Principal's Message

Dear Parents of Chesney Elementary School Champions,

Welcome to Chesney Elementary! We certainly hope this communique finds you prosperous and in good health! We’re so excited to launch into the new school year with you and your child. Success awaits your child at CES!

Our school theme for the 2025–26 school year is We LEAD for IMPACT: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes. This is more than a slogan—it’s our collective promise to support and empower every child who walks through our doors. For students, We LEAD for IMPACT means we believe in their unlimited potential. We are committed to creating a safe, encouraging environment where they are challenged, supported, and equipped to grow academically, socially, and emotionally—every single day. Whatever it takes reflects our dedication to removing barriers, meeting individual needs, and celebrating every success, big or small. For our teachers, this theme is a call to lead with purpose and passion. Chesney educators are not just instructors, they are champions, mentors, and advocates for every child. They commit to refining their craft, using innovative strategies, and personalizing instruction to ensure each student is seen, heard, and thriving. Yet, the true strength of this theme lies in the incredible power of our community. When parents, teachers, students and administrators work together with a shared purpose, the impact on learning is powerful, noticeable, and lasting. Your partnership—supporting learning at home, engaging with teachers, and participating in school life— amplifies our efforts and helps every child succeed. Together, as the Chesney family, we will create a culture of academic excellence, belonging, and hope. No matter our roles, we are united in our mission: We LEAD for IMPACT.

As we provide the best learning opportunities for your child this year, we ask for your support in reviewing the following information:

· Students should be dropped off in the car rider lane no earlier than 8:20 a.m. There is no adult supervision for students before this time. For the safety of all students, we kindly ask that all cell phone use be discontinued upon entering the car rider lane.

· Car riders may only be dropped off and picked up at the designated location, which is the side entrance to the school. Students arriving after 8:50 a.m. must be walked into the building by an adult.

· There will be no student check-outs after 2:50 p.m. in order to provide a safe and timely dismissal for all students.

· Changes in afternoon transportation should be made in advance. Telephone or email requests for changes in student transportation arrangements will not be honored. Please send a written note with a phone number from the parent or guardian. The note should be brought to the Front Office by the child to be signed and verified by a school official. If no note is received, the teacher will follow regular transportation procedures for the child. If a change must occur during the day, you will need to fax the school a written note indicating the change and include a picture copy of your picture ID in the fax. After you have faxed the note, please call the school to ensure that the fax was received.

· School dismissal is at 3:20 p.m. Car riders must be picked up before 3:50 p.m. After this time, car riders will be taken to the Front Office for parent contact. For the safety of all students, we kindly ask that all cell phone use be discontinued upon entering the car rider lane.

· The GCPS Transportation Department works with local schools to ensure bus safety for all students. To help your child have a successful experience, please review the following information:

1. Make sure your child knows his/her bus stop location and time of pick-up.

2. Allow extra time during the first few weeks of school for your child to be dropped off at his/her bus stop. Bus drivers will carefully verify the names of all student bus riders and review bus safety rules.

3. Gwinnett County Public Schools Transportation Procedure: For student safety, students can only have 1 transportation dismissal tag (bus rider, car rider or day care rider.) If a student has another form of transportation and does not ride the bus EVERY DAY, a written parent note must be provided for each day the student will ride the bus. The student will then receive a bus pass.

We truly looking forward to an impactful school year. To maximize instructional time with your child, teachers check their emails after student dismissal at 3:50 p.m. ParentSquare is the school’s main form of communication for teacher contact. On behalf of the CES faculty and staff, I thank you for trusting us to provide your child with the best education possible. Let’s have a CHAMPIONSHIP year TOGETHER!

Your proud principal and teammate,

Dr. Ricardo R. Quinn