CCS Newsletter
January 18, 2019
ADMINISTRATION UPDATE
Dear CCS Friends and Families,
The end of this week has been quite busy at CCS!
On Thursday, CCS hosted two small teams of educators from other school districts and the Agency of Education as part of the CVSD Independent Field Review. To begin each half of the day with each team, a small team of students (Charlie Moore - grade 4, Payton Shattie - grade 6 and Sage Kehr - grade 8) led our visitors on a tour of the school. It was a pleasure to tag along on the tour to hear what their perspective is on everything from our physical space to their classes and independent opportunities! Another group of students in grades 3-8 participated in a student panel interview with the visiting educators. We did not get to sit in on that experience, but are sure we would have been very enlightened by their perspectives and impressed by their contributions. Students described the process as interesting and fun. Many thanks to Eloise Glasscoe and Lucia Hackerman (grade 4), Sam Moore (grade 5), Hannah Stein (grade 6), Sam Haydock (grade 7) and Rory McDermott (grade 8) for their participation!
This morning, our CCS Diversity Team gathered to do some committee work. The Diversity Team is committed to promoting the respect and inclusion of individuals representing diversity in race, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexual identity, religion, and global cultures of the CCS community. Our current work is focusing on two key strands:
building empathy within all realms of student, staff and community populations through regularly embedded and intentional experiences within our school and community and hearing from a diversity of voices;
re-envisioning the winter reading experience that has traditionally been known as Reading to End Racism to support a more diverse experience for students. We will be focusing on “Finding Voice” in literature and opportunities and experiences that support finding and reading books with diverse characters. While we will continue to be inclusive of the issue of race, we will broaden the scope of this month-long experience. Stay tuned for more details!
Collectively, the Diversity Team captured their work today as a way to focus on the idea that when you know better, you can do better. Our essential purpose is growing good humans.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kind Regards,
Stephanie, Jen and Cassandra
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Sunday, January 20th
Make-A-Wish Family Formal, CVU Cafeteria, 4:30pm - 7:30pm
Monday, January 21st
NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 22nd
Early Release, 1:55pm
Field Trip - Alpha 5 to Flynn Theater, 9:15 - 11:30
Thursday, January 24th
5/6 Winter Assembly, MPR, 1:45pm
5/6 Winter Concert, MPR, 7:00pm
Friday, January, 25th
Winter Ball - Grades 7 & 8 Only, MPR, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Monday, January 28th
Geo-Bee Preliminary - see inside newsletter for grade times
Tuesday, January 29th
Early Release, 1:55pm
Wednesday, January 30th
Grade 4 NAEP Assessment
Thursday, January 31st
Grade 8 NAEP Assessment
MATHCOUNTS
Congratulations to the following students who competed in the District level math counts competition held at WCS last Friday 1-11-18. The team came in second place! Well done!!
Emma Jemley - 8th grade
Joe Jacobs - 8th grade
Owen Deale – 7th grade
Grace McNally – 8th grade
Hadley Stockwell – 8th grade
Jadin Brown – 8th grade
Zack Santos – 8th grade
Peter Gilliam – 8th grade
CVSD SCHOOL BASED EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM PEER LOTTERY APPLICATION
The CVSD School-based Early Education Programs are now accepting applications for a random peer lottery drawing for the 2019-20 school year. Our preschools are 5 STAR accredited licensed early education programs that provide play-based, developmentally appropriate environments for all children. Our curriculum is based on the Vermont Early Learning Standards (VELS) and Teaching Strategies Gold. We believe that a diverse classroom offers opportunities for adults and children to practice acceptance and compassion and also provides a broad range of learning experiences.
Our programs follow the CVSD school calendar.
Peers who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2019, but not yet 5 years old, are eligible to enter the lottery for our programs.
All applications must be received by February 8, 2019. Students will be selected via a lottery.
Please call Julia Wayne at 802-482-6236 or e-mail jwayne@cvsdvt.org with questions.
Lottery application can be found at:
https://sites.google.com/cssu.org/charlottehinesburgearlyed/home
GeoBee DATES - PRELIMINARY GRADE LEVEL BEES NEXT WEEK!
School GeoBee - Monday, January 28, 2019 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. (MPR) - school champion online test must be done by February 1, 2019.
Preliminary GeoBee - Tuesday, January 22, 2019
8:30 - 9:15 - Grade 7
9:15 - 10:00 - Grade 8
10:00 - 10:45: Grade 4
11:30 - 12:15: Grade 6
1:00 - 1:45 - Grade 5
SCRIPPS SPELLING BEE
The CCS Scripps National School Spelling Bee will take place on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 1:15 p.m. in the MPR! Qualifying grade-level bees will be on Friday, February 15th - exact time and location TBD. Parent volunteers Chea Evans and Michaela Grubbs will be running practices on 1/30, 2/1, 2/5, 2/7, 2/8 during lunch and recess blocks!
Here are links to study materials, which will also be made available to students at school.
School Spelling Bee List Combined
PHYSICAL EDUCATION LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY
Dear CCS Community,
My name is Matthew Kent and I am the 3rd - 8th-grade physical education teacher at Charlotte Central. Here at CCS, we focus on providing the best education possible. No matter where they want to excel, we strive to make sure our students have the tools and resources they need to prepare them to be healthy, fit, productive citizens.
