About Our School

Dear Charles Barnum Discovery Magnet School Community,

As I prepare to begin my second year as principal of Charles Barnum, I find myself reflecting on what an incredible first year we shared together. Time truly flew by, and I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to serve such an amazing school community. Every day I continue to be inspired by the kindness of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the unwavering support of our families.

I am incredibly proud of everything we accomplished together during my first year at Charles Barnum. Our many family and community events highlighted what makes this school so special—a community that comes together to support one another and celebrate our students. Thank you to our families for your partnership, our PTO for your unwavering support, and our teachers and staff for their incredible dedication to our students each and every day.

To our new military families joining Charles Barnum this year, welcome! As I shared last year, my family has a deep appreciation for those who serve our country, and we are honored that you've chosen to become part of our school community. We hope you quickly discover what makes Charles Barnum such a special place—a school built on relationships, collaboration, and a commitment to helping every child thrive.

One accomplishment that deserves special recognition is the progress we made with student attendance. Last year, we asked our entire community to rally around one simple message: School Attendance Matters. Together, we reduced our chronic absenteeism rate from 17.18% to 9.74%—cutting it nearly in half in just one school year. This incredible accomplishment reflects what can happen when families, students, and staff work toward a common goal. We know that when students are in school consistently, they are better positioned to grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

This year, we've set another ambitious goal—to reduce chronic absenteeism to 8%. I know we can achieve it together. As we begin the school year, I'd like to challenge every family to make attendance a priority from day one. Let's see if we can have every student attend school every day during the first 30 days of school. Building strong attendance habits early creates momentum that can carry students through the entire year. I'll be sharing some exciting attendance incentives soon to help us kick off another successful school year!

I hope your family has enjoyed a summer filled with rest, laughter, and quality time together. My family and I were fortunate to spend some time in Maine, making memories with my husband and son before another busy school year begins. It was a wonderful opportunity to recharge and reconnect, and I hope your family was able to enjoy special moments together as well.

As we get ready to welcome everyone back, here are a few important dates to remember:

Teacher Assignments Available
Wednesday, August 26
Families will be able to view their child's teacher assignment in PowerSchool and ParentSquare.

Meet & Greet
Friday, August 28 | 2:30–3:15 PM
Stop by to meet your child's teacher and take a quick look around the school before the first day.

First Day of School
Monday, August 31
We are excited to welcome all of our students back for another amazing year of learning, discovery, and growth!

Open House
Tuesday, September 15 | 5:00–6:00 PM
Join us for an evening to visit your child's classroom, connect with teachers, and learn more about the exciting year ahead.

As we begin this new school year, I couldn't be more excited for all that lies ahead. Together, we will continue building upon the strong foundation we've created—celebrating successes, supporting one another through challenges, and ensuring every child feels a sense of belonging while discovering their unique strengths.

Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and support. It is truly a privilege to serve as your principal, and I cannot wait to welcome everyone back for another amazing year at Charles Barnum. Here's to a school year filled with learning, growth, connection, and discovery!

Warmly,

Stephanie Sawyer
Principal
Charles Barnum Discovery Magnet School