CCS Newsletter
May 05, 2017
NEW STARS ROOM DOOR SIGN
3RD GRADERS DURING SBAC ASSESSMENT
SAM HAYDOCK AND ETHAN MORRIS
LET'S CELEBRATE
- The STARS room doorway was updated by a beautiful new 3D printed sign. Thank you to Holden Batchelder for making such a great sign and for helping take care of this school!
- Our third graders have been learning how to navigate the SBAC platform and to use the tools that are available to them.
- Sam Haydock and Ethan Morris for volunteering to take care of the composting in the cafeteria every day without fail at 5/6 lunch for the month of April. (Nearly 4 weeks) They contributed to keeping our cafeteria clean and green and "took care of this place". While we are back to our assigned two students per week for compost duty, these two boys did an exemplary job consistently every day for weeks without complaint. What wonderful peer/role models. They deserve recognition and a round of applause!
THIRD GRADE FAMILY SHOWCASE
SCIENCE & DESIGN CHALLENGE NIGHT
What: Science & Design Challenge Night
When: Thursday, May 18th 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Where: CCS Multi-Purpose Room and Library
Come one, come all! Join us in the CCS MPR to explore more about the engineering and design process that students are and will continue to experience in their Science curriculum! We will host a short information session, followed by opportunities for children and their families to participate in a variety of “design challenges” using everyday materials. Our Makerspace will also be open for exploration!
STUDENT ABSENT / TARDY LINE - 425-6688
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Friday, May 5th
Arbor Day Celebration, 1:30pm
Spring Fling Dance, MPR, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Tuesday, May 9th
Early Release Day, 1:55pm
Thursday, May 11th
The Music Man, CCS Drama Production, MPR, 7:00pm
Friday, May 12th
The Music Man, CCS Drama Production, MPR, 7:00pm
Saturday, May 13th
The Music Man, CCS Drama Production, MPR, 7:00pm
Monday, May 15th
CCS Stage Band at CSSU Jazz Festival, CVUHS, 7:00 pm
Tuesday, May 16th
Early Release Day, 1:55pm
Thursday, May 18th
Science Night, sponsored by the PTO
Monday, May 22nd
7/8 Spring Concert Assembly, 1:45 - 2:30
7/8 Spring Concert, MPR, 7:00
Tuesday, May 23rd
Early Release Day, 1:55pm
NOTE: The CSSU School Board extended the early release Tuesdays through the end of the school year.
Wednesday, May 24th
Field Trip, CY Mentoring to Champlain Lanes, 12:00 - 2:30
Q & A with the Principals, CCS Main Office, 2:30 - 3:15 (come anytime during this window)
Thursday, May 25th
5/6 Spring Concert Assembly, MPR, 1:45 - 2:30
5/6 Spring Concert, MPR, 7:00 - 8:00
Friday, May 26th
Grandparent/Grandfriend Visiting, Classrooms and MPR
9:00 - 9:45: Classrooms All Grandparents/Grandfriends/Family members will participate in classroom morning routines or activities.
9:45 - 9:55: Guests & Students transition to the multi-purpose room for assembly.
9:55 - 11:00: MPR (Grades K-4) Welcome by Instructional Leader/Principal Stephanie Sumner, Sing-A-Long, musical performances.
2017-2018 Kinder Visiting, 1:00 - 2:00 (current kindergartners dismiss at 11:30 - no transportation provided)
Monday, May 29
NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 30th
Early Release Day, 1:55pm
Monday, June 5th
Carnation Ceremony & Middle Level Awards - watch for details
Tuesday, June 6th
Early Release Day, 1:55pm
CCS Stage Band at Discover Jazz Festival, City Hall Stage, Church Street, 11:30 - 12:30
Tuesday, June 13th
Early Release Day, 1:55pm
8th Grade Trip
Wednesday, June 14th
8th Grade Trip
Thursday, June 15th
8th Grade Graduation
5:15 pm - Light Fare in the Multi-Purpose Room
6:15 pm - Parents & Guests move to the Gymnasium
6:30 pm - Procession of Graduates
Friday, June 16th
Last Day of School - 12:15 dismissal
Wednesday, June 21st
CCS Instrumentalists (grades 5-8), Centennial Field, Burlington performing the National Anthem at the Lake Monsters game.
EARLY RELEASE TUESDAYS
- The CSD Board has decided to continue Early Release Tuesdays through the end of this year, adding May 30th, June 6th and June 13th.
- The CVSD Board has approved Early Release Tuesdays for the 2017-2018 calendar.
2017-2018 CVSD APPROVED CALENDAR
THE JOURNEY TOWARDS PROFICIENCY BASED LEARNING
As we prepare for our transition to a proficiency-based learning system at CCS there is a lot of preparation behind the scenes on the part of teachers. While our excellent educators are focused on planning and delivering instruction to their students each day, they are also participating in professional development as they plan for the next school year. Much of our professional development time during the early-release days on Tuesdays has been spent preparing for PBL.
