Originally delivered on 8/21/2026 4:01 pm

SUBJECT: SGE PTA News ☘️ August 2026 | Back to School Edition

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Welcome Back, SGE Families!

We’re back, Dragons! 💚☘️

The SGE PTA (Shamrock Gardens Elementary Parent Teacher Association) is excited to welcome our families to a brand-new school year! Whether you’re joining us for the first time or you’re a returning Shamrock family, we’re so glad you’re here.

Each month, our Dragon News will bring you the important updates, upcoming events, reminders, and ways to connect with our SGE community.

We know the start of a school year can feel like a lot. Take a deep breath, skim what’s relevant to your family, and bookmark this newsletter so you can come back to it when you need it. And as always, if you have questions, we’re here to help!

📧 yourshamrockpta@gmail.com

💚 Join the SGE PTA!

The SGE PTA represents our entire school community—and that includes you!

Membership is a simple way to stay connected to school updates, community events, and opportunities to support our scholars, teachers, and staff.

New this year? Welcome!
Returning family? We’re so glad you’re back!

You don’t have to volunteer to be a PTA member, but if you’re looking for ways to get involved, there are plenty of opportunities throughout the year. Every helping hand makes our Shamrock Gardens community stronger.

Join us and be part of what makes SGE so special!

Back-to-School Basics

PTA WELCOME PACKET

New school year = lots of information. We’ve got you covered!

Check out the PTA Welcome Packet for everything you need to get connected with SGE.

Visit shamrockpta.org and click LOGIN in the top right corner.

New families: Create a free account and follow the prompts to join Membership Toolkit.

Returning families: Log in and update your scholar’s teacher assignment.

Once you’re signed in, you’ll have access to:

Our optional, private school directory
The full-year PTA calendar
PTA updates and resources

MEDICATION REQUIREMENTS

If your scholar needs medication at school—prescription or over-the-counter—you’ll need to submit a CMS Medication Authorization Form signed by both a doctor and a parent/guardian.

This includes things like:

Creams
Cough drops
Oral rinses
Liquid medications
Pills/tablets

Need the form or have questions?

Visit the CMS School Health & Nursing webpage or contact the school nurse at 980-343-6440.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Still checking things off your school supply list?

Updated grade-level supply lists are available through our Edukit site.

The deadline to order directly through Edukit has passed, but you can still use the lists as a shopping guide.

TRANSPORTATION LOGISTICS

Bus Riders

CMS has switched to AlphaPortal for the 2026–2027 school year. Need help getting started? Find step-by-step instructions here: AlphaPortal Instructions

For additional transportation information and updates, visit the CMS Transportation Services webpage.

Car Riders, Walkers & Bikers

Need to brush up on drop-off and pick-up?

Find carpool maps, car line procedures, and walking/biking routes on our Car Line Procedures page.

LUNCH INFO

Lunch = fuel for learning!

If your scholar plans to eat school meals, here are a few things to know:

Free or Reduced Lunch:
Submit a CMS meal application online or pick up a paper form from the front office.
Prepay for Lunch:
Add funds to your scholar’s cafeteria account through PayPAMS.
Check the Menu:
Want to know what’s being served? View the daily breakfast and lunch options on CMS Nutrislice.

Lunch: $2.75
Breakfast: Free for all students

Questions? Visit the CMS School Nutrition Services page or call at 980-343-6041.

Fall Carnival: All-Star Night! ⭐

Get ready to bring your A-game, Dragons! 🏆

Our SGE Fall Carnival is coming up on Friday, October 9 from 5:00–7:30 PM, and this year’s theme is All-Star Night!

Join us for an evening packed with inflatables, games, food trucks, and plenty of SGE fun. Wristbands are $10 per person, and volunteers receive a free wristband!

🎟️ Wristbands go on sale Monday, September 7.

Please note, this is not a drop-off event. Students must have adult supervision.

📣 We need A LOT of all-stars to make this night happen! We’re looking for approximately 50 volunteers to help bring the carnival to life. Volunteer sign-up is already open, so if you can lend a hand, now is the time to get on the team!

Meet Your PTA Board!

Volunteers Make the Magic Happen

You don’t have to have hours to give. Five minutes or five hours—it all matters!

Our volunteers help with everything from field trips and school events to staff appreciation, classroom support, and special projects.

Want to volunteer this year?

You’ll need to register or renew your registration at cmsvolunteers.com. Volunteer registration is required each school year.

CLICK HERE FOR PTA VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Featured Events

Upcoming First Friday: September 4th

☕ Coffee with Principal Legra

Join Principal Legra and the PTA on the at 8:15 am the first Friday of each month!

Principal Legra will share updates from the state, district, and school, with plenty of time for family questions.

Come start your morning with coffee, conversation, and your SGE community!

👕 Donate to Dress Down

The first Friday of every month is Dress Down Day!

