Hello CMS

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month is a public awareness campaign that takes place every February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country. CMS strives to ensure that every student is ready for the next steps after high school, whether that step is college, career or military service. Joining us today to talk about how CTE prepares students who want to embark on a career trajectory while still in school are Ashlee' Campbell, CMS CTE Director; Chris Carnes, SCALE Internship Manager at Scott Clark Toyota; Ranit Roy, Ardrey Kell High School senior and Ellison Norton, East Mecklenburg High School senior.    CTE's mission is to maximize academic achievement by engaging middle and high school CMS students in rigorous and relevant learning to prepare for postsecondary education and careers. For more information, on what is offered at your school, please visit our website at DiscoverCTE.com

The safety, security and well-being of students and staff are one of the top priorities at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. We are committed to providing a safe learning environment for all students to succeed. Among our valuable security assets are school resource officers who are trained to keep schools safe and respond to any emergency. Joining us today to talk about keeping our schools safe and learning environments thriving is Rocky River High school resource officer James J. "JJ" Flowers. More on safety at CMS: https://www.cmsk12.org/Page/725

It's the time of year that CMS families need to start thinking about student placement for the 2023-24 school year. In addition to the guaranteed seat at your neighborhood school, CMS School Choice offers families magnet, theme-based learning experiences. To apply for a seat at one of our magnet schools for the 2023-24 year, families must participate in the upcoming School Choice lottery. Current and new CMS students can participate, but those who are new to CMS must complete the future enrollment process first. Joining us to talk about what steps families need to take to get their students enrolled properly are Walter Hall, Director of CMS Magnet Programs and Magnet Programs Specialist Alis Mulero and Marisol Tomey, Oaklawn Language Academy parent.

Diciembre está a la vuelta de la esquina y ahora es el momento del año en que las familias de CMS deben comenzar a pensar a qué escuela van a ir sus estudiantes para el año escolar 2023-2024. Además de asegurarse que tendrán asiento en la escuela de su vecindario, u optar por la experiencia de aprendizaje basados en temas Magnet. Para solicitar un asiento en una de nuestras escuelas magnet para el año 2023-24, las familias deben participar en la próxima lotería de School Choice. Los estudiantes actuales y nuevos de CMS pueden participar, pero aquellos que son nuevos en CMS deben completar el proceso de inscripción futura primero. Se unen a nosotros hoy la Especialista en Programas Magnet, Alis Mulero y Marisol Tomey, madre de la Academia de Idiomas Oaklawn, para hablarnos sobre los pasos que las familias deben seguir para que sus estudiantes se inscriban correctamente y no dejen de pasar esta oportunidad.  

Mental health awareness is an important issue for all educators, who are often the first line of defense for their students. Now in the aftermath of virtual learning, educators are focusing on the impact that a student's mental health has on learning and achievement. Joining us today to talk about mental health resources available to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools students are Natalie Moore, Mgr. CMS School Psychology Program; Monica Stevenson, CMS School Psychologist; Sydney Burgess, CMS High School School Counselor and High School Senior Madison.

CMS' Comprehensive Review 2023 is a formal evaluation process of the district's capital needs assessment, student assignment review and magnet program. As part of the review process, a comprehensive plan is developed that outlines plans for programs, boundaries and facilities within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. CMS is asking for public input on this comprehensive review and is hosting in-person and virtual engagement events that will provide CMS families and the community the opportunity to learn about the review process and voice any concerns. Joining us today to talk about the review process and how the public can be engaged are CMS facilities consultant Dennis LaCaria, Walter Hall, Director of CMS Magnet Programs and Claire Schuch, Director of CMS Planning Services. 

Each year from September 15-October 15 school districts across the country celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. It's no different here at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, where schools look for ways to honor and celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Hispanic communities. Joining us today to talk about how CMS is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month are executive director of CMS learning and language acquisition Charlotte “Nadja” Trez, Reedy Creek Elementary teacher Camille Bourguignon (Bur/geen/yawn) and CMS student Guadalupe Vargas, who is senior at South Mecklenburg High School. 

