CAEC Prek - 5 Newsletter

It’s hard to believe we’re already in December! Time really flies. I hope everyone had a restful and rejuvenating Wellness Week, and that you had some quality time to relax with family and friends. We’re down to just two weeks before Winter Break, and with the cold weather settling in, please make sure your student is bundled up warmly for school.

Now, on to some important updates:

• i-Ready MOY Testing: The testing window is open! Please encourage your child to give their best effort and show the district all they know!

  • Reading: December 3rd - 9th
  • Math: December 10th - 13th
  • Makeups: December 16th - 19th (no testing on December 20th)

• Student Council Toy and Food Drive: Starting Friday, December 6th, our Student Council will kick off a toy and food drive to support families in need. We encourage all staff and students to bring in a toy or canned good. Decorated donation boxes will be available in the front office. More reminders to follow!

As a reminder: All PreK - 5 students must wear purple polo shirts and khaki bottoms. Students are not permitted to wear jackets, hoodies or coats in the building throughout the school year. Students are not permitted to carry purses, fanny packs, and or cell phones on their persons. These items will need to be put in their cubbies or lockers (5th graders). Student can wear long sleeve purple polo shirts, but they cannot wear long sleeve shirts under their short sleeve purple polo shirts (unless it is purple).

Let’s finish the year strong and thank you for supporting our school community!

At the Africentric we L.E.A.D.:

(L) We Listen to Learn; (E) Excel in Every Area; (A) We Attend Every Day; and (D) We Demonstrate Respect!

Go Nubians!

Truth - relying on facts: honesty

Harmony - something pleasing; to be in agreement

Our NGUZO SABA Values for 2nd quarter is:

Imani - FAITH

Monday, December 16th - Ugly Sweater Day (uniform bottoms)

Tuesday, December 17th - Holiday Headgear (uniforms)

Wednesday, December 18th - Grinch Shirt Day (khaki bottoms) and holiday socks

Thursday, December 19th - PRE KWANZAA CELEBRATION! WEAR GREEN, RED AND BLACK to represent the colors of Kwanzaa (any combination)

Friday, December 20th - Pajama Day (no slippers, no bonnets) PACK UNIFORMS IN BOOKBAGS

Linden Community Center is having a holiday event on December 19th from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. The location is 1350 Briarwood Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43211. You can also reach them at (614) 645-3067. Your child must be present to receive gifts.

Columbus Africentric PreK-5 has continued a partnership with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Behavioral Health Program. Through this partnership, a licensed therapist provides mental health treatment directly to students experiencing social, emotional, and/or behavioral challenges. This includes individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, school-wide prevention programs, and classroom coaching.

The on-site therapist for this partnership is Gina Howard. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who began at Africentric PreK-5 this school year. She received her Masters from The Ohio State University and prior to this her Bachelors from Berea College. Her job is to provide the services stated above directly to students at the school with social, emotional, or behavioral challenges, as well as students with suicidal thoughts, school problems, or family issues. If you’d like to receive more information or have any questions, please call her at (614) 519-5176.

To schedule an appointment, please call (614) 355-2590 or reach out to school counselor, Stephanie Hight, to begin this process.

If you or someone you know are in need of help for the holidays with toys or food please see the resources below! You will have to call or email the agency in order to sign up! Also, there are some resources if you or someone you know needs rental or utility help! If you need help in connecting with an agency or need some additional resources, please feel free to contact Mama Hight at 614-365-6517 or swhatley1@columbus.k12.oh.us

FireFighters 4 Kids

Toy Agency Sign Ups for 2024

To find a location near you to sign up for toys, please review the list below. You may contact the agency to find out what days and hours they are doing signups at their location. All signups for toys must be done through an agency. No signups will be permitted after December 20th.

CAP City Athletics
639 Whitethorne Ave.
Email : capcityfalcons@gmail.com

Community Development for All People
946 Parsons Ave
614-445-7342

Community Youth and Young Adult Empowerment

454 North 20th

614-517-2002

East Columbus Development Company
1774 E Main St
614-372-0884

Far East Development/Barnett
614-724-0100
http://www.fareastac.org/

Destiny Center
1561 Old Leonard Ave
614-569-4958 x1507

St Stephens Community House
1500 E 17th Avenue
614-294-6347

Triumphant Christian Center
904 Thomas Ave
614-805-3936

Worthington Food Pantry

6700 Huntley Rd

614-985-1766

Food Resources

St. Stephens Community House

https://saintstephensch.org/christmas-cares/

Phone: 614.294.6347

Food Pantry Resource List

food-pantry-2024-resource-list.pdf

Housing/Utility Assistance

emergency-resource-list-2024_edited.pdf

Mental Health Resources

2023-nsw-mh-addiction-list_.pdf

Give your family the gift of science learning with a free membership to COSI! Thanks to the generosity of the Robert Weiler Company, Columbus City Schools 5th-grade students and their families can receive FREE year-round visits to COSI! Elementary School Family Ambassadors can also receive these memberships!

