Mill Creek Magic Messages
News and Updates from Mr. Ortman and Mr. Murtha 10/23/2020
What's Happening in Mill Creek Classrooms?
- Ms. McMullan's Kindergarten students drew spooky houses to practice drawing within the lines (neatly) and to use as story starters.
- Mr. Hartigan's 1st grade students used an iPad app. to create sentences and shared them with the class.
- Ms. Binckley's 2nd grade students learned about bats... 'tis the season!
- Ms. Peka's 3rd grade students held an in-depth discussion about their independent reading books.
- Ms. Ruth's 4th grade class enthusiastically practiced their division skills.
- Ms. Mudry (Music) led Ms. Zeoli's 5th grade class in using a piano computer app. to play familiar songs.
- Ms. Conte's 6th grade class learned about and engaged in plotting points on an x and y axis.
Important Family Travel Information
Central Bucks School District is adhering to its health and safety plan (aligned with CDC guidelines). As part of that plan, the District follows the COVID-19 Information for Travelers site, which is updated almost daily. Considering this, families who choose to travel should be informed when making that choice.
The site to follow this information is: https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Travelers.aspx
While the site says “recommend” quarantine, the District requires quarantine, so as to not infect any other persons should a member of the school District (teacher, support staff, student) have contracted the illness. Central Bucks School District encourages families to be mindful of the fact that when travelling they should avoid these areas. We encourage families to plan ahead, so they are able to plan accordingly if they have to travel to one of the locations on the quarantine list.
Please be advised if you are choosing to travel to a state/country that is on quarantine list your child(ren) will be required to quarantine for 14 days period, beginning on the date you return from travel. If your child(ren) attend school in-person, they will be permitted to return to the school building for instruction once that 14 day quarantine period has passed.
Important Dates
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.
Emergency Forms are Online - Due Friday, October 30!
- 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) by the Friday, October 30 deadline!
Red Ribbon Week Spirit Days...
Home and School Association News and Flyers
HSA NEWS
Mill Creek Home and School is now accepting Venmo! @MillCreekHSA
- Mill Creek Student Directory Hard Copies are available for $5. Introducing payment through VENMO! @MillCreekHSA Please include your child's name and "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
- 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!
6th Grade HSA NEWS
- Calling all 6th Grade Creekers ... Pumpkin Decorating Contest! The Deadline is Monday, October 26th. Please see flyer below Mr. Ortman's "Principal's Post" for details.
- YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST FOR ALL 6TH GRADERS! Please see the updated flyer for email directions. Deadline is November 6.
HSA October 2020 Calendar
Principal's Post - A Weekly Note From Mr. Ortman
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
From the Desk of Mr. Murtha
I am going to keep my message short and sweet this week, and just say "Thank you!"
Thank you to...
- Our teachers for their ongoing hard work and focus on students during these challenging times.
- Our support staff for the immeasurable amount of work they are doing for our students and teachers, such as keeping our building clean and healthy, and working one on one/in small groups (socially distanced) to help students in need.
- Our students for continuing to enjoy learning and being in school, even though there are rules and protocols in place that they could easily view as inconvenient, and when many of their school experiences (e.g. Halloween) need to take on different forms this year.
- Our community for your understanding and support as we move through the 2020-2021 school year; you truly make us feel that we are all in this together!
With tremendous gratitude,
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 10/23/2020 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:
Instructional Spotlight - Ms. Millman (1st Grade)
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