Paw Prints
October. 25 2026
Dear NCE Families,
Thank you to our amazing PTA for organizing Trunk-or-Treat and to all of the families who joined us! Seeing our Jaguars and their families come together for an evening of fun exemplifies our core value of Fostering Community. We appreciate the time, creativity, and care that made this a special experience for our students.
Our school fundraiser begins this week! Please use the fundraiser link below to learn more about how you can participate and support our Jaguars. You’ll also find additional opportunities to connect and volunteer in the PTA section below. Please check it out and join us!
Here is the fundraiser parent link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y0rGrv1tRUKhdQG7Ld_ewAqGJXWac8j2/view
After Halloween, please consider donating any leftover candy to our front office. We will use it to help celebrate students who receive Positive Office Referrals for demonstrating our ROAR expectations. Thank you for helping us recognize our Jaguars!
As a reminder, morning car rider arrival ends at 7:55 a.m., when our instructional day begins. If staff members are no longer waiting to receive students, please park and accompany your child to the front office to sign them in and receive a tardy slip. Thank you for helping us ensure students enter the building safely and are ready to learn.
Thank you for your continued partnership. Have a wonderful week, Jaguars!
Warmly,
Nikki Murchison
Principal, North Chatham Elementary
There will be no Chess Club Thursday October 29th after school.
Monday, October 26
- Apex Leadership Fundraiser Kickoff
Tuesday, October 27
- No PLCs
- School Leadership Team Meeting, 3:30 in the library
Thursday, October 29
- Kindergarten Field Trip
There will be no Chess Club Thursday October 29th after school. Chess will resume on November 5th.
Friday, October 30
- Book Character Parade, 8:05-8:45 am
October 27 & 28: NC Check-in A for 3-5 students only
Tuesday, November 3
- Family/Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, November 4
- K-5 Report Cards available for viewing in Infinite Campus
October 26-November 6: Apex Leadership Fundraising Event
Thursday, November 5
- Fourth Grade Courthouse Field Trip (Group 1 only))
Friday, November 6
- Apex Leadership Fun Run Event
Tuesday, November 10
- NCE Science Fair,5:30-7:00 (NOTE CHANGE IN TIME)
Wednesday, November 11
- Veterans' Day: No school for students
Thursday, November 12
- PTA Meeting, 6-7 pm
Friday, November 13
- Fall Picture Make-up Day
- Check-in A Reading (3rd-5th)
Wednesday, November 18th
- Check-in A Math (3rd-5th)
Thursday, November 19
- Check-in A Science (5th only)
- Fourth Grade Courthouse Field Trip (Group 2 only)
Tuesday, December 8
- CCS Science Fair at Jordan Matthews High School
Character Parade
- When: 8:05 AM, Friday, October 30,2026
- What: Students (and staff) are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite book character.
Fine Print: Students may not come in with weapons, anything dangerous or full face masks.
--Students should come to school in their costumes with a change of clothes for after the parade.
--The office will be closed from 8:05 until 8:20 to help facilitate the parade.
--Students who are not on time will not be in the parade as there will be no one in the office to check them in.
--Parents will remain outside for the parade. Parents will line up in front along the sidewalk and around the carpool.
--Parents should park in the gym side parking lot.
Parade:
Pre-K will exit the trailers at 8:00. They will line up in front of Kinder behind the gate.
K-1 will exit the building at 8:01 (immediately after announcements) (Doors by the playground)
Grades 2-3 will exit the building at 8:03 and line up behind 1st grade
Grades 4-5 will exit their rooms at 8:04
--4th Grade will exit by the cafeteria, walk toward the playground through the long outdoor corridor and line up behind 3rd grade
--5th Grade will exit the pod and meet the parade at the intersection between basketball court, outdoor corridor and line up behind 4th grade
The parade will wind across the front of the building and once we reach the endpoint (between the office and gym) kindergarten will line up to watch the older kids and so on.
When finished with the parade grades k-2 will re-enter the building from the playground side and grades 3-5 will re-enter the building from the cafeteria doors.
