Telra Telegram - September 10, 2025
- sharilynstrain
- Sep 10
- 6 min read
We are three weeks into our new school year and we are full steam ahead! We've published our Parent and Student Handbook, started offering Academic Lab, and have lots of extracurriculars and activities starting up, so read on....
Read on for more details about:
Upcoming Events:
9/13 - Charlotte Math Club Meeting, 9:30-12:30pm
9/17 - Telra Spirit Night at Chipotle Waverly
9/19 - All Pro Dads Meeting, 7am
9/19 - 3rd Grade Movie Night
9/26 - Telra Movie Night and Bingo
10/2 - Employee Planning (No school for students. CPCC open)
10/3 - Employee Planning (No school for students. CPCC open)
10/25 - Telra and St. Francis Trunk or Treat and Family Festival
Fall Picture Day (K-8)
CK Visuals is back tomorrow to take our K-8 pictures! Make sure to wear your regular Telra uniform for photos. Scan the QR code below if you haven't already ordered!
Academic Lab
The school year is off to a strong start, and students have already completed their first assignments. When a grade 4-8 student misses an assessment or quiz, they will need to complete it in Academic Lab to avoid conflicts with class time. Academic Lab meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45–4:45pm. (Note, K-3 students will make up assignments in school during Flex Time, not in Academic Lab.)
If a student misses an assessment or quiz, their teacher will send parents an email with a link to sign up for an Academic Lab time slot. Please remember:
Make-up assignments must be completed within one week of their return to avoid a zero in the gradebook
Once a session is full, students will need to choose another available date (so pay attention to your email and sign up for an Academic Lab session right away)
If students finish their make-up assignment early, the remaining time will be used as a quiet study hall until 4:45pm. (They cannot be dismissed early, as it creates disruptions for other students.)
Students must be picked up promptly at 4:45pm. Students who are not picked up will be sent to after-school care, and fees will apply.
ESSAM Tutoring
Free Math Tutoring for Telra Math 3–5 Students
We are excited to share information about a free math tutoring service available for our Telra Math 3–5 students! This program is especially intended to support students who are struggling with math concepts and performing below their Zone of Proximal Development in class.
ESSAM, a local nonprofit, pairs area high school students with small groups of elementary students for free virtual math tutoring. This is the third year that ESSAM has partnered with us, and students continue to benefit from the targeted help they receive in a small-group setting—giving them the extra support they need to grow in confidence and understanding.
If you’d like your child to participate, please select the time slots that work for your family using this form: ESSAM 25-26 Student Availability.
You can read more about the program here:
Any questions about the program should be directed to Samarth.kasaraneni@gmail.com.
Extracurriculars
Our Fall Extracurricular forms have been getting a lot of action! We are excited to get our programs up and running. Make sure you have your child's interests covered by signing up for some athletic, intellectual, and artistic endeavors now => 25-26 Fall Extracurriculars
Check back there frequently as we strive to keep it up to date as we add more extracurricular options for students.
New this week! => Speech and Debate Club and Drama Tryouts! Check out our Extracurriculars page for more information!
Operations Update
📢 Telra Institute Operations Update - Arrival, BASE, Dismissal & Bus Transportation
🚸 Student Arrival at the K-8 campus
Car line drop-off begins at 7:40 AM
Students must be in their seats in classrooms by 8:15 AM to be counted on time.
Use the carpool lanes and follow all staff directions to ensure a safe and smooth flow.
Do not drop off students in undesignated areas in parking lots or on surrounding streets.
✅ Interested in Before and After School Enrichment
Sign up for BASE Play Club
🚗 Carpool Driving Directions
Always stay in your vehicle. Staff will assist students in and out of cars.
Have your student ready for arrival and exit the car from the left hand (driver's) side.
Minimize all car gaps (~ 1 foot spacing) and pull all the way forward to the designated drop-off/pick-up zone before stopping.
Do not block intersections, driveways, or bus lanes.
Drive slowly, be alert and avoid using your phone while in the carpool lane.
