CAES Weekly Updates September-October 2023

T H E   P R I N C I P A L ’ S   P E R S P E C T I VE
 

Our theme for the 2023-2024 school year is little friends, BIG FUTURES. Carrollton Elementary is unique in that we are the only pre-k through third grade school in the division. With 600+ Cardinals, this means we have lots of little friends around here!

We refer to our students as friends because we partner with you in training them to be able to collaborate, to communicate, to cooperate, and to contribute as constructive citizens. Knowing how to treat others is just as important as knowing how to count or recite the alphabet. BIG FUTURES -- this year some of our students will learn to walk and to talk and to grip a pencil; many will learn how to read, write, add, and subtract. Students will develop their number sense, infer an author's purpose, and demonstrate positive leadership. Cardinals will learn to write their names in cursive this year and some may become published authors in the years to come. Cardinals will learn how to multiply this year and some will become engineers. Cardinals will learn about the color wheel, resting heart rates, and algorithms and will become artists and athletes and computer programmers. We will teach them about gumption and resilience and integrity, respect and empathy and responsibility -- all with the hope that they will do big things as they become bigger people. This will be my 35th year in school work and I have former students who are doctors, lawyers, artists, pastors, parents, teachers, and one who is the principal of an elementary school I drive by every workday! Our kids’ futures start today and I'm privileged and excited to be part of this wonderful team of professionals who join with you to invest in those futures, those BIG FUTURES.

 

Let’s do this!

Mr. B.

 

C A R D I N A L   K U D O S

A big thanks to each of you who came out to make our Open House a success and to our community partners BayPort Credit Union, Cub Scout Pack 36, the Blackwater Library, and the Luter Family YMCA.

The staff appreciates the breakfast provided Thursday by our PTA officers!

A special shout-out to Mr. Rob Bogard for donning the mascot costume!

 

F. Y. I.

All IWCS schools and offices will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

 

The doors open for morning car drop-offs at 8:35 a.m. and staff will be on the sidewalks to help open doors. Caregivers should not park and walk their children in as this creates more traffic in the parking lot and on the sidewalks. The only exceptions:

• Kindergarten caregivers will be allowed to escort their children to class upon arrival Tuesday; after that, the staff will help our kindergarteners find their way to class. The sooner we help the students get acclimated to the normal operating procedures, the better.
• Families who are provided a Cardinal Parking pass may use the designated spots for pick-up and drop-off. Our resource officer, Deputy Currier, will be looking for these.
• Caregivers who are entering the building for a teacher meeting or business in the office or clinic. 

 

Remind, the communication platform that was used across the division has gone away and we will be using Edlio this year. Information was provided at Open House and will be available from your child's teacher.

 

Our Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) Rosemary Daniels is available for our military-connected students. If your family is facing a deployment, PCS, reintegration, or other military-related stressors and you would like her to check in with your child and provide free resources, contact Ms. Rosemary at 757-272-6944. 

 

Per Central Office, students who do not have adequate money in their accounts or in hand to cover the cost at the time of service will not be permitted to charge snacks and/or a la carte items. Students who do not have adequate money in their accounts or in hand will still be provided breakfast and/or lunch, with the meal not being distinguishable in any way. Food service employees shall use the following language if a student does attempt to purchase a snack or a la carte item with insufficient funds: “There is not enough money in your account to cover the snack(s) or a la carte items but you are still welcome to be served the breakfast/lunch items.”

 

H E L P   W A N T E D 

We currently have openings for the following positions:

• Library Media Specialist
• Kindergarten Instructional Assistant (part-time)
• General Education Instructional Assistant (full-time)

 

If you’re interested or know someone who is, please check out the listings on the division’s webpage at this link:Join the CAES Staff!

 

It’s time to retire our current mascot outfit. (This is in no way a comment on the last person brave enough to climb into the Cardinal costume!) If you would like to help us find/purchase a new one, please contact the office at 757-357-8850.

 

U P C O M I N G   E V E N T S

9/5       First day of school!

9/8       Cardinal Spirit Day (We’ll be wearing Cardinal gear, red, and black.)

9/11     Patriot Spirt Day (The class who demonstrates the most USA pride will win the Spirit Stick!)

9/15     Isle of Wight Count Fair trip for all 1^st graders and Ms. Micciche’s class

9/29     Freaky Friday Spirit Day (We adults will dress like the kids and the kids get to dress like adults!)

