CGS Weekly Message for 25-26

Happy Sunday!

Shout out to our Student Council for a FANTASTIC Summer Bash on Friday night!! Everyone had a great time and the weather was perfect! Thank you to all of our volunteers that helped make the night a fun experience for our Grizzly Families! 💚💙

REMINDER: Tomorrow- 9/15/25 is Fall Picture Day for our K-11 Grizzlies!! Come dressed to impress and be ready for your Fall School Pictures. This is the picture we use for our Yearbook- so please dress nicely for your photo.

**UPDATE- Senior Cap and Gown Pictures have been RESCHEDULED to Friday, 10/31/25. They will no longer be on 10/3.

REMINDER: Wednesday, 9/17/25 is a half day- dismissal is at 11:45 A.M. for the K-8 campus and 12:00 P.M. for the HS Campus.

Save the Dates:

• 9/15/2025: Fall Individual Picture Day Kindergarten- 11th Grade
• 9/15/2025-9/19/2025: Fall Scholastic Book Fair! Hosted in our library at our K-8 Campus from 7:30 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Monday through Thursday and open on Friday from 7:30 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.
• 9/17/2025: Half Day Dismissal! K-8 Campus dismisses at 11:45 A.M. and HS dismisses at 12:00 P.M.

Looking further ahead:

• 10/3/2025: Half Day Dismissal! K-8 Campus dismisses at 11:45 A.M. and HS dismisses at 12:00 P.M.
• 10/4/2025: Annual Athletics Golf Tournament Fundraiser at Quaker Creek Golf Course
• 10/6/2025-10/10/2025: Academic Break! No School!
• 10/17/2025: Trunk or Treat Night - Hosted by our CGS PVC! More details to come soon!
• 10/20/2025: School Closed/Teacher Workday! Parent/Teacher Conferences (K-12)
• 10/31/2025: Senior Drape/Tux Portraits @ 9 AM at the HS Campus

**11/1/2025: Campus Clean Up date - more details to come soon!

Reminder- Check out our CGS Directory for questions regarding anything CGS! You can also reach out to us at info@cgsnc.org for questions.

Don't forget to check out our website at www.cgsnc.org and our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cgsgrizzlies for updates!

This past week, our CGS BOD approved some updates to the following policies:

• CGS Mental Health Plan
• Parent's Guide to Student Achievement (PGSA)

These are being updated and will be posted on our school's website this upcoming week.

They also approved three amendments to our 25-26 Student Handbook:

• Athletic Handbook Update
• Dress Code Update- Leggings
• Attendance Update

These are being updated and will be posted to our school's website this upcoming week. Feel free to see the edits below for what will be added.

"Leggings and jeggings as "pants" and yoga pants are acceptable with a shirt/top/blouse that provides full coverage of the rear end and upper thighs." (This removes the previous requirement for tops over leggings to be at least mid-thigh in length)

Red section was removed.

This was added per legal guidance on updated legislative requirements.

The CGS BOD also approved the 26-27 Academic Calendar for next school year. Here is the drafted version. A clean- final version will be added to our school's website later this week.

Attached is the 24-25 Parent Survey Stakeholder Survey Results that were shared with our BOD last week. Thank you to those of you that filled out the survey. We use this as feedback to improve for the new school year. Many things are in place currently to work on the areas of concern. Thank you for shouting out things that CGS is doing well! #GrizzlyNation!

School Day:

K-8: School starts at 7:45 A.M. and ends at 2:45 P.M.

(students may arrive as early as 7:15 A.M.)

9-12: School starts at 8:00 A.M. and ends at 3:00 P.M.

(students may arrive as early as 7:30 A.M.)

Greetings Grizzly Families,

On behalf of the K-8 Admin, I want to thank you for your efforts in getting students to school on time each day. Your commitment to punctuality makes a world of difference as every minute is critical to our Grizzlies’ continued learning and growth. They're better prepared to engage with their lessons and start each day with confidence. Let’s keep it up…Thank you!

