Weekly Family Update (09/21-09/26)
Small School, Big Opportunities, Endless Possibilities!!
Principal Turner's Corner
Good afternoon, CPEC Students and Families,
Thank you for another strong week at CPEC. I appreciate the continued support of our students, families, staff, and community as we move deeper into the first quarter. We are continuing to emphasize strong academic habits, consistent attendance, timely completion of assignments, and students taking ownership of their progress in both high school and college coursework.
A major highlight this week is our 1st Annual CPEC 5K PTSO Fundraiser, which will take place this Saturday, September 26th. We would love to see strong participation from our CPEC community. It is not too late to register, and we encourage families to invite friends, relatives, coworkers, and others from your personal networks to participate or support the event. Please help us spread the word throughout the week. [View the CPEC 5K Flyer and Registration Information – Located here]
Our September School Improvement Team Meeting will also take place on Monday, September 21st at 6:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. During the meeting, we will review our 2026–2027 School Improvement Plan and discuss strategies to support CPEC’s continued academic growth, student success, and overall school improvement. Families and community members are encouraged to participate. [Join the September SIT Meeting – Microsoft Teams Link]
This week, we will also continue our first round of formal classroom observations as part of our commitment to strong teaching and continuous improvement. Students should continue monitoring their grades in Infinite Campus, checking Canvas and Brightspace regularly, communicating with teachers and college instructors, and taking advantage of available academic support before small concerns become larger challenges.
Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us make CPEC a place where students are challenged, supported, and prepared for success beyond high school.
Small School, Big Opportunities, Endless Possibilities.
With CPEC Pride,
Principal Turner
School Counselor Updates From Ms. DeAntonio
Senior appointments are ongoing! Seniors who have not signed up should do so here: Senior Appointment Sign Up
College Course Tutoring: As a reminder, ALL students enrolled in college courses can get tutoring in those classes at CPCC’s Center for Academic Success and Excellence (CASE). Support is free and can be scheduled at a time that works for you! It is always better to get help early if you are struggling with content in one of your college classes.
September is Suicide Awareness Prevention Month: A time to raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues that adolescents face. We want to make sure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the tools, resources, and support they need to recognize warning signs, and seek help. Here at CPEC, we want you to know that reaching out for support can make a difference!. Whether you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or supporting a loved one, there is help available! Tell a trusted adult, use the lifeline: call or text 988 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This year at CPEC we are proud to participate in Sources of Strength: a strength-based, upstream suicide prevention and mental health promotion program that has shown effectiveness in both preventative and intervention outcomes. Rather than focusing solely on risk factors, Sources of Strength strengthens protective factors, ensuring individuals have resources to rely on during difficult times. We wholeheartedly believe in the HOPE, HELP, and STRENGTH each individual can cultivate in themselves and others. Sources of Strength fosters health and wellness, empowering both students and adults to build communities of belonging and connection. Our Sources of Strength Peer Leaders were in homerooms this past week sharing more about the program, and other programming will come out soon!
Governor’s School: The Governor’s School of North Carolina is a summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students. Each summer, selected students are invited to Governor’s School to help build a learning community during a four-week residential session. The Governor’s School emphasizes collaborative efforts in all disciplines. Areas of nomination include: english, mathematics, natural science, social science, spanish, and various art disciplines. More general information is linked here: GS Family Overview 26-27 Students go through a local nomination process through their districts before being nominated to the state level. More information on CMS’s Nomination Process is located here: Governor's School Student Information Folder. Please note that the due date is while we are on fall break, so our applications would have to be in by the first week in October. Please let me know if you are planning to apply so that I can support you!
Honors Pre-Calculus: We are excited to announce that we will be offering Honors Pre-Calculus in place of Honors NC Math 4 starting with Spring 2026. With input from our math teachers, CPCC staff, and scheduling staff, we advocated for this change so that our students would have access to a rigorous curriculum that more closely aligns with college math class curriculum. It also provides our students a higher level math option that is looked upon more favorably in the college admissions process. Please feel free to reach out with any questions!