10/2     School Resource Officer Day

10/3     Interim reports come home

10/4     School picture day for grades 2 and 3 and all self-contained classes

10/5     School picture day for grades pre-K, K, and 1

10/9     No School: Columbus Day

10/10   No School: Staff professional development

Carrollton Weekly Update •    9/16/2023

                                                                                          

T H E   P R I N C I P A L ’ S   P E R S P E C T I VE

This was a week of some pretty big emotions. Big surprise. Big fear. Big disappointment. Big sadness. Big frustration. And these were actually the emotions that swirled through the big people in the building, not the little friends. Enrollment numbers here have dipped and as a result, we needed to allow two of our teachers to transfer to Hardy Elementary in order to assist with meeting their staffing needs. The moves totally made sense -- one can't anticipate how many kindergarteners will be enrolled, no one's losing a job, and we're able to help our friends at the other school -- but we’re a tight community here at the school, so the loss of even one member has a big effect on lots of people. By Friday, it was feeling less like the second week of school and more like mid-March – stress has a way of wearing you down. So, when one of our kindergarteners hopped out of this car and handed me a golden feather with the statement “You are appreciated!” written on it, that was a big encouragement! Lincoln was emulating something that teachers have been modeling for the past nine days as they’ve handed out paper feathers which can be used to “buy” merch at our school store. This little guy knew how it felt to get a feather, so he wanted to share that feeling with the big folks he passed along his path from car to classroom, handing out feathers and brightening our day. During a week of big feelings, it was this little thing that made the difference.

 

Do something little for someone today,

Mr. B.

Mr. Brennan

 

C A R D I N A L   K U D O S

Thank you, Mrs. Morgan McGrath (formerly Ms. Chappell), for your eleven years of service to the Cardinals and your years of leadership to the 3^rd grade team. We wish you all the best as you join the 4^th grade team at Hardy. 

Thank you, Mrs. Erica Spofford, for your genuine love for kindergarteners and your demonstration of kindness. You will be missed here and a wonderful addition at Hardy. 

A big thanks to all of you who volunteered to chaperone our 1^st graders on their field trip to the Isle of Wight County Fair. The weather was beautiful, the farm animals were cute, the rides were fun, and the kids were super excited!

Congratulations to Mrs. Oparaji’s 2^nd graders for bring the first winners of the Cardinal Spirit Stick this past Monday! Their Patriots Day spirit won them bragging rights and a Golden Feather!

F. Y. I.

Here’s the link to our handbook, the Family FAQ: 23-24 Carrollton Family FAQ Inside you’ll find information about everything from the most recent COVID protocol to class parties.

 

From parent Carey Byrd: Every morning we send our priceless little humans to school, and we wish/hope/pray that they come back to us unharmed. Let us come together to wish/hope/pray for Carrollton Elementary, the staff, the children, and our nation. September 27 will be the 33rd annual “See You at the Pole” and you are invited to bring your children at 7:00 am to the Carrollton flagpole in the middle of the car loop where we will pray and have time to eat some donuts before clearing out by 8:00 a.m.

 

The PTA Boosterthon Fun Run fundraiser is happening! Register at MYBOOSTER.COM. The Fun Run event is Thursday, Sept. 21.

Reminder about morning drop-off:

• Please have your child sit on the driver’s side of the car; this helps keep students and staff from having to walk between vehicles.
• Caregivers may not park and walk their children. The two exceptions:

o Families who are provided a Cardinal Parking pass may use the designated spots for pick-up and drop-off. 

o Caregivers who are entering the building for a teacher meeting or business in the office or clinic. 

Remind is back and you should’ve received information from the company and your child’s teacher. I’ll get my account up and running next week.

Our Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) Rosemary Daniels is available for our military-connected students. If your family is facing a deployment, PCS, reintegration, or other military-related stressors and you would like her to check in with your child and provide free resources, contact Ms. Rosemary at 757-272-6944. 

Isle of Wight County Schools understands the importance of providing students with nutritious meals throughout the school day. The division charges an approved rate for breakfast and for lunch. Families may qualify for free or reduced meals for their children. Families who do not qualify for free meals are required to pay for their child’s meals. However, a child will not be denied a meal because of a negative balance on their account. The school and division will always work with parents to resolve any meal debt that may be incurred.

• A la carte and snack items are not part of the breakfast and lunch program. Therefore, they are only available for purchase if there is money on a child’s account, or if the student has cash to pay for the items. If there are no funds available for a student to purchase these items, a food service employee will notify the child that they are unable to have a snack or an a la carte product, but may have breakfast or lunch items. 
• Meal debt has been a nationwide issue. IWCS believes this is a fiscally responsible practice that will help to alleviate some of the debt while still providing students with a healthy meal. This practice will also allow IWCS to adhere to division policy and associated law. Parents, IWCS encourages you to speak to your child in advance about this practice. In addition, parents are able to “block” the purchase of any snack or a la carte items by their child simply by notifying the cafeteria manager at your child’s school.

