Dear CIS Families,
I hope you have had a wonderful weekend! The days are getting longer.. and Spring is right around the corner. I know that I, for one, cannot wait for 9:00 pm sunsets.
This past week many of you participated in after school events (from sports to dances) that make CIS a memorable experience for scholars. THANK YOU for showing up and showing out at each of these events. The teamwork both in the building and even off-site on other campuses is also what makes CIS a very special place to work and grow professionally. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
Pizza Fridays- We need your help!
PTSO has decided that they are going to step away from Pizza Fridays at CIS temporarily as they are no receiving enough community volunteers and support to make this process simple and effective. IF you are able and willing to volunteer, please contact Ms. Samantha Kennedy at samikennedy33@gmail.com. We would love to continue this partnership if we are able to secure a minimum of 8-10 volunteers.
At this time, knowing how much our students really love having this option, we have currently decided to continue pizza Fridays ourselves. This means that we will need to come together to make this process seamless. Starting this week, please see the new processes:
- Cash only will be collected in classrooms by classroom teachers on Wednesday for pizza. Mr. White and/or a member of administration will be around to collect these funds and bring them to Ms. Rahilly, where they will be counted and receipted at 11:00 am. All funds received after 11:00 am on Wednesdays will be used for real time pizza purchases on Fridays if there is supply remaining.
- On Wednesday, the admin team and Mr. White will work to deliver the correct number and type of slices to your classroom to dispense amongst your students. This will keep the traffic in the atrium to a minimum.
Dismissal Changes
If your scholar needs a change to their dismissal procedure (from car rider to bus rider or from bus rider to car rider), please make these changes PRIOR to 1:00 pm. Late changes puts unnecessary stress on school staff. Thank you in advance for your help with this.
Science Olympiad
We are proud of the hard work Mr. Furlough and Science Olympiad students put into their competition this past weekend! They worked incredibly hard and represented us well.
From Mr. Furlough: We will meet next week on the 27th, from 4-430. During this meeting I would like to review the scores, how we did, and take any positive and negative feedback. Parents are welcome to attend this meeting as well.
This year my focus was on letting students experience Science Olympiad so next year we can hit the ground running.
I have attached a video I put together with the scores. Whether or not you are able to attend please know that I am thankful for the support of all of the parents, the dedication of the students, and that I am proud of their hard work and their scores. They should be proud of themselves too.
https://youtu.be/rq1Ry1ETzLA (This is an unlisted video, so you can only see it with this link)
NC Check-ins Tomorrow and Wednesday
All high school students taking English 2, Math 1 or Math 3 will report to school tomorrow to take their NC Check-ins. All other students will remain at home. On Wednesday, February 21st, all students will report to school, but only Biology students will be taking an assessment.
Children in the Building Prior to 7:45 am
Please be reminded that the school is not open to students or their families until 7:45 am (unless they are staff children) as there is no supervision available until 7:45 am when staff assume their duty posts. If before care is needed, please access our before and after care program to reserve your spot. Information on our before and after care program is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Daily Announcements
If you have not already taken a moment to check out Mr. Grant's youtube page supporting our school and school activities, please take a moment to do so. Morning announcements are available for teachers to share with students on this site as well as special events.
Free Milk Program
The free milk program has started. All students who would like to have a milk while at school, may have one. If your scholar has a milk allergy, please let the nurse and your scholar's teacher know to better facilitate safe dispersal of the free milk.
Trip to Japan
Mr. Grant is going to Japan in Spring of 2025, and you’re invited!
He is leading an educational tour for students from our community. We’re excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner.
Please be sure to register for this info session to be considered for this opportunity: https://bit.ly/3RRbQO9
When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow, and we would love to have your student join us on this adventure.
In this info session, we’ll talk about:
- How this opportunity will benefit your student
- What we’ll see and do on our trip
- Everything that’s included in this experience
- How your child can earn academic credit
- How we’re keeping this safe and affordable
- How to enroll on this trip (before it fills up!) during EF’s risk-free enrollment period
There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!
Thanks,
Mr. Grant
Notes from the Nurse
STUDENTS:
February is Pediatric Dental Health Awareness Month! Healthy teeth and gums help scholars of all ages learn to their fullest potential.
If your scholar needs dental care, please don’t hesitate to make an appointment. Your local health department often has resources for low or no cost dental care if needed. Also, I know many of us are guilty of not using all our dental insurance benefits! Our school is happy to host the Smile Programs dental clinic on May 10th. You can go online now to register your scholar for a spot at https://www.myschooldentist.com/ . Most dental insurance and Medicaid are accepted for this clinic!
Here are some ways to promote healthy dental habits for your whole family:
- Lead By Example- Children often mimic their parents’ behavior. Brush and floss your teeth twice a day together and demonstrate proper techniques to make it a family routine. If your children are older and don’t want to brush together make sure to check in often with them about their dental habits.
- Make It Fun-Turn dental care into a fun activity. Let your child choose a colorful toothbrush and toothpaste with their favorite characters. Consider playing music or using a timer to make brushing a more enjoyable experience and to encourage a 2 minute brushing.
- Teach Proper Techniques-Show your child how to brush and floss properly. Use age-appropriate toothbrushes and demonstrate gentle, circular motions for brushing. Floss picks can be helpful for little hands.
- Monitor Diet-Limit sugary snacks and beverages. Opt for healthy snacks like fruits, vegetables, and cheese. Avoid sugary drinks, and encourage water consumption. Use non-food rewards (stickers, toys, etc.) for motivation instead of candy and desserts.
- Regular Dental Check-Ups-Schedule regular dental check-ups to monitor your child’s oral health and catch any potential issues early on. Regular dental visits not only promote proactive care but also help establish a positive relationship between your child and their dentist, ensuring a lifetime of healthy dental habits.
- Celebrate Milestones-Celebrate each successful dental milestone, such as the first tooth or a cavity-free check-up, to reinforce positive behavior.
- Address Anxiety-If your child is anxious about dental visits, talk to them about the process, read books about visiting the dentist, and choose a dentist experienced in working with children.
Yearbook!
Dear Families, Time is running out to purchase the 2024 yearbook. The yearbook staff is working hard to finish the book and If you are interested in one, please purchase at http://jostensyearbooks.com?ref=A01102705. A payment plan is available at checkout. We cannot guarantee a yearbook unless you preorder before 2/26/24. If you are unsure if you ordered, please check here https://www.jostens.com/customer-service/yearbook-order-tracking
RESERVE YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY BEFORE WE SUBMIT OUR FINAL ORDER ON 2/26/24.
Excused Absences and Tardies
Here at CIS every day counts and attendance matters. Our Attendance Team will be closely monitoring and tracking attendance. All NC approved absences must reported and documents uploaded through this system.
Please direct parents to use this form to enter in excuses for absences.
If students come to your classroom with a tardy note, they have already been marked tardy. If they come to you tardy without a tardy note, you will either have to change their attendance record to reflect the tardy or send them back down to the front desk to be marked tardy and get a tardy note.
Thank you!
Bus Update!
Please be advised that the new bus service is slated to start tomorrow. As you know this has been a very quick turnaround. Parents were asked to complete a form to verify routes and the new routes were designed with the previous ones in mind and forwarded to parents.
Nevertheless, please expect some minor delays and challenges as we work through the process.
If you have questions, please forward them directly to Ms Rahilly and Dr. Bryant so that they may coordinate with the company accordingly.
Thanks for your continued patience and understanding as we continue to navigate this process.
