Centennial Blue Jays
November 2022 Newsletter
Centennial Information
Email: deb.jolda@springfield.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.springfield.k12.or.us/Centennial
Location: 1315 Aspen Street, Springfield, OR, USA
Phone: 541 744-6383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentennialBlueJays
Message from Principal Williams
After our extended season of warm weather, the rain and cooler temperatures have reminded me that it really is fall and winter is not far behind. November is a month that, traditionally, is focused on family, gratitude, and caring. We have much to be grateful for here at Centennial Elementary! Our custodians, kitchen staff, educational assistants, office staff, and all of our teachers make up our wonderful and supportive school community. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to work with all of them and I know your children are in good hands with them. We have supportive parents and community, with a giving and engaged PTO. And finally, we have incredible students, who challenge themselves every day to learn and be engaged as well as challenging us to become better people. They are why we are here every day!
Please make sure to follow us on Facebook and check out the Centennial website (links above).
Sincerely,
Principal Williams
Staff Focus - Miss Deb
Miss Deb is often the first person you will meet when you visit our school. She is our office secretary and she does so much to make sure our school runs well and our students and staff have what they need to be successful. She is a wealth of information so please don't hesitate to reach out to her with questions and concerns. We are so grateful for her and all she does to make Centennial the great place it is!
Attitude of Gratitude
Gratitude is about focusing on what's good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have. Gratitude is pausing to appreciate what we often take for granted: a place to live, food, clean water, friends, family, even computer access. An attitude of gratitude helps build stronger relationships and fosters a positive mindset. Best of all, it’s contagious!
Ideas for fostering an attitude of gratitude with kids:
Model it: Let your kids see you showing your appreciation.
Share three good things each day at dinner:
Start a thankful jar and encourage your kids to add to it every day.
Even if someone has a bad day, encourage them to find one good thing that happened that day.
Important November Dates
November 1 PTO
November 6 Daylight Saving Time - set your clocks back an hour
November 11 Veteran's Day - no school
November 18 Picture Retakes/Early Release/Patriotic Spirit Day
November 24-25 Thanksgiving Break - No School
November 30 No school - grading day
Still Life Drawings of a Lemon - Third Grade
Fun Fall Food Ideas!
PTO
November Meeting
November 1 at 6:00 - meeting in the library at school
Kindergarten Students Made Predictions and Gathered Data
General Information
Hello Blue Jay families!
Please read through the following updates for important information about our school.
BELL SCHEDULE
8:00 Students may enter for breakfast. All others enter through the front doors to wait in the gym for class to start.
8:25 Students go to classes
8:35 Instruction begins (if you are tardy, you will need to check in at the office)
2:50 Dismissal bell
12:30 Dismissal on early release Fridays
Please do not drop students off prior to 8:00 as we do not have supervision available.
CONFERENCES
Conferences are coming up on December 1 and 2. Please be on the lookout for sign up information coming home with your child toward the end of November.
MEALS
- free breakfast and lunch available for all students
- Doors open at 8:00 for school breakfast.
VOLUNTEERS
- Click this link and fill out the online form f you are interested in volunteering
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL
- parents and caregivers must remain on the west side of the upper driveway when walking students to school.
- use the right hand lane of lower driveway for vehicle drop offs and pick ups
- remain in your vehicle
- pull forward as far as possible
- Vehicles may not enter the upper driveway during arrival (8:00-8:45) and dismissal (2:15-3:15).
STUDENT PHONES
- students should not bring cell phones or other personal electronic devices to school
- If you feel your child must have a device with them, it must be kept turned off and stored in their backpack through the school day.
- Students may not have devices out during the day while in class or in other areas such as the playground and cafeteria.
- Thank you so much for your help with this!
STUDENT BEHAVIOR
- We expect our students to act safely, respectfully, responsibly and with kindness
- We do not condone inappropriate behavior towards other students or adults, whether on the playground, in the cafeteria, or in the classroom.
- Please help to remind your child of these school behavior expectations.
- Although your child may not see the consequences for another student's inappropriate behavior, this does not mean it isn't happening.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
We'd like to know how we can help support our community. Please click here and take a minute or two to fill out this brief survey and give us your feedback.
Child Tax Credit Information
Health Updates
MASKING UPDATE
Remember that, at school, everyone can choose whether or not to wear a mask. Some children and adults may choose to continue to wear a mask due to medical reasons, because they have a sick family member at home, or just because they prefer to.
It is very important for students and staff to maintain 6 ft distance whenever possible and practice thorough handwashing.
COVID-19 Update
If a student tests positive they need to stay out for five days from the start of symptoms or date tested, if they are asymptomatic.
COVID continues to be a concern for all of us and we appreciate your support as we work together to keep our students safe and healthy. Please make frequent handwashing, for 20 seconds, a normal part of your routine and keep your child home if they are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, upset stomach, or headache. Students must be symptom free for 24 hours to return to school. Please click here to check the SPS website for additional information about vaccines and other resources.
COVID Testing
We have free test kits available. You are welcome to stop by the office and pick one up!
The UO's free weekly testing program will be available this fall. Please contact us for information.
VACCINES & BOOSTERS
Children 5-17 years old are up-to-date on their COVID vaccines if they have completed their primary series of vaccinations plus two weeks. Quarantine protocols are determined based on the level of vaccine that a person has.
We encourage all eligible individuals to ensure that they are up-to-date with this vaccine as it is one of the most powerful ways to limit the spread and seriousness of COVID-19 symptoms.
To find information about vaccination clinics available throughout our community visit www.lanecounty.org/vaxclinics.
Collaborative Problem Solving Parent Classes
- Build skills & confidence in using the CPS approach
- Network & share information about community resources
- Develop new understanding of challenging behavior & learn new ways to help your child
- Rethink conventional approaches to behavioral difficulties and strengthen relationships
- Gain support from other parents, grandparents, and foster parents
The Collaborative Problem Solving approach is an evidence-based method to managing challenging behavior that promotes the understanding that challenging kids lack the skill - not the will - to behave; specifically, skills related to problem-solving, flexibility and frustration tolerance. Unlike traditional models of discipline, the CPS approach avoids the use of power, control and motivational procedures and instead focuses on collaborating with the child/ youth/ young adult to solve the problems leading to challenging behavior and building the skills they need to succeed.
The 8-week class is provided in an online setting.
For more information, please click here.