Mill Creek Magic Messages
News and Updates from Mr. Ortman and Mr. Murtha 10/16/2020
Halloween Celebrations at Mill Creek - IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Due to the unique circumstances we are facing this year and the importance of promoting health & safety within our building, our Halloween celebrations will look a little different. Below is some important information about our Halloween celebrations, which will occur on Friday, October 30.
- Students are encouraged to wear Halloween colors (orange, black, green, purple, etc.) or elementary school appropriate Halloween themed t-shirts to school on Friday, October 30. Students may also wear face makeup if they choose. If your child is considering face makeup, please know that the adults at school will not be permitted to apply it, and please also consider whether your child is developmentally ready to go through a school day in face paint - thank you! In order to promote health & safety practices, costumes and Halloween masks should not be worn to school (students still need to wear their standard protective face covering).
- Although we are shifting to Halloween colors and optional face paint this year, we still want to feature our students in costume! This year, our Halloween parades will occur virtually. You can use the links at the bottom of this message (one for each grade) to post a short video of your child in their Halloween costume, which we will then convert into grade level "Mixtape Parades," featuring all submissions. Please post your submissions by end of day on Wednesday, October 28, so your child can be featured in our virtual parades! Use password "MCHALLOWEEN2020".
- Halloween will be celebrated in classrooms in an altered fashion this year. Each grade level will dedicate an hour of the school day to Halloween-themed activities (e.g. games; viewing our virtual parades; voting on our virtual 6th Grade Pumpkin Contest).
- Teachers will also have discretion to incorporate Halloween-themed instructional activities during other parts of the school day.
- Our 6th Grade Pumpkin Contest will occur virtually. 6th grade participants will send in photos of their pumpkins for consideration to doriadmd@yahoo.com by Monday, October 26 (see flyer below for full submission instructions). We will then have our students engage in a virtual vote on Friday, October 30. Winners will be announced at the end of the school day.
The above activities will allow us to uphold health & safety guidelines while still celebrating Halloween with all of our students - traditional, hybrid, and virtual. In order to further uphold those guidelines, outside food (other than normal snack/lunch)/candy will not be permitted in classrooms and we will not be permitting non-essential visitors into the building.
Thank you for your continued understanding and support!
Stay safe,
Shawn M. Ortman
Principal
Enrollment Survey
Dear Mill Creek Families,
As you know, the district has asked families to remain in their program of choice until November 10, 2020. As that date draws closer, we wish to communicate the process by which elementary school program enrollment changes may be elected while sharing information that will help our families make an informed decision for their elementary school children.
First, the district will survey elementary families to determine how many are considering making a change. This data is necessary to gauge interest, anticipate the number of changes that are likely to be requested, and determine staffing and spacing needs within our individual schools.
We ask that all families participate in this initial survey.
· Please complete the survey once for each child.
· Please read each survey question carefully.
· This survey will close on October 21, 2020. Access the Mill Creek survey here.
Mill Creek Program Enrollment Survey
Second, the district will provide elementary families with a program enrollment selection form. Parents/guardians will indicate the program change on this form. This form will be distributed to elementary families on Monday, October 26, 2020.
· Changes must be requested on/before Thursday, October 29, 2020.
· Any changes may result in a change of teacher or assigned elementary school.
· Program enrollment selections will take effect at the beginning of the second trimester on Monday, December 7, 2020.
· Changes will remain in place until school returns to the district’s typical “pre-COVID” in-person schedule.
We continue to appreciate the support and patience of our families. Please feel free to call or email with any questions.
Thank you very much!
Shawn Ortman
Principal
Mill Creek Elementary School
Welcome Back Mill Creek Before and After Care!
Important Dates
Tuesday, October 20 - Creekers' Code Tuesday Spirit Day (Wear Maroon and Silver!)
Monday, October 26-Friday, October 30 - Red Ribbon Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week
Monday, October 26 - Picture Day #1
Thursday, October 29 - Picture Day #2
Friday, October 30 - Halloween Celebrations (see posting below for detailed information)
Tuesday, November 3 - Election Day (all students attend virtually from home)
*Virtual families can use the link to directions below to schedule a time to have school photos taken at C&C Studios.
Red Ribbon Week Spirit Days...
Home and School Association News and Flyers
HSA NEWS
- Mill Creek Student Directory Hard Copies are available for $5. Introducing payment through VENMO! @MillCreekHSA Please include "directory" in the memo. Payment can also be made through a check payable to Mill Creek HSA. Be sure to write the student's name and teacher on the envelope. Electronic versions will continue to be available. The password protected version will be emailed when it's available.
Interested in joining a committee? If so, sign up through our Committee SignUp Genius - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4BAAAF2DAA8-mill3
Are you a Weis Supermarket Shopper? If so, you can support Mill Creek during each grocery trip. See flyer below to link your Weis shopping to Mill Creek!
