CONCORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
February 9, 2018 Edition
Black History Month
Reference: https://www.biography.com/tag/black-history
Superbowl LII
Upcoming Events
February is Black History Month
2/11/18 - Sweet Frog Family Day
2/14/18 - Valentines Day
2/15/18 - 100th Day of School
2/16/18 - Teacher In Service Day - No School for Students.
2/19/18 - Presidents Day - No School for Students
2/20 to 2/26/18 - Jump Rope for Heart
2/23/18 - STEAM Project Due (optional)
2/26 to 3/2/18 - Read Across America
3/7/18 - 2nd Grade Parent/Guardian Transition Meeting at GVES 7:00PM
3/9/18 - End of 2nd Trimester
3/14/18 - 2nd Grade Math Night 6:30PM
3/16/18 - Progress Reports Released
3/20/18 - Music with our Friends 7PM at GVHS
3/21/18 - No Kindergarten and half day for 1st and 2nd grade
3/21/18 to 3/23/18 - Spring Conferences
3/26 to 3/30/18 - No School Spring Break
4/13/18 - Concord's Annnual Auction at Penn Oaks Golf Club 7:30PM
Message for First Grade Parents and Guardians
To All First Grade Parents and Guardians:
On February 21st & 22nd, we will be conducting a group-based screening for all first grade students. Your child’s teacher will administer the screening in the classroom. This is only one part of a detailed screening process with multiple criteria, which we conduct yearly to help us identify students for consideration for gifted services.
Once all of the data has been collected, the parents of the children needing further evaluation will be contacted directly by the Pupil Services Department to set up an individual appointment with the school psychologist.
While this is only one measure of ongoing assessments, it is advisable to ensure that on February 21st & 22nd, your child is well rested and has a good breakfast. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Vanessa V. Stroup, Principal
Andrew Smith, Assistant Principal
Flu Update and Precautions
Flu Precautions
Our school community is beginning to experience the effects of what experts are calling the worst flu season in several years. Although not at an alarming level, our absences are increasing and most are related to flu symptoms. School health advocates are urging districts to take an active role in preventing and responding to this growing issue. We, consequently, are asking our community to do the following:
- Practice proper hand washing to stop the spread of germs.
- Remind your children to cover their mouths when they cough.
- Keep children home for 24 hours after they stop showing signs of a fever without the use of medicine.
- Encourage your children to see the nurse if they do not feel well. Especially with our older students, sometimes their desire not to miss class or “handle things” themselves makes them reluctant to see the school nurse.
- Forget about things like perfect attendance awards–the health of your child and the other children is more important.
- Have your children get the flu shot. CDC officials continue to recommend flu vaccinations, even for people who've already been sick.
We appreciate your support as we battle through this difficult situation. Be assured that the district is also taking precautions. Our Facilities and Operations Department continues sanitize desks and "touch" areas nightly. Our teachers and nurses, whose roles are ever expanding, are also reinforcing things like washing hands, covering mouths during coughs, and monitoring students who don’t look well. Even with these proactive measures, it is difficult to stay ahead of the germs. Let’s hope we continue to avoid the major outbreaks occurring in other parts of the country.
As always, thank you for your support and cooperation!
Marc Bertrando, Superintendent
Sweet Frog February 11th
Valentine Parties February 14th
Concord Annual Auction April 13th
HSA News
SWEET FROG family day is all day THIS SUNDAY, February 11th!! Stop by and fill up 4 small cups for $15 and $3 each additional cup (or smaller families can fill up a small cup for $4!!) Fill them up and Concord earns a percentage back... it's a SWEET deal! Hope to see you there!
GVES and CES Combined Fundraiser
Garnet Valley Elementary School is pairing with Concord Elementary School in what proves to be its most exciting fundraiser yet!! Introducing the NEW Jag Discount Card! If you purchase a Jag Card, it will be delivered to your child on MARCH 1, 2018. It is a plastic card the size of a credit card that you can present to participating businesses listed on the card while you are there, to receive their discount. We have some FABULOUS businesses to start us off! Matty Hut’s Catering delivers dinner RIGHT to you door…every Wednesday night, ALL summer long!! BCK Elite Detailing comes to your house and details your car while you wait!! Pizza night at Bravo or Manbroso's To Go, Ice Cream at Sweet Frog, Fusion Salon, you name it! Have you wanted to try out one of the new Garnet Valley Restaurants? Angelina’s and La Pina Valley Cantina are super excited for your business! Or stick with an old favorite like The Outback or Bertucci’s!! Order forms will be going home in your students book bag on February 20th. Please return the order form ASAP to ensure a March 1 delivery. Thank you for supporting both GVES and CES HSAs!! Please direct all questions to Tricia Neff at tricianeff@hotmail.com.
ADVERTISE FOR A GOOD CAUSE!
Concord Elementary School is holding their BIGGEST fundraiser of the year, and your business will have the opportunity to reach over 700 student's families who live in the Garnet Valley School District. Support our school AND market your business at the same time!
Concord Elementary School’s Annual Auction Friday April 13, 2018 at Penn Oaks Golf Club
All proceeds directly benefit the students of the school through extended educational and social programs.
We thank you in advance for your support!
