Welcome Back/ September Newsletter

I would like to welcome our new and returning families to Cook Hill School. For those that do not know me, I'd like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Amy Yost and I have the privilege of starting my second year as principal at Cook Hill School. The office, custodial staff and I have been diligently working to open the school smoothly. I am so excited to be back and a part of this amazing school community. I am entering my twenty eighth year in education; twelve as a classroom teacher and fifteen in administration. I live in Wolcott with my husband, Rich, three children, Jackson, Owen & Reese and two lovable Jack Russell Terriers; Roxie and Chloe. I am a strong believer in developing the whole child, building a strong, inquisitive learner and partnering with our families.

We are excited to welcome back our Cougars on Thursday, August 31, 2023, and preschool students on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Our staff is eagerly awaiting your child's arrival. We cannot wait to grow as a school community - academically and socially! Our motto this year is "Find your Joy!" The world can be a heavy place for our youngest scholars, but our role is to create an environment that fosters awe and wonder to preserve their innocence and excitement about learning and building relationships. I encourage families to discuss what brought "joy' to them today!

I look forward to working collaboratively with our Cook Hill families to support our youngest scholars. The partnership built between school and home is pivotal in a child's success. Their first teachers are their parents. We are here to support our families. Feel free to reach out through email or a phone call with any concerns or questions. I am grateful to be part of such a wonderful and supportive school community.

Please join me in welcoming our newest staff members to the Cook Hill Family!

Jennifer Carriera, Library Clerk

Brittany Kenworthy, 2nd Grade Teacher

Carrie Lombardo, Physical Therapist

Stephanie Niezgorski, Reading Coach

Kelly Rainey, Preschool Paraeducator

Cynthia Reyes, 1:1 Paraeducator

Susan Rhodes, Bilingual Teacher

As Superintendent Bellizzi shared, the district portal for schedules and teacher placement will open for all families on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Our Kindergarten Bus Orientation is on Monday, August 28th form 3:30-4:30pm. Families are welcome to join Mrs. Yost and some staff for a quick book share and a ride on the bus around the neighborhood. Parents are required to stay with their child. Kindergarten Families are invited to participate in a Play Date on our playground following the bus ride to begin meeting families in your child's grade. The District "Meet and Greet/Teacher Visitation" will be held on Wednesday, August 30th, 1:30pm - 3:00pm. This is an opportunity for families to meet their child’s teacher. This is a flexible opportunity to drop into the school at any point during the visitation window and no formal presentations will take place.

Our Open House is Tuesday, September 12th @ 6pm. We are looking forward to opening our doors to our families for a brief information session with me and then off to the classrooms for more information from the classroom teachers. This evening is geared toward the adults of our families. We encourage students to stay home, but understand if you need to bring your child due to childcare issues.

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. I am looking forward to a wonderful school year!

In Partnership,

Mrs. Yost

Follow us on Social Media

District Facebook Page: Facebook Page.

Cook Hill Instagram Page - Cook Hill Cougars

School Hours: 9:05 AM - 3:30 PM

(Parent drop off 8:50am-9:05am)

Important Dates for September

National Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15/2023 - 10/15/2023)

National Library Card Signup Month

Monday, August 28th - KINDERGARTEN Bus Orientation 3:30-4:30pm

Wednesday, August 30th - District "Meet and Greet/Teacher Visitation" 1:30-3:00pm

Thursday, August 31st - First Day of School

Monday, September 4th - Labor Day - No School

Tuesday, September 5th - National Cheese Pizza Day!

Tuesday, September 5th - PTO Meeting 7pm (In-person in the Cook Hill Library)

Wednesday, September 6th - First Day of School for Preschool

Friday, September 8th - World Literacy Day

Friday, September 8th -Town Meeting

Sunday, September 10th - Happy Grandparents Day!

