Summer Updates
July 28, 2026
Good afternoon Carrington Families,
As we reach the midpoint/end of summer, we hope your family has enjoyed time to rest, recharge, and make meaningful memories together. Although the first day of school is still a few weeks away, preparations for the 2026–2027 school year are well underway in Cougar Country!
We are excited to welcome back our returning Cougars and are excited to welcome in our newest Cougar students and families joining Carrington for the first time. To help everyone prepare for a successful start to the school year, we are sharing several important mid-summer updates, upcoming dates, and family resources.
We remain committed to fostering a culture of excellence where every student is known, challenged, and supported. We look forward to partnering with you to make this our best year yet!
Open House – Thursday, August 20th
Open House is a wonderful opportunity to meet your child’s teachers, receive your student’s schedule, tour the building, and learn about the exciting opportunities awaiting your student this year.
Open House Schedule
7th and 8th Grade: 3:00–5:00pm
6th Grade: 5:30–7:00pm
Our first day of school is Monday, August 24th.
School Supply Lists
To simplify back-to-school shopping, Carrington utilizes one school-wide supply list for all students in grades 6, 7, & 8th. Elective teachers may request a few additional classroom-specific items. The school-wide list includes the supplies every Cougar should have on the first day of school.
School Overview
Families can find important back-to-school information by visiting the Families section of the CMS website. The School Overview includes helpful information about:
Change of Address
Advanced Academics/AIG
Exceptional Parents
GiveBucks Payment Portal
Parent Portal Account Request
Parent/Guardian Curriculum Resources
Chromebooks
Student Handbook
Please note that the Durham Public Schools website will officially transition to information for the 2026–2027 school year on August 1. Until then, some pages may continue to reflect information from the previous school year. Once the website has been updated, we encourage all families to visit the Families section and review these important resources before the first day of school.
Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Infinite Campus will serve as your one-stop location for accessing important student information, including:
Student schedules
Grades
Attendance
Report cards
Emergency contact information
School communications
Additional student records and updates
We encourage every family to create a Parent Portal account as soon as possible.
Setting Up Your Parent Portal
Visit https://portalaccess.ncsis.gov
Complete the following steps:
Select Durham Public Schools.
Enter your student’s identification number, first name, last name, and date of birth.
Select the parent or guardian creating the account.
Choose either text or email verification. The selected method must match the information currently on file with the school.
Enter the six-digit verification code to complete the account setup.
Families may also download the Infinite Campus Parent app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for convenient access throughout the school year.
District Communication Update
Durham Public Schools will transition back to TalkingPoints as the district’s primary family communication platform for the 2026–2027 school year.
Additional information regarding TalkingPoints, including setup instructions and details about how families will connect with teachers and schools, will be shared beginning August 1. We encourage all families to watch for these updates so they are prepared to receive important school and district communications.
Changes to Student Cellphone Use
A North Carolina law requires students to keep cellphones and other wireless communication devices turned off and put away during instructional time.
Devices may not be used for texting, calling, accessing social media, or other personal purposes while classes are in session. Devices may be used during designated non-instructional times in accordance with school and district expectations.
House Bill 959 also requires schools to provide students with instruction related to social media literacy.
Additional information regarding Brogden’s cellphone expectations will be shared before the beginning of the school year.
Important Reminder for Rising Seventh-Grade Families
North Carolina law requires all students entering seventh grade to receive the following immunizations:
One Tdap vaccine
One Meningococcal Conjugate, or MCV, vaccine
Please provide an updated immunization record to Brogden Middle School as soon as your student receives these vaccines. Students who do not meet state immunization requirements may be excluded from school after the state deadline.
For questions regarding your student’s immunization status, please get in touch with your healthcare provider or the Brogden Middle School main office at 919-560-3906.
Stay Connected
Be sure to stay connected with Carrington throughout the remainder of the summer and the upcoming school year.
Facebook: @GeorgeLCarrington
Instagram: @carringtonmiddle
Additional back-to-school information will continue to be shared as we move closer to the first day of school. We encourage families to regularly check their email, Carrington's website, and our social media pages for important updates.
Enjoy the remainder of your summer. We look forward to welcoming you back to Cougar Country!
Mrs. Debra Cheek, Principal