Mr. Jackson, CES Principal.. Derek.Jackson@myeagles.org

Mrs. Wilding, CES Secretary.. Joelle.Wilding@myeagles.org

Mrs. Phelps, CES Counselor.. Ashley.Phelps@myeagles.org

Mrs. White, Nurse.. Paige.White@myeagles.org

Mrs. McLaury, Child Care & Preschool Director.. Terri.McLaury@myeagles.org

We can't do it without you! Please consider volunteering to help at the Book Fair. The story starts with you! Sign up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45A8A72DA6FAC16-54251696-book#/

Jackson County Health Department will be conducting hearing and vision screenings at CES February 25th-27th. If you do not want your student to participate, please let your students teacher know or call the office.

Spring pictures will be Tuesday, March 11th. We are looking for a few parent volunteers to help. If you are able to assist, please call the office.

Don’t forget to order your yearbook! The price will increase to $20 on February 22, 2025. Click on the link below to access the online yearbook storefront:

https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/columbiaelementarybrooklyn

What do you call a small Valentine?

*A Valen-tiny!

What shade of red is your heart?

*Beat red!

Show your school spirit and wear your blue and gold Little Eagle spirit wear!

Please note that all bus changes need to go through the transporation department this school year. For example, if your child is riding a bus with a friend, etc. The phone number is 517.592.6449. This needs to be approved at least 24 hours in advance. Your cooperation is appreciated!

We are excited to share that free breakfast and lunch will continue for the 2024-2025 school year! We still encourage families to complete a free and reduced lunch application. It may help families qualify for other programs.

Happy February! We wrapped up our i-Ready mid year diagnostic. Ask your student about their growth! I'm so proud of their gains, and I am appreciative of your support of our wonderful staff members who are making huge impacts daily in the lives of your students.

As we move into February you will see many opportunities to volunteer. We have our PTO meeting on Feb. 6th, Book Bingo on Feb. 7th & Book Fair the week of Feb. 3- 7th. There are so many opportunities to participate in your student's education, please make plans to help out with at least one of these great events!

Also we are always excited about "March is Reading Month" and that is just around the corner. Be on the lookout for more opportunities to support your student in their educational endeavors.

Activities to do during Snow Days....

• Build a snow family
• Make a snow fort
• Go ice skating on a nearby lake or at the ice rink
• Shovel a neighbor's sidewalk or driveway
• Make paper snowflakes
• Make a blanket fort in your pajamas to stay warm and cozy
• Paint snow using a little bit of paint and water in spray bottles

Please remember to send your student with a jacket, hat, gloves, etc. to ensure their comfort throughout the day. All students are expected to participate in outdoor recess unless there is inclement weather. Please label/mark these items so that we can get missing items back to their owners. If you have additional items that you no longer need or would like to donate to our "borrow room", please send washed items to the main office! Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns!

Cheers,
Mr. Jackson

In February, Nurse Paige and I will be visiting all K, 1st and 2nd classrooms for class lessons. A form has gone home with topics listed if you choose to opt out your student from any or all of these lessons please be sure to send this form back by February 3rd. You are more than welcome to come in prior to the lesson and review the materials if you would like also. Please contact me if you would like to arrange a time to review the curriculum or if you have any questions.

*The form is listed below as well.

K-Kids Peer Mentoring

1st & 2nd grade K-Kids have been visiting Kindergarten classrooms and role modeling positive play, good choices and conflict resolution strategies.

2nd grade K-Kids are doing a FABULOUS job being recess buddies, supporting Kinders at recess throughout the month on positive play and choices. The Kinders love seeing them present on the playground.

Character Strong - Purposeful People

This month our Character Trait focus is: Honesty.

Defined as: Being truthful in what you say and do.

*Click the Counselor Smore below for more tips & Info!

You can reach me by email: ashley.phelps@myeagles.org or by calling 517-769-8557, feel free to leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I am available.

February is American Heart month!

We believe that encouraging a heart-healthy lifestyle involves a multifaceted approach, addressing elements such as stress reduction, balanced nutrition, and regular physical activity. One pivotal aspect to highlight is the significance of stress management in maintaining a healthy heart. Chronic stress has been linked to adverse cardiovascular effects, making stress reduction strategies crucial. Consider incorporating mindfulness practices, such as deep-breathing exercises or meditation, into your daily routines.

DEVELOPING HEALTHY HABITS AS A FAMILY

The best place for children to learn about living a healthy lifestyle is at home. The lessons learned can be reinforced at school, but will have the most impact when practiced daily at home. Families can encourage children to be more active by having them participate in family activities as well as sports. Along with physical activity, there are other important health-related lessons to teach your children —and to reflect in your own life!

Consider making the following actions part of your family’s healthy lifestyle.

• Cut back on TV, computer, and video game time. Less time spent on these activities leaves more time for movement!

• Take a family walk or bike ride.

• Play with your children. It will be healthy for all of you, both physically and emotionally.

• Make homework a priority. Provide a quiet time and place for doing homework. Talk to your child’s teacher to make sure your child is keeping up with classroom work

• Plan to eat a balanced, healthy dinner together as a family. If schedules don’t allow for dinner together every night, make a goal to have at least two dinners together every week.

• Make sure you and your children get enough sleep. Choose a reasonable bedtime that allows for 9 to 12 hours of sleep each night for a school-aged child. (Teenagers may need even more sleep than a young child!)

Our health is an important factor in our quality of life. Children who are healthy learn better, have more positive interactions, and have a better chance for success in life. As a parent, you have a lot of power to provide your children with the basic knowledge and practices they need for the rest of their lives.

A healthy school environment requires the cooperation and effort of us all working together. During this time of year we tend to see a higher incidence of strep throat, respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses. The nurses of The Superior School District would like to remind everyone that they can help to protect themselves and their families form many of these airborne illnesses. Follow the Habits for Good Health listed below recommended by the Center for Disease Control.

Habits for Good Health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze – throw the tissue away after you use it. If you do not have a tissue, cover your mouth and nose with the inside of your elbow.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not near water, use an alcohol based hand cleaner.
• Stay away as much as you can from people who are sick.
• If you or your child gets the flu, stay home from work or school. Do not go near other people so that you don’t make them sick too.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way
• Dress for the weather. Come to school dressed for the winter. Wear layers of loose fitting clothing. Wear mittens and gloves. Wear a hat. Remember, the air that is trapped inside your clothing, warmed by your body heat, is the best protection from the cold.

Popcorn Fridays are back! We are in need of volunteers to make sure it is a success. Check out our signup below. You must have a 2024-2025 volunteer background check on file with the district. Forms can be found in any district office.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C45A8A72DA6FAC16-50951952-popcorn

Showing up to school greatly impacts a student's academic success. Families play a crucial role in ensuring that a student gets to school safely and on time daily. We understand that absences are unavoidable, such as illness or medical appointments. Please call in advance if your child will not be in school.

CES Attendance Line 517-592-7552

The PTO Meeting is the first Thursday of every month.

All parents and staff are invited to attend.