As of this week, students in grades first through eighth have participated in administrative chat sessions. These conversations were designed to review school-wide expectations and as well as student recognitions that will occur throughout the year. I encourage you to continue discussing school expectations with your Grizzly at home, as your support reinforces the positive culture we're building together. The Parent Student Handbook can be found on our website under the Grizzly Den tab. Once our enrollment process is complete, we will hold a session for our new Grizzlies!

Is your Grizzly participating in afterschool tutoring? If so, we need your help!

If you arrive to pick up your Grizzly from after school tutoring on the 3-8 car line side before 3:45, please plan to remain in the back parking lot, overflow area so as not to block general traffic and staff. When it becomes closer to the dismissal time, we’d ask that you then pull around to the designated pick-up area. No cars should be lined up prior to this time.

Thank you in advance for your attention and cooperation in advance!

As always, thank you for your support and have a great week!

All the BEST,

Leah Spencer

#GrizzlyPride

Greetings Grizzly Families,

We are looking forward to another great week of learning. Wednesday is an early release day. Our students will be participating in Social Learning Activities, which are designed to promote positive peer interactions. Our staff have been working hard to plan enjoyable and engaging activities. Students are dismissed at 12 and must be picked up by 12:20. The building will close at 12:30 for staff to complete professional development at the K8 campus.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dr. Morris

HS Picture Day 9th-11th grade

It's time for fall pictures! We plan to begin at 8:15, so bring your smiles and wear your picture-perfect outfits. Students will be called alphabetically by grade level.

9th grade: 8:15-9:15

10th grade: 9:15-10:15

11th grade: 10:15-11:15

**Times are approximate**

DRIVERS EDUCATION ELIGIBILITY FORM (for learner's permit)

Please email the school-level Principal or Assistant Principal to have a document drafted and set up a time to meet for completion. Please allow 72 hours from the time you request the certificate to when you pick it up. This document requires a parent/guardian to come to the school for completion and is good for 30 days.

TRANSCRIPT REQUEST

If you need a transcript, please use the CGS Transcript Request Form and allow 72 hours for your request to be completed.

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Do you have a snapshot camera you no longer use? Mrs. Miner needs additional digital cameras to use in Digital Photography 1 and 2. If you have a digital camera you'd like to donate, please contact Mrs. Miner (shelleyminer@cgsnc.org).

JUNIORS and SENIORS--It's time for the College Fair at ACC

This year, we are providing the opportunity for Juniors and Seniors to attend the CACRAO College Fair at Alamance Community College. The first 50 juniors or seniors to submit their permission form will load the bus at CGS and attend the event at ACC. This is a wonderful opportunity for our Juniors and Seniors to learn about colleges they may be interested in attending. Permission forms will be in the main office on Monday, September 8th, or can be printed from this link, and are due to Dr. Morris by September 17th, 2025.

SENIORS--The Park Scholarship Program at NC State University

The Park Scholarships program brings together students with outstanding accomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

THE PARK SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM is a four-year scholarship valued at $124,000 and covers:

• Tuition, fees, and room and board
• Books and personal expenses
• $2,000 computer stipend
• Enrichment grants to fund study abroad, research projects, service activities, conferences, and more
• Guaranteed invitation to join the University Honors Program

THE PARK EXPERIENCE INCLUDES

• Professional training in leadership, public speaking, and business etiquette
• Educational trips, retreats, and seminars
• Faculty mentors and a network of more than 1,100 accomplished Park Scholarships alumni worldwide

Applications for the Park Scholarships program and admission to NC State are both due by 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 1, for consideration for the Park Scholarship. For more information:

• Park Scholarship Brochure
• Park Under-Resourced Assistance (PURA) Brochure

SENIORS--IT IS TIME TO GET READY TO APPLY TO COLLEGE!!!

