The CES Bulldog News
Week of February 5, 2023
IWCS - Vision & Mission
Vision: To create a learning environment that will enable every child to discover his or her unique gifts and talents.
Mission: To enhance and expand on each child’s unique gifts and talents to ensure every child is college, career and life ready.
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Please read...
My colleague, Bob Brennan, Principal of Carrollton Elementary School, recently shared the information below with his school's families. After I read and reflected on his words, all I could think of is how we need each other now more than ever! It truly takes a village (families, teachers, staff, community members, etc.) to teach and guide our young students. I encourage you to take a moment to read Mr. Brennan's message. Let's continue to work together to ensure our students are safe and can enjoy a childhood they deserve.
If at anytime you have a question or concern, feel free to reach out to me directly through Remind, email, or by phone. Thank you for entrusting my staff and me with your precious child(ren).
Sincerely,
Pamela Hatfield, Principal
Email: phatfiel@iwcs.k12.va.us
Phone: 757-357-8844
The Principal's Perspective by Bob Brennan, Principal of Carrollton Elementary
I heard the question posed the other day, “Do you think you or your kids had a better childhood?” When I was growing up, the kids in my neighborhood played with Star Wars action figures and Legos and Barbies and Rubik’s Cubes, and kids still do so today – they just have way cooler versions of those toys. We used to ride bikes without helmets and farther from home than our parents probably knew. A lot of kids today voyage the Internet without restrictions and much more than their parents probably know. We climbed trees and played in the rain and built forts and complained about being bored. Today children navigate virtual realities and curate their social media presence and broadcast the minutia of their lives – and complain about being bored. I watched my fair share of TV back then but what was offered on the five channels we received by antennae certainly doesn’t compare to the inundation of information and images that flash at my daughters from assorted screens now. A generation ago, childhood was marked by cooties and comic books, lockers and mall shopping – today’s generation deals with COVID and cyber-bullies, lockdowns and mass shootings. Don’t get me wrong: I realize that childhood now isn’t all bad and I’m very aware that my parents’ generation was concerned about the world I was growing up in. But times are different. Those empty threats that kids made in the past now have to be taken seriously. Twenty years ago if a student said he was going to kill someone, people would’ve rolled their eyes and told him to sit down and be quiet. Times are different. So, please have a conversation with your child about threatening language and threatening behavior and how it will be handled seriously at school. No one should say that he or she is going to kill/shoot/stab/hurt someone – after the incident at the elementary school on the other side of the James River Bridge, gone are the days when we would consider such talk as irresponsible childish behavior; now if a student makes a threat, we are removing him from the classroom, investigating with a search of his belongings, and involving our school resource officer with a visit to the home. A threat assessment team may need to be convened and appropriate punishment applied. Please tell your children to leave toy weapons at home and conduct a regular backpack check of your own. In a society rife with those intent to steal innocence, the responsibility to protect your children – our students – has become even greater. I don’t know what my mom and my teachers worried about when I was in elementary school but it certainly wasn’t what our kids are facing today. The involvement of wise parents and watchful teachers has never been more consequential.
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Important Dates:
Monday, February 6th
- Book Fair Student Preview Day (during school hours)
Tuesday, February 7th
- Whole Class Picture Day
- American Heart Association Campaign Begins
- Book Fair Open to Families from 4:30p.m. - 7:00p.m.
Wednesday, February 8th
- Make-up Student Growth Assessments Today
Thursday, February 9th
- Wear Red in Honor of American Heart Month
- School Board Meeting @WSES 5:00p.m. Closed Session/6:00p.m. Open Session
Friday, February 10th
- Book Fair ends
Upcoming Important Dates:
February 15th: Report Cards Issued
February 18th: PTA Sweetheart Dance 6:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.
February 20th: All Schools/Offices Closed (Presidents' Day)
February 23rd: 100th Day of School
February 28th: Optional Spring photos (make-up day is March 23rd)
March 3rd: Quarter 2 Awards Assembly (see grade levels/times below)
Kindergarten & First Grade: 9:30a.m. - 10:15a.m.
