Kutz Cougar Courier Times
November 22, 2023
Check Out These Important Dates!
- Friday, November 10- Friday, December 15- Families Helping Families Collection EXTENDED (see below for more information)
- Wednesday, November 22- Sunday, November 26- No School- Thanksgiving Break
- Thursday, November 23- Scholastic Online Book Fair Closes (see below for more information)
- Monday, November 27- Thursday, November 30- Holiday Boutique (see below for more information)
- Tuesday, November 28- 6th Grade Visit to MBIT
- Thursday, November 30- Dine and Donate at Red Robin (see below for more information)
- Thursday, November 30- District STEM Night (see below for more information)
- Friday, December 1- End of First Trimester- Early Dismissal at 12:10 PM (AM Kindergarten attends and is dismissed at normal time.)
- Wednesday, December 6- Holly Jolly Express (see below for more information)
- Wednesday, December 6 - 4th Grade Parent Information Session- NOVA (see below for more information)
- Thursday, December 7- Toys for Tots Collection Ends (see below for more information)
- Tuesday, December 12- AM Kindergarten Attends (kindergarten conferences in the PM)
- Wednesday, December 13- PM Kindergarten Attends (kindergarten conferences in the AM)
- Thursday, December 14- Early Dismissal at 12:10 PM, No Kindergarten- conferences
- Thursday, December 14- Blood Drive (see below for more information)
- Friday, December 15- Early Dismissal at 12:10 PM, No Kindergarten- conferences
- Friday, December 15- Student Council Meeting @ 8:15 AM
- Monday, December 18- Holiday/Winter Sock Day
- Tuesday, December 19- Holiday Sing (students and staff only) Students are encouraged to wear festive holiday or winter attire.
- Wednesday, December 20- Holiday/Winter Hat Day
- Thursday, December 1- Holiday/Winter Sweater Day
- Friday, December 22- Holiday/Winter Pajama Day
- Friday, December 22- Early Dismissal at 12:10 PM (PM Kindergarten attends in the AM and is dismissed at 11:25 AM)
Safety Information
Safety Information
In an effort to keep all students and staff safe during arrival and dismissal, please review the following information:
- If you are driving, please travel at no more than 15 MPH in the school zone and parking lot.
- If you are driving, please do not stop in the crosswalks.
- If you are walking, please use the intended crosswalks.
Thank you for your efforts in keeping our students and staff members safe!
Time Sensitive Information
Offering Support for Events
If your child needs monetary support for the holiday boutique, please let me know by emailing cadelberger@cbsd.org. Please put "Holiday Boutique- Support Needed" as the email subject line. Please include your child's name and grade level in the email. Please email me by Friday, November 24 since the holiday boutique begins Monday, November 27.
If your family would benefit from food around the winter break, please let me know by emailing cadelberger@cbsd.org. Please put "Food Drive- Support Needed" as the email subject line. Please include your child's name and grade level in the email. Please email me by Friday, December 8 as the food will be distributed around December 19.
Please let me know if you have any questions. We are here to help and support in any way we can!
Families Helping Families
We are kicking off our holiday giving project for 2023! Our mission is to provide support to several families in our Kutz community.
Since we have been able to make a positive impact in years past, we are hoping to provide families in need with gift cards to Target and Walmart this year. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. Families will be able to purchase gifts and food to make their holiday season special.
Gift card collection will start today and last through December 15, 2023. The gift cards can be dropped off or sent into the building with your children. Please mark your envelope “Holiday Gift Card Giving Project” and have your child drop it off in the office.
If you have any questions, please contact Liz Niszczak, our School Counselor. She can be reached by phone at 267-893-3910 or email at lniszczak@cbsd.org.
If you are interested in supporting a family, but do not have time to get a gift card, you can make a donation on My Payments Plus under Kutz Home and School- Families Helping Families. MPP opens Thursday, November 9. There are three donation options- $20, $50, and $100. If you want to donate more than this, you can do it multiple times.
We appreciate your voluntary participation in this invaluable project. We truly believe that it is not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.
Book Fair Update
Dear Parents,
Thank you for helping to make our Book Fair so successful this year! With last year’s profits, we were able to add 387 new books to the Kutz Library. Good news – we’re on track to do the same this year!
Certain books were very popular and Scholastic wasn’t able to restock us quickly enough. If your child is looking for Love Puppies, Nugly, Zombie Season, Back Country, or any another book, our online fair remains open until November 23, 3023. These books will also be available for check out in our library.