Sunday, September 10th - Preschool Touch a Truck Fundraiser 10am-2 pm @ Cook Hill

Tuesday, September 12th - Cook Hill Open House 6pm

Thursday, September 14th - CH/PF PTO Welcome Back Picnic 5-7pm

Friday, September 15th - CH/PF PTO Welcome Back Picnic 5-7pm (RAIN DATE)

Monday, September 18th -Board of Education Meeting 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm - BOE Conf Room

Tuesday, September 19th - System-Wide PTAC Meeting - 6pm - 8pm - Virtual Meeting

Thursday, September 21st - International Day of Peace

Thursday, September 21st - 2-Hour Early Release

Tuesday, September 26th - Masonicare Friends 9:30am - 10:45am

Wednesday, September 27th - Picture Day

Thursday, September 28th - Picture Day

To help us ensure students safety at the end of the school day, we ask that EVERY Cook Hill student (K-2) has a completed dismissal form. Families will need to fill out a form for each child that attends Cook Hill. There are several options available to your family, please indicate your intention for each school day on the google form attached above. This form will be sent out multiple times a week leading up to the beginning of the school year. Please only fill the form out once (or once per child). Preschool families do NOT need to fill out the dismissal form, it does not apply to them.

Please take your time and read this form carefully! There is a lot of information here, but we want to be sure that everyone gets home safely on a daily basis.

Please remember that if your child is attending the Boys and Girls Club, the daycare change form needs to be filled out as well.

**You may disregard the message once you fill the form out.

Thank you,

Office Staff

Food Services:

Please note that for the school year 2023-2024, the Federal Government has provided funds through the State of Connecticut to provide breakfast free of charge to all students for the entire school year. In addition, all of those students eligible for reduced-priced lunch meals will now receive meals free of charge for the entire school year. All those not eligible for free or reduced meals will need to pay full price.

Free and reduced meal applications for the school year 2023-2024 are now available for parents to complete. It is beneficial for families to complete this application, as eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals also may qualify students for discounts or fee waivers on the following school-based programs:

· Field Trips

· Sports and Athletics

· Music

· Additional Educational programming and testing

To be eligible for the above, those that fill out the free and reduced meal application must also complete Addendum A, for sharing info with other programs. Free and Reduced price lunch applications do not roll over from school year to school year and need to be completed and submitted each new school year.

Free and Reduced Meal Application Information

Click here for the September Menus

School Meal Prices - 2023-2024 & Meal Pre-Payment Information

2023-24

Dear Cook Hill & Parker Farms Families,

The PTO board would like to welcome you all to join us for another great year of fun-filled events. We are all looking forward to working together to make sure this school year will be exciting and successful.

The members of the PTO board are as follows:

Jennifer Carreira and Alyssa Ryan - Co-Presidents

Rachel Gargiulo and Karalyn Orsini - Co-Vice Presidents

Ashley DeRose - Treasurer

Jeannine Peterson and Caitlin Houston - Co-Secretaries

Below is a list of dates and events we are looking forward to having this school year. ALL EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. If you have any questions feel free to contact Jennifer Carreira or Alyssa Ryan via email PFCHSPTO@gmail.com

Thank you!

CH/PF PTO Board 2023-2025

Important Dates for 2023-2025 school year for Cook Hill/Parker Farms School PTO:

9/5/23 - PTO Meeting at 7 pm in person at Cook Hill School
9/12/23 - Cook Hill Open House at 6 pm - PTO will have a table at the entrance
9/14/23 - Welcome back picnic from 5 - 7 pm with a rain date of 9/15/23 at Cook Hill School

9/19/23 - Parker Farms Open House at 6 pm - PTO will have a table at the entrance

9/29/23 - Parker Farms School Store

10/3/23 - PTO Meeting at 7 pm (Virtual)

10/15/23 - Trunk or Treat 5-7 at Parker Farms School with a rain date 10/22/23 (Both schools attend)

10/18/23 - 10/19/23 - Parker Farms Book Fair - Book Fair will be open during conferences in the evening

