February 26, 2016

Volume 4 / Issue 24

IN THIS ISSUE:

- Note from Dr. Beekley
- MATHCOUNTS Competition
- CES S.T.E.A.M. Fair
- February Fitness Calendar
- Chester Enumeration
- CES Lunch Accounts
- Social Development News
- PTO Bingo & Basket Raffle
- PTO Book Fair
- Community News

Digital Backpack

Valley Regional Musical Poster (Addams Family)

Pettipaug Junior Sailing Program Flyer

Friday, February 26th
- PTO Bingo & Basket Raffle Night
(5:30 pm - Doors Open - Gymnasium)

Wednesday, March 2nd
- Grade 2 Math Night
(6:30-7:30 pm)

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

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

Friday, March 11th
- Grade 2 Animal Reports
(9-10 am & 2:00-2:45 pm)

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

Saturday, April 9th
- PTO Fun Run (Rain Date April 10th)

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

At CES we are always working to be sure that we have procedures in place to ensure the safety of everyone at the school. We do Fire Drills and Lockdown Drills on a regular basis in compliance with State Statutes. Based on the emergency preparedness exercise held statewide in October, we are adding a Shelter-in-Place Drill to our procedures.

Shelter-In-Place is a procedure where the entire building population is moved to a single or multiple location(s) in a building. Shelter-in-Place is most commonly used during weather emergencies or when an extremely hazardous substance is released into the outside atmosphere.

We have taken into consideration the building layout and structure and have determined where we will go as a school to maximize safety for all. In early March, we will practice a Shelter-in-Place drill with the students. This will allow us to provide instruction about the purpose of the drill, so that students are aware of what they need to do in the event they are not with their class during a drill or actual emergency.

After the drill, the School Safety and Security Team will meet to determine if we need to adjust any of our procedures. The drill should be over in approximately 10-15 minutes, as we want to answer students' questions to ensure that they know what they need to do and are comfortable with the procedures. I expect that over time, this drill will be as commonplace for students as Fire Drills and Lockdown Drills are for them.

Joanne D. Beekley, Ed.D.

Principal

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CES STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN MATHCOUNTS COMPETITION

On Saturday, February 6th, the Coast Guard Academy hosted a regional mathematics competition for 28 eastern Connecticut schools. Chester Elementary School sent two students to compete. The MATHCOUNTS Competition Series is a national program that provides students the opportunity to compete in live, in-person math contests against and alongside their peers. Created in 1983, it is the longest-running MATHCOUNTS program and is open to all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students.

Every MATHCOUNTS competition consists of four rounds: Sprint, Target, Team and Countdown. Altogether, the rounds are designed to take about three hours to complete. Chester students meet once a week and have been working on math problems designed by the National Society of Professional Engineers and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

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S.T.E.A.M. FAIR

Chester Elementary School is once again charging full STEAM ahead, introducing students to important 21st Century skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Design and Math, through our S.T.EA.M. Fair.

The ways in which students can participate are outlined below:
Grades K, 1, 2 & 3 = Invention (optional)
Grade 4 = Science Experiments (mandatory)
Grades 5 & 6 = Invention or Engineering Design (mandatory)

Mrs. Lenz has introduced the invention opportunity, as well as the importance of considering art and design elements as you invent, engineer, or experiment, to all CES students.

Mrs. Clark will be working with all fourth grade students on the scientific method. Each student will be participating by researching and completing an experiment as part of a class assignment.

Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Kalkreuth and Dr. Beekley have introduced fifth and sixth graders to the engineering options. Students in fifth and sixth grades have the opportunity to invent something or participate in one of three engineering challenges:
Engineering Challenge 1 = Catapult
Engineering Challenge 2 = Rube Goldberg Machine
Engineering Challenge 3 = Buoyant Vessel

Our S.T.E.A.M. Fair Open House will be held on March 29th. The judging of student inventions will take place in the morning on March 30th. Competitions for the three engineering challenges will take place in the afternoon on March 30th and March 31st. Full STEAM ahead!

More details have been sent under separate cover with your child.

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FEBRUARY FITNESS CALENDAR

At Chester Elementary School, we encourage our students to be physically active both inside and outside of the school setting.

Our February 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 February Fitness Calendars.

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CHILD ENUMERATION FOR CHESTER

For an accurate kindergarten count this year and for predicting the future count, an enumeration of children is done every year. If you know of any families who have moved to Chester and who have children ages five and under (birth dates 2011-2016), please ask them to call Pam Graham at Chester Elementary School (860-526-5797). Thank you!

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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.

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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THEMES

The Social Development Theme for the month of February is Cooperation. The Social Development Book of the Month is Stone Soup. Please enjoy a description of the book below.