🏁 Dismissal (Afternoon Pick-Up) at the K-8 campus
Display your carpool tag clearly on your dashboard or mirror. (If you don't have one, email frontdesk@telra.org)
Cars should enter the car line no earlier than 3:05 PM. (Don't like waiting in stressful traffic? Savvy parents arrive around 3:45pm and zip in and out quickly!)
We would like to load students on the left-hand (driver's) side of the vehicle.
If your student is not at the designated cone when you arrive, you will be directed to pull your car up to the curve ("Cone Zero”) . Pull all the way to the end of the curve to leave space for cars behind you that may also need to go to Cone Zero.
All car-line parents must be in the line by 4:00 PM unless their child is enrolled in an afterschool programs. Students left after school without a planned activity will be enrolled in BASE and parents will be invoiced.
Dismissal changes may not be submitted after 1:00 PM for that day.
👮 Police review of Telra traffic management
CMPD Officer John Causey visited our dismissal on Tuesday, 9/9.
He monitored McKee Road, the road between the churches, the St. Francis parking area, and the Telra Institute driveway and parking area to evaluate our car-line process
His evaluation? According to Officer Causey, Telra's current processes and procedures were not just effective, but highly successful in ensuring the safety of our school community. He reassured us that no further resources from his division were needed for McKee Road.
In addition, he was very complimentary of the effort of Jannine McLaughlin, our Safety and Traffic Control coordinator. Thank you, Jannine!
🚌 Buses
Bus drivers are instructed to refer all parent bus questions to the Front Office at (704) 727-2530 or transportation@telra.org. Parents should not delay any buses or routes with questions for the drivers.
Families should arrive at stops 10 minutes early.
Students must be ready to board promptly to keep routes on schedule. Review and follow the Bus Rider Expectations Agreement (available at www.telra.org).
Contact Operations at frontdesk@telra.org or 704-727-2530
25-26 Telra Parent and Student Handbook
Our 25-26 Parent and Student Handbook has been published. Please read it here!
This, and other essential documents are available in the Resources section in Alma (click on the bullhorn and then the resources tab).
EF Student Travel Opportunity
Last year, Mrs. Chao led a summer trip to England. This year, she has another adventure in mind! While this is not an official Telra field trip, it's still a wonderful opportunity to see the world. Read on for a message from Mrs. Chao.
Want to see a textbook come alive? See pictures and hear adventures of a student educational trip to London and Paris! Hear also about a thrilling Summer 2026 adventure in Japan, when students can explore new places, experience different cultures, and gain lifelong skills like independence and confidence. You will hear details, including what we’ll see and do, hands-on learning activities, academic opportunities, trip costs, and how to secure a spot at our informational meeting.
Meeting details:
📅 Date: September 18
🕒 Time: 5:45 PM
📍 Location: Room 318
👉 RSVP here to join us: https://rsvp.eftours.com/6vvtuj7
We’ll also open enrollment for limited spots during the meeting.
In the meantime, feel free to visit EF’s website to get answers to common parent questions. EF Tours is our trusted travel partner, and they have 60 years of experience helping students explore the world safely and affordably.
I hope to see you there and look forward to sharing how this trip can be a powerful and unforgettable chapter in your child’s life!
Best,
Mrs. Chao
Movie and Bingo at Telra! 9/26
Please join us at Telra for our first Telra Outdoor Movie Night! This is a schoolwide event for all grades. We are starting the evening off with Bingo and Pizza in the gym, sponsored by our Family Council at 6pm.
At 7pm, we will show a movie on our lawn. We are currently reviewing options, so look for a movie reveal next week!!!
All Pro Dads Meeting on Friday, 9/19!
We are kicking off the year with the first All Pro Dad meeting on Friday, September 19, 2025 at 7am. We are a group of dads dedicated to strengthening our relationships with our kids and we would love for you to join us. Moms, Grandparents, Guardians and otherwise important adults in our kids lives are all invited! Our team captain is Will Bishop. Come join us and RSVP here!
Telra Events Calendar
Check out our Events Calendar to see what is going on at Telra! New feature - you can now add the Telra events feed to your personal calendar by copying and pasting the ics path (available at the link above) into the "add shared calendar" function in your favorite calendar program.