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Creek Community,
Welcome back to The Creek! Our goal the first week doesn’t solely focus on getting to know teachers and finding classrooms; it's about creating a sense of belonging that will support and motivate our students throughout the school year. We’re going to establish high expectations, emphasize the importance of our school community, and lay the groundwork for a successful school year.
Please read the below updates to ensure we have a safe and efficient first week.
Key Dates Upcoming
8/26 – First day of school
9/2 – Holiday, no school
9/23-27 – Homecoming week
9/24 – Curriculum Night
9/25 – Early release day
10/3 – Teacher workday
10/4 – Teacher workday
Reporting to Homeroom!
The first week of school, all students will report directly to Homeroom. Please see “HR” on the student schedule. Hardcopy schedules will be reprinted for students and will be given out by Homeroom teachers on Monday
Student Chromebooks
If we did not collect your Chromebook over the summer, you must bring your device and charger with you to school. All CMS devices are currently locked, and students will go through a quick process to verify the device and it will be reactivated later in the day. Please understand that we cannot guarantee each student has a Chromebook on day 1 with the district’s inventory process.
Students who turned in their Chromebook over the summer will be reissued a new device. Students will be called up by last name to the media center during 1st, 2nd, and 4th block to receive or verify their Chromebook so that it may be used.
Bus Transportation & Here Comes the Bus App
Please contact 980-343-6715 with any bus assignment concerns. Here are the steps to request a bus if you have not already:
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Click on the following link to create your AlphaPortal Account (you request transportation, alternate stops, and unsafe stops in this account).
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Add your student(s) to the account.
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Make your request for service, and you will be notified once the request is complete (email or text whichever you select).
Sign up for the Here Comes the Bus app! Sign up here. You will need the district code (73877) and your student's ID number. Download the Here Comes the Bus app from the App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. Questions regarding routes and times should be directed to 980-343-6715.
Arrival & Dismissal
Please expect delays and heavy congestion!
Please understand that each day a small town arrives to campus, at the same time. The first two weeks of school are particularly congested. Please adhere to the below traffic pattern. This will ultimately help with traffic flow and help keep students safe. If you have concerns regarding the carpool volume, we encourage you to sign up for bus transportation.
Until all of Binghom road is reopened later in the fall, all student drivers must enter and exit the front of the student lot, please proceed with patience and caution!
Please follow Mallard Creek’s unique carpool route during morning and afternoon dismissal – entering campus on Binghom Road, making the first right before you see the tennis courts, exiting through the front of the school. The top portion of Binghom Rd will be reopened for the start of school on Monday morning.
Please ensure students arrive to be in classes by 7:10. We advise leaving earlier than normal the first week to navigate heavier traffic. Students will begin entering the building at 6:45, if you are nearing the front of the carpool this is when your child must exit the vehicle to come inside so we can keep traffic flowing.
At dismissal, please be patient and cautious as all student drivers will have to exit out of the front of the student lot onto Johnston-Oehler Rd this fall. Dismissal will begin at 1:55pm until 9/9, and buses will be dismissed at 2:00. Please plan accordingly if your child is a car rider. Parents picking up students will need to be in the car rider pick up line at 1:45. If your child has not been assigned a bus assignment formally, please ensure that you are prepared to pick them up at 1:45. Students will not be able to ride the bus unless they are on the bus roster. The car rider drop-off and pick up is in the front of the building only. Follow the car rider line guidance in the morning and afternoon. The student parking lot is for student drivers only.
Procedures & Safety
Please review all dress code, cell phone, attendance and other policies that have been shared with families through our back to school communications. Ensure your child is aware and is prepared to align to the expectations on the first day. Procedures and expectations will be reviewed with your child throughout the upcoming weeks as well.
It is everyone's responsibility to ensure a safe and orderly school environment. Please talk to your child about leaving items at home that do not belong in schools. Weapons, drugs, vapes, etc. do not belong on school grounds and any violation of the Student Code of Conduct pertaining to these items will carry severe school consequences. Please help ensure your child does not bring those items to school. We will begin scanning students at Open House and on the first day of school, and will continue using layers of security measures to ensure the safety of our school community.
Missing Courses
PowerSchool always provides you with the most accurate student schedule. In the event there is a hole in a student’s schedule when school begins, please report to Mr. Portlock's (CDC) office at the Guidance entry when that period begins. This is located around the corner from the main office.