Clever soldiers outwit greedy townspeople with the creation of a special soup in this cherished classic, a Caldecott Honor book. First published in 1947, this picture book classic has remained one of Marcia Brown's most popular and enduring books. This story, about three hungry soldiers who outwit the greedy inhabitants of a village into providing them with a feast, is based on an old French tale.

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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SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM CES LIBRARY

Our Social Development theme of the month for February is Cooperation. There are many excellent books in our library about cooperation. A few will be featured during February 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.

By Mouse & Frog by Deborah Jane Freedman

An unlikely collaboration ensues when the contrasting storytelling approaches of fastidious Mouse and free-spirited Frog collide.

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

Something always seems to go wrong when Rabbit is around, but Mouse lets him play with his toy plane anyway because he is his good friend.

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

On a winter's night under a full moon, a father and daughter trek into the woods to see the Great Horned Owl.

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein

Twelve-year-old Kyle gets to stay overnight in the new town library, designed by his hero (the famous gamemaker Luigi Lemoncello), with other students but finds that come morning he must work with friends to solve puzzles in order to escape.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen and her best friend, Ellen Rosen, often think about life before the war. But it's

now 1943, and their life in Copenhagen is filled with school, food shortages, and the Nazi soldiers marching in their town. The Nazis won't stop. The Jews of Denmark are being "relocated," so Ellen moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. Then Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission. Somehow she must find the strength and courage to save her best friend's life. There's no turning back now.

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PTO NEWS

BINGO & BASKET RAFFLE - TONIGHT

Doors open at 5:30 pm, Bingo starts at 6:00 pm

Please join us tonight, Friday, February 26th, in the CES Gymnasium as Dr. Beekley and Mrs. Cadley call out the numbers for the ever-fun Bingo Night!

The "Amazing" Baskets that have been put together by each class & the three special merchant Baskets will be raffled off in between each Bingo game.

Remember: Each child who plays should bring a prize for the Prize Table.
Bingo Cards are $1 for the First Card (.25 for each additional card)
Basket Raffle Tickets are 2 Tickets for $1 or a sheet of 25 Tickets for $10
Pizza is $2 per slice and Water & Lemonade are Free

We can't wait to see you there!

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PTO BOOK FAIR

SAVE THE DATE

March 22-24, 2016

http://ces-pto.wikispaces.com/Book+Fairs

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COMMUNITY NEWS

CHESTER MUSEUM AT THE MILL

Kids Knitting Event
Sunday, February 28th, 12-2pm
Chester Museum at the Mill

The kids who knit on Saturday afternoons at Chester Library with Anne Winslow will hold a knitting event on Sunday,

Feb. 28, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Chester Museum

at The Mill, during Chester's "Always on Sunday" happenings. Any child

(or adult) who wants to learn to knit or wants to knit with friends is invited to come, at no charge. All children must have adult supervision. This event also gives the Kids Knitting group a chance to spread the word about their Knitted Squares Blanket project. They are collecting their knitted squares to be sewn into a blanket, which they will donate to a charity. For more information, call the library at 526-0018 or talk to Kim Stack.

Always on Sunday: There's always something happening on Sundays in Chester. Stay informed through www.Facebook.com/VisitChesterCT or www.Facebook.com/AlwaysonSunday for updated details through the weekend.

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LITTLE LEAGUE SIGN UPS!

New for the 2016 season - Chester and Deep River Little League will merge into one League.

You may sign up now at www.deepriverll.com.

Important Dates/Info:

3/19 - Assessments. If your child wants to play minor or major league softball or baseball they MUST attend. This makes it easier for the board and coaches to make teams. Place and time TBD.

4/30 - Opening day: Place and time TBD

5/2 - Golf Tournament: Info to follow

6/4 - Yard Goats Game

If there are any questions or concerns please feel free to contact Bryan Knudsen at bryanknudsen@yahoo.com or 760-271-8274 after 3pm. Thank you.

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REGION 4 COLLABORATIVE PRESCHOOL

The Region 4 Collaborative Preschool is seeking community children for the 2016-2017 school year. The Collaborative Preschool is an integrated setting located at Essex Elementary School. We offer preschool and prekindergarten classes for children with and without special needs. Children being considered for the program must reside in Deep River, Chester or Essex and be 3 by September 1st. Applications are due by April 12, 2016. For more information about our program, the enrollment process and to download an application, please visit the Collaborative Preschool link on the Region 4 School District website http://www.reg4.k12.ct.us or contact the staff at (860) 767-3195 or (860) 767-8215 before or after school hours.

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SAILING CAMP

The Pettipaug Sailing Academy is offering a Junior Sailing Program in Essex, CT for ages 8-16. For more information, please see the Chalk Talk Digital Backpack, or click here.

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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