AMAZON SMILE: Link your account today for the upcoming Amazon Days and holiday days. A portion of every sale will benefit our Home and School Association. Please choose "Mill Creek Home and School" under the "programs and features" button on Amazon.
- Yearbook Committee: If you are interested in joining our yearbook committee, please email Tanya at tmk79@aol.com. Each photographer should have their own camera.
- Seeking 6th Grade student cover design submissions for the Mill Creek 2020-2021 Yearbook! Click the link below to view submission details!
- Due to the current circumstances, H&S is not soliciting the usual annual $25 in dues per student. However, H&S will continue to incur some expenses related to items such as yearbook, 6th grade promotion, Unami t-shirts for 6th grade students, and more, so we will gladly accept and appreciate any donations. If you would like to make a donation to H&S, please make the check out to "Mill Creek Home & School" and send in to the main office at Mill Creek. Thank you!
H&S October 2020 Calendar
Principal's Post - A Weekly Note From Mr. Ortman
Happy To Be Back!!!
Happy Friday Mill Creek!
After a number of weeks away from The Creek while I recovered from surgery, I am happy to be back!!! Thank you very much for the well wishes and kindness that you shared while I was recovering. A special thank you to Mr. Murtha for his leadership while I was out, and to the Mill Creek faculty and staff for their fine work during the start of the new school year!
The best part of my return has absolutely been seeing our amazing students, your children. Visiting classrooms, I have enjoyed seeing how engaged the boys and girls are, and how happy they seem to be to be with their teachers and classmates. I am impressed with their adaptability, flexibility, and resilience. And… as has always been the case, our students continue to be respectful, polite, and responsible. They have been following our new health and safety routines and procedures exceptionally well.
Thank you again! I am very, very, very, happy to be back at The Creek!!!
Enjoy the weekend.
Sincerely,
Shawn M. Ortman
Principal
From the Desk of Mr. Murtha
As we entered this unique school year, I fully anticipated that the teachers, staff, and parents of Mill Creek - the adults - would have to put a lot of energy into lifting the spirits of our student population. School was going to look and feel different and involve significant rules for health and safety purposes, and I foresaw that being really difficult for students. Based on what I have seen thus far, I was wrong. Our students have been positive, resilient, and adaptable far beyond my wildest dreams. Yes, I think the adults in their lives are doing an amazing job of keeping them engaged and excited about coming to school, whether every day, a few days a week, or virtually, but our students have also been active participants in a culture of support. I tend to stay pretty positive, but I am still a human being, and I have my down moments just like everyone else. When at Mill Creek, the adults AND the students have, in those moments, helped lift my spirits. Bottom line - our Mill Creek Community is providing universal support - adult to adult... adult to student... student to student... and, yes, even student to adult. Moreover, the focus on learning and growing that I have witnessed students exhibit, throughout learning modes, as I have been in and out of classrooms, has been impressive!
I am proud of our entire Mill Creek Community for the universal support and cheerleading that we have shown one another. I am also very proud of our students for their contributions and for their academic focus.
Mr. John C. Murtha
Assistant Principal
Creekers' Code Winners!
Congratulations to our 1st-6th grade students being recognized this week for upholding our Creekers' Code tenets!
- Cooperation
- Respect
- Excellence
- Effort
- Kindness
- Empathy
- Responsibility
- Support
Click on the following link to hear a recording of Ms. Brown recognizing our 10/16/2020 students.
Our in-person winners will be invited to the main office to select a prize. Our virtual winners can to stop by Mill Creek during school hours for a prize. These recognized students are:
Health and Safety Reminder...
Instructional Spotlight - Math with Mr. Molenari
Emergency Forms are Online!
- Go to Parent Portal.
- Click on "MORE" on the left-hand side of the screen.
- Click on "Student Emergency Form" and complete for each student in your household.
Thank you, parents for completing the Emergency Form(s) as soon as possible!
Social Emotional Learning
We want your child to be successful in school and that means supporting and encouraging their whole development. While excelling in academic classes is important, students also need skills to take on learning challenges, make good decisions, handle strong emotions, and get along with others. This school year, we are instructing Second Step, a research-based social-emotional learning program designed to improve students’ social-emotional skills, such as emotion management, impulse control, problem solving, and empathy. Second Step skills and concepts are designed to help students both in and out of school. These include:
1. Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and be assertive when asking for help with schoolwork.
2. Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others’ feelings. Students also learn how to take another’s perspective and how to show compassion.
3. Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when experiencing strong feelings, such as anxiety or anger.
4. Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in a positive way.
Thank you for your support as we work to build a safe and supportive school community.
Contact Information
Mr. Shawn Ortman
Principal
267-893-3600
Mr. John C. Murtha
Assistant Principal
267-893-3600
Mill Creek Elementary School
Email: sortman@cbsd.org
Website: http://www.cbsd.org/Domain/19
Location: 638 Bellflower Boulevard, Warrington, PA, United States
Phone: 267-893-3600
Twitter: @CBMillCreek