Jump Rope for Heart
STEAM Challenge
GVH Dance Team Presents Diva Dance Party!
Calling all Kindergarten to 5th Grade Girls
And By Popular Demand
Mini Magical Diva for preschool girls ages 4 - 5
Saturday March 17, 2018
10 am - 4 pm
Garnet Valley High School
Check-in begins at 9:30 am
Diva Dance Party and now including Mini Magical Diva's. Dancers will spend the day with the Garnet Valley High School Dance Team! They will receive a special T-shirt, indulge in a craft, enjoy a cheese pizza lunch, and learn a dance routine! A grand performance for all at the end of the day!!
Don't delay! Register ASAP to secure your Dance Diva's spot before we are sold out!
So send your registration with payment or for a small fee use Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-diva-dance-party-tickets-40900563687
For more information, please click here and/or contact Colleen at divadanceparty@hotmail.com
This Party only happens once a year! Don't miss it!Grade 2 Parent Meeting at GVES
Music With Our Friends - 2nd Grade - March 20, 2018 7PM
The Garnet Valley Music Department proudly presents:
“Music With our Friends”
Tuesday, March 20, 2018 @ 7 pm,
at the Garnet Valley High School
Performing Arts Center
Good Will Donations benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Attention All Second Grade Students:
You are invited to be a part of our Student Performance, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” Please save the date if you can. More details to follow.
Thank You,
The Garnet Valley Music Department
Special Education Workshop - February 20th
Garnet Valley CTC Quick Tip #22 2017-2018
Did you know?
Why do young people use marijuana? Young people start using marijuana for many reasons. Curiosity, peer pressure, and the desire to fit in with friends are common ones. Those who have already begun to smoke cigarettes or use alcohol—or both—are at increased risk for marijuana use as well. And people who have untreated mental health disorders (such as depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, or ADHD) or who have experienced trauma are at increased risk of using marijuana and other drugs at an early age. (NIMH 6/16)
Garnet Valley’s PAYS results from 2015 show us that an average of 29% of our students in grades 6,8,10, and 12 “felt depressed or sad MOST days in the past 12 months”.
Call to action…
Learn more about the potential mental health and marijuana connection, click below.
Parents Guide to Technology
Being a parent is never easy and it can become more difficult as our children begin to learn and use the latest technologies and computer platforms. To help in this area, our district’s technology department continues to update and provide our parents with resources related to discussing online safety with their children, setting restrictions on devices, and more. The Parent’s Guide to Technology website can be accessed using the following link:
https://sites.google.com/garnetvalley.org/parentsguidetotechnology/home
In our schools, classroom teachers, supported by the district’s Instructional Technology Specialists and Technology Support Personnel, continue to educate students on digital citizenship and responsibility. Garnet Valley utilizes industry-leading Common Sense Media’s K-12 Digital Citizenship Curriculum and will become one of only a handful of districts across the country that will soon be honored as a “Common Sense Certified School District.”
As a district, we believe the best way to teach students to become effective, thoughtful, and ethical digital citizens, is to empower them to use technology in their classrooms while providing the appropriate grade-level structures, teachable moments, and consequences. As we continue to teach our students “how to swim” with technology, we want to encourage our families to continue those conversations at home as well.
RadRobots
The 3rd session of our after school Rad Robots robotics program began in January. Students did not have to be in session one or two to be eligible for session three. It is not too late to sign up. Sign up at http://radrobots.net/.
Concord grade 1 + 2:
Session 3:
First Grade: Mondays, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, and 2/12
Second Grade: Tuesdays, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6 and 2/13
Session 4: Tuesdays, 2/27, 3/6, 3/13 and 3/20
Click Here to signup for RadRobotsReminders from the Office
Attendance
You will receive an automated call alerting you if your child has been marked absent at school. Please provide a signed and dated note within three days of your child’s return to school stating the reason for the absence.
Drop-off, Pickup and Dismissal Reminders
Students arriving after 8:50 AM must be walked to the main office and signed in by a guardian. All changes in dismissal must be accompanied by a note from a guardian as well. If your student attends the YMCA, you must also notify the YMCA of any changes.
Please do not use the Bus Loop during the following times:
8:20 - 8:50 AM
11:15 - 11:40 AM
12:15 - 12:40 PM
2:45 - 3:20 PM
Modified Kindergarten Schedule for 2 Hour Delay
The following schedule for Kindergarten will be in effect when there is a 2 hour delay:
AM Kindergarten - 10:40 to 12:30
PM Kindergarten - 1:20 to 3:10
AM buses will pick-up students 2 hours after their regular times. Midday transportation will be provided but run 1 hour later than usual.
E-Alert Reminders
Please make sure your email address is up to date in your Alma account to receive our weekly E-Alerts. You may log in and update your email address and any phone numbers with your parent log in. For questions about E-Alerts or Schoolwires, please contact schoolweb@garnetvalley.org. For questions regarding Alma please contact the main office.
Concord Elementary School
Website: garnetvalleyschools.com
Location: 114 Station Road, Glen Mills, PA, United States
Phone: 610-579-6100
Facebook: facebook.com/ConcordElementarySchool-GVSD
Twitter: @ConcordGV