For Attendance Awareness Week, we join Dr. Matthew Hayes, deputy superintendent of academics; Yvette Watson, social work program specialist; and CMS student Isaiah Fogle, a senior at East Mecklenburg High who has near perfect attendance, to highlight the importance of attending school and the effects that chronic absenteeism can have on a child's education.

A pocas semanas del inicio del año escolar 2022-2023, la seguridad escolar es una de las prioridades de los padres a la hora de mandar a sus hijos el primer día de clases. La seguridad, la protección y el bienestar de los estudiantes y del personal son una de las principales prioridades de CMS. Hablamos en español con la Alejandra García, directora de las escuelas Governors' Village STEAM Lower and Upper Campus sobre la implementación de detectores de metales, la applicación 'Say Something', ¿cómo los padres se pueden involucrar? y más.  https://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmssafety

With the opening of the 2022-2023 school year just a few weeks away, school safety is sure to be on the minds of parents as they send their children off to the first day of school. The safety, security and well-being of students and staff are one of the top priorities at CMS. CMS Chief Operations Officer Brian Schultz, Detective Wes Eubank of CMSPD and Harding University High School Principal Glenn Starnes join us today to discuss the areas of safety planning that CMS has taken to ensure safe and secure learning environments for students and staff. https://www.cms.k12.nc.us/cmssafety

Our Hello CMS podcast returns with a special episode on free & reduced-price lunch featuring hosts Sylvia Obén and Cassie Fambro along with special guest Annette González from CMS Nutrition Services. Apply now: bit.ly/ApplyFreeorReduced-PriceLunch

Nuestro podcast Hola CMS vuelve con un episodio especial sobre el almuerzo gratuito y a precio reducido, con las presentadoras Sylvia Obén y Cassie Fambro junto con nuestra invitada especial Annette González. Aplica ahora: bit.ly/ApplyFreeorReduced-PriceLunch

On this episode, we'll be joined by our 2021-2022 CMS Principal of the Year, Larenda Denien of Idlewild Elementary School, along with a few other special guests!

On this episode of Hello CMS, we are speaking with CMS Student Placement and the School Choice Team about Magnet Programs and the School Choice Lottery so that families are prepared when enrollment opens! All your School Choice question will be answered here. 

On this episode of Hello CMS, we'll be talking to the great granddaughter of Charles H. Parker and Principal Range of PAC about the renaming of the school and what it means to the students and the community.

“Purpose-driven. Technology enabled. Human-first.” On the upcoming episode of Hello CMS, we are joined by the Founder and CEO of Purposity Blake Canterbury and Jarian Kerekes, Head of Social Impact and Equitable Foundation. 

Summer vacation is over and school is back in session for the 2021-2022 school year! So for this special episode of Hello CMS, we traveled all over the district to hear directly from students and teachers about what it like to be back in class instead of behind a screen. This new episode of Hello CMS is available NOW wherever you listen to podcasts!

As the 2021-2022 school year closes in, we are joined by two newly-appointed CMS principals: Tonya Faison of CMS Virtual Middle School and Dwight Thompson of Renaissance West STEAM Academy.

On this episode of Hello CMS, we are discussing Civil Rights trailblazer Julius L. Chambers, as we commemorate his life with the renaming of Zebulon Vance High School to Julius L. Chambers High School.

On the June episode of Hello CMS, we are speaking with J.M. Alexander Middle teacher Alicia Moss who is preparing for the adventure of a lifetime, climbing Mount Kilamanjaro!          

On this episode of Hello CMS, we speak to some of our 2021 graduates and some key players in CMS. We are so proud of the hard work and effort that our graduating seniors, their teachers, and their families have put in over the last four years to get to this monumental moment. Graduation is about first steps in many ways -- it's about moving on to college, careers, or perhaps the military. We are so excited!

On this episode of Hello CMS, we're excited to speak with the 2021 CMS Teacher and Teacher Assistant of the Year!  

This month we are celebrating CMS Volunteers! Thank you for considering donating your time, treasure and talent to support CMS students. We know that educating the whole child takes the whole community, and we also know that everyone has something to give. In fact, we rely on families and community members to supplement the hard work of our teaching staff. Learn more at wearecms.com and cmsvolunteers.com! 

