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November 20, 2015
Volume 4 / Issue 13
 
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Note from Dr. Beekley
- Town Meeting
- Social Development Books from CES Library
- November Fitness Calendar
- Health Office News
- Social Development News
- PTO News 
- Community News 



Friday, November 20th
- Grade 5 Field Trip to Plimoth Plantation

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

Tuesday, November 24th
- Grade 1 Field Trip to Aaron Manor

November 25th-27th
- Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, December 1st
- Grade 2 (McKenna) LEARN Field Trip - Tangrams at Macdonough School
- 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

Friday, January 8th
- Grade 2 LEARN Field Trip to New Britain Art Museum

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
- Grade 2 Field Trip to Charlotte's Web Play

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)

Wednesday, June 8th
- Grade 4 Field Trip to State Capitol

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

Something about the mcornucopia-flowers.jpgonth of November fosters a time of reflection. It is a time to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. I am thankful for a wonderful staff and community who care about all children. I am thankful that education is celebrated in our community. I am thankful that all of our children are valued and supported. I am thankful for the climate of teamwork and "can do" spirit that abounds in the PTO and volunteers who enrich our school. I am thankful to be a part of a school that wants only the best for every child and strives daily to make that goal a reality. I wish you and your family the very best this Thanksgiving!

Joanne D. Beekley, Ed.D.
Principal
         
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
TOWN MEETING

On Thursday, we gathered for a Town Meeting to share and celebrate our first Academy accomplishments. Students from nine of the Academies shared what they had learned, created and produced during the first session. The Academies that shared were:

Puppets
CES Art Studio Students 
Dance
The Amazing Cartoonist
Exercise Explorers
Junior Engineers
Young Chemists
Junior Time Travelers
The Weed Whackers
 
      
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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM CES LIBRARY

Our Social Development theme of the month for November is Charity.  There are many excellent books in our library about charity and generosity.  A few will be featured each week and any may be borrowed from the library to be shared with your family.  Just email bmoshier@reg4.k12.ct.us to request the book and she will send it home with your child.

A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams 

A child, her waitress mother, and her grandmother save dimes to buy a comfortable armchair after all their furniture is lost in a fire.

Listen to the Wind by Greg Mortenson

Tells the true story of a man who became lost and
delirious after an unsuccessful trek to the top of K2, was saved by the locals of a remote Himalayan village, and kept his vow to return one day to build them a new school as a gesture of sincere appreciation and gratitude for what they did for him in his time of need. 

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy 

Presents an illustrated tale of a gift of fourteen cows given by the Maasai people of Kenya to the U.S. as a gesture of comfort and friendship in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 

A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree that gives to him without thought of return. 

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NOVEMBER FITNESS CALENDAR
sneakers
Here at Chester Elementary School, we encourage our students to be physically active both inside and outside of the school setting. 

Our November Fitness Calendar offers you and your child simple ideas for how to integrate physical activities throughout a busy day. Check it out for ways to get your whole family moving! 
Please click here for the November Fitness Calendar.

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HEALTH OFFICE NEWS 
 
nurselogo1
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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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS 
 
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT UPDATE
 
Thanks to our CES families, we were able to donate a tremendous amount of items to the Chester Food Pantry, located in the Town Hall.  Please feel free to donate any time to the drop box that is located in the entrance of the Town Hall. Thank you to our CES Student Leaders for organizing this very important service-learning project.  
 
 
Operation Gratitude, a program designed to provide candy and toothbrushes/toothpaste to soldiers, was a big success this year.  For two days in November, students brought in these items to show gratitude for everything our armed services do to help us.  The student leaders will be having a bake sale on the night of the winter concert, December 8th, to raise money to help with the cost of shipping these items. Thank you to all who donated. 
 
Our next service-learning project will be collecting items for clients at Gateway Community Treatment Center, a facility in Chester that services people with chronic mental illness.  This is our 24th year of collecting items for this agency.  The items we collect are, sometimes, the only things that the clients receive for the holidays. Be looking for more information to follow.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEMES

The Social Development Theme-of-the-Month for November is Charity.  The Social Development Book-of-the-Month is A Shelter in Our Car.  Please enjoy a description of  
the book below. 
 
