
They’ll be back on September 28, ready to take care of all your candy and popcorn needs! We love seeing our students getting involved and serving their school community.
It’s a great day to be a Pinto!


🏈HOMECOMING WEEK IS NEXT WEEK! 🏈
Get ready to show your Pinto pride ALL WEEK LONG! Our Homecoming spirit days are district-wide, so Elementary, Middle School, and High School Pintos can all join in on the fun!
✨ Monday – PJ Day! Come to school in your favorite pajamas.
👯 Tuesday – Tribute Duo Day
Twin Day! Find your twin and dress alike!
🏈 Wednesday – Training Day
Jersey & Athletic Wear Day! Show off your favorite team gear and athletic style.
🪖 Thursday – Camo Day! Blend in with your best camouflage.
🔴🔵 Friday – Victory Day
Pinto Spirit Day! Finish the week strong in your favorite Pinto gear and school colors!
Let’s make Homecoming Week one to remember! Show your spirit, have some fun, and get ready to cheer on our Pintos!
It’s a great day to be a Pinto! 🐴

As your student and their friends take part in another great school year, our California Middle School Yearbook Staff is capturing all the moments, memories, laughs, and milestones to tell the story of the year!
🎉 EARLY-BIRD SPECIAL: ONLY $20!
Order by September 30 to get your yearbook for just $20!
After September 30, regular pricing begins:
• Oct. 1 – Dec. 31: $25
• Jan. 1 – May 1: $30
💻 Order online: Visit yearbookforever.com and enter California Middle School as the school name. Credit cards, debit cards, and PayPal are accepted.
💵 Pay by cash or check: Bring the order form and payment made payable to California Middle School to the front office.
📖 Give your student the best book of memories from this school year!
BUY BY SEPTEMBER 30 AND SAVE — ONLY $20!
Don’t wait! Once the early-bird deadline passes, the price goes up!

CMS FCA invites you to join us at the pole in front of the Middle School building for a National Day of Student Prayer.
Students, staff, families, and community members are welcome to gather together for a time of prayer and reflection.
We hope you’ll join us!
It’s a great day to be a Pinto!
Flyers and registration forms will be coming home with students soon!
Students in PreK–6th grade are invited to join CHS Cheer for a fun-filled Mini Cheer Camp!
📅 Tuesday, October 20, 2026
📍 California High School Gym
⏰ 6:00–8:00 PM
💲 $25 — includes a T-shirt, snack, and camp!
🎀 What to Wear: Athletic shoes and comfortable clothes you can move in.
Mini cheerleaders will learn a cheer, chant, and dance routine and then have the opportunity to perform their routine during halftime of the CHS Varsity Football game on Friday, October 23! 🏈📣
🏈 Halftime Performance:
The game begins at 7:00 PM. Mini cheerleaders should meet at the gate closest to the concession stand when there are 5 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter.
📝 Registration Deadline: Friday, October 9
Return the registration form and $25 payment to the Elementary, Middle School, or High School office by October 9 to ensure a T-shirt for the game.
Late registration will be accepted, but a T-shirt in time for the game is not guaranteed.
💳 Make checks payable to CHS Cheer.
A video of the cheer and dance material to practice will be emailed to the address provided on the registration form.
Questions? Contact Kate Lootens at kate.lootens@californiak12.org.
We can’t wait to see our mini Pintos cheering under the Friday night lights! 📣🏈

Tonight was also a special opportunity to remember and honor a former Pinto softball player, Izzy Williams, who would have been an 8th grader this year. Her memory remains a meaningful part of the Pinto family, and it was incredibly special to see her teammates, coaches, and our school community come together to honor her.
To our 8th graders: we are so proud of you and can't wait to see where your journey takes you.
And Izzy, you are deeply missed and will always hold a special place in the hearts of the Pinto family. ❤️💙
It’s a great day to be a Pinto



Mrs. Forck’s 5th-grade Social Studies class has been learning all about landforms, and they got to take their learning to the next level with some fun, hands-on activities!
We love seeing our students learning, creating, and exploring concepts in an interactive way! Learning is always more fun when you can get your hands involved! 🙌
It’s a great day to be a Pinto! ❤️💙





We love seeing our students learning through hands-on experiences!
It’s a great day to be a Pinto!







