CCS Newsletter
September 14, 2018
ADMINISTRATION UPDATE
Dear CCS Friends and Families,
CCS, along with our PTO, hosted a wonderful Open House and Back to School Potluck last night! Our classrooms and playground were bustling with activity as students, parents and teachers gathered to share conversations and a meal. We couldn’t keep count, but it feels safe to say that this might have been our most well-attended Open House in recent years. Although we have various Open House and team-based events throughout the year, we welcome parent and community participation at CCS each and every day. CCS is very grateful to be a central part of the Charlotte community.
At CCS, we are a community of allies and changemakers. To honor our mission of kindness and taking care of others, we were excited to have Dr. David Gonzalez present to the middle school on Thursday. Dr. David Gonzalez, offered insights and strategies for cultivating compassionate relationships using storytelling and theater. The story of Maddog and Me: Bullying and the Power of Kindness, was a mesmerizing web of personal narrative and multicultural tales. Thank you to Vicki Nelson and Kathy Batty for arranging this inspiring experience for CCS.
Much of the work in the first few weeks of school focuses on building community. Play is a wonderful way to build community. This year, CCS is focusing on diversifying our recess options for students. Students are engaging with each other in a variety of activities at recess, beyond the usual playground structures and athletic games. Each day, you can see students in self-made reading groups, doing art, playing spikeball, Kerplunk, chess, checkers or giant Connect Four. We have also seen fairy houses being built and imaginative play in a variety of ways. If you have any extra items that might enhance our recess opportunities, please let us know! We’re including a short list of desired items here:
- Hand Air Pump for Balls
- Can Jam
- Ladder Ball
- 4 Square Ball or Large Playground Ball
- Kick Balls
- Wiffle Balls
- Soccer Ball
- Soft Footballs
- Decks of Cards
- UNO Cards (I will laminate the cards so they can get wet..)
- "We Connect" Cards or "UBUNTU" Cards
- Cheap chess / checker sets
- Soft Frisbees
Last night, our Navigators Team shared a quote from one of last year’s DCF books Wishtree, by Katherine Applegate, which nicely captures the spirit we feel every day and when we open our doors to welcome our families in:
“Different languages, different food, different customs. That's our neighborhood: wild and tangled and colorful. Like the best kind of garden.”
CCS is indeed the best kind of garden and it is growing great produce!
Warm Regards,
Stephanie, Jen and Cassandra
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
Tuesday, September 18th
Early Release, 1:55pm
CVSD School Board Meeting, CVU Rm 160, 6:00pm
Wednesday, September 19th
NO SCHOOL - Yom Kippur
Tuesday, September 25th
Early Release, 1:55pm
Wednesday, September 26th
Picture Day! (Flyer and order form was sent home with every student this week and picture day schedule will be in next week's newsletter.)
Friday, September 28th
Dance! MPR, grades 6-8, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Tuesday, October 2nd
Early Release, 1:55pm
Tuesday, October 9th
Early Release, 1:55pm
Tuesday, October 16th
Early Release, 1:55pm
CVSD School Board Meeting, CVU Rm 160, 6:00pm
Thursday, October 18th
Field Trip - Alpha 6 to Flynn Theater, 9:15am
Field Trip - Omega 7/8 to Flynn Theater, 9:15am
Friday, October 19th
NO SCHOOL - Parent / Teacher Conferences
WE TAKE CARE OF THIS PLACE
There are many folks who help us “take care of this place”, a core value of CCS. Thank you to our amazing custodial team for their amazing work each day, but especially when special events happen, which increases the workload. Last night, the smiling faces of Jeremy, Todd and Bill were present throughout the building and contributed to a very efficient clean-up. Our entire CCS/PTO team is thankful for them!
STUDENT DIRECTORY - OPT OUT OPTION
If you would like to OPT OUT of having your information in the Student Directory, there is a section on the SIS form to do so.
The deadline for Student Information Sheets and OPT OUT requests is Friday, September 21st.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT CCS!
Charlotte Central School seeks energetic paraprofessionals, full time and part time, to join our outstanding special education team. To learn more please visit: https://www.schoolspring.com/job.cfm?jid=3002946
BUS ROUTE CHANGES TAKE AFFECT ON MON, 9/17
Last night you were emailed via the Connect5 system the bus route changes that will be taking affect on Monday, September 17th in which the formatting did not copy legibly. Click here for the document. See below for a visual image of the new bus routes.
CVSD Transportation and CCS make decisions on bus routes based on capacity of bus, length of route and safety of route. The bus drivers do not decide nor are they responsible for route planning.
If you have any questions, please contact Naomi Strada at 425-6600.
SCHOOL LIBRARY NEWS
The CCS Community has already checked out 1,267 books since the start of school. Wow! Let's keep reading! Be sure to also visit the school library blog at booksliveon.wordpress.com to see what happens in the school library besides reading!
MUSIC NEWS
Music Handbook: All students in grades 5-8 participating in band or chorus will receive a music department handbook. This handbook has details about concerts, grading, scheduling, and more. Each student and their parent/guardian must sign and return the last page of the handbook, indicating they understand and will abide by the information in the handbook. These forms are due Friday, September 14 and can be given to Mr. Smith (band) and/or Mrs. Littlefield (chorus).
Before School Ensembles: Students may join stage band, concert choir, and/or ukulele band at the discretion of the director. 7/8 Stage band is on Monday and Thursday mornings, 6-8 Concert Choir is on Tuesday and Friday.
Starting in January, Ukulele Band will be on Friday mornings and 5/6 jazz band will be offered on Wednesday mornings. All groups rehearse from 7:30-8:00 AM and weekly attendance is expected. Students are responsible for their own transportation to these rehearsals.
SPORTS SCHEDULES
CALLING ALL CAREGIVERS OF YOUNG CHILDREN
NUTCRACKER AUDITIONS
Come be a part of the holiday magic of Vermont’s longest running Nutcracker performance with Albany Berkshire Ballet. Student Dancer Auditions will be held:
Burlington, VT - September 30, 2018
Flynn Center for the Performing Arts – Flynn Space
153 Main St., Burlington, VT 05401
10:00 am Ages 4-5
10:30 am Ages 6-8
11:30 am Ages 9-11
1:00 pm Ages 12 and up
Audition fee of $15
Shows will help kick off the holiday season Thanksgiving weekend November 24 & 25, 2018. Children are generally in one show. For more information contact Lori Preiss at abbvermontnutcracker@gmail.com.
SPIRAL INTERNATIONAL CHINA HISTORY AND CULTURE TOUR
SEPTEMBER LUNCH MENU
CHARLOTTE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Check out our website.