Monthly Archives: September 2026

9/27/2026

CES Pirate Family,

Fall Break: October 3-11

Quarter 2 Begins on Monday, October 12th

ILEARN 2025-2026 Individual Student Reports: Grades 4-5

Individual Student Reports from the 2025-2026 school year will be mailed home to families this week.  Families will also receive the Parent Portal letter that families will use moving forward to access state testing: ILEARN Checkpoints, I AM, WIDA, and IREAD results.

Parent Portal Letters Grades 3-5

Families will also receive the Parent Portal letter that families will be using to access state testing: ILEARN Checkpoints, I AM, WIDA, and IREAD results.  This is an important document that you will want to keep.  You will use this to access all of your child’s state assessment scores throughout their school years.  This will give you immediate access to your child’s results!

All Pro Dad: Begins on Sept. 28th

All Pro Dad invites you to the new school year launch at Charlestown Elementary School. APD is all about connecting Dads and their kids together through fun, creative, and interactive morning programs. Come enjoy breakfast, a character building lesson, and grow together with your child. This is for all dads (or father figures) and their kids in grades Preschool-Fifth Grade. If your child does not have a father figure available, a female adult is welcome to attend! Our Launch Party will be Monday, September 28th from 7:45am-8:45am.  Please enter door 15 and you will exit door 14. For more questions or information contact Donnie Roark, donnieroark@fca.org. 

Sign-up here to attend: https://allprodadchapters.com/chapters/16241

PTO News

• Our next PTO Meeting will be Wednesday, October 14th at 6pm. 
• Our October restaurant give back will be Jaggers in Jeffersonville on October 12, and it will be all day. I will send the graphics once we get them in. 
• Pirate Quest, PTOs only student led fundraiser, kicked off earlier this week.  If you haven’t signed your student up yet, please go to app.99pledges.com/fund/piratequest26
  If CES meets our goal of $30,000 all students will get to join an inflatable party on Friday 10/2.

CMS Spooktacular Event: Spook Flyer 2026

Your Principals, 

Sara Porter, Principal  (PreK – Grade 2) sporter@gccschools.com 

Jamie Spear, Assistant Principal (PreK – Grade 2) jspear@gccschools.com 

Aimee Doherty, Principal (Grades 3-5) aidoherty@gccschools.com

Jillian Richardson, Assistant Principal (Grades 3-5) jrichardson@gccschools.com

Charlestown Elementary School Student Handbook

Charlestown Elementary School Student Handbook (Spanish)

Student Rights and Responsibilities

CES Calendar of Dates

October 

2 PTO Pirate Quest Event

5-9 Fall Break

19-30 Scholastic Book Fair

19 Basketball: CES at NWES

20-22 Math ILEARN Checkpoint 1

22 Fall Family Night 5:00-6:30

27-29 ELA ILEARN Checkpoint 1

28 Basketball: RES at CES

30 Fall PTO Party

November

2 Basketball: NES at CES

3 Teacher Day Only

7 Robotics Competition

9 Basketball: CES at Pike

12 Basketball: Utica at CES

18 Picture Retakes

18 Basketball: PES at CES

21 Basketball: First Round of Tourney

23-24 CES Family Thanksgiving Dinner

25-27 Thanksgiving Break

December

1 Basketball:Semi-finals

3 Basketball: Championship 

4 CMS Shipwreck Singer Visits CES

7 Red Cross Blood Drive Grade 3-5 Presentations

8 Red Cross Blood Drive 3-7

15-17 Boys Basketball Tryouts

21-1/1 Winter Break

9/20/2026

CES Pirate Family, 

Bus Safety & Behavior Update

As we continue through the school year, student safety on our buses remains our top priority. Over the past two weeks, we’ve seen an increase in unsafe behavior during bus rides.

Riding the bus is a helpful privilege for our students, and we need your support to keep it safe for everyone. Please take a moment to review these key bus expectations with your child:

• Sit properly: Keep “seat to seat, back to back” at all times.
• No video recording: Recording on mobile devices is strictly prohibited.
• Voice levels: Use respectful, inside speaking voices.
• Respect others: Treat the driver and fellow students with kindness and respect.
• Students who struggle to follow these rules will be referred to their school principal and may risk losing their transportation privileges.

For a full list of rules and regulations, please visit the Transportation page on the GCCS website. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our buses safe!

PTO News:

• Our next PTO Meeting will be Wednesday, October 14th at 6pm. 
• Our October restaurant give back will be Jaggers in Jeffersonville on October 12, and it will be all day. I will send the graphics once we get them in. 
• Pirate Quest, PTOs biggest fundraiser of the year, starts THIS WEDNESDAY! Please be on the lookout for a flyer to come home on Wednesday to create your child’s fundraising page. 

Attendance/Transportation Communication:

One of our top priorities is ensuring your child gets home safely and smoothly every single day! To help us do that, please remember to always notify the main office directly regarding changes to your child’s usual dismissal routine.While our teachers do their best to check messages, they are busy with students all day and may not see a last-minute note. More importantly, if a teacher happens to be absent, a substitute teacher will not have access to their email or personal messages. Thank you for your support!   Please utilize the attendance line when calling in with an absence by pressing #2 or dial extension 16141.  You can also email Lea Ann Clemons at lclemons@gccschools.com.  

