Dear Charles Town Middle School Families and Students,

After what feels like a record six consecutive snow days, we are excited to (finally) welcome everyone back into the building! Thank you for your patience and flexibility during the recent weather—student and staff safety will always remain our top priority and we are gracious to JCS for keeping that in mind.

As we return, please be mindful that some areas around CTMS and community bus stops may still be icy. Our custodial team has worked closely with the maintenance department to clear as much snow and ice as possible on school grounds, but slippery spots may remain both on campus and in the community. Bus riders should use extra caution while waiting, boarding, and exiting the bus, as snow and ice will continue to be a concern in the coming days. We also ask families to remind students not to throw snow or ice while at school or at bus stops.

We can’t wait to see everyone back and get back into our routines together!

Warm regards,
Nicole Reed
Principal

Below are the JCS guidelines on Non-Traditional Instructional Days (NTIDs) due to weather closures. At this time, we have utilized (2) NTIDs:

• Grades PreK-2: Students will complete activities from a choice board provided by their teacher.
• Grades 3-12: Students will access daily assignments through Canvas.
• Teacher support will be available in Canvas (via Teams link) from 9:15 am through 12:00 pm.
• Jefferson Virtual Academy (JVA) students will continue instruction as usual.

If NTIDs are activated, families will receive communication through the usual JCS communication channels.

If the district exceeds its five designated snow days and five designated NTIDs, then makeup days may be added to the calendar, which could affect Spring Break or other days off.

JCS weather updates are shared through:

• The JCS website and Facebook page
• JCS app notifications and text alerts
• Local radio and TV stations (Full list here)

See the latest Athletics News from Athletic Director, Mr. Daly:

Come cheer on the Panther Basketball Teams at our home games!

Reminders for students attending home games:

Ticket cost is $5 per person.

Students are to remain in the gym during the games unless they are using the restrooms or making a purchase from the Concession Stand (no wandering the halls!) This includes student athletes!

Students are not to leave the building. Any student who leaves the building will not be permitted to re-enter unless they are accompanied by an adult. They will also be required to pay an additional $5 ticket fee.

Students must model respectful and appropriate behavior at all times, especially towards visiting teams. 

Upcoming Track & Field Tryout Information

Track conditioning (boot camp) begins Monday, March 2nd right after school from 3-4:30pm. Bring running gear including your own water.

If students have not participated in a school sport this year, they MUST have a completed physical form with them to be able to participate in conditioning. 

See Coach Daly or Coach Mendez for more information!

Check Out the Media Center News from Mrs. Reilly:

Please check for missing and overdue library books: classrooms, your locker, your backpack, and home.  

Student invoices are going out soon. I will be visiting each ELA classroom if you have an overdue book from the 1st semester. I will also be sending a list to your ELA teacher. 

Check out our new books in the library, be sure to access our online library catalog through Clever or use this link: Online Library Catalog

Our next Book Fair is March 27-April 2! Parent and Family Night will be March 31st from 3pm-7pm! 

Here are upcoming dates for Kona Ice Fridays!

Friday, March 6th

Friday, April 3rd

Friday, May 1st

Cancelled for Friday, February 6th

Valentine's Day Dance

Friday, February 6th from 6-8pm

$5 per student

CTMS Students Only!

If you would like to donate concessions or reach out to help, please click the below link:

Dance Concessions Signups

Check out the details for the National FFA Week which will be held Monday, February 23rd through Friday, February 27th!

Food Pantry- Jefferson County Community Ministries Needs

Celebrate FFA Spirit Week!

● Monday 2/23- Wear blue and gold

● Tuesday 2/24- “Tractor Tuesday” Wear John Deere, Case IH, Cat, New Holland, apparel and/or colors

● Wednesday 2/25- “Working Wednesday”, Wear a business suit or overalls and workwear

● Thursday 2/26- Camo Day

● Friday 2/27- Flannel Day

*Drawings will be held each day for those that participate with gift card prizes!

FFA Week Activities!

Agriculture themed activities and contests will be held each day during outside activity time including: tractors on display, nail driving, axe throws, strawbale toss, and cornhole!

The annual FFA Teacher Breakfast will be held on Monday, February 23rd!

Yearbooks are available for purchase for $30. The deadline to order is March 31st! Go to Yearbookordercenter.com and use our order number 14008.