Schedule Change Requests
If students are requesting a schedule change, they will report to the auxiliary gym during their assigned lunch on Wednesday 8/28, Thursday 8/29, and Tuesday, 9/3.
*Please understand that schedule change requests will only be granted based on seat availability in those requested sections. Usually, schedule changes will be for that particular block only.
Whom to Contact – 2024-2025 Organizational Structure
Administrators
Cheryl Laster – 9th Grade, cheryl.harris@cms.k12.nc.us
Kenneth Crump – 10th Grade, kennethj.crump@cms.k12.nc.us
Heidi Campbell – 11th Grade, amelia.campbell@cms.k12.nc.us
Beverly Brown – 12th Grade, beverly.brown@cms.k12.nc.us
Counselors (Last Name Alpha)
Sudoria Martin – Counselor (A – B) sudoria1.martin@cms.k12.nc.us
Brenda Barrino – Counselor (C – F) brenda1.barrino@cms.k12.nc.us
Kayla Frazier – Counselor (G – J) kaylay.frazier@cms.k12.nc.us
Kristin Soulier – Counselor (K – N) kristinn.soulier@cms.k12.nc.us
Stepfon Portlock – Counselor (O – Sq) stepfon.portlock@cms.k12.nc.us
Lorraine Stewart-Ayers – Counselor (Sr – Z) l1.stewart-ayers@cms.k12.nc.us
NEW Tardy Policy
This school year, Mallard Creek will be implementing a new tardy policy listed below. Class attendance directly relates to positive class performance. These policies are designed to keep students in the classroom for maximum learning potential. Students that are not in the correct location (Skipping/Out of Area) during the school day will receive a consequence in accordance with the CMS Code of Student Conduct.
1st infraction – Warning; 2nd infraction – Parent contact; 3rd-4th infractions – Lunch detentions and/or After-school detentions; 5th-6th infractions – ISS; 7+ infraction – Admin referral/OSS, loss of driving privileges, & access to that season’s after school activities.
ParentSquare/StudentSquare
Classroom teachers, support staff, and administration will continue to use ParentSquare as our primary communication tool with families. Information on how to create your ParentSquare account can be found on the website. ParentSquare pulls contact information from PowerSchool, if you need to update your contact information (primary phone or email) in PowerSchool please email latonya.watson@cms.k12.nc.us.
All parents and students were sent an invitation to create a Parent/StudentSquare account if you are not already registered. The invitation was sent to the email and phone number listed in PowerSchool.
Athletics
All competition schedules can be found on the Mallard Creek Athletic webpage. Please contact AD Bryant Bailey with any questions.
Women’s Cross Country
The women's cross-country team is still looking for runners for the Fall season! Open tryouts will continue during the first week of school. Please email Coach Barry (D211) to sign up or request more information. Athletic registration is done through Dragonfly.
Join PTSA!
Visit the Mallard Creek High webpage to find more information on how you can support our students and staff through PTSA! Join this awesome group of community members!
Title IX Lessons 8/28-8/29
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students. Toward that end, lessons have been developed to assist students in the following areas:
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Identification of sex-based harassment and violence
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Consequences of sex-based harassment and violence
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Steps to report sex-based harassment and violence
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Encouragement to report to trusted adults any sex-based harassment and
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violence
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Safe strategies for bystander intervention
All high school students will receive one Canvas asynchronous lesson and three in-person classroom lessons on sexual harassment, dating abuse, and consent and sexual violence. The lessons may be reviewed at the following web address: https://www.cmsk12.org/Page/891. If you wish to exempt your child from the lessons, please email your child’s Homeroom teacher by 8/28/2024.
2025 Seniors Portraits
CADY is our school’s exclusive photographer and school pictures are going to be a little different this year. In order for your child to be in their senior yearbook, you must have their portrait taken with CADY. This is a very busy year so ideally, you’ll book your session this summer. Don’t worry though, CADY specializes in senior portraits with several different session options to fit every need. Their state-of-the-art studios have endless scene options, changing rooms, and a professional staff.
Weekend schedules fill up fast, so book early to secure your spot! Get your photos for your family, grad announcements, senior yearbook ads, and more. Remember — Book early and don’t let your senior get left out of the yearbook!
