The SHARK Alert

Dear CES Families and Friends,

We have a busy, action-packed week ahead at CES, full of important events, PTO gatherings, and exciting schoolwide projects! Please take a moment to review the key reminders and event details for the coming days:

• Early Dismissals: A quick reminder that we have two 11:00 AM early dismissals this week on Tuesday and Thursday to accommodate our Caregiver-Teacher Conferences.

• PTO Warm Clothing Swap: Stop by on Tuesday and Thursday during conference times for our PTO Warm Clothing Swap—a great opportunity to gear up for the colder months ahead!

• Annual PTO Halloween Parade: Join in the festive fun this Friday for our annual Halloween Parade! We look forward to seeing all the creative costumes.

• Veterans Day Tribute Photos: We are gearing up for our annual Veterans Day Assembly! We invite families to submit photos of their favorite veterans to be featured in our special tribute video. (Be sure to check further down in this newsletter for details on how to submit your photos!)

There are so many incredible things happening inside our classrooms and hallways right now—from the launch of our brand-new student newspaper to inspiring thankfulness challenges and hands-on STEM projects. Be sure to read on to see all the wonderful ways our students are shining!

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Kelly

CES cordially invites all current and former service members in our community to join us for our Veterans Assembly on Tuesday, November 10th, at 1:00 PM.

Our annual CES Tribute Video recognizes the commitment of our students' family members who have served in the military. If your SHARK has a family member you would like to honor, please submit a digital photograph using the link below. If you have submitted a photo in the past, there is no need to resubmit. The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 6th. Submit Your Veteran Photos by clicking HERE.

To get a sense of the tribute, you can view our 2025 Tribute Video by clicking HERE.

Community partners including Children’s Cove, Barnstable County, the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office, Monomoy Regional School District, and the towns of Chatham and Harwich are coming together to offer information and education to parents and caregivers on digital safety for young people. The event, titled Keeping Kids Safe Online: Learn how to navigate safety discussions, will be held on November 4, 2026 at 5:30 p.m at Brooks Free Library in Harwich and on November 9, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at the Chatham Community Center. Both sessions will share the same information, so attendees can select the one that better suits their needs. Childcare will be available at both sessions. Registration is requested for these events:

• Harwich, 11/4/26, Registration Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/sqqptp0XjK

• Chatham, 11/9/26, Registration Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/8uRAbkC6vE

Parents, caregivers, and anyone engaged with youth are encouraged to attend this important conversation.

We appreciate your patience and flexibility as our towns undergo a variety of roadwork projects. You will find the most accurate and current information about road closures and detours on our town websites and on the social media pages of local public safety:

• Town of Harwich Website - this page has weekly updates from the contractors, along with detours and recommended school transportation pickup and dropoff spots
• Harwich Police Facebook Page
• Town of Chatham Website
• Chatham Police Facebook Page

These resources are also linked on our website. We ask that everyone be prepared for some slight delays as road construction projects continue in the coming weeks.

Being a strong Communicator and Leader involves more than just sharing our own thoughts; it’s about connecting with others, listening, and fostering a positive environment. This season, our CES community is putting these vital skills into practice through our annual ABCs of Thankfulness Challenge, which officially kicked off on Monday, October 19th!

For the 26 days leading up to our Thanksgiving Break, each day is assigned a letter of the alphabet. Students and staff are encouraged to think about—and share—something they are thankful for that starts with the letter of the day. They then write their gratitude on a sticky note and add it to the daily poster located just outside of Dr. Kelly's office.

While watching the posters fill up with sticky notes is wonderful, one of the absolute best things to come from this challenge is the conversations it spurs. Every single day, students and staff are engaging in impromptu discussions in the hallways about what they are grateful for. Witnessing these authentic, joyful interactions is truly a beautiful thing, reminding us once again of just how much we have to be thankful for here at CES.

If you are visiting the building this week for Caregiver-Teacher Conferences, please make sure to check out our completed posters proudly lining the hallways!

The Engineering Design Process (EDP) is a step-by-step method that students and engineers use to solve problems, build things, and test ideas. Instead of guessing once, it is a loop that lets students try, fail, and fix things to make a better solution.

Students follow the EDP steps of:

• Define a Problem
• Imagine & Plan
• Create
• Test
• Improve
• Share

Last week, in honor of National STEM Week, students in all of Mrs. Gifford's STEM classes participated in STEM challenges. We were blown away by their creativity, endurance, and collaboration. Make sure to ask your SHARK about their design challenge and thank you Mrs. Gifford for providing such fun and engaging challenges!