CommonApp opened August 1st for 2025-2026. Be sure to create an account with your personal email address. Dr. Morris serves as the counselor for those applying to college. Please see the presentation linked here for important information to support your senior year college application journey. The CollegeWise CommonApp Guide is available to assist you in creating your account.

SENIORS--FREE College Planning and Paying Resources

Sallie Mae shares resources to assist in planning for college. Please see the links below.

• Applying to college checklist
• 1-2-3 approach to paying for college
• Scholly® Scholarships by Sallie
• Filing the FAFSA®
• Decoding financial aid offers
• Comparing financial aid offers
• Help your student pay for school (comparing Parent PLUS Loans and private student loans)
• It’s never too early to start thinking about scholarships! A scholarship that’s quick and easy to apply for is Sallie’s $2,000 No Essay Scholarship. It takes less than two minutes to enter, and no essay is required. Better yet, they give out a scholarship monthly, so students can enter every month!

Reminder: Senior Drape/Tux Photos will be on October 31st at 9 AM at the HS Campus

Senior Parent Checklist for College Applications

Senior Student Checklist for College Applications

ACT My Journey

ACC/CCP Advisor Meetings

Dr. Morris will email current ACC/CCP students the week of September 8th with a sign-up to meet in person with Mr. Oelfke September 16th-19th. The advising meetings will be in the conference room on the CGS campus, where students will discuss and choose ACC CCP courses for the spring semester.

NC College Connect Information FOR PARENTS/STUDENTS

NC College Connect is a groundbreaking initiative offering direct college admission to eligible high school seniors across the state for the 2025–2026 school year! Open to public high school seniors with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher who meet course requirements, students will be matched with colleges where they already qualify — no traditional application needed.

The program now includes more UNC System schools, NC Independent Colleges and Universities, and NC Community Colleges. Students are directly admitted and can accept offers by completing a short form on CFNC.org.

The student and parent webinars will give an overview of the program, while office hours are an opportunity for more personalized support.

Webinars

• September 16, 6 p.m.

Office Hours

• September 30, 6-7 p.m.

This is a reminder that the CGS Clover Cafe OPENS Tuesday, 9/16/25 for our High School Students. The store is cash only and opens at 7:30 A.M.

Thank you to all of you that helped donate supplies!!

Please continue to sanitize, wash hands frequently and notify the school nurse of any student illnesses or injuries. Thank you!

Please reach out to Nurse Corbett with questions at angelacorbett@cgsnc.org.

🍂 Fall Sips & Treats for Teachers – Friday, October 3rd (Half Day)

We’re planning a Fall Sips & Treats Coffee Cart to show our appreciation for our amazing teachers and staff on the October 3rd half day! If you'd like to help, please sign up using the links below.

📍 All donations are due by 9:00 AM on Friday, October 3rd to the campus you signed up for.

• K–8 Campus Sign-Up

• High School Campus Sign-Up

Your donations help us create small moments of joy that make a big difference—thank you for helping us treat our staff to something special!

📋 Let Us Know You Volunteered!

We’d love to recognize our amazing parent volunteers throughout the year! If you’ve donated items or volunteered your time, please take a moment to fill out the quick form below.

You can continue using this link anytime you volunteer moving forward.

Volunteer Form

🚩 Want to Get More Involved? Join the PVC!

If you're interested in learning more about the Parent Volunteer Committee (PVC) or helping out with future events and initiatives, we’d love to have you!

Sign up to get more information here

👜💳 School Store Coming Soon!

Be on the lookout for information coming home about our School Store and how your everyday purchases can help support our school. Each student will receive a Book Buddy lanyard to kick things off—more details coming soon!

Our Fall Scholastic Book Fair is HERE! Our book fair is ready and set up in our library at our K-8 Campus and is ready for our students to shop! The book fair will be open all week long- hours are below! Please come out and support our Grizzlies and their passion for READING! A portion of all proceeds go back to the school to use in supplying our classrooms. Thank you for your support!

Click HERE to shop online!