Should you have any questions, please contact J. Todd Christiansen, Director of Support Services, at [email protected].us or 757-357-4393

 

H E L P   W A N T E D 

We currently have openings for the following positions:

• Library Media Specialist
• General Education Instructional Assistant (full-time)
• Special Education Instructional Assistant (full-time)

If you’re interested or know someone who is, please check out the listings on the division’s webpage at this link:Join the CAES Staff!

Last try: It’s time to retire our current mascot outfit. (This is in no way a comment on the last person brave enough to climb into the Cardinal costume!) If you would like to help us find/purchase a new one, please contact the office at 757-357-8850.

Headphones for tablets are something that many of our students are in need of; if you or your business would like to make a donation, we will be very grateful.

 

F R O M   B L U E   D O M I N I O N

Fall pictures are coming up! Below is the schedule:

• Wednesday 10/4: Ms. Micceche’s class, Ms. Nagy’s class, Mrs. Rowland’s class, Ms. Norton’s class, 2^nd grade, and 3^rd grade
• Thursday 10/5: pre-K, K, and 1^st grade

Photo ordering will be 100% online. Photos will be available to order about two weeks after picture day. More info will follow.

 

U P C O M I N G   E V E N T S

9/19     3^rd grade fall SGA

9/21     Boosterthon Fun Run (during each grade's Encore time)

9/29     Freaky Friday Spirit Day (We adults will dress like the kids and the kids get to dress like adults!)

10/2     School Resource Officer Day

10/3     Interim reports come home

10/4     School picture day for grades 2 and 3 and all self-contained classes

10/5     School picture day for grades pre-K, K, and 1

10/9     No School: Columbus Day

10/10   No School: Staff professional development

10/20   Packer Pride Day and 1:00 dismissal for Smithfield High homecoming parade

10/27   Book Character Day and parade

10/31   Pumpkin Day (pumpkin-themed lessons and activities)

 

W E L L N E S S    S C R E E N E R 

This October our school will take part in a study that helps staff find students needing more support. We will use the Early Identification System (EIS). This will help us to identify students who need support with paying attention, completing tasks, regulating emotions, creating positive peer relationships, and managing negative emotions like stress and worry. The EIS has two parts. A part for teachers to complete and a part for students to complete. The teachers will use the EIS to indicate student needs for each student in their class. Our 3rd graders are the only students who will complete the EIS survey to indicate how they feel they are doing with paying attention in school, completing tasks, making friends, managing their emotions, and so forth. 

We are excited to be able to intervene early to address student social, emotional, and academic behavior that gets in the way of learning. Our goal is to enable all students to be successful in school and their community. Below are frequently asked questions about the EIS. If you have any further questions, please contact our school counselor, Mrs. M. Berkeley.

What does the EIS measure? The EIS measures student ability to pay attention, complete tasks, Stay engaged in school, regulate emotions, create positive peer relationships, manage negative emotions, and bullying. The EIS finds students who may be at risk for experiencing problems with these skills. The EIS does not diagnose or identify a student with a disability. 

How will teachers use this information? School and grade-level teams will review the data and find students who may be at risk, and provide interventions designed to improve student skills. Sometimes, the teacher will provide an intervention to all students in a classroom, or students may attend small groups with the school counselor. Students with intensive needs would be eligible to receive more individualized supports. 

How will parents be notified if their student is identified as at risk? If the staff decides a student needs a small group or individualized support, school staff will notify caregivers. If you as the student’s parent/guardian do not feel an intervention is necessary, the student will not take part. 

When will the EIS be conducted, and how long does it take? Teachers and students will complete the EIS in the Fall (October) and Spring (April or May). It takes teachers approximately 20 minutes to complete the checklist for each class and about 10-15 minutes for 3rd grade students to complete the survey. We will be doing this during the Computer Science Encore class since the survey is computer-based.

What if I do not want my student to take part in the EIS? You can opt your student(s) out of the EIS. If you choose to do so, teachers will not complete the EIS on that student; if the student is in the 3^rd grade, he/she will not complete the survey. A copy of the opt-out form is attached and paper copies will be available in the school office starting Monday, September 18.

