CMS Weekly Update
The Bulldog Bark
Dates: September 14th-September 18th
To: Parents/Guardians
From: Mr. Poo
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Mon Sept 14 |
Tues Sep 15 |
Wed Sep 16 |
Thurs. Sep 17 |
Fri Sep 18 |
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B-Day
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A-Day SESD Community Kickoff Event
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B-Day
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A-Day
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B-Day
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Hello CMS Parent/Guardian Community,
How to Translate the Parent Bulletin
At the bottom of this page, you’ll see a button labeled 'English' ^. Click on it, and you will be able to translate the Bulletin to Spanish.
En la parte inferior de esta página, verás un botón marcado 'English' ^. Haz clic en el boton para traducir el boletín al español.
Principal Message
Dear CMS Families,
Wow, what a fantastic week at CMS! Thank you to all of our families who joined us for Back to School Night on Wednesday. It was wonderful to see so many families on campus, visiting classrooms and connecting with our teachers. A special thank you to our teachers and staff for doing a fantastic job welcoming families and sharing the great work happening in their classrooms.
Our first Eat & Greet of the year was also a huge success! More than 100 families joined us for lunch on Friday, making it a great afternoon of family and community connection. Students also had an opportunity to learn about and sign up for our various clubs, while families could stop by and visit our Book Fair. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a success!
In sports news, our Bulldogs had another exciting week! Our Softball team went 2–0, outscoring their opponents by an impressive 32–3. On the basketball court, our 8th Grade Boys team continues to battle as they work toward their first win of the season. Our 7th Grade Boys team faced two tough opponents in Kennedy and Egan, while our 6th Grade Boys team picked up another win with a victory over Kennedy. Congratulations to all of our student-athletes and coaches for continuing to represent CMS with Bulldog Pride!
Thank you to our students, staff, and families for making this such a memorable week at Columbia. The energy and support across our campus continue to make CMS a special place to learn, grow, and connect.
Go Bulldogs! 🐾
Daniel Poo
Principal
Columbia Middle Schoo
School Site Council
We are seeking one additional parent or community member to serve on Columbia Middle School’s School Site Council (SSC). for the 2026-2027 school year. The SSC brings together families, staff, students, and community members to review student achievement data, help develop and monitor the School Plan for Student Achievement, and provide input on how school resources are used to support student success.
The council meets six times during the school year. If you are interested in serving, please email Mr. Poo. If more than one person is interested, an election will be held to select the new representative.
Fall Picture Day
Next Tuesday, September 22, is Picture Day!
Most students will take their school pictures during their PE classes. Some sixth-grade students will take their pictures during their elective block.
Please note: If you selected “Do Not Photograph” for your student, they will not be permitted to participate in Picture Day. Our front office staff has been contacting families who selected this option to confirm that it reflects their intent. If you would like to update your selection, please contact the front office before Picture Day.
Do You Know Someone Ready to Make a Difference?
City Year Bay Area is looking for young adults ages 17–25 to serve as full-time AmeriCorps members in Sunnyvale schools during the 2026–2027 school year. Members support students, gain valuable leadership and professional experience, receive a living allowance, and may earn an education award upon successfully completing their service.
If you know a recent high school graduate, college student, or young adult taking a gap year who is passionate about supporting students and strengthening our community, please encourage them to apply at cityyear.org/bayarea.
Student Opportunities:
Parking Lot & Drop-Off Update
A Few Ways You Can Help
When using the Music Parking Lot, please pull all the way forward and over to the curb before dropping off your student. Once your student exits, please pull out promptly so the next vehicle can move forward.
Please also remember:
- Do not make U-turns across the double yellow lines. We observed this several times this week and it creates a significant safety concern.
- Use designated crosswalks when crossing the street.
- Limit left turns into the Music Parking Lot whenever possible.
- When exiting the Music Parking Lot, please turn right to help keep traffic moving.
Thank you for doing your part to keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient for everyone!
Early Drop Off Options:
The CMS Library is open for students on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays starting at 7:45 AM. If your child needs to be dropped off early, they are welcome to head directly to the library, where they can read, work on assignments, or simply hang out before school begins.
Please remember that there is no early drop-off in the Library or Front Office on Wednesdays due to our Late Start schedule.
