Parent Info to Know - February 9-13

Challenger Elementary School

February 9, 2026

Greetings CES Family,

Sick/Illnesses:

We are currently seeing several illnesses, such as the flu, strep throat, Norovirus, and more, going around the school. We are working diligently to keep our campus sanitized to prevent the spread of germs. Please remember that students must be symptom-free (fever, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) without medication for at least 24 hours before returning to school. If you’d like, you may send disinfecting wipes and Kleenex to your scholar's teacher—we greatly appreciate your support!

Absence Excuses:

Please remember to submit absence excuses as soon as your scholar returns to school. You are allowed up to eight (8) parent-written excuses and an unlimited number of doctor’s excuses.

Attendance Goal:

Our attendance goal this year is 95% or better. You can help us meet this goal by ensuring your child attends school each day and is in class by 8:00 AM.

Important Reminders and Upcoming Events:

February Activities:

  • Black History Month

    • School Theme: Celebrating Black History—Present, Past & Future

    • Schoolwide Activities

      • Scholars will participate in classroom lessons and enrichment activities.

      • Daily Trivia during announcements.

      • Local Black History Scavenger Hunt: Details will be shared - see below. Students will receive a list of locations and are encouraged to visit at least four with their family.

      • Return your completed Scavenger Hunt form to the front office. Entries can be submitted daily for weekly drawings to win special treats. All entries must be submitted by February 28th!

    • Share your visits - post pictures of your visits on our school’s Facebook page and add #CESCELEBRATESBLACKHISTORY2026 #CESCREATINGMAGIC #CESMAGIC

  • Valentine’s Day - Classroom celebrations will be held on February 12 from 11:30 - 2:00 PM. Teachers will provide more details. See Classroom Celebration Expectations below.

  • Student 1/2 Day - February 13 - School will dismiss at 11:30 am

  • School Resource Officer's Appreciation Day - February 15 - We are excited to acknowledge the officers that are assigned to Challenger's Campus: Officer Coleman, Mr. Madden, Mr. Riche, and Mr. Walter

  • Presidents’ Day (Feb 16) - No School

  • Random Acts of Kindness Day (Feb 17) - Scholars are encouraged to spread love, compassion, and positivity through small, unexpected acts of kindness. #RandomActsOfKindnessDay

Important Info:

  • Middle of the Year (MOY) Assessments Results were sent home in Wednesday Folders (January 28) - Parents please ask your scholar(s) to discuss their data results with you.

  • 2nd Semester Parent Conferences - will be held in February & March. Stay tuned—more details will be shared soon!

  • The Pre-K Pre-Registration for the 2026–2027 School Year is currently open - Visit Huntsville City Schools - School Readiness https://prek.alaceed.alabama.gov/. To qualify, children must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2026. For more information or help completing pre-registration, attend one of the upcoming Pre-K Help Sessions.

  • If you have questions in the meantime, feel free to contact the School Readiness department. Email the Pre-K department or contact us via phone at 256-428-6886.

Let's continue making 2026 a year of creating magic, growing, collaborating, and achieving! We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and hard work of everyone in our school community and look forward to celebrating the successes of our scholars and partners in the months ahead. Together, we’ll inspire, challenge, and support each other to create a lasting impact on education and beyond.

Important Reminders:

  • Independent Arrival: We kindly ask that parents no longer walk or escort scholars to class. Our dedicated staff will be stationed in the hallways to guide and support scholars to their classrooms.

  • Morning Arrival: School opens at 7:30 a.m. For safety reasons, please do not drop off students before this time, as supervision is not available prior to 7:30 a.m.

  • Start of Instruction: Learning begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. Please ensure your scholar arrives on time each day so they can start the day ready to learn and succeed.

  • Join CES PTA

Here's to learning, growing, and Aiming High at Challenger Elementary!
Thank you for helping make Challenger Elementary the BEST place to learn and grow!
Let’s Create Magic 2025 - 2026!

Love yall,

Sherita Joiner
Principal, Challenger Elementary School

Go Eagles!
#CESMAGIC2025
#AIMHIGH