Cottonwood News
March 29th, 2018
News You Can Use
After School Safety--As you know, Cottonwood shares the parking lot with the District Stadium. During track and soccer season, AHS, ACHS, ACMS and AMS host track meets and soccer practices. This means that parking/traffic may be difficult during dismissal. Thankfully we started the season off with a small 4 team meet this afternoon.
Track meets can start as early as 2:00. If at all possible, please plan to have your child ride the bus home. If your child must be a car rider, please pay extra attention to the staff members directing traffic and follow their instructions. We will try our best to get you home quickly and safely.
Author Visit-- Aaron Sidwell will visit Cottonwood on Thursday, April 5th to share his book, "When You Dream Big". His book is based on Mollie Beaver's song of the same title. Mollie is a current AHS student and former Cottonwood student.
Fliers for his book will be sent home on Friday and are attached to the bottom of the newsletter. Aaron and Mollie will sign any copies after each session and the books will be returned hopefully by the end of the day or on the following day.
Take a look at their book/song website: https://whenyoudreambig.weebly.com/ . The sessions will be in the cafeteria during the following times:
Grades K-2: 9:00-9:30 Session 1 with a book signing session from 9:30-10:00
Grades 3-5: 10:15-10:45 Session 2 with book signing session from 10:45-11:15
State Assessments--Third, fourth and fifth-grade students take the annual Kansas Assessments in March and April. These assessments are based on the standards found in the Kansas College and Career Standards Teachers have reviewed the standards and have been working with the students throughout the year getting them ready. Please encourage your child to do their best. You can find the schedule for testing below. If you have questions, contact your child's teacher.
Cottonwood Bond Update--The playground equipment is in and if the weather cooperates, there are plans to begin construction April 1st. My hope is that we will hear students playing in a new area by May 1st.
USD385 Bond Update--Want to follow the progress throughout the district? Check out the website for news and pictures. Click here
Lost and Found--We have several jackets, coats, and sweatshirts in Lost and Found. We try to remind students to check it out, but we seem to have more lost than found. It is located right by the nurse's office.
Upcoming events
There is so much happening in the last two months of school. This list is long and subject to change.
Mar. 30th Report Cards go home
Apr. 2nd 5th Grade Reading Assessment 10:00-11:30
Apr. 3rd 5th Grade Reading Assessment 10:00-11:30
Apr. 3rd PTO meeting @ 6:30
Apr. 4th 3rd Grade Math Assessment 9:00-10:00
Apr. 5th 3rd Grade Math Assessment 9:00-10:00
Apr. 5th Author Visit "When You Dream Big" 9:00-10:00 K-2
Apr. 5th Author Visit 10:00-11:00 3-5
Apr. 6th Boxtops due
Apr. 6th Father Daughter Dance 6:00-8:00 pm
Apr. 9th 5th Grade Science Assessment 10:00-11:30
Apr. 10th 5th Grade Science Assessment 10:00-11:30
Apr. 10th 4th Grade Reading Assessment 12:45-2:00
Apr. 10th Site Council @ 5:30
Apr. 11th 4th Grade Reading Assessment 12:45-2:00
Apr. 16th NO SCHOOL
Apr. 18th 2:00-3:30 Talent Show (4th and 5th gr.) Tryouts
Apr. 19th 4th Grade to the Zoo for Earth Day
Apr. 19th Music Program K-1 @ 7:00 at AHS
Apr. 20th 1st Grade to YMCA
Apr. 20th 3rd Grade to Exploration Place
Apr. 23rd 5th Grade Math Assessment 10:00-11:30
Apr. 24th 5th Grade Math Assessment 10:00-11:30
Apr. 24th 4th Grade Math Assessment 12:45-2:00
Apr. 25th 4th Grade Math Assessment 12:45-2:00
Apr. 26th Talent Show Practice 9:00-10:30
Apr. 27th Talent Show at 1:30
May 1st Trojan Children's Choir to Perform @ CES @ 10:00
May 1st PTO Meeting @ 6:30
May 2nd 3rd Grade Career Fair at the Park 9:15-11:15
May 4th 18-19 Kindergarten Visitation 9:15-11:15 and 1:15-3:15
May 4th District 3rd Grade Field Day 9:15-11:00
May 4th "May the 4th Be With You"--PTO Spring Fling 6:00-8:00 pm
May 10th 5th Grade to AMS for Band Practice
May 11th 5th Grade Amazing Race
May 11th 2nd Grade to Tanganyika
May 15th Last Day for AR tests
May 17th AR Parties for grades 1-5
May 17th Field Day (K-2 from 9:00-11:00; 3-5 from 1:00-3:00)
May 18th AR Party in the Park 10:00-2:00
May 21st Cottonwood Buddy Olympics 9:30-10:45
May 21st Staff BB game @ 2:00
May 22nd Report Cards go home
May 22nd 11:30 K Celebration @ 11:30
May 22nd 1:30 5th Grade Promotion
May 23rd Early Out @ 1:45
Counselor's Corner
Counselor Time-We are working on a career unit. The kids are all supposed to Google one career they are interested in. Please help them with this project. It will be interesting to see what our students what to do.
If you are a 3rd grade parent and would like to speak at our career fair –please let me know. It is Wednesday, May 2nd from 9:15 to 11:15 at 13th St. Park.