At this time, our Late Start Care Program on Wednesday is full. However, we may have an opportunity to add additional students to the Open Gym program at the Columbia Neighborhood Center (CNC). If your family is in need of Wednesday morning care and would be interested in this option, please reach out to Mr. Poo for more information.
Home-to-School Transportation (HTST Update)
If you completed a registration form, schedule and route information was sent out on Wednesday (8/12) evening. Bus passes are being distributed as soon as they arrive from the district office.
If you emailed htst@sesd.org, you should have received a reply with a registration form or notification regarding service in your area. If you never received a registration link, please email htst@sesd.org.
After-School Bus Pick-Up Schedule
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4:45 p.m. — Monday through Friday
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5:45 p.m. — Monday through Friday
Please note that after-school bus transportation is only available to students who are registered riders in the Sunnyvale School District Home-to-School Transportation (HTST) Program. Students who are not registered for HTST transportation will not be able to utilize the after-school buses.
Volunteer Updates
We are so grateful for our San Miguel volunteers! If you’re interested in volunteering, please complete the following steps:
- Create an account on Better Impact for Schools https://app.betterimpact.com/
Application - Submit your volunteer application
- Upload a valid TB clearance
- Complete fingerprinting and DOJ clearance
- Complete Mandated Reporter training
Important: All volunteers must be approved before they can begin volunteering. Volunteer clearance is valid for the current school year only. Returning volunteers must log in to their account and renew their application each school year.
Sunnyvale Education Foundation
The Sunnyvale Education Foundation is a not-for-profit organization supporting equitable enrichment across the Sunnyvale School District through advocacy, fundraising and collaboration. At CMS, SEF has recently provided funding for the Bulldog mural, cameras for yearbook club, the 6th grade assembly with Dr. Pascal Lee of NASA, the 2025 school play, field trips for AVID, podcast equipment for journalism, musical instruments, books for the library, and more.
We are currently seeking a representative from CMS to join the board as a liaison between SEF and CMS. If you are interested, please email Katie at VP@
Columbia PTSA
Joining the Columbia Middle School PTSA is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to support our students, teachers, and school community. Whether you have an hour to spare or want to help lead events, your involvement directly enriches our kids' middle school experience through school programs, family events, and teacher support.
Every voice makes a difference! You can sign up in just a couple of minutes online:
Columbia Neighborhood Center:
*NEW* **Participants joining drop-in activities at CNC will need to set up an online account in our registration system. Setting up an account is easy and free. Participants under the age of 18 must be family members under an account set up by a parent/guardian. Go to Sunnyvale.ca.gov/Activities. Staff is available to assist.
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Tues. & Thurs., 9/15 & 9/17, 2:15 – 5:30 p.m.- Fun on the Run (FOTR) – Join us for a free, the drop-in recreation program for children ages 6–11, for games, arts & crafts and fun with friends, new & old. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis; parents or guardians must complete an emergency card on the first visit. Location: Ponderosa Park, 811 Henderson Ave., Sunnyvale.
- Tues., 9/15, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Zumba – CANCELLED
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Wed., 9/16, 2:15 – 5:30 p.m. – Fun on the Run (FOTR) – Join us for a free, the drop-in recreation program for children ages 6–11, for games, arts & crafts and fun with friends, new & old. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis; parents or guardians must complete an emergency card on the first visit. Location: Serra Park, 730 The Dalles Ave., Sunnyvale.
- Thurs., 9/17, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Learn about Sunnyvale Community Services@ CNC – Drop in and talk with a Sunnyvale Community Services staff about their services/programs such as financial, food, and community resources.
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Thur., 9/17, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Zumba @ Multi-Purpose Room - This fitness program combines cardio with Latin-inspired dance. Arrive 10–15 minutes early for your first class; youth (ages 8+) can attend with parent; high school students need a parent or guardian’s permission. No childcare or waiting area for children. Donation: $3/class.
- Fri., 9/18, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. – FREE! Youth Drop-In Basketball in CNC Gym - Indoor youth drop-in basketball for middle and high school youth. Must have current school ID and parent or guardian’s written permission in our online system. Bring your own ball. Program will be canceled if no one shows after the first hour.
- Sat., 9/19, 9:15 -10:15 a.m. - Drop-In Yoga Classes - This gentle yoga class helps you relax, reduce stress, and feel more connected; all skill levels are welcome. Bring comfortable clothes, a yoga mat, towel, and water. Youth (ages 8+) can attend with parents; high school students need parent or guardian’s written permission in our online system. Enter from back door, on Morse Ave. Donation: $3/class.