Fifth through eighth grade teachers are using the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards to guide them in identifying learning targets that will be the focus of core instruction. Learning targets clearly articulate what students should know, understand, and be able to do for each unit of study. Once the learning targets are identified, then the teachers develop the learning scales that guide the instruction, and the student, toward proficiency and beyond.
Engaging instructional activities in the classroom allow our students to practice and develop the skills, content knowledge, and conceptual understanding that support and advance their learning. Teachers also intentionally design both formative and summative assessments to check for student understanding and progress. A formative assessment “informs” both the student and the teacher about progress toward the learning target. Instruction, and opportunities for practice, are adjusted based on formative assessments to help ensure students are moving toward proficiency. A summative assessment is designed to assess student progress at the end of a unit of study. Results on a summative assessment are compared to a benchmark that reflects meeting a level of proficiency. The format of summative assessments could be a written test, project, presentation, report, or demonstration.
In a proficiency-based learning system, students have clear learning targets, scales and benchmark examples to guide their learning. Our next article we’ll look at the difference between difficulty and complexity of learning tasks. If there are any specific questions you may have feel free to contact CCS administration or Mary Muroski, PBL coach at CCS.
LIBRARY NEWS
MUSIC NEWS
The ensembles are gearing up for an exciting and eventful performance season. Our year end concerts are as follows:
Monday, May 15 - CCS Stage Band at the CSSU Jazz Festival at the CVUHS auditorium. 7 PM
Wednesday, May 17 - A variety of CCS Musicians to perform at the Charlotte Senior Ctr,
1 PM
Monday, May 22 - The 7/8 Spring Concert in the CCS MPR at 7 PM.
Thursday, May 25 - The 5/6 Spring Concert in the CCS MPR at 7 PM.
Friday, May 26 - K-4 presentation at the Grandparents Day assembly. 9:30 AM
Tuesday, June 6 - CCS Stage Band at the Discover Jazz Festival, City Hall Stage, Church St. 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
Wednesday, June 21 - CCS Instrumentalists, grades 5 - 8, at Centennial Field in Burlington performing the National Anthem at the Lake Monsters Game!
If you would like your child to participate in the playing of the National Anthem at the Lake Monsters Game, please email Andy Smith stating that your child will participate. As the date grows closer, details will be emailed to you (I. E. - what time and where to meet, what to wear, etc…)
For more information or questions, please contact Andy Smith at asmith@cssu.org or (802) 425 - 6653 or Monica Littlefield at mlittlefield@cssu.org or (802) 425-6629.
Thank you for your continued support and we hope to see you at a show this spring!
COMPOST UPDATES
The 6th graders have processed 3,600+ lbs of food scraps in the shed so far this year. With the remaining weeks of school, we are heading for an estimated total of 4,400 lbs composted onsite, producing ~5 cubic yards of compost for school use as mulch on fruit trees and berry bushes, in the pollinator and shade gardens.
We are testing our compost at Penn State Agricultural analytics lab, which will give us valuable feedback about using it in garden beds for vegetables.
You can watch “Managing the CCS Compost Shed and Beyond: Year 3” on the school website, School Information-Sustainability Committee-Composting:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B79QhN2QCbBKOEFuOUJqSnlMWXc/view
On May 6th, please come for a tour of the shed to see what students have been up to, and learn about backyard compost management. Drop in tours from 9-10 am, overlapping with our 6th annual bulk sale of compost from Champlain Valley Compost.
The Music Man
2016-2017 YEARBOOK ORDER FORM
ANDREW THAYER JUNIOR GOLF CLINICS
Join us this summer for the Andrew Thayer Junior Golf Clinics. Participants will be introduced to game of a lifetime. Basin Harbor Club staff will use unique activities and drills to better the students understanding of the athletic golf movement. Primary goal is for the students to be exposed to some of the positive values that the game of golf provides, including: sportsmanship, honesty, courtesy, appreciation and empathy all which Andrew lived every day of his life.
Area youth will enjoy this complimentary clinic due to the generosity of the community who made donations in memory of Andrew.
The clinic will include:
-Sign up for one or all four of the Monday clinics.
-Enjoy a complimentary BBQ celebration on the last day with lawn games, jumpy castle, food and fun
-A gift certificate to The Golf Club at Basin Harbor for a round of golf to come back with an adult to play later in the season!
Eligibility:
Area youth ages 6-16 from Charlotte, Shelburne and Addison County towns.
Clinic Dates:
Monday, 6/26, 9 am-11 am
Monday, 7/10, 9 am-11 am
Monday, 7/17, 9 am-11 am
Monday, 7/24, 9 am- 12:30 pm
30 students per clinic
CCS AFTERNOON PLAYGROUP
For Infants and Toddlers Up to Age 5 and Their Caregivers
Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1:30
Join us for sing-alongs, stories, play and exploration with Julia Wayne & Nancy Wood (early education staff for Chittenden South Supervisory Union). For more information, call Julia Wayne at 802-338-7021.
CCS MAY LUNCH MENU
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