Hours:

Monday, 9/15/25- Thursday, 9/18/25

7:30 A.M. until 3:00 P.M.

**Our Book Fair is open on our 1/2 Day on Wednesday, 9/17/25 until 3:00 P.M. Feel free to park and come in and shop our book fair once you pick up your student for dismissal.

Friday, 9/18/25

7:30 A.M. until 1:00 P.M.

Shout out to our Student Council for their amazing Summer Bash event on Friday night! It was so nice to see all of our Clover Garden School families having a great time together! See some pictures below!#GrizzlyCommunity

Ready to rock your school pride? Head over to grizzlyden.org NOW and grab the hottest school apparel! Hoodies, tees, crewnecks- you name it in both elementary and MS/HS style! Don't wait, gear up, stand out, and show everyone what it means to be a part of Grizzly Nation!

3rd Annual CGS Athletic Boosters Golf Tournament:

We only have SIX slots left for teams to sign up for our golf tournament on October 4th. Grab some family/friends and put a team into this awesome event!

• Golf Team Registration Link
• Sponsors for the Golf Tournament- We are in need of some more sponsors for our golf tournament, please see the flyer attached if interested. If you'd like to be a sponsor, please email Coach Paschal.

Open Coaching Positions- if interested in any of the following coach openings please email both Coach Paschal and Coach Somers your resume/experience

• Varsity Softball Head Coach
• JV Boys Basketball Assistant Coach

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Monday, 9/15- Varsity Volleyball- admission gate: 5:15-6:30, concessions: 5:30-6:45
• Tuesday, 9/16- Volleyball triple header- Admission gate: 3:30-5:00, 5:00-6:45, Concessions: 3:45-5:45, 5:45-7:15
• Thursday, 9/18- Volleyball double header- Admission gate: 3:30-4:30, 4:30-5:30, Concessions: 4:00-5:00, 5:00-6:00

Dates to Know:

• 9/18- Athletic Boosters Meeting 7:00 pm HS Campus
• 10/3- Fall Sport Senior Night

Save the Date: On Saturday, October 18th, our Marching Grizzlies will have a local competition at Western Alamance High School! More details (time) coming soon! Come out to support our Marching Grizzlies on that Saturday!

Band Rehearsals continue on Monday and Thursday weekly from 3:30 P.M.- 5:30 P.M.

Please see the testing calendar below.

If you have any questions, please contact our school's district testing coordinator, Ms. Ginter at tonyaginter@cgsnc.org.

Parents,

Attached please find a copy of this September's menu. Please review it carefully as you place your order at https://clovergarden.familyportal.cloud/. You have until Thursday the week before the serving week to place your order. Please be sure you have enough money on your account to cover lunches for the month. Please make sure your account is no more than $25 in the negative. If your student’s account is more than $25 in the negative he/she will not be allowed to purchase a la carte items and charge them to their account.

Also the only confirmation you will receive is a green check mark. This company doesn't send out email confirmations.

Thank you,

Dana Walker

Clover Garden School

Cafeteria Coordinator

B & A Coordinator

336-586-9440 ext. 228

Please click on this LINK if you are interested in Mental Health Services for your student(s).

Current Vacancies:

• High School Science Teacher
• MS/HS P.E. Teacher

**Coach McMannen has resigned from CGS. We wish her the best!

As always, thanks for all that you do,

Mrs. Vereyken

Executive Director

Clover Garden School

*If you need this weekly newsletter translated into a different language, please let our Title 1 Coordinator, Mrs. Simmons know at brandisimmons@cgsnc.org.

*If you have any thoughts, feedback or suggestions for our Title 1 team on ways to improve our practices, please contact Mrs. Simmons at brandisimmons@cgsnc.org.

Email: info@cgsnc.org
Website: cgsnc.org
Locations:

2454 Altamahaw Union Ridge Road, Burlington, NC, USA

5806 Pagetown Road, Burlington, NC 27217
Phone: 3365869440
Facebook: facebook.com/cgsgrizzlies