We recently did a lesson on Internet safety, stranger danger, and good touch bad touch. Please talk to your child about what they learned. We have some kids that have Youtube Channels and Musically. It is important to monitor these sites and have a discussion about the positive and negative aspects of the internet.
State assessment testing has begun! These assessments are for 3rd to 5th graders. Please make sure they are here, have a good breakfast and are well rested.
Information about summer programs will be coming out soon. You can check Peachjar for flyers or email me for more information. Camp Invention is offered at Robert Martin Elementary. If your child likes exploring, creating and inventing, this is the camp for them.
As we close out the year, we want to finish strong. Please talk to your child about making good behavior choices and are doing their best on their work.
Marcie Faust-Cottonwood Counselor-LCPC/NBCC
Library Corner
The William Allen White Children’s Book Award program began after the famed journalist’s death on Jan. 29, 1944 — Kansas Day — when two memorial foundations were created in his name. Emporia State University launched the William Allen White Children’s Book Award, which was guided by Ruth Garver Gagliardo, who was hired by White to write for The Emporia Gazette.
Passionate about books, Gagliardo wrote a regular column that commented on books, music and art, and often concentrated on books for children. She was one of the first to review children’s books for a newspaper, which gave parents, teachers and librarians the chance to know about good quality books for children.
A list of WAW books can be found here. Students in grades 3-5 are encouraged to read up to 11 of these books throughout the school year. Students have until April 20th to finish their books and enjoy a pizza party. If you have questions, please email Mrs. O @ mmccall@usd385.org
Nurse's News
We are winding down to the end of the school year. Just a reminder that if your child has over the counter medication or daily prescription medication at school, it will need to be picked up by a parent. All emergency medications, such as rescue inhalers, epi-pens or Diastat will be sent home with the student on last day in a sealed bag unless other arrangements are made by parent and health office staff. All medication left in health office will be destroyed at the of the school year.
Stay Healthy!
Mrs. Tauke and Mrs. Peay
Cottonwood PTO
Check out our Facebook page for more information. Our next meeting is April 3rd from 6:30-7:30 in the Cottonwood Lounge. Please join us to see what is happening at Cottonwood.
Father-Daughter Dance--April 6th from 6:00-8:00. Contact Megan Kice for more information. Forms are due Friday, March 30th.
Spring Fling--May 4th from 6:00-8:00. PTO wants to thank our families with an evening of fun. Raffles, baskets, games, sno-cones and a gaming truck are just the beginning of a "May the 4th Be With You" event.
School Safety
Breafast is served from 8:20-8:50.
After school dismissal is at 3:45. Please continue to follow the traffic patterns. It helps the adults if you have the name cards in the side windows. If you have suggestions on how to make our process and flow of traffic safer, feel free to share your ideas.
Communication is Key
School website: http://cottonwood.usd385.org/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CottonwoodElementary
PTO Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cottonwoodelementarypto/
Andover Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndoverSchools
Cottonwood Twitter: https://twitter.com/CottonwoodElem
Teacher Facebook/Twitter pages:
Mrs. Defebaugh https://www.facebook.com/MrsDefebaugh/
Mrs. Fox https://www.facebook.com/foxin5th/
Mrs. Gallagher https://www.facebook.com/mrsgallaghers5thgradeclass
Mrs. Plank https://www.facebook.com/Mrs-Planks-Fourth-Grade-1490196337947267/?fref=ts
Mrs. Ralston Twitter @Mrs_Ralston https://www.facebook.com/MrsRalstons4thGrade/?ref=settings
Mrs. Rich https://www.facebook.com/emmonsa/?fref=ts
Ms. Wright https://www.facebook.com/wrightces/?fref=ts
Mrs. Hachen https://www.facebook.com/HachenHighlights/?fref=ts
Mrs. Davis https://www.facebook.com/dayswithdavis/
Mrs. Highfill https://www.facebook.com/highfill2nd/?fref=ts
Mrs. Barscewski https://www.facebook.com/Mrs-Barscewskis-First-Grade-1295655550474548/?fref=ts
Mrs. Kindle https://www.facebook.com/kindle2014/?fref=ts
Ms. McKenna https://www.facebook.com/1stgrademckenna/
Mrs. Hanna https://www.facebook.com/MrsHannasKindergarten/?fref=ts
Mrs. Johnson/Mrs. Hays -- Hays & Johnson Kindergarten Connection (Ask for permission to join)
Mrs. Wilson https://www.facebook.com/Wilsonart2015/?fref=ts
Peachjar-- Peachjar is an “electronic backpack” system where schools post calendars, activity information from enrichment providers, and school letters. This system is used exclusively for distribution of school-approved fliers. Your email address will not be shared or used for any other purpose.
Andover Food Service-- Andover School Lunch Menus are digital. Look for the link on our district website at USD385.org, or go to usd385.nutrislice.com. There is also an app available. Just look for Nutrislice in your app store. Please call Nutrition Services, 316-218-4603 with any questions.
Next Cottonwood News--April 11th
Cottonwood Elementary
Email: rookss@usd385.org
Website: http://cottonwood.usd385.org/
Location: 1747 N Andover Rd, Andover, KS, United States
Phone: 316-218-4620
Facebook: facebook.com/CottonwoodElementary/
Twitter: @CottonwoodElem