Scholars can donate to enjoy a uniform-free day. We suggest $2 or more per month.

Want to get it out of the way all at once? Families can make a one-time donation covering all ten Dress Down Days.

For example:

$20 = $2 per day
$50 = $5 per day

Donations can be made online or sent to school with your scholar.

Treat Yourself and SGE!

Join SGE families and a special surprise guest at Two Scoops Creamery (Plaza Midwood) on Friday, September 11th from 5:00–8:00pm.

📍 913 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205

Mention SGE when you order, and 10% of all sales (dine-in or take-out) will be donated back to Shamrock. A sweet way to support our school! There will be a special guest or two popping in to say hello to SGE families!

Save the Date: Fall Carnival

Friday, October 9 • 5:00–7:30 PM

Mark your calendars, Dragons! Our SGE Fall Carnival is back—and this year’s theme is All-Star Night! 🏆

Join us for an evening of games, inflatables, food trucks, and SGE fun. Wristbands are $10 per person, and volunteers get in free!

More details coming soon.

First PTA Meeting of the Year

Thursday, September 18 • 6:00 PM

SGE Media Center

Come join us for our first PTA meeting of the school year!

All SGE families and community members are welcome.

Kids are always welcome, and pizza will be provided for them!

Come learn:

How the PTA supports SGE
What we’re planning for the year
How you can get involved
How your membership and support make a difference

We’d love to see you there!

Mark Your Calendars

Click on any event below to see end times and more details!

Friday, August 21

NO SCHOOL- Teacher Work Day

Tuesday, August 25

PreK Home Visits/Parent and Caregiver Orientation

First Day of School for 1st-5th Grade

8:00a Kindergarten Staggered Entry (Last Name A-F)

8:15a Kindergarten Parent Orientation Session (Last Name A-F)

Wednesday, August 26

PreK Home Visits/Parent and Caregiver Orientation

8:00a Kindergarten Staggered Entry (Last Name G-O)

8:15a Kindergarten Parent Orientation Session (Last Name G-O)

Thursday, August 27

PreK Home Visits/Parent and Caregiver Orientation

8:00a Kindergarten Staggered Entry (Last Name P-Z)

8:15a Kindergarten Parent Orientation Session (Last Name P-Z)

Friday, August 28

PreK Staggered Entry

7:30a Kindergarten Meet and Greet with Teacher

8:00a First Day of School for Kindergarten

Monday, August 31

PreK Staggered Entry

Tuesday, September 1

PreK Staggered Entry

Wednesday, September 2

8:00a First Day of School for PreK

Thursday, September 3

Thursday Folders Go Home (all grades)

Friday, September 4

Donate to Dress Down

8:15a Coffee with the Principal

Support SGE Every Day!

You can help Shamrock Gardens just by doing your everyday shopping!
Check out these simple, no-stress fundraising opportunities that give back to SGE—all at no extra cost to you.

Harris Teeter VIC

Link your VIC card to SGE (code 3961), and a portion of your Harris Teeter purchases will be donated back to Shamrock! This must be done each year. Log in to HT's Together in Education, and cross this off your list.

We've got spirit! How 'bout you?

Looking to show your Shamrock pride? Our SGE Spirit Store is open year-round with options for every kind of Dragon—including spirit shirts that can be worn as part of the school uniform!

☘️ SGE Core Collection

Our Core Collection is your go-to for everyday SGE spirit. These classic styles feature the SGE logo and simple heat-pressed designs on T-shirts, long sleeves, sweatshirts, and more.

✨ Premium Drops

Keep an eye out for our Premium Drops! These limited-time collections feature special designs and upgraded styles that are available for a shorter window.

Premium Drops are a fun way to grab something a little different while supporting SGE—and once the drop closes, it may be gone!

You can also find magnets, yard signs, and other SGE favorites in the store.

And the best part? Choose free delivery to school at checkout.

Shop the SGE Spirit Store anytime and show your Shamrock pride all year long!

App Wrap-Up: What You’ll Actually Use

Hey new parents—this one's for you. Here’s a quick roundup of the go-to apps that’ll help you navigate daily life with your SGE scholar:

Infinite Campus – Infinite Campus is the student information system. You’ll find announcements, assignments, attendance, grades, schedules, and more all in one spot.
ParentSquare– The primary way teachers and staff communicate with families.
AlphaPortal (New!) – your new home for CMS bus tracking, arrival notifications, and transportation requests. We have an important update regarding how you track your student's bus.
Nutrislice – One-stop shop for school menus. Super easy to use—though getting your kid to eat the rotini is a different story.
PayPAMS – Load funds to your scholar’s lunch account and peek at their food choices (yes, including that daily bag of Doritos).

Keeping up with everything can feel like a lot—but these tools make it a little easier. You've got this!

Shout-Out to Our Sponsors!

These amazing sponsors are part of our school team—go show them some love!