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The Friday Five

Posted Date: 01/16/26 (05:00 PM)


The Cabarrus County Schools logo features a globe with a leaf, a diagonal line, and the text 'Engaging minds. Shaping futures.'

The Friday Five

January 16, 2026
Five students stand in a classroom, each holding a camera and raising five fingers.
Reminder: No school on Monday, January 19, 2026, for Cabarrus County Schools in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

Happy Friday, Cabarrus County Schools families!

Happy Friday, Cabarrus County Schools families. We hope you've had a great week and you are looking forward to the three-day weekend! As a reminder, schools are closed for students and staff on Monday, January 19th in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King holiday.

Here's this week's edition of The Friday Five 🖐️
 

#1 ❄️🤧 Winter Cold & Flu Season Reminder

With winter comes peak cold and flu season. We encourage our families to take a few simple steps to help keep students, staff, and our school community healthy:
• Wash hands often with soap and water
• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated
• Keep children home when they are sick and return only when they are fever-free for 24 hours without medication

Taking care of yourself also means taking care of others. When we work together, we help reduce the spread of illness and keep our schools safe and ready for learning.

Thank you for partnering with us to support the health and well-being of our students and staff. 💙
 

#2 January is human trafficking prevention month

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about an important issue that can affect individuals of all ages, including children and teens. Human trafficking can occur in many communities, and learning the warning signs is an important step in prevention and protection.

Cabarrus County Schools is committed to the safety and well-being of every student. Through education, awareness, and open communication, we strive to ensure all children feel safe, supported, and protected. We encourage our families to join us in this shared responsibility as we work together to protect and care for our community’s young people.

For more information, helpful tips, and resources to ensure safety, please visit https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:a85093c4-515d-4e6b-8a8e-6dc6dc65ea8a?viewer%21megaVerb=group-discover
 

#3 Student shoutouts

  • Congratulations to Haashini Balasubramanian, a 10th-grade student at Cox Mill High School, for being named the winner of the 2025 NC-06 Congressional App Challenge! Her app, Nestling: Your NICU Parent Copilot, uses AI to support families after a newborn’s NICU discharge — helping parents track growth, feeding, sleep, and recovery with clear and compassionate guidance. We’re incredibly proud of Haashini’s innovation, hard work, and the real-world impact of her project!
  • Phaneendra Bulusu, an 8th grader from Harris Road Middle School, correctly spelled the winning word, “calabash,” to earn his 4th consecutive District Spelling Bee title. Congratulations to runner-up Jack Spratling from Mt Pleasant Middle School. Phaneendra and Jack will advance to the Carolina Panthers Regional Spelling Bee, presented by Bank of America, in March at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Congratulations to all the talented students who competed!

Read about the district spelling bee here:

You can read the full announcement about Haashini's award here:

You can watch Haashini’s full video submission here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU2ky2bf0cc
A young woman with long, dark hair smiles in front of a teal wall with a large purple and white logo.
A young person in a blue and white hoodie speaks into a microphone on a stage.
 

#4 Need-to-Knows

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

SENIOR PARENTS/STUDENTS FAFSA NIGHT JAN 22: We invite high school seniors and their parents/guardians to join us for a FAFSA Completion Event, where trained staff will be available to provide one-on-one assistance with completing the FAFSA. Whether you’re just getting started, have questions along the way, or need help reviewing your application before submitting, we’re here to help. Details below:
 

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 will be updated soon 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.
2025-26 District Calendars
Nominate a Teacher of the Month
Communicating With Us
 
Six people stand in front of a colorful mural of a tree with autumn leaves.
A young person stands at a microphone, looking thoughtfully ahead.
 

#5 Important Upcoming Dates

January 2026
  • Mon 1/19 • No school - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
  • Fri 1/23 • Early Dismissal for CMS, ROSA, RRES, WES, WMIES Only
  • Sat 1/24, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm • Board of Education Annual Planning Session
  • Thu 1/29, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm • Board of Education Finance Committee Meeting

February 2026
  • Mon 2/2, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm • Board of Education Work Session
  • Wed 2/4 • Early Dismissal for traditional calendar (Capped)
  • Mon 2/9, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm • Board of Education Business Session
  • Mon 2/16 • No school for traditional calendar students- Capped Workday
  • Mon 2/16, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm • Board of Education Legislative Meeting
  • Sat 2/21, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm • Insight with the Experts Professional Day for 6-12 graders hosted at JMRHS
  • Thu 2/26, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm • Board of Education Finance Committee Meeting

Complete 2025-26 CCS Calendars:
Example calendar with dates pinned
 

Community Engagement

Student-Athletes and families college planning seminar

The college admissions process is more competitive than ever — especially for student-athletes balancing academics and recruiting.