He shared his personal journey with our students — the challenges he endured, the deep bonds of friendship he formed, and the sacrifice of his close friend, Willie McVea. His firsthand account provided an invaluable perspective on a pivotal chapter in history.
We are grateful to Mr. Hentges not only for his service but also for taking the time to inspire and educate our students. Experiences like this bring history to life and leave a lasting impact on our learners.


The Moniteau County Health Center is partnering with California Middle School to offer the seasonal influenza vaccine to students and their families.
📅 Wednesday, October 21
📍 California Middle School
The vaccine will be provided at NO COST to families, regardless of insurance eligibility.
To register and provide consent:
1. Visit patients.vaxcare.com/registration
2. Enter enrollment code: MO07917
3. Select California Middle School.
4. Complete and submit the required information.
Please note: Your child is not registered unless you see a confirmation page after submitting the form.
When completing the Payment Information section:
• Medicaid eligible: Provide your child's Medicaid number.
• Private insurance: Provide the requested insurance information if your plan is listed.
• No insurance: Select the “NO INSURANCE” option.
Regardless of insurance eligibility, there will be NO COST to you for the vaccine. If you receive a bill, please do not send payment. Contact the Moniteau County Health Center at 573-796-3412.
Questions about the vaccine or registration? Call 573-796-3412, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

We’ve got some big dates coming up! Be sure to save the dates and come out to support our Pinto athletes and cheerleaders! ❤️
🥎 Softball — September 21
🏐 Volleyball — October 5
🏈📣 Football/Cheer — October 8
More details coming soon! We’ll see you there! 🎉

📆 Thursday, September 17
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Middle School Cafeteria
We’d love to see you there! Come join us, share your ideas, and help support our middle school students and staff. 💙
We love seeing the smiles, teamwork, and hands-on learning happening in the classroom!
It’s a great day to be a Pinto!






Our 6th graders are investigating matter using qualitative and quantitative observations!
We love seeing the fun, hands-on learning happening in our classrooms at CMS! Science comes to life when students get to explore, investigate, and discover. 🔍
It’s a great day to be a Pinto!



First, students went through the Tunnel to Towers 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit, learning about the events of September 11, 2001, and honoring the lives and heroes impacted by that day.
Students then headed into the Missouri State Capitol, where they had the opportunity to visit the House Lounge, the Governor’s Office, and the Whispering Gallery. The day wrapped up in the Whispering Gallery with a short video featuring our students singing together.
It was a meaningful day filled with history, learning, and memorable experiences for our 8th graders!










Our 7th graders are working hard in science, using microscopes to identify and observe different specimens! We love seeing the hands-on learning happening in our classrooms and watching students explore science through real-world experiences.
Keep up the great work, 7th graders! 🧪🔍







Calling all Archers & Parents of students in Grades 6–12!
The Archery Club will be holding a parent and archer meeting on:
📅 October 19
⏰ 6:30–8:00 PM
📍 High School Commons
This meeting is for 6th–12th grade archers and their parents. We’ll share important information about the upcoming archery season and answer any questions.
Questions? Please contact Kayla Stewart at kstew.ks39@gmail.com.
We hope to see you there! 🏹
The Middle School PTSA will hold its next meeting on:
📆 Thursday, September 17
⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Middle School Cafeteria
We’d love to see you there! Come join us, share your ideas, and help support our middle school students and staff. 💙
We love seeing our library display honoring and remembering the lives lost on September 11, 2001. These displays provide our students with opportunities to learn, reflect, and explore books and resources related to this important part of our nation’s history.
We’re grateful for the ways our library helps bring learning to life and gives students opportunities to discover something new every day!
❤️📖 It’s a great day to be a Pinto!

⏰ 5:00 PM
Good luck, Pintos! ❤️ #12