Zettie and her Mama left their warm and comfortable home in Jamaica for an uncertain life in the United Sates. With Papa gone, Mama can't find a steady job that will sustain them and so they are forced to live in their car. But Mama's unwavering love, support, and gutsy determination give Zettie the confidence that, together, she and her mother can meet all challenges. Monica Gunning's moving and authentic story about homelessness in an American city was developed with the help of the Homeless Children's Network in San Francisco. Elaine Pedlar's strong and lively illustrations bring the story to life in vibrant chalk pastel.

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.

Ways to help children learn about charity:

Many of us want to teach our children to be, in the words of Gandhi, "the change they wish to see in the world." But it can be difficult to find meaningful ways for children to contribute to service projects and community initiatives.

The best way to instill a commitment to service is to start at home. Encouraging small acts of kindness like helping a family member who has had a rough day or caring for a pet, can teach even the smallest children the power of caring. As children grow, you can help them develop empathy and support good causes with these five tips: 
1.    Give kids a vote. 
Sit down as a group and discuss whether there are any individuals, organizations or causes that you are especially interested in helping. What talents and skills do you and your children have that will be most beneficial to them? Even small acts, like donating extra food and blankets to the animal shelter, will have meaning for children, if they choose the cause. 
2.    Start locally. 
While there are numerous worthy global charities, young children may find it easier to see the value in helping those in their neighborhood. Shoveling snow or pulling weeds for an elderly neighbor (even if you have to assist in the effort) or running an errand for a sick friend will have an immediate impact on both your child and the neighbor. Use the satisfaction that this experience brings as a springboard for talking about how to serve a broader community. 
3.    Host a service party. 
Show kids that joining forces can have a big impact-and be fun. Invite neighborhood children to your home, a local park or a community center to participate in a service project. Use the web to research the needs of local service groups and find an activity that's appropriate for the age group. Younger children can make thank you cards for service members or decorate bags for distribution through Meals on Wheels. As children mature, they will be able to prepare simple bag lunches for distribution at homeless shelters. Whatever you choose, the key is to make this a hands-on event rather than a simple donation drop-off.  
When kids have completed their service project, gather them in a circle to talk about who will benefit from their service and what other problems their "kid power" can address.  Discussing their projects and putting words to their feelings will make their experience more meaningful. Keep the tone fun and rewarding by playing games or singing songs and thanking the children for their efforts. Service is as much about the process as the product, so create a desire to do more! 
4.    Play Bingo! 
If your kids have charm to spare, spread the love by bringing them to a local senior center. Whether by participating in a game of bingo or singing together, young and old will benefit. 
5.    Serve the Earth.   You don't have to scale mountains or brave tropical rain forests to help save the world's endangered species. Start closer to home with activities like making a bird feeder for your own backyard, cleaning up litter in your neighborhood, or other activities that help the earth. Older kids can participate in projects like removing invasive plant species; contact your local parks and recreation department to find out how.  
 
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PTO NEWS
 
DID YOU REGISTER YOUR ADAMS REWARDS CARD?
 
When you register your Adams Rewards Card online, you can select the CES PTO to receive a donation from Adams based upon how much you shop. The more you shop at Adams, the more Adams provides to the CES PTO. It costs you nothing, except a few minutes to register your card.  
Adams Logo
To Register:
Log onto: http://adams.reachoffers.com/
Once you are logged on to your account, you'll see the header "Community Rewards" at the bottom left of your screen. Just below that header is a drop down menu. Please select Chester Elementary PTO from the drop down menu.
Click on the "Add Community" icon.
You are all set to start effortlessly earning for the CES PTO.
 
If you have any questions, please contact Ron Toth at ronaldtoth@ymail.com  
 
 
COMMUNITY NEWS 
 
VALLEY SHORE YMCA
 
The world is made up of 71% water. Your children are 100% curious! The Valley Shore will be offering four FREE swim lessons to every child between 3-10 years old during the Winter Holiday break to help keep kids in our community safe, build confidence, and develop a love of water activities.  Visit http://www.vsymca.org/splash to register today. Space is limited and registration ends December 20th.    
 
 
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