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Starting this year, printed report cards will only be provided for students in grades K-2. Report cards for students in grades 3-12 will be accessible online through Infinite Campus.

Families are encouraged to log in to Infinite Campus to ensure contact information is up to date. Click here for directions about how to create an account in Infinite Campus. Directions are available in several languages.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools hosted a “Day in the Life” on Oct. 30 for university students to tour schools and speak with different district representatives. This inaugural event served as an opportunity to showcase CMS schools and give students a firsthand look at what the district has to offer.

“At the career fairs that we go to, we’re often asked, ‘what is it like being a teacher in Charlotte? It’s such a large school district, will I get lost in the fray?,’” said Recruiter MeLisa Millner. “Today they learned by first glance, by hands-on activities, by being engaged and present that our school district, although it’s large, we have intimate connections with our schools. Their school community becomes family and it includes the teachers, the administrators, the students and the parents. They were able to see today that they wouldn’t get lost in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. They would be a viable element that makes our district so great.” 

For the first half of the day, students spread out to assigned schools and visited Esperanza Global Academy, Myers Park Traditional Elementary, McClintock Middle and East Mecklenburg High. Students toured the campus, visited classrooms and interacted with teachers and administrators during a panel discussion. 

After the school visits, students spoke with various teams within Recruitment, Retention and Talent Development including Beginning Teacher Development and Support, the Teacher Leader Pathway and the National Board Support Program, and learned about resources including At Home in CMS and the Total Rewards Estimator.

Seniors Sarah Felder and Cora Cohen-Barnes at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University both enjoyed their visit and loved seeing how diverse the schools were as well as learning about the resources the district offers.

“Knowing that there’s a community of inclusion that I didn’t know about in Charlotte was really eye-opening and good to see,” said Felder.

Cohen-Barnes visited Myers Park Traditional Elementary and loved the student-led environment and having the students give the tour of the school.

“This is very beneficial, especially for your senior year as you’re looking for your next steps of interviewing with different schools and what school you want to teach at,” said Cohen-Barnes. 

Recruiter Carla Stanback hopes to see this event continue to grow and develop, and hopes the students were able to see how unique and diverse CMS is.

“It’s one thing to go to a college campus and talk about CMS, but it’s another thing to come in and really experience it firsthand,” said Stanback. “We will continue to go to college campuses, but the one thing I think the candidates are seeing now is that what they’re experiencing in their student teaching now is real — those ‘aha’ moments of what they think they’re going to experience and what they truly are experiencing are two different things. As a recruiter, I can explain what CMS is like and what the culture is like, but because CMS is large, I think what makes us unique is that diversity and the different experiences on every campus that you go to. So that’s what we were trying to push with the concept of them coming to us versus going to them.”

 

The Myers Park women's tennis team won the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 8A dual-team state championship on Friday, Oct. 31, at the Burlington Tennis Center. 

 

 

 

After 29 years as a school psychologist, Lorraine Zelenz feels as if she's at a point in her career where she’s come “full circle.” 

Originally from upstate New York, Zelenz moved to North Carolina to attend graduate school at Western Carolina University. While in school, Zelenz completed her student internship with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and has been with the district since graduating. 

Now, she has her own intern and is able to watch them grow and develop a love for the profession. 

“It’s so inspiring to see that there’s so many positive people willing to take on this role and to continue supporting students and families,” said Zelenz. “I think school psychologists play a key role in supporting students and families, and they’re really an essential part in a student’s growth and development. We play a key role in mental health needs. We support children and families through collaboration, through teaching coping strategies, resiliency skills, all of the things that are so essential and even more important in our world today.”

Zelenz supports Elbert Edwin Waddell's PACE program, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Virtual School and Levine Middle College High School and no two days are the same, but Zelenz likes knowing that every day can bring something new. 

But what Zelenz finds to be the most rewarding part of her job is watching children grow in their confidence and believing in themselves. Growing up with osteogenesis imperfecta, Zelenz said her mom was a huge advocate for her in school. Now, Zelenz uses her story in her practice when working with students and families because she learned empathy, resilience, and knowing despite any challenge, goals and dreams can still be achieved.

“I really feel like challenges don’t limit us, but they strengthen us,” she said. “So I try to have that attitude with the kids that I work with to inspire them that even if they have obstacles or challenges to overcome, that there’s still many bright possibilities ahead for them to achieve.”

