August 2024 Parent Newsletter

Welcome back to all the parents and families. As we begin the 2024 – 2025 school year, I want to welcome you to our school. We are glad you are a part of the Mount Pleasant Elementary family. We are looking forward to a fantastic year dedicated to connection, student growth, and engagement with our families and community.

Each month, I send a newsletter with important dates and information for parents included through Parent Square. MPES uses Parent Square as our main communication method for faculty, staff, and families, so please be sure you are connected and checking it daily.

Thank you for being part of our Tiger Family!

We are excited to have students starting back to school on August 13th. It is going to be a fantastic year!

Just a few reminders as we begin the year:

If you have an incoming kindergartener who hasn't registered for kindergarten yet, please go online and check out the directions for kindergarten enrollment on our website or call Ms. Tierrablanca in our front office Monday-Thursday 8-4 at (704) 260-6210. We don't want our newest Tigers to miss a thing.

Following our arrival and dismissal procedures helps promote the safe movement of students before and after our school day. These procedures also support our staff in the safe transition of students from our care to the care of parents and guardians.  

Arrival: Parents must remain in their vehicles during morning arrival and staff will be available to assist your child. Car rider drop off will begin each day at 7:45 am and will conclude at 8:13 am to allow students to safely get to their classrooms before the tardy bell rings at 8:15. For the safety of students, we ask that parents do not drop off students without staff present. After 8:13, you will need to park in the bus parking and walk your child in to receive a tardy slip. Please Note: In an effort to maintain school safety, parents will not be permitted to walk students to their classrooms. 

Dismissal: Afternoon dismissal begins at 3:00 pm and concludes at 3:15 pm. You must have a car tag in order to pick up your child. If you are picking up your child, we ask that you remain in the car line and do not park your vehicle and walk up to get your child from the front. Teachers will only dismiss students from the car line to the person in the vehicle with a car tag present. If you do not have a car tag, you may be asked to park in the visitor lot and meet with a designated staff member to show valid ID in order to pick up your child without a car tag. Car Tags will be ready for pick up at Open House on August 8th. Families should keep their yellow numbered tags from last year. 

Student attendance is very important. Once students receive 5 tardies/early checkouts, this will equal an unexcused absence for your student. It is important to arrive at school on time and to stay the entire day in order to maximize learning for your child. 

Upon six unexcused absences, families will receive a letter from our school social worker alerting them to this. At 10 unexcused absences, a meeting with the school social worker and principal will be required.

Parents can use our absence excuse form or send a handwritten note in with a student to have an absence considered for excusal.

Students who are bus riders should arrive at the bus stop at least 15-minutes before their AM pick up and also allow a 15-minute window after PM drop off in order to adjust for traffic delays. 

If you are a bus rider, your bus pass will be included in your Open House information.

Our top priority at the end of the day is to ensure student safety by getting them to the correct location for dismissal. If you need to change transportation, please submit the online Transportation change form by 2:30 pm or write the teacher a note and have your child bring it to school. We will not accept transportation changes over the phone or by email. We are unable to accept student check out requests after 2:30 pm.  Student checkout may take a few minutes based on student schedules (recess, lunch, specials) so we thank you in advance for your patience during student check out. 

See directions linked here to set up a Parent Account for CANVAS. Parents can see classroom information & resources on CANVAS.

Information on required health assessments and immunizations for students are available through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). The Cabarrus Health Alliance is hosting Community Immunization Clinics throughout the summer. The next immunization clinic offered is July 12th & July 26th (8am-11am & 1-3:30pm) at Cabarrus Health Alliance: 300 Mooresville Rd., Kannapolis, NC 28081. Call 704-920-1205 to schedule an appointment.