Cole Miners' Dig
March 8, 2024
Principal's Notes
We started the week with a visit from the North and South Rivers Watershed for the 5th grade students. They participated in many hands on activities to learn more about the water all around us. Many thanks to our parent volunteers for helping to teach these lessons. This morning the staff celebrated the upcoming arrival of Mrs. Fraser's baby and Mrs. McGowan's baby. We can't wait to welcome this two bundles of joy into our Cole School community.
As we look ahead to next week, we'll start the week with a Connections meeting where students will learn about our new SEL theme - Integrity. Then we'll head to the gym to hear some Irish music played by Cole School parent, Mr. Kaszuba. The PTO will meet on Wednesday morning in the cafeteria and the three coordinators (reading, literacy, and math) will share ways families can support their children's developing skills at home. It's sure going to be a great week!
Universal screening results for students in grades 1-5 is available in the Aspen portal for the winter data. Winter screening data for kindergarten students will take place next week and I'll let you know when that data is available in Aspen. These results are used along with other classroom data to determine if students will receive extra support in the targeted areas. Students who score in the some risk category will generally be receiving additional small group (Tier 2) support from their classroom teacher. If your child will be receiving a higher level of support (Tier 3) with a reading or math specialist, you will hear directly from your child’s classroom teacher.
These results represent one quick measure of your child’s skills. If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s progress in the curriculum your child’s teacher can provide more detail on their skill development.
We have several Appreciation Days coming up to celebrate the bus drivers, crossing guard, and aides. We are looking for a few more donations from the community. If you'd like to help us celebrate these important people, please look here to fill the donation slots. Thank you all for your help!
This week's Magnificent Meerkats include 41 students that shine brightly and consistently show kind and helpful behaviors. The students just beam as they hear why they've been nominated! Great thought is put into the nominations written by both staff and students. Some examples the specific reasons given for nominations this week include:
- He always shows expected behavior in the classrooms, at specials, and at lunch and recess. He is ALWAYS polite and uses his manners! He always shows great effort with his schoolwork.
- He is a classmate who greets others each day with a sincere smile and friendly disposition. He includes his peers and shows genuine concern for others. He is a respectful listener in class and does what he is directed to do the first time he is asked.
- She is a thoughtful and caring friend to all of her classmates. She tries her very best each day and always strives to do the right thing-even when no one is looking!
- She is always kind and inclusive to me and everybody else. She is always respectful to others and is very kind.
- He is so kind inside and outside of school. He tries his best in school everyday and is always open to helping someone in need. Lastly, he will listen to anyone who wants to talk.
Upcoming Dates and Events
March
March 10 - Daylight Savings Time - Spring Clocks Ahead One Hour!
March 11 - Connections Meeting - Reading The I in Integrity
March 13 - PTO Meeting 9am Cole School Cafeteria
March 15 - Second Trimester Ends
March 18-22 - Neurodiversity Week - more info to come soon!
March 20 - School Crossing Guard Day - Say thank you to our crossing guard, Mary Wood!
March 22 - Original Artworks art sent home for ordering
March 22 - Report Cards Available in Aspen
March 25 - Grade 5 Parent Information Night for Puberty Lessons 6:30-7:30pm
March 28 - District Band Concert at NHS - 7pm
March 29 - No School
April - Mark Your Calendar
April 1-5 - National Assistant Principal Week - let's shower Mrs. Benner with appreciation!
