Cold Spring Elementary School
Parent Newsletter
October 5, 2015
Ferocious about Learning
Notes from the Principal
We are halfway through the first quarter. Can you believe how fast this year is moving?
We have survived the first major rain of the school year, and thankfully, we can have
outdoor recess again this week.
I am looking forward to the Book Fair this week and Bingo on Friday. Then, I hope many
of you will be able to join us for the Columbus Day visitation on Monday, October 12
between 9:30 and 11:30. Look for small group instruction happening in your child’s
classroom. If you continue reading, you will find out more information about the types of
small group instruction you might see.
Check through the different pieces of information that follow. I will try to keep items
current and purposeful, so there are few repeats.
Notes from the Patrols
Here are a few friendly reminders from the patrol officers:
 Don’t make a left turn into the parking lot after 8:30
 Remind students not to ride bikes on the grass
 Don’t let your children run across the street
 Always listen to the crossing guard
 Try to avoid walking across the driveways that enter and leave the school
Thanks for helping keep students safe at Cold Spring!
Small Group Reading
A crucial part of your children’s reading instruction is their small group reading
experience. Teachers meet with small groups of students for 10 to 20 minutes each day.
Small group instruction allows for differentiation to meet the strengths and needs of
students. Teachers are able to provide concentrated instruction of reading strategies and
skills to develop strategic, independent readers. Small group instruction takes 3 forms:
guided reading groups, flexible needs-based groups and collaborative discussion groups.
 Guided Reading Groups build student’s ability to read increasingly challenging text
with fluency and understanding. Guided reading groups are composed of students
reading text at the same instructional level. These groups are fluid as students’
develop their reading skills and strategies.
 Flexible Needs-Based Groups are temporary groups of students with like needs.
During these groups teachers provided targeted instruction to an identified group of
students in word study, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension strategies, decoding, or
written response to text.
 Collaborative Discussion Groups allow students to engage in focused conversations
to build content knowledge, learn and use new vocabulary and share information. All
students participate regularly in heterogeneous discussion groups in order to become
proficient at working collaboratively and to gain new perspectives from the ideas of
others.
Walk to School Day
To promote Walk to School Day on October 7th, Montgomery County is hosting a Safe
Routes to School Contest. Students will participate by providing their name, parent email
address, and school name on the new Safe Routes to School website. They may earn extra
Cold Spring Elementary School
Parent Newsletter
October 5, 2015
Ferocious about Learning
entries by submitting photos of themselves walking to school on Twitter and Instagram
using the hash tag #walk2schoolMOCO. Four student winners will receive $50 Chipotle
gift cards. Be sure to register!
Emergency Drills
Did you know that all Montgomery County Public Schools practice a variety of emergency
drills each year? Did you know that all schools have clearly defined emergency plans
with a FEMA trained on-site emergency team? In addition to monthly fire drills, we
practice shelter, weather, and lockdown drills. Last week, we practiced our first
lockdown drill for the year. We want to make sure everyone knows what to do in an
emergency, especially due to our open space floorplan.
Interfaith Works Help the Homeless Mini-Walk, Wednesday, October 14 @ 1:30 pm
WHAT: We once again will show commitment to neighbors in need as we participate in a
Help the Homeless walk to benefit Interfaith Works.
WHO WE ARE HELPING: Interfaith Works provides shelter, housing, clothing, food and
counseling to more than 20,000 of our most vulnerable neighbors, helping them move
from crisis to stability.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT: Homelessness is a serious problem in Montgomery County –
over 1000 men, women and children are homeless on any given night in our county. Half
of the homeless in our area are families, and nearly 200 are children.
Picture Day is Coming!
Lifetouch photography is scheduled to photograph students on Monday, October 19th. It
is important that your child is photographed to ensure their inclusion in the yearbook.
Additional information will be forthcoming. Parents preferring to pay with credit card
may prepay on line by visiting MyLifetouch.com. Lifetouch Photography can provide
additional information regarding picture day directly to parents and guardians by calling
toll free 800-445-1189 Monday through Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm or via e-mail at
[email protected].
Health Room Updates
Welcome back for another great year at Cold Spring ES! Just a reminder about a few
health related items:
1. Our Annual FluMist Clinic will be held on Wednesday, November 11th after school (it
is a half day for parent conferences). We strongly encourage parents to get the Flu shot
or Mist for their child to prevent the Flu.
2. We will no doubt see some lice this year, so be vigilant about checking your child's hair
if they are itching and be sure to report any new cases to the Health Room. We will be
using plastic bags for backpacks and coats to prevent spread at school, but most cases
are transmitted at after school activities like sleepovers and parties, etc. so be sure to let
other parents as well as the Health Room know if your child does get a case. We have
many resources to help you if need them. Please note that going to the "lice lady" for nit
picking is not considered a treatment. You must use a pediculocide shampoo on your
child's hair before bringing them back to school. Also, they need to be checked by the
Cold Spring Elementary School
Parent Newsletter
October 5, 2015
Ferocious about Learning
Health Room before coming back to class. Here are some great resources on how to treat
lice - http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/ and http://headfirstlicelessons.org/
3. Strep throat, colds and the flu will affect many children every year, so please follow the
MCPS guidelines and keep your child home if they have a fever, have been taking
antibiotics for less than 24 hours to treat a bacterial infection, or have vomited or
otherwise appear ill in the morning before school.
Please call or email me with questions or concerns at [email protected] or
240-406-1571. Thank you so much and we wish you a happy and healthy fall season!!
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth is conducting a talent search for students
who demonstrate superior academic performance. The application and test are available
to students in grades 2-8. If you are interested in more information and an application,
you may pick up a brochure in the main office.
Calendar of Events
October 6
October 7
October 9
October 12
October 14
October 17
October 19
October 30
Book Fair begins
International Walk to School Day
6:00 – Bingo Night (APR)
Columbus Day
9:30 – 11:30 – Parent Visitation
1:30 – Interfaith Works Homeless Walk
PTA Parent Landscape Clean-up Day
Individual Pictures
End of First Marking Period
Fifth grade to Strathmore
Halloween Parade & Parties