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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Staff Spotlight 2

Important Dates 3

TAG 4

Band 5

Yearbook/Drama 6

Cheetah Sports 7

CLIC 8

Literacy Notes 9

Counseling

Corner

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Nurses Notes 11/12

Calendar 13

THE CHALLENGER CONNECTION

Challenger Community, Things are happening at Challenger! Not a day goes by that I’m not reminded about what great kids we have here at Challenger. They represent CMS in such a positive manner in athletics, activities, and in the classroom. Parent/Teacher Conferences have been scheduled for Wednesday, March 20th from 3:00-6:30pm and Thursday, March 21st from 7:30am until 6:30pm. Drop-in times will be from 5:30-6:30pm on Wednesday; and 7:30am- 8:30am and 5:30pm-6:30pm on Thursday. As with previous conferences, the teams will be contacting you directly if they feel a conference is warranted. If you have not been contacted and want to set up a conference with your student’s team, please call or email the team leader directly to set up a time or stop by dur-ing one of the drop-in times. State testing (CMAS) is just around the corner. As it was last year, the test has been shortened and improved from the previous PARCC test. I would ask par-ents to emphasize to their student that it is important to put forth their best effort on the tests. Standardized testing is a way for schools to make decisions about proper placement for students or give support in needed areas where students may not be proficient. It also gives the school and teachers valuable information for key curricular decisions. Even though state testing is only one measure of success, it is an important one. Challenger will do everything to provide the best possible testing envi-ronment for all students. Please make every effort to have your child attend every day of testing (April 9th, 10th, 11th, and 8th grade only on the 12th). Make-up tests are always hard to sched-ule, and the student misses key instruc-tional time being pulled out of class for make-up testing.

I know it’s hard to believe, but it is time to start planning for the next school year. Soon, our counselors will be in the 6th and 7th grade classrooms to begin their registration process. It is also the time of year to give the counselors any information that would be helpful for your student’s educational placements for next year. A request for a specific team would not be appropriate, as teams have yet to be determined and many changes occur before the start of the following year. Information that would be helpful is whether your child works better in a highly structured envi-ronment or a less structured setting, whether they would benefit from a smaller team or a larger team, and oth-er educational and social information you would like to share. Counselors will need to receive your information no later than May 1, 2019 so they can start the team placement process.

GO CHEETAHS!!

10215 Lexington Dr.

Colorado Springs, CO

80920

Main Office: 719.234.3000

Fax: 719.234.3199

Letter From the Principal-

Tony Scott

MARCH 2019

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STAFF SPOTLIGHT Page 2

Christine Petsovich

6,7,8th grade Physical Education

Hi my name is Ms. Petsovich and I am excited to be a Challeng-

er Cheetah. I graduated from the University of Northern Colo-

rado with a Bachlor degree in Exercise Science with an empha-

sis in K-12 Physical education. While attending UNC, I played

Division two soccer. After College I took a physical education

job in California. In addition I coached soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, and track at the

middle school level and Varsity soccer at the high school level. During my summers off, I was

a diver for Sea World. I stayed in California for 10 years, however, I really started to miss Col-

orado. I’m am so excited to be back in my home town of Colorado Springs. In my free time I

like to paddle board, play sports, be outdoors, surf, snowboard, and anything extreme. I love

to be around my family and friends and most of all my dogs Cali and Cooper. I am so lucky to

now be part of an amazing staff and teach amazing students at Challenger Middle

CMS MISSION STATEMENT Challenger Middle School,

a community dedicated to each unique learner,

provides transformative education and innovative

learning, with a technological emphasis and intentional

social skills development, in a safe and nurturing

environment that cultivates students' passions,

character, and critical thinking in preparation for an unimaginable future.