With that being said, I am looking to expand student options in our PE program. My vision requires some tools and resources that we do not possess just yet. Through grants, fundraising, and donations I hope to make that vision come to fruition. Where we are lacking is fitness equipment which would allow us to learn and take part in activities such as resistance training, high-intensity interval training, plyometric training, and proper cooldowns. Below is a list of items that I believe can be of great value to our program:
Yoga mats
Yoga blocks
Yoga straps
Resistance bands
Free weights (dumbbells)
Kettlebells
Medicine balls
Slam balls (no bounce)
Weighted vests
Suspension straps with handles (ie. TRX straps)
Weighted workout bars
Stationary bikes (upright or recumbent)
Rowing machines
Bosu balls (balance trainers)
To continue offering our students a top-notch education, we here in the physical education program want to teach suitable, relevant and cutting edge material. If you happen to have any of the aforementioned items that are a) in good to great condition and b) in safe working order, please contact me, Matthew Kent. My email address is as follows, mkent@cvsdvt.org.
This is just the beginning steps to creating a program that works for all students. Our goal is to develop physically literate individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to enjoy a lifetime of healthful physical activity.
All of us at Charlotte Community School want to thank you in advance for your contribution!
Sincerely,
Matthew Kent
CCS Physical Educator
Grades 3 - 8
mkent@cvsdvt.orgLIBRARY NEWS
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to the library February 5-8! More information will be coming home in backpacks soon, but in the meantime, visit our online fair website to get a sneak peek with the interactive flyer or volunteer to help out at the fair. You may also shop early online beginning this Sunday, February 20!
MUSIC NEWS
Please mark your calendar for the 5th and 6th winter concert: Thursday, January 24th at 7 PM in MPR. Performers should dress their best and arrive at 6:30 PM in the band room. This concert will feature the 5th grade band, 6th grade band, and the 5/6 chorus. We hope to see you there!
The District Music Festival is on February 1-2 at Essex Middle School. Students should arrive prior to 9 AM registration that morning and are responsible for transportation to and from the festival. Please be sure to check your email for information from Gary Moreau, the festival manager, regarding other logistics. There will be a concert at 2 PM on February 2 as the culmination of the festival.
5th and 6th Grade Jazz Band and 6-8 Ukulele Band have begun! Jazz Band meets on Wednesdays at 7:30 and Ukulele Band on Fridays at 7:30. Come join the fun! No jazz rehearsal on Wednesday, January 23rd.
Please contact Andy Smith or Monica Littlefield directly if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you!
SLEDDING DURING RECESS TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK
We have prepped all of the sleds and they are ready to go. Students will sled twice a week depending on the weather. In looking at next week, the best days seem to be Tuesday and Friday.
All students that wish to sled must have snow clothes. Mr. DiNicola and/or Tim Holcomb will go over expectations with each group before we walk them up to the hill at the start of each recess.
PTO VARIETY SHOW INFORMATION
Calling all yodelers, roller skate dancers, piano players, stand-up comedians, and talented kids of all ages!
Whatever your talents are, don't hide your light under a bushel. Share them with your schoolmates and the community by participating in the annual CCS PTO Variety Show, where we welcome students to perform a skit, play the violin, burp the alphabet, whatever! Group performances are welcome. Two rules: have fun, and no lip-synch routines.
To sign up for the Variety Show, please send an email to Chea Evans cheaevans@gmail.com or Katie Taylor at katiertaylor@gmail.com with the names and grades of the performers, as well as a brief description of their act. No worries if they change their mind, their tune, or their outfits--we can roll with it, but we would like to know as soon as possible how many kids are performing.
Rehearsals will be held in the MPR Jan. 28, 30, Feb. 1, 5, and 7. Students must attend a minimum of two rehearsals. They’ll be right after school for an hour and a half, 3-4:30 with the exception of the Tuesday rehearsal which will be from 2-3:30.
Kindergarten parents: K students usually perform a song together at the beginning of the show--even the shy ones usually come around. We have a parent volunteer who will be coordinating this portion of the show who will be in touch separately.
The show is Friday, February 8. Doors open at 6:00 and the show is at 7:00. Can't wait to see you there!
2019-2020 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Dear Charlotte Families and Pre-School Providers,
We are writing to inform you that Charlotte Central School will be opening our Kindergarten Registration for the 2019-2020 school year starting December 3, 2018. Champlain Valley School District (CVSD) is asking families to register their Kindergartners earlier this year, in an effort to get more accurate enrollment numbers for our schools. These enrollment numbers help us to plan our staffing needs for the upcoming school year and help us to coordinate our site visits for placement in the Spring.
Naomi Strada, Administrative Assistant to the Principals, coordinates registration for CCS and she is looking forward to hearing from you! You can contact Naomi at 802-425-6600. Please do not email as she will need additional information about your child(ren) and for you to select a time for the February 6th screening date. Once an appointment has been made, Naomi will mail you all the necessary paperwork. Vicki Nelson (our K-2 school counselor), Tanya Vyhovsky (School Services Clinician) and Stephanie Sumner (PreK-4 Principal) are happy to help families complete the paperwork, just let us know how we can help you.
We are looking forward to meeting our new Kindergarten students and families at our Kindergarten Screening Days (February 6, 2019) and Kindergarten Visiting Day (May 24, 2019) in the Spring! This is such an exciting time for you and your child, and we are happy to be a part of this experience with you.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Sumner, PreK-4 Principal
TWO WAYS TO ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK
2. Print out order form below and submit to your support room teacher of CCS Office ALONG with a check or cash.
JANUARY LUNCH MENU
CHARLOTTE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Check out our website.