There is a bigger selection at the online fair as well: https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/parent-store-2.html?fairId=5423980
Please email me at kcarroll@cbsd.org if you have any questions.
Thanks again for your support!
Kate Carroll
New Information Below
4th grade Parents- Update on NOVA 4 u 2 Know Parent/Guardian Sessions
Dear Parents/Guardians of 4th Graders,
We hope this message finds you well. To facilitate your engagement with this important initiative, we have changed the format for the parent/guardian information session for the 4 u 2 know program. This session is now going to be held virtually.
The virtual information session is now scheduled for December 6th at 7 pm.
Topic: NOVA parent preview 4 u 2 Know
Time: Dec 6, 2023 10:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87096948710?pwd=Tjd5MzBwaktYek1FazJZS1cyd0FYZz09
Meeting ID: 870 9694 8710
Passcode: 325817
We appreciate your commitment to your child's well-being and look forward to your participation in this essential information session.
Sincerely,
CBSD Administration
Repeated Information Below
Website Update
Dear CB Staff & Community,
On December 4th, we will be making updates to the district website. As technology continues to evolve and user expectations change, it is essential for us to keep our online platform up-to-date and user-friendly. This update will bring several improvements:
1. Modern Design: The new design will be visually appealing and more in line with current web design trends. It will provide a fresh and engaging experience for our visitors.
2. Improved Navigation: We are focusing on making navigation more intuitive and user-friendly, ensuring that our staff, parents, and community members can easily find the information they need.
3. Enhanced Content: We will be revamping the content to better serve our community, providing more resources and up-to-date information.
Please enjoy a short video preview of the new look: CBSD Website Redesign.
We welcome your comments and feedback on our Website Redesign Form.
Sincerely,
Central Bucks School District
Toys for Tots
Band and Strings Information- WINTER CONCERT
Please mark your calendars! The Kutz Elementary Winter Concert will take place on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at Kutz Elementary. This concert is during school hours and is for students and staff only.
There are four MORNING rehearsals for intermediate BAND students (sixth graders) in addition to the small group instructional lessons during the school day.
Rehearsals will be at 7:45 am on the stage on:
DAY 2 Wednesdays - November 29 (in music room), December 6, December 13
and DAY 1 Tuesday December 19.
There are four MORNING rehearsals for intermediate STRINGS students. These rehearsals are for 5th and 6th grade string students beyond their first year and are in addition to the small group instructional classes held during the school day on Day 5.
Rehearsal Dates:
Monday, November 27 (DAY 5) 7:55 AM
Monday, December 4 (DAY 5) 7:55 AM
Monday, December 11 (DAY 5) 7:55 AM
Tuesday, December 19 (DAY 1) 7:55 AM
District/Community Information
Bucks County Symphony Orchestra
The Bucks County Symphony Orchestra invites you and your family to attend its Family Concert—Bats, Beats and Beasts!— on Sunday, December 3rd at 3:00 in the Central Bucks South auditorium.
The concert will feature string players from Butler, Jamison and Mill Creek, joining the BCSO in performances of The Beast and Sheep May Safely Graze. The BCSO will present the beloved Carnival of the Animals along with The Bat and the Jurassic Park theme. Thirteen-year-old violinist Mio Imai, the BCSO Youth Concerto Competition winner, will play Sarasate’s dazzling Gypsy Airs (see bio below poster).
Please check out the information on the poster and come out for an enjoyable afternoon of musical entertainment for entire family. Attendees may enter a drawing for a $100 gift certificate to Russo’s Music! What a wonderful way for the entire family to enjoy an afternoon of entertainment together!
Adult tickets may be purchased online at BucksCountySymphony.org
or in Doylestown at Rutherford’s Camera Shop and Doylestown Bookshop.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- BCSO YOUTH CONCERTO COMPETITION WINNER -
Mio Imai, violinist
Mio Imai, 13, is an 8th grader the Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School. She studies violin with Kimberly Fisher, principal second violin of The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Mio first performed as a soloist with the New York Session Symphony at age 9. She has been a prize winner at competitions in Italy and across the United States.
Mio plays chamber and orchestral music in the Center for Gifted Young Musicians Program at Temple University. Besides music, she enjoys crafting, painting and skiing.
Portrait of a Graduate
Each month students around the district will learning about a new attribute from our Portrait of a Graduate. For the month of November, we are focusing on how to be an effective communicator. Effective communicators actively listen to alternative viewpoints, develop effective verbal and nonverbal communication skills, demonstrate excellence in written communication, and identify audience and range of purpose.