- Sat., 9/19, 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. - Drop in Pickleball for Beginners in CNC gym - Pickleball is an easy-to-learn paddle sport for beginners and non-competitive play; bring your own paddle and balls, although a few are available to borrow. Wear athletic shoes and bring water. Youth (ages 8+) can attend with parents; high school students need parent or guardian’s written permission in our online system. Donation: $3
- Drop-In Fitness Room – Regular hours: Mon. - Fri., 3:30 – 8:00 p.m.; Sat., 9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m. - Get active with cardio machines (treadmill, bikes, ellipticals), strength-training machines and free weights. Bring water, a towel, and wear athletic shoes. Donation is $1. Middle schoolers can come with parent; high school students need parent or guardian’s written permission in our online system.
In the Community
- Starting Mon., 9/14 – 9/30, -- Halloween Costume Swap. Give your child's gently used or outgrown Halloween costume new life by donating it to the Halloween Costume Swap event. Donations accepted at CNC, Sunnyvale Community Center, or Sunnyvale Main Library during their business hours. Then come to the Costume Swap event on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 3:30–5:30 p.m. at Columbia Middle School to choose a new-to-your-child costume. Call 408-730-7350 with questions.
- Mon., 9/14, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. - ESL Conversation Group (Online) - Practice your English-speaking skills with other adults in a friendly group setting on Zoom. This program is free and all levels welcome, adults only. Register here,https://sunnyvale.libcal.com/
event/15910634 and login instruction will be emailed to you before the event. - Tues., 9/15, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – Free Fair Housing Webinar for Landlords - Project Sentinel is offering a free virtual webinar for landlords and housing providers. The session will cover federal Fair Housing laws, compliance tips, reasonable accommodation, and helpful resources. Register here; https://www.sunnyvale.ca.gov/
Home/Components/Calendar/ Event/12999/bit.ly/4eFtQFq. - Tues., 9/15, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. – Paws to Read - Come read to a certified therapy dog at the Sunnyvale Library on the third Tuesday of each month from September through May. Kids in grades K–8 get ten minutes of one-on-one reading time; registration is required, and spots are limited. Register here; https://sunnyvale.libcal.com/
event/17103776 - Wed., 9/16, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Successfully Navigating College Admissions This Fall - Learn about college admissions, including trends, testing changes, passion projects, timelines, and ways to reduce stress. This Zoom program is for teens in grades 9–12; registration is required to receive the link. Register here; https://sunnyvale.libcal.com/
event/17028572 - Thursdays, 9/17 – 10/8/26, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Orchard Music Series, free outdoor music. Bring your whole family, blankets, lawn/beach chairs, and enjoy a different local band each week. Food trucks will be available for food purchases or bring your own. Location: Community Center Amphitheater, 550 E. Remington Avenue. For more information, go to Sunnyvale.ca.govand search “Special Events”
- Sat., 9/19, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – State of the City, join us for our annual State of the City event as we celebrate all the great things happening in Sunnyvale. Location: City Hall, 456 W. Olive.
- Sat., 9/19, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Friends of the Sunnyvale Library Book Sale. The Friends of the Sunnyvale Public Library will host a two-day book sale with books, movies, and music in several languages. Shop Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. during the $5 Bag Sale. All proceeds support library programs and literacy.
- Fridays, 10/2 – 11/13/26, 9:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – FREE Basic Computer Classes for Adults. Learn the basics: search for information, how to email, fill out forms, and more. Location: Adult School, Room 6, 589 W. Fremont Ave. Registration required. Forms available at CNC or at Adult School. Call 408-522-2723 for more information or registration form.
Door Dashing/Food Delivery:
CMS does not allow any food delivery services for students. However, if a parent/guardian brings food for their students, then we will gladly have them pick up the food from the front office during our regular lunch hours.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email Mr. Poo at daniel.poo@sesd.org
Don't forget to FOLLOW US:
Instagram: @cmsbulldogs739
Upcoming Events:
- 9/14 School Site Council
- 9/22. Fall Picture Day
- 9/30. Progress Reports Mailed home
- 10/5. Start of Sport Season 2
- 10/12 No School: Professional Development Day
HAVE A GREAT WEEK !