Cold Spring Elementary School
Parent Newsletter
November 3, 2015
Ferocious about Learning
Notes from the Principal
We have finished the first quarter of the school year and are moving into the second
quarter this week. I am pleased with the progress students have made and want to
continue that throughout this year. We have a staff of dedicated professionals and a
wonderful group of students. You are responsible for sending us students that are ready
to learn. You are also committed to supporting the school. That has been obvious in
your participation in school events and your volunteerism. On Columbus Day, more than
200 parents visited the school. At the Halloween festivities on Friday, you coordinated
fantastic class parties. I see parents in the school every day helping out in classrooms,
copying materials, and planning and coordinating special events. Thank you! We would
have a much more difficult job without you.
November looks to be a roller coaster of cooler and warmer weather. Please send
sweaters and jackets with identifying marks. Every day, at least one item is left on the
playground. Although we put the items in the lost and found in the all purpose room,
many items go unclaimed. If you are missing a jacket or sweater, come in and take a
look.
We have many fun activities planned for this month. On Thursday, Native American
dancers will be performing for fourth and fifth graders. Then, on Friday, we begin with
Book-a-Breakfast at 8:10 followed by a trip to Politics and Prose for Ms. Cohen’s and Mr.
Madden’s classes. The fifth graders will be participating in the Final Frontiers that
morning in the gym. The following week, kindergartners will get a visit from a dental
hygienist and second grade will get a visit from Chuck Bell (NBC Washington) to learn
more about the weather. On November 11 and 12, we have Early Release Days with
dismissal at 12:55. These are our Parent Conference Days, so please make sure you have
a time scheduled to meet with your child’s teacher. On November 20, another Native
American Program is planned for students in kindergarten through third grades, and we
will hold our October/November Birthday Bash at 2:30. Thanksgiving week includes an
egg drop contest for fifth graders on Wednesday with another Early Dismissal Day on the
25th. November finishes with a make-up individual photograph opportunity with
Lifetouch.
As November is the month for Thanksgiving, I want to extend my personal thanks for the
kind reception I have received since joining the Cold Spring staff. My experiences have
been positive and supportive when working with your community, and I know that I
made the right decision to move here. I hope each of you enjoys a wonderful
Thanksgiving.
Changes to Bad Weather Dismissal Procedures
Cold Spring Elementary School
Parent Newsletter
November 3, 2015
Ferocious about Learning
Although our dismissal system works well when the weather cooperates, we have
amended our bad weather dismissal procedures in the hopes of making dismissal run as
smoothly as possible.
During times of rain, snow, or other nastiness, we will fly a red flag at the school sign on
Falls Chapel Way. You will know that we are implementing our bad weather dismissal
procedures. Please share these procedures with anyone that will be picking up your
child. Bus rider will dismiss from the APR in the usual manner. ALL other children will
be dismissed from the front door. We will have staff on duty to call children quickly to
the door for walking parent pick-up. We will also have staff at the car circle to make sure
we call children to the appropriate car. DO NOT leave your car if in the car circle.
You can count on dismissal running a little longer than usual on these bad weather days,
so bring your patience. Remember that our top priority is ensuring that children are
dismissed to parents/caregivers in the safest possible manner.
Emergency Drills
Last month, we practiced our first Lockdown Drill. This month, Cedric Boatman, our
Cluster Security Coordinator, observed us in a Shelter and Lockdown Drill. Mr. Boatman
gave us high marks for our efficiency and, of course, how amazing our students reacted
to the drill. We will continue to practice emergency drill each month along with our Fire
Drills.
Manna Food Drive
Congratulations to the SGA for organizing a very successful canned food drive. Thanks to
the generosity of our community, almost 1000 items were collected for needy families.
Ms. Sellitti’s class collected the most items, beating out Ms. Palmer’s class by one. The
winning class got to watch yours truly take a pie in the face (What is wrong with me?).
