CMS Engagement in Action!

March Is Blooming With Opportunities!

We’re springing into March with excitement, energy, and a full lineup of ways for families to learn, connect, and celebrate together! This month’s Family Academy sessions are packed with hands-on strategies, helpful tips, and empowering resources designed to support your child’s success both in and out of school. Whether you’re looking to strengthen academic routines, boost social‑emotional skills, or learn more about district tools, there’s something for everyone!

March also brings vibrant celebrations across our community — including Read Across America, Women’s History Month, and a variety of school events that spotlight curiosity, culture, and creativity. It’s the perfect time to jump in, get involved, and stay connected.

We’re thrilled to share these opportunities with you. Let’s make March a month of learning, joy, and strong home-school partnerships!

CMS Family Academy Virtual Lunch & Learns!

Have you engaged in a Family Academy Lunch and Learn session? It is easy to stay connected! Join us on Thursdays from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM!

Join here: bit.ly/CMSFamilyAcademy

Upcoming March sessions:

March 5: Tech Support for CMS Families

March 10: Winning Your Teen's Cooperation

March 12: Starting the Conversation: What Families Should Know About Students and Nicotine

March 19: Explore Your Future with CMS CTE

March 26: All About MVPA + Attendance Matters

Family Academy on the Go: Home & School – Bridging Support and Independence

March 11, 2026
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
North Mecklenburg High School
11201 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, NC 28078

Join us for an informative session designed to help families strengthen the balance between guidance and independence during the preteen and teen years. This session will focus on the following topics:

How the adolescent brain develops—and what those changes mean for behavior
Ways to balance “letting go” while still maintaining academic structure at home
Strategies to support strong school attendance and consistent homework routines
How to navigate risky behaviors with awareness, communication, and confidence

This session is open to all CMS Families!

Visit the Family Portal for a one-stop shopping experience! Access district instructional resources, learning tools, curriculum guides, and more—all in one convenient location. Whether you're helping with homework or planning ahead, everything you need is just a click away.

📲 Explore the portal today at www.cmsk12.org/familyportal and stay connected every step of the way!

K-3 Families - Did you receive your child's MOY DIBELS student report?

CMS uses the DIBELS assessment to monitor early literacy skills in students K–3 and select grade 4 students. This screening is given three times a year and helps teachers track reading progress and tailor instruction to meet each child’s needs. Schools will be disseminating your child’s student report at the end of the DIBELS assessment window. The report will provide a clear, actionable snapshot of your child’s foundational reading development and identify specific areas needing extra support.

To support your understanding of the report, we’ve added resources in our Family Portal (cmsk12.org/familyportal) under the K-12 Assessments Pathway. No login required.

Please take a look to learn more to support your child’s progress!

📚 Hidden Valley ES Partners with Families to Boost Early Literacy

Hidden Valley Elementary is taking an exciting new approach to supporting early literacy by inviting families to learn the same skills students practice in the classroom. During a recent DIBELS Night, teachers guided parents through fun, interactive activities, such as breaking words into sounds, to help them support reading growth at home. Families received materials they can continue using together, making literacy learning a shared experience. This family‑focused partnership is part of CMS’s ongoing commitment to helping all K–3 students thrive.

Read the full story: Hidden Valley Elementary tries new approach for literacy test: teaching families

We’ve got you covered, families! 🎉

Need a fresh Family Academy poster for your community space? Just fill out this quick form—we’ll take care of the rest!

👉 Request a Poster HERE

Already have a poster? Great! You can also share our digital Family Academy poster with your family and community members. It’s available in multiple languages so everyone can stay connected:

English
French
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
Vietnamese

📲 Share these links with your community to help families access resources in their preferred language!

Looking for resources in your home language?

Visit: CMS Learning and Language Acquisition Webpage

Being in school each day helps students learn, connect, and thrive. When unexpected absences happen, learning can still continue! The resources provided help students stay engaged, practice key skills, and keep their routines strong until they’re back in the classroom. These tools support learning, but nothing replaces being at school!

Stay Connected, Stay Engaged: Instructional Resources

Strong communication is the foundation of effective advocacy. Join the Exceptional Children's Assistance Center (ECAC) for this live Zoom webinar to learn about different communication styles, strategies for clear and respectful communication, and ways to navigate difficult or conflict-filled conversations.

Participants will also explore practical tips for communicating effectively with professionals—such as school staff, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors, and Independent Living program staff—and for supporting people with disabilities in building strong self-advocacy skills.