Big news is making waves across the halls of CES! A group of ambitious fourth graders took the initiative to establish our very own student-led school newspaper: The Great White Gazette.

Written by students, for students, The Great White Gazette will hit desks every Friday. This talented crew of young journalists truly has their finger on the pulse of CES—capturing classroom highlights, school events, and student perspectives with impressive dedication and creativity.

Congratulations to these inspiring 4th-grade reporters on launching such an exciting new venture. We can't wait to read every weekly edition!

The Gazette staff includes:

• Charlotte P
• Jude L
• Breckin E
• Maureen F
• Lucas D
• Lydia F
• Autumn B
• Maeve F
• Lily R
• Ella W
• Tessa B
• Wallace G-W

As autumn arrives, our morning temperatures are dropping and the weather is getting much crisper! Please remember to send your child to school dressed in layers—such as sweatshirts, light jackets, or coats—so they stay warm and comfortable throughout the day.

As a reminder, our students head outside for recess as much as possible, as long as it isn't raining or bitterly cold. Wearing layers allows students to adjust easily as temperatures shift between morning drop-off, outdoor play, and the classroom. Writing your child's name inside their jackets and sweatshirts is also a big help in keeping our Lost & Found clear!

Stay healthy and warm,

Nurse Heidi

The PTO is hosting a Winter Clothing Swap to help families get ready for the colder months ahead. Sponsored by the CES PTO, this initiative gives parents a fantastic, eco-friendly way to trade gently used winter gear that children have outgrown for the next size up.

When is the Swap?

The swap takes place on October 27 and October 29, held conveniently during Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Be sure to stop by the swap area during conference days to find cold-weather essentials for your growing kids!

Get ready for spooky fun! Join us for the Annual Halloween Parade on Friday, October 30th, sponsored by the CES PTO. This festive event is open to all CES families and friends!

We will meet at the Chatham Community Center, and the parade kicks off promptly at 4:00 P.M. Wear your favorite costume and join the march down Main Street for trick-or-treating, featuring delicious treats generously provided by the Chatham Merchants!

• When: Friday, October 30th at 4:00 P.M.

• Where: Meet at the Chatham Community Center

• Important Note: All students must be accompanied by an adult.

We want to hear from you! We know that Monomoy is filled with great people - here's your chance to help highlight them! Our Staff Shoutouts recognize a member of our team each month, and nominations are now open. While it's still early in the school year, we're sure there are Sharks who have gone above and beyond - go to www.monomoy.edu/staffshoutout and tell us about them.

Thank you to Ms. Kidd for leading and the PTO for hosting our first ever Build it Night! We had a blast building and creating.

Thank you to Mrs. Gifford for planning an incredible STEM Week full of challenges and fun!!

Thank you to the many families who donated warm clothing for next week's Warm Clothing Swap. Please stop by the Gym on Caregiver-Teacher Conference Days and do some "shopping" for your SHARKS.

• Tuesday, October 27th - 11:00 Dismissal - Parent/Teacher Conferences - Clothing Swap
• Thursday, October 29th - 11:00 Dismissal - Parent/Teacher Conferences - Clothing Swap
• Friday, October 30th - PTO Halloween Parade 4:00 pm
• Wednesday, November 4th - Early Release Day
• Tuesday, November 10th - CES Veterans Day Assembly
• Wednesday, November 11th - No School - Veterans Day
• Friday, November 13th - Picture Retake Day
• Wednesday, November 18th - Early Release Day
• November 25th-27th - No School - Thanksgiving Break

The SHORE Food Pantry at Monomoy Regional High School has been selected again as a nonprofit partner in the Stop & Shop Bloomin’ 4 Good Program! The SHORE Food Pantry will receive $1 for each $11.99 specially marked Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet sold throughout the month of October 2026 at the East Harwich Stop & Shop location. The funds raised will help eliminate food insecurities for our Monomoy students, families, and community. Find more information on the food pantry at https://www.monomoy.edu/shore-food-pantry.

SHORE Food Pantry Begins September 10!
The SHORE Food Pantry at MRHS will begin serving all Monomoy families Thursday, September 10! The weekly pantry is open to everyone, and no sign-up is required. Families can simply drive up, fill their bags with the items they need, and take them home.

When & Where
Date: Every Thursday, beginning September 10
Time: 9:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Location: Monomoy Regional High School, Outside of Building B, Door 4
Families are welcome to stop by during the pantry hours and take what they need ... no registration or appointment necessary.

If you have any questions, contact Shana Grogan at sgrogan@monomoy.edu. In partnership with Stop & Shop, we look forward to supporting our families through the SHORE Food Pantry!

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