Dear CES Families,
We Are Off to a Remarkable Start at CES!
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! We are thrilled to share that our first few days of school have been nothing short of amazing! Our scholars have spent time learning procedures, practicing routines, building new friendships, and reconnecting with familiar faces.
We are incredibly proud of how our Eagles have embraced the new school year, and we are excited about all that is ahead. Together, we are off to a splendid start and looking forward to a year filled with learning, growth, and success!
As we begin another week, we would like to share a few important reminders to help ensure a safe, smooth, and successful school day for everyone.
Important Arrival Reminders:
Independent Arrival: Beginning this week, we kindly ask that parents and guardians no longer walk or escort scholars to their classrooms. Our dedicated staff members will be stationed throughout the hallways to welcome, guide, and assist scholars as they make their way to class.
Morning Arrival: School opens at 7:30 a.m. For safety reasons, please do not drop off scholars before 7:30 a.m., as supervision is not available prior to that time.
Start of Instruction: Instruction begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. Please make every effort to have your scholar at school on time each day so they can begin the day prepared, confident, and ready to learn.
Safety Drills: This week, CES will practice all required safety drills. Teachers will introduce and explain each drill in a calm, friendly, and age-appropriate manner so that our Eagles understand how to respond appropriately and safely.
Join the CES PTA
We encourage all families to become involved with our amazing CES PTA. Your partnership and involvement make a tremendous difference in the experiences we are able to provide for our scholars.
Transportation & Dismissal Options — Please Review Carefully
To help ensure a safe and efficient dismissal process, all scholars should use one of the following approved transportation options:
YMCA After-School Program: Parents/guardians must enroll scholars in advance. Please notify your scholar's teacher once approved to attend.
Bus Riders: Scholars assigned to an HCS bus route may utilize HCS transportation.
Car Line – Before & After School: Drivers must use Lane 1 (closest to the school building) or Lane 3. Please remain in your vehicle and follow the directions of CES staff members at all times.
Gym Door Pickup – After School Only: Families who park near the track may walk to the gym door to pick up their scholars. Scholars will not be permitted to cross the parking lot or street independently. An adult must walk to the gym door to retrieve them.
Pre-K Families – Before & After School: Please park in the designated parking area and walk your scholar to and from the front entrance. *All Pre-K scholars must be signed in and signed out each day.
Van Riders: Parents/guardians must arrange transportation through a licensed van service. Please provide your scholar's teacher with the name of the transportation provider and the applicable schedule.
Walkers: Only scholars who live within walking distance of the school qualify as walkers. **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 may be especially busy during the first few weeks of school as scholars, families, and staff become familiar with new routines and procedures. We sincerely appreciate your patience, flexibility, and cooperation during this transition.
Each day, the process will become smoother and more efficient—especially for our new Eagles—as everyone becomes comfortable with our routines.
Your partnership is essential to helping us maintain a safe campus, support our scholars, and keep traffic moving efficiently. Thank you for helping us make Challenger Elementary a safe, welcoming, and magical place to learn each day!
Together, we are beginning a wonderful year of learning, growing, and aiming high at Challenger Elementary. We look forward to an incredible year filled with opportunities for our scholars to learn, thrive, and shine!
Lights... Camera... Action! Let’s make the 2026–2027 school year our best one yet!
Sherita Joiner
Principal, Challenger Elementary School
#LightsCameraAction2026
#StarStuddedYear
#CESEagles
#AIMHIGH
Go Eagles!