Data Manager, Technology & Attendance Updates with Ms. Aguero
Important Updates & Upcoming Events
Late Sign-In Attendance Policy (After 8:00 AM): If your student arrives after 8:00 AM, they are still required to sign in at the front office. Arriving after 8:00 AM will be recorded as an Absence for 1st block rather than a Tardy, as the student has missed more than half of the class period.
4th Block Early Release & Sign-Out: The early release from campus permission slip does not apply if your student has a scheduled 4th block class. If a student has a 4th block class and needs to leave campus early, a parent or guardian must sign them out in person.
Multicultural Club Spirit Week (Sept 28 – Oct 2): Mark your calendars, CPEC families! The Multicultural Club is hosting Spirit Week from Monday, September 28th through Friday, October 2nd.
Monday, Sept 28: Bring your flag to school or wear your flags colors
Tuesday, Sept 29: Wear your country's jersey or a jersey of your favorite sport
Wednesday, Sept 30: Dress up in your cowboy/cowgirl attire
Thursday, Oct 1: Dress up as your favorite celebrity
Friday, Oct 2: Wear your favorite traditional clothing to represent your culture
09/14-9/18 Instructional Week at a Glance
ENGLISH Updates Ms. Brown English III: Last week, students examined how Lorraine Hansberry used historical context and drama in A Raisin in the Sun to expose injustice and challenge ideas about the American Dream. This week, they will extend that thinking to Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, juxtaposing Salem with Ghizon from Wings of Ebony through the lenses of power, fear, reputation, and belonging. Students will then step into the role of playwright, using those same ideas to create and perform an original dramatic scene that explores who gets access to opportunity, freedom, and belonging—and at what cost. English I: This week, students are moving from analyzing Shakespeare to interpreting him for the stage. After building persuasive claims about individual impulse and existing conflict in the seminar, students are working in acting companies to prepare selected scenes from Romeo and Juliet. Actors are paraphrasing and annotating lines for delivery, while dramaturges research context to support directors and performers. This Friday’s seminar will allow students to discuss and evaluate their developing interpretations as they prepare for their October 2nd performance. Ms. Johnson English I: We are continuing to look at poetry in the upcoming week. We will have all of the basic content and information down by Wednesday. Thursday we will unpack our Embedded Assessment and start working towards group presentations. Presentations will begin on October 1st. Their unit test will be rolled into their midterm! English II: We are continuing to work through A Small Place and should have the text done by the end of the week. Once we complete the book, we are going to discuss how cultural collisions impact characters and plot, and then we will utilize that information to write a literary analysis on a short story I have chosen. Ms. Watson English IV: Students will continue preparation for the Unit 1 Assessment (Sept 23rd/24th), which evaluates their ability to apply literary criticism across multiple genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and argumentative texts. The assessment will utilize a multiple-choice format to measure analytical proficiency. Test Prep Stations are available on our Canvas homepage.
MATH Updates Mr. Freeman Honors Math 3 Students will have their Unit 3 Test Monday September 21 and then we are starting Unit 4 which is our Rationals Unit. This is a very Algebra heavy unit so make sure they brush up on concepts such as Combining Like Terms, Factoring & Law of Exponents. Please make sure that students are checking Canvas and Infinite Campus on a daily basis. Midterms will take place the week of October 5 - 9. Honors Math 2 Students will have their Unit 3 Test Monday September 21 and then we are starting Unit 4 which is our Inverse Variation & Square Root Function Unit. This Unit will also involve more Algebra concepts like the last unit. Please make sure that students are checking Canvas and Infinite Campus on a daily basis. Midterms will take place the week of October 5 - 9. Mr. Mojica Math 1 with Foundational Support This week, we will focus on understanding and applying one-variable inequalities and equations by modeling real-world constraints, solving inequalities through reasoning and value testing, graphing solutions on number lines, and rearranging formulas to highlight specific variables, all leading up to Unit Test 2 on Friday, 9/25. Math 1 Honors This week, we will explore two-variable linear inequalities and systems of inequalities by modeling real-world situations, representing constraints, and graphing solution regions on coordinate planes. You will learn how to write inequalities from descriptions, interpret points and boundaries to determine if they satisfy individual or multiple constraints, and analyze how individual inequalities connect to build systems, all leading up to Unit Test 3 on Friday, 9/25. Ms. Rutledge Unit 3 Test is Monday, September 21st! Retesting for Unit 2 is open until Monday, September 28th. Students requiring retests have access to the original test in mastery connect and should review their missed questions before attempting the retest. We are very close to the end of the quarter (Midterms are coming the week of October 5th!) so we will be incorporating unit reviews each week as warm up exercises and cool downs. Tutoring on Tuesdays from 2:20 to 3:20. Please reach out with any questions or concerns!
