Clay Center Community Middle School

🏈🧡 **FOOTBALL SCHEDULE UPDATE!** 🖤🏈 Heads up, Bengal Family! 🐅 Due to the forecast for tomorrow evening, we are moving up our football game start time to try to stay ahead of the weather! ⏰ **NEW START TIME: 3:30 PM** 📣 The first game will start at 3:30 PM instead of the originally scheduled 4:30 PM. Please help spread the word so our Bengal families and fans know about the time change! We hope to get our games in before Mother Nature decides to join the team. 🌧️⛈️ Thanks for your flexibility and support! Let's go, Bengals! 🧡🖤 #BengalStrong #BeTheStandard #BengalFootball

📢 KONZA PRAIRIE TRIP UPDATE! 🌧️

The 2nd half of our 7th graders scheduled to visit Konza Prairie this Wednesday will NOT be going this week due to the forecast of excessive and prolonged rainfall. The expected high water in low-lying areas makes parts of the prairie impassable.

📅 The trip has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 11th!

Thank you for your understanding! More details will be shared by Mr. Kalivoda as we get closer to the new date.

🐅 Bengal Family, please help spread the word! 🖤🧡

Last week, Ms. Smith brought in a guest speaker for her English and Bengal Writing classes. She lives in Uganda and is back in the US for a visit. She talked about life in Uganda. #Celebrate379

🐅🧡 BENGALS, HERE’S YOUR WEEKLY ACTIVITY LINEUP! 🖤🐅

It’s another busy week in Bengal Country! From football under the lights to cross country on the course, we’ve got plenty happening at CCCMS! Let’s show up, get involved, and BE THE STANDARD! 💪🧡

📅 THIS WEEK AT CCCMS | OCTOBER 12–18

🏈 TUESDAY, OCT. 13
7th & 8th Grade Football vs. Chapman
📍 HOME | ⏰ 4:30 PM
Come cheer on our Bengals! 🐅🏈

🌎 WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14
• Second half of the 7th Graders will head to the Konza
• 7th Grade Girls Basketball Interest Meeting — Room 129 during PAWS
• 8th Grade Girls Basketball Interest Meeting — Library during PAWS

🏃 THURSDAY, OCT. 15
• Cross Country NCKL Meet @ Abilene (Great Life) — 3:00 PM
• Boys Wrestling Interest Meeting — Commons during PAWS
• 🚨 LAST DAY for the STUCO Self-Care Drive!

📣 FRIDAY, OCT. 16
• 🎉 End of 1st Quarter — 11:45 AM Dismissal!
• 🏀 8th Grade Girls Basketball Practice Begins

🗓️ PLANNING AHEAD
📌 October 21–22: Parent-Teacher Conferences
📌 October 22–23: NO SCHOOL

Let’s make it a great week, Bengals! Good luck to all our students and athletes, and don’t forget to support your Bengal Family whenever you can! 🧡🖤

🐅 BE THE STANDARD. BENGAL STRONG!
#BengalSTRONG #BeTheStandard #BengalPride #CCCMS

🧡🏐 **BENGAL STRONG! 7TH GRADE NCKL RUNNERS-UP!** 🏐🖤 Our 7th Grade Lady Bengals put in the WORK, and it showed today! 💪🔥 These girls battled their way to **2ND PLACE at the NCKL Tournament!** 🥈 🏐 **Tournament Highlights:** 🧡 Victories over Chapman and Marysville! 🖤 A HUGE comeback against Marysville after trailing **8–14**! These Bengals refused to give up and fought their way to a WIN! 🔥 🏐 Battled Rock Creek in the championship match to finish as **NCKL RUNNERS-UP!** This team has worked hard, fought hard, and shown what it means to be Bengal Strong! We are SO proud of these girls and all the heart they brought to the court today! 🧡🖤 Help us congratulate our **7th Grade Lady Bengals on an incredible 2nd-place finish!** 🥈🐅 #BengalStrong #CCCMSBengals #NCKL #Volleyball #BeTheStandard

