December 2024 Newsletter

"Of all the months of the year there is not a month one half so welcome to the young, or so full of happy associations, as the last month of the year." -Charles Dickens

During a time of cheer and joy, some might not realize how impactful a simple smile can be. A smile can lift the hearts of ones that may be heavy at times. Here at Cold Spring, the smiles are plentiful! The joy and cheer that the students bring through their smiles warms the hearts of so many. Thank you for being bright lights in our Cold Spring Family! Wishing you many smiles through this holiday season.

December's Character Tree trait this month at Cold Spring is generosity and giving, and this month will be focused on how we can give to others. Giving isn't always a tangible item, but can be a kind word, a warm smile, or a simple hello. We can be a friend to someone new on the playground! We can even share our scissors with a friend who can't find theirs! It is our goal this month to give to others to brighten their day just a bit.

Again this year, Seymour Smith students will come down to join our Cold Spring Cubs to make ornaments together. We thank the Seymour Smith students for giving their time to work with our littlest learners in modeling how to help others. These ornaments will be donated to residents in the Memory Unit at Ferncliff, will be hung to decorate a tree in the Pediatrics Unit at Mid Hudson Regional Hospital, and will be given to Hospice to share with homebound patients.

The annual PTA Holiday Shop will be at Cold Spring on Thursday, December 12th and Friday, December 13th. Students can shop for family members for the holidays where everything is $1.25. If you'd like your child to participate, please send in cash or a check made out to the Pine Plains Elementary PTA. More information to come home this week in folders.

A reminder that the cold weather is here! Please send your child in with a winter coat, hat/hood, and gloves every day. Our playground is quite windy and the breeze can be bitter. The Health Office has had some donations recently of winter coats and snow pants. If you are in need of outerwear for your child, please reach out.

Cough and flu season is here. We understand the temptation to send cough drops with your student, but please remember that Cold Spring does not allow students to carry medications, including cough drops, in their backpacks or pockets. Please call the main office if you have concerns.

We understand our small friends sometimes have accidents at school. If your child has been provided clothing or shoes from the Health Office, please wash and return them to school (excluding underwear) . Our clothing closet relies fully on donations and once items are taken home, they are not easily replaced. If your child has utilized their back-up clothing, please replace it the following day. Thank you.

Our Winter Learning Adventures are back this season! Your student will participate in a Learning Adventure based on their choice. The Building Leadership Team worked together to create four learning adventures that are project-based for students to participate in. Students will be grouped by choice, with other students in other classes and grade levels to complete the task. Each adventure begins with a question that students will need to work together to solve. This activity engages students through creativity, builds team work skills, and requires students to problem solve. Check out the four learning adventures below, and ask your child what learning adventure they chose!

• Arctic Adventure: You've been dropped off in the Arctic! How will you survive the harsh temperatures?
  
• Operation Toy Shop: The holidays are around the corner! How can you invent a new toy to give to children?
  
• Gingerbread Mansion: The Gingerbread people need to move to a bigger home. How will you design a place for them to stay?
  
• Hot Chocolate Shop: You're opening up a hot chocolate shop! How will you design your store to invite customers in so they buy your items?
  

Did you know that Astor Services for Children & Families runs a satellite mental health clinic right in our school? For over 25 years Pine Plains CSD district has partnered with Astor to have an onsite therapist to provide therapy and other supports to interested families. It is a confidential service that is billed through insurance and is offered year-round in the school (summers too!) If you would like more information, please contact the Astor Therapist Liz Yoder at 518-398-3000 ext 3322 at Seymour Smith (she comes to Cold Spring 1 day a week to serve families here.)

December 4th

BoE meets at CSELC for the annual Board Tour

P.E.A.C.E. Committee meets at the Junior Senior High School Library at 3:45 pm

December 11th

PTA meets at 5:30 pm

December 12th & 13th

PTA's Holiday Shop

December 16th-20th

Spirit Week

December 19th

Project Based Learning Day

December 20th

Early Release Day- Dismissal at Noon

December 23rd-January 1st

No School-Winter Break

January 2nd

School resumes- Welcome Back!

Email: k.fischetti@ppcsd.org
Website: www.ppcsd.org
Location: 358 Homan Road, Stanfordville, NY, USA
Phone: (845)868-7451
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057307245484