**5TH GRADE** Specials Teachers will meet the 5th grade classes outside and will take them to specials after the completion of the parade.
AIG Referral Period Is Beginning
Chatham County Schools is beginning its referral period for the Academically or
Intellectually Gifted (AIG) / Advanced Learning Program.
Referral Window: October 26, 2026–December 18, 2026.
The AIG program provides additional opportunities and support for students who
perform, or show the potential to perform, at substantially higher levels than their
same-age peers.
Here is a link to the Referral Form in English and Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dn-V_5PZ_aFdWxeA0jVi32ZER7-bDXVk/view?usp=sharing
Parents/guardians, teachers, counselors, administrators, students, and others may
refer a student for consideration. Before making a referral, families are encouraged
to talk with their child’s classroom teacher and consider whether the student
demonstrates characteristics of advanced learning.
The AIG identification process is thorough and includes multiple sources of
information. Evaluation can require additional testing and time away from regular
classroom instruction, so referrals should be made thoughtfully rather than simply
for the opportunity to test.
If you believe your child may be a good candidate for the AIG program, please
contact Amy Bonds abonds@chatham.k12.nc.us or Karin Clamann
kclamann@chatham.k12.nc.us for more information about the referral process and criteria.
Our science night is less than three weeks away!
We are so excited to see the creativity and curiosity of our young scientists and engineers. Students are invited to submit science or engineering projects. Groups are limited to 3 students maximum. Please message Mrs. Carter-Maschal if you have any questions at mcartermaschal@chatham.k12.nc.us.
If you still need help thinking of an idea, this topic selection wizard is a great resource!
Students have until November 9th to enter their project using the science fair entry form .
Finally, we could use help with setting up and running science night stations. This year 5th graders are invited to be leaders at our science experience stations. Please use this Sign-Up Genius form to help us with volunteer shifts and supplies.
🐾 THIS WEEK WITH NCE PTA!
It’s another exciting week at North Chatham! 💛🐆 Our APEX Fun Run is underway, Book Character Parade is coming Friday, Spirit Wear is back, and we’re already starting to plan some holiday magic!
Here’s what’s happening with NCE PTA:
🦸♀️🦸♂️ APEX FUN RUN IS HERE!
JAGUARS ARE LEARNING TO BE SUPERHEROES!
Our APEX Fun Run kicked off October 24, and for the next two weeks our Jaguars will be learning how to be SUPERHEROES while working together to raise funds for North Chatham! ⚡🐆
This year, our fundraising goal will help support:
🌳 School beautification
📚 Classroom learning materials
💛 Staff appreciation
🎉 School-wide events
Every donation helps PTA continue investing directly into the students, staff, and community that make NCE so special!
🏃 THE FUN RUN IS NOVEMBER 6!
And we need our Jaguar families on the sidelines!
We’re looking for parent volunteers to help support our students during the Fun Run. Come cheer, encourage, lend a hand, and be part of one of the most exciting days of our fundraiser!
📅 Friday, November 6
📣 BE YOUR CHILD’S CHEERLEADER!
🙋 VOLUNTEER AT THE FUN RUN:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0545ADAC23A2FA7-66983463-apex
Let’s show our Jaguars what happens when superheroes work together! 🦸♀️🐆🦸♂️
📚🎭 THIS FRIDAY: BOOK CHARACTER PARADE!
BOOKS ARE COMING TO LIFE!
This Friday, our hallways will be filled with some familiar characters as our Jaguars dress as their favorite book characters! 📚✨
📅 Friday, October 30
⏰ 8:05–8:20 AM
We’re still looking for a few parent volunteers to help with traffic and parade assistance that morning.
🙋 VOLUNTEER FOR THE CHARACTER PARADE:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4BAFA923A7F85-66414552-character#/
Grab a book, pick a character, and get ready to parade! 📚🐆
👕🐆 NCE SPIRIT WEAR SALE IS OPEN!
JUST IN TIME FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING!
Our NCE Spirit Wear Sale is happening now through November 6!