🏆🧡🖤 **NCKL CHAMPIONS!!!** 🖤🧡🏆 **YOUR 8TH GRADE LADY BENGALS ARE NCKL CHAMPS!!!** 🏐🔥 These girls came to COMPETE and left it all on the court! 💪🐅 With HUGE wins over Fort Riley and Rock Creek, our Lady Bengals punched their ticket to the championship match and finished the job with a WIN OVER CONCORDIA to claim the **NCKL CHAMPIONSHIP!** 🏆🙌 Hard work. Teamwork. Determination. Bengal PRIDE. 🧡🖤 These girls showed up, battled hard, and proved what happens when you believe in each other and play as a TEAM! 📣 **THAT'S HOW YOU DO IT, BENGALS!!!** 📣 Help us congratulate our 8th Grade Lady Bengals on an AMAZING accomplishment! They are bringing home the hardware, and we couldn't be prouder! 🏆🐅🏐 #BengalStrong #NCKLChamps #LadyBengals #BeTheStandard #BengalPride

🧡🖤 BENGAL GAME DAY! 🖤🧡

Rise and shine, Bengal Family! ☀️🐅 We have an EARLY morning packed with Bengal pride, miles to run, and volleyball to play! Grab your coffee, throw on your orange and black, and come support our Bengals as they hit the road this Morning! Let's make some noise! 📣🔥

🏃‍♀️🏃 CROSS COUNTRY – RILEY COUNTY INVITATIONAL
📍 Leonardville Golf Course
⏰ First race kicks off at 9:00 AM!

Here’s the race lineup:
• 9:00 AM – Open 400m (boys & girls, intended for 2nd grade and younger)
• 9:15 AM – Open 1K (boys & girls, intended for 3rd–6th grade)
• 9:30 AM – Middle School Girls 2 Mile (7th & 8th combined)
• 10:00 AM – Middle School Boys 2 Mile (7th & 8th combined)
• 10:30 AM – High School Girls Varsity/JV 5K
• 11:15 AM – High School Boys Varsity/JV 5K

👟 The Leonardville Golf Course is a fantastic place to cheer on our runners, with spectators able to see much of the course from one spot! Just remember to stay off the sand greens and tee boxes.

🏐 7TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL – NCKL TOURNAMENT
📍 Concordia Jr./Sr. High School
436 W. 10th Street, Concordia
⏰ 9:00 AM

Our 7th-grade Bengals are ready to compete against some tough NCKL competition! Bring that Bengal energy and cheer them on! 🧡🖤

🎟️ Admission: Adults $5 | Students (K–12) $3
💳 Card reader available.

🏐 8TH GRADE VOLLEYBALL – NCKL TOURNAMENT
📍 Fort Riley Middle School
4022 1st Division Rd., Fort Riley
⏰ 9:00 AM

Our 8th-grade Bengals are headed to Fort Riley to battle it out on the court! Let's show them some love and support as they take on the tournament! 💪🏐

🎟️ Admission: Adults $5 | Students (K–12) $3
💵 Cash admission.

🧡 Whether you're cheering from the sidelines, watching a race, or sending our athletes some encouragement from home, let's show our Bengals that we've got their backs!

ONE TEAM. ONE FAMILY. BENGAL STRONG! 🐅🔥

#BengalStrong #BengalGameDay #OneTeamOneFamily #CCCMSBengals #BengalPride

Mrs. Pfizenmaier's 8th grade science students are finishing their unit on energy. As a final project, she had them create a family energy profile. They were given a location and the costs of different options, and they had to decide which housing improvement was best. Real-world application! #Celebrate379

🐯🧡 BENGAL STRONG HABITS IN ACTION SPOTLIGHT: MRS. McDONALD’S PAWS! 🖤🐾

If you know Mrs. McDonald, you know she knows how to make learning fun! And this PAWS group definitely knows how to bring the positive energy! 😄

