Our largest fundraiser of the year is coming up! Get ready for the Cougar Dash and help fundraise for our school!  Last year we raised just over $40,000 allowing us to provide grants for continuing education for teachers, grants for classroom projects, STEM programs, school field trips, and school improvements. The Cougar Dash PEP Rally will take place on September 22nd (students only), to help our students be motivated to Raise Money, Run Fast, and Win Prizes! Students will take home their fundraising packets with Cougar Dash information this week. 

The Cougar Dash will take place on Friday, October 6th (rain date October 13th). Families are encouraged to attend and cheer on their students! Below is the run schedule:

9:30am – Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades

10:00am – 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades

All donations made by cash and check will be collected on Friday, October 27th. Online donations can be made until 8:00am on the 27th. For more information, visit the Cougar Dash webpage. 

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Looking for an opportunity to support your classroom directly or to get to know the teachers and faculty at CES a little better? We have you covered! Visit the Faculty Surveys and Classroom Needs page on our PTO website!

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It’s time to re-link your Harris Teeter VIC Card! Families must re-link their cards every year for Cornelius to receive the contributions from this program. The next time you’re at Harris Teeter, give the cashier our CES code (1910), and your card will be linked for the entire school year.

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The CES Online Store is open! Visit today to stock up on Tenders gift cards, Spare Time gift cards (expire mid-November), and spirit wear. Purchases will be delivered to students in their classrooms.  

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Painting the Spirit Rock is a great way to celebrate birthdays and milestones! Sign up on the PTO Website to reserve your day & time. Please make sure to check out the rules before you paint!

WOO HOO! Who else is counting down the last day until the Back to School Parent Event?!

Join us Thursday from 6-10pm at the Cornelius Drafthouse for this adults only event. This is a great opportunity to mingle with other CES parents while enjoying live music by Keith Wilson and great food from the Taste of Hawaii food truck.

Psst… looking for dinner for those Cougars Thursday night while you’re at the Back to School Parent Social?!? Look no further!

Hungry Howie’s first Spirit Night of this school year is Thursday, September 14th! Between 4-9pm, a portion of all sales will be donated to the Cornelius Elementary PTO. Takeout or delivery, it’s a night out of the kitchen. Spoil yourself, and get that Howie Bread too!

Each school in CMS has a School Improvement Team (SIT) composed of parents and staff members. The School Improvement Team will meet at least once per month. The functions of the team are as follows:

• Facilitates the involvement of the school community in the development of the School Improvement Plan 
• Encourages, supports, and creates opportunities for involvement from parents in the community 
• Contributes to the design of the School Improvement Plan 
• Monitors the effectiveness of the School Improvement Plan strategies 

We currently have three parent members eligible for re-election and one open seat, with one nomination.  All members must be voted upon;  please see our 23-24 School Improvement Team Ballot here.

If you have any questions, please contact our PTO Presidents Amanda Knipp and Ashlei Holton.

Just a reminder that anyone may attend the School Improvement Team meetings even if not an elected member.  Currently, the team meets virtually the last Thursday of each month, at 7:45 AM.  Specific dates are posted on the school’s webpage.