SCIENCE Updates Ms. Reddy Dr. Sandoval Honors Biology. Students have been busy learning about meiosis (formation of gametes) and how sexual reproduction differs from asexual reproduction in creating genetic variation. Friday we went over how fertilization creates a zygote, which initially has stem cells that divide before undergoing cellular differentiation to create parts of the embryo. For homework this weekend, students should be analyzing karyotypes to understand how chromosomal abnormalities are identified. Monday we will start heredity, both through Mendelian genetics and more complex types of heredity. In addition, Monday I will be introducing a project that will serve as a perform grade that will be due September 30th. Unit 2 Summative Formative Assessment: Tues Sept 22nd on Mitosis, Meiosis, fertilization and cellular differentiation to form an embryo (rehearse grade) Tutoring for Biology: Mondays 2:15-3:15pm Ms. Hansen Earth and Environmental Science: We will be continuing to work on Unit 3 where students will use models to explain how water transfers energy and how various mechanisms influence water movements and coastal climate moderation. Students will analyze and interpret data to attribute how surface conditions and atmospheric composition influence heat retention, using graphs and models to identify patterns and effects. Students will construct explanations to conclude how heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere affects weather patterns, using models and evidence to illustrate these processes. Unit 3 test will be Tuesday 9/29.
SOCIAL STUDIES Updates Mr. Arnold Civics: Students will be doing a deep dive into the Bill of Rights, the last unit before midterms. Students will also be reviewing the previous three units as we prepare for midterms. American History: Students will be studying sectionalism in the US from the Missouri Compromise, Amistad Case, John Brown, Nat Turner, through Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Ms. Davidson EPF: This week, students will learn about microeconomic indicators before applying what they learned last week to part II of their business project. Part I of the business project was due last week, Sunday. They have been scored based on the rubric in Canvas. One group member has the rubric scores. All groups may assess the rubric to see what was missing, add it to the document/slideshow, and resubmit. Civics: We will focus this week on comparing the constitutions of the US and NC and spend the bulk of the week on the branches of government. Dr. Ozen Hello CPEC Families, We are wrapping up Unit 3 this week! Here is a look at our upcoming schedule and what we are learning next: Wednesday, Sept. 23: Students will receive their Unit 3 Assessment Study Guide. Thursday, Sept. 24: Students will take the Unit 3 Assessment. Friday, Sept. 25: We will begin our new unit, Unit 4-Age of Revolutions, and focus on the Enlightenment. As we study influential thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, Mary Wollstonecraft, Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, our lessons will focus on one central question: What are the main ideas/arguments of the leaders of the Enlightenment and how do these ideas shape history directly following the movement and into today?
Dean of Students Updates from Ms. Jones
Testing & Accountability:
Testing Website: Testing & Accountability website
PSAT REQUIRED Student Readiness Check: Wednesday, September 30 — All 10th- and 11th-grade students will complete the 40-minute readiness check 8:30 am-9:35 am (we will operate on a modified Friday club schedule)
PSAT: Thursday, October 8 — All 10th- and 11th-grade students will take the PSAT; 9th-grade students will take the PPSAT.
