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January 8, 2016
Volume 4 / Issue 17
 
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Note from Dr. Beekley
- Cultural Arts Performance
- CES Lunch Accounts
- Social Development News
- PTO News
- Community News 

Digital Backpack


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

Wednesday, January 13th
- CAS Elementary Leadership Conference (Three Rivers Community College, Norwich)

Thursday, January 14th
- Snow Date for CAS Leadership Conference

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

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

Wednesday, January 20th
- Information Night for Parents of Current Sixth Graders (JW Middle School)

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

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

Thursday, February 4th
- JW Musical Preview for Sixth Grade Students (JW Middle School)

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

Wednesday, February 10th
- Grade 2C LEARN Field Trip to Eli Whitney Museum

Thursday, February 11th
- Grade 2M LEARN Field Trip to Eli Whitney Museum

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

Monday, March 7th
- Grade 2C LEARN Field Trip to Bushy Hill Nature Center

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

Wednesday, March 16th
- Grade 2M LEARN Field Trip to Bushy Hill Nature Center

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 
 
A new year begins, and with that new beginning we assess our goals for the future. Next to the quest for peace, our nation's most important goal is the development of a high quality educational experience for all children. In order to achieve our goal, we must believe in common values. At Chester Elementary School we believe that:

* A student is the most important person in our school.
* A student is not an interruption of our work - he or she is the purpose of it.
* A student is not a statistic. He or she is a flesh and blood human being with feelings and emotions.
* A student is deserving of the most courteous and attentive treatment that we can provide.
* A student is the lifeblood of Chester Elementary School and every school.

The focus for the future is on excellence. Education is the key to success and reaching goals in life. Providing the best for all students is the challenge we accept at Chester Elementary School. The commitment of the staff makes our goal reachable. We welcome all members of the Chester Elementary School community to join us as we strive for excellence for all in 2016 and always.

Happy New Year!

Joanne D. Beekley, Ed.D.
Principal
         
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
CULTURAL ARTS PERFORMANCE AT CES






On December 21st, dancEnlight performed "Ink Passion," a variety of Chinese-influenced modern dance and art with an emphasis on culturally related studies and movement with Chinese calligraphy work. The school-wide performance was followed by engaging questions from students.

Following the performance, DancEnlight held Ribbon and Dragon Dancing, and Chinese Calligraphy Writing/Acting Workshops with the third and fourth grade students.


The DancEnlight program inspires students to learn and expand their cultural awareness and historical relevance of Asian language arts and modern dance. Curriculum links: Dance, Visual Arts, Physical Education, Language Arts, Music. Choreography: Artistic Director Lorelei Chang; Dancers: Leanne Baldwin, Shelley Collock, Tessa Grunwald, Meghan McDermott, Christine Perry, Hannah Welsh, Haley Zdebski     

The Cultural Arts Programs at Chester Elementary School are funded and organized by the Chester Elementary PTO, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It is because of the combined efforts of our community of parents, teachers and administration, that we are able to provide our students with bi-disciplinary programs that enhance the classroom curriculum, offering memorable, enriching experiences, as a student body and at different grade levels. Cultural arts programs may include, but are not limited to, music, dance, drama, theater, creative writing, literature, architecture, painting, sculpture, folk arts, photography, crafts, public media, history, as well as archaeological and natural science.
 
 
CES LUNCH ACCOUNTS
 
Many cafeteria accounts are not up-to-date, and we ask that all accounts be brought current. If you receive a letter with a lunch deficit, please be sure to include all of the information on the check or the front of the envelope if payment is sent to school. You may also pay on-line at any time. Your assistance with this is greatly appreciated by all of us.
 
 
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS 
 
GATEWAY SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT
 
Our second Service Learning Project for this school year was collecting items for clients at Gateway Community Treatment Center.  This is our 25th year of collecting items for Gateway.  On December 17th, the CES Student Leaders took the items to Gateway and had a visit with the clients.  The students enjoyed their time at Gateway, which included lunch, snacks and holiday songs.


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CAS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
 
On January 13th, the CES Student Leaders will be attending the Connecticut Association of Schools Leadership Conference at Three Rivers Community College in Norwich.  The students will be involved in workshops throughout the day that focus on productive thinking, communication, and decision-making.  
 