Memberships are limited. Don't wait. Apply today! First come, first served. Application closes on February 28th, 2025.

Please use the link below to register for your FREE membership.

Keeping track of your attendance progress is a great way to stay motivated and focused. You could also track your development by using extra notes about what you learned each day. This will help keep you excited and engaged. Keep it up and remember Stay in the Game!

Dinner: Monday-Thursday from 3:15-4:30 PM

Breakfast: Saturday's from 8-9 AM

Snack: Saturday's from 12:30-1:00 PM

2515 Lockbourne Rd. Columbus, OH. 43207

All children ages 1 through 18 are eligible to receive free meals! We are excited and honored to serve the children in the community as we all come together to break down barriers regarding access to healthier food options in the community! First come, first served. Documentation is required.

Drive-thru and pick up groceries for your family and other household items at no charge! Walk-ups begin at 6:00 PM! Now delivering, but address must be within a 10-mile radius.

2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month at 5PM

2505 Lockbourne Rd. Columbus, OH 43207

Food Pantry, Mental Health and Boxing Collaboration! INPREM will provide free food boxes to families every week through their Mental Health Boxing Program. This program aims to support our community by addressing food insecurity while promoting mental well-being through the boxing program.

Come see the Huntington Holiday Train at the Main Library on display Nov. 18 through January 18

at the Columbus Metropolitan Main Library | 96 S. Grant Ave.

Bring your family to see the display with its trains, tracks, tunnels, bridges, castles and other features to delight visitors of all ages. Visit during regular library hours, with free one-hour parking in Main Library’s attached garage.

"The Ebony Nutcracker" offers a unique take on the holiday classic ballet, "The Nutcracker," by celebrating diversity and representation. This rendition allows children of color to see themselves reflected in this enchanting holiday tale. It incorporates the vibrant rhythms and dance styles of African-American culture, including modern, hip-hop, tap, jazz, and more. Audience members will join Ciara on her journey, encountering a cast of vivid and motivational characters like the Sweet Chocolate Fairy, Mama Gingah, The Snow Queen, and Mother Nature. This production promises to capture the season's festive spirit and create lasting memories for families. All performances take place at the Lincoln Theatre (769 E. Long St. Columbus.) Click the link below for ticket information.

Performances

Friday, Dec 13, 2024 10:30 am

Friday, December 13 7:00 pm

Saturday, December 14 2:00 pm

Saturday, December 14 7:00 pm

Sunday, December 15 3:00 pm

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Vanilla frosting of your choice
• Red and green paste food coloring

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add egg and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with floured 2-1/2-in. cookie cutters. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake until edges are firm, 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Tint some of the frosting red and some green; leave remaining frosting plain. Decorate cookies.

Little ones will love going on a magical Christmas adventure as they explore a candy cane forest, trek across a chocolate river, and hike over majestic ice cream mountains on a search to find the gingerbread man! But when the gingerbread man runs into a dark cave, are they ready to find out what's waiting for them inside?

December 19 - Teacher Appreciation Luncheon and Kwanzaa Celebration

December 20 - 30 Minute Early Dismissal

December 23 - January 3rd - Winter Break

Website: https://www.ccsoh.us/africentricearlycollege

Location: 3223 Allegheny Avenue, Columbus, OH, USA

Phone: (614) 365-8675

My job as the Family Ambassador is to ensure that your child(s) has a great learning experience at Columbus Africentric Early College PreK-5 (CAEC). I'll do this by providing you with information about school policies, procedures, programs and activities. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance to you.

Email: kdobbins@columbus.k12.oh.us

Phone: (740) 808-9727

At this sparkling, joyful time of year,

We think of people who are special and dear;

We’re sending this poem in the hopes it conveys

Our best wishes for your Happy Holidays!

By Joanna Fuchs