Whether you’re shopping for your Jaguar, yourself, grandparents, or checking a few gifts off your holiday list, now is the time to stock up on NCE gear! 🎁
🚨 STORE CLOSES NOVEMBER 6
👕 SHOP NCE SPIRIT WEAR:
https://coolschoolspirit.com/northchatham/
NCE gear makes a pretty great gift! 🎁🐆💛
❄️🎁 HELP US PLAN THE WINTER SHOP!
YOUR IDEAS BELONG HERE!
Our inaugural NCE Winter Shop is getting closer, and now it’s time to start bringing all the pieces together!
We’re inviting anyone interested in helping us plan this brand-new NCE tradition to join us for an informal planning meeting.
📅 Thursday, November 5
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Breakaway Café
We’ll talk through ideas, organization, shopping, wrapping, decorating, volunteers, and everything we need to make the Winter Shop special for our Jaguars.
💌 WANT TO JOIN US?
Please RSVP to ncs.pta@gmail.com so we know you’re coming!
Bring your ideas—we’ll bring the planning! ❄️🎁
🎁 KEEP THOSE WINTER SHOP DONATIONS COMING!
While we plan, we still need your help filling the shelves!
Our inaugural NCE Winter Shop is December 10–11, and our goal is for every student to have the opportunity to choose a gift for someone they love. ❤️
Every NCE student will receive a Jaguar Dollar they can use to select one gift at no cost, with additional low-cost gifts available.
🎁 HELP STOCK THE SHOP!
Donate new or lightly used giftable items in the collection box in the NCE front office, or purchase something directly from our Amazon Wish List.
Great donation ideas include:
☕ Mugs & coffee/tea accessories
🧦 Fuzzy socks
🧸 Small toys & stuffed animals
💍 Jewelry & hair accessories
🖼️ Picture frames
🐶 Pet gifts
🛠️ Small tools
🍴 Kitchen gadgets
🎄 Ornaments
🎀 Wrapping supplies
…and more!
🛒 SHOP OUR AMAZON WISH LIST:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1JFDH99UR0PH5?ref_=wl_share
One donated item can become one very special gift from a Jaguar to someone they love. 🎁🐆❤️
🛍️ HAVE YOU TAKEN THE ONE-SHIFT CHALLENGE?
The Chatham PTA Thrift Shop is one of NCE PTA’s biggest fundraising opportunities, and our volunteer hours directly impact how much funding comes back to our school.
🐾 ONE FAMILY = ONE SHIFT!
We’re challenging every NCE family to volunteer for just ONE Thrift Shop shift this school year.
If every family gives one shift, those hours can add up to a BIG impact for our students and staff!
🙋 FIND A SHIFT & SIGN UP:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4BAFA923A7F85-50974513-ptathrift#/
Our next PTA Thrift Night is November 2, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm
And remember—donations help, too! Cleaning out closets? Consider donating gently used items to the Chatham PTA Thrift Shop.
One family. One shift. BIG impact for NCE! 💛
💛 NOT A PTA MEMBER YET?
It’s never too late to join!
Your PTA membership helps support the programs, events, resources, and extras we provide for NCE students and staff—and joining does NOT mean you have to volunteer.
🐾 JOIN NCE PTA:
https://northchatham.givebacks.com/shop?category=5885
📱 STAY CONNECTED WITH NCE PTA!
Follow North Chatham Elementary School PTA on Facebook, @northchatham_pta on Instagram, join our GroupMe, and visit our PTA website for upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, sign-ups, and PTA news.
🐾 RUN • READ • VOLUNTEER • GIVE • CONNECT
Let’s have another SUPER week, Jaguars! 🦸♀️💛🐆
In previous newsletters....
Our APEX Fundraiser begins Monday October 26th!
It's a great time to start thinking about science fair project ideas!
If you kids would like to participate, the sign up form is here.
We are inviting parents who are interested to be part of our Science Fair Committee. The committee will plan activities and help set up and break down the event.
Marianne Carter-Maschal
North Chatham Elementary
STEAM Specials Teacher