Dr. Leah Wade, School Psychology Program manager, describes Zelenz as compassionate, innovative and dedicated to helping students discover their unique paths.

“She has been instrumental in implementing forward-thinking practices to support virtual learners and supports virtual assessment practices,” said Dr. Wade. “Her collaborative effort shines through as she assists colleagues and generously shares her expertise with an intern from Appalachian State University, fostering growth and excellence in the field.”

Zelenz was named the 2024-25 School Psychologist of the Year for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in the spring and considers the recognition a “highlight of her career.”

“CMS has a wonderful team of psychologists,” said Zelenz. “We have great leaders in our central office. We are always supported, we feel valued and appreciated, which I think makes a huge difference in our field. It’s been beautiful to be able to know that my work is meaningful and impactful and that being recognized for making that difference has been really, really inspiring. It’s such an honor.”

 

 

The National Association of School Psychologists has designated Nov. 3–7 as National School Psychology Week. This year’s theme, "Finding Your Path," honors the essential role school psychologists play in helping students discover their strengths, set goals and navigate their educational journeys.

School psychologists help students find their path by identifying barriers, fostering resilience and creating supportive environments where every child can thrive. Whether it's through individualized support, collaboration with educators and families, or innovative wellness initiatives, school psychologists are making a difference in ways that are both measurable and meaningful.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools proudly employs 98 school psychologists who serve students across the district, with an additional seven psychologists supporting pre-K. These professionals provide a wide range of psychological services and are also recognized leaders at the state level, actively contributing to the North Carolina School Psychology Association as representatives, committee chairs and members.

School psychologists collaborate with families, educators, administrators and community partners to foster safe, supportive learning environments. Their expertise in mental health, learning and behavior helps students thrive socially, emotionally and academically.

Dr. Leah Wade, manager of the School Psychology Program in CMS, has the privilege of leading a team of professionals whose work is rooted in compassion, expertise and a deep commitment to student success. Every day, Dr. Wade witnesses the powerful impact school psychologists make not only in academic achievement, but in attendance and student wellness. It is an honor to guide this group of dedicated professionals as they continue to help others find their path by promoting equity and empowering students to reach their full potential.

This year, CMS invites everyone to take part in "Finding Your Path" by recognizing the contributions of school psychologists. Whether you're a student, parent, educator or community member, take a moment this week to thank your school psychologist and learn more about the difference they make every day.

Communities in School (CIS), in partnership with Whataburger, visited Wilson STEM Academy on Oct. 28 on the last stop of its “Ready, Set, Learn” national back-to-school tour to combat chronic absenteeism in public schools. Students were also able to enjoy lunch and swag from Whataburger.

“We’re here to live out what Communities in Schools is about — bringing the community into the schools to really celebrate students,” said Men Tchaas Ari, president and CEO of Communities in Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. 

CIS-Charlotte, an affiliate of the national CIS organization, has been part of the community for 40 years, working with 42 schools and serving more than 4,000 students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Across the nation, CIS serves approximately two million students and partners with companies like Whataburger to showcase how local schools and community organizations work hand-in-hand to support student success in meaningful ways.

“Whataburger has served many of our schools and affiliates in the Texas areas where they originated, and once they came here, they reached out to our national office and said they wanted to connect,” said Ari. “Since then, they’ve been really supportive.”

Kevin Lei, principal of Events and External Engagement for CIS, led students in a “Pledge to be Present” which is part of the Being Present Matters campaign that highlights the importance of regular school attendance and students’ participation in their own learning. Students took turns signing a banner that will hang in the school.

“The pledge that you just took means that every day that you come to school, you come in ready,” said Lei. “You come excited. You come ready to learn, to engage and ready to figure out who you can be now.”

In addition to the flag, CIS restocked the school’s supply closet and celebrated Dennis Dixon, site coordinator at Wilson STEM, for his three decades of service with the organization.

“Coach Dixon is a true lifeline for our kids,” said Principal Patrice McCauley. “Anything that our kids need beyond academic support, he is always there and he is always on time. I am so thankful for Communities in Schools giving us Coach Dixon. He has supported our school in every effort. Anytime we need anything for our students and teachers, it's just a phone call and he’s there.”