Below are ideas for how students can demonstrate this attribute as an individual:
- Engage in classroom discussions and show that you can wait your turn to speak, allowing others to finish their thoughts
- Ask questions to clarify or understand someone else's point of view
- Summarize what you've heard to ensure you have comprehended the information correctly
- Practice clear and articulate speaking, using appropriate volume and tone
- Use body language, such as making eye contact, nodding, and smiling, to show engagement and interest during conversations
- Avoid interrupting others when they are speaking
- Write clear and concise sentences and paragraphs
- Proofread your written work for spelling and grammar errors
- Share well-organized stories, essays, or reports during class presentations
- Explain why you are sharing information or writing (e.g., to inform, persuade, entertain)
- Adapt your language and tone depending on the audience (e.g., speaking differently to classmates vs. teachers)
- Share class projects or assignments designed for specific audiences, like parents or other students
Repeated/Ongoing School and District Information
Snacks in the Cafeteria
The cafeteria manager is only permitted to buy a certain number of snacks each week. There are students with later lunches that are not able to purchase snacks because they are all gone by their lunch period. Moving forward, students will only be permitted to purchase 1 snack or ice cream in total per day.
Students in grades 1-6 are allowed to purchase snacks and/or ice cream at lunch in addition to the items listed on the lunch menu. Students are able to purchase snacks as long as they have money in their My School Bucks account. Students on free and reduced lunch cannot get these additional snacks unless they have money in their My School Bucks account. Snack prices are not reduced or free because they are in addition to the well-balanced full lunch provided. Ice cream costs $1.50 and chips cost $1.25, for your reference. Please check in with your child about their spending and monitor their account if they are buying lunch or snack.
Visit MySchoolBucks.com to set up recurring payments, create low balance alerts, and track and review what your student is purchasing.
Here is the FAQ section regarding Student Breakfast and Lunch: Food Services / Breakfast and Lunch Account FAQ (cbsd.org)
Car/Walker Dismissal Request
In an effort to keep all of our students safe, students cannot cross Turk Road or walk through the parking lot without an adult. Please do not park on Turk Road to pick up your child. Please either use the car line, park on Rolling Hills (a bit further down to not disrupt the car line), or park in the parking lot (and walk up to get your child). The car line is very efficient and most days the car line is finished around 3:40. Thank you for your support in keeping our students safe!
Laptop Reminders
- Students are expected to bring their laptop to school every day in the laptop carrying case.
- Students are expected to fully charge their device at home each evening.
- In the event the laptop did not charge fully, students are expected to bring their labeled laptop charger to school. We have very few extra chargers here.
- Students should not change the settings (the time zone, mouse settings, keyboard settings, etc.)
- If there is an issue with your child's laptop, they should log a help desk ticket so it can be repaired.
Laptops are used for instruction and assessment and when devices are not charged properly, this inhibits their learning.
Bike and Scooter Safety
Thanks for your help with keeping our students safe!
Car Line Request
Thank you for your efforts to keep our students and staff safe.
Do you need to change your child's dismissal?
For half days, please call and/or email the office by 11:30 AM.
For car rider dismissal, please make sure the lettering is in thick, dark, large print on your yellow placard that can be read by our staff members from a distance. Please also either have your placard in the passenger side window or if you want to keep it on your dashboard, please hold it up for staff members to easily see. This will ensure our car line moves as efficiently as possible.
This is just a reminder that students cannot switch buses for play dates. If you need your child to ride a different bus home due to an emergency child care situation, you must call the office at 267-893-3900. We will then contact the transportation department to determine if we can obtain an emergency bus pass for your child for the day.
Thank you!
Important Attendance Information
Central Bucks School District attendance policies conform to the Pennsylvania School Code sections 1326 to 1333 dealing with compulsory school attendance. “Every child of compulsory school age having a legal residence in this Commonwealth… is required to attend a day school in which the subjects and activities prescribed by the standards of the State Board of Education are taught.”
For Parents / Attendance (cbsd.org)
Online Absence Request (See below for directions on how to report an absence.)
- Parents and guardians will be able to submit absence requests via the Parent Portal. Parents can request a full day absence, early dismissal, or late arrival.
- Absence requests will be reviewed by School Attendance Staff and approved or denied.
- Requests made using the Parent Portal will also serve as the excuse for the absence. Parents will not be required to submit an excuse either electronic or written.
- For all vacation requests, please utilize that option through the Parent Portal. Your school attendance office will contact you with any additional information that is required. Parents/Guardians are required to notify the school at least three (3) days prior to the absences covered by this regulation so that the student may obtain work to keep current with class progress.
