The Friday Five

Dear Cabarrus County Schools Families, Students, and Staff,

As we approach Spring Break, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to our schools. The past few months have been filled with learning, growth, and achievements, and I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished together.

Spring Break is a well-deserved opportunity to relax, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. Whether you are traveling, enjoying a staycation, or simply taking a break from your daily routine, I hope this time brings you joy and rejuvenation.

Please take this time to rest and return refreshed for the final stretch of the school year. I look forward to seeing all the great things we will achieve together in the coming months.

Have a safe and enjoyable Spring Break!

Be well,

Superintendent

Cabarrus County Schools

C4 Day, or Cabarrus County Career Connections Day, is an annual event designed to introduce high school juniors and seniors to the diverse career opportunities available within Cabarrus County. Hosted at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, this interactive career fair features over 60 local employers, providing students with hands-on experiences and insights into various industries.

C4 Day is a collaborative effort among various organizations, including The Cabarrus Chamber, Cabarrus County Schools, Kannapolis City Schools, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, Cabarrus County Economic Development Corporation, NCWorks Career Center, Cabarrus County Education Foundation, and Kannapolis Education Foundation.

The upcoming C4 Day is scheduled for April 2, 2025, at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center. Juniors and Seniors must return their permission forms to school by March 21st.

This event offers students a unique opportunity to engage directly with local employers, gain valuable insights into potential career paths, and understand the skills and education required for various professions within the community.

Would your business like to participate? Click here for more information: https://business.cabarrus.biz/communication/viewemail/5084370

1.SPRING BREAK: Spring Break is here. All Cabarrus County Schools will be closed to students the week of March 10-14.

2.RISING KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM CHOICE REGISTRATION: Applications for 2025-26 CCS Program Choice for incoming kindergarteners will be open from March 1-31. For more information, please visit our district kindergarten Program Choice webpage at https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/1526_3.

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3.SPRING PANORAMA SURVEY WINDOW: The Spring '25 Panorama Survey window will open Mar. 24th - Apr. 8th. For more information on the Panorama survey, please visit https://cabarrus.k12.nc.us/13089_3

4.INFINITE CAMPUS IS COMING!: We want to inform you of an important change coming for the next school year. Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, all public schools in the state of North Carolina will have transitioned from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus as our new Student Information System (SIS). Infinite Campus will serve as the primary platform for managing student data, including grades, attendance, and schedules for Cabarrus County Schools middle and high school students. As we move closer to the transition, we will share additional information, including how to access the new Infinite Campus Parent Portal and resources to help you navigate the system. Our goal is to ensure a smooth shift with minimal disruption, and we appreciate your support during this process. Thank you for your partnership in supporting our students!

5.SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY: The Jonathan Foundation is a 100% volunteer, 501(c)(3) service organization dedicated to give hope to children in need. We offer financial support to various children's charities, local non-profits, and college scholarships to Cabarrus County High School students. The primary goal of the The Jonathan Foundation is to give hope to children in need. Since 2011, The Jonathan Foundation has gifted over $110,000 in scholarships, community grants, and outreach. They have also invested over $102,000 to ensure the Foundation's future growth and outreach The 2025 scholarship application can be accessed here: https://jonathanthackerorg.weebly.com/scholarships.html 

6.POWERSCHOOL DATA BREACH UPDATE: We want to keep you informed about a reminder from PowerSchool regarding the recent nationwide data breach affecting student and staff information. Families and staff have until May 30 to enroll in complimentary identity protection and credit monitoring services. PowerSchool is partnering with Experian to provide these services to all current and former students and educators whose data was accessed, regardless of whether their Social Security Number was involved. For details on how to activate the Experian identity protection service, visit PowerSchool’s website. We will continue to share any updates from PowerSchool and the North Carolina Department of Instruction as they become available. For further information, you may also visit www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/powerschooldata

North Carolina’s new Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mo Green, is coming to our district next month as part of his statewide Listening & Learning Tour. This is a public event.