- Semester 1 Midterms: Monday, October 5–Tuesday, October 6
- Pre-ACT: Thursday, October 29 — All 10th-grade students.
ASVAB: Thursday, November 12 at 9:00 a.m. at CPEC. Registration is required. [Sign up here] | [ASVAB Brochure]
Student Life & Culture:
Homecoming Spirit Week: Monday, October 19–Friday, October 23
Homecoming Dance: Saturday, October 24, 6:30–9:30 p.m. in Worrell Gym. [Purchase Tickets]
Senior Class Pumpkin Patch Field Trip: Date/Time TBD
CPEC School Picture Day: Tuesday, October 27
HOSA Haunted House: Friday, September 30
College, Career & Life Readiness:
- NC Department of Public Safety High School Internship: Career exposure for eligible seniors. Spring 2027 application window: October 5–19, 2026.
- Urban Alliance High School Internship: Career-readiness and internship opportunity for eligible seniors with early-release schedules.
- PATCH Program — Atrium Health/Wake Forest School of Medicine: Free 16-week healthcare career exploration program for CMS 10th- and 11th-grade students. Applications open October 6, 2026.
Gantt Center Youth Residency: At the Table: Leadership and professional development opportunity for Mecklenburg County sophomores, juniors, and seniors, including community projects, mentorship, and a stipend of up to $1,000. Application deadline: October 9 at 12:59 p.m. APPLY WITH PERSONAL EMAIL!
CIEE High School Summer Abroad: Three-week international summer programs focused on cultural immersion, leadership, service, and career exploration. Scholarships and financial assistance are available. APPLY HERE!
The ACE Mentor Program is open to any high school student who has the curiosity and drive to learn about a career in design and construction — from contracting and engineering to architecture and landscaping.
September School Improvement Team Meeting (Monday, September 21st at 6:00pm)
CPEC students and families, our September School Improvement Team meeting will be held on Monday, September 21st at 6:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. The School Improvement Team provides an opportunity for staff, families, and school representatives to review school priorities, discuss progress toward school improvement goals, and support continued growth at CPEC.
Families are encouraged to participate and stay connected to the work of our school community. The Microsoft Teams meeting link is located here. Thank you for your continued partnership and support of Central Piedmont Early College.
CPEC 5K Fun Run & FUNdraiser (Saturday, September 26)
5K FUN RUN HOMEROOM COMPETITION!
The competition is on! Which CPEC homeroom will be the first to reach 15 registered participants for our 5K Fun Run & FUNdraiser?
🥇 1st homeroom to reach 15: Pizza Party
🥈 2nd homeroom to reach 15: Donut Party
Students, families, staff, alumni, and friends can all participate! Each registration can count toward the homeroom of your choice, so be sure to select the homeroom you’re supporting when you register.
Who will be the first to 15? Register today and help your homeroom win!
CPEC Weekly PTSO Update
Volunteers Needed for Our 5K!
Our 1st Annual 5K Fun Run & FUNdraiser is almost here, and we need your help! We’re looking for parent and family volunteers to assist with registration, the race route, timing, and more on Saturday, September 26. Please complete the Google Form below if you’re available to volunteer and help make our first 5K a success!
Google Form Link: https://forms.gle/HRaCfCEFSjXZeLri6
Vote for CPEC’s September Teacher of the Month
CPEC students, it is time to vote for our September Teacher of the Month! Please take a few moments to recognize a teacher who has made a positive impact, supported your learning, encouraged you, or helped make CPEC a great place to learn.
Students may submit their vote using the link below:
Teacher of the Month Voting Link
Please be thoughtful with your nomination and include a brief explanation of why you are voting for that teacher. Thank you for helping us celebrate the outstanding teachers who serve our CPEC school community each day.
CPEC Fall Curriculum Night (Thursday, October 01, 2026 - 5:30pm-7:00pm)
CPEC students and families, please mark your calendars for Fall Curriculum Night on Thursday, October 1st from 5:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the Worrell Gymnasium with a presentation from Principal Turner and members of the CPEC Team. Following the opening presentation, students and families will transition to classrooms to meet teachers, learn more about course expectations, and discuss ways to support student success throughout the school year.