                                                                                        

T H E   P R I N C I P A L ’ S   P E R S P E C T I VE

Do you ever let little things take up too much of your headspace? Sometimes I invest too much time and attention on matters that seem pretty small when viewed in the rearview mirror of retrospect. Little annoyances can blossom to big frustrations. Little sleights can balloon to big transgressions. The tone of an e-mail from a colleague, the beep from the car behind you at the traffic light, that guy with one-too-many items in the express lane, the rolled eyes of your child (actually, that last one is a big deal). Staring at the rejection sticker on my windshield after a failed state inspection last week, I had to keep reminding myself that the ugly little pink thing did not determine my self-worth and wasn’t a reflection of me as a person – just a reflection of my foggy headlights. It’s easy to allow the mole hills to become mountains if we aren’t careful to view them in proper perspective and consider the source. It’s also important to check our personal emotional state; when minor matters become major, I know I’m not in a good place mentally. How about you? In high school I had a sticker on my Trapper Keeper (yes, I’m that old) that astutely advised, “Don’t let the turkeys get you down”; I interpreted that to mean to not allow the pettiness of life to negatively impact my mood. Life is full of minor annoyances and a few matters of real consequence, and if we can keep that truth in focus, we can be happier adults who train up happier children.

 

It's usually not that big of a deal,

Mr. B.

Mr. Brennan

 

 

C A R D I N A L   K U D O S

Our PTA Board is appreciative for how amazing the response has been to the Boosterthon fundraiser. Together our community raised well over $15,000 and could not have done it without each of you who participated as staff members, caregivers, and business partners. Boosterthon is still accepting donations until next Friday, September 29. Everything the PTA will be doing for the remainder of this school year is either a low-cost or no-cost family event. 

 

F. Y. I.

Here’s the link to our CAES handbook, the Family FAQ: 23-24 Carrollton Family FAQ

From parent Carey Byrd: Every morning we send our priceless little humans to school, and we wish/hope/pray that they come back to us unharmed. Let us come together to wish/hope/pray for Carrollton Elementary, the staff, the children, and our nation. September 27 will be the 33rd annual “See You at the Pole” and you are invited to bring your children at 7:00 am to the Carrollton flagpole in the middle of the car loop where we will pray and have time to eat some donuts before clearing out by 8:00 a.m.

 

Reminder about morning drop-off:

• At 8:55, caregivers should bring their children to the office to sign them in.
• Please have your child sit on the driver’s side of the car; this helps keep students and staff from having to walk between vehicles.
• Caregivers may not park and walk their children. The two exceptions:
  • Families who are provided a Cardinal Parking pass may use the designated spots for pick-up and drop-off. Our resource officer, Deputy Currier, will be looking for these.
  • Caregivers who are entering the building for a teacher meeting or business in the office or clinic. 

 

 

Remind is back and you should’ve received a few texts from me already – if you haven’t and you want to be in the know, please contact the office.

Our Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) Rosemary Daniels is available for our military-connected students. If your family is facing a deployment, PCS, reintegration, or other military-related stressors and you would like her to check in with your child and provide free resources, contact Ms. Rosemary at 757-272-6944. 

 

 

H E L P   W A N T E D 

 

got candy? Now that the shelves are full of Halloween, if you would like to donate a bag or two to our faculty, they would be appreciative. Nothing makes a data disaggregation meeting more enjoyable than fun-sized Snickers or little packs of Skittles! I’ll gladly accept contributions during morning drop-off or in the office. 

 

We currently have openings for the following positions:

• Library Media Specialist
• General Education Instructional Assistant (full-time)
• Special Education Instructional Assistant (full-time)

If you’re interested or know someone who is, please check out the listings on the division’s webpage at this link: Join the CAES Staff!

 

 

F R O M   B L U E   D O M I N I O N

 

School pictures are coming up! Below is the schedule:

• Wednesday 10/4: Ms. Micciche’s class, Ms. Nagy’s class, Mrs. Rowland’s class, Ms. Norton’s class, 2^nd grade, and 3^rd grade 
• Thursday 10/5: pre-K, K, and 1^st grade

Photo ordering will be 100% online. Photos will be available to order about two weeks after picture day. More info will follow.

 

 

U P C O M I N G   E V E N T S

9/29     Freaky Friday Spirit Day (We adults will dress like kids and the kids get to dress like adults!)

10/2     School Resource Officer Day

10/3     Interim reports come home

10/4     School picture day for grades 2 and 3 and all self-contained classes

10/5     School picture day for grades pre-K, K, and 1

10/9     No School: Columbus Day

10/10   No School: Staff professional development

10/20   Packer Pride Day and 1:00 dismissal for Smithfield High homecoming parade

10/27   Book Character Day and parade

10/31   Pumpkin Day (pumpkin-themed lessons and activities)

11/1     School picture make-ups/retakes

 

 

W E L L N E S S    S C R E E N E R 

This October our school will take part in a study that helps staff find students needing more support. We will use the Early Identification System (EIS). This will help us to identify students who need support with paying attention, completing tasks, regulating emotions, creating positive peer relationships, and managing negative emotions like stress and worry. The EIS has two parts. A part for teachers to complete and a part for students to complete. The teachers will use the EIS to indicate student needs for each student in their class. Our 3rd graders are the only students who will complete the EIS survey to indicate how they feel they are doing with paying attention in school, completing tasks, making friends, managing their emotions, and so forth. 