10/24/23 - 10/25/23 - Cook Hill Book Fair - Book Fair will be open during conferences in the evening

11/6/23 - Parker Farms vs Cook Hill Staff Kickball Game at 4:30 pm at Parker Farms with a rain date of 11/9/23

11/14/23 - PTO Meeting 7pm (Virtual)

12/4/23 - 12/5/23 - Holiday Shop at Parker Farms

12/5/23 - PTO Meeting 7pm (Virtual)

12/11/23 - 12/12/23- Holiday Shop at Cook Hill

1/2/24 - PTO Meeting 7pm (Virtual)

1/28/24 (Tentative) - Family Movie Day at Wallingford Holiday Cinemas

2/6/24 - PTO Meeting 7 pm in person at Parker Farms

2/23/24 - Parker Farms School Store

3/5/24 - PTO Meeting 7 pm (Virtual)

3/11/24 - 3/12/24 - Eli Whitney (Or alternative) at Parker Farms

3/14/24 - 3/15/24 - Eli Whitney (Or alternative) at Cook Hill

3/28/24 - Bingo Night from 6 - 8 pm at Cook Hill?

4/2/24 - PTO Meeting 7pm (Virtual)

4/20/24 - Sweetheart Dance from 6 - 8 pm at Wallingford Park and Rec (Both schools attend)

4/26/24 - Parker Farms School Store

5/6/24 - 5/10/24 - Teacher Appreciation Week

5/7/24 - PTO Meeting 7pm (Virtual)

5/13/24 - 5th Grade Nature Day with a rain date of 5/14/24

5/31/24 - Parker Farms School Store

5/31/24 - Field Day at Cook Hill with a rain date of 6/3/24

6/4/24 - Field Day at Parker Farms with a rain date of 6/5/24

6/4/24 - PTO Meeting in person 7pm at TBD

Special Education PTAC Dates

• 10/11/2023 7:00pm @ BOE Conference Room or Google Meet

• 12/06/2023 7:00pm @ BOE Conference Room or Google Meet

• 02/07/2024 7:00pm @ BOE Conference Room or Google Meet

• 04/23/2024 6:00pm-8:00pm Special Education Resource Fair

• 05/08/2024 7:00pm @BOE Conference Room or Google Meet

Good morning, Parents and Guardians,

The start of the school year is quickly approaching! Please mark your calendars for our Back to School: Parent Orientation for all families who have enrolled or plan to enroll their children in the before-care and/or after-school care programs (2023-2024). It will take place on Tuesday, August 29th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the clubhouse (72 Grand St.). We will wait a few minutes for parents to arrive before beginning promptly at 6:10 p.m. Parents will receive information about the after-school program, meet the staff, receive backpacks, and take a tour of the facility during the orientation. The orientation is primarily for adults, but children are welcome.

REGISTRATION IS STILL OPEN! Visit the parent portal at www.bgcgnh.org to register your child(ren) online. If you have any difficulties logging in, please contact membership at membership@bgcgnh.org.

There are still spots available for the 21st Century program, so please spread the word if you know any families looking for an after-school program for their children who attend Cook Hill or Parker Farms.

Jermaine R. Mitchell, Jr. | Unit Director

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater New Haven

Ulbrich Clubhouse of Wallingford: 72 Grand Street, Wallingford, CT 06492

Phone #: (203) 491-1229 ext. 118

www.bgcgnh.org

Kara Piper, Secretary - kpiper1@wallingfordschools.org

Amy Yost, Principal - ayost@walllingfordschools.org

PreSchool Office

Kelly Vallancourt, Secretary - kvallancourt@wallingfordschools.org

Email: ayost@wallingfordschools.org
Website: https://www.wallingford.k12.ct.us/our-schools/cook-hill-elementary-school
Location: 57 Hall Road, Wallingford, CT, USA
Phone: (203)284-5400