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Page 3 IMPORTANT DATES

STEM CAFÉ MARCH 1

WRESTLING CMS @ MTN. RIDGE MARCH 5

CHOIR CONCERT MARCH 5

WRESTLING CMS @ TCA MARCH 7

WRESTLING TOURNAMENT @ DCC MARCH 9

PTA MEETING –CLIC MARCH 12

TAG ALM 7TH MARCH 12

PEP ASSEMBLY MARCH 15

ST. PATRICKS DAY PARADE/BAND AND COLOR GUARD MARCH 16

EVENING PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES MARCH 20

ALL DAY PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES MARCH 21

NO STUDENTS DAY AFTER CONFERENCES-OFFICE OPEN TILL NOON MARCH 22

SPRING BREAK MARCH 25– 29TH

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Here is what is happening!

Current Activities (all grades):

Chess, Backgammon, and Cribbage club will begin for all grades after school Tuesday, March 5th

and continue through Tuesday, April 9th, in room 106 from 3:00 to 4:15. Chess activity forms are

required and are available in room 106. The Chess Activity is limited to twenty- four students. Ac-tivity Applications are available at room 106.

The District 20 Chess Tournament will be held on April 6, 2019 at Eagleview Middle School.. The

early registration deadline for a $14.00 discount is March 20, 2019, however registration at the door is available (assuming space is available) for $18.00. To participate at the Secondary level there is no middle school chess elimination contest, all those interested may enter into the D20 K-12 Chess Tournament. Registration information is available at room 106

The Optimist Brain Bowl Championship competition was held on February 23, 2019. Eight Chal-lenger teams qualified for the state championship having placed in the top six in all grade levels at the Southern Regional tournament that was held on February 2

nd. The teams competed at the

state level with outstanding results: In the in the eighth grade level, Challenger Team 8A placed first, wining the State Championship, while Team 8B placed fourth. In the sixth grade level, Chal-lenger Team 6A placed second. .

Check with your son or daughter to see if they have heard about these activities and whether they may be interested in signing up. To sign up they simply need to talk to Dr. Howard and/or sign the class list on the information board outside room 106.

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Band The Challenger Middle School

Bands and Color Guard will be

performing in the St. Patrick’s Day

parade. Come cheer them on as

they play downtown on Tejon. The

parade kicks off at noon. Please

contact Mrs. Dickey with any ques-

tions.

Becki.Dickey@ASD20.org

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Yearbook GET YOUR YEARBOOK!

We are getting close to finishing the yearbook and sending to print! Purchase yours today by clicking this link https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productDetail/1008504/Challenger-Middle-School/Yearbook/2018062604182453367/CATALOG_SHOP/YB_BOOKS/Yearbook/2018062604182455367/#design/0

Don’t wait! We have to have a final number of yearbooks to order and we rare-ly have extras. Purchase yours today!

Drama Club’s spring musiCal: You’re a gooD man, Charlie brown

Mar 11th – Spring Musical Audition Workshop: 3-4pm in room 134 *All students interested in being in the cast or crew are welcome to attend for more information!

Mar 12th – Spring Musical Auditions in room 134 (3-5pm *Individual Audition Time Slots)

Mar 14th – Spring Musical Callbacks (List posted for specific students) 3-4pm in room 134

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Wrestling season is wrapping up on March 9. Congratulations to all players that represented our school! We had a great turn out this season. Up next is track. Track begins on Wednesday, March 13. Start registering your athlete now! All registration is now online. Please register using your extended parent portal.

***Please REMEMBER that 7th and 8th grade students need a current sports physical to participate in our athletic programs. Physicals are valid for one year, so please plan accordingly.

CHSAA rules require a sports physical for participation in intramural and interscholastic sports. This is a requirement that cannot be waived.

Sports CLINICS We have 3 clinics left for the school year. Please get registered now!

***Please fill out a registration form and pay your fee before clinics start. Remember that for sports clinics your child does not need a sports physical.

Sport Dates Cost

Volleyball Clinic April 2-5, 8-11 $25

Basketball Clinic April 23-26, April 29-May 2 $25

Challenger Cheetah Sports

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CLIC staff: Gina Schaarschmidt, teacher-librarian; Elna McIntosh, library

paraprofessional; Dianna Fricke, digital learning coach; Don Mayes, district

technology technician; Pam Butler, technology paraprofessional

Award-Winning Book Recommendations for Spring Break!