We are excited to be able to intervene early to address student social, emotional, and academic behavior that gets in the way of learning. Our goal is to enable all students to be successful in school and their community. Below are frequently asked questions about the EIS. If you have any further questions, please contact our school counselor, Mrs. M. Berkeley.

What does the EIS measure? The EIS measures student ability to pay attention, complete tasks, Stay engaged in school, regulate emotions, create positive peer relationships, manage negative emotions, and bullying. The EIS finds students who may be at risk for experiencing problems with these skills. The EIS does not diagnose or identify a student with a disability. 

How will teachers use this information? School and grade-level teams will review the data and find students who may be at risk, and provide interventions designed to improve student skills. Sometimes, the teacher will provide an intervention to all students in a classroom, or students may attend small groups with the school counselor. Students with intensive needs would be eligible to receive more individualized supports. 

How will parents be notified if their student is identified as at risk? If the staff decides a student needs a small group or individualized support, school staff will notify caregivers. If you as the student’s parent/guardian do not feel an intervention is necessary, the student will not take part. 

When will the EIS be conducted, and how long does it take? Teachers and students will complete the EIS in the Fall (October) and Spring (April or May). It takes teachers approximately 20 minutes to complete the checklist for each class and about 10-15 minutes for 3rd grade students to complete the survey. We will be doing this during the Computer Science Encore class since the survey is computer-based.

What if I do not want my student to take part in the EIS? You can opt your student(s) out of the EIS. If you choose to do so, teachers will not complete the EIS on that student; if the student is in the 3^rd grade, he/she will not complete the survey. A copy of the opt-out form is attached and paper copies will be available in the school office starting Monday, September 18.

Carrollton Weekly Update • 9/30/2023

                                                                                          

T H E   P R I N C I P A L ’ S   P E R S P E C T I VE

Little things are a big deal to our little kids – a lost tooth, a birthday, a frog, a handful of M & M’s. One of the consequences of getting bigger is that the person’s view of the little things can become distant. It seems that adults don’t often derive nearly as much pleasure from a butterfly as a kid does, and when’s the last time a sticker made you smile (unless it’s a cleverly snarky bumper sticker)? I fear that a trap that we parents can easily fall into is thinking that we need to give our children big gifts and big experiences in order for them to be happy. A multi-day, park-hopper Walk Disney World experience is certainly exciting but so, too, is a picnic and walk around a local park. A big cruise on a big ship on a big ocean can definitely be, well, big fun; so can playing in the backyard sprinkler and a water balloon fight. The parental tendency to go big may be grow from the self-imposed need to keep up with the Joneses and make sure that family time is Facebook-worthy. Personally, I struggle with wanting to do more than is necessary/practical/financially prudent as a method to compensate for what I feel I missed out on as a child: I want my kids to have what I didn’t when all they really want is time and attention. My wife patiently reminds me of that. Often. Especially around birthdays. And at Christmas. Little things like running errands with me, playing Uno on the couch, a face-to-face conversation – these are what I’ve discovered make a big difference in my daughters’ lives. The older my girls grow, the more I’m convinced that while they’ll remember the big stuff they’ve received and the big experiences that they’ve had, they will cherish fondly the memories of the little moments.

Your little people want you in a big way,

Mr. B.

Mr. Brennan

 

 

C A R D I N A L   K U D O S

 

Thank you, Carey Byrd, for organizing a family-involvement opportunity with Wednesday’s See You at the Pole event.

 

On behalf of some pretty happy teachers, thanks to the following families for donating candy to the cause: the Tippetts, the Mays, the Cutlers, and the Shaeffers.

 

CAES is the fortunate recipient of a $500 grant from the William M. Cage Library Trust and we will be sure to put the funding toward books to increase the collection in our media center.

 

F. Y. I.

Here’s the link to our CAES handbook, the Family FAQ: 23-24 Carrollton Family FAQ

 

Regarding absences…

• The new URL for electronically reporting student absences is CAES Absence Note Form.
• If you would like to send/scan information regarding your child’s absence, please use this address: caes-attendance@iwcs.k12.va.us

 

October is Bullying Prevention Month. According to School Board policy JFC: Student Conduct , bullying means any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. Bullying includes cyber bullying. We at school appreciate how you at home help your children understand the importance of being kind and civil to others as well as how to properly identify when unwanted behavior is actually bullying. Bullying does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument or peer conflict. 

