August 12, 2014

Dear Cornelius Families,

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year! I am honored and privileged that you have chosen Cornelius Elementary for your child. At Cornelius we are committed to our students and take this responsibility very seriously. We understand the value of working with our families and community to ensure the best experience possible for our students.

This year we will have a greater focus on Community, Character, Creativity, and Connections.

Community- Community can be defined as a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. We want our students to know they belong to the Cornelius Community and as result are in a safe and caring environment that focuses on each child’s needs. We also want to invite all stakeholders to support our Cornelius School Community as we strive to continue our tradition of excellence.

Character- At Cornelius, we regard moral qualities just as highly as mental qualities. We will continue to practice “The Big Three,” which includes being responsible, being respectful, and being an active learner. We incorporate character lessons into our curriculum and celebrate our successes monthly at character education assemblies.

Creativity- We appreciate all learning styles in our classrooms. We want students to feel comfortable challenging the norm and looking at all possibilities as they become problem solvers. Our goal is to personalize our instruction to meet each learner’s needs.

Connections- We want our students to make connections with what they are learning in school to the world outside of school. We want them to see value in knowing how to apply their learning to be productive citizens. In addition to learning connections, we also want our students to connect on a personal basis with their classmates and teachers.

I appreciate all your support and once again thank you for making Cornelius your community school. We are confident that the 2014-2015 school year will once again be a productive and positive school year for all of our students. I will continue to communicate with you throughout the school year via list serv, emails, and newsletters. I also invite you to follow me on Twitter @Jholbrook346. I will be tweeting school events, announcements, and other relevant information.

I look forward to seeing you at our Open House on Friday, August 22nd, from 11:00AM-1:00PM. Enjoy the last few days of the summer!

Respectfully,
Jessica Holbrook

General Information

First day of school is Monday, August 25th. Kindergarten will have a staggered entry.

School hours are 8:45 A.M. - 3:45 P.M. Students will not be allowed to enter the building prior to 8:15 A.M.There will be no early dismissals after 3:00 P.M. If you need for your child to leave school before 3:45 P.M., please sign your child out prior to 3:00 P.M.

If your child is a car rider or walker for afternoon dismissal, you must complete an Afternoon Car Rider or Walker Registration form. This form is included in the envelope. Once you have been assigned a car rider number, it must be displayed from your rearview mirror daily. The walker card must be shown at the outside door located near the PTO office and outdoor classroom for pickup for walkers.

If your child is riding the bus, please take note of your child’s bus number, the bus stop, and the time to expect your child to be picked up and dropped off at the stop. Please have your child at the stop to minutes prior to pick-up time. If you have transportation concerns, please contact our AP, Mrs. Brammer, or our secretary, Mrs. Miller at 980.343.3905.

A representative from the North Learning Community will be at Open House to assist you with questions about bus stops and routes. If you have questions for the North Learning Community transportation department, they can be reached at 980.343.3838.

Due to road construction on Catawba Avenue near Exit 28, we are asking that all parents plan for traffic delays. We do not know how the construction will affect our school traffic, but we have been told by city planners to expect delays. I recommend adding extra time into your commute in case there are delays. We have been in constant communication with the transportation department, Cornelius Police, and the project planners regarding our concerns.

We will continue to require student agendas for our students in grades 2-5 this school year. We will sell the agendas at Open House and throughout the first week of school. The cost is $8.00 payable by cash or check to Cornelius Elementary.

Breakfast is served free of charge daily for all students that choose to attend. The cafeteria will serve breakfast from 8:15-8:35. Families needing assistance with lunch costs are encouraged to complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application online. Paper copies can be provided if requested.Students who were approved for benefits last year will continue receiving lunch under last year’s approval until a new application is processed. Students have up to 30 days to reapply for meal benefits. Students who do not reapply for the current school year will need money for meals beginning the31stschool day. New students must have an approved application on file before meal benefits begin.