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October 30, 2015
Volume 4 / Issue 10
 
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Note from Dr. Beekley 
- Operation Gratitude
- TumbleBook Library
- Social Development News
- Health Office News
- Chester's Halloween Carnival
- Square 1 Art Orders
- PTO Yankee Candle Sale & Clothing Drive

Digital Backpack




Friday, October 30  
- Grade 2 Field Trip to Chester Village West
- Grade 4 Field Trip to Mashantucket Pequot Museum
- Grade 5 Field Trip to Mystic Seaport
- Grade 6 Field Trip to Sturbridge Village
- Halloween Parade for grades K-3
(1:45 pm)
- PTO Halloween Carnival
(6:00-8:00 pm)

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
(Professional 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


Halloween is an exciting time of the year for kids! The decorations, costumes, and treats make it a special holiday. We had a wonderful Halloween Parade today. This evening, please join us for the PTO Halloween Carnival on Main Street. Enjoy Halloween, but please be safe!

Short, soft, and flexible for all costume accessories.

Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.

Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.

Examine all treats before eating them.

Have a "spooktacular" Halloween.

Joanne D. Beekley, Ed.D.
Principal


         
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
OPERATION GRATITUDE COLLECTION

 
It is time for our second annual Operation Gratitude collection. Last year, CES parent, Lynn Eddy, spearheaded the project. This year, our CES Leaders wanted to continue this service-learning project and send our troops the following:

*    Any unwanted/leftover Halloween candy  
*    Toothbrushes 
*    Toothpaste 
*    Dental floss

The collection will be for TWO DAYS ONLY: 
Monday, November 2 - Tuesday, November 3

Please contact Diana Amara or Amy Lippincott with any questions at 860-526-5797.
 
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TUMBLEBOOK LIBRARY

 
Our school library media center has subscribed to a new database, TumbleBook Library. TumbleBook Library is an online collection offering ebooks, including animated talking picture books, chapter books, books in French and Spanish, graphic novels, and nonfiction books. There are also videos, Tumble Tunes, and math stories. This database is accessible to students at both school and home. You must log in with a username and password to access this database. This information will be distributed during Parent Teacher Conferences. You may also get the access information by emailing bmoshier@reg4.k12.ct.us.  

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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS
 
SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT TO BENEFIT CHESTER FOOD PANTRY

Extended until Thursday, November 5th!

 
The Chester Food Pantry, located in the Town Hall, provides non-perishable food and personal items to those in need in our community.  Their supply is running low, and they are in need of many supplies.  Please help us re-stock the food pantry by donating items from the list below: 

Kindergarten - Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
1st Grade - Canned Tuna
2nd Grade - Boxed Macaroni & Cheese / Canned Pasta (ravioli, spaghettios, etc...)
3rd Grade - Cereal
4th Grade - Peanut Butter & Jelly
5th Grade - Condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressing) 
6th Grade - Hearty Soups / Toilet Paper / Kleenex / Dish Soap 

Our collection began on Monday, October 5th and has been extended until Thursday, November 5th.  Collection baskets are located in the main hallway. Thank you for supporting our school-wide fall service-learning project.  
 
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
October is National Bullying Awareness and Prevention Month.  Your children have been engaged in Social Development Lessons throughout the month, dealing with how to be a friend, being an upstander vs. a bystander, mean-spirited behavior vs. bullying, etc.
 
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEMES 
The Social Development Theme for the month of October is Self-Esteem. The Social Development Books of the Month are Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon (K-2) and Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun (3-6). Please enjoy a description of the books below.

Be yourself like Molly Lou Melon no matter what a bully may do.

Molly Lou Melon is short and clumsy, has buck teeth, and has a voice that sounds like a bullfrog being squeezed by a boa constrictor. She doesn't mind. Her grandmother has always  told her to walk proud, smile big, and sing loud, and she takes that advice to heart.