We have a bunch of award-winning books in the CLIC that would make great reading for Spring Break! Here is a sampling of national

nominees and winners. Remember to check back for more, as we bring in new books every month. As always, please select your

books carefully; not all books are suitable for all readers.

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

This Newbery Honor Book tells the takes place in 1947 India, newly independent of British rule, that has been sepa-

rated into two countries: Pakistan and India. Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she

belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Ni-

sha and her family become refugees and travel to reach her new home. (publisher description)

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Faith Erin Hicks

Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason’s

learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason’s best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up

dead in the Buttle family’s orchard. An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can’t under-

stand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day. (publisher description) A Nation-

al Book Award finalist and Schneider Family Book Award winner.

"The Poet X,” by Elizabeth Acevedo

This young adult novel (meant for grades 8 and up), has won too many awards to list. A young girl in Harlem discov-

ers slam poetry as a way to understand her mother’s religion and her own relationship to the world. Xiomara Batis-

ta feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has

learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking. (publisher description)

The Faithful spy : Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix

Dietrich Bonhoeffer Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who was shocked to watch the Ger-

man church embrace Hitler's agenda of hatred during World War II. He spoke out against the Nazi party and led a

breakaway church that rebelled against racist and nationalist beliefs of the Third Reich. Struggling with how his faith

interacted with his ethics, Bonhoeffer eventually became convinced that Hitler and the Nazi Party needed to be

stopped--and he was willing to sacrifice anything and everything to do so. (publisher description). This non-fiction

story is told in handwritten text and art.

Boots on the Ground: America’s War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge

In March 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops into Vietnam. This non-fiction book tells the complicated

stories of six American soldiers, one American nurse, and one Vietnamese refugee.. From dense jungles and terrify-

ing firefights to chaotic medic rescues and evacuations, each individual's story reveals a different facet of the war

and moves readers forward in time. Alternating with these chapters are profiles of key American leaders and

events, reminding readers what was happening at home (publisher description). Finalist for both the YALSA Award

for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults and the National Book Award.

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Literacy Notes

Building Close Reading Skills

College and career readiness begins in primary grades and continues throughout middle and high school. One of the best predictors of readiness for college-level reading is a student’s close reading skills. Close reading is a careful and purposeful reading (or rereading) of a text to uncover layers of meaning that will lead to deeper understanding. Many students are lacking in these crucial skills.

In order to ensure that a student is both gleaning the requisite knowledge from each indi-vidual text and acquiring skills to unravel the meaning of other texts independently, we need to coach our students to ask themselves four basic questions as they read and reflect on even the simplest and shortest of texts.

What is the author telling me here? Are there any hard or important words?

What does the author want me to understand? (Inferential meaning) How does the author play with language to add to meaning?

If students take time to ask themselves these questions and become skillful at answering them, more energy will be left for analyzing the finer points of the content and language. Deeper questions to encourage students to ask themselves might include:

Who is speaking in this passage? Who seems to be the main audience? What is the first thing that jumps out at me? Why? What is the next thing I notice? Are those two things connected? How? Do they seem to

be saying different things? What seems important here? Why?

What does the author mean by ______? what exact words led me to this meaning? Is the author trying to convince me of something? What? How do I know? Is there something missing from this passage that I expected to find? Why might the au-

thor have left this out? Is there a message or main idea? What in the text led me to this conclusion? How does this sentence/paragraph fit into the text as a whole?

Students who learn to ask themselves such questions are reading with the discerning eye of a careful reader. We can also teach students to read carefully with the eye of the writer, which means helping them analyze craft. We’ll delve more into analyzing a writer’s craft in the next newsletter.

