🧪 We’re Hiring! Carthage E.S.D. #317 is looking for a passionate and dedicated Middle School Science Teacher to join our team for the 2026–2027 school year! If you or someone you know is committed to helping students learn, grow, and discover a love for science, we’d love to hear from you. Please help us spread the word by liking, sharing, and tagging anyone who may be interested!

Looking for early learning opportunities for your little one? PACT’s Early Head Start Home-Based Program is currently accepting applications for eligible families with children from birth to age 3, as well as expectant parents. This free program provides weekly home visits, learning activities, family support, and opportunities to connect with other families. If you think your family may qualify, visit www.pactheadstart.com to learn more and apply today!

Kindergarten families, this one is for you! 💙📚🍎 Help your child start the school year with confidence by signing up for our Kindergarten Jumpstart on August 12 & 13 from 8:00–10:00 a.m.! During Jumpstart, students will have the opportunity to meet their teacher, explore their classroom, make new friends, and get comfortable with school before the first day. Please call the Carthage Primary School office at 217-357-9202 to reserve your child’s spot. We can’t wait to welcome our newest Blueboys and Bluegirls to CPS! 💙

Preschool families: Remember that BOTH are required! ✅ Preschool Screening (appointment required) ✅ Annual Registration (required for all students Pre-K through 8th grade, no appointment needed) Please review the graphic for important dates, registration instructions through TeacherEase, and contact information if you need assistance. As always, if you have questions, we’re here to help. We can’t wait to welcome our Blueboys & Bluegirls back for another great school year! 💙

Carthage Primary Families, We are excited to offer our After School Program again this school year! The program will be available Monday through Friday after school until 5:30 PM starting on the first day of school. The cost is $10 per day, per child. Please note, the program will not be available on half days. Students will have time for homework help, recreation, and a snack. Weekly sign-ups will be required. For more information or to sign up, please contact Hali Wear at hwear@cesd317.org or call/text 217-357-1717. We are excited to provide this option for our CPS families!

Mark your calendars, Blueboy and Bluegirl families! 💙🤍 Here are a few important dates for the 2026-2027 school year. We can’t wait to welcome our students back on August 19! For the full 2026-2027 school calendar, please visit our school website at cesd317.org and click Academic Calendar at the top right of the homepage.

Congratulations to our CMS students who excelled at Science Olympiad! We were proud to recognize them at our June regular board meeting. Great job to Maci Huls, Zander Huls, Colin Weber, Sedona Cole, and Addilyn Knowles! We are proud of your hard work and the way you represented Carthage Middle School. A special thank you to their sponsor, Mrs. Pearson, for all of her time, hard work, and dedication to our students. Pictured left to right: Mrs. Pearson, Maci Huls, Zander Huls, Colin Weber, Sedona Cole, Addilyn Knowles, and Board President Mr. Gary Jackson. Way to go, CMS students!

We’re looking for a Middle School Principal to join us at Carthage ESD #317! Please share and help us spread the word.

Miss Watson’s 4th grade class earned a fun celebration for raising the most money during our Tattoo a Teacher fundraiser! 🎉 Yesterday, Mrs. Jacoby surprised them with caffeine free Polar Pops to celebrate their hard work and generosity. They were so excited! Thank you again to all of our CESD families who donated and supported this fun fundraiser! 💙

CESD Families,

Have a question? Start with our school website! Our website is available 24/7 and is often the fastest way to find the information you need, including lunch menus, bell schedules, sports schedules, forms, policies, announcements, staff information, and more.

You can use the search bar, ask the chatbot, or submit a question through the Contact Us form so your question gets routed to the right person.

We encourage families to start here anytime they need quick information or are not sure who to contact. Thank you for helping us keep communication clear and easy for everyone!

Congratulations to two outstanding CESD #317 staff members!

Mrs. Melissa Johnson, kindergarten teacher at Carthage Primary School, has been named an ROE 26 Finalist for Educator of the Year, and Mrs. Samantha Sparks, paraprofessional at Carthage Middle School, has been named an ROE 26 Finalist for Support Staff of the Year.

Mrs. Jacoby and Mrs. Bockenfeld were proud to nominate these two amazing staff members. Their dedication, heart, and positive impact on students and staff make CESD #317 proud. Congratulations, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Sparks!

We are SO ready for CMS Field Day tomorrow!! Don’t forget to wear your class colors. Free candy for the best dressed!! 5th Grade- GREEN 💚 6th Grade- BLUE 💙 7th Grade-RED ❤️ 8th Grade-YELLOW 💛 Volunteers-PINK 🩷 Just a few reminders: 🔅bring your sunscreen (we will have some available if you forget) 👖extra clothes if you plan to get wet 💰if you want extra items from the drink truck or concession stand. Most items will be $2. You will receive one free drink and one free candy item. 🏓your own activities, if you wish-balls, coloring, easy crafts, etc. 🥪 sack lunch if you don’t want a hot dog We can’t wait! Parents & volunteers are welcome to join us!

Carthage ESD #317 families, This is a reminder that there will be no school on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday for the last few days of school! As a reminder, PreK’s last day of school is Wednesday, May 27. Students in Kindergarten through 7th grade will dismiss for summer on Thursday, May 28 at 12:30 PM. Thank you, and we hope everyone has a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend!

We had a great time in Chicago with the 8th graders. We hope it will be a great memory for years to come from their time at CESD #317. We can't wait to see what the future brings for this great group!

End of the Year Schedule Reminder

Preschool students' last day of school will be Wednesday, May 27 for both AM and PM classes.

The last day of school for Kindergarten through 7th grade will be Thursday, May 28. This will be a half day. Dismissal times for Thursday, May 28 are as follows:
Shuttle Bus: 12:20 PM
Primary School: 12:30 PM
Middle School: 12:35 PM
Preschool classes will not be in session on Thursday, May 28.

Thank you for a great school year!

CPS Families,

I wanted to clarify the lunch information for tomorrow’s Fun Run/Field Day. Every student will be provided a sack lunch by the school tomorrow.

The sack lunch will include a hot dog, chips, celery with peanut butter, and apple slices.

So if your child gets a school lunch tomorrow, this is what they will receive.

Thank you!

Today we are celebrating our amazing Speech-Language Pathologist, Mrs. Michelle Hitz, on National Speech-Language Pathologist Day! Thank you, Mrs. Hitz, for all you do for our students and school! 🗣️💜

CPS Preschool families, please join us for our final Preschool Family Night of the 2025-2026 school year!

Oh Snap! Preschool Is a Wrap! will be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 5:30-6:30 PM in the Carthage Primary School gym.

Families will have the opportunity to have a family picture taken by a photographer. Snack will be provided, and parents and siblings are invited. We hope to celebrate with you!

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Burling (217-357-9202 or jburling@cesd317.org).

This message is to inform families that the tree on the northeast side of the school property has fallen on our Internet lines which affects our phone and email. All students and staff are safe and no injuries occurred. The building is not affected otherwise but if you need to come to school before it is cleaned up, please use the alley. You may park in the alley if needed thank you.