CES Girls Basketball Intramurals:

Girls Basketball team tryouts will be held on Sept. 21-23 after school until 4:45 for any 3rd-5th grade girl. All players must complete Final Forms and pay $5 in order to attend. Players will need to bring tennis shoes to the tryout. https://greaterclark-in.finalforms.com/

All Pro Dad: Begins on Sept. 28th

All Pro Dad invites you to the new school year launch at Charlestown Elementary School. APD is all about connecting Dads and their kids together through fun, creative, and interactive morning programs. Come enjoy breakfast, a character building lesson, and grow together with your child. This is for all dads (or father figures) and their kids in grades Preschool-Fifth Grade. If your child does not have a father figure available, a female adult is welcome to attend! Our Launch Party will be Monday, September 28th from 7:45am-8:45am.  Please enter door 15 and you will exit door 14. For more questions or information contact Donnie Roark, donnieroark@fca.org. 

Sign-up here to attend: https://allprodadchapters.com/chapters/16241

CMS Spooktacular Event: Spook Flyer 2026

Your Principals, 

Sara Porter, Principal  (PreK – Grade 2) sporter@gccschools.com 

Jamie Spear, Assistant Principal (PreK – Grade 2) jspear@gccschools.com 

Aimee Doherty, Principal (Grades 3-5) aidoherty@gccschools.com

Jillian Richardson, Assistant Principal (Grades 3-5) jrichardson@gccschools.com

Charlestown Elementary School Student Handbook

Charlestown Elementary School Student Handbook (Spanish)

Student Rights and Responsibilities

CES Calendar of Dates:

September

21-23 Girls Basketball Tryouts

23 PTO Pirate Quest Fundraiser Kickoff

October 

5-9 Fall Break

9/13/2026

IREAD Parent Letters

Students in grades K-2 will be receiving parent letters informing them of the important information about IREAD.  Students in grades 3-5 that have not received a passing score on an IREAD assessment will be receiving important information.  Students in grades 4-5 that have not taken the IREAD assessment or do not have a passing score will also receive this letter.  Below is the electronic version of each letter sent. These will be sent home this week with students. 

• IREAD Parent Letters 2026-2027
• DTK_HelpingRead-atHome-Handout FINAL.pdf

ILEARN Checkpoint Family Guidance Grades 3-5

Throughout the school year, students in grades 3-5 will take 3 ILEARN Checkpoints in English and Math.  These checkpoints will assess students mastery on specific grade level standards which will provide students, teachers, and families educational feedback.  At the end of the school year, students in grades 3-5 will take ILEARN Summative which is a cumulative assessment of grade level standards.  The state of Indiana has created a resource to help families have a better understanding of what will be assessed on each Checkpoint.

ILEARN Checkpoint Family Guidance (English)

ILEARN Checkpoint Family Guidance (Spanish)

Attendance/Transportation Communication

One of our top priorities is ensuring your child gets home safely and smoothly every single day! To help us do that, please remember to always notify the main office directly regarding changes to your child’s usual dismissal routine.While our teachers do their best to check messages, they are busy with students all day and may not see a last-minute note. More importantly, if a teacher happens to be absent, a substitute teacher will not have access to their email or personal messages. Thank you for your support!   Please utilize the attendance line when calling in with an absence by pressing #2 or dial extension 16141.  You can also email Lea Ann Clemons at lclemons@gccschools.com.   

PTO News

• Our next PTO Meeting will be Wednesday, October 14th at 6pm. 
• Our September restaurant give back will be Chick-fil-A in Jeffersonville on September 17th from 8am-8pm through a mobile order. I have attached the fliers.
• The Pirate Quest Boosterthon Kickoff is September 23rd. Information will be sent home with students on that day.

CES Girls Basketball Intramurals 

Girls Basketball team tryouts will be held on Sept. 21-23 after school until 4:45 for any 3rd-5th grade girl. All players must complete Final Forms and pay $5 in order to attend. Players will need to bring tennis shoes to the tryout. https://greaterclark-in.finalforms.com/

All Pro Dad: Begins on Sept. 28th

All Pro Dad invites you to the new school year launch at Charlestown Elementary School. APD is all about connecting Dads and their kids together through fun, creative, and interactive morning programs. Come enjoy breakfast, a character building lesson, and grow together with your child. This is for all dads (or father figures) and their kids in grades Preschool-Fifth Grade. If your child does not have a father figure available, a female adult is welcome to attend! Our Launch Party will be Monday, September 28th from 7:45am-8:45am.  Please enter door 15 and you will exit door 14. For more questions or information contact Donnie Roark, donnieroark@fca.org. 

