COLT FAMILY NEWS
October 13, 2023
Dear Families,
Thank you to our local fire department for hosting our students from Foals all the way up through Grade 6! Fire safety is an important topic for all. Be sure to check the batteries in your smoke alarms!
Guess which grade levels had the best attendance for the month of September???? In the elementary school it was Grade 3 & PreK and in the high school it was Grade 7!
Jennifer McKinley
PK-12 Principal
(315) 261-2100
COOKIES & CANVAS
There will be a family paint night sponsored by the Colts in Action PTO group on Friday, October 20th. Please see details below. Please RSVP if you have not already done so. We want to be sure there are enough supplies for everyone!
COLTS Day
Our high school students will have a COLTS Day on Thursday, October 19th. They will be taking part in some unique experiences! An elementary COLTS Day is planned for November 8th. A little history on COLTS Days... For decades Colton-Pierrepont Central School has been at the forefront of providing life experiences for students, and again the district has the ability to provide a unique experience for our students, staff, and community through the implementation of C.O.L.T.S. Days for elementary and high school students. The C.O.L.T.S. Days were created by a district-building team in 2012 that had a focus on digital citizenship and also included character education for students. C.O.L.T.S. stands for Citizenship, Opportunity, Literacy, Technology, and Safety. These will be themes used throughout C.O.L.T.S.Days again this year.
We strive to provide all students with unique opportunities to explore the communities around us.
BOX TOPS
Have you downloaded the Box Tops app on your phone? It is a great way to earn free $$$ for our school! Simply can your receipt and watch our funds grow.
P.S. Don't forget to visit getinternet.gov to see if you qualify for a discount on your internet service!
A Peek at the Week
Monday - Day 2: Lego Robotics
Tuesday - Day 3: Elementary Soccer
Wednesday - Day 4: Elementary Basketball, BOE Mtg at BOCES in Norwood, Gr 11 & 12 Trip to SUNY Potsdam
Thursday - Day 1: HS COLTS Day, Sheard Programs, Elementary Soccer, Girls Soccer Senior Night
Friday - Day 2: Grade 5 Hiking trip, Lego Robotics, Canvas & Cookies Family Event (Hosted by Colts in Action PTO group)
Positivity Project Character Strength: Integrity
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Oct 27 -Forum
- Oct 29 -Trunk or Treat at CPCS
- Oct 31 -Halloween
- Nov 2 -Bus Drill
- Nov 7 -Colts In Action Mtg @ 6:30PM (virtual)
- Nov 8 -End of 1st Qtr
- Nov 8 -Elementary COLTS Day
- Nov 9-11 Holocaust Trip
- Nov 9 -NO SCHOOL -Staff Development Day
- Nov 10 -NO SCHOOL -Veterans' Day
- Nov 13 -National Kindness Day
- Nov 15 -BOE Mtg
- Nov 17 -Report cards issued
- Nov 20 -Early Dismissal @ 12:30 -Parent/Teacher Conferences
- Nov 20 -Parent Teacher Conferences 4-7PM
- Nov 21 -Early Dismissal @ 12:30 -Parent/Teacher Conferences
DIGITAL WELLNESS 101
TIKTOK
Many teens frequently use TikTok. There can be some very inappropriate content on this app. Here is a parents' guide to this social media app:
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
All absences must be reported to school each day. Absences can be reported in any of the following ways:
- Using the CPCS smartphone app
- Clicking the link on our website: www.cpcs.us
- Sending in a written absence excuse
Excuses are required for every tardy and absence.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is BELONGING FOR ALL!
Halloween is a fun time for most but not all! Those who have Sensory Sensitivity might struggles with fake spider webs, fog machines, loud noises, pumpkin guts, and spooky lights. These are all hallmarks of a wicked Halloween set up. However, these are also triggers for children with sensory processing issues. Cobwebs and fog can bother kids with tactile sensitivities while pumpkin guts can bother kids with olfactory sensitivities. These kids may have a difficult time with trick-or-treating, melting down or staying silent when faced with an open door and strangers expecting a “trick-or-treat!” greeting. In turn, some adults may perceive these children as rude or aloof and unthankful for the treats given. However, as much as the child may love and welcome the treat, they may be unable to properly express thanks in the moment. Consideration and patience of children’s differences can go a long way.
A few tips for parents of children with sensory sensitivities:
- Ensure your child touches their costume in the store prior to purchasing and have your child practice wearing the full costume before Halloween.
- Agree on a code word or signal that the child can use if they get overwhelmed trick-or-treating and always honor it.
- Prepare your child for Halloween by having an in-depth discussion on what to expect. Recognize that the rules of Halloween go against many daily safety rules such as stranger danger.
- Expose your child to different decorations prior to Halloween so that they can adjust to the different sights, sounds, and smells. This will also give your child an idea of what decorations they want to avoid on Halloween.
- Create new Halloween traditions! If your child isn’t a fan of trick-or-treating, opt for a movie marathon, board game night, or candy swap with a close group of friends. There are plenty of ways to get in the Halloween spirit without participating in stereotypical traditions.
SAVE THE DATE
Graduation will be held on THURSDAY, 6/27!
By having graduation on a Thursday, families will be able to enjoy every minute of the limited weekends during the summer. We hope this small change allows families with students in neighboring districts to celebrate together as well!
IMPORTANT INFO
- Any visitors to our school must sign in at the main office. Guests will not be permitted to go to classrooms without teacher permission.
- Email transportation changes to: buschanges@cpcs.us
- Click to submit an absence excuse
SchoolTool
SchoolTool is Colton-Pierrepont Central School’s Student Information System. Your child’s contact information, schedule, attendance, grades and discipline are stored in our SchoolTool database.
Accessing SchoolTool
Access from the school’s webpage (www.cpcs.us) by clicking on "Families" then "School Tool Parent Portal"
The SchoolTool mobile app, available for android and apple devices. The URL required for the mobile app is: https://schooltool2.neric.org/schooltool_COLT/
The Login ID (email address) and password issued to you (via email) will be your means of access to SchoolTool. Parent Portal access is available for students in grades 5-12.
Jennifer A. McKinley
Email: jmckinley@cpcs.us
Website: www.cpcs.us
Location: 4921 NY-56, Colton, NY, USA
Phone: (315) 262-2100