We loved starting our morning with another High 5 Friday! A big thank you to the wonderful IWHS student-athletes who came to welcome our CPS students into school with smiles, encouragement, and plenty of high fives.

What a great way to kick off the day! 💙💛

💙 Our First GO BLUE Pod Day at Carthage Primary! 💙

Today, September 18, our students participated in our first GO BLUE Pod meeting of the 2026–2027 school year!

Our GO BLUE Pods bring together students from different grade levels and divide our school into six groups. During Pod time, students have the opportunity to build relationships with staff and peers outside of their regular classrooms, strengthen our school community, and practice important social-emotional skills through EdTomorrow’s First Five and circle discussions.

This year, each GO BLUE Pod also has its own color! Students are encouraged to wear their Pod color on future GO BLUE Pod Days:

💚 G Team – Green
🧡 O Team – Orange
💙 B Team – Blue
💜 L Team – Purple
❤️ U Team – Red
💛 E Team – Yellow

Not sure which Pod your child belongs to? Please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher.

Want to keep the conversation going at home? Ask your child who they met in their Pod, what they talked about during their circle, what their Pod expectations are, and what they enjoyed most about meeting students from other grade levels.

📅 Tentative Upcoming GO BLUE Pod Days:
• October 9, 2026
• November 24, 2026
• December 18, 2026
• January 15, 2027
• February 11, 2027
• April 9, 2027
• April 16, 2027
• April 23, 2027

GO BLUE Pod dates are tentative and subject to change.

We are excited to watch these relationships grow throughout the year as our students connect, care, collaborate, and build character together! 💙

This is to inform CESD #317 families that today, Friday, September 18, 2026, there will be an early dismissal for Kindergarten through 8th grade due to School Improvement.

Dismissal Times:

Shuttle Bus: 12:20 PM
Primary School: 12:30 PM
Middle School: 12:35 PM

Preschool classes are cancelled for today.

Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!

🥎💙 THE BLUEGIRLS ARE GOING TO STATE! 💙🥎 Congratulations to our Bluegirls softball team on defeating Liberty 11–3 and earning their trip to STATE! 📅 Friday, September 18 ⏰ 11:30 a.m. 📍 Champion Fields in Normal, Illinois Way to go, Bluegirls! We are so proud of you! 💙🤍 #StateBound #GoBluegirls

Please see the attached flyer about our upcoming CPS PreK Night! This event is for our PreK students and their families and will be our first family night of the 2026–2027 school year! 💙

📅 September 29
⏰ 5:30–7:00 p.m.
🐐 Goat yoga in the Pedal Palace area
🍽️ Food in the PreK classroom following goat yoga

**Español:**

¡Consulte el volante adjunto sobre nuestra próxima Noche de PreK de CPS! Este evento es para nuestros estudiantes de PreK y sus familias. ¡Será nuestra primera noche familiar del año escolar 2026–2027! 💙

📅 29 de septiembre
⏰ 5:30–7:00 p. m.
🐐 Yoga con cabras en el área de Pedal Palace
🍽️ Habrá comida en el salón de PreK después del yoga

🍎 Small commitment. BIG impact! Carthage ESD #317 is looking for substitute teachers and paraprofessionals! Help our students learn, support our staff, and make a difference right here in our community. We’d love to have you on our team! 📣 See the attached flyer for details—and share with someone who would be a great fit!

Another high-five Friday in the books!

Please read the attached letter from the Carthage ESD #317 Board of Education. Thank you!

Save the Date!!!! Please join us next Tuesday, September 1st for our first PTO meeting of the school year!! We will meet at 6:30 pm at the Carthage Golf Course Clubhouse!!! I promise we have a fun time and we would LOVE for more members to join us!!! Please know that your attendance doesn't tie you down to hours of volunteer work- many hands make light work and we do our very best to all pitch in to help!! We have some amazing initiatives, projects and events for this school year and can't wait to get started and meet you! Please email pto@cesd317.org with any questions! See you next week! Thank you! Carthage Primary PTO

Please read the attached letter from Illini West High School regarding changes to the main parking lot entrances. Thank you!

It was our first High Five Friday of the school year! ✋💙💛 Some members of the IWHS football team helped welcome our CPS students with smiles and high fives. Our students love looking up to the “big kids,” and we appreciate these athletes for helping us start the day on such a positive note! 🏈😊

📣 We’re Hiring a Custodian at CESD #317!

We’re looking for a dependable, hardworking custodian to join our team! This is a great opportunity to help keep our schools clean, safe, and ready for our students and staff each day.

💙 Come be part of the CESD #317 team—Blueboys. Bluegirls. Strong Together.

Please see the attached flyer for position details and contact information!

📸 Picture Day is coming to Carthage Primary School and Carthage Middle School on Tuesday, August 25! Please see the flyer for ordering information.

Please join us in wishing Mr. Klein a wonderful final year before retirement! After 3½ decades of educating and inspiring students—and years of dedicated service to Carthage athletics—his impact is truly immeasurable. We look forward to celebrating him throughout this special year! 💙💛

Please join us in wishing Mrs. Bavery a wonderful 2026–2027 school year as she begins her final year before retirement! 💙💛

🍎 We’re hiring! Carthage E.S.D. #317 is seeking a dependable, team-oriented Assistant Cook for the 2026–2027 school year. Please see the flyer for position details and application information. We’d love to have you join our team!

Please join us for **Open House tonight from 3:00–5:30 p.m.!** 💙🤍

CESD #317 staff are ready and excited to welcome our students and families back!

Here’s to a fantastic **2026–2027 school year!** 🎉📚

**Go Blueboys & Bluegirls!**

💙🤍 Here’s another round of CESD #317 Staff Spotlights! 🤍💙 We love giving our school community the chance to get to know the incredible people who make a difference for our Blueboys & Bluegirls each day. 🌟 Check out this group of staff members and learn a little more about the wonderful people behind CESD #317! 💙

We are excited to offer the CPS After-School Program for students in grades K–4! 💙💛 The program provides a safe, structured place for students to enjoy supervised activities, homework support, and free play after school. If you are interested in having your child attend, please scan the QR code on the graphic to complete the ASP form. Parents may also turn in the completed form and payment at Open House. Please reach out to Hali Wear with any questions!

✨ Another round of Staff Spotlights! ✨ We’re continuing to introduce some of the incredible people who make our schools such special places to learn and grow! 💙 Take a few minutes to get to know a few more members of our staff—the people behind the classrooms, smiles, support, and countless moments that make a difference for our students each day. We’re so thankful for each of them and excited to have them as part of our school family! 🏫💙