Comet Connection

Hello CIS Families,

I hope this message finds you well. As a reminder, there is no school for students or staff on Monday, January 20. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 21. We are carefully monitoring the weather forecast for this week and will communicate if there are any changes to our regular school schedule.

All Intent to Return Forms should be submitted at this point. If you have not submitted the form, please do so as soon as possible.

Lunch Deliveries

All lunch drop-offs by parents should be delivered prior to the start of your student's scheduled lunch time. When students receive lunch late, it may cause them to miss important instructional class time.

Scheduled lunch times are as follows:

• Kindergarten - 2nd grade- 11:00 AM
• 3rd - 5th grade- 11:30 AM
• High School- 11:30 AM
• Middle School- 12:00 PM

Additionally, student-initiated lunch deliveries via UberEats, DoorDash, etc. are not permitted. If a student orders lunch to be delivered, it will be kept in the front office until the end of the school day. In cases where a student forgets to bring lunch and a parent is not available to bring lunch to the school, parents may schedule to have lunch delivered for their scholar(s) only; however, the front office must be notified in advance.

Looking at the Week Ahead

• January 21-24: Homecoming Spirit Week (see flyer for details)
• students who choose not to participate in spirit week must wear their school uniform

• January 21: Homecoming Basketball Game vs Queens Grant
• January 21: Drop/Add Forms accepted on this day only
• January 21: Prospective Family Information Session (Virtual 5:30-6:30 PM)
• January 25: High School Homecoming Dance 7:00-10:00 PM

Standard Reminders

• Office hours are 7:30 AM- 4:00 PM.
• Arrival begins at 7:45 AM. Students should be in class by 8:15 AM.
• The car rider line begins at 3:10 PM and ends at 3:45 PM. After 3:45, students should be picked up from the front office no later than 4:00 PM.

Remember, Enrollment Applications for 2025-2026 School Year are open and accessible on our school website. Please share this information with your family and friends or anyone you know who is exploring school options for their children for next school year.

As always, thank you for entrusting your students to us and for choosing CIS as the place for your scholars to learn and grow! Your continued support and cooperation are greatly appreciated.

We are pleased to welcome and announce the following new staff members:

• Elementary PE: Amanda Allison
• 6th/7th Grade Science: Hannah Steel (returning)
• 8th Grade ELA: Sheryl Grant

As we embark on another exciting academic year at Carolina International School, we invite you to join us in our mission to provide an exceptional educational experience for our K-12 students. Your generous support plays a crucial role in enriching our curriculum, enhancing classroom resources, and ensuring that our students have access to the materials and supplies they need to succeed. By contributing to our annual donation campaign, you are investing in the future of our children and community. Every donation, no matter the size, is a testament to the collective spirit that drives our school forward and reinforces our commitment to educational excellence. Remember, your donations are tax-deductible, making your gift not only a meaningful contribution to our students' success but also a wise financial decision. Together, we can create an environment where every student thrives. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community.

The Homecoming Dance will be Saturday, January 25 from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm at CIS. Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance. Tickets sales will start on Monday, January 13.

We are delighted to announce that the application process for the 2025-2026 school year is officially open! As valued members of the Carolina International Charter School community, you play an essential role in helping us grow and thrive, and we are reaching out to you to help us spread the word about the wonderful opportunities at CIS.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Share Your Experience: Talk to friends, neighbors, and colleagues about your family's experience at CIS. Your personal stories and positive experiences are the most powerful endorsements we have.

2. Highlight Our Unique Programs: Let others know about the exceptional programs we offer, such as high school math courses for eligible middle school students, our AIG program, Project-Based Learning, our International and Environmental focused Initiatives, and the three-year high school graduation plan. These programs set us apart and provide unique opportunities for our students.

3. Encourage Campus Visits: Invite prospective families to visit our beautiful 83-acre campus and meet our dedicated teachers and staff. A personal recommendation to visit can make a lasting impression.

4. Be an Advocate: Share CIS’s mission and achievements on social media, at community gatherings, or any platform where you feel comfortable. Your enthusiasm for our school community can inspire others to join us.

Your support and advocacy are invaluable as we work to enhance and maximize our student enrollment for the upcoming year.

Thank you for being such an integral part of the CIS family and for helping us reach new families eager to join our community. Here’s to another successful school year ahead!

School pictures that were taken on 11/04/2024 are now available for parents to view and order online. View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

• CAROLINA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
• Event Code: FE234624
• Also Needed: Infinite Campus Student ID

A an email from JostensPIX will be sent within 24 hours to parents with a link to the JostensPIX website.

Recognition Ads

Recognize your scholar with a Recognition Ad. Celebrate your scholar for their accomplishments and achievements this year, but hurry, the deadline is quickly approaching. Purchase today! OFFER ENDS December 9th. Ready to order your Recognition Ad? https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?code=YB_RA&cn=1749015

If you have any questions or need additional information, please reach out to Ms. Clarke at ChristianaClarke@ciscomets.com or call 704-455-3847 Ext 9575.

In accordance with NC Attendance Regulations, parents, guardians, or custodians of students are responsible for students attending school daily. State regulations assert, "No person shall encourage, entice, or counsel any child of compulsory age to be unlawfully absent from school. The parent, guardian, or custodian of a child shall notify the school of the reason for each known absence of the child..."

Here at CIS every day counts and attendance matters. Our Attendance Team will be closely monitoring and tracking attendance daily.