Come meet with over 50 colleges, including HBCUs, and trade schools. Whether you are a High School Student, a College Transfer Student, or an Adult Learner looking for opportunities, this expo is for the whole family.

Students and College Transfer Students bring copies of your transcript. There will be universities present to offer scholarships on the spot! Informative seminars on Financial Aid, Scholarships, College vs High School and the 411 for the Student Athlete will be offered as well.

Date: March 5, 2026
Location: Johnson C. Smith University, 100 Beatties Ford Rd. Charlotte, NC 28216
Time: 4:00 PM- 7:30 PM

For additional information and to register please visit: Black College Expo

Community Read is Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s annual, community-wide book club—an invitation to connect through a shared story. Each year’s book selection inspires programs, community conversations, and events that explore timely and meaningful themes.

For 2026, we are excited to announce that the signature title will be The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune— an affirming novel about found family, belonging, and self-acceptance. It includes a rich variety of characters and themes that will inspire meaningful programs and discussions.

Find Community Read Events Here

Ready to plan summer? Explore a wide variety of Charlotte‑area camps—from sports and STEM to arts and outdoor adventures—with helpful guides that let families browse options by age, theme, and schedule. These local resources make it easy to compare programs and plan ahead, especially as many popular camps fill quickly.

2026 Summer Camp Guide

We’re excited to share resources that will help you stay connected to what your child is learning this quarter!

Families can explore resources for Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Languages by using this link.

Exceptional Children’s Resource Fair

Programs for Exceptional Children will host the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Resource Fair for students with disabilities. The fair will be held at the Philip O. Berry Academy of Technology on Saturday, March 21, 2025 from 10:00 am - 12:30pm. The purpose of the Resource Fair is to inform parents and or guardians, students and educators of the services available in Mecklenburg County for persons with disabilities.

Infinite Campus is our new student information system for this school year! Just like PowerSchool last year, Infinite Campus gives families easy access to important information—announcements, assignments, attendance, grades, your child’s schedule, and so much more—all in one convenient place.

The instructions for creating your Parent Portal account and completing your back-to-school forms are below. Please carefully review them. Be sure to enter your student's full legal name.

Free Mental Health Counseling Available

Mecklenburg County has partnered with Anuvia Prevention and Recovery Center to provide accessible mental health support for residents. Mecklenburg County residents can now access up to eight free counseling sessions, regardless of insurance status. No appointments are required, and walk-ins are welcome.

When: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Locations:

Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center: 430 Stitt Road, Charlotte
Valerie C. Woodard Community Resource Center: 3205 Freedom Drive (Entrance A), Charlotte

For more information, visit the Mecklenburg County website.

Support meaningful learning and strengthen family engagement all month long with the Strong Fathers / Strong Families March 2026 resource collection. These tools are designed to spark curiosity, build positive routines, and promote healthy habits at home.

March 2026 Early Childhood Activity Calendar-English

March 2026 Early Childhood Activity Calendar-Spanish

March 2026 Check In Calendar-English
March 2026 Check In Calendar-Spanish

10 Things Strong Families Do to Help Kids Be Screen Free-English

10 Things Strong Families Do to Help Kids Be Screen Free-Spanish

March is filled with meaningful celebrations, seasonal shifts, and fun observances! This month brings the First Day of Spring on March 20, along with widely recognized dates such as International Women’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and even playful favorites like National Puppy Day and Crayon Day. From cultural observances to whimsical celebrations, March offers 31 days of opportunities to learn, honor, and enjoy.

Explore the full list of March holidays here: TODAY – March Holidays & Observances

Bases Loaded: Back‑to‑School Celebration 2026 – Grand Slam Start!

We are excited to host the 2026 Back to School Celebration at Truist Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, on August 1, 2026 from 9am-1pm. This annual event brings families together for a day of connection, information, and fun as we kick off the new school year.

Our goal is to ensure every family walks away with their questions answered and feels fully supported heading into 2026–2027. We look forward to another amazing experience with our CMS students, families, staff and community partners.

Registration will open June 1st!

CMS Family and Community Engagement is excited to support and promote family engagement opportunities within the community. From hosting professional learning sessions to sharing resources and engaging with your organization, we are here to support you! Please complete the form linked below to engage with our team related to your upcoming event. A member of our team will connect with the point of contact listed in the form.

https://bit.ly/CMSCommunityEngagementEvents