April 1 - Parent Information for Placement Google Form Shared via Email
April 1 - 15 - Cole School Spring Family Survey - link sent via email from Panorama Ed
April 1 - Variety Show Practice for Grades 3-5 3:20-5:00pm
April 3 - Cole School Spirit Day - wear rainbows or as many colors as you can for National Rainbow Day as selected by raffle winner and kindergarten student, Thea
April 3 - National Aide Appreciation Day
April 5 - Grade 4 MCAS ELA Session 1
April 8 - Grade 4 MCAS ELA Session 2
April 9 - Grade 3 MCAS ELA Session 1
April 10 - Early Release - All students dismissed at 12:20pm - Parent Conferences
April 10 - Variety Show Practice for Grades K-2 12:20-3pm
April 11 - Grade 3 MCAS ELA Session 2
April 11 - Evening Parent Conferences
April 15 - 19 - April Vacation Week
April 23 - Bus Driver Appreciation Day
April 23 - Grade 5 MCAS ELA Session 1
April 24 - Grade 5 MCAS ELA Session 2
April 24 - National Secretary Appreciation Day
April 26 - Parent Information for Placement Google Form Due
April 26 - Community Meeting 9:00am
Upcoming Mark Your Calendar
May 9 - Cole School Variety Show at NHS
May 30 - Grade 4 Concert
June 7 - Field Day
June 10 - Grade 5 Band Concert
June 13 - Grade 5 Celebration 6-8pm (Grade 5 Students and Parents only, no siblings or other family please)
June 17 - Tentative Last Day of School
School Counselor's Corner
We have started a new SEL unit on Integrity. In lessons this week, we heard stories about characters with integrity, and role-played ways we can kindly tell the truth. We also reviewed bus behavioral expectations and how this can be a time to do the right thing, even if no one is watching. Today is also SEL day! Check out these great resources to celebrate social-emotional learning.
Nurse's Nook
Families should be aware that there continue to be cases of Conjunctivitis or “Pink eye”. Be on the lookout for any signs of redness in one or both eyes, teary or watery eyes, itching or a “gritty” feeling, sensitivity to light or the sun, drainage or crusting around the eyes. Do not send your child to school with these symptoms, they must be on antibiotic ointments or drops for 24hrs prior to returning or have clearance from the doctor with a letter stating they are not considered contagious. Warm compresses and artificial tears may be used for comfort as well. Encourage your child to wash their hands frequently, avoid touching their eyes/face, use a clean towel/ washcloth daily, and do not share towels/washcloths with others in the house.
We are also seeing some hand, foot, and mouth cases, otherwise known as Coxsackievirus. Please be vigilant for red spots on hands and feet and/or ulcers in their mouth and throat. You can get this virus more than once and it might not always present the same way from one sibling to another. Anyone of any age can get this but be particularly vigilant of students with younger siblings. Typically, it presents with a headache, runny nose, decreased appetite, and a mild to low grade fever. Please remember that your child must be fever free without the use of antipyretics (Tylenol/Motrin) for >24 hours.
Specialists' Scoop
This week we began a Paddle Striking Unit for all grades! Kindergarten through 2nd grade were using different implements (pool noodles, frisbees, lollipop paddles and bowling pins) to strike a balloon with control. Grades 3-5 were provided with a series of challenges using plastic paddles to strike a small ball while practicing their forehand, backhand and rallying skills.
Cole School PTO News
Welcome back from break everyone!
The 2024 Variety Show planning is underway!
Hopefully everyone received the sign-up form and permission slip by now, but if not, they are attached below.
Vmaecarney@yahoo.com
A few parents have asked about the March 6th deadline for sign-up forms because many were away last week and although kids have been communicating over text, it can be nice to do some planning in person!
If anybody needs additional time, please don’t hesitate to reach out and just let us know that your form is on the way!
We do need to get a sense of how many students will be participating, ages, grades, music choices, etc asap, hence the March 6th deadline! But please feel free to send them in early this week if you’re done!!
The first formal rehearsal will not be until April 1st, so they will have plenty of time to work on their acts!!
Looking forward to seeing Cole School Shine on Stage May 9th!!!
-Veronica Carney, Sarah Stone & Sonia Kaszuba
Variety Show Information Sheet
Variety Show Sign Up Form
Variety Show Permission Slip
Community News
Community News
HAVE USED OR UNWANTED MARKERS, PENS, WOODEN OR MECHANICAL PENCILS?
Last year the Norwell Recycling and Sustainability Committee successfully initiated a project to recycle crayons and continues to collect used or unwanted crayons. We are now adding markers, pens, and wooden and mechanical pencils to our collections for recycling. We are working in partnership with Staples, which has recently added them to their list of materials that can be recycled.
Collection boxes are located at-
Grace Farrar Cole School
William G. Vinal School
Norwell Middle School
Norwell High School
New Nursery School
First Parish PreSchool
Ridge Hill School
Nature Center PreSchool at the South Shore Science Center
Bright Horizons
Norwell Public Library
Norwell Recycling Center