Canterbury Elementary School

CES held classroom spelling bees throughout the month. Kudos to all students for their efforts and focus in learning new words, and congratulations to our champions! Photos will be shared in next month's Smore newsletter.

Grade 4: Tim Slayton

Grade 3: Rowan Melanson

Grade 2: Madeline Treadway

Grade 1 (McCauley): Alexander Jung

Grade 1 (Perlet): Colter Standley

The Fisher Cats Reading Challenge encourages students to read five books during the school year. Any student who completes the challenge will earn two FREE tickets to a 2025 New Hampshire Fisher Cats game at Delta Dental Stadium in Manchester!

There's a reading log that parents/guardians can help their student(s) to complete and submit to the Fisher Cats by mailing it in, or by scanning the QR code on the log. You can also send the completed form to the CES office and we will mail it in on your behalf.

Additionally, the five schools with the highest percentage of participation will have a chance to win a cash prize up to $1,000 for their school. Thank you in advance for supporting our young readers!

Living in New Hampshire requires adaptability to frequent weather changes. We will go outside for recess every day that we can. Watch/Listen to local weather reports and help your child dress according to our guidelines (see attached letter). It is recommended that you post these in a visible place at home! Thank you for your support as we work to ensure a safe, fun recess time for all students!

February 3-21: I Love to Read Month (details went out separately)

February 5: Wildlife Encounters Assembly - Sponsored by the PTO

February 6: Deliberative Session for 25-26 Budget - BHS 6 PM

February 11: School Board Meeting - CES 6 PM

February 13: PTO Meeting - 6 PM

February 14: Valentine's Day

February 14: Winter Sports Day - More Details to Come

February 17 or 20: Kids Heart Challenge Event (during P.E. classes)

February 24 - 28: Winter Vacation Week - NO SCHOOL

March 11: Voting Day (School Budget) - Old Town Hall

March 11: Teacher Workshop Day - NO SCHOOL

We are excited to announce that our school will again be participating in the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge (formerly known as Jump Rope For Heart) program in P.E. classes through February 21, 2025.

This year we will end the program with a Kids Heart Challenge event, which will take place during your child’s regular scheduled P.E. day (on February 17th or the 20th).

This is always a fun and exciting program for our entire school as we work together to raise awareness for our nation’s #1 cause of death, heart disease. We will be doing online donations only this year! We have found this to be an easier way for us to monitor donations safely and accurately.

More information will be sent home with your student. Please reach out with any questions: ymcwhinnie@sau80.org. Thank you for helping us support the AHA, and this life-saving educational event!

In the event that your child borrows an article of clothing or footwear from our school inventory, please be sure to launder the item and return it as soon as possible. Our supply of items is limited and we want to ensure that future students can benefit from a provision of clothing if needed. In addition, if you find that your student frequently needs a change of clothes, please send in an extra set to keep at school. Thank you!

The SRSD nurses have a supply of COVID-19 tests available. If you are interested or in need of a test kit, please do not hesitate to request one.

After the buses have departed, those in private vehicles may enter the school driveway and proceed to the playground entrance for car rider pick up. A staff member will escort each child safely to their ride. If folks arrive too early, the cars get backed up into the road. Please adhere to the 3:20 arrival time in order to mitigate this issue.

It is also essential that private vehicles do not drive around other vehicles (whether they are school buses or other private vehicles) while students are loading or unloading. Please wait until the vehicle in front of you begins to move.

Thank you for your help in ensuring that our routines are efficient and safe.

K-2 classes will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Friday February 14th! If your family chooses to send cards or treats, please be sure that all donations follow the SRSD Wellness Policy. Our Wellness Committee has created a letter that contains lots of fun ideas! Please see the attachment below (a physical copy is attached to the paper Smore newsletter).

Regular attendance at school is critical for a student's success. The interactive nature of lessons at school today make it challenging to provide students with the same learning experiences when they return from an absence.

If a student reaches 10 half days (or 5 full days) of unexcused absences in a school year, the State of NH considers that student habitually truant. Our protocols require that we follow a process with families to ensure that the importance of attendance is understood and that unexcused absences are to be avoided.

The digital version of the CES Smore Newsletter includes a PDF of our attendance policy, as well as RSA 193:1 (Duty of a Parent - Compulsory Attendance) and RSA 189:35-a (Truancy defined).

Absences are excused in the event of sickness, a death in the family, or medical appointments. Other absences are considered unexcused and should be avoided.

Please note: SRSD School Board Policy JH states that for absences other than illness, parents must provide a written notice to the principal 10 days prior to the absence: the reason for the absence and how long the student will be absent.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for partnering with CES to support the success of all students.

Happy New Year! The CES PTO is back to work planning and funding more memorable activities for 2025! Did you know your donations to date have helped fund...

--- Mascot costume

--- Staff appreciation donuts & hot cocoa

--- ROAR award supplies

--- Support for Nature's Classroom

--- Custodial staff appreciation

--- Wildlife Encounters enrichment

--- Future family curriculum night needs

--- Future wellness month needs

--- And more to come!

On the radar are more great events, including the February visit from Wildlife Encounters sponsored by the PTO! We also look forward to supporting various school programs, adding concessions at the school play, bringing a popcorn Friday into the school, raising funds for Kona Ice through Penny Wars, and an end of year playground party cookout. We continue to welcome new PTO members to get involved in helping us plan and implement these great activities!

In the event of poor weather, Mr. Tursi may call for a traditional snow day, or he may call for a remote learning day.

The digital version of the CES Smore Newsletter includes a PDF of two documents, the CES Remote Learning Schedule, and our Remote Learning Expectations. Please review them, and reach out to me or your student's teacher if you have any questions.

Classroom teachers have sent additional details out as well. Thank you for your support!