Trojan Times: Back-to-School Edition

July 31, 2026

First day of school is Monday, August 10!

Pictured from left are CCS Superintendent Dr. Mark Albertus, CCS Teacher of the Year Karee Payne, and CCS Board of Education Member Katie Williams.

Payne named CCS Teacher of the Year

Mrs. Karee Payne received the top honor as the Carrollton City Schools district Teacher of the Year for 2026-2027. The Carrollton Upper Elementary School teacher was recognized along with the three other school-level recipients — Dr. Mandy Duffey, Carrollton Elementary School; Juanito Redwine, Carrollton Middle School; and Morganne Harper, Carrollton High School — at the district’s opening convocation.

CCS welcomes Aimee Copeland at system kickoff

Carrollton City Schools held its annual system kickoff event on July 29, featuring Aimee Copeland as a special guest speaker for faculty and staff. During her time as a graduate student at the University of West Georgia in 2012, Copeland survived a life-threatening infection that resulted in the loss of her limbs and challenged her to navigate life in a new way. A figure of resilience, Copeland shared the inspiring story, reflecting on how her determination, hope, and sense of humor helped her prevail. In her remarks, Copeland encouraged the audience to bring a fresh perspective and a can-do attitude into the classroom each day, noting that her own teachers and mentors instilled the confidence she needed during life’s toughest moments.

Following the convocation, Copeland stayed to greet attendees, pose for photos, and offer encouraging words to educators preparing to welcome their new students. The kickoff event set a positive tone for the new school year. The district will welcome students back to school on Monday, Aug. 10.

Pictured from left are CMS Principal Amber Gable, CHS Principal Dr. Eric Simmons, CES Principal Dr. Courtney Walker, and CUES Principal Tabitha Walker.

Open House events are next week!

CCS faculty and staff are excited to welcome the Trojan Nation back to campus next week for Open House! Please take a moment to review important dates and times for the upcoming events. Contact your child's school with any questions about Open House appointments.

CES OPEN HOUSE (Appointments only)

Pre-K & Kindergarten: Tuesday, August 4 | 1:00–7:00 PM

Grades 1–3: Wednesday, August 5 | 1:00–7:00 PM

CUES OPEN HOUSE (Appointments only)

Wednesday, August 5 | 1:00–7:00 PM

CMS OPEN HOUSE (Appointments only)

Thursday, August 6 | 1:00–7:00 PM

CHS OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, August 6 | 5:00–7:00 PM

Back-to-School Guide is here!

With school starting soon, both students and staff are eager to return to their routines! It's time to get back to the business of being Carrollton Trojans, pursuing the Gold Standard in all we do! Click HERE for the essential information you need, including step-up guides and supply lists through eighth grade, before we return on Monday, Aug. 10.

Time to update contact information in IC!

Please take a moment to update your contact information online in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to ensure families receive important school communications throughout the year. THIS LINK offers instructions and tutorials on how to access the parent portal if you are new to the district or just need a refresher. For new families, ID numbers required for setting up your parent portal can be found on your admission acceptance email or by calling your child's school. Please contact your child's school if you have any questions. Thank you!

NEW! Infinite Campus Store for payments

We're excited to introduce the Infinite Campus Store as the new one-stop shop for school-related payments! Through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, families can conveniently view student information—including schedules, grades, and attendance—and pay school fees, activity costs, field trips, athletics, and more, all in one place. To learn more about using the Infinite Campus Store, payment options, and processing fees, please visit our Fees & Activity Payments webpage HERE.

Golden Giving starts August 1!

It's time for Golden Giving! The annual campaign kicks off this Saturday, August 1, and will run through the Gold Out game on August 28. Every donation helps fund classroom grants, field trips, scholarships, and more for CCS students. To become a Golden Giver, scan the QR code above or click HERE.