 

Always looking for chances to improve what we’re doing, Monday we will start with two rounds of vehicles being cycled through at afternoon pick-up. Things will look pretty much the same as they have with the exception of twenty’ish additional vehicles lined up in the other part of the front parking lot. The staff on duty will provide direction.

 

The Education Foundation board is faithfully working to plan their annual gala/auction to be held on Friday, November 3, to benefit grants for IWCS teachers. You can be part of this opportunity to help our teachers fund learning opportunities and you can be part of the fun by attending the big event. Ticket info is linked here: iowfoundation/registration/black-tie-gala

Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests and here’s the link: https://www.covid.gov/tests  

 

Caregivers of 3rd Grade Cardinals: Your students have completed the first round of state-mandated student growth assessments (SGA's), providing their teachers with a baseline for measuring academic progress between the start of this school year, the second administration in the winter, and then the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments in the spring. Next Tuesday with progress reports you will also be receiving a letter that explains how you can access your child's state assessment data. Please check those backpacks and red folders, and if you are missing the letter with my signature, let the teacher know. You have the opportunity to create your very own Virginia Assessment Parent Portal account for the first time and you only need to do it once to access data until your child finishes high school. When you get your child's unique claim code Tuesday, you will use that information to set up your portal. The directions are attached to this message, and you can also access guidance on the school website under the Caregiver Zone: https://caes.iwcs.k12.va.us/apps/pages/VAParentPortal.  

 

Our Military Family Life Counselor (MFLC) Rosemary Daniels is available for our military-connected students. If your family is facing a deployment, PCS, reintegration, or other military-related stressors and you would like her to check in with your child and provide free resources, contact Ms. Rosemary at 757-272-6944. 

 

H E L P   W A N T E D 

got candy? Now that the shelves are full of Halloween, if you would like to donate a bag or two to our faculty, they would be appreciative. Nothing makes a data disaggregation meeting more enjoyable than fun-sized Snickers or little packs of Skittles! I’ll gladly accept contributions during morning drop-off or in the office. 

 

 

We currently have openings for the following positions:

• 11-month Administrative Associate (new opening)
• Library Media Specialist
• General Education Instructional Assistant (full-time)
• Special Education Instructional Assistant (full-time)

If you’re interested or know someone who is, please check out the listings on the division’s webpage at this link: Join the CAES Staff!

 

We would like to purchase a portable sound system and mic to use at parades, performances, and throughout the school. If you’re interested in helping with this, here is a Donors Choose link from our music teacher Mrs. Wallace: CAES_portable_sound_equipment

 

F R O M   O U R   P. T. A.

We are excited to announce that together, we have raised a total of $18,013 from our Boosterthon fundraiser! This money will go toward purchasing new playground equipment and sponsoring family events. We wanted to personally thank you as this would not have been possible without you.

We also want to announce the winners of the ice cream and popcorn parties, as well as our top earners who get to SLIME Mr. Brennan and Ms. Toth!

Our 2nd Graders brought in the most donations collectively and have earned a popcorn party!

The winners of the ice cream parties (individual classes that brought in the most) are…

#1 Ms. Sante’s kindergarteners

#2 Ms. Brake’s 2nd graders

#3 Mr. Sciarrotta’s 3rd graders

The two top students with the most donations were Asher Witherspoon and Alton Lee. Asher will get to SLIME Mr. Brennan and Alton will get to SLIME Ms. Toth! There will be a third SLIMING surprise happening, as well…

Our next event will be the Bedford Falls Book Fair, which takes place from October 19 through October 27th. We will have a Family Night with trick-or-treating on Wednesday, October 25, from 6:00 - 8:00. Additionally, all will be welcome to shop after the Book Character Day Parade on Friday, October 27.

As always thank you so your support,

CAES PTA

 

 

F R O M   B L U E   D O M I N I O N

School pictures are next week! Below is the schedule:

• Wednesday 10/4: Ms. Micciche’s class, Ms. Nagy’s class, Mrs. Rowland’s class, Ms. Norton’s class, 2^nd grade, and 3^rd grade 
• Thursday 10/5: pre-K, K, and 1^st grade

Photo ordering will be 100% online. Photos will be available to order about two weeks after picture day. More info will follow.

 

 

U P C O M I N G   E V E N T S

10/2     School Resource Officer Day (a great chance to show your appreciation to Deputy Currier)

10/3     Interim reports come home

10/4     School picture day for grades 2 and 3 and all self-contained classes

10/5     School picture day for grades pre-K, K, and 1

10/9     No School: Columbus Day 

10/10   No School: Staff professional development

10/12   School Board meeting (6:00 p.m.)

