Dear Parents, Students, Staff, and Families,

As we head into the weekend, our area is expected to experience winter weather that could impact travel and outdoor activities. I encourage everyone to take simple precautions, plan ahead, and use extra care—especially if you need to be on the roads or outdoors for extended periods of time.

The well-being of our students, staff, and families is always a top priority for Cabarrus County Schools, and we truly care about the safety and health of everyone in our school community.

Please continue to monitor district communications for any updates or important information as conditions develop. We will share any school-related information with you as soon as possible through our district channels.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for looking out for one another. Stay warm, stay safe, and take care of yourselves and those around you.

Stay well,

Dr. John Kopicki

Superintendent, Cabarrus County Schools

As winter weather moves into the area, here are a few important reminders to help families stay informed and safe:

Thank you for partnering with us to keep everyone informed this winter. Stay warm, stay safe, and take care!

From Cabarrus County Government: Cabarrus County remains under a Winter Storm Watch through 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26. A Winter Storm Warning is expected to be issued within the next 24 hours.

Take 5 minutes today to sign up for CabCoALERT and stay ahead of severe weather alerts, road closures and hazardous conditions. Stay safe and informed by signing up at cabcoalert.org or download the 'Everbridge' mobile app.

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Simple ways to prepare for a power outage and protect yourself and your home:

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From City of Concord Government:

Electric Systems crews and equipment are staged and ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible if we experience power outages. If you do lose power, please don’t call 911 - report it to your power provider. City of Concord Electric Systems Customers: report an outage by calling 704-920-5555. Track outage restoration at concordnc.gov/outages. Duke Energy Customers: report an outage by texting “OUT" to 57801, visiting Duke Energy’s website, or calling 800-796-3766.

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From the City of Kannapolis Government:

Kannapolis residents on Landis Power may call 704-857-2411 to report outages.

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Union Power customers can report power outages by texting OUT to 800-922-6803 (recommended), through the Union Power mobile app or online member portal, or by calling 800-922-6803 to use the automated system.

CABARRUS PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN: It's that time of year again! Apply now for Cabarrus County Preschool 2026-2027 school year! View eligibility requirements, instructions, and access the preschool application at: cabarruspartnership.org/preschool-applications

ATTENTION SENIORS: The State Employee’s Credit Union’s People Helping People Scholarship is now open for CCS seniors. If interested in applying, please see your school counselor for more details.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION: Please spread the word with your family and friends! Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year will begin on February 2nd. Our official Kindergarten Registration page has been updated with information for the Class of 2039 including on-site registration opportunities at our elementary schools.

FREE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR N.C. TEENS: The company, Somethings, has partnered with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) to provide any teen across the state with free mental health services. Any teen across NC can download and use the Somethings App for free, regardless of insurance coverage.

BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE: Did you know there are multiple ways to keep up with Board of Education happenings? You can read the latest meeting updates, view meeting agendas, see the meeting calendar, or watch the YouTube livestream and recordings of meetings all from the district website.

Our upcoming Positivity Project character strength is social intelligence. We encourage you to talk with your child about what this strength means and how they can use it each day! Here's a list of 3rd quarter list of character strengths so you can stay up-to-date with our school's P2 curriculum.

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, our students are surrounded by streams of information. From social media feeds and online news to AI-generated content, the ability to navigate this world safely and effectively is no longer just a technical skill; it is a fundamental life skill.

What is Media Literacy? Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, create, and act using all forms of communication. It encourages students to ask critical questions about the media they consume: Who created this? Why was it sent? What points of view are represented?

As a school district, our goal is to partner with you to ensure our students are not just passive consumers of content, but thoughtful, informed digital citizens. Media literacy helps students:

Conversations are the most powerful tool we have. Try asking your child about a video or post they recently saw:

We are committed to integrating these essential skills into our classrooms to prepare our students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. Thank you for your continued support in helping our children become critical thinkers and responsible leaders.

Looking for hands-on, engaging learning opportunities for your child this spring? UNC Charlotte Youth Programs is offering a series of Spring Workshops designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking for students in grades 1–12.

📅 Tuesday, March 3, 2026 (CCS Teacher Workday)

📅 Saturday, May 2, 2026

📍 Location: Main Campus (UNC Charlotte)

These interactive workshops are a great way for students to learn, explore, and have fun—especially on teacher workdays.

🔗 Learn more & register: youth.charlotte.edu/workshops

📞 Questions? Call 704-687-8900 or email youthprograms@charlotte.edu

Attendees will receive the latest research about alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, as well as explore how substance use could impact lives now and in the future. This program will cover important resources and decision-making skills to empower healthy choices that impact not only developing brains and bodies but also their families, friends, and futures. This program is interactive and engaging with group discussion, activities, and local resources to meet! A Spanish interpreter will be available at this event.

Current 6th -12th graders are encouraged to join us at Insight with the Experts Professional Day, hosted by Cabarrus County Schools, and presented by the Big E Life Changers, Inc. on Saturday, Feb. 21st from 1:00-4:00 pm at Jay M Robinson High School.

 

Students will have the opportunity to learn directly from industry professionals across diverse fields, discover non-traditional and emerging careers, ask questions, and gain real-world insight into education, skills, and daily work life, AND explore potential career paths aligned with their interests and strengths.