For questions, contact Ms. Hall: brhall@k12.wv.us

CTMS Team Throw Blankets are still available for purchase!

There are 30 blankets still available for $25 each. Proceeds benefit the CTMS Cross Country and Track Teams. 

For more information, please contact Diana Valdez: diphoto@proton.me

Get excited for our upcoming Winter & Spring Pep Rally and Spirit Week!

A huge congratulations goes out to the CTMS Jazz Band! This talented group was selected to be the West Virginia State Honor Band for 2026! The band will go and perform in Charleston on March 5th, 2026.

Way to go Jazz Band!!

CTMS had a great showing at the county fair for the 2nd year in a row. This year, 18 groups and 26 students participated. They were so well behaved and supportive of each other. It was a great day! The following placed and are going to county:

1st place: Going to Regionals!

Jace Moreno- 6th grade

Diego Escalante- 7th grade

Duke Fleet and Cael Young- 7th grade

Remmy Kerrigan- 8th grade

Rena Bowers, Leah Grow and Emilia Zdunczyk- 8th grade

Congratulations to all on a job well done!!

Read the latest news from our amazing team in the Guidance Office!

Below is a helpful resource for emergency support services for families with children experiencing emotional or behavioral crisis:

Children's Mobile Crisis Services Flyer

Contact a CTMS Guidance Counselor

Jen Mills (students with last names A-L): jennifer.mills@k12.wv.us

Jay Wilson (students with last names M-Z): jay.wilson@k12.wv.us

Everyone at Charles Town Middle School is so grateful for our amazing team in the Guidance Office! The Guidance Team includes our Counselors, Jen Mills and Jay Wilson, and our Guidance Assistant, Ilsa Gregg. 

This team truly keeps our school going each day. Whether it’s assistance with scheduling, stocking the Care Closet, monitoring lunch duties, or providing a smile and a shoulder to lean on, the CTMS Guidance Team is second to none.  

According to Principal, Nicole Reed, “Our Guidance staff is an incredible gift to the Charles Town Middle School community. They support our students with compassion, wisdom, and unwavering dedication. They go above and beyond every day to ensure students feel heard, valued, and empowered to succeed both academically and emotionally. CTMS is a stronger, more connected and caring place because of the impact they make.”

Thank you, CTMS Guidance!!

All students in West Virginia schools entering 7th grade must have one dose of the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) and one dose of the Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4).

All students, including JVA and homebound students are required to be in compliance with immunization requirements. Please be advised that West Virginia does recognize religious exemptions, however, the parent must apply for the exemption through the state and comply with necessary documentation for state religious exemptions prior to the start of 7th grade.

Noncompliance with immunizations will require your student to be removed from school with unexcused absences. Please submit completed shot records to the nurse, emailing the record is suggested.

Immunization records can be dropped off in the main office or emailed directly to Principal Reed - Nreed@k12.wv.us

Attendance is key: Let's STRIVE FOR LESS THAN FIVE ABSENCES per semester. Click here to submit an absence for your child. CTMS attendance guidelines are as follows:

We are so happy to get another great year started here at CTMS.  With that being said there are a few key things that we want all families to know about concerning your students’ attendance.  The attendance campaign for JCS is “Strive for Less Than 5 Absences a Semester.”  I want to encourage all families to track your student’s missed days this year.  An attendance tracker was already sent home with your child during the first week of school.  When thinking about absences the graphic below will help to put into perspective the loss of academic instruction for your student.   

When your student is absent from school, please complete the online absence form that can be found on the JCS website.  If submitting online you can attach an uploaded note from your camera roll for convenience.  You also have the option to send in a written note.  Please submit those to the basket at the attendance window located next to our front office.  

If your student is absent for any reason the automated attendance line will make contact starting around 10:30 AM, even if a note was submitted that day.  Contact home will be made when your child has 3 unexcused absences and again at 5 unexcused absences until someone is reached.  This is a good time to discuss the accuracies of your students’ absences and anything that we can do to assist in getting your child to school.  The JCS Attendance Office will also send a formal notice through the mail at 5 unexcused absences.  If your student passes 10 unexcused absences your child is considered to be truant per WV state law.  At JCS we know life gets hectic and emergencies happen, therefore we try to work with families to put in supports to assist in getting your students to school.  At this point we will reach out to set up an attendance intervention meeting with both you and your student along with some support staff at CTMS.  Please have absent notes submitted as soon as possible to prevent the above contacts.  