Mrs. McDonald’s PAWS class is all about supporting one another, including everyone, lending a helping hand, and being the kind of leaders who make CCCMS a better place. But let’s be honest… middle schoolers who are busy with all their extracurricular activities might need a little extra help getting those genuine smiles! 😂

So, what does a fun teacher do? SURPRISE DODGEBALLS, OF COURSE! 🏐🤣 Mrs. McDonald had a little surprise lined up to get those genuine smiles out of her PAWS kiddos, and let’s just say the plan worked! Of course, two other PAWS classes were more than happy to take advantage of the opportunity to join in on the dodgeball fun! Because if there are dodgeballs involved, why should only ONE PAWS class get to have all the fun?! 😂

Here’s what Mrs. McDonald PAWS had to say about their awesome group:

“Mrs. McDonald's PAWS class is a fun and positive group. We see ourselves as funny, happy, kind, and helpful. We are often tired from all of our extra curricular activities, but we still come ready to support one another and have a good time. We include everyone, lend a helping hand, and bring positive energy to our group. Mrs. McDonald believes we are great leaders who set good examples for others and make our school a better place.”

🧡 We LOVE seeing our Bengals build relationships, lift each other up, and create a school community where everyone belongs. A little laughter, a few dodgeballs, and a whole lot of Bengal spirit make for some pretty great memories!

Way to go, Mrs. McDonald’s PAWS! Keep being kind, keep being helpful, keep leading by example, and KEEP BEING BENGAL STRONG! 🐯🖤🧡

#BengalStrong #HabitsInAction #PAWS #BengalPride #BeTheStandard

🏈🏐 IT’S GAME DAY, BENGALS! 🐾🧡🖤
It’s time to ROAR LOUD and show our Bengal athletes some love! 🔥

📅 TODAY — THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
🏈 FOOTBALL
📍 @ Rock Creek
⏰ 4:30 PM
7th Grade followed by 8th Grade
🏐 VOLLEYBALL
📍 @ Rock Creek
⏰ 4:30 PM

Two sports. One Bengal Family. ONE BIG SHOW OF SUPPORT! 🐯🧡
Whether you’re in the stands, cheering from home, or sending those Bengal vibes from afar—let’s make sure our athletes know we’re behind them! 📣🔥

GO BENGALS!
ONE TEAM. ONE FAMILY. BENGAL STRONG. 🐾🧡🖤
#BengalStrong #BengalPride #OneTeamOneFamily #GameDay #GoBengals

🏐🧡🖤 IT’S GAME DAY, BENGALS! 🖤🧡🏐

Our Bengal Volleyball teams are HOME today and ready to bring the energy! 🔥🐾

📣 CCCMS vs. Chapman
🏐 7th Grade: District Gym
🏐 8th Grade: CCCMS Gym

Come out, pack the gyms, and make some NOISE for our Bengal volleyball girls! 📢🧡🖤 Let’s show them what it means to play in front of the Bengal Family!

And since today is National Coaches Day, we HAVE to give a huge shoutout to the amazing coaches who pour their time, energy, knowledge, and heart into our athletes every day! 🧡

👏 Megan Griffiths
👏 Jennifer Pfizenmaier
👏 Tailar McGregor
👏 Liz Bott

Thank you for cheering them on, pushing them to be better, believing in them, and being such an important part of their Bengal journey! 🏐🧡🖤

LET’S GO, BENGALS! 🐾🔥
Bring the energy. Bring the noise. LET’S GET IT, LADY BENGALS! 🏐🧡🖤

🐾🧡 HAPPY NATIONAL COACHES APPRECIATION DAY! 🧡🐾

Today, we’re giving a HUGE Bengal THANK YOU to all of our amazing coaches who show up, put in the work, encourage our students, push them to be their best, and cheer them on every step of the way! 🏆

Being a coach is about SO much more than what happens on the court, field, track, or sidelines. Our coaches help build confidence, teach teamwork, create memories, and help shape our students into better students and stronger tomorrows. 🧡🖤

We are incredibly thankful for the time, energy, patience, encouragement, and heart you pour into our Bengals! Your impact reaches FAR beyond the scoreboard. 🐾

To ALL of our CCCMS coaches—THANK YOU for being a part of our Bengal Family and for helping our students #BeTheStandard!