This year, all excused absence documentation must be submitted through our online form. No physical notes (from doctors, dentists, parents, etc.) will be accepted. For the attendance team to accurately track and update attendance records, parents must upload any necessary documents directly to the form.

Here is the link to the excused absence form: https://forms.gle/gQ6PKDSkcyMCnDod7.

Thank you!

Please make sure your student(s) are dressed in the appropriate uniform attire each day.

Sister Cities/Countries for the 2024-25 School Year:

• Kindergarten: Kampala, Uganda
• Grade 1: New Delhi, India
• Grade 2: Krefeld, Germany
• Grade 3: Arequipa, Peru
• Grade 4: Baoding, China
• Grade 5: Mexico City, Mexico
• Grade 6: Limoges, France
• Grade 7: Kumasi, Ghana
• Grade 8: Wroclaw, Poland
• Grade 9: San Jose, Costa Rica Grade
• 10: Killarney, Ireland
• Grade 11: Istanbul, Turkey
• Grade 12: Port au Prince, Haiti

https://www.ciscomets.com/athletics/athletics-calender

Homecoming Week will be the January 21-24. The Comets will face Queen Grants on Tuesday, January 21 for our homecoming game. Please come out and support our athletes.

A yearly $35 technology fee is assessed for all students. This fee includes laptops and tablets. Please submit payment as soon as possible if you have not already done so. If you have questions or concerns, contact: bryandavis@ciscomets.com.

Below see the article below for tips to help monitor student laptop usage at home:

https://www.educationandcareernews.com/early-childhood-education/5-ways-to-monitor-your-childs-time-with-technology/

Insurance Form

Insurance is available for $29.99 for the school year to help in cases of lost chargers and computer damages. Please note that CIS is not the insurance provider and CIS staff does not handle any insurance claims. Access the link below for insurance information: https://securranty.com/ciscomets

🥪 Order lunches online...Visit https://mamaslunch.ahotlunch.com to place your orders. CAMPUS CODE: K12Comets. The menu cycle is 2 weeks at time, please pay close attention to menu closing dates.

Questions? Contact mamaspizza.laura@gmail.com.

Ordering Instructions:

• Parents, please log in at https://mamaslunch.ahotlunch.com and sign-up for an account.
• You will not receive additional emails from Mama’s if you sign-up for an account.
• Although the online ordering system is intuitive, below is a list of each step, in case you have any questions.
• Campus code: K12Comets Click “parents click here to sign up” (located at the bottom of the login screen)
• Complete “parent sign-up” page. You will receive an email asking you to activate your account.
• Click on the activation link in the email. It will take you to the log in screen. Enter your email address and password.
• Go to “children” on left side of screen. Click “add child” (blue button) Enter your child’s first & last name and campus code
• Click “verify campus”. Go to “grade” drop down menu and select the corresponding grade for this school year.
• Go to the “classroom” drop down menu and select the teacher for this school year.
• Click “create” (blue button). Parents will see the child’s name was added. Go to “orders” on the left side of screen. Click “new order”. (This can be found under the word “orders”.)
• Click “order” (blue button) on next screen. Select your item(s).
• Click “checkout” (blue button) when your order is complete. You will see “Are you sure you want to checkout?” Click “yes” (blue button).
• Click “pay invoice” (green button). Select “pay all” (green button). You will see a multi-order payment screen. Click “yes” (blue button).
• Click “proceed” (green button) at the bottom of the page. Enter your credit card/payment information and press “pay” (green button). Only Mastercard and VISA are accepted.

If you have specific bus concerns, please reach out to Care Cabb directly at (844)692-2229

At Carolina International, the safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities. We need your cooperation to ensure a smooth and secure dismissal process for all students.

Important Notice Regarding Transportation Changes:

If there are any changes to your child's transportation plans, such as switching from bus to car rider, from car rider to bus, or if someone different is picking them up, it is crucial that you inform the school no later than 11 AM on the day of the change. This allows us to notify the student in a timely manner and ensure that your child is in the correct location for dismissal.

Please send an email to both Mrs. Corey at AmyCorey@ciscomets.com and your student's teacher, or call the school directly to report any changes.

By adhering to these procedures, you contribute to maintaining a safe environment for all students. Your cooperation and understanding are greatly appreciated.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

https://www.ciscomets.com/athletics/athletics-calender

January 20: Martin Luther King Holiday- School Closed

January 21-31: 4-8 MAP Testing

January 21: Drop/Add Forms accepted on this day only

January 21: Prospective Family Information Session (Virtual 5:30-6:30 PM)

January 21-24: Homecoming/Spirit Week

January 21: Homecoming Basketball Game vs Queens Grant

January 25: High School Homecoming Dance 7:00-10:00 PM

January 27: Middle School Basketball Game vs Ace Academy (8th Grade Night)

January 28: Prospective Family Information Session (In-person 4:00-5:30 PM)

February 4: Prospective Family Information Session (Virtual 5:30-6:30 PM)

February 5: 100th Day of School

February 6: Blood Drive- 8:00 AM-12:00 PM

February 13: Middle School Winter Social (during school day)

February 13: Prospective Family Information Session (In-person 4:00-5:30 PM)

February 14: Basketball Senior Night

February 14: Teacher Workday- NO SCHOOL for students

February 17: President's Day/Teacher Workday- NO SCHOOL for students

February 19: National Honor Society Inductions 6:00 PM