Crescent Cougar News

This is the week of our Cougar Dash and we are so excited! Please see below for the schedule and come on down to the track that day to cheer on our Cougars! ALL parents are invited to watch and ALL students are invited to participate, regardless of registration status.

But, if you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to get your students registered on the My Booster website. Remember every dollar raised goes towards keeping programs such as Learning A-Z, Walk Through History, STEAM, Art Masters, P.E. Equipment and so much more available to all 800 of our Crescent Cougars!

In addition to the programs supported by PTA, we are hoping to replace tables that were moved during the pandemic if we reach our goal.These tables would give each class a space to work outside in groups and not be so crowded inside the classrooms. But we need your help!

To date we have raised $30,000! If every student raises just $75 dollars we will reach our goal of $60,000! We are halfway there, let's keep up the great work!

Cougar Dash Schedule:

1st & 2nd at 8:30 - 9:20am

TK & K at 10:00 - 10:30am

3rd & 4th at 10:30 - 11:20am

5th & 6th at 11:25 - 12:15pm

Thank you for all your support! GO COUGARS!"

At Crescent we are entering year two of implementing the Accelerated Reader program in our library and across campus. The Accelerated Reader (AR) program is a reading incentive program commonly used in elementary schools to encourage independent reading and improve literacy skills. Within our Crescent Library, we are in the process of transitioning all of our books to an AR Lexile Reading level. Through our IREADY diagnostic assessments our students receive a Lexile level. The lexile level help students and teacher select books that are at a student independent reading level (See below for levels). After reading the book, student can take a comprehension quiz to earn AR points. For more information on how AR is used for your child's classroom, please reach out to your child's teacher.

Save the Date: December 4th and 5th.

Congratulations to our Crescent Cougars for receiving the OUSD October Attendance award. We were listed as the highest school with an attendance rate of 96.84%.

The OUSD District offers an Independent Study Program (IS) for up to 15 consecutive absence days. Enrollment is completely voluntary and only makes sense if your schedule allows for your student to complete the assignments. The following is some important information about the program:

• The student enrolled in Independent Study is not marked absent (unexcused for personal reasons) but enrolled in an Independent Study program during the absence dates.

• The teacher will provide assignments for every subject and day. The assignments will be comparable in quality and quantity to the work completed in the classroom. The objective of Independent Study is for the student to continue learning independently and not having to make up work upon return. Work assignments will require the student to log into online learning platforms.

• The Crescent Attendance office will prepare the Independent Study contract, which needs to be signed by the principal, teacher, student, and the parent.

• All assignments must be completed and returned the day the student returns to the classroom as noted on the contract. The contract can't be changed or extended and becomes invalid if work is not returned on the return date. The student's work will be reviewed for completion and graded by the teacher.

• Pending the successful completion of the contract, the student's attendance will be updated (Independent Study completed).

Please contact the front office if you would like an independent study contract. We need to be notified in a timely manner (at least 1 week before the trip, preferably 2 weeks).

In addition to doing our LCAP survey, we would like to hold a focus group to discuss the great things happening at Crescent and areas of need for our student and community. Please join us on:

Date: Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Time: 8:30 am

Location: MPR

LCAP Survey Link: https://tinyurl.com/ousdfamily24

We are thrilled for our Picnic with a Loved on on Friday, November 22 from 12:00-1:00 pm. Please take a few minutes to read our updated guidelines:

• Date: Friday, November 22
• Participating Grades: 1st-6th Grade
• Timeframe: 12:00-1:00pm
• When can parents enter the school? Parents can enter 30 minutes prior to the picnic to set up their area. Please note we are going to ask parents to sign in this year so please arrive early. Once you set up your area, please line up near the main office building inside the gate. We will have people directing where to line up. A few minutes before we start, we will allow parents to go to the specified area to pick up their child. Classroom teachers will notify you as to where.
• Where do parents sign in/ line up? Parents will line up at our main entrance and dismissal gate.
• Where can we set up our picnic? NEW this year, all picnics are to take place in our field. We will not have picnics at the lunch tables or in the quad. The reason behind this change is to lessen the congestion and have a space for students whose parents are unable to attend.
• What can I bring to the picnic? Something yummy to eat, a picnic blanket and/or camping chairs. Please no shade structures or umbrellas.
• Can we join our child at the playground/blacktop for recess? No, we have over 800 students who will want to play on the playground/blacktop . Our noon supervisors will take over noon supervision.
• Can I bring games? You can bring board games, jumprope ,etc. Please no soccer balls, baseball, volleyball, or basketballs.
• Please do not block bus drop offs, yellow and red zones. Parents are free to park in staff parking lot, general parking lot, as well as on the street parking.

Smilow Fundraiser

Looking for a fun holiday present? Get a smillow or a defenderz pillow. The 5th and 6th grade students will have an opportunity to sell these cute and smelly pillows! Don't worry TK through 4th grade parents! You can purchase one on Friday, November 22nd at the Picnic with Loved Ones. There will be a storefront open from 12PM-1PM where a limited supply will be available to purchase. There will also be an opportunity to purchase the last week before school gets out for winter break. The smillow storefront will be open December 16-19th before school from 7:30AM -8:30AM and at lunch time.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Dance Choreography: Middle School Division (6th to 8th Grade)
Award of Excellence (1st Place): Jordyn Bennett, 6th Grade

Film Production: Primary Division (TK to 2nd)

Award of Excellence (1st Place): Austin Sanders, 2nd Grade

Intermediate Division (3rd to 5th)

Award of Excellence (1st Place): Brooke Sanders, 5th Grade

Award of Merit (2nd Place): Aryan Bhavsar, 3rd Grade

Literature: Primary Division (TK to 2nd)

Award of Excellence (1st Place): Abhay Dalia, 2nd Grade

Intermediate Division (3rd to 5th)

Award of Excellence (1st Place): Zoey Go, 5th Grade

Award of Merit (2nd Place): Shrey Dalia, 4th Grade

Honorable Mention (3rd Place): Ellen Rea, 3rd Grade

Photography: Primary Division (TK to 2nd)

Award of Excellence (1st Place): Arjun Bhavsar, 1st Grade

Award of Merit (2nd Place): Akshara Mandava, Kinder

Honorable Mention (3rd Place): Kayson Nemati, TK

Intermediate Division (3rd to 5th)

Award of Excellence (1st Place): Isaiah Smith, 4th Grade

Award of Merit (2nd Place): Isabella Smith, 5th Grade

Visual Arts:

Primary Division (TK to 2nd)

Award of Excellence (1st Place): Isla Nemati, 1st Grade

Award of Merit (2nd Place): Juliette So, 1st Grade

Honorable Mention (3rd Place): Arjun Bhavsar, 1st Grade

Intermediate Division (3rd to 5th)

Award of Excellence (1st Place): Sophia Zamora, 5th Grade

Award of Merit (2nd Place): Arav Kuwadekar, 3rd Grade

Honorable Mention (3rd Place): Lily McConnaughey, 3rd Grade

Thank you so much for everyone who has donated. Every donation helps to build our store! We also have an amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/365CMF6MP6E5B?ref_=wl_share

All items can be shipped/ dropped off to our school:

Crescent Elementary

5001 E. Gerda Dr.

Anaheim, CA 92807

Listed below are important announcements from previous newsletters:

• Parent and Student Handbook : Click Here
  
• Follow us on Instagram @ crescentcougars
• Volunteer Process: Please take a few minutes to complete the application using this link: https://bit.ly/ousdvolunteer