10/19   PTA-sponsored Bedford Falls Book Fair begins (ends 10/27)

10/20   Packer Pride Day and 1:00 dismissal for Smithfield High homecoming parade

10/25   PTA-sponsored book fair trick-or-treating family event (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

10/27   Book Character Day and parade

10/31   Pumpkin Day (pumpkin-themed lessons and activities)

11/1     School picture make-ups/retakes

 

W E L L N E S S    S C R E E N E R 

This October our school will take part in a study that helps staff find students needing more support. We will use the Early Identification System (EIS). This will help us to identify students who need support with paying attention, completing tasks, regulating emotions, creating positive peer relationships, and managing negative emotions like stress and worry. The EIS has two parts. A part for teachers to complete and a part for students to complete. The teachers will use the EIS to indicate student needs for each student in their class. Our 3rd graders are the only students who will complete the EIS survey to indicate how they feel they are doing with paying attention in school, completing tasks, making friends, managing their emotions, and so forth. 

We are excited to be able to intervene early to address student social, emotional, and academic behavior that gets in the way of learning. Our goal is to enable all students to be successful in school and their community. Below are frequently asked questions about the EIS. If you have any further questions, please contact our school counselor, Mrs. M. Berkeley.

What does the EIS measure? The EIS measures student ability to pay attention, complete tasks, Stay engaged in school, regulate emotions, create positive peer relationships, manage negative emotions, and bullying. The EIS finds students who may be at risk for experiencing problems with these skills. The EIS does not diagnose or identify a student with a disability. 

How will teachers use this information? School and grade-level teams will review the data and find students who may be at risk, and provide interventions designed to improve student skills. Sometimes, the teacher will provide an intervention to all students in a classroom, or students may attend small groups with the school counselor. Students with intensive needs would be eligible to receive more individualized supports. 

How will parents be notified if their student is identified as at risk? If the staff decides a student needs a small group or individualized support, school staff will notify caregivers. If you as the student’s parent/guardian do not feel an intervention is necessary, the student will not take part. 

When will the EIS be conducted, and how long does it take? Teachers and students will complete the EIS in the Fall (October) and Spring (April or May). It takes teachers approximately 20 minutes to complete the checklist for each class and about 10-15 minutes for 3rd grade students to complete the survey. We will be doing this during the Computer Science Encore class since the survey is computer-based.

What if I do not want my student to take part in the EIS? You can opt your student(s) out of the EIS. If you choose to do so, teachers will not complete the EIS on that student; if the student is in the 3^rd grade, he/she will not complete the survey. A copy of the opt-out form is attached and paper copies will be available in the school office starting Monday, September 18.

10/25   PTA-sponsored book fair trick-or-treating family event (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

10/27   Book Character Day and parade

10/31   Pumpkin Day (pumpkin-themed lessons and activities)

11/1     School picture make-ups/retakes

11/6     End of first quarter

11/8     Pre-K to Children’s Museum (9:00 – 2:00)

11/9     We ️ Our Veterans! Day (Stars, stripes, and camo will help one class win the spirit stick!)

11/9     School Board meeting (6:00 at WSES)

11/10   No school: Veterans Day observed

 

 

W E L L N E S S    S C R E E N E R 

This October our school will take part in a study that helps staff find students needing more support. We will use the Early Identification System (EIS). This will help us to identify students who need support with paying attention, completing tasks, regulating emotions, creating positive peer relationships, and managing negative emotions like stress and worry. The EIS has two parts. A part for teachers to complete and a part for students to complete. The teachers will use the EIS to indicate student needs for each student in their class. Our 3rd graders are the only students who will complete the EIS survey to indicate how they feel they are doing with paying attention in school, completing tasks, making friends, managing their emotions, and so forth. 

We are excited to be able to intervene early to address student social, emotional, and academic behavior that gets in the way of learning. Our goal is to enable all students to be successful in school and their community. Below are frequently asked questions about the EIS. If you have any further questions, please contact our school counselor, Mrs. M. Berkeley.

What does the EIS measure? The EIS measures student ability to pay attention, complete tasks, Stay engaged in school, regulate emotions, create positive peer relationships, manage negative emotions, and bullying. The EIS finds students who may be at risk for experiencing problems with these skills. The EIS does not diagnose or identify a student with a disability. 

How will teachers use this information? School and grade-level teams will review the data and find students who may be at risk, and provide interventions designed to improve student skills. Sometimes, the teacher will provide an intervention to all students in a classroom, or students may attend small groups with the school counselor. Students with intensive needs would be eligible to receive more individualized supports. 