Second Grade: 10:30a.m. - 11:15a.m.
Third Grade: 2:00p.m. - 2:45p.m.
Fourth & Fifth Grade: 3:00p.m. - 3:45p.m.
- Interim Reports Issued
March 13th: Student Holiday/Staff Professional Learning Day
March 21st: Family Engagement/Art Auction 6:00p.m. - 8:00p.m.
March 23rd: Spring Photo make-up day
April 5th: End of Third Quarter
April 10th-14th: All Schools/Offices Closed (Spring Break)
April 15th: Yearbook Order Deadline (see information below)
April 26th: Report Cards Issued
April 28th: Elementary Student Holiday - Teacher Work Day (Regular day for MS/HS)
April: Grandparents' Lunch - Final Date TBD
May 12th: Interim Reports Issued
May 12th: Muffins with Moms 8:00a.m. - 8:45a.m.
May 29th: All Schools/Offices Closed (Memorial Day)
June 9th: Field Day (more information to come)
June 14th: Three Hour Early Dismissal for All Schools
June 15th: Three Hour Early Dismissal for All Schools; Last Day of School/End of Fourth Quarter/Second Semester; Elementary & Middle School Report Card Issued
June 16th: Staff Work Day/High School Graduations
June 19th: All Schools/Offices Closed (Juneteenth)
June 20th: Begin Summer Hours
June 27th: High School Report Cards Mailed Home
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This Week's Menu
Class Snacks/Treats Must Be Store Bought
Only store bought items with labeled ingredients may be sent to school for student consumption during special events, such as birthdays or other celebrations. Thank you!
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Let's Show Our Teachers Some Love!!!
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Upcoming Picture Days & Yearbook Information
Dear Carrsville Parents,
YEARBOOK ORDERING INFO:
(1) Ordering: Yearbook ordering is online only. Read all instructions on login page.
(2) Deadline: The official deadline to order a yearbook is April 15, 2023.
(3) Delivery: Yearbooks will be delivered to the school in late May or early June and go home with your student.
(4) Yearbook Ordering Link: https://AccessMyEvent.com/Z5QFT0
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WHOLE CLASS PHOTOS:
When: Whole class photos are coming up on Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
Instructions: Online ordering only. Please read the instructions on the login page.
Ordering: Photos will be ready to order about two weeks after picture day (more info to follow).
Product Delivery: Photo orders will process immediately and ship directly to the address you provide (not the school).
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SPRING PHOTOS:
When: Spring photos are coming up on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 (makeup day is March 23).
Instructions: Spring photos are OPTIONAL. If you would like your child to participate in spring photos, please email your child's teacher and let them know. If you do not notify your child's teacher, then your child will not be photographed.
Ordering: Photos will be ready to order about two weeks after picture day (more info to follow).
Background: The photo will have a spring nature background.
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ORDER 2022 FALL PHOTOS:
Instructions: It's not too late to order Fall photos. Online ordering only. Please read the instructions on the login page.
Ordering Link: https://AccessMyEvent.com/KGJ936
Product Delivery: Photo orders ship directly to the address you provide (not the school).
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GO RED on 2/9/23
In honor of American Heart month, Isle of Wight County Schools will GO RED on Thursday, February 9, 2023.
Chances are, we all know someone affected by heart disease and stroke, so let's join together to raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and save lives.
All schools and departments are invited to participate by wearing RED on
Thursday (2/9/23).
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American Heart Association Month
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IWCS is Accepting Preschool Applications for the 2023-2024 School Year
Questions?
Please contact Preschool (VPI) Coordinator: Haley Cooprider
Email: hcooprider@iwcs.k12.va.us
Phone: 757-357-0758
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CES Parent Advisory Council Representative
Email: sjones@featherlitecoaches.com
Phone: 757-653-4757
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February 2023 - ISLE Award: Carrsville Elementary
The award focuses on the four broad areas of the Strategic Plan: Inspire, Succeed, Lead, Empower. The first letter of each word spells ISLE. When read together, the sound you hear is “I’ll Inspire” or “I’ll Succeed”, giving everyone ownership of the key actions throughout the plan.
