Gator Bites
CGE Weekly Newsletter 5/10/2021
Welcome
Welcome to our weekly Gator Bites newsletter! Every Friday evening our team at CGE will send out any important updates for the following week. Our goal is to be prepared, transparent and informative! We appreciate your time and urge you to read through carefully each week- especially during these unconventional virtual learning weeks.
Stay safe, stay informed and stay Gator Strong! 🐊
From the Principal's Desk
Dr. Larry Savage, Principal
We are grateful to our PTA and you all for helping us ‘feel the love’ the past several days for Teacher Appreciation Week. The joy and support we felt from the community this week is matched by the joy we feel as educators in watching your kids learn and grow.
I would be remiss to not turn the spotlight back on you all as well. With this unprecedented time we have passed through together, you as parents/guardians have been called upon to serve as teachers day in and day out. We appreciate your tremendous efforts for Teacher Appreciation Week. Keeping our kids progressing has been (and always is) a community effort.
End of Grade Testing
As we approach the end of a most unusual school year, we would like to share information related to End of Grade testing. Unlike spring 2020, all students are expected to take the following tests as required by federal and state laws:
End-of-grade tests in reading, mathematics (grades 3-8), and science (grades 5 and 8), including all NC Extend I Tests (grades 3-8)
Unfortunately, it is not possible to have students take these tests at home. Students will take these tests in person, in school, with health and safety protocols in place. The well-being of our students, teachers, and communities is the highest priority. To support safe settings and to give students access to the tests, the testing window has been extended so fewer students are in a school at the same time.
In-Person Students:
Virtual Academy Students:
Reading EOG- Wednesday, 5/26
Science EOG (5th Grade)-Friday, 5/28 (Note: Virtual Academy students will have their own testing group)
Math EOG- Wednesday, 6/2
We understand there may be concerns about students in virtual settings coming to school to take a test. Please consider the value of our teachers and staff having information on your student’s learning for this school year, particularly to support their planning for instruction for your child for the 2021/2022 school year.
As we have all experienced this school year, by working together we can make the best decisions for each student. If you have any concerns or needs, please contact your student’s teacher for more information or to have a discussion on how we can best meet the needs of your student and your family. Let’s continue to practice the Power of We.
Progress Reports
Progress Reports for Q3 went home today: Friday, May 7th.
For grades K-2, Progress Reports will be sent home on Friday with in-person students. Virtual Academy students will still receive their Progress Report via email.
For ALL grade 3-5 students, Progress Reports will be shared on Friday electronically via Powerschool.
Registration is Open for the CGE Gator Chase!
Please register for the virtual 5K and help us raise money for an outdoor mascot sculpture! The race is as serious or as fun as YOU choose to make it -- you can even decide when you participate.
All participants receive a t-shirt and student participants will receive a commemorative medal.
Register online at https://app.memberhub.gives/gatorchase or via the QR code.
Thank you for your support!
School Pictures
School picture day was a huge success! Our students, both in-person and virtual were so patient and excited to have their photo taken for the first time at CGE!
If you missed the dates- do not worry!
You have the opportunity to upload a portrait of your student to be included in our yearbook. Click on the link below!
Submissions are due by May 21st!
CGE Yearbook
We are excited to continue to work with Strawbridge on our yearbook! Student pictures and portrait submissions will be included. Our yearbooks will take 2-3 weeks after publishing to ship out to the school. Follow the instructions to pre-order your yearbook by June 1st!
Each week we are celebrating students that display CGE’s CHOMP expectations. Here are our CHOMPERS of the week for last week:
From the Library
Reminder emails:
Reminder emails about checked out books will start going out weekly on Monday 5/3. Only students with books out will get an email. This is just to help keep everyone informed as we near the end of the year.
As always, we want students to keep books until they are finished with them until the turn in deadline.
Deadline for returning books is May 28.
Not all books are from CGE. If the book title has a set of initials in brackets [ABC] beside it, the book was checked out at another school. If you send the book to school, Mrs. Griffin will return the books to the appropriate school.
Information about our Summer Curbside Checkout Program will be announced soon!
From AIG/Advanced Learners Program
For the next 2 weeks, Ms. Wilkie and Ms. Chesney will be working with 3-5th grade small groups on test taking strategies in preparation for the EOGs. During this time, K-2nd grade Talent Development Groups will have asynchronous assignments emailed to them for independent exploration. These groups will not be meeting in person or via zoom. Current 3-5th grade group times and structure will change. Students will be informed by their classroom teacher as to any potential new group placements. All current groups (K-5th) will resume June 1st following EOGs.
Parent Pro Tips
Check out these 5 Ways to Build Social Emotional Skills Through Music
Experience Music - Many arts organizations are offering free music resources to students and families right now. NC Symphony has put together some materials for students to access music education from home.
NC Symphony Virtual Education Series Password: 1932
Improve Your Mental Health with Music - Find a song that makes you feel good!
Celebrate Diversity Through Music - As a family, create a playlist of songs that are important to you. Discuss as a family why those songs are meaningful to you. You could even share your playlist with another family.
Work Through Emotions Through Musical Performance - Start small by encouraging your child to put on a concert for other members in your household.
Foster Leadership Skills - Help your child to set musical goals for themselves.
Chatham County Summer Food Support
Thank you, participants and families, for contributing videos to this year’s talent show! Tonight’s show includes a variety of acts such as singing, dancing, horseback riding, jump roping, poetry, and so much more! We are so proud of our gators! Please use the links below to view the program and the Gator’s Got Talent video. We hope you enjoy the show!
Important Carpool/Walker Reminders
We are continuing to improve our carpool and walker dismissal procedures. Please be sure to read through the following tips to help! Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation!
-Pull up close as close as possible to the cars in front to allow more cars to fit onto campus. We have been able to significantly reduce cars off campus this week.
-Do not block the intersection on Andrews Store Road.
-Please have your students ready with everything they need to exit the car in a timely fashion when you arrive at our drop off points. If needed, please utilize our Staff parking lot if your students are not prepared to exit their vehicles.
-Walkers, please continue to socially distance while waiting for your students.
Materials Pick Up
Student materials will be available for pick up again starting on Monday April 26th from 9am-2pm. Please contact your student’s classroom teacher if you have a question about the materials/resources that need to be collected at our school.
Chatham Grove Elementary School
