Parent Info to Know - August 4-8

Challenger Elementary School

August 6, 2025

Welcome Back, CES Eagles!

We are so excited to welcome our Eagles back to campus! The first week of school is always filled with excitement, new routines, and a few first-day jitters—for students and parents alike.

Parents are welcome to walk students to their classrooms during the first week of school. We know how special these first days can be!

Please note that school opens daily at 7:30 a.m. For the safety of all students, we kindly ask that scholars are not dropped off before 7:30 a.m., as adult supervision is not available prior to that time.

To ensure a smooth and focused start to each day, we kindly ask that all parents exit classroom and hallway areas by 8:00 a.m., as we are eager to begin instruction promptly and set the tone for a successful day of learning.

Transportation Options – Please Review Carefully

All scholars should use one of the following transportation methods:

  1. AlphaBest After School Program: Parents must enroll scholars in advance. Please inform your scholar’s teacher upon registration.

  2. Bus Riders: Students assigned to a bus route may utilize HCS transportation.

  3. Car Line – Before & After School: Drivers must use Lane 1 (closest to the school building) or Lane 3. Remain in your vehicle and follow staff directions during arrival and dismissal.

  4. Gym Door Pickup – After School Only: Families parking near the track may walk to the gym door to pick up scholars. **Students will not be allowed to cross the parking lot or street alone—you must walk up to retrieve them.

  5. Pre-K Families – Before & After School: Park in the parking lot and walk your scholar to/from the front entrance. **All Pre-K students must be signed in and out daily.

  6. Van Riders: Parents must enroll scholars with a licensed van service. Inform your scholar’s teacher of provider and schedule.

  7. Walkers: Only students who live within walking distance qualify. **If you drive to campus, your child is not considered a walker. Use the car line or park and walk your child across the crosswalk.

Arrival and dismissal during the first week of school can be busy as students, families, and staff adjust to new routines. We sincerely thank you for your patience and support as we guide all scholars through these important transitions.

Your partnership is key in helping us maintain a safe campus and ensuring traffic flows smoothly. Each day will become more efficient—especially for our new Eagles—as everyone becomes familiar with the process.

Together, we’re off to a magical start to a year of learning, growing, and Aiming High at Challenger Elementary!

Let’s Create Magic in 2025!

Sherita Joiner
Principal, Challenger Elementary School
#CESMAGIC2025
Go Eagles!

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures

Arrival- 7:30am - 8:00am

  • Please have scholar(s) exit from the passenger side of your vehicle.

  • Scholars must be escorted when using the crosswalk.

Dismissal- 2:30pm

  • Challenger Elementary dismisses daily at 2:30 p.m.
    To ensure a safe and efficient process, no checkouts are allowed after 2:00 p.m.
    Please plan accordingly. Thank you for your support!

  • Every scholar has received a car rider number.

  • Place names/numbers so they are visible.

  • Please be patient and understanding daily.

Attendance

We will have attendance meetings over the next few weeks to address students with critical absences. Please know that all absences count towards our school's state report card, whether excused or unexcused. We have many students reaching a critical number of absences. Please be sure your scholar(s) are at school daily. If your child is absent, please send excuses to the front office or email them to Danna Freeman and Kendra Humphrey

Bus Transportation

Bus route information for the 2025-26 school year are visible in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Information about how to access the PowerSchool Parent Portal is available on the Grades Online page of the HCS website.

Routes will then be frozen through August 18, 2025 - no changes to routes, stops, or stop times will occur during this period.

For all routine questions regarding bus routes, please use the School Bus Transportation Comment Form. This will ensure a member of the transportation team will follow up regarding any questions or concerns within 48 hours.

Important Information

  • All visitors must enter through the front entrance. You must have your driver's license when entering the building to checkout your scholar(s)

  • School starts promptly at 8am daily. Most classes start reading instruction at 8am so it is imperative that your child is at school on time each day.

  • Please have your child bring a water bottle, laptop, and charger daily.

  • Please consider joining CES PTA today!

  • Check Outs:

    Please remember that student check outs must happen BEFORE 2:00 PM.

  • Student Item Drop-Off:

    If you are dropping off items to students, such as lunchboxes, water bottles, etc, please make sure the item is labeled with the child's name and teacher.

News From Nurse Banks

Important Medication Requirements:

All medications administered at school require yearly updated paperwork from your student's physician, which must be turned in by the parent/guardian along with the medication. Students cannot carry any medications, including over-the-counter medications, unless proper physician paperwork has been completed and submitted to the nurse.

For Returning Students: If your student had an Individualized Health Care Plan (IHP) last year, you only need to bring updated physician paperwork and the medication. Nurse Banks has already updated your student's IHP.

For New Students: Parents of new students requiring medication will need to complete additional paperwork during the drop-off appointment. All forms are available in Nurse Banks' Office.

Critical Prescription Requirements:

  • The Parent Provider Authorization Form (PPA) from the physician must match the prescription label exactly

  • Example: If your student needs an EpiPen that can be administered twice, both the PPA and prescription label must specify this

  • EpiPen prescriptions cannot read "As Directed"

  • Daily medications cannot read "After lunch" - they must specify an exact time on both the PPA and prescription label

Over-the-Counter Medications:

  • Can only remain in the clinic for 2 weeks per semester unless you have a doctor's order

  • Must be age and weight appropriate or they will not be accepted

All required paperwork is available in Nurse Banks' Office.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Nurse Banks.

Thank you for helping ensure your student's health and safety at school

Pre-K Start Date Information

Pre-K will begin with a staggered start the week of August 4, 2025 to help our youngest learners transition smoothly into school.

Here's what you need to know:

  • August 4 & 5: Group A attends

  • August 6 & 7: Group B attends

  • August 8: No Pre-K classes (Teacher professional development)

  • August 11: All Pre-K students attend together

Mrs. Eddings and Mrs. Wright will notify you of your child’s group when they return from summer break. Please be aware that you will need to arrange for childcare for three days this first week. This schedule helps children ease into school and gives teachers time to build strong relationships with both students and families.

PTA News

The school year has started and an important part of Challenger Elementary School is our PTA!

PTA supports critical academic needs, is an active voice on decisions that impact your child’s health, safety and quality of education, and builds a stronger, more inclusive school community.

There is no wrong or right way to be involved – anything you can give, whether it’s time or money, will support your child’s potential. We invite you to join because we can do more together than apart. It only takes 5 minutes!

Each class that achieves 100% membership by August 29, 2025 will earn extra recess and a popsicle party. Be sure to Join PTA!