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CFKN Leopard Tales

December 2025

CFKN LeopardTalesDecember 2025

Aftercare Parents Aftercare Parents

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**** A Special Note about Aftercare: While we understand that some families are still looking for aftercare availability, our CFKN aftercare is FULL and we are no longer accepting students from the waiting list. Our waitlist is also FULL. We are no longer accepting waitlist requests for this year. If you are still seeking aftercare in the area, the below locations pickup at CFKN and transport to their individual locations:

Big Blue Marble Academy

YMCA



Just a friendly reminder to keep up with your aftercare payments.


Payment is due Monday each week. Accounts must be kept current in order for your child(ren) to remain in the aftercare program. Payment is still required the weeks your child does not attend aftercare. Payment will hold their place in our program.


Aftercare Parents, if there is a change in transportation this must be coordinated with the office before 2 pm.


For additional information, please see our Aftercare Handbook.

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Tardies Begin at 7:40 AM Tardies Begin at 7:40 AM

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Late Arrival Procedures

If you arrive at school after 7:40am and there is no adult on duty in the carpool loop, you need to park your vehicle and walk your child into the front office for their supervision and safety. Thank you in advance for your support in this matter.


  • Tardies begin at 7:40am. An adult will need to sign the student in at this time.
  • Excessive tardies will be reviewed under the choice option for attendance to a magnet program.

IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFORMATION IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

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Please see important attendance information below:


Attendance Phase I:


Attendance & Tardies/Early Dismissals- This phase begins with 6 absences (verified or unverified) or 6 tardies/early dismissals.


Attendance Phase II:


Attendance & Tardies/Early Dismissals- This phase begins with 11 absences (verified or unverified) or 11 tardies/early dismissals.


Attendance Phase III:


Attendance & Tardies/Early Dismissals- This phase begins with the violation of the Attendance Improvement Plan (ex: exceeding the listed further tardies/absences/early dismissals allowed in the AIP for the rest of the school year).

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**** State law requires students in kindergarten through 12th grade to attend school a minimum of 170 of the school year’s 180 days to receive credit for the academic year.



  • Students can be absent for no more than 10 days per school year.

  • A note from a parent/guardian or certified medical practitioner must be submitted to the school immediately or within 5 days upon the return of the student. Failure to provide notes within 5 day time frame may result in an absence being considered as Unverified.

  • Richland School District 2 Attendance Information

*** You should receive an automated email or message from Parent Square the day of your child's absence. You can respond directly to this message in Parent Square providing the excuse information. If you have a medical note, please email and/or send in all medical notes to our Attendance Secretary, Mrs. Branson, at bbranson@richland2.org upon your return.


Thank you.

Late Pickup Information Late Pickup Information

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Please note that students who are NOT in our aftercare program or special after school programs, should be picked up no later than 2:50pm every day. Excessive late pickups will be reviewed under the choice option for attendance to a magnet program.


Thank you in advance for your support in this matter.

For the Record... For the Record...

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Did you know you can respond directly to the automatic attendance message if your child is marked absent? Just click Reply and let us know the reason—your response will count as your parent note.


If you have a medical excuse, there’s no need to send the original note with your student. You can keep the original for your records and simply email a photo or scanned copy to Mrs. Branson (bbranson@richland2.org) or Mrs. Britt (kshelton@richland2.org).

Community Partners Community Partners

A HUGE thank you to Biscuitville for donating the DELICIOUS ham, sausage, and original biscuits for our staff to enjoy! What a treat!

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Make Up Picture Day Coming Soon Make Up Picture Day Coming Soon

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Please remember to send in any picture money or unwanted picture packages. Thanks!

Aftercare Payment Reminder Aftercare Payment Reminder

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Parent Portal Reminders Parent Portal Reminders

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As a reminder, we encourage you to check your Parent Portal accounts periodically to stay updated on any new fees and ensure timely payment.

Field Study Payments Due Field Study Payments Due

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Please remember that if you are paying the entire amount for this year's Field Studies and have not already done so, this payment is due on December 12, 2025.


If you are choosing to pay in two installments, the first half of the payment is due on December 12, 2025 and the second half is due by February 12, 2026.


If you are choosing to pay in three installments, the due dates for each installment are listed below:


December 12, 2025

February 12, 2026

April 13, 2026

Student IDs Information Student IDs Information

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  • Remember all students will take their IDs home and return to school with it each day.

  • Student IDs are expected to be worn for the entire duration of the school day each day from the time students arrive on campus until the end of the school day.

  • IDs are not required during aftercare.

  • As of Tuesday, September 2, 2025, any student who does not have an ID will be sent to the office at the conclusion of the Morning Announcements. At that time:

    • A temporary 1 day ID will be issued. The student's Parent Portal account will be charged $1.00.

    • After 5 consecutive days with a temporary ID, a new permanent ID will be created and issued to the child. The student’s Parent Portal account will be charged $5.00.

  • Note: The bead on the lanyard should be worn behind the student’s neck to avoid risk of choking. This bead will allow you to adjust the length of the lanyard based on the size of the child.


**** A helpful tip is to encourage your child to place their ID in their bookbag as soon as they get home each day, so it’s ready for the next morning and less likely to be forgotten.


Thank you for your support in helping us keep things running smoothly for our students.

Important Note about Student Privacy Important Note about Student Privacy

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Please remember to respect the privacy of all students and families.

You’re welcome to take photos or videos of your own child, but we ask that you avoid photographing or posting images of other students on social media.


Thank you for helping us protect every student’s privacy.

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Scholastic Book Fair will be at CFKN December 8th – 10th. Create your child’s Book Fair eWallet here so they are able to shop cash-free, worry-free, and independently. PTA needs volunteers to assist students while they shop. Sign up here!