Please be sure to visit the Attendance web page for your child's school for specific procedures for reporting an absence. This page is located under "Our School" on each school's website.
For additional information about school attendance please see School Board Policy 204.
Free and Reduced Lunch for 2023-2024
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Central Bucks is pleased to announce the availability of applying for Free and Reduced Price Meals online! The process is SAFE, SECURE, PRIVATE, and AVAILABLE anytime, anywhere!
Food Services / Free & Reduced Lunch Application (cbsd.org)
Instructions: If you are applying for Free and Reduced Lunch and would like your child’s school to provide additional resources to your family, there is an additional form to complete in Parent Portal. You can also reach out to Mrs. Adelberger at cadelberger@cbsd.org.
CHIP
Laptop Breakage
We have seen a rise in the amount of screen breaks for student laptops. Our policy covers for 2 broken screens per device. If your child’s laptop screen breaks 3 times, we will be required to send you an invoice for the repair and labor. The current cost for this is $200. Please remind your child to care for their laptops. Some simple steps to assist are:
- Use two hands when holding or moving the device.
- Use clean hands while using the laptop or iPad.
- Use only the provided digital pen or finger on the screen.
- Use only the power adapter that came with the device.
- Use a microfiber cloth to clean the screen.
- Keep device stored in the provided case. This includes traveling through the hallways, on buses, or anytime the device is not being utilized. Students should not be using the devices on the bus.
- Make sure nothing is on the keyboard, close the lid, and remove all cables if any are plugged into the laptop. Place laptop in your bag carefully.
- Be careful when placing your case on the floor. Keep the device off the floor so screens do not get stepped on by others.
Passive Fundraising
Kutz Information
Daily School Hours
Kutz is a "B" School
- Arrival begins at 8:30 AM
- Student day begins at 8:50 AM
- Student day ends at 3:30 PM
- Dismissal ends at 3:50 PM
- For early dismissal days- dismissal begins at 12:10 PM
- For 2 hour delay days- arrival begins at 10:30 and the student day begins at 10:50
Kindergarten
- Morning Kindergarten begins at 8:50 AM (arrival begins at 8:30 AM) and ends at 11:25 AM
- Afternoon Kindergarten begins at 12:55 PM and ends at 3:30 PM
- Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, we implemented a “modified kindergarten” schedule on weather delay days. The schedule will be as follows for Kutz: AM Students 10:50 AM – 12:35 PM and PM Students 1:45 PM – 3:30 PM
Student Directory 2023-2024
The student directory for the 2023-2024 school year is on the Kutz website. Directions for how to find it on the website are included below. The directory is a password protected document. The password was sent to all families on 10/3. Click here to access the directory.
Directions for how to find the directory on the website:
1. Go to www.cbsd.org/kutz.
2. Hover over "Parents/Students".
3. Click "Parent Resources".
4. On the left hand side, click "Student Directory 2023-2024" (at the bottom of the menu).
5. Enter the password listed above.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our office staff.
Kutz Student/Parent Handbook
Click here for the Kutz Parent and Student Handbook for the 2023-2024 school year. This handbook provides a comprehensive summary of school and district policies and programs for students and their families. We hope you will find this to be a valuable resource.
Reminder for Volunteer Clearances
Please click here (https://www.cbsd.org/volunteers) to learn more about the process and requirements to volunteer in CBSD. App Garden Volunteer Tracker (https://appgarden5.app-garden.com/VolTrackPA92102.nsf/VolApp.xsp) is a contactless application and paperwork submission process. Sign-up is required for both new and returning volunteers.
Clearances expire five years after approval, so please check your CBSD Volunteer card to make sure yours are still current.
Clearances are required for parents chaperoning field trips, volunteering for classroom parties, and supporting other classroom and school events.
Thank you for supporting our staff and students by volunteering your time!
Food Service Information
Want to view our lunch menu? Need to add funds to your child's account? Looking for nutrition information? Need to apply for free and reduced breakfast/lunch? Click here to learn more about Food Services in Central Bucks.
Child Care Program
Looking for more information on our Before and After School Programs? Click here to learn how to register your child.
About Kutz
Kutz Character Traits: Perseverance, Integrity, Respect, Responsibility
Email: cadeberger@cbsd.org
Website: www.cbsd.org/kutz
Location: Kutz Elementary School, Turk Road, Doylestown, PA, USA
Phone: 267-893-3900
Twitter: @CBKutzElem