We look forward to welcoming our families to campus for this important evening of connection, information, and partnership.
Peer Mentorship Program Weekly Update
The Peer Mentorship Program: Quarter 1, Issue 5.
Hello All, This past week marked the start of our Mentorships! As a reminder, Mentors will not pull students out of class during any instructional period. To meet with Freshman during Homeroom, Mentors must have explicit permission from the homeroom teacher of their mentee.
Freshman, if you are having any trouble with your mentorship, no worries! Please reach out to Vice President of Administration, Gabi Flores-Valerio via email or groupme with any questions or queries.
Mentors, if you are having any similar issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Grade Level Mentor Ambassador via email or groupme.
10th Grade -> Michelle Gonzalez Basilio
11th Grade -> Acari Vann
12th Grade -> McKenzie Treadwell
Our Weekly Focus Questions help jumpstart conversations between students! This weeks focus question is: Is there anything you’re looking forward to in the coming week, inside or outside of school?
Lastly, if you are a Freshman or a Mentor in our Program, it is mandatory that you join our Groupme for all Program Events.
Groupme -> bit.ly/pmpgroupme
If you have any questions or concerns, I'd be more than happy to answer them.
Thank you,
Austin H. Bowens
President, Peer Mentorship Program
Executive President, Student Government Association
CPEC 26-27 Yearbook Available to Purchase
Early Bird Discount pricing is $35 until December 31, 2026. On January 1, 2027 the price increases to $45.00
Senior Ads:
1/8 of a page: $25
¼ of a page: $55
½ of a page: $110
2026–2027 CPEC Magnet Compact
All CPEC students and families are asked to carefully review the 2026–2027 CPEC Magnet Compact.
This document outlines important expectations for students and families as part of Central Piedmont Early College’s magnet program, including academic expectations, program continuation requirements, student responsibilities, family partnership, and supports connected to success in the early college environment.
After reviewing the document, both the student and parent/guardian must sign the compact and return it to Ms. Sharpe by Friday, August 14, 2026.
Infinite Campus Parent Portal Access
CPEC families are encouraged to create and set up their Infinite Campus Parent Portal account to stay connected to their student’s academic progress throughout the school year. Through Infinite Campus, parents/guardians can access important student information, including grades, attendance, schedules, assignments, report cards, and other academic updates. CMS uses Infinite Campus as the district’s student information system. Parent Portal Login: Parent Portal Setup Instructions and Support: Support Video — Infinite Campus Parent Portal Setup & Navigation: Families are encouraged to complete this process before the start of the school year so they are prepared to monitor student progress and receive important updates.
https://600.ncsis.gov/campus/portal/parents/psu600cms.jsp
https://www.infinitecampus.com/support/parents-and-students
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUNb0_6Orlk
Updated CPEC Student & Family Handbook 2026-2027
The 26-27 CPEC Student Handbook has been updated. All families and students should review it for information on calendars, scheduling, attendance, academic support, transportation, codes of conduct, and more!
Parent Access to Teacher Canvas Sites
Have you signed up to access and observe our teacher's Canvas sites? If not, please access the link here to sign up as a Parent Observer on Canvas. This will allow you to see assignments and classroom updates provided by our teachers.
About Us
Central Piedmont Early College is a high school located on Central Piedmont Community College's Central Campus. Students have access to state of the art facilities to complete an Associates in Arts (AA), Engineering (AE), Science (AS). Students can also explore a variety of applied sciences including information technology, STEM programs, health care, culinary & hospitality as well as many other programs. Because of the school's close proximity to uptown, students will have many opportunities to learn about the current employment trends and begin building a network with employers that will transcend beyond graduation.
Email: erikm.turner@cms.k12.nc.us
Location: 1228 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte, NC, USA
Phone: 980-343-0098
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091503924920&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Twitter: @CPECHS23