Camp CMS is a free, full-day summer experience for K–12 students with in-person learning, Monday-Thursday, plus physical activities and enrichment. At Camp CMS, learning will be fun! Register right now! http://bit.ly/Camp_CMS

On this episode of Hello CMS, we're exploring Youth Arts Month with Dr. Chilcutt and art partners from The Gantt, The Mint Museum and Opera Carolina.  The Harvey Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture will provide a virtual tour of 20th-century African-American art that includes several works from the Harlem Renaissance. The Mint Museum will provide a virtual tour of its collection with a focus on the work of Kehinde Wiley and other diverse artists. The Mint will build on the use of visual thinking strategies to facilitate understanding of the artwork and promote critical thinking skills. Opera Carolina will provide a virtual performance of I Dream. The show focuses on the last 36 hours of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life through a series of dreams, premonitions, and reminiscences that lead up to the April 4, 1968, assassination at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn.

On this episode of Hello CMS, we're exploring Youth Arts Month with Dr. Chilcutt and art partners from The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and The Charlotte Symphony.  The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art will provide virtual and guided tours of its collection while employing visual thinking strategies to help students build a deeper understanding of the work. The Charlotte Symphony will provide a virtual performance of its “One Musical Family” education concert. The concert features music from a diverse group of composers.

On this episode of Hello CMS, we're exploring Youth Arts Month with Dr. Chilcutt and art partners from The Children's Theater of Charlotte and The Charlotte Ballet. The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte will present a virtual performance of My Wonderful Birthday Suit. The performance focuses on understanding and accepting others. The play is based on the book The Skin You Live In. The Charlotte Ballet will present a virtual performance of Last Stop on Market Street, the story of a bus ride that celebrates people of all backgrounds. This play is based on the book Last Stop on Market Street.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Arts department has collaborated with several Charlotte arts organizations to provide E3 Virtual Field Trips experiences for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The program has the potential to reach over 100,000 students. From March through mid-May, the Children’s Theater of Charlotte, Charlotte Ballet, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte Symphony, Mint Museum, Harvey Gantt Center for African-American Arts and Culture and Opera Carolina will provide unique performing and visual arts experiences for CMS students. We're speaking with Dr. Michael Chilcutt about this incredible opportunity for our students! 

Happy Career and Technical Education month, CMS! In this episode of Hello CMS, we explore CTE with director Susan Gann-Carroll who shares new pathways on the way for the 2021 – 2022 school year and how students can get a jump start on their career before graduating high school.

During the summer, some parents worry about where their child will get food. This summer, over fifty Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will provide breakfast and lunch to feed hungry children in our community. Last year, over 600 thousand meals were served to children in Charlotte - the impact is tremendous. We are so happy to have Cathy Beam, Executive Director of Child Nutrition, joining us to tell us more.   

As we come to the close of the 2018-19 school year in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, we're talking with CMS seniors about what graduation means to them. We are so proud of the hard work and effort that our graduating seniors, their teachers, and their families have put in over the last four years to get to this monumental moment. Graduation is about first steps in many ways -- it's about moving on to college, careers, or perhaps the military. We are so excited!

It is that time of year in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools -- we are so excited to announce our 2019 CMS Teacher of the Year finalists! Please join us in congratulating Tyler Erb, Precious Kotte, Cherelle Phelps, Nancy Pursley, Alicianna Smith, and Kimberly Tuttle. We are continually inspired by the tremendous work of all the educators in CMS.   

CMS Superintendent Clayton Wilcox has designated Wednesday, May 1 as an optional teacher workday for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Superintendent Wilcox has waived attendance requirements on May 1 for all students. No make-up day is needed or will be scheduled. These decisions were made in collaboration with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. 

At CMS, we believe that community involvement is vital for the success of our students and schools. We love sharing community outreach opportunities with you because at the end of the day this district is made up of people who live together in community. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and the community are having a conversation about the curriculum across the district. What do we mean when we say curriculum? How does it relate to equity? On this episode of Hello CMS, we talk with students and parents from across the district as well as the Chief Academic Officer of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Brian Kingsley. 

On this episode of the Hello CMS podcast, we're talking about equity in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. We know that each student's needs may be different, but those needs should be met at every school in CMS. We discuss different ways and ideas that we can achieve equity together as a district.