4/26/21 Parent "Patriot Post"
Cedar Grove Elementary School
Home of the "Proud Patriots"
The mission of Cedar Grove Elementary is to grow our students into respectful, curious and productive citizens.
Last Chance To Order a Yearbook (Really.)
Community of Readers - 2,953 Books Read So Far!
Fostering A Curious Mind
This week's topic is curiosity. I found myself curious about growing curiosity in children. Anecdotally, I find the most interesting children have very curious minds.
The article, "The Benefits of Cultivating Curiosity In Kids," suggests that curiosity is "linked to joy on the job, social skills and even a happy disposition. And in an academic context, greater curiosity generally predicts greater success."
Both parents and teachers play a role in cultivating curiosity in children. Strategies to raise "brilliantly curious kids" include:
- Allowing students to follow their interests (i.e, Book selection, Project-based learning, etc.)
- Modeling curiosity through the use of open-ended language
- Encouraging and praising questioning and academic risk taking; "Why" is the most powerful question
- Incorporating toys and activities that cultivate exploration, experimentation and concentration (STEM, Nature, Strategic use of technology)
Help support healthy reading habits and fostering curiosity by participating in our "Community of Readers" Initiative. Perhaps this week we focus on non-fiction texts?
Our goal is to read 15,000 books between March 1st and May 21st. Forward this newsletter link to friends and family to help us reach out goal -- One book at a time!!
Need support in helping your child find the "right" books? CLICK HERE.
To participate in our reading initiative, click on the applicable google link to share your book titles:
- Reading Log -- Google Form for Students
- Reading Log -- Google Form for Cedar Grove Families and Staff
- Reading Log -- Google Form for our "Extended Cedar Grove Family Members" (Community members as well as relatives of our Cedar Grove Families).
Click on our "Community of Readers" flyer for more information!
Important Tidbits
Please note the following...
- COVID Forms -- While we clearly are making progress towards getting closer to "normal," we need to continue our daily efforts in maintaining the health and safety of our students and staff. Recently, there has been an increased number of parents not completing their child's daily COVID health screening form prior to the start of school. Please set a reminder to complete this form daily. Our school nurses thank you!
- Arrival -- This year, our doors open at 8:55 am to welcome students. Officer Moore has noticed that the majority of students are arriving closer to 9:25, and we have seen an increase in late students. The doors off Brookside Drive are locked at 9:25 am. Please take advantage of the longer drop-off window to ensure your child is not marked late.
- Water Bottles -- As the weather continues to get warmer, I kindly ask that you ensure your child has a water bottle. Students who drink all their water prior to the end of the day will be allowed to refill their bottle under the supervision of the classroom teacher. We will continue to avoid the traditional use of water fountains to ensure the health and safety of students.
- Teacher Requests for 21-22 -- Consistent with the procedure put into place last year, I will not be accepting teacher requests for next year. Teachers will complete a "Student Information Form" for each student prior to the end of the year. This form contains important information about your child's academic and social skills, work habits and friends. My goal is to build equitable and balanced classes. Each student and family is equally important to me, and I hold every teacher to the same high standards. Building classes is necessarily time consuming and thoughtful, and I am committed to ensuring this process is done with fairness and integrity. Thank you for your support.
Ready 2 Rock Kindergarten
Upcoming Parent Workshop (May 3rd or May 4th)
Ready 2 Rock Kindergarten is a workshop targeting parents of incoming kindergarten students for the 2021-2022 school year.
During this virtual presentation, parents will learn ways to incorporate math into their everyday lives, learn about the phonics program, discuss and learn some multi-sensory strategies in order to strengthen and develop reading skills, and learn ways to ease a child's anxiety about starting school.
Parents will be given notes to the presentation, takeaways will be distributed and parents will be asked to complete a survey at the end of the presentation. During each session, the families who are able to attend the workshop will be entered into a drawing to win a special prize!
(You can attend any of the sessions offered.)
Click on the live link to access the flyer for the virtual Ready 2 Rock Kindergarten event.
April Enrichment Activities Calendar
Quick Link to April Calendar
Here is the quick link to our Revised April Enrichment Calendar . If students choose to attend an enrichment class, be sure to attend only at a time that is not previously scheduled with a classroom teacher, ESL teacher, basic skills teacher, G/T teacher or resource room teacher.
No Longer Need your Borrowed Chromebook?
Unused District Chromebooks
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Our Amazing PTO
Available to "Sub" In Our Schools?
20-21 Proud Patriot Calendar
Cedar Grove Elementary
Location: 173 Cedar Grove Road, Toms River, NJ, USA
Phone: 732-505-5830
Twitter: @TRProudPatriots