The Knightly News: July 18, 2024

Welcoming New Staff and Faculty – Click here to meet the new members of our team.

Communication Channels – Communication is the key to a strong partnership at CCS. We have three main channels of communication. Behind each technology, there is administration, faculty, and staff who are available and eager to communicate with you.   

1. The Knightly News* – This is our e-newsletter that provides a 2-week bulletin of upcoming events and information throughout the school year. New for this year is a quick link button to past issues for easy reference (Refer to end of each edition.).

2. ParentSquare/StudentSquare* – K-12 Parents and 6-12 Students have access to our in-house social media platform and communication tool for athletics (games and practices) and other areas of the school. To learn more about this, or get logged in for the first time, click here then on the ParentSquare icon.  Lower School Room Parents and Upper School Grade-Level Parents will use this for classroom and grade-level communications.

3. Veracross Portal* – K-12 Parents and 6-12 Students can readily access our main hub of information for their household and the whole school. 

• Click here to access your portal. Each parent has a login. Students (Grades 6-12) will use their CCS email to login.

*All three of these are linked at the bottom of each issue of The Knightly News.

Portal Checklist – This list will help you navigate the new portal dashboard:

• Calendar:  
  • Subscribe to the live school calendars. Click on the Calendar icon then “Subscribe” to choose the calendars of interest and how to connect them to your own calendar.
  • NOTE: Sports practice schedules can only be accessed through each team’s group in ParentSquare.
  • Academic Year (downloadable PDF)
  • Quarter 1 Events (downloadable PDF)
• Announcements (top section): These are school-wide or custom to your household. Currently, we are featuring Back to School information, including the supply lists and uniform links:
  • Grades K-5 supply list 
  • Grades 6-8 supply list 
  • Grades 9-12 supply list 
  • Uniform Guidelines & Supplier – Click here. Refer to the 2024-25 Parent-Student Handbook as you finalize any purchases.
• One-Week Household Outlook: Custom calendar of events for your family
• Department Pages:  These are new for each major area of the school: Lower School, Logic School, Rhetoric School, Community, Fine Arts, Athletics, College Counseling, Capital Campaign
• Quick Links:
  • Submit Student Attendance – Absences, delayed arrival, etc.
  • Order Hot Lunch – Order and pay online through My Hot LunchBox.
  • Accounting – View and pay invoices.
  • Health Portal – Click here for information about getting started with Magnus Health.
  • After-School Care Program – All K-8 students who are not involved in an after-school activity must register through the portal for After-School Care if they are not picked up or in an official after-school activity by 3:00 p.m. Click here for information about this program.
  • Directories – Employees and enrolled families
• FAQ:
  • Starting/Dismissal Times
  • Logic/Rhetoric Bell Schedule
  • Uniform Guidelines
  • Absence Guidelines
  • Approved Tutor List
  • Spirit Wear – Show your school spirit! The online Spirit Store has NEW items available for purchase. The on-campus Spirit Store is open on Thursdays, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. at the Pavilion, and will have new t-shirts and classroom-approved quarter-zips for youth and adults! If you are interested in volunteering at our weekly on-campus Spirit Store, signup through ParentSquare (in the tab for SignUps and RSVPs).
  • Help – Where to find assistance
• Top Menu Bar:
  • My Children – Class schedules, assignments, and more
  • My Forms – Applicable documents for your children/family 
  • Corporation – Board meeting minutes, Firm Foundation classes for parents, and more
  • School Resources – Policies, handbook, tuition schedule
  • Donate – Support the school financially.

Additional Communications –

• Monday folders – Lower School
• Emails – from Administration and Faculty
• Signage – around campus

Carpool – Be extra cautious and patient with each other as our student drivers and new families may be starting a new routine and learning our carpool process. Click here for the carpool map.

Uniform Updates – As you are finishing your uniform purchases, be reminded that FlynnO’Hara has new pieces available for purchase:

• Performance fabric shirts and shorts (Grades K-12)
• Performance fabric pants (Grades 9-12)
• Performance fleece 1/4 zip pullover in navy and hunter green (All Grades)

Additionally, they are offering FREE SHIPPING on any order over $100 from July 20-27. As always, refer to the Parent-Student Handbook for uniform guidelines and purchasing information. 

Health & Safety –

Medicine Disbursement Policy* – CCS follows NC laws with the disbursement of both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications. Furthermore, these policies differ between Lower School and Upper School. Review these policies:

• Lower School students (Grades K-5) are NOT permitted to have over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications on them at school unless medically necessary and with approved documentation. This includes cough drops. If a Lower School student requires medication (OTC or prescribed) during school hours, it must be brought to the Health Office in its original packaging with instructions for administration. 
• Upper School students (Grades 6-12) may carry a single daily dose of an over-the-counter medication (OTC) if the medication is properly labeled and in its original container.
  • They may NOT self-carry any prescription medications without completion of the proper forms and approved documentation from the Health Office. These forms are available through the Magnus Health Portal. They must be completed and signed by a parent, then reviewed by a CCS Health Office staff member prior to a medication being sent to school. 

* No loose medications are permitted regardless of type per the CCS Health & Safety policy. 

*If unidentified or unauthorized medications are found, they will be collected and discarded. 

*It is also against school policy for a student to distribute medications to a classmate or other student. 

*Refer to Medication Disbursement Policy in Parent-Student Handbook.

For further questions contact Amber Boger, Medical Wellness Director. 

Medication Drop-Off – Parents or Guardians may drop off all medications required for administration at school (including EpiPens, inhalers, etc.) with Mrs. Blondin, at the front desk downstairs, or to Mrs. Boger or Mrs. Edwards in the Health Office from July 31-August 7, or as soon as possible thereafter. 

Note: No prescription medications will be administered without proper labeling, instruction, and parental consent.