Drawing on the insight gathered during these sessions, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education will draft a comprehensive strategic plan that includes goals, initiatives and accountability measures.

Information and registration here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mo-wants-to-know-southwest-region-tickets-1257725844859

Cabarrus County Schools Youth Arts Month Festival will be held at Gibson Mill Market on Friday, April 11th from 5-8 P.M. This is an amazing evening showcasing visual and performing arts education.

We can't wait to see you there!

Mark your calendars! The CCS Job Fair will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at Winkler Middle School. Doors will open at 10:00 A.M. for prospective employees. All 44 schools and CCS departments will be on site to provide information, recruit, and hire on that day!  

Cabarrus County Schools will be hosting a Student & Family Wellness Forum to support Mental Health Awareness Month on Wednesday, April 23rd from 5-7 P.M. at West Cabarrus High School.

We are excited to have Chris Herren as this year’s keynote speaker! There will be a provider fair including multiple community mental health & wellness partners for students and their families to learn about resources that are available. Plus, there will be child watch during the event, food trucks, a raffle, and giveaways!

Safety Town is a cherished Concord tradition that provides rising kindergarteners with age-appropriate safety rule experiences in a fun and unique format. Police officers, firefighters, and volunteers from the Red Cross teach bus, gun, and fire safety, just to name a few. During this free half-day camp, League volunteers supervise the students as they rotate through each class.

Rising kindergarteners can register here: https://www.jclofconcord.com/events

The 14th Annual Ellis Jewelers Future Designer Contest starts NOW! 

Cabarrus County Schools’ students in grades 3-12 are invited to submit an original design to be crafted into a piece of jewelry. All designs must be submitted, in person or by mail to Ellis Jewelers no later than Friday, March 21st, 2025 by 5:30 pm EST. Good luck! 

‪Click here for contest rules and entry form: https://www.ellisfinejewelers.com/page/future-designers-contest-2025.html

🌟 Calling All Future Kindergarteners! 🌟

Cabarrus County Schools is excited to welcome the Class of 2038! 🎉 Kindergarten enrollment for the 2025-26 school year opens February 1, 2025.

📌 Visit www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/kindergarten for enrollment details, school assignment locator, and a list of upcoming in-person enrollment events scheduled at our schools.

Please share this information with your rising Kindergarten family and friends. We can't wait to meet our newest students! 💙🍎

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Engage CCS, our inaugural digital quarterly! Inside Volume 1, Issue 1, you'll find inspiring stories of kindness, leadership, and community impact from across Cabarrus County Schools. 

🔗 Check out the full magazine here: https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/engageccs

We hope you enjoy reading about the amazing people and stories that make CCS a special place to learn and grow! 💙 #EngageCCS 

Cabarrus County VEX will host 15 VEX tournaments in North Carolina over the next several months, including 4 state championships. These tournaments, which account for 83% of all robotics events in the state, will bring teams from across North Carolina to compete in Cabarrus County.

While coaches and event partners recruit volunteers, CCS VEX is seeking additional support from the CCS community. If you'd like to help by volunteering or sponsoring our program, please click the buttons below to see event details and available volunteer positions. We welcome volunteers of all experience levels and ages!

In 2021, Cabarrus County Schools had 73 VEX teams. Today, we have 161 teams, making up 53% of all public and private school teams in North Carolina. Our goal is to continue to grow our program in CCS, but we need your help! For more information on VEX Robotics in CCS or to ask questions pertaining to VEX in CCS, please email ccsvex@cabarrus.k12.nc.us.

We’re excited to reconnect with you! As a valued member of our school community, we want to ensure you stay engaged with Cabarrus County Schools. To help us strengthen our connection, we kindly ask you to take a few moments to share your contact information by completing the short survey available by clicking the button below. Your participation will help us celebrate your achievements, share important updates, and create meaningful engagement opportunities for our alumni network. Thank you for being an integral part of our CCS legacy!