But then Molly Lou has to start in a new school. A horrible bully picks on her on the very first day, but Molly Lou Melon knows just what to do about that.

How can Ralph be so mean? Lucy is one of a kind and Ralph loves to point that out. Lucy's defining moment comes when Ralph truly needs help. Because she knows what she stands for, Lucy has the courage to make a good choice. This charming story empowers children to always do the right thing and be proud of themselves, even when they are faced with someone as challenging as Ralph.

The goal of our Social Development Book-of-the-Month is to integrate literature and concomitant language arts objectives with themes and ideas that support our social development program.
 
The Chester Public Library is graciously partnering with us on our social development Book-of-the-Month initiative.  Our Book-of-the-Month is displayed at the library and there are multiple copies available for families to borrow, so that the discussion begun at school can be shared and extended at home.

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HEALTH OFFICE NEWS 
 
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DRESSING FOR THE WEATHER

With temperatures varying each day, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately. Layers are suggested for this time of year as it is cold in the morning and much warmer in the afternoon. We will continue to go out for both morning and afternoon recess if the temperature is above 20 degrees and not raining. Thank you for your cooperation!
 
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PTO NEWS
 
HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL IS TONIGHT!

 
 
Join Us Tonight (October 30th) for Some Tricks and Treats in Downtown Chester!

The Basics:
5:00 pm:  Meet at Chesterfields to decorate a Treat Bag & More!
5:45 pm:  Line up in the Chesterfields Parking Lot with the Chester Fife & Drum Corp. to march in the Costume Parade (Come on Parents - Join the Fun and Dress Up Too!)
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm:  Enjoy trick or treating with the local merchants, do a craft at Maple & Main, hear a Scary Story by Judy Potter at the Villager, Dance the Night Away with DJ Gary Torello, and, of course, try your luck at our Halloween Carnival Games.

Hungry & Thirsty? Grab cupcakes, carnival popcorn or cider at one of the CES PTO booths!

Tickets will be sold for the Carnival Games, Cupcakes, Carnival Popcorn, and Cider. Tickets are .50 each or $10 for 24 Tickets or $25 for 60 Tickets.

Parking: The center of town will be closed to traffic from 5-9 pm. Parking is available at all town lots. The Chesterfields' parking lot will be closed (due to the parade gathering), but you may use the St. Joseph's lot.

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SQUARE 1 ART ORDERS DUE MONDAY!

 
Don't miss your chance to order a lasting memento with your child's artwork! Hint Hint: Christmas is around the corner and these would make great grandparent or other family member gifts!  

Order Forms are due this coming Monday, November 2nd. Please make sure they include your name and your student's name on the Form. Please include payment for all items ordered.

Any Questions? Please contact Amy Lippincott at alippincott@reg4.k12.ct.us. 

 
YANKEE CANDLE SALE & CLOTHING DRIVE A HUGE SUCCESS!
 
The CES PTO would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU to the CES community for the success of the Yankee Candle Sale and the Clothing Drive.  

From the Yankee Candle Sales, the CES PTO has earned  over $3,000 dollars.

The Clothing Drive collected over 3,100 pounds which raised $621 dollars. 

These funds help support our amazing programs throughout the year including: the Cultural Arts Program, Teachers' Mini Grants, 6th Grade Activities, and more.

Specifically, we want to say Thank You to the tireless volunteers and people who make this all possible and who without it would not be possible.

In that regard, I would like to thank:

*    Melissa Hays and Dawn Saunders, co-chairs of the Yankee Candle Sale  
*    Amy Gordon-Pullin, Dawn Saunders, and Sarah Winkley, co-chairs of the Clothing Drive  
*    Mrs. Giordano and Mr. Grzybowski for logistics during the Clothing Drive  
*    Ellen Cecchini for assisting in the curbside drop off  
*    The strong & enthusiastic 5th & 6th Graders who helped load the truck

Thank You Again to All Who Participated. 
 
  
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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