September 4, 2015

Volume 4 / Issue 2

IN THIS ISSUE:

- Note from Dr. Beekley

- Social Development Day

- Curriculum Night

- Health Office News
- PTO News

Digital Backpack

Monday, September 7th

- Labor Day (No School)

Tuesday, September 8th
- PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Wed., September 9th & Thurs., September 10th

- School Photos

Monday, September 14th
- Rosh Hashanah (No School)

Thursday, September 17th
- Student Banking & Box Tops Due

Monday, September 21st
- Curriculum Night
(6:00-6:30 pm for grades K-3)
(6:45-7:15 pm for grades 4-6)

Wed., September 23rd

- Yom Kippur (No School)

Thursday, September 24th - Chester Board of Education Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Sunday, October 4th
- Kindergarten/New Family Gathering
(Camp Hazen)

Tuesday, October 6th - Grade 4 Field Trip to Florence Griswold Museum

Monday, October 12th
- Professional Development Day (No School for Students)

Tuesday, October 13th
- PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Thursday, October 15th
- Student Banking & Box Tops Due

Wednesday, October 21st
- PTO Fall Clothing Drive

Thursday, October 22nd - PTO Fall Clothing Drive
- Early Dismissal at 1:00 pm for Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 23rd
- PTO Fall Clothing Drive
- Early Dismissal at 1:00 pm for Parent/Teacher Conferences

Friday, October 30
- Halloween Parade for grades K-3
- PTO Halloween Carnival

Friday, November 6th
- Early Dismissal (Professional Development for Staff)

Tuesday, November 10th - PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Wednesday, November 11th - Veterans Day Program

Thursday, November 19th - Student Banking & Box Tops Due

Monday, November 23rd - Chester Board of Education Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

November 25th-27th
- Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, December 1st
- PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Tuesday, December 8th
- Winter Concert

Friday, December 11th
- PTO Holiday Craft Night

Thursday, December 17th
- Student Banking & Box Tops Due

Tuesday, December 22nd
- Snow Day Play

December 23rd-January 1st
- Holiday Break

Tuesday, January 12th
- PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Friday, January 15th
- Early Dismissal onal Development for Staff)

Monday, January 18th
- Martin Luther King's Birthday (No School)

Thursday, January 21st
- Student Banking & Box Tops Due

Thursday, January 28th
- Chester Board of Education Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Tuesday, February 9th
- PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Friday, February 12th
- Early Dismissal (Professional Development for Staff)

Monday, February 15th
- Presidents Day (No School)

Tuesday, February 16th
- Professional Development Day (No School for Students)

Wednesday, February 17th
- Possible Snow Make-up Day

Thursday, February 18th
- Possible Snow Make-up Day
- Student Banking & Box Tops Due

Friday, February 26th
- PTO Bingo & Basket Raffle Night

Tuesday, March 8th
- PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Thursday, March 17th
- Student Banking & Box Tops Due

Tuesday, March 22nd
- PTO Book Fair

Wednesday, March 23rd
- PTO Book Fair
- Early Dismissal (Parent/ Teacher Conferences)

Thursday, March 24th
- PTO Book Fair
- Early Dismissal (Parent/ Teacher Conferences)
- Chester Board of Education Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Friday, March 25th
- Good Friday (No School)

Tuesday, March 29th
- S.T.E.A.M. Fair Open House

Wednesday, March 30th
- S.T.E.A.M. Fair Judging

Tuesday, April 12th
- PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Thursday, April 14th
- Student Banking & Box Tops Due

Friday, April 15th
- Early Dismissal (Professional Development for Staff)

April 18th-April 22nd
- Spring Recess

Monday, April 25th
- Possible Snow Make-up Day

Tuesday, April 26th
- Possible Snow Make-up Day

Friday, April 29th
- Arbor Day

Friday, April 30th
- State Invention Convention

Tuesday, May 3rd
- PTO Teachers' Appreciation Lunch

Wednesday, May 4th
- ACES Day
- Spring Arts Festival

Tuesday, May 10th
- PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Tuesday, May 17th
- Grade 3 Field Trip to Trash Museum

Thursday, May 19th
- Student Banking & Box Tops Due

Thursday, May 26th
- Chester Board of Education Meeting
(7:00 pm - Location TBD)

Friday, May 27th
- Early Dismissal (Professional Development for Staff)
- Memorial Day Program

Monday, May 30th
- Memorial Day (No School)
- Memorial Day Parade

Tuesday, May 31st
- Possible Snow Make-up Day
- PTO Spring Clothing Drive

Wednesday, June 1st- Friday, June 3rd
- PTO Spring Clothing Drive

Thursday, June 2nd
- Grade 6 Unity Day (JWMS)

Monday, June 13th
- Field Day

Tuesday, June 14th
- PTO Meeting
(7:00 pm - CES Library)

Wednesday, June 15th
- Early Dismissal (Last Day of School - depending on number of weather/ emergency days used)

A NOTE FROM DR. BEEKLEY

Dear Chester School Community,

We have had a wonderful opening of school. It has been my pleasure to get to know the students and their families. Chester Elementary is a wonderful school! We are working on routines and stressing our theme of the month, respect, in every facet of our school day.

Reminders

No School - Monday, September 7^th - Labor Day

PTO Meeting - September 8^th

School Pictures - September 9^th and 10^th

Have a terrific weekend!

