Keeping Up with Colden
March 2024
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Families,
As we bid farewell to February, we can't help but reflect on the whirlwind of activities and events that made it such a memorable month for our students. From celebrating the 100th day of school to spreading love on Valentine's Day and enjoying the winter wonderland (regardless of how little snow we had) during Winter Fun Day, February was indeed a busy and fun-filled time for everyone.
The 100th day of school was a fantastic milestone, filled with laughter, learning, and creativity. Our students showcased their mathematical prowess by counting to 100 in various ways, and the energy and enthusiasm in the classrooms were impressive!
Valentine's Day brought a wave of affection and camaraderie as our students exchanged cards, treats, and other trinkets. It was heartwarming to see the joy on their faces as they shared love and kindness with their peers and teachers.
Winter Fun Day was a blast! From a school-wide movie with hot chocolate and cookies to bingo and crafts in the classroom, our students enjoyed their last day together before mid-winter break. Thank you, teachers, for planning!
As we look ahead to March, we have another exciting event on the horizon: the Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) program. PARP will kick off at the beginning of the month and run for two weeks. This program aims to foster a love of reading by encouraging parents to read with their children at home. We're thrilled to embark on this literary journey together, and can't wait to see the impact it will have on our students' literacy skills and love for books.
And of course, as March comes to a close, we have the much-anticipated spring recess to look forward to. It will be a well-deserved break for our students to recharge, relax, and spend quality time with family and friends.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Together, we make each month a special and enriching experience for our students. Here's to a fantastic March ahead!
Warm regards,
Mrs. Langworthy
100th Day of School
100 Days with Ms. "Button"
Stamping to 100 with UPK
5th Graders Aging their Principal π
PARP 2024
Dear CES Families,
Reading with your child is the single most important activity you can do to help them succeed in school. Our PARP (Pick A Reading Partner) celebration is the perfect opportunity to develop such practices. PARP is a statewide PTA sponsored program created to help foster a love for reading, as children read with their families for 15 minutes a day. Colden Elementary is celebrating PARP Monday, March 4th - Thursday, March 14th.
A calendar of PARP events is included in this packet. Thank you for your support and remember: Level Up By Reading!
Sincerely,
The PARP Committee
Updates from Student Council
By: Evan Preston & Brielle Golder, 5th Grade Student Council Members
As we conclude the month of February, The Student Council will continue to collect sundries for the Bread of Life through March 4th. These items are placed under The Giving Tree.
From March 11th-22nd, The Student Council will be hosting a βLucky Coin Toss.ββ Please have your child bring in coins to toss during their lunch.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to Colden Elementary Student Council and our local Community.
REGISTER FOR KINDERGARTEN BY MARCH 31
Springville-Griffith Institute is scheduling screenings for children eligible to enter kindergarten in September 2024, at both Springville Elementary School and Colden Elementary School. Parents of children who are residents of Springville-Griffith Institute Central School District and are eligible for kindergarten in September 2024 are asked to complete the form below.
Please return the form below to your communityβs elementary school by March 31, 2024. To be eligible for kindergarten in September 2024, children must be 5 years old on or before December 1, 2024. Once this form is received and processed, you will receive information about your childβs appointment for screening by the end of April.
If your child will be attending kindergarten at a school other than Colden Elementary or Springville Elementary schools, please contact Kendi Kester at CES (716-592-3217) or Crystal Sopko at SES (716-592-3261). This census information will also help the District allocate the necessary resources for the upcoming school year and clarify each childβs enrollment.
Please complete this form and mail it or drop it off at your school by March 31, 2024.
- Springville Elementary School, 283 North Street, Springville, NY 14141, 716-592-3261
- Colden Elementary School, 8263 Boston Colden Road, Colden, NY 14033, 716-592-3217
Updates from the Health Office
To help with the spread of sickness this season, please remind your children the importance of washing their hands. This month, we have seen an uptick in pink eye in our primary classrooms.
Proper hand-washing is a great mitigation strategy in the prevention of the spread of germs.
Attendance βThank you for notifying the teacher of your studentβs absences. As a friendly reminder, please include Mrs. Preston in the email, as she is the attendance secretary and marks the absences. This will save the teacher from forwarding the information.
If you have any questions about whether or not to keep your child home due to illness, please contact the health office.
Maggi Preston
(716) 592-3214
Partnering with PTA
March means the annual Pick a Reading Partner (PARP) celebration at Colden Elementary School. This yearβs event begins Monday, March 4th, and runs through Thursday, March 14th. In addition to the daily in-school activities, Colden PTA will host the second annual Bingo for Books on Wednesday, March 6. Join us for pizza at 5:30 PM and as many games of bingo as we can fit in, starting at 6 PM.
To help make events like Bingo for Books and our school-wide field trips possible, the PTA is running two fundraisers this month. The first is our traditional Easter Chocolate Sale, in partnership with Essentially Well Oiled. A huge variety of these amazing chocolates are available for sale. Orders and payment (made in cash or checks payable to Colden Elementary PTA) are due to the school by March 18th.
The second is a new one through ABC Fundraising. Six different treats that can be made at home are available including cinnamon monkey bread, two kinds of pretzels, two kinds of pizza pals, and cinnamon rolls. Orders are due Thursday, March 14th, and payment can be made in cash or checks payable to Colden Elementary PTA.
The next monthly meeting will be on Wednesday, March 13th at 7 PM via Zoom (meeting ID 238 445 7202, passcode CES). We will be discussing upcoming events, officer elections, and other business. We would like input from our families, so please join if you can.
March's Character Trait: Perseverance
π Our Schedule This Month
π Weekly Shout-Outs
EMS, for educating our primary students
Thank you, Erie County Department of Health Division of Emergency Medical Services, for teaching our students how and when to call 911.
Mighty Movers, for teaching bike riding
Thank you, Mrs. Brown & Mrs. Georger, for teaching students how to ride bikes, starting with the strider bikes.
The Club Kids, for Acceptance
Students of all ages playing Uno before school starts.
Solar eclipse lesson & glasses coming to a STEAM Class near you!
π Coming Up!
Parent/Teacher Conference Day
Half-day for students
Early dismissal at 11:15 (pick up students) & 11:30 (buses dismissed)
Friday, Mar 8, 2024, 08:45 AM
Classrooms
π‘ Reminders
1. IMPORTANT DATES π
No school for students on Friday, March 15th (Superintendent's Conference Day)
Spring Break dates: Friday, March 29th - Monday, April 8th
School resumes on Tuesday, April 9th
2. ASK YOUR CHILD ABOUT β
- What are you looking forward to during PARP?
- What's your favorite book and why?
- What ways can you show perseverance (March Character Trait) at school and home?
- What are you looking forward to doing over Spring Break?
3. PARENT RESOURCES π€
For Colden Cares and Family Support Services, please contact Mrs. Skok Watson for more information @ (716) 592-3277.