When your student is absent, please send a note.  If you are sending in a parent verified illness note, there is a limit of 10.  After your 10th parent note they will be unexcused.  Any notes that are provided by a doctor are considered excused. If there is an excess amount of doctor’s notes a chronic medical condition form is something that we may need to consider.  Please reach out to the administration to discuss this further.   

This year we will also be taking a close look at students who are consistently tardy and/or leave school early.  Mr. Sarina, our Truancy Diversion Specialist and I will have conversations with students to help support and curb these issues.   

Just a reminder that there is no longer the Leave of Educational value for vacations.   

As always, we welcome the support and open communication with our CTMS parents and care givers.  Please do not hesitate to contact me concerning attendance questions and concerns. 

When coming in late and/or picking your student up early please reference the times below to minimize the time that your child is out of the learning environment. 

Doors open at 7:35 and the tardy bell for 1st period rings at 7:50. School ends at 2:47.

Late Arrival Times

If you arrive by 9:38 am and stay the entire day you are considered present for the whole day.

If you arrive by 11:19 am and stay the entire day you are considered half day present. 

Early Dismissal Times

If you arrive on time at school (by 7:50) and stay until 11:19, you will be considered present for half of the day.

If you arrive on time at school (by 7:50) and stay until 12:59, you will be considered present for a full day, and it will be coded as an early release.

February 4 - Boys Basketball vs. Mountain Ridge 6pm (Girls Away)

February 4 - Inclement Weather Date for Rising 9th Grader Parent Night at WHS 6pm-7pm

February 5 - Regional Science Fair

February 5–7 – WVACDA

February 6 - Valentine's Dance 6-8pm

February 7 - County Social Studies Fair

February 9 - Girls Basketball vs. Harpers Ferry 6pm (Boys Away)

February 10 - Boys Basketball vs. Hedgesville 6pm (Girls Away)

February 12 - Boys Basketball vs. Wildwood 6pm (Girls Away)

February 13 – All-County Chorus at Washington High School

February 13 - Early Dismissal - Faculty Senate

February 16 - No School for Students - Professional Learning Day

February 23 - Parent Teacher Conferences 5:00 -7:00 PM

February 23-27 - National FFA Week and Spirit Week

February 28 - Eastern Regional Jazz Festival at JHS (morning)

March 6 - Spring Pictures (Buyers Only)

March 4-8 - All State Band/Choir WVMEA Conference - Charleston, WV

March 12 - Golden Horseshoe Testing

March 13 - No School for Students - Professional Learning Day

March 13 - End of 3rd Quarter

March 16-20 - Pep Rally Spirit Week

March 19 - Winter & Spring Activities Pep Rally at 1pm

March 26 - Concert Band Festival at Musselman High School

March 27 - 8th Grade Tours of James Rumsey and Blue Ridge

March 27-April 2 - Book Fair

March 30-31 - 8th Grade Get A Life Program

March 31 - Parent & Family Book Fair Night 3pm-7pm

March 31 - CTMS Scheduling Night for Next Year (Current 6th & 7th Grade @5pm; Incoming 5th Grade @6pm)

April 2 - Early Dismissal - Faculty Senate

April 3-10 - Spring Break - No School

April 17 - Spring Jazz Concert, Wright Denny 7:00 PM

April 28 – Spring Chorus Concert at Wright Denny

April 29 – Spring Band Concert at Wright Denny 7:00 PM

May 12 - Election Day - No School

May 13-22 - CTMS WV GSA Testing Window

May 20 - Kiwanis JCS Top 8th Grade Ceremony

May 21 - CTMS FFA Parent Member Banquet 6pm (CTMS Cafeteria)

May 25 - Memorial Day - No School

May 27 - 8th Grade Awards Ceremony 9:00 AM

May 27 - Senior Parade Walk 1:30 PM

May 28 - 6th Grade Awards Ceremony 9:00 AM

May 28 - 7th Grade Awards Ceremony 10:30 AM

May 29 - (tentative) Last Day of School - Early Dismissal

May 29 - End of 4th Quarter / Semester 2

Charles Town Middle School Website

Jefferson County Schools Website

Contact the CTMS School Communicator: vanessa.walters@k12.wv.us