Principal: Kimberly Cugnetti
Assistant Principal: Justin Walker
Central Middle School Main Office: 269-323-5600
(Office Hours: 7:00 - 3:45)
To report an absence: 269-323-5696 or Skyward Family Access (instructions)
Counseling Office: 269-323-5661
6th grade(ALL) and 7th grade (A-L) Counselor: Chris Palmer
269-323-5627
7th grade (M-Z), 8th grade (ALL) Counselor: Teresa Caron
269-323-5675
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 14 - 20
It was another great week at CMS!
As we are settling into the year, we encourage all families to be regularly checking Skyward see your student's progress and grades in their classes. Please reach out to your student's teachers with any questions you may have.
Our Lost and Found is already getting full of water bottles, lunchboxes and clothing. Please encourage your student to check the Lost and Found for any missing items.
We hope everyone has a wonderful week. Thank you for sharing your child with us each day!
QUICK LINKS TO WEEKLY UPDATE:
Sunday, September 14
Monday, September 15
B Day
PTO Meeting in the CMS Community Room; 5:30
Tuesday, September 16
A Day
Cross Country @ West MS; 4:00
Volleyball - 7th @ Home, 8th @ Linden Grove MS; 3:45
Wednesday, September 17
B Day
Football - 7th @ Home, 4:00; 8th @ Home, 6:00
Thursday, September 18
A Day
Volleyball games - 7th @ Hillside MS, 8th @ Home; 3:45
Friday, September 19
B Day
Saturday, September 20
September 30
8th Grade Washington DC trip meeting; 6:30 in the CMS Commons
October 1
Fall Count Day
October 8
PSAT 8; 6/7th grades will have a Late Start - more info below
EXTRA CURRICULAR ELIGIBILITY We will begin running eligibility this week. We encourage all student athletes, actors, competitors, and parents/guardians to be checking skyward. Communication is very important; please reach out to your student's teachers if you have a question about any assignments or grades. To participate in extra curricular activities, students must be present at school all day. Prearranged absences need to be communicated prior to the day of a game and performance.
AWAY FOR THE DAY CELL HOURS Students are not to use their cell phone or ear buds/headphones during the school day, which begins at 7:40 through the final dismissal bell of the day (2:40). If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call the office. Students may also come to the office if they need to contact you. We appreciate your support of keeping phones and headphones/ear buds away for the day.
COUNT DAY Fall Count Day is Wednesday, October 1. This day is important because it determines our school's funding. If possible, please avoid scheduling any non-critical, out-of-school appointments for your student on Wednesday, October 1. Thank you for your help and support in having all students counted for Count Day!
8TH GRADE WASHINGTON TRIP There will be an informational meeting about the 2026 Washington DC Trip on September 30 at 6:30 in the CMS Commons. If you have any questions, please contact Mike Juodawlkis mjuodawlkis@portageps.org (269)323-5615
OCTOBER 8 PSAT - 8th GRADE On October 8th, 8th-grade students across the State of Michigan will be taking the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). The Michigan Department of Education selected PSAT as the required state assessment for all 8th-grade students, which measures their growth in Math and English Language Arts. The PSAT is taken several times over a student’s middle/high school career. The aggregate results of this assessment are used by each middle school and high school to improve our instruction and delivery of content further. Individual results can help your student identify academic areas to focus on in preparation for the SAT, which is taken in the student’s junior year.
OCTOBER 8 SCHEDULE CHANGE - 6th and 7th GRADES In order to allow 8th graders the space and time to focus on the PSAT, the school day for the 6th and 7th-grade classes will begin at 11:00 a.m. on October 8th at all PPS middle schools. This is similar to the schedule we follow at high schools when students take the SAT. If your 6th or 7th-grade student does not have a way to get to school at 11:00 am, they may ride the bus in the morning as usual, and we will provide a space for them to work on homework or read silently. Lunch will be provided for all grade levels on this day.
BOARD GAMES/CARDS We are looking to add more activities for students during lunch! If you have any gently used board or card games at home that you would like to donate, we would be grateful to put them to good use here at school.
MY RIDE K-12 Download “My Ride K-12” today for real-time updates and notifications about your child's bus! My Ride K-12 will give you access to your student’s:
Bus number
Bus stop location
Estimated pick-up and drop-off times
Real-time notifications for bus delays and changes to bus stop locations, routes, or pick-up/drop-off times.
My Ride K-12 on the App Store & My Ride K-12 - Apps on Google Play
Click here to read more from Transportation.
SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH There will be free meals for ALL students until September 30th. Due to budgetary uncertainty in Michigan, families who do not qualify for Education and Nutrition Benefits will have to start paying for their students’ breakfast and lunches in October.
Did you know that your student might qualify for free or reduced-price meals? The application only takes a few minutes to complete, and your information will be kept safe and confidential. Education and Nutrition Benefit applications are NOW available for this school year. All families are encouraged to apply online at https://portage.familyportal.cloud. Please check out the following link to learn more about eligibility - Income Guidelines for School Nutrition Programs FAQ
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Susan Livingston, Director of Dining Services, at 269-323-5155 or via email at slivingston@portageps.org.
AWAY FOR THE DAY CELL HOURS Students are not to use their cell phone or ear buds/headphones during the school day, which begins at 7:40 through the final dismissal bell of the day (2:40). If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call the office. Students may also come to the office if they need to contact you. We appreciate your support of keeping phones and headphones/ear buds away for the day.
BAGS/BACKPACKS To help us keep our classrooms safe and free of clutter, students may not bring bags of any kind (including purses, tote bags, or drawstring bags) into classrooms. Students are welcome to carry a small pencil pouch for their school supplies.
DRINKS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY We ask that students have only water during the school day, outside of lunch times.
STUDENT HANDBOOK The Student Handbook and Student Code of Conduct can be found HERE.
SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS Please see HERE for help in accessing Skyward. In Skyward, you will be able to check your student's grades, attendance, enter absences, as well as find your student's email and password.
STUDENT MEDICATION PROCEDURES For any medication kept at the school, whether prescription or non-prescription (over-the-counter medication, ointments, medical creams, etc.), will require a medication consent form filled out and signed by a parent or guardian. For prescription medication, a physician's signature is also required. This Medication Authorization Form must be completed before any medication can be administered at school.
If your child has allergies, asthma, diabetes, or seizures, an Emergency Action Plan is also required. You can obtain these forms from your child's physician, or may use these generic forms below for your convenience. Please note that these also require a physician's signature. If your child has any other chronic conditions that may require care at school please let our school nurse know.
DROP OFF AND PICK UP Please practice patience in the drop-off/pick up line. We will utilize the dual lanes, with the lane closest to the sidewalk as the drop off/pickup and the outside lane as the moving lane. STUDENTS ARE NOT TO BE DROPPED OFF IN THE OUTSIDE MOVING LANE AT ANY TIME. Please remember to use your blinker when merging into the moving lane.
We also ask that you do not drop off or pick up students in the parking lot or in the receiving lane on the west side of the building. The drop off and pick up lanes are busy; we ask this for the safety of all students.
