Cherokee Wolf Pack News

Dear Cherokee Families,

It’s hard to believe we are already nearing the end of our first quarter! These first months have been filled with learning, growth, new experiences, and many moments that remind us what makes Cherokee such a special place. It is amazing to see the dedication of our staff, the hard work of our students, and the continued support of our families. We are so proud of our Wolf Pack and excited to see what the next quarter brings!

Dr. C

Fall Break will be from Monday, October 5, through Friday, October 9. We hope our students and families enjoy a safe, restful, and fun break together! School will resume on Monday, October 12.

Educare will be open during Fall Break, but students must be signed up in advance to attend. Please see Mrs. Rice’s ParentSquare messages for additional information.

Report Cards will come home after Fall Break. Please be on the lookout for communication about this from your student's teacher.

Wednesday, October 21- Pictures for:

• Student Retake Pictures will be taken on Wednesday, 10/21/26. Please let your student's teacher know that you would like them to have their picture retaken.
• Sports/Club Pictures will be taken on Wednesday, 10/21/26. Students can bring in their uniform/club gear to take a picture.

October 26–30

During Red Ribbon Week, Cherokee Elementary students will celebrate making healthy and safe choices! ❤️🐺

During Guidance classes throughout week, students will participate in fun activities and conversations that encourage them to:

• 🧠 Take care of their bodies and brains

• 💪 Make positive and healthy decisions

• ❤️ Show kindness and respect to others

• 🗣️ Ask a trusted adult for help when they need it

• ⭐ Make choices that help them be their best selves

At Cherokee, we know that every choice we make helps us build a stronger PACK!

🐺 Family Challenge

Ask your child:
“What is one healthy choice you made today?”

Talk together about how small, positive choices can help us stay healthy, safe, and strong!

Surprise Attendance Days

September was Attendance Awareness Month, and we had a lot of fun celebrating our students for showing up and being at school! We kicked things off with popcorn parties for the classes with the highest attendance, followed by a surprise popsicle day for every student who was at school.

We wrapped up the month with what may have been our students’ favorite surprise yet... every student had the chance to throw water balloons at Dr. C and Dr. O! There were lots of laughs, and it was a fun way to celebrate our students and the importance of being at school each day.

The fun isn’t over! Watch for more Surprise Attendance Days, along with student and class attendance incentives throughout the school year. You never know what we might do next!

And there’s more coming soon! Johnson City Schools Attendance Week is coming up, and we have some fun things planned. Be on the lookout for more information soon!

Attendance Updates

We are excited to celebrate our students for making attendance a priority!

🎲 Perfect Attendance Celebration: Congratulations to the 60 students who had perfect attendance during the first nine weeks! These students celebrated their accomplishment with a special Board Game Party!

⭐ Student Spotlight: Each week, several students with perfect attendance will be featured on our Student Spotlight bulletin board.

🍿 Monthly Class Attendance Challenge: Each month, the class in each grade level with the highest attendance percentage earns a special reward. Our winning classes for August and September celebrated with a popcorn party!

We are proud of our students and appreciate our families for helping them be at school, on time, and ready to learn each day!

Arrival Instructions: Visitors will enter through the Little Theater doors and must check in with a valid driver's license or state-issued ID. Doors will open 20 minutes before your student's lunch time.

Lunch Information: Adult lunches are $5 each. Guests can pay with cash or checks made out to Cherokee Elementary Cafeteria. NO OUTSIDE FOOD IS PERMITTED IN THE CAFETERIA FOR GRANDPARENTS DAY LUNCHES.

Photo Booth: A photo booth will be available for students and grandparents to take a picture together.

Please see the schedule below:

• Wednesday, October 14 - Cheesy Bites with Marinara Sauce
• PreK at 10:50
• 5th grade at 11:00
• 2nd Grade at 11:55
• Thursday, October 15 - Hot Dog with Chili
• 1st Grade at 11:20
• 4th Grade at 12:05
• Friday, October 16 - Pizza
• Kindergarten at 10:45
• 3rd Grade at 11:35

Cruise in for a good cause! 🍔🥤

Join us at Freddy’s on Friday, October 23, from 5–9 PM for a Cherokee Elementary PTA fundraiser night. 15% of event sales will support our school. Dine in or order online/mobile using promo code GIVEBACK! 🐺❤️

Be Part of the Pack — Join the Cherokee PTA! 🐺💛

Your voice, your ideas, your support — they all make a difference for our students!
Sign up today and help us make Cherokee stronger. 💪📚

• PTA Board Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of the month in the Library.
• 👉 Join here: https://cesjc.givebacks.com/shop

Our cafeteria has some fun activities planned for October!

Step Right Up for Cafeteria Circus Week!

Our cafeteria will be celebrating Circus Week, October 12–16, and we’re inviting our students to join in the fun with a different dress-up theme each day! We can’t wait to see our students join in the fun! All outfits should be school-appropriate and follow our school dress code.

🎪 Monday, 10/12 – Under the Big Top
Wear red and white or a striped shirt.

👯 Tuesday, 10/13 – Two-Ring Tuesday
Twin with a friend or classmate!

🦁 Wednesday, 10/14 – Wild About School Lunch
Wear animal print or a shirt with an animal on it.

🎟️ Thursday, 10/15 – Circus Crew Day
Wear a team, club, or group shirt/jersey.

🐺 Friday, 10/16 – Greatest Pack on Earth
Wear a Cherokee shirt or maroon and gold!

School Participation Challenge | October 26–30

October 26-30, schools will compete to see which school has the highest percentage of students eating breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria. The school with the highest participation will win a FREE Ice Cream Day! 🍦We hope our students will join in the fun and help Cherokee take home the win.

Morning Arrival

• Doors will not open until 7:45 AM. Please do not drop students off earlier, as there may not be any supervision.
• Car Riders: Enter through the Cherokee Road parking lot by the power grid and join the car circle line. Please do not drop students off in the parking lot.
• Walkers: Enter through the main office entrance.
• Bus Riders: Enter from the main office entrance.
• The tardy bell rings at 8:15 AM. Students arriving after this time must be signed in at the front office.

Afternoon Dismissal

🚗 Car Riders

• Enter and exit through the Cherokee Road parking lot by the power grid to join the car circle line.
• Do not park on the theater side—reserved for staff parking and buses.
• The car circle line opens at 3:00 PM. Avoid blocking Cherokee Road.
• Display your car tag daily so staff can call your child from the gym. Car tags have been distributed and need to be displayed for dismissal. Please call the office if you need a car tag.
• Pick up between 3:15–3:30 PM. Repeated late pickups may require enrollment in Educare.

🚌 Bus Riders

• Load and unload from the main office.
• Typically leave campus by 3:30 PM.
• A new bus form must be completed each school year.
• Contact Teresa Stout in the main office for bus forms or route details.

🚶 Walkers

• Dismiss through the main office entrance.
• Parents meet walkers outside the main office doors.
• Do not park in the parking lots—reserved for staff parking and buses.