Coleman Elementary

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff, I am writing to provide an important update regarding the earlier safety situation near our high school campus. Local law enforcement agencies have completed their sweep of the area, and the high school has been cleared. Based on guidance from authorities, we have resumed normal school operations and schedules. While the situation occurred off campus and there were no injuries reported, we will continue to maintain precautionary safety measures throughout the day out of an abundance of caution. Our administrative team will remain in close communication with local law enforcement and will monitor the situation closely. Please know: -All students and staff remain safe and accounted for. -The campus has been officially cleared by law enforcement. -Instruction has resumed on a normal schedule. -Additional safety precautions will remain in place. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and support as we worked to ensure the safety of everyone in our school community. As always, the safety and well- being of our students and staff is our highest priority. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school office. Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff, I am writing to inform you of a situation that occurred near ourr high school campus today. Reports were received of shots being heard in the surrounding neighborhood. I want to be clear that this incident did not occur on school grounds, and at this time, there are no reported injuries connected to our school community. Out of an abundance of caution, we immediately implemented our active shooter safety protocols. All students and staff were secured safely inside the building, and we are working closely with local law enforcement, who are actively investigating the situation and monitoring the area. At this time: -All students and staff are safe and accounted for -The incident remains off campus -Law enforcement is present and providing guidance -We will maintain heightened safety procedures until authorities advise otherwise. We understand that situations like this can cause concern, and we are committed to keeping you informed. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority. We will provide updates as more information becomes available. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office. Thank you for your continued trust and support. Sincerely, Dr. Keith McGee Superintendent of Schools

It is with great pride and appreciation that we recognize and celebrate our 2025–2026 Classified Employees of the Year. These outstanding individuals exemplify excellence, dedication, and a deep commitment to serving our students, staff, and community every day.

Each of these individuals plays a vital role in the success of our district. Their daily contributions, often behind the scenes, ensure that our schools run smoothly and that our students are supported, safe, and ready to learn.

We thank them for their unwavering commitment and for representing the very best of Watson Chapel School District.

Please join in congratulating this year's honorees!

Thank you to our wonderful assistant principals at Watson Chapel! We appreciate all you do each and every day!

We are beyond excited to announce that WCSD Child Nutrition Director Paula Bailey has been selected for the Chef Ann Foundation’s 2026 Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship! This program is dedicated to one of her biggest passions: bringing more fresh, scratch-cooked meals to our schools. Over the next 13 months, she will be deepening her knowledge of scratch-cooking, sustainable food systems, and equitable school food reform alongside 22 other changemakers from across the country.

We are honored for her to be part of this important movement, and can’t wait to see her bring these transformative ideas back to Watson Chapel. To learn more about the program and the cohort of Fellows, check out: https://www.chefannfoundation.org/what-we-do/healthy-school-food-pathway/fellowship/

Together, they are working to create a more delicious and nourishing future for our nation’s students. Let’s get cooking!

Join us as we honor Employees of the Year for the Watson Chapel School District! Tickets are $25 and available for purchase April 1. More information coming soon!

Announcing the principals for the 2026-2027 school year!

This week the 4th and 5th grade Quiz Bowl teams competed at the Arkansas River's COOP. While they did not come home with a trophy, both teams showed great improvement from their previous competition. Please help us celebrate these students!

The 4th grade team consisted of Ma'Carley Rodgers (captain), Harmony Dunlap, Noah Reynolds, and Ayden Jenkins. They beat their average score from their first tournament with one less player!

The 5th grade team consisted of Braden Evans (captain), Aidan Lewis, Aiden Cherry, Chandlor Carpenter, Kingstin Santiago, Nicholas Camp, and Marquell Reed. This team also beat their average from their first competition and ended the day with a win!

Please help us better serve YOU! Take this short Technology Night survey so we can customize our parent night to your needs.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdskbbi4qN7UnDCfzZoMmNBU4BaI8q4j1rkmWZPmOmynrye4w/viewform

Attention Coleman Elementary Parents and Guardians!

Watson Chapel School District gives notice that is has filed a Motion for Unitary Status for the district. Written objections or comments must be postmarked or emailed no later than March 19, 2026. Forms and a copy of the notice are linked below and available at Central Office.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LO0YkdgfhljJ-FawZdc1KJ39SXTCv6Qd/view?usp=drive_link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Er-ybGW81iZt26613GTbV69PAsYjqEpG/view?usp=drive_link

If you have a child in K-4th grade, are you interested in finding out how to earn a $50 gift card? Visit the site in the attached flyer to fill out the interest form for a reading support focus group and to get more information!

Coleman Parents and Guardians,
Our Read-A-Thon is in the final stretch! Although there is no school tomorrow for scholars, they can still participate by reading at home and earning prizes.

Your scholar should have brought home a Read-A-Thon packet with instructions on how to join and log their reading. This is a great opportunity for students to earn rewards simply by reading and tracking their minutes.
Join today and keep the reading going!

We encourage you to activate your reader’s account today by clicking on 
https://www.read-a-thon.com/readers/r/dwIXEL/1?utm=email and following the simple instructions.

The 2026-2027 academic calendar was approved at last night's board meeting and is now posted on the website under STATE REQUIRED INFORMATION.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/127oacoFqCM6tVQs9saMpEewU1K1I56I_/view?usp=drive_link

🎉 Congratulations to the Watson Chapel School District Teachers of the Year! 🎉

We are proud to recognize Anna Miller, Tremekia Briggs, Sherita Thomas, and Mitzy Allen as our District Teachers of the Year. These outstanding educators exemplify excellence in instruction, leadership, and dedication to student success. Their commitment to learning and service makes a meaningful impact across our schools and community every day.

Please join us in celebrating and thanking these incredible teachers for the difference they make in the lives of our students! 🍎📚

This week, our elementary campuses are celebrating Kindness Week, where small acts of kindness can make a BIG difference! Each day will feature a themed dress day and a kindness challenge. Let’s spread kindness throughout our schools and community all week long!

Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for February 10th & 12th with early dismissal both days. We look forward to seeing you!

Congratulations to our four amazing scholars that represented Watson Chapel at the Regional Spelling Bee today! Kali Horton and Brentley James represented Coleman, and Caleyn Rose and La'Kyah Buckner represented WCJH. All four scholars showed their best effort and represented their schools well. While none walked away with a win today, we can't wait to see more of the great things these amazing scholars are capable of!

Greetings Watson Chapel School District Families and Staff, We are pleased to share that Watson Chapel School District will reopen and resume normal operations on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. All schools will operate on their regular schedules, including transportation services. All extracurricular activities, athletic events, practices, and after-school programs will also proceed as scheduled. We appreciate your patience, flexibility, and continued support as we worked to ensure the safety and readiness of our campuses. Please continue to monitor district communication channels for any updates or additional information. Thank you for your partnership and commitment to our scholars. Sincerely, Watson Chapel District Administration