October Newsletter
October 2022
Message from Mrs. Yost
Wow, where did September go? Staff and students are off to a wonderful school year. I would like to thank our PTO for organizing our Back to School Picnic. Always a great time getting our families together. Please check below for some great PTO fundraising opportunities and information about our virtual PTO meeting this Tuesday, October 4th. Link is below. Picture Day went well. If you were unable to get your child's picture taken, students that missed this round may have their picture taken on Retake Day in November. More information to follow on a specific date.
We have administered our fall diagnostic assessments for all grades 1 & 2 in math (iReady) and reading (STAR). Kindergarten students will begin STAR the week of October 3rd. This is beneficial information to individualize and target instruction. Thank you to those parents that ere able to attend our Back to School Night. We continue to open our doors to have our families be part of our school community again! Parent-Teacher Conferences are this month - October 12th and 25th. Teachers will be sending out a communication for sign ups. We are welcoming families back into the building for face-to face conferences, but if you prefer a virtual conference, we will accommodate any request.
We will be holding our first in person Town Meeting with our students on October 11th. Our focus will be reestablishing what it means to be a PROUD Cougar throughout the building and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. In addition, SCOW will be sharing a Hispanic Heritage presentation with the students on October 14th. We hope you love hearing about all the exciting learning opportunities when sitting around your dinner table.
Starting Tuesday, October 4, food service will offer snacks to students for purchase during their lunch time. Please review your family's' expectations with regards to purchasing snacks. We do encourage student to eat their main meal first before delving into their snacks. We encourage the proper way to fuel their body and mind to productively get through the school day. See below for available items and pricing.
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.
Cook Hill Strong,
Mrs. Yost
Follow us on Instagram - Cook Hill Cougars @cookhillcougars
Important Dates
September 15 - October 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month
Tuesday, October 4th - PTAC Meeting @ 6pm Virtual
Tuesday, October 4th - PTO Meeting @ 7pm Virtual
Wednesday, October 5th - Yom Kippur
Thursday, October 6th - Bus Evacuation Drill
Monday, October 10th - Columbus Day/ Indigenous People's Day... NO School
Tuesday, October 11th - CH Town Meeting
Wednesday, October 12th - Hearing Screening for all students during the day
Wednesday, October 12th - Conferences 5-8pm, sign ups are required
Friday, October 14th - Spirit Day...Mix Match Day
Friday, October 14th - SCOW Student Presentation
Tuesday, October 18th - Global Maker Day
Wednesday, October 19th - Spirit Day...Orange Crush/ Unity Day
Thursday, October 20th - Early Release day for students
Friday, October 21st - Wear PINK for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Friday, October 21st - PTO Book Fair
Sunday, October 23rd - Trunk or Treat @ Sheehan High School 5-7pm
Monday, October 24th - PTO Book Fair
Mondy, October 24th - Diwali
Tuesday, October 25th - Conferences 5-8pm, sign ups are required
Wednesday, October 26th - SNOW DATE for Conferences 5-8pm, sign ups are required
Friday, October 28th - Haunted Hallways @ Lyman Hall 4-7pm $5 per family
Monday, October 31st - Halloween
Cook Hill School would like you to help make this winter a little warmer for our neighbors in need. Bring a new pair of socks to the collection box in front of the Cook Hill Library during the month of October. Socks will be donated to the Wallingford Emergency Shelter.
Thank you for spreading kindness throughout our community.
From Food Service...
Starting Tuesday. October 4th, Cook Hill School will have snacks available for your child to purchase at lunch time. We will have the following items available...
Freshly baked cookies
Various types of chips
Rice krispie treats
Fruit snacks
Water bottles & Capri sun juice pouches
Ice cream will be coming soon!!!
The prices range from $ .75 to $1.35
Money can be added to your students general account via Meal Pay Plus or sent in with your student- either cash or check.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the kitchen (203) 284-5404.
Cougars Around the World
Here at Cook Hill School, we honor and celebrate the vast cultural backgrounds our students and families bring to our school community. Help us celebrate! Please keep an eye out for our “Cougars Around the World" flyer.
With “Cougars Around the World,” we want to bring awareness to the cultural heritage of our students, staff, and their families. Cook Hill Cougars come from many different places around the world, speak many languages, and have unique traditions. We want to celebrate all those things!
This is completely voluntary! If you would like your family to participate, please fill out the form coming home the weel of October 3rd. Choose one or two countries of origin. A country of origin is the country where your child, you, or an ancestor came from.
One or both of your child's countries of origin will be represented on our world map that hangs in our Multilingual Learner hallway. This map will be visible for all community members to enjoy so we can appreciate how global our Cook Hill community really is!
From the IT Department
Back to School Forms & Chromebook Protection Plan
Please make sure that you have logged into the PowerSchool Parent Portal and filled out the demographic update/permission forms for your child. Chromebooks/Google Accounts will be shut off for students that have not filled out the forms by Thursday Evening, 10/6/22. Please contact your child’s school if you have any questions.
Chromebook Care (Grades 2-12)
All students have now been provided with a “stay on” chromebook case. Please ask your child to keep it in the case at all times to protect the chromebook from damage if it gets dropped. Also, please remind students that they should not put labels on the chromebooks or remove/pick at keys - any keys that are loose should be reported immediately to the school for repair. If the keys are not returned with the chromebook, a new keyboard may be required and will be billable.
Community Events
PTO CORNER
From the PTO...
Thank you to everyone who attended the welcome back picnic this past Friday. This event could not have been successful without all of you!
Please join our next virtual PTO meeting; this upcoming Tuesday, October 4th, 2022 at 7pm.
Click the link below to join!
PTO Membership:
Submit your PTO Membership form/dues by October 1st and you will be in the running for a $50 Amazon gift card! One lucky winner will be chosen!
You can join by sending in the membership form or do it on-line! Please click on https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IncINb_yP5PurJd7kyZ9cxsYCeNMJT_K1PifrLoLN54/edit?usp=sharing to get your form or see the on-line instructions.
PTO Fundraisers:
Get your fall mums and fall decor through our Beaumont Farms fundraiser. All you have to do is stop by Beaumont Farms now thru 10/31, located at 945 E.Center St during their business hours, Monday-Sat 9am-7pm and Sundays 9am-6pm and mention our school's name ( Cook Hill or Parker Farms). A portion of the sales will be given to our PTO.
Another way to support our PTO is through our Lyman Pies fundraiser. Flyers should have gone home with your child this week. Order your pies now thru 10/17. Get your pies in time for upcoming Holidays.
Thank you for your support!
Your PTO!
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