We appreciate you more than you know! 🧡🖤

GO BENGALS!!! 🐾🏆🔥

#NationalCoachesAppreciationDay #BengalStrong #BeTheStandard #CCCMSBengals #BengalFamily #GoBengals

🎶✨ BIG CONGRATULATIONS, BENGALS! ✨🎶

We are SO proud of these talented Bengal musicians who have been selected for the NCKMEA Middle Level Honor Choir! 🎤🧡🖤

A huge congratulations to:

🎵 Leo Avalos — Bass
🎵 Janessa Bergsten — Alto
🎵 June Davis — Alto
🎵 Tayla Forslund — Soprano
🎵 Gabe Borgerding — Tenor
🎵 Luke Gibson — Bass
🎵 Michelle Obregon-Hernandez — Soprano
🎵 Elizabeth Paillet — Soprano
🎵 Brielle Wolf — Soprano

Being selected for an honor choir is a BIG accomplishment and a wonderful recognition of their hard work, dedication, and musical talent! 👏🎶

We are incredibly proud of you, Bengals! Keep using your talents, keep growing, and keep making that Bengal roar heard! 🐾🧡🖤

#BengalStrong #BengalPride #NCKMEA #HonorChoir #MusicMatters #WeAreSoProud #Bengals 🎶🐾

Mrs. Bergsten's 7th-grade choir visited Liberty Place on Friday to sing for the residents. #Celebrate379

🎶🐾 **BENGAL BAND SPOTLIGHT!** 🐾🎶 We are SO incredibly proud of these three Bengal band kiddos! 🧡🖤 Congratulations to **Holte Taddiken, Alexis Schurle, and Brielle Wolf** on auditioning their way into the **NCKMEA Middle Level Honor Band!** 🎉🎺🎶 These three talented musicians earned their spots in an **approximately 70-member honor band** made up of middle-level musicians from across the area. That is a BIG accomplishment and something to be proud of! They’ll come together with other outstanding young musicians for a special performance on **Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Junction City High School.** We are so excited to see these Bengals represent **CCCMS and the Bengal Band** on a bigger stage! 🐾🧡🖤 **Way to go, Holte, Alexis & Brielle! We are cheering you on all the way!** 🎶👏 **GO BENGALS!** 🐅🎺🧡🖤

🐾 BE THE STANDARD — CALL OF THE DAY! 🐾

Today we are celebrating Noah and Hunter Chillson for showing us what it looks like to truly SYNERGIZE! 🤝🧡🖤

While helping with football concessions, Noah and Hunter were friendly, helpful, and welcoming to customers. But their teamwork didn’t stop there! When it was time to clean up, these two were ready to work! 💪

They didn’t just finish one task and call it good—they kept asking, “What else can we do?” They wanted to make sure everything was taken care of and even checked with Ms. Kennison to make sure she no longer needed their help before they left.

THAT is Synergizing! Seeing what needs to be done, working together, helping others, and making the whole team better. 🙌

Noah and Hunter, we are SO proud of you for putting the 7 Habits into action and showing us what it means to #BeTheStandard! 🐾🧡🖤

Keep it up, Bengals! Lead by example. Help each other. Be the Standard. 👏

🧡🖤 BENGAL STRONG HABITS IN ACTION SPOTLIGHT: OUR AMAZING CUSTODIANS! 🖤🧡

Today is National School Custodian Appreciation Day, and we couldn’t let the day go by without giving a HUGE shoutout to the two people who work behind the scenes every single day to help keep our school running, clean, safe, and ready for our Bengal Family! 🐾✨

