Central Intermediate School
December 2020 Newsletter
Principal Update
Thank you to all of you that took the time to schedule a Parent/Teacher Conference. Despite having to have conferences online, we had a great turnout and that is a testament to the parent involvement and support we experience year after year at CIS.
Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher at any time throughout the year to let them know of any issues you may be experiencing with work or social issues. The staff is happy to help and to work with you to solve whatever problems come our way during in-person/remote learning.
A reminder to parents to be sure to send warm jackets to school with your student. I know it isn’t cool to be warm :) but we will be going outside for lunch recess if it is 20 degrees actual or wind chill or above. We have been very fortunate with the great weather, but that is about to change!
I feel very thankful for the way our year has gone so far and I want to wish all of our families Happy Holidays! Stay warm and have fun!
Assistant Principal Update
I want to express my gratitude to all of our students, staff, and families for working together throughout this year. The 2020 school year has been very successful thanks to everyone doing their part and working as a team. Being part of the Central family is amazing!
Important Dates
- Thursday, December 3 - PTO Meeting @ CIS Library - 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, December 10 - Board of Education Meeting @ CIS Library - 7:00 p.m.
PTO Update
Thank you to all who brought in items for the dinner for the teachers during conferences! It was truly amazing how quickly the sign up genius filled up with volunteers willing to donate to our amazing staff! Thank you to the Teacher Appreciation committee for setting up the dinner for the staff! (see picture below) Please be on the lookout for another opportunity to donate later this month to show some holiday love to our staff. Remember there are teacher favorite lists on the PTO link from the Central website. This is a wonderful tool to use if you are looking to get your child’s teacher a little something you know they will enjoy. The next PTO meeting is Thursday, December 3 at 7 pm in the CIS library. We hope to see you there.
CIS Student Council
12 Days of Christmas Dress Up Days
Ugly Sweater Art Contest
Spread Holiday Cheer this December
CIS Library
Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with a good book! Check out the CIS Library’s Googe Site and let me know what you are reading. The site is where you can find information about the library and upcoming events like Book Chats with Mrs. Heffta.
The link to the site: https://sites.google.com/central51.net/cislibrary/home
If you have any questions or need help with Destiny Discover please email me at sheffta@central51.net .
Happy reading!
Mrs. Heffta
Social Emotional Learning
We made it to December! Thanks to all the parents that attended an informational meet or a parent-teacher conference with me. I am excited to be able to connect with you all and help in any way that I can.
Over this past week, I have been meeting with all of the totally remote students. This has been an opportunity for me to get to know the remote students as well as provide support and guidance for remote learning.
21 Festive Quarantine Christmas Ideas for a Holly Jolly Holiday
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g34452103/quarantine-christmas-ideas/
Student Learning
Reading Skill Building
Reading twenty minutes a day is very important! Make sure your students have an AR/silent reading book and read twenty minutes every day. Talking with them about what they are reading may help them stay excited about books! Check out the infographic on the link below to see the importance of reading every day.
Reading 20 Minutes A Day - English
Math
Math in the Real World:
Counting money is an extremely important skill and an easy one to practice with your child. When counting money, your child is practicing multiples of 5’s, 10’s, 25’s. Dump the change from your child’s piggy bank and/or your purse and have your child sort and count the money for you. Tell your child specific money totals and have him/her gather the correct coins. This skill is NOT just an elementary skill and there are several middle school aged students who could benefit from this practice. Older kids: Have your child calculate his own total at the concession stand/restaurant and let him/her be in charge of choosing the correct bills and coins to pay. Your child should also practice calculating the amount of change that he/she will get. You can play a quick game of “beat the cashier” to see if you can get the change calculated before the cashier!!
Telling TIme:
With technology at the center of our lives these days, I am noticing that many students in 4th-8th grade are struggling to read an analog clock. If you have a clock in your home, ask your child to read it periodically.
Discuss time phrases like “quarter after/ quarter till the hour and half past the hour” etc. Even in a digital world, reading a clock is still a very important skill, and it is not uncommon for middle school aged students to struggle with this. All students can benefit from this practice!
Health and Wellness
Handwashing Tips
CIS Handbook Highlights
Treats and Snacks
Restore Illinois Phase 4 School Treats & Snacks Policy
Due to health concerns, treats and snacks for any occasion will not be permitted at school.
Central District 51
Email: bhoelscher@Central51.net
Website: central51.net
Location: 1301 Eagle Avenue, Washington, IL, USA
Phone: (309)444-3943
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centralschooldistrict51/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARBDjuI_cf7U3m-0xRlT4OLCm6SwRu0qqpj9tl6SStMs6f4LrrttbDvfYM3VtYNssuS2-mrvsoEel3Jv
Twitter: @ourschool