Joanne D. Beekley, Ed.D.
Principal

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DAY

Like Pieces in a Puzzle We All Fit Together at CES

Today, we held our 8th Annual Social Development Day. The purpose of this important day is to establish a community of respect, cooperation and kindness across grade levels.

The day began with 6^th grade students
introducing our school code, which is,
"I promise to be Responsible, Respectful, Safe and Prepared." Our Book of the Month, The Recess Queen, was unveiled. The book focuses on our theme of the month, RESPECT. Each student received a grade level t-shirt with the date they will graduate from high school. Every grade level has a specific color.

Next, Miss Gister led our students in singing, "Stop, Think & Go!" All of our students sang along with enthusiasm. Students were then dismissed to various stations that parent volunteers helped set up and run. Each station focused on cooperative activities, which fostered cooperation, respect and self-esteem.

The day ended with the entire school
enjoying a performance by Corey the Dribbler.Corey has played professionally for numerous basketball teams. Since he was the smallest player on the court, he worked on his ball-handling abilities for
an astonishing amount of time each and every day.

I would like to thank Mrs. Amara and Mrs. Lippincott for organizing this important day that has become an annual tradition for CES. Also, we want to thank all of the parents who volunteered to assist with the station activities. We appreciate your support!

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CURRICULUM NIGHT

Curriculum Night will be held on Monday, September 21st. The schedule is listed below and on our school calendar. Please make every effort to attend. Your child's teacher will be sharing important information about the school year. Additionally, handouts about our curriculum and program offerings will be provided. It is also a time to sign up for conferences and as a PTO Room Parent. The draft of the student directory will also be available for you to edit/verify.

Curriculum Night - Monday, September 21st

6:00-6:30 pm - Grades K, 1, 2 and 3

6:45-7:15 pm - Grades 4, 5 and 6

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HEALTH OFFICE NEWS

Head lice is the most prevalent in summer due to camps, sleepovers and hotel stays. As we head into the school year, please remember to check your children's heads regularly to help prevent infestation and the spread of head lice. Some ways to reduce chances of getting head lice is to limit sleepovers and not to share hats, combs etc.

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PTO NEWS

PTO MEETING

Join Us for the 1st PTO Meeting of the Year -

Come to Win a Chance for a Free Yankee Candle!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 7pm in the CES Library

The PTO's 1st Meeting of 2015 is this coming Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 7:00 pm in the Chester Elementary School Library. Everyone who attends is able to enter their name for a chance to win a Free Yankee Candle!

We will have childcare available, so feel free to bring your kids! Our Agenda includes reviewing our committees, upcoming fundraising events, and our plans for a Halloween Carnival.

Remember, you don't need to sign up to be a "member" of CES PTO. As the parent or guardian of a student attending CES, you are already a member. Participation in events and volunteering when convenient, allows your child to continue to experience the supplemental resources and curriculum enhancements the PTO provides. It's also a great way to meet other parents, make new friends and get involved. Information on the PTO can always be found at http://ces-pto.wikispaces.com

You can always contact PTO co-Presidents for more information or to just let them know you want to help:

Lindsey Goergen: lgoergen7911@gmail.com

Kimberly Stack: kimberly_stack@yahoo.com

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OUR CHILDREN NEED YOUR SUPPORT

CES PTO Yankee Candle Fundraiser!

Each year the PTO runs one catalog fundraiser. With the success of last year's Yankee Candle Sale, we are going again with Yankee Candle.

Annually, over 30% of the PTO budget
is raised through the one catalog fundraiser. The money raised supports the "extras" at Chester Elementary School including the Cultural Arts Programs, Social Development Programs, Camp Hazen Field Day, Class Field Trips and Teacher Mini Grants.

Yankee Candle Fundraising Packets were sent home on Wednesday, September 2, 2015. The fundraiser will run until October 9th.

Please take a look at the great gifts and goodies offered in the Yankee Candle Fundraising Catalog. Out-of-town families and friends can also help support our school by ordering online. Instructions for selling online can be found at: http://ces-pto.wikispaces.com/Yankee+Candle+Sale.

Purchases will be shipped directly to homes. Every purchase helps support educational enrichment for our children.

If you do not receive a catalog or have any questions, please contact Yankee Candle Fundraiser Chairpersons:

Melissa Hays, mismarz@hotmail.com

Dawn Saunders, dawnsaunders91@yahoo.com

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CES PTO AND ESSEX SAVINGS BANK

Student Savings Program

A flyer describing the CES PTO School Bank Program went home on September 1, 2015. If your child already has a school banking account, please complete and return the Permission Slip attached to the Flyer. If your child does not have a school banking account, but would like to start one, please complete both the Permission Slip and the Signature Card Form. Please return any Permission Slips and Signature Card Forms by Wednesday, September 9, 2015.

Students can make deposits on the third Thursday of every month, starting with this September 17th. Deposits are made into a locked box mounted on the brick wall outside the office door. An Essex Savings Bank representative will collect the deposits in the afternoon and mail a deposit receipt home. This is a great, convenient first step toward teaching children to save and spend money responsibly. For more information, contact PTO Chairperson Melissa Hays, mismarz@hotmail.com or Essex Savings Bank Representative, Sarah May, at 860-526-0000.

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Chester Elementary School

"It Takes a World of Differences to Make a Difference in this World"
23 Ridge Road / Chester, CT 06412 / 860-526-5797
www.ces.reg4.k12.ct.us