Parent Memo
Week of November 7, 2022
COOK HILL FOR THE WIN!!!
Message from Mrs. Yost
Thank you to all that came out to support the PF/ CH Kickball Game. What an amazing turnout and energetic time! Always a great time when sister schools come together. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
The 3rd Annual Battle of the School Food Drive will begin Nov. 14- Dec. 6th. Start collecting those cans. See below for more information.
Reminder that free meals will end November 30th. See below for full disclosure of support offered by our Food Service.
With the cooler days upon us, please remember to have our child prepared with the proper attire to go outside - coats, pants, etc. Slides are not a safe shoe to be worn to school. Closed toed shoes with a back is the best option.Thank you for your understanding.
As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Where Character, Community & Achievement Matter!,
Mrs. Yost
Follow us on Instagram - Cook Hill Cougars @cookhillcougars
American Education week
American Education Week provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in the lives of students across America each year. American Education Week is observed during the first full week before Thanksgiving. Cook Hill School, along with all the other Wallingford Elementary Schools, will be celebrating this special week.
American Education Week is coming to Cook Hill November 14th -18th. Your child's teacher will be in touch this week about a time that their classroom will be open for you to come to see our amazing instruction in action! Please be on the lookout for their communication.
Third Annual Food Drive
It is time for the Third Annual Food Drive Competition. Last year Cook Hill and Parker Farms School managed to win against Highland and Fritz Elementary Schools by bringing a total of 5471 food items for the Town of Wallingford. This year we are again competing against Highland and Fritz Elementary Schools who brought in 3538 items last year. We will be holding a food drive to help support the Wallingford Community. We are collecting any unopened and unexpired nonperishable items.
Some examples include, but are not limited to: Canned goods, pasta, rice, tuna, hot/cold cereal, juice, soup, coffee & tea, peanut butter, jelly.
We will be collecting items beginning Monday, November 14th through Tuesday, December, 6th.
To create some excitement and build on the success of last year's Inaugural Food Drive Competition, Cook Hill will try to beat our own total of 1733 from last year. If we achieve this goal, a special school-wide celebration will be planned prior to our winter break.
GO COUGARS! GO BULLDOGS!
There will be drop off locations at the Doors Gym Lobby, Main Office Doors, Kindergarten Doors, and Preschool Entrance. We will be limiting the movement of all items brought into the building to maintain the safety of students and staff. We request that donations be left during school hours, from arrival to dismissal.
Thank you for your support in this time of need!
The Cook Hill StaffImportant Dates
American Indian Heritage Month
Saturday November 5th - Daylight savings ends - Set your clock back 1 hour
Tuesday, November 8th - Election Day - No School for students
Thursday, November 10th - CH Veterans Day Celebration @ 9:30, Honored Guest @ 9:15am
Thursday, November 10th - Spirit Day - Show our gratitude and pride for our Veterans by wearing red, white and blue.
Friday, November 11th - Veterans Day- No School
Mondy, November 14th - Spirit Day - Kindness Day - Wear light blue for World Kindness Day! Do something nice for someone today ! #WorldKindnessDay
Monday, November 14th - CH Town Meeting @ 2:30pm
Wednesday, November 23rd - Early Dismissal @ 1:30pm
Thursday, November 24th - Happy Thanksgiving - No School
Friday, November 25th - Thanksgiving Break - No School
Monday, November 28th - Board of Education Meeting @ 6:30pm, 45 S. Main Street
Viral Illness Information from WPS
As we enter into the winter months, The State Department of Education and Department of Health recently provided information regarding viral illnesses that we are expected to see an increase in the coming months. They provided some information to schools on the 3 most prevalent viruses we may see causing illness. Below is a summary of that information shared with us. It is important to note that we are and will be seeing other viral illnesses as well.
The most important information is in following the steps in "how we can stop the spread?" which are our general mitigation measures.
How can we stop the spread?
1. Get your seasonal flu vaccine and COVID-19 boosters
2. Stay home if you are sick
3. Cover your cough/wear a mask with mild symptoms
4. Wash your hands
5. Routinely clean/disinfect surfaces
What is RSV?
Signs and Symptoms
Typically mild, cold-like symptoms
May cause bronchiolitis or pneumonia in infants, older adults, or those with underlying conditions
Testing
Most people with mild illness will not be tested
School exclusion
No RSV-specific guidance
May return to school if fever free and feeling well enough
Masks are recommended as part of test-mask-go for staff and students with mild symptoms
What is Influenza?
Signs and Symptoms
Fever with cough and/or sore throat
Infants, older adults, and persons with underlying conditions at increased risk of severe disease
Testing
Testing is recommended as antiviral therapies are effective and readily available
School exclusion
No influenza-specific guidance
May return to school if fever free and feeling well enough
What is COVID-19?
Signs and Symptoms
Fever Shortness of breath
Cough, congestion, runny nose Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Fatigue, headache, muscle ache New loss of taste or smell
Testing
Testing important so infected individuals can self-isolate
Antivirals available for persons at higher risk of complications
School exclusion
Isolate for 5 days after symptom onset or positive test (if asymptomatic)
If fever-free and other symptoms improved may return to school and mask through day 10
Community Events
Ending date for free student meals extended to November 3Oth!
Please read this post thoroughly and in it's entirety so there is no confusion:
Please note that the date of the end of free school meals at the Wallingford Schools has been extended to Wednesday, November 30th.
This means that as of Thursday, December 1st 2022, students will be charged for breakfast and lunch meals unless they have been approved as eligible to receive free meals.
We will send out periodic reminder notices, as well as timely information on meal pricing, methods of meal payments, as well as other pertinent information during the month of November.
If you have not yet completed the free and reduced meal application, and feel you may qualify but have not been approved for free or reduced price meals, we urge you to complete an application before November 30th. If you have already been approved for free or reduced meals you do not need to do anything.
Applications can be completed online on the district website at www.Wallingfordschools.org
Just log on and click on Food Services. There are also applications in English and Spanish that can be printed out and completed by hand on the website under Food Services, Menus and Mealpay.
Physical applications can also be obtained in each school office or at the Board of Education office at 100 South Turnpike Road.
Thank you
Parent Workshop - How to use Sparkler
Wednesday, Nov 16th
6pm pizza/salad dinner, children welcome
6:30pm program, parents only
Childcare is provided Community Room
Registration required
School Hours
School Hours: 9:05 AM - 3:30 PM
(Parent drop off 8:50am-9:05am)
Delayed Openings
2 hour: 11:05-3:30
No AM Preschool class
Early Dismissals
2 hour: 9:05-1:30
2 hour and 45 minute: 9:05-12:45
No PM Preschool class
School Contact Information
Amy Yost ~ Principal
Kara Piper, Secretary - kpiper1@wallingfordschools.org
Amy Yost, Principal - ayost@walllingfordschools.org
PreSchool Office
Kelly Vallancourt, Secretary - kvallancourt@wallingfordschools.org
Email: ayost@wallingfordschools.org
Website: https://www.wallingford.k12.ct.us/our-schools/cook-hill-elementary-school
Location: 57 Hall Road, Wallingford, CT, USA
Phone: (203)284-5400