Join the NCHSAA and Empowerly for a FREE webinar designed to help families understand:
• How admissions and athletic recruiting intersect
• Key timelines and milestones
• How to stand out as both a student and an athlete

📅 January 21 | 7:30 PM ET
🔗 Register here: https://shorturl.at/HzYge

Perfect for high school athletes and parents looking to plan ahead with clarity and confidence. 💪
 

Insight with the Experts Professional Day, hosted by CCS for 6-12 graders on Feb. 21st

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.
 
 
Logo for Cabarrus County VEX Robotics, featuring a gear, globe, and leaf.

VEX volunteers needed

Cabarrus County Schools VEX Robotics is currently seeking volunteers for their 2025-26 event schedule. If interested, please click here to sign-up: CCS VEX Robotics Volunteer Sign-Up

EVENT SCHEDULE
  • 2nd Annual Cobra Skills Challenge Jan 16, 2026 - Jan 17, 2026 
  • Trojan Throwdown Jan 30, 2026 - Jan 31, 2026 
  • 2nd Annual Robot ROAR-Off Feb 06, 2026 - Feb 07, 2026 
  • The Winkler Howler Feb 13, 2026 - Feb 14, 2026 
  • West Cabarrus Robo Challenge Feb 07, 2026 - Feb 08, 2026 
 

Kindergarten registration for the Class of 2039 begins Feb. 1st.

Please spread the word with your family and friends! Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year will begin on February 1st. Our official Kindergarten Registration page will be updated soon with information for the Class of 2039 including on-site registration opportunities at our elementary schools.
 

Class of 2026, it's your year!

Class of 2026, for a journey that began for most of you in 2013, it's finally your year on the calendar. Please see this year's graduation schedule below and begin making plans now. Our official graduation website, www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/cabcograds26 has been updated with this year's schedule. Other information will be updated as we move through the Spring. Congratulations!

Saturday, May 16, 2026
  • Early College of Technology HS: 10:00 am @ West Cabarrus HS
  • Early College HS: 1:00 pm @ West Cabarrus HS
  • Cabarrus Health Sciences Institute: 4:00 pm @ West Cabarrus HS
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
  • Performance Learning Ctr. : 5:00 pm @ Cabarrus Arena
  • Cabarrus Virtual Academy: 6:30 pm @ Cabarrus Arena
Thursday, May 21, 2026
  • Central Cabarrus HS: 9:00 am @ Cabarrus Arena
  • Hickory Ridge HS: 12:30 pm @ Cabarrus Arena
  • Jay M. Robinson HS: 4:00 pm @ Cabarrus Arena
  • Mount Pleasant HS: 7:30 pm @ Cabarrus Arena
Friday, May 22, 2026
  • Northwest Cabarrus HS: 9:00 am @ Cabarrus Arena
  • West Cabarrus HS: 12:30 pm @ Cabarrus Arena
  • Concord HS: 4:00 pm @ Cabarrus Arena
  • Cox Mill HS: 7:30 pm @ Cabarrus Arena
 
Infographic promoting CCS college and career events, including workshops and fairs.

CCS Career & College Ready Events

Cabarrus County Schools will host several events this year for parents with themes geared towards being Career & College Ready:

  • Jan. 22nd from 5-7pm, at Concord High School - FAFSA completion event for Senior students and parents
 

First Look at the 2026-27 school year

As we kick off a brand-new year, we’re already looking ahead to an exciting start to the 2026–27 school year. Here are some key dates families will want to save now as you begin to plan your vacations and 2026 events:

📅 Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 – Middle (4:30-6:30pm) & High School (6-8pm) Open House; More information on specific times for each school will be available at a later date.
📅 Monday, Aug. 10, 2026 – Elementary School Open House (5-7 pm); More information on specific times for each school will be available at a later date.
📅 Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026 – First Day of School for traditional students and Early Colleges

📌 Holiday & Break Highlights (Teacher workdays not included below. Please check calendar for all closing dates.)
⭐ Sept. 7, 2026 – Labor Day Holiday
⭐ Nov. 11, 2026 – Veterans Day Holiday
⭐ Nov. 25–27, 2026 – Thanksgiving Break
⭐ Dec. 21, 2026 - Jan. 4, 2027 – Winter Break
⭐ Jan. 1. 2027 – New Year’s Day Holiday
⭐ Jan. 18. 2027 – Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
⭐ Mar. 8–12, 2027 – Spring Break
⭐ Mar. 26, 2027 – Good Friday Holiday
⭐ May 26, 2027 -- Last day of school for traditional calendar students

🎓 Graduation Dates (Traditional High Schools)
🎓 Wednesday, May 26, 2027
🎓 Thursday, May 27, 2027
🎓 Friday, May 28, 2027
2026-27 Traditional Calendar
2026-27 Early College Calendar
 
CCS Athletics This Week
District Fine Arts Schedule
Become a CTE Business Partner
Volunteer with CCS