Across CES, people are demonstrating acts of inspiration, success, leadership, and empowerment. The ISLE award welcomes nominations that demonstrate how someone in the CES community has embodied one of these areas.
From October through June, four nominees will be selected for recognition--one in each category-- and will be highlighted on our social media pages, website, and newsletters for our school and for IWCS.
Thank you for taking time to nominate someone for a Carrsville Elementary ISLE Award.
CES ISLE Award Nomination Form
Congratulations to Our Recent ISLE Award Recipients!
Mrs. Susan March
Nominated by: C. Berard
Mrs. Brittany Twiford
Nominated by: K. Vaughan
Nominated by: K. Reeder
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Attention K-2 Families:
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CES Family Resources:
Check Out the Special Education Parent Resource Center Website!
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Preschool Corner (Great Resources for Kindergarten Friends, Too!)
VPI - Virginia Preschool Initiative
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IWCS Student Code of Conduct 2022-2023
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ISLE Be Safe
Click here to be directed to the link.
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Carrsville Elementary Let's Talk!
Let's Talk! is not a replacement for phone calls or conversations. We look forward to hearing from you in the manner most convenient for you. In the event of an emergency, please call 911.
Click here to access the Carrsville Elementary "Let's Talk" link.
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Do you need to submit an absence note for your child?
Student School Attendance
#SchoolEveryDay
Message from IWCS
As we resume normal school operations and begin to move past the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that families understand the importance of regular, on-time attendance to school. As demonstrated by the recent COVID-19 closures, absences from school have a tremendous impact on student learning and achievement. In an effort to help every student meet with success, the division wants to take a moment to remind families of the attendance policies and regulations for Isle of Wight County Schools. It is especially important to note the expectations for student attendance as it relates to student retention and course credit.
Elementary school students may not be promoted to the next grade if unexcused absences from school total more than ten (10) days.
Middle school students may not be promoted to the next grade nor granted credit for a course if unexcused absences from school or from a class which earns high school credit total more than ten (10) days.
High school students may not be granted credit for a course if unexcused absences from class total more than five (5) class periods for a semester course, or ten (10) class periods for year-long courses.
The entire policy JED and regulation JED-R may be found on the division's website by clicking: Board → Policy → J. Students → JED and/or JED-R. Please contact Mrs. Hatfield, CES Principal, if you have any questions.
Absences
When a student has missed school, a note from the parent/guardian must be received by the school office. The note must contain the following information:
- reason for the absence,
- the date(s) of the absence,
- the signature of the parent or other authorized person, and
- a telephone number where the parent or other authorized person may be reached during the day.
When a note is not submitted, the absence will be considered unexcused. Each student is allowed 5 notes per semester. Please submit doctor's notes or other professional notes to excuse a student if the absence is due to an appointment. School personnel will implement the following steps to improve attendance:
1st - 2nd continuous unverified/unexcused absences - AUTOMATED CALL home is made
3rd unverified/unexcused absences - CALL home is made
4th unverified/unexcused absences - LETTER is sent home
5th-7th unverified/unexcused absences - ATTENDANCE IMPROVEMENT PLAN is developed with follow-ups
8th unverified/unexcused absences - Attendance Care Team makes TRUANCY REFERRAL and meeting scheduled with administrator
10th unverified/unexcused absences - TRUANCY court process initiated
12th-15th unverified/unexcused absences - family may be referred to Social Services/CARES team
15th + unverified/unexcused absences - CHINS disposition/CHINS order filed; other violations may result per court liaison or judge
*CHINS: Child in Need of Services/Supervision
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Dr. Theo Cramer, IWCS Superintendent
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Carrsville Elementary School
Email: phatfiel@iwcs.k12.va.us
Website: ces.iwcs.k12.va.us/
Location: 5355 Carrsville Highway Carrsville, VA 23315
Phone: 757-357-8844
Twitter: @CarrsvilleElem