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In addition to our amazing teachers, CFKN has an incredible support staff that is essential to our school. This holiday season, you can help PTA show them how much we appreciate them. Please donate and bring gift card(s) to the Front Office for the Holiday Cheer Drive by Friday, Dec. 12. Sign up to participate here.

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Want to get a head start on holiday shopping? Here are a few of our teacher and staff members’ favorite things! With classroom holiday parties coming soon, please reach out to your homeroom parent and see if they need any help planning or providing treats and supplies.

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Happy Birthday to our November & December Birthday Book Club members! Celebrate your child's birthday by giving a book to our school library!

If you shop at Kroger, you can support our school when you shop! Kroger Community Rewards program is easy to join. Once you sign in to your account, Search for “Center for Knowledge North” (NPO HW776) here and hit “save.”

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Literacy Corner Literacy Corner

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Keep Reading Over the Break!


As we head into Thanksgiving and winter break, we encourage all students to keep reading a little each day. Regular reading helps maintain skills students have built so far and ensures they return ready to continue growing. Whether it’s a favorite book, a magazine, or a cozy read-aloud with family, every minute spent reading helps strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence. You could set a challenge or goal to read a great chapter book or set a number of books to read by the end of the break. Let’s keep those reading muscles active all season long!

Counselor's Corner Counselor's Corner

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Click on the PDF below for an enlarged view of the newsletter.

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Counselor's Newsletter_December.pdf
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Check out Mrs. Minkel's Counselor's Corner Website for more information and resources!

Art Donations Needed Art Donations Needed

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CFKN International Week 2026 CFKN International Week 2026

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This year’s International Week will be from January 20 - January 23 and we NEED YOUR HELP! If you are from another country or have close relatives from another country or you know someone from another country who would you be willing to...


- Video an INTERVIEW with your child


- Be a MYSTERY READER to your child's grade level


- Participate in our CULTURAL FAIR


Pleas use this link to view and sign up for various ways to get involved! We hope you will be a part of this week’s celebration of different cultures!!


If you have questions before signing up or you are not sure where you could help but are interested - please reach out to us (mdrews@richland2.org), and we would be happy to help!


Sincerely,


International Committee

Middle School Magnet Information Middle School Magnet Information

Leadership Academy at Muller (LAM):


Parents and students are invited to shadow at the Leadership Academy at Muller during the Choice Application Season. Come see our innovative, leadership-focused learning environment in action and discover what makes our program unique. Shadow opportunities are available throughout the season. We’d love to welcome you!


For more details and registration information, please complete this form or email Mrs. Emily Eberlin at eeberlin@richland2.org

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Shadowing Opportunities


District's Choice Application Site

Muller Road Middle School Information Night Muller Road Middle School Information Night

Dear Rising 6th Grade Families,


Your child is approaching middle school, an exciting milestone! As you begin exploring options for your rising 6th grader, we would like to invite you to learn more about Muller Road Middle School and our nationally recognized Leadership Academy.


Please join us for our Information Night:


Date: December 8
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Muller Road Middle School


During this event, families will have the opportunity to hear what sets Muller Road Middle School apart, meet members of our team, and learn how our Leadership Academy supports student growth, leadership development, and academic excellence.


We look forward to welcoming you and sharing how Muller Road’s programs and community can support your child’s success in middle school and beyond.


If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 803-691-6851.

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Leadership Academy at Wright (LAW):

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Shadowing Sign-Up


Tour Sign-Up


District's Choice Application Site

Dent Middle School Magnets (TLC and Two Academies):

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TLC (The Learning Collaborative) Website


TLC Parent Tours & Student Shadowing Options


District's Choice Application Site

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TWO Academies Website


TWO Academies Student Shadowing Opportunities Registration


District's Choice Application Site

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December 19- Early Dismissal at 11:00am

December 22-January 5- Winter Break (No School)

CFKN Breakfast and Lunch Menus CFKN Breakfast and Lunch Menus

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Please see the CFKN breakfast and lunch menus below.


CFKN Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Need to Make Any Directory Opt Out Changes? Need to Make Any Directory Opt Out Changes?

Families,


Please see the R2 Student Information Update website for any Directory Information or directions for changing/updating your preferences in Parent Portal.

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Free to Focus

Families, please keep in mind the implementation of Free to Focus. In addition to the abundance of communication that has been shared districtwide via ParentSquare, there is also an FAQ section on R2's Free to Focus Webpage.


Thank you so much for your support!

School Website School Website

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Our school website can be located at https://www.cfkn.richland2.org/. Just hover over and click on the header words "Our School," "Academics," and "Families" in the top banner area of the website to access important school information.

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Dates to Remember Dates to Remember

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December

5: Fall Makeup Picture Day

10: 5th Grade to Camp Discovery

18: DARE Graduation (5th Grade)

18: Columbia Marionette Visits First Grade

19: Early Dismissal @11:00AM

19: End of 2nd Quarter

19: Choice I Application Window Closes @5:00PM

22-January 2: Winter Break- No School


January

5: Staff Workday/Student Holiday- No School

15: 2nd Nine Weeks Report Cards Issued

19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday- No School

22: 1st Grade to SC State Museum

30: Class Picture Day

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About Us About Us

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Center for Knowledge North

1043 Muller Rd.

Blythewood, SC 29016

Phone: 803.691.4895 Fax: 803.691.3085


Website

Facebook


Principal: Jessica Agee - jagee@richland2.org

Asssitant Principal: Paige Malone - pmalone@richland2.org

Office Manager: Bridgette Branson - bbranson@richland2.org

Emily Herbig
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