Venice, Florence, Rome, and the stunning Sorrento region during Spring Break 2026!

We can’t wait to share the details of this incredible journey, planned in partnership with EF Tours, our trusted educational travel partner.

For more information contact: marcie.zimmerman@matsuk12.us

If you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to your student’s counselor. You may also access the CMS Counselors webpage here.

Kleigh Anderton

Counselor A - J

Kleigh.anderton@matsuk12.us

(907) 761-1526

Ryan Parker

Counselor K - Z

Ryan.parker@matsuk12.us

(907) 761-1528

CMS Counseling Department

Students that stay after school for an event or extra-curricular activity, need to be picked up no later than 15 minutes after the activity ends. It is imperative for supervision purposes that students be picked up on time. Please notify the office/coach/administration if you have any questions regarding this policy.

Students may enter the building at 7:15 am and wait in the lobby until the 7:30 bell rings. (For PLC Mondays, students may enter the building at 8:15 and wait in the lobby until the 8:30 bell rings). If your student eats breakfast at school, they should go directly to the kitchen downstairs to get their breakfast and eat in the cafeteria.

Students being picked up at the end of the school day should be picked up no later than 2:25 pm. Thank You!

Students can be dropped off in the drop-off lane in front or back of the school or parking area. Please refer to the map below. The drop-off lane in the back of the school is a great option for a faster and less congested transition. As always, please follow the directional arrows and watch for pedestrians as you navigate our parking area. Thank You for keeping everyone safe.

We have an exciting announcement for all the parents and families of Colony Middle School. Have you heard about our Facebook page? If not, now is the perfect time to hit that "Follow" button!

By following Colony Middle School on Facebook, you'll never miss out on our vibrant school community's latest updates, news, and happenings. We're constantly posting about the incredible events taking place at CMS, ensuring you stay in the loop.

From student achievements and extracurricular activities to important reminders and upcoming events, our Facebook page is your go-to source for all things Colony Middle School. It's a fantastic way to stay connected and engaged with our school's journey.

So go ahead and give us a follow on Facebook! Join our online community and be a part of the excitement. We can't wait to keep you informed and share the wonderful experiences happening at Colony Middle School.

See you on Facebook!