Our custodians do SO much more than empty trash cans and clean floors! They are here before many of us arrive and often still working after the building has quieted down. They clean classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, and common areas, tackle spills and messes, move furniture, help with events, fix the little things that need fixing, keep things stocked, and somehow manage to make the impossible disappear before anyone even notices it happened! 😂

And let’s be honest…in a middle school, there are A LOT of things that need disappearing! 🤣

But beyond the cleaning and maintenance, our custodians are an important part of our school family. They help create a place where our students can learn, our staff can work, and everyone can feel comfortable and cared for. They are often the first to notice when something needs attention—and they are always willing to jump in and help.

So today, we want our two AMAZING custodians to know just how much they are appreciated! ❤️

Thank you for the countless hours, the hard work, the patience, the behind-the-scenes hustle, and everything you do to make CCCMS a better place every single day. We see you. We appreciate you. And we are SO thankful you are part of our Bengal Family! 🐾🧡🖤

And now, instead of us telling you about them, we thought you should hear directly from the two people who keep our school moving behind the scenes—here are their own personal bios! 👇
Jeremy Lund has been wandering the halls of the middle school for 18 years. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring backroads in his classic Toyota pickup.

Michael Houchin has been here for over two years. He really enjoys working at CCCMS and being around the students. Grew up in Clay Center and graduated in 2012. In his spare time, he loves to watch movies and play video games.

🐾🧡 WHAT. A. PEP RALLY! 🖤🐾

Our FIRST PEP RALLY OF THE YEAR was AMAZING! 🎉📣 We kicked things off by celebrating and recognizing our incredible Fall Sports teams and all the hard work they’ve put in this season. We are so proud of our Bengals! 🐾🧡

And then… things got INTENSE! 👀🔥

Our 6th, 7th & 8th grade boys and girls faced off in a seriously exciting volleyball showdown! 🏐 The crowd was LOUD and definitely pulling for the boys as they battled to take the win. They came so close to pulling it off…

BUT the girls had other plans! 😂🏐

The girls came out on top with a 15–11 victory! 👏🎉

What a FUN way to kick off our pep rally season! The energy, the cheering, the competition, and those Bengal vibes were EVERYTHING! 🧡🖤

GOOD LUCK TODAY, BENGALS! Go show Fort Riley what Bengal Strong looks like! 🐾📣

#BengalStrong #BeTheStandard #BengalPride #CCCMS #PepRally #BengalFamily

🐯🏐🏈 BENGAL SPORTS — TODAY! 🏈🏐🐯

⚠️ UPDATED START TIMES! BOTH FOOTBALL & VOLLEYBALL HAVE BEEN MOVED UP!

It’s a busy day for our Bengals as both Football AND Volleyball head to Fort Riley! 🧡🖤

📍 Fort Riley Middle School
4022 1st Division Rd.
Fort Riley, KS 66442

🏈 BENGAL FOOTBALL
⏰ 7th Grade — 3:30 PM
➡️ 8th Grade will follow with a 3-minute warm-up

⏱️ Both games will have a 10-minute halftime.

🏐 BENGAL VOLLEYBALL
⏰ 4:00 PM — Team A Match 1
➡️ Immediately Following: Team B Match 1
➡️ Immediately Following: Team A Match 2

🏐 Matches are best of three with rally scoring.
• Third game is played to 15
• Team A warm-up: 20 minutes
• Team B warm-up: 10 minutes
• Additional warm-up after the first match may be held at the coach/officials' discretion.

7th Grade: Concession Side
8th Grade: Locker Room Side

🎟️ Admission: Adults $5 | Children $3

🧡🖤 Come support our Bengals on the road! Bring your Bengal pride, cheer loud, and let's have a GREAT day! 🐯🔥

LET'S GO, BENGALS! 🐯🏐🏈

#BengalStrong #BeTheStandard #BengalPride #CCCMSAthletics