The SHARK Alert

Welcome Back, SHARK Families! We are very excited to welcome our SHARKS back and feel the building fill with energy once again! Our staff has been working hard to prepare, and we cannot wait to see all of your bright faces in the halls.

Important First Week Dates:

• Monday, August 31: No School – Building Closed

• Tuesday, September 1: First Day of School for Grades 1–4

• Thursday, September 3: First Day of School for Kindergarten

• Friday, September 4: No School – Building Closed

• Monday, September 7: No School – Labor Day

• Tuesday, September 8: First Day of School for Pups

Arrival & Drop-Off Reminders:

• Arrival Window: Morning arrival is between 7:35 AM and 7:45 AM.

• Tardy Arrival: Students arriving after 7:45 AM must enter through the Main Office doors.

• Drop-Off Location: Student drop-off takes place in the parking lot off of Meeting House Road.

• Dismissal Plans: Please log in to PickUpPatrol to update and confirm your child’s daily dismissal routine before the first day.

Please reference the CES Handbook for detailed Arrival & Dismissal Information. Click on "Information at a Glance" followed by "Arrival and Dismissal Procedures".

We wish you all a wonderful final weekend of summer vacation. Get rest, get ready, and let's have a fintastic year ahead!

Warm regards,

Dr. Kelly

Welcome back, SHARK families! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing summer filled with sunshine and great books.

To kick off the new school year, I am creating a special library display featuring our very own CES students reading! I would love your help bringing it to life:

• Snap a Photo: Take a picture of your child reading or holding up a favorite book they loved reading this summer.

• Get Creative: Photos can be taken anywhere—a favorite cozy reading spot at home, out on the beach, or wherever they love to read!

• Send It In: Email your photos directly to Mrs. Grodzicki at jgrodzicki@monomoy.edu.

Thank you for helping us showcase our community's love of reading. I can't wait to see everyone back in the library soon!

We cannot wait to welcome our newest learners to the Pups PreK program and Kindergarten! Starting school is a huge milestone, and we want to ensure our students and their caregivers feel fully prepared, comfortable, and excited for a great year ahead.

To give our youngest learners and families a smooth, personalized transition, the first official days of school for Kindergarten and Pups are slightly delayed.

Important Dates & First Days of School

• Kindergarten Visits: Tuesday, September 1 & Wednesday, September 2

• Kindergarten Official First Day: Thursday, September 3

• 3-Year-Old Pups Visits: Wednesday, September 2

• 4-Year-Old Pups Tour & Playdate: Thursday, September 3 at 10:00 AM (Classroom tour and group play)

• Pups PreK Official First Day: Tuesday, September 8

Pre-Start Conferences & Next Steps All Kindergarten and 3-year-oldnPups caregivers should have received an email with a link to sign up for a conference prior to the first day of school. These individual visits give teachers, students, and families a chance to connect one-on-one.

This week's competency focus is Engaged Citizen! As part of our commitment to helping students grow into active, thoughtful community members, CES is taking on an exciting school-wide theme this year: SHARKS Around the World.

Throughout the year, our students will be exploring world geography and diverse cultures across their classes, reading materials, and specials. We are thrilled to help our SHARKS build global awareness and see how they fit into the wider world around them. Keep an eye out for updates and highlights in upcoming newsletter editions, and get ready to explore the world, SHARKS!

As we prepare for the new school year, please take a moment to review the following important health information to help ensure a healthy and successful start for your child.

Annual Health History

As you complete your child’s returning student registration, please remember to complete the Annual Health History. This information helps us make sure we have the most current information to support your child’s health and well-being at school.

If your child has had any new health updates or changes over the summer, such as a new diagnosis, allergy, medication, or other health concern, please reach out to the school nurse so we can update their health record.

Incoming Pre-K & Kindergarten Students

Please submit your child’s up-to-date health records before the start of school, including:

• Current immunization records
• Recent physical examination
• Lead screening results
• Vision screening results

Records may be faxed to 508-945-5138 or emailed to hfrench@monomoy.edu.

Medications at School

If your child will need medication at school, such as an inhaler or EpiPen, please obtain a new medication order from your healthcare provider before the first day of school.

Questions or health updates? Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Nurse Heidi at hfrench@monomoy.edu. We’re looking forward to a healthy and happy school year!

We are off to a swimming start after Wednesday’s Ice Cream Social! A huge thank you to all of our families and to our amazing staff—who stayed after a full day of professional learning—to celebrate the start of the school year with us. We hope everyone had a fantastic time catching up, trading books at the book swap, picking up some fresh SHARK merch, and enjoying a sweet treat!

The CES PTO is committed to providing free, family-friendly events all year long, but this work truly cannot be done without our incredible volunteers. Please consider joining us for our monthly meetings!

We meet on the second Tuesday of the month in the CES Library, with a virtual option available for those who prefer to join from home.

We recognize that September can be an overwhelmingly busy month for families, so our regular meetings will kick off in October. Mark your calendars for our first meeting on Tuesday, October 13th. We hope to see you there!

Thank you to our incredible PTO for providing an amazing back-to-school luncheon for the staff on Wednesday afternoon and the Ice Cream Social on Wednesday evening!

Thank you to our School Resource Officer, Officer Charlie, for attending our Staff Safety Training on Wednesday. We are so glad to have you back!!

Thank you to the incredible CES Staff for your time, dedication, and hard work in preparing for the start of the school year. We can't wait to welcom our young SHARKS!!

• Tuesday, September 1st - First Day of School Grades 1-12 and Kindergarten Visits
• Wednesday, September 2nd - Kindergarten and 3-Year-Old Pups Visits
• Thursday, September 3rd - Kindergarten First Day of School and 4-Year-Old Pups Visit
• Friday, September 4th - NO SCHOOL
• Monday, September 7th - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Holiday
• Tuesday, September 8th - Pups First Day of School
• Wednesday, September 9th - Early Release Day

Email: jakelly@monomoy.edu
Website: http://ces.monomoy.edu/
Location: 147 Depot Road, Chatham, MA, USA
Phone: 508-945-5135
Facebook: facebook.com/ChathamElementarySchoolPto

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuaO-WElYPYfj1kU9LfhSzw
Instagram: ChathamElemMRSD