Sign-up here to attend: https://allprodadchapters.com/chapters/16241

CMS Spooktacular Event: Spook Flyer 2026

Your Principals, 

Sara Porter, Principal  (PreK – Grade 2) sporter@gccschools.com 

Jamie Spear, Assistant Principal (PreK – Grade 2) jspear@gccschools.com 

Aimee Doherty, Principal (Grades 3-5) aidoherty@gccschools.com

Jillian Richardson, Assistant Principal (Grades 3-5) jrichardson@gccschools.com

Charlestown Elementary School Student Handbook

Charlestown Elementary School Student Handbook (Spanish)

Student Rights and Responsibilities

CES Calendar of Dates

September

14 1st Grade Field Trip: Cornucopia

14 Student Ambassadors Training 

16-18 Game Day Cheer Tryouts

21-23 Girls Basketball Tryouts

23 PTO Pirate Quest Fundraiser Kickoff

October 

5-9 Fall Break

9/7/2026

Monday, September 7 – No School – Labor Day

Tuesday, September 8 – Teacher Only Day (No School for students)

CHS Football Homecoming Week: Sept. 9-11

Our community will participate in Homecoming week with schoolwide spirit days:

Wednesday, September 9th- Sideline Style: Dress like a BBQ Dad, Soccer Mom, coach, athlete, or sports fan!

Thursday, September 10th- Once Upon a Time: Dress as a fairytale or storybook character.

Friday, September 11th- Pirate Pride: Wear your Pirate gear or black and blue!

Try to check out the Homecoming Parade on Thursday, Sept. 10th and the Football Homecoming Game on Friday, September 11th.

Game Day Cheer Tryouts: Grades 3-5

Cheerleading tryouts for grades 3-5 will be held on September 16-18  in the CES Gym. Day 1 and 2 will be to learn tryout cheer, chant, and jumps. Tryouts will be on Day 3. Students will be notified via BAND if they make the team.  We will dismiss through the gym doors at 5. Please come in the side car rider entrance.   Game Day Cheer Tryout Form

PTO News

• Our next PTO Meeting will be Wednesday, September 9th at 6pm. 
• Our next restaurant Give Back will be Thursday, September 17 at Chick-fil-a. You must order via the mobile app and select “Support Community Cares”. CES PTO will receive 15% of these sales from 8am-8pm.  
• Be on the lookout for our upcoming fundraiser – Pirate Quest. This will start September 23rd and an exciting day will be in store for our CES Pirates if we hit our goal. 
• Please join our CES PTO Volunteer GroupMe to stay up to date on PTO news, events, and volunteer opportunities. https://groupme.com/join_group/109443162/tnOZD6c2

All Pro Dad: Begins on Sept. 28th

All Pro Dad invites you to the new school year launch at Charlestown Elementary School. APD is all about connecting Dads and their kids together through fun, creative, and interactive morning programs. Come enjoy breakfast, a character building lesson, and grow together with your child. This is for all dads (or father figures) and their kids in grades Preschool-Fifth Grade. If your child does not have a father figure available, a female adult is welcome to attend! Our Launch Party will be Monday, September 28th from 7:45am-8:45am.  Please enter door 15 and you will exit door 14. For more questions or information contact Donnie Roark, donnieroark@fca.org. 

Sign-up here to attend: https://allprodadchapters.com/chapters/16241

Statewide Cell Phone Policy in Schools

To support a distraction-free learning environment, the Indiana General Assembly has passed Senate Bill 78, which requires all K-12 schools to implement a “bell to bell” ban on personal wireless communication devices during the school day. A “wireless communication device” includes any personal device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two (2) or more parties, include including computers, laptops, tablets, e-readers, cellular or mobile phones, smartphones, smartwatches (portable, wearable computer that resembles a wristwatch), smartglasses (eyewear equipped with computer technology), gaming devices, and/or any device capable of connecting to a cellular network or the Internet.

Powerschool 

It is extremely important to utilize Powerschool to keep up to date on your child’s academic progress and attendance.  If you do not have access to Powerschool, please email Carolyn Barton at cbarton@gccschools.com for  Parent Login Information Paper.  Powerschool helps parents stay informed!

CES Student Handbook 

Please read the student handbook carefully. Attendance, Birthday Recognition Guidelines, Immunizations, Transportation, and Dress Code Information are just a few examples of the topics in the handbook.

Your Principals, 

Sara Porter, Principal  (PreK – Grade 2) sporter@gccschools.com 

Jamie Spear, Assistant Principal (PreK – Grade 2) jspear@gccschools.com 

Aimee Doherty, Principal (Grades 3-5) aidoherty@gccschools.com

Jillian Richardson, Assistant Principal (Grades 3-5) jrichardson@gccschools.com

Charlestown Elementary School Student Handbook

Charlestown Elementary School Student Handbook (Spanish)

Student Rights and Responsibilities

CES Calendar of Dates
 

September

7 No School

7-11 Homecoming Spirit Week 

8 Teacher Only Day

9 Cross Country Corporation Meet TBA

14 1st Grade Field Trip: Cornucopia

14 Student Ambassadors Training 

16-18 Game Day Cheer Tryouts

21-23 Girls Basketball Tryouts

October 

5-9 Fall Break