Angela Montgomery

Reading Specialist, CMS

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On March 13th we will be meeting with our current 6th grade students and our current 7th grade stu-dents to discuss class choices for next year. This year a portion of registration will be online and a portion will be paper registration for all next year 8th grade students. Directions for online registra-tion will be sent home with each student. All next year 7th grade students will be doing paper regis-tration. The registration form will need to be returned to your student’s cheetah time teacher before leaving for Spring Break.

Conflict Resolution Ideas

Dealing with conflict can be quite a challenge, but if handled well can lead to positive results and build healthy relationships. Here are some ideas about how to deal with conflict effectively:

· Take a deep breath before jumping into a conversation or reacting out of anger.

· Think about what you would like to say. Using an “I” message helps clarify the situation for everyone. Start by saying what is happening that concerns you, then say how you feel about it, and end with a request for what you would like to see happen.

· Use a calm, clear voice.

· Watch your body language. Try to keep an open posture and make good eye contact.

· Listen for understanding. Acknowledge what the other person is saying and clarify what you mean to say. By negotiating a solution, both people can feel understood.

· Stay with the present situation…don’t “dump” past problems on to what is currently going on.

· Come from a place of “best hopes” rather than “worst fears.” If you approach a problem with a positive attitude you are much more likely to work out a good solution.

If the conversation is not going well, think about using a 3rd person who is neutral and can mediate the situation for mutual understanding. Practicing conflict management strategies by role playing situations gives everyone time to practice these skills in a safe environment. Then, when the heat is on you can fall back on what you know will work. Finally, forgiveness is a key to letting go of toxic feelings and moving forward with new understanding.

8th Grade counselor–Craig Holbeck, 234-3026 7th Grade Counselor –Lil Malers & Carol Wallander, 234-3031 6th grade counselor- Jordia Moorman, 234-3028

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Challenger is experiencing an increased number of students with respiratory illnesses due to the flu and colds, as well as generalized stomach malaise and vomiting. These illnesses can be quite contagious. The district’s Illness Guidelines are attached to provide guidance when to keep your students home or when the Health Room might contact you to promptly pick up your student during the school day. In most cases, students should be symptom-free, fever-free, vomiting-free, and diarrhea-free for at least 24 hours without medication before returning to Challenger. An exception would be for Pertussis (Whooping Cough), which requires five days of antibiotics before return-ing. Students with excessive coughs or copious amounts of nasal drainage may be sent home, due to contamination of the classroom environ-ment. Please contact Jane Manderfield, RN at 499-3480 if you have questions about this message.

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Illness Guidelines

Students must stay home or will be sent home if:

1. The student does not feel well enough to take part in normal school activities (i.e. overly tired, fussy, will

not stop crying, etc.).

2. The student needs more care than teachers and staff can give and still care for the other students.

3. The illness is on this list.

*Remember the best way to prevent the spread of illness is through good hand washing.

SYMPTOMS MUST STUDENT STAY HOME?

COLD or MILD RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS Stuffy nose with drainage, sneezing, mild cough

No - unless symptoms are severe (i.e. fever, student is not acting normally and/or has trouble breathing, or is unable to take part in normal school activities).

COUGHING

Note: Students with asthma may be in school - parents to provide an Asthma Health Care Plan and appropriate medication

Yes - if severe, uncontrolled coughing or wheezing, rapid or difficulty breathing and medical attention is necessary.

DIARRHEA Frequent, loose, or watery stools compared to student’s norm that are not caused by food or medicine

Yes - if student looks or acts sick, is not acting normally, or has diarrhea along with other symptoms (i.e. abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, etc.). Student must stay home until diarrhea/symptoms resolve without the use of medicine or health care provider verifies student is not contagious.

FEVER

Yes - for temperature of 100.5 F or higher with other symptoms of illness (i.e. rash, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, etc.) or has behavioral changes or is unable to take part in normal school activities. Student must stay home until fever/symptoms resolve without the use of medicine.

“FLU-LIKE” SYMPTOMS Temperature of 100.5 or higher with cough, sore throat, tiredness, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea

Yes - student must stay home for at least 24 hours. without the use of medicine that stops fever and other “flu-like” symptoms.