How will parents be notified if their student is identified as at risk? If the staff decides a student needs a small group or individualized support, school staff will notify caregivers. If you as the student’s parent/guardian do not feel an intervention is necessary, the student will not take part. 

When will the EIS be conducted, and how long does it take? Teachers and students will complete the EIS in the Fall (October) and Spring (April or May). It takes teachers approximately 20 minutes to complete the checklist for each class and about 10-15 minutes for 3rd grade students to complete the survey. We will be doing this during the Computer Science Encore class since the survey is computer-based.

What if I do not want my student to take part in the EIS? You can opt your student(s) out of the EIS. If you choose to do so, teachers will not complete the EIS on that student; if the student is in the 3^rd grade, he/she will not complete the survey. A copy of the opt-out form is attached and paper copies will be available in the school office starting Monday, September 18.

10/25   PTA-sponsored book fair trick-or-treating family event (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

10/27   Book Character Day and parade

10/31   Pumpkin Day (pumpkin-themed lessons and activities)

11/1     School picture make-ups/retakes

11/5     Daylight Savings Time ends (Fall back!)

11/6     End of first quarter

11/8     Pre-K to Children’s Museum (9:00 – 2:00)

11/9     We ️ Our Veterans! Day (Let’s show our support for those who served!)

11/9     School Board meeting (6:00 at WSES)

11/10   No school: Veterans Day observed

11/20   Report cards come home

11/22   Thanksgiving break begins (Nov. 22 – 26) 

 

W E L L N E S S    S C R E E N E R 

This October our school will take part in a study that helps staff find students needing more support. We will use the Early Identification System (EIS). This will help us to identify students who need support with paying attention, completing tasks, regulating emotions, creating positive peer relationships, and managing negative emotions like stress and worry. The EIS has two parts. A part for teachers to complete and a part for students to complete. The teachers will use the EIS to indicate student needs for each student in their class. Our 3rd graders are the only students who will complete the EIS survey to indicate how they feel they are doing with paying attention in school, completing tasks, making friends, managing their emotions, and so forth. 

We are excited to be able to intervene early to address student social, emotional, and academic behavior that gets in the way of learning. Our goal is to enable all students to be successful in school and their community. Below are frequently asked questions about the EIS. If you have any further questions, please contact our school counselor, Mrs. M. Berkeley.

What does the EIS measure? The EIS measures student ability to pay attention, complete tasks, Stay engaged in school, regulate emotions, create positive peer relationships, manage negative emotions, and bullying. The EIS finds students who may be at risk for experiencing problems with these skills. The EIS does not diagnose or identify a student with a disability. 

How will teachers use this information? School and grade-level teams will review the data and find students who may be at risk, and provide interventions designed to improve student skills. Sometimes, the teacher will provide an intervention to all students in a classroom, or students may attend small groups with the school counselor. Students with intensive needs would be eligible to receive more individualized supports. 

How will parents be notified if their student is identified as at risk? If the staff decides a student needs a small group or individualized support, school staff will notify caregivers. If you as the student’s parent/guardian do not feel an intervention is necessary, the student will not take part. 

When will the EIS be conducted, and how long does it take? Teachers and students will complete the EIS in the Fall (October) and Spring (April or May). It takes teachers approximately 20 minutes to complete the checklist for each class and about 10-15 minutes for 3rd grade students to complete the survey. We will be doing this during the Computer Science Encore class since the survey is computer-based.

What if I do not want my student to take part in the EIS? You can opt your student(s) out of the EIS. If you choose to do so, teachers will not complete the EIS on that student; if the student is in the 3^rd grade, he/she will not complete the survey. A copy of the opt-out form is attached and paper copies will be available in the school office starting Monday, September 18.

10/25   PTA-sponsored book fair trick-or-treating family event (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

10/27   Book Character Day and parade

10/30   Lockdown drill scheduled

10/31   Pumpkin Day (pumpkin-themed lessons, readings, and activities)

11/2     New date: School picture make-ups/retakes

11/5     Daylight Savings Time ends (Fall back!)

11/6     End of first quarter

11/8     Donuts & Coffee for our Veterans! (7:45 – 8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria)

11/8     Pre-K to Children’s Museum (9:00 – 2:00)

11/9     We ️ Our Veterans! Day (Let’s show our support for those who served!)

11/9     School Board meeting (6:00 at WSES)

11/10   No school: Veterans Day observed

11/20   Report cards come home

11/22   Thanksgiving break begins (Nov. 22 – 26)