Welcome Back to CES!

Dear CES Families,

I hope you enjoyed a restful and fun-filled summer. It’s hard to believe the end of August has arrived! For those I have not had the pleasure of meeting yet, my name is Kim Lesny, and I am honored to serve as your new principal.   We are thrilled to welcome both our new and returning students, families, and staff as we prepare to kick off the 2026-2027 school year. As we start the year, we will celebrate fresh beginnings and the exciting times ahead.

As your child progresses through their elementary years, each year brings fresh opportunities to develop new skills, build relationships, and grow both academically and personally. Whether your child is returning to our school or joining our community for the first time, please know that we are here to support you every step of the way. The partnership between home and school is essential, and we truly value working together to help your child thrive.

The first day of school for students in grades 1-6 is Wednesday, August 26th.  Doors will open at 7:30 and students should arrive by 7:50.  The school day ends at 2:20. Kindergarten students will begin school on Wednesday, August 27th.  Preschool students will begin school on Tuesday, September 1st.  A link to the CES/LNSU calendar is here:

26-27 CES/LNSU Calendar

CES Events Calendar

A couple of items to note:
We will hold our annual Welcome Back BBQ for students, staff, and families on Friday, August 28.  Meals are free of charge for children up to age 18.  The adult charge for lunch is $6.50 per person. We hope you can join!

8/28 Welcome Back BBQ Schedule

Speaking of meals, all student meals are free of charge. We will once again be offering a daily fresh fruit or vegetable snack at no charge as well.  I also wanted to share an important update regarding student meals for the upcoming school year.  After receiving guidance from the Agency of Education and USDA, we must discontinue our second meal offerings, as schools are required to prepare one reimbursable meal per student, and intentionally preparing additional meals is not permitted under program regulations. Students will continue to have seconds on salad bar and any fruits/veggies. I know this is a change from past practice, and I appreciate your understanding and support as we implement these guidelines.

 Monthly menus can be accessed here:

CES Lunch and Breakfast Menus

Our amazing transportation staff have been working hard on designing this year’s bus routes which you will find here:

26-27 CES Bus Routes

If you plan to utilize bussing for your child and haven't filled out the transportation form, please contact Jordynn Brisbin.  We will continue to utilize our drop off and pick up lane for students who are transported to school by family or friends.  Ben Shortsleeve will continue to direct traffic and school staff will be present on the sidewalk in the mornings and afternoons.  Please continue to treat our school grounds as a one way street during the drop off and pick up periods by entering on School Street and exiting on Carleton Avenue.

We will continue our use of PickUp Patrol as the way to report absences, late arrivals, and dismissal changes this year. This system provides you with a convenient way to make changes and double check your children’s plans, while helping us to streamline our practices and keep students safe. More information about PickUp Patrol can be found here:

PickUp Patrol FAQ

You can expect to receive an email from PickUp Patrol today that will ask you to log in and confirm dismissal plans.

There is no school on Friday, September 4th or Monday, September 7th.

Our teachers, support staff, and I are busy preparing for a year filled with joyful learning, new friendships, and meaningful moments. We’re looking forward to watching your child grow in confidence, independence, and curiosity as they take on new challenges and celebrate new successes. In the coming days, you’ll receive more detailed information from your child’s classroom teacher, including an introduction to their classroom, daily schedules, and what to bring to school each day. 

We are honored to be part of this exciting next chapter of your child’s K–12 learning journey. Enjoy these final days of summer, and we can’t wait to welcome your child through our doors on the first day of school, August 26th!

Sincerely,
Kim Lesny
CES Principal
(802) 851-5602