The SHARK Alert
Chatham Elementary School Community Update
Sunday, August 23, 2026
Welcome to The SHARK Alert, your primary source for everything happening at Chatham Elementary School! Released every Sunday throughout the school year, this newsletter is designed to keep our families and community members fully informed, connected, and up to date on all things CES.
While we still have a bit of time before students in Grades 1–12 officially head back to class on Tuesday, September 1st, the energy is already building. Our teachers and staff are officially jumping back into action this week on Wednesday and Thursday to prepare for a fantastic year ahead!
To help kick off the school year, we have two exciting upcoming events to mark on your calendars:
PTO Annual Ice Cream Social: All CES students and their families are warmly invited to join us on Wednesday evening, August 26th, at 6:00 PM for a sweet evening of fun, community, and ice cream!
Kindergarten & Pups Bus Ride: We have a special welcome planned for our newest learners! New students in Kindergarten and the Pups program are invited to join Dr. Kelly for a fun, quick bus ride through the town of Chatham to help get comfortable with the ride to school.
Today’s edition of The SHARK Alert is packed with important upcoming dates and a quick preview of what you can expect from future editions. Because this newsletter is the absolute best source for school news, event updates, and key announcements, we ask that you set aside just a few minutes every Sunday to read each release in its entirety.
Thank you for being such an active part of our school community—we can't wait for an incredible year together!
Warm regards,
Dr. Kelly
Spotlight on Our SHARK POG Skills
At Chatham Elementary, we are excited to share Monomoy Regional School District’s Portrait of a Graduate (POG) with our school community!
The Portrait of a Graduate is our district's roadmap for student success from preschool through graduation. It defines the key skills and character traits we aim to build in every Monomoy student:
Creative & Critical Thinkers who solve problems, stay curious, and adapt to change.
Communicators & Leaders who work well in teams, listen to different points of view, and collaborate.
Engaged Citizens who show empathy, respect diversity, and act with integrity.
Independent & Confident Learners who stay self-motivated, take ownership of their learning, and build resilience.
What to Expect
Each week, look for a special POG feature right here in the SHARK Alert! Every edition will highlight one of the four competencies. We will explain what it means, share examples of how our young SHARKs are practicing it in their classrooms, and offer simple ways you can reinforce these habits at home.
Together, we are helping our students grow into confident learners and caring community members! Click this link to learn more about MRSD's Portrait of a Graduate.
Welcoming our Youngest SHARKS: Important Start-of-Year Details
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.
Didn't get the email? If you have not received your sign-up link, please reach out directly to Dr. Kelly at jakelly@monomoy.edu.
We are so eager to welcome our newest SHARKs to the CES shiver (family of sharks)!
Preparing for a Healthy 2026-2027 School Year
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!
Help Needed - Photos of SHARKS Reading
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!
Welcome to the PTO Current: Students, Staff, and Families Swimming Together!
This section of the SHARK Alert will be your go-to spot for all PTO updates, upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, and fundraising efforts throughout the school year.
Did you know? If you are a caregiver or staff member at Chatham Elementary, you are already a member! Every parent, guardian, and teacher at CES is automatically part of the CES PTO—no dues or sign-ups required.
Our mission is to bring our school community together by hosting free, family-friendly events and providing extra support to our classrooms. Throughout the year, the PTO helps fund and organize wonderful tradition and enrichment programs, including:
Community Events: Family Paint Night, Ice Skating, Bingo Nights, and our annual Halloween Parade.
School Enrichment: The Book Fair, live wildlife presentations, and teacher mini-grants for classroom materials and special projects.
Save the Date! Dive right in with us at our first PTO event of the year on Wednesday, August 26th! It’s a great opportunity to connect with other families and start thinking about how you might like to lend a hand, share ideas, or volunteer your time this school year. We can't wait to swim together for a fantastic year ahead!
Thank you to the amazing building crew of Mr. Greg, Mr. Roberto, and Mr. Paul! The halls are gleaming and waiting for our SHARKS to return!
Thank you to Mrs. Caswell for all of her hard work in the Main Office getting us ready for the start of school!
- Wednesday, August 26th - 6:00 pm PTO Ice Cream Social
- 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
Contact us:
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