Columbus Connections

Welcome to our weekly newsletter for Columbus Elementary families! Every Friday we will share good news, important information, and of course our STAR STUDENTS with you.

Although it was a short week, the new year is off to a great start at Columbus. Today as a culmination of a literacy unit, some of our fifth graders enjoyed a food tasting inspired by the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan. Food played a key role in signifying the passage of time throughout the story. Students had the opportunity to sample some of the foods mentioned throughout the book such as asparagus, papayas, figs, avocados, and empanadas. Thank you to the PTA for collecting and preparing the food for this special event! Ms. Armisto's fifth grade ELA class celebrated finishing their book, Granny Torrelli Makes Soup by Sharron Creech today by hosting a Someone Special Soup and Pasta luncheon. Students created a Granny Torrelli Diner in their classroom and served Chicken Noodle Soup and Cavatelli, just like Granny Torrelli in the book. Each student had someone special with them to share in hearing about the book and seeing all of the theme centerpiece statements on the table set for 24 people! Students shared the life lessons that they learned from reading the book and this prompted fantastic conversations about friends and family across the table. Please see some pictures below in the around Columbus section.

Monday, January 15th

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day -School Closed

• 4th Grade Music Recital at Columbus -9:00 am

• 4th Grade Colonial Fair

School Calendar

Transportation

Food Service

Curriculum and Instruction

Columbus Elementary School Homepage

Gum Chewing

Students should not be be chewing gum in school or sharing gum with classmates.

Student Attendance

If your child is going to be absent, please use School Dismissal Manager to report their absence. As always if you have any health-related questions you can call the Nurse's Office, at 769-8537.

Visiting the Building

Please be prepared to show your photo ID whenever you visit the building. You will not be able to enter without it. Thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.

Cell Phones and Wearable Smart Devices

Please be advised Columbus students should not have personal communication devices with them during the school day. If they choose to bring a device to school, it should remain in their backpack. They are responsible for the device. If a child is wearing a GPS tracking device for safety purposes, we ask that it be placed on the teacher's desk during instructional time. They will be allowed to wear it during lunch and recess.

Such devices include, but are not limited to:

• Cell phones

• Wearable devices/smart wearables/tablets that are capable of recording/viewing audio, photographic, or video content

• Wearable devices/smartwatches/tablets that are capable of sending/receiving text, audio, or video messages