“Paw”sitive Actions
I am so proud of our students for their acts of kindness and respect. Two classes are
stand-outs for receiving the most “Paws” for the month of October and they are: Ms.
Sellitti and Ms. Palmer. Congratulations to the students in both of those classes. Keep it
up!
Pennies for Patients - Updates from the SGA
Attention all parents. Currently at our school we are having a fundraiser for the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Have your child bring in coins to donate to them. Each
class should have a box for collection. If we make it to our goal, $1200, before the end of
November, there will be a Spirit Day. The winning class gets to pick their prize from a list
of reasonable prizes.
School-Based Seasonal Flu Vaccine Clinics Postponed
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has
postponed the flu vaccine clinics that were scheduled to take place in MCPS schools on
Cold Spring Elementary School
Parent Newsletter
November 3, 2015
Ferocious about Learning
November 2, 11, and 12. We will provide you with an update on new dates and locations
as soon as new dates are finalized.
Cybersafety and Social Media
Robert Frost MS will be holding a Parent Academy workshop on Monday, November 16.
The workshop will be held in the Media Center from 7:00 pm-8:30 pm. and will deal with
the topics of Cybersafety and Social Media. The workshop is free for parents, and child
care (age four and up) is provided. During this workshop you will learn about common
websites and applications used by children and safety issues related to computer and cell
phone use. In addition, you will hear strategies for monitoring the use of social media in
your household. This workshop is presented in collaboration with the Montgomery
County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Montgomery County Police Department.
To register or for more information, please contact www.mcpsparentacademy.org
or call 301-517-5940.
Social Media and School Photos
We all enjoy taking pictures of our children at different school events. However, with the
advent of social media sites, it is now possible to share photos that include pictures of
many children. While every parent has the freedom to publish pictures of their own
children on social media, there are families in the community that are uncomfortable
finding pictures of their children published without their knowledge. Please be
respectful of the wishes of others and avoid posting photographs of other people’s
children without checking with families first.
Helping Hands Program 2015
This year's Helping Hands Holiday program will begin Monday, November 16 and will run
through Friday, December 4. We will be collecting new, unwrapped clothing and toys for
children in need in Montgomery County. The program provides the opportunity for Cold
Spring students to help others in need and learn the value of community service.
Each class, grades K-5, has been assigned one child. The list of children, along with their
wish list and sizes, will be distributed to each classroom by Friday, November 13. A large
bag will be placed in each classroom for the collection of items. The bag will have an
attached wish list highlighting the items that are needed for that particular child. This
wish list will also sent out to room parents in order to help coordinate donations.
All gifts are due into the classroom by Friday, December 4th. Helping Hands Coordinators
will then collect and deliver to the Salvation Army for distribution. If you have any
questions about the program, please feel free to contact Liz Miller at (301) 351-9426 or
[email protected] or Amy Scofield at [email protected] or (202) 210-6641.
Calendar of Events
November 3
Quarter 2 begins
November 5
November 6
November 10
November 11
November 12
November 13
November 20
November 25
November 26 and 27
November 30
Cold Spring Elementary School
Parent Newsletter
November 3, 2015
Ferocious about Learning
1:45 – Native American Dancers Assembly
for grades 4 and 5 (APR)
8:10 – Book-a-Breakfast (APR)
9:00 – 12:15 – Final Frontiers for grade 5
(gym)
9:40 – Politics and Prose Field Trip, Cohen
and Madden (DC)
1:30 – Dental Hygienist visits
kindergarten
Veteran’s Day
12:55 – Early Release for Parent/Teacher
Conferences
12:55 – Early Release for Parent/Teacher
Conferences
Wear blue to promote Diabetes
Awareness
11:00 – Chuck Bell visits grade 2
9:30 – Native American Assembly for
grades K-3 (gym)
2:30 – October/November Birthday Bash
(APR)
9:10 – 11:10 – Turkey Egg Drop for fifth
grade
Happy Thanksgiving!
Lifetouch picture make up day