Carmel Chronicles
September 2021
A Message from Mrs. Schall
Dear CES Community,
I hope this letter finds you and your family doing well. It has been a busy start to the school year and students and staff have been working hard and doing some amazing things. Here's a quick glimpse into the events that have happened and what is coming up.
NWEAs- On October 4th-7th students in grades 1-4 will be doing NWEA testing in reading and math. In grades 3-4 they will also be taking the Language Usage portion of the test. Please help us out by making sure that your child is present and well rested. It is also very helpful to encourage your child to take their time and do their best. In order to have a little fun and encourage a positive mindset around testing we are having a spirit week with themed attire.
Parent Teacher Conferences- Parent Teacher conferences will be held on October 12th and 14th from 4-7. This year we will conduct our conferences virtually by using Google Meet. Your child's teacher will be reaching out to you to schedule your conference.
Workshop Day-October 8th will be a Teacher Workshop day. There will be no school for students. On that day teachers will be working on two of our school wide initiatives. For part of the day they will be analyzing math data that they have collected from our new program called Eureka Equip. Teachers will use this data to plan small group and interventions that focus on the foundational skills of the upcoming unit. Additionally, they will be spending some time furthering their understanding and use of Readers Notebooks. Teachers will collaborate with peers and share work samples. It will be an action packed day filled with learning for us all.
Thank you for your continued support. Have a wonderful week. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Schall
Communication
Frequent communication between home and school is key to student success in school. Teachers and parents are encouraged to communicate with each other frequently in the following ways telephone, e-mail (CES office email: cesoffice@rsu87.org), notes, scheduled conferences and meetings, teacher websites, Google Classroom or Seesaw.
Please keep the school informed of all changes in contact information, including cell phone numbers and email addresses.
Email/Website
It is our goal to have open communication between school personnel and parents. Although face-to-face communication is the best, it is not always the most convenient. E-mail can be very useful and parents who desire it, are encouraged to use this method of communication.
The district and each school have specific web addresses. Please bookmark our site so you can stay up to date on events at CES. The web address for Carmel Elementary School is: https://www.rsu87.org/o/ces You will also find that many of our teachers have classroom websites. You can find a link to their website on the CES website, in the staff section. Each website is linked next to the classroom teachers name and picture.
A Message From Mrs. Exley
Dear CES Community,
I want to welcome you all back to another exciting school year here at Carmel Elementary. For those of you who are new to our community, my name is Ashley Exley, and I am the elementary school social worker for RSU 87. My role here at the school is to support our student's social, emotional, and academic needs. Please feel free to contact me any time to discuss how I can help support your child.
Our goal here at Carmel Elementary is for your child to be as successful as possible at school. Success in school is not just about reading and math. It is also about knowing how to learn and how to get along with others. This year we are excited to be offering the Second Step program in your child’s classroom to teach these critical skills.
The Second Step program teaches skills in the following four areas:
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.
Your child will be learning a lot this year—and he or she will need your help! Throughout the year, your child will be bringing home Home Links that go with several of the Second Step lessons. Home Links are simple, fun activities for you and your child to complete together. They are a great way for you to understand what your child is learning and for your child to show you what he or she knows. If you have any questions about the Second Step program, please do not hesitate to contact me for more information. Thank you for supporting your child in learning the skills that lead to success in school and in life.
Classroom Spotlight
Pre-K News
In Pre-K, we practice our skills in fun and engaging ways. We tear paper for craft projects. When kids tear paper, they are developing fine motor skills like grasp, hand strength, eye-hand coordination, bilateral coordination, and more. We play math board games to practice one to one correspondence, subitizing (the ability to instantly recognize the number of objects without actually counting them), turn taking, and sportsmanship. We memorize and retell stories with puppets and play pieces to connect students with literature and start them on the path to reading.
Music News
Mr. T and I are beyond excited to also be bringing back the beginning band for fourth graders this year. Last week they had their first rehearsal and this week starts their first week of "sectionals", where they get together with other kids who play their instruments and learn how to read and play their new music.
We are both so excited to be back with all of our students making music this month!
Our Read Aloud
Virtual All School Assembly
Carmel Cats Way Drawing
Virtual All-School Assembly
Then, we selected one student from each grade level as a winner of our Carmel Cats Way drawing. Students have been working hard all month to demonstrate the Carmel Cats Way in their classroom. (P= Practice Respect, A= Accept Responsibility, W= Work Together, S= Safety First) When students are caught demonstrating these core values they earn a certificate and their name is entered into our monthly drawing. Our students have done a wonderful job following the Carmel Cats Way.
Dates to Remember
9/27 Virtual All School Assembly
10/2 National Custodian Appreciation Day
10/2 Carmel Days Community Celebration
10/4-10/29 NWEA Testing Window (3rd & 4th Grade State Testing)
10/7 School Board Meeting 6:30 at Caravel Middle School
10/8 Workshop Day (No School for Students)
10/11 Indigenous People’s Day (No School)
10/12 Parent Teacher Conferences 4-7
10/14 Parent Teacher Conferences 4-7
11/12 End of 1st Trimester
About Us
Email: cesoffice@rsu87.org
Website: https://www.rsu87.org/o/ces
Location: 50 Plymouth Road, Carmel, ME, USA
Phone: (207) 848-3383