RASH Note: Body rash that has been evaluated by a doctor, is not contagious, has no fever and no behavioral changes does not typically need to stay home from school.

Yes - if rash with fever, rash spreads quickly, rash has open weeping wound/lesions, and/or rash is not healing. Student must be evaluated by a health care provider to verify student is not contagious.

VOMITING Note: If a child has had a recent head injury, vomiting can be a sign of concussion - child should be evaluated by a health care provider.

Yes - if vomited two times in the past 24 hours or has other symptoms in addition to vomiting (i.e. fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc.). Student must stay home until resolved without the use of medicine or health care provider verifies student is not contagious.

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ILLNESS MUST CHILD STAY HOME?

CHICKEN POX Yes - until blisters have dried and crusted (usually 6 days)

CONJUNCTIVITIS (Pink Eye)

No - unless behavioral changes and unable to take part in normal school activities

CROUP (see Coughing)

Student should be evaluated by a doctor - may not need to stay home unless not well enough to take part in normal school activities

FIFTH’S DISEASE (Slap Cheek) No - the student is no longer contagious once rash appears

HAND FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (Coxsackie Virus)

No - unless the student has mouth sores, is drooling and isn’t able to take part is normal school activities

HEAD LICE or SCABIES Yes - from end of the school day until after first treatment

HEPATITIS A

Yes - until 1 week after the start of the illness and when able to take part in normal school activities

HERPES

No - unless the student has open sores that cannot be covered or is drooling

IMPETIGO (Staph Skin Infection) Yes - for 24 hours after starting antibiotics

RINGWORM

Yes - from end of the school day until after starting treatment. Keep area covered for the first 2 days

ROSEOLA

Yes - if the student has fever and rash - Student should be evaluated by a doctor for possible treatment

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Note: RSV spreads quickly through classrooms.

No - unless student has acute respiratory symptoms or is unable to take part in normal school activities. Student should be evaluated by a health care provider

STREP THROAT

Yes - for 24 hours after starting antibiotics and until the student is able to take part in normal school activities

VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASES (Measles, Mumps, Rubella (German Measles), Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Yes - until a doctor says the student is no longer contagious. Note for Pertussis: 5 days after starting antibiotics

YEAST (Thrush) No - follow good hand washing and hygiene practices

References

American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. 2011. Caring for our children: National health and safety performance standards; Guidelines for early care and education programs. 3rd edition. Elk Grove Village, IL.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools, 3rd Edition, Elk Grove Village, IL 2013.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Communicable Disease Epidemiology Program, Infectious Disease in Child Care Settings: Guidelines for Schools and Child Care Providers, Denver, CO, October 2013.

Children’s Hospital Colorado, Illness Policy - How sick is too sick? When to keep your child at home from school or Child Care, November 203.

General vital sign guidelines for students to be in school setting, American Heart Association Guidelines-Pediatric Vital Signs, last editorial review 3/10/08.

3 – 6 yrs. 6 – 12 yrs. 12+ yrs.

Heart Rate 65-110 60-95 55-85

Blood Pressure

95-110 systolic 60-75 diastolic

100-120 systolic 60-75 diastolic

110-135 systolic 65-85 diastolic

Respirations 20-25 14-22 12-18

Pulse Oximetry

= or > 92% = or > 92% = or > 92%

MARCH 2019 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

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STEM Café 3-4 Disco

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3 4 5

WR– CMS at Mtn. Ridge 3:45

Choir Concert

7-9 Gym

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WR—CMS at TCA 3:45

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WR—Tournament at DCC

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12

PTA Meeting

1:30 CLIC

TAG ALM 7th

Disco 5-8

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15 PEP ASSEMBLY

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St. Patrick’S Day

Parade

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Evening PT con-

ferences 3-6:30 Walk in 5:30-6:30

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All Day Parent Teacher

Conferences 7:30 am-

6:30 pm Walk in 7:30-8:30 am

5:30-6:30 pm

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Day after Confer-

ences –No Stu-

dents—office

opened till 12

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