Welcome to the Chatham Middle School!
Chatham Middle School is one of five schools in New York State to receive the"Champion of Character Award" from the Academy for Character Education at the Sage Colleges.
Gordon Fitting, Principal
Pamela Petell Verenazi, Secretary to the Principal
Larry Burud, Assistant Principal
Pat Schlegel, Secretary to the Assistant Principal
"In
all the world there is no
other child exactly like you.
In the millions of years that have passed, there has never been another child like you.
You may become a Shakespeare,
a Michelangelo, a Beethoven.
You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel."
- Pablo Casals
The Staff and Students of the Chatham Middle School as well as the greater educational community recognize early adolescence not only as a period of transition for intellectual, educational and physical development, but also a period for personal and social growth.
Middle School News
Middle School Observes Veterans' Day
Chatham Middle School held its annual Veterans’ Day Assembly November 6th. Spokesperson for the assembly Mr. Larry Burud, Assistant Principal, introduced the Ghent Post 5933 V.F.W. Color Guard who conducted a presentation of the colors.
ABOVE: The Presentation of the Flags, with Ricky Kring.
BELOW: Everett Rossman, Henry Craft and Ralph Kring fold the flag.
Eighth-grade students Karlee Shields, Jameson Connor, Caitlin Doyle, Erica Laguesse, Carolyn Beer, Karey Jornov and Hannah Gregg explained the different flags for the different branches of service as they were presented to the audience. The Color Guard also demonstrated the folding of the flag. An interpretation of the Pledge of Allegiance, written by the late comedian Red Skeleton, was read by fifth-grade teacher Mr. Jeff Kole and eighth-grader Alison Mesick, followed by members of the staff singing "The Star Spangled Banner." A history of Veterans’ Day was read by eighth-grader Sierra Shufelt.
Seventh-grader Cassidy Flanagan, left, member of the Character P.E.A.C.E. Club, spoke to the audience about a school-wide project for Veterans’ Day the club initiated. A Veterans’ Day card was created and sent to all the homerooms where they were signed by students and staff in classroom meetings. Each classroom had a card for each visiting guest and framed cards for each member of the Color Guard.
Jennifer Elbert and Carly Rippel, also members of the P.E.A.C.E. Club, presented the framed cards to the Color Guard, Ralph Kring, Ricky Kring, Everett Rossman, Sonny Rogers, Henry Craft and Charles Northup.
The guest speaker for the assembly was Melissa Hogan, United States Air Force Master Sergeant Retired. Ms. Hogan graduated from Chatham with the class of 1980 and served in the Air Force from 1980 to 2001. She served in six different countries and five different states, some with multiple tours of duty. She is presently a State Veterans Counselor and has been assigned to Columbia County effective November 9th.
The Color Guard, special guests and everyone involved in the assembly were thanked with a reception in the middle school library at the end of the program.
CMS Vendor Fair Offers Holiday Shopping Opportunities
The annual Holiday Vendor Fair sponsored by the Linnea Bell Music Scholarship Fund to benefit the Chatham Middle School eighth grade trip to Washington D.C. will be held on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Chatham Firehouse on Hoffman Street, Chatham village.
The fair offers one-stop holiday shopping, with 20 local vendors selling national brand products as well as homemade crafts and food items. A range of products such as cookware, jewelry, makeup, furniture and home décor, candles, books and more will be for sale. The products make wonderful holiday gifts, and many vendors offer items in gift packages or baskets.
The CMS students and parents will also be selling snack and lunch food items such as baked goods, soups, hot dogs and drinks. Take a chance to win one of the many items donated by the vendors and crafters, or a chance to win the 50/50 raffle. Admission is free.
What's Going On Around the Middle School
Seventh graders visit the Merwin farm, home of the man who provided Washington Irving with the inspiration for Ichabod Crane of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."Go to Team 7 page.
Chatham Middle School celebrated Character Counts Week, October 19th through October 23rd, and students learned the six pillars of character. Go to character events.
Clubs and Activities Offered at CMS (click here)
Our Mission
The Chatham Middle School Community accepts the responsibility for the understanding and facilitating the positive transition from childhood to adolescence. Through our supportive environment and challenging program, all students have opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and personal growth necessary to achieve success. Thank You for supporting us!