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEMES

The Social Development Theme for the month of January is Diversity.  The Social Development Books of the Month are Only One You (K-2) and Martin's Big Words (3-6). Please enjoy a description of the books below.
                                              
There's only one you in this great big world. Make it a better place. Adri's mama and papa share some of the wisdom they have gained through the years with their eager son. Their words, simple and powerful, are meant to comfort and guide him as he goes about exploring the world. This exquisitely illustrated book explodes with color and honest insights. Kranz's uniquely painted rockfish, set against vibrant blue seas, make an unforgettable and truly special impression. Only One You will inspire parents and children of all ages as they swim through the sea of life.

In this elegant pictorial biography of Martin Luther King Jr., author Doreen Rappaport combines her spare, lyrical text with King's own words for an effective, age-appropriate portrayal of one of the world's greatest civil rights leaders. From King's youth, when he looked up to his preacher father and vowed one day to "get big words, too," to his death at a garbage workers' strike ("On his second day there, he was shot. He died."), Rappaport imbues the story with reverence.
Acclaimed artist Bryan Collier depicts his subject with stunning watercolor and collage illustrations, balancing glorious recreations of stained glass windows with some of the more somber images of peace marchers and the famous bus that pitched Rosa Parks into the civil rights movement. A brief chronology and bibliography provide additional resources for readers. Here is an exquisite tribute to a world hero. 

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.

Teaching and talking to your children about diversity: 
1. Watch movies that introduce new places and diverse people.

2. Spend time volunteering with an organization that serves a group of people with different struggles than you.

3.  Discuss the importance of embracing differences and treating others with respect.

4.  Acknowledge differences - discuss the many ways that people are different.

5.  Reinforce that the way someone looks on the outside has nothing to do with what is on the inside.

6. Encourage open discussion of many different topics. 

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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM CES LIBRARY 
 
Our Social Development theme of the month for January is Diversity. There are many excellent books in our library about diversity. A few will be featured during January and any may be borrowed from the library to be shared with your family.  Just email Mrs. Moshier at bmoshier@reg4.k12.ct.us to request the book and she will send it home with your child.

Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
 
A little blue spot and a little yellow spot are best friends, and when they hug each other they become green.

The Sandwich Swap by Rania, Queen Consort of Abdullah II, King of Jordan

Best friends Lily and Salma disagree over their preferred foods, but after trading sandwiches to see how they taste, the girls change their minds.

Children Just Like Me by Barnabas Kindersley 

Photographs and text depict the homes, schools, family life, and culture of young people around the world.

The Thing About Luck by Cynthia Kadohata

Just when twelve-year-old Summer thinks nothing else can possibly go wrong in a year of bad luck, an emergency takes her parents to Japan, leaving Summer to care for her little brother while helping her grandmother cook and do laundry for harvest workers.
 
 
PTO NEWS
 
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION SUGGESTIONS FROM THE CES PTO:

1) Cut out & turn in Box Tops & Labels for Education

2) Re-Register your Adams Card for the 2015-2016 School Year

3) Attend a PTO Meeting

4) Volunteer at an upcoming PTO Event

5) Donate an item to your child's class for the Basket Raffle (assigned basket topics coming soon!)

Feel free to contact the CES PTO at cespto@reg4.k12.ct.us for more information on fulfilling these resolutions! 
 
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REMINDER:  CES PTO MEETING ON JANUARY 12TH

Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 7:00 pm
Location: CES Library

All are welcome to our upcoming PTO meeting - Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 7:00 pm. Free childcare is available from the VRHS Honor Society during the meeting. Come and learn about some of the fun events we have planned for the 2016 year!
 
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HOLIDAY CRAFT NIGHT 

Thank you to all who attended the Holiday Craft Night on Dec. 18th! The night was full of crafts and activities that were enjoyed by both the students and parents. Thanks to the generosity of the families in attendance, we were able to collect about 40 snacks to restock Nurse LeAnn's emergency snack inventory.

Special thanks also goes to the parents who organized and ran a craft/activity table: Amanda Mezick, Becky Iselin, Adriana Cerrato, Jennifer Carpenter, Keena Toth, Jeff Liggett, Allison Abramson, Ellen Russell, Samantha Van Jeune, Kerry Scrivo, Robyne Brennan and Kim Stack. And last but not least, a BIG THANK YOU to the event organizers: Allison and Jeff Liggett.

Here are some photos from the event:
 
 
   
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COMMUNITY NEWS 
 
GIRL SCOUTS FLYER  
 
Please see the Chalk Talk Digital Backpack for the Girl Scouts of Connecticut registration flyer.
 
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