Hello CGS Parents and Families!
As we enter November, it's the perfect time to reflect on all the joys and blessings around us. Life can move so quickly that we often overlook the small, everyday moments that make a big difference. I encourage you to pause this month and embrace the positives, expressing gratitude for the little things that add up to something meaningful.
At Colby Grade School, we are grateful for our incredible students and the unique strengths and gifts they bring to our school each day. We are thankful for our dedicated teachers and staff, who put in countless hours caring for our students and fostering their growth with passion and commitment. And we are truly appreciative of our parents and community members, whose unwavering support helps us continue to grow and succeed as a school.
May this season of thankfulness remind us to celebrate every moment and carry a heart of gratitude throughout the rest of the year.
And, so together, they created a school they loved.”
Social Emotional Team
This special week encourages everyone to engage in acts of kindness, big or small, reminding us of the positive impact that simple gestures can have on others. Activities may include writing kindness notes, organizing community service projects, or participating in fun challenges that inspire compassion. Let’s make this week a celebration of empathy and generosity, showing that kindness can truly change the world! We look forward to sharing the fun activities we have taking place during World Kindness Week at Colby Grade School.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Hailey or Mrs. Hamilton.
Nurse Sarah News
What Does “Healthy Eating” Mean for a Kid?
Every child’s diet will of course look different. But here are some general guidelines that you can follow.
What to include:
Low-fat dairy products daily
Whole grains, such as whole grain bread or cereal
Fruits and vegetables daily
A positive attitude around food and body image. This includes eating some treats
What to reduce:
Sugary snacks and drinks
Fruit juices
Salt (added on to foods or found in processed foods)
Trans fats (found in products like shortening and pre-packaged baked goods)
Why it Matters
Most adults know that healthy eating is important, but it is important to know why. Diet has a major role in preventing chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. A healthy diet can also help improve mood and mental health.
What You Can Do
Check labels for things like added salt, sugar, and trans fats. These items are often found in products that you wouldn’t expect. You can encourage your child to help you look and see who can find the key words first.
Offer your child choices when it comes to foods that they may be less inclined to eat, such as vegetables.
It is important to create a healthy mindset around food. When talking to your child, focus on the benefits of healthier foods instead of why other foods are “bad.” For example, if your child wants a cookie as a snack you could say: “Right now we have cucumbers and apples for snack because they will give us energy to do all of the fun things we have planned today. Which of those would you like to choose?”
Healthy foods can be expensive or difficult to access in your area. There are many online resources that offer budget-friendly meal plans or shopping lists. You can also reach out to your child’s school nurse, counselor, or social worker for information on local food resources.
Eat some treats. Healthy eating does not mean being 100% perfect. Balance and moderation will help your child create a positive relationship with food and diet.
IMPORTANT DATES
November 5th and 6th we are having the Kansas Learning Center for Health coming to educate our kids on multiple topics for different age groups.
Kindergarten
Classes will be exploring numbers 0-10 in Math, building a strong foundation in counting, recognizing, and understanding these early numerals. We'll also celebrate the season with a special Thanksgiving Feast on the 26th, where students will learn about gratitude and enjoy a memorable gathering together. We're excited for a month full of learning and festivities!
1st Grade
Our first graders are wrapping up Knowledge Unit 3 with an exciting royal ball celebration on October 30th! They are continuing to expand their vocabulary with new trick words, and in Math, they are exploring different strategies to add and subtract. It's going to be a fun and busy month!
2nd Grade
Our second-grade classes are transitioning from mastering addition strategies for double-digit numbers to focusing on subtracting within 100 in Topic 5.
In Social Studies, we’re exploring map skills and learning about continents and oceans, with a special focus on understanding map keys and using a compass rose.
For writing, students are practicing the three key steps: planning, drafting, and editing. Building on our recent reading of trickster tales, students will be busy drafting a book report on The Hare and the Hedgehog. It's an exciting month of new skills and creative projects!
3rd Grade
We are diving into some exciting learning adventures! Alongside exploring our animal unit, we’ve launched into the fascinating world of physics. Our young scientists are experimenting with objects in motion, using marbles and ramps to see these concepts come to life. In math, we’re hard at work mastering multiplication in Topic 3, building strong foundational skills. To wrap up our animal unit, we have a special visit planned from a local Vet-Tech, who will share real-world insights and inspire our budding animal enthusiasts!
4th Grade
Fourth grade students have an exciting lineup! They've adopted three dairy calves as part of the Discover Dairy program, which offers interactive, cross-curricular lessons connecting science, math, reading, and social studies. This program helps students learn where milk comes from and understand the importance of dairy farms. Students will also receive videos and pictures of the calves as they grow throughout the school year.
In addition, fourth graders will dive into a Poetry unit with Amplify, exploring a diverse collection of poems that have been thoughtfully chosen for their complexity and appeal. In math, students will continue to deepen their understanding of multiplication and division concepts.
To wrap up the month, students will embark on a Social Studies research project called "Holidays Around the World," exploring different cultural celebrations and traditions globally.
Harmony with Ms. Hockett
Fourth grade is doing a wonderful job preparing for their musical and learning the recorder. The excitement for the December performance is building!
Third grade is just starting their musical preparations, and we have some fun surprises in store.
Second grade is focusing on mastering rhythms and exploring melodies.
First grade is working on developing a sense of rhythm and understanding the pulse and steady beat in music.
Kindergarten is exploring the basics of music with activities centered around pulse and steady beat, as well as understanding high and low pitches and different tempos like fast and slow.
We're looking forward to all the wonderful musical achievements ahead!
Library News from Mrs. Brown
Students are involved in many different activities in the library. Besides checking out library books, kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders have activity time once a week during their library specials time. Second graders have all become authors and illustrators of their own books! They have been working hard on their books for the last couple weeks. They started with their front covers which had to have the title of their book, an illustration and their name. Their stories had to be four or five pages long. The kids have made books about all subjects such as sharks, monsters, dogs, butterflies and the Titanic! Watch for their books to come home later this month. First Graders will learn about kindness and thanksgiving. We will read "Pearl and Squirrel Gives Thanks", "The Jelly Donut Difference" and "This is the Turkey" . They will make thanksgiving cards thanking the special people in their lives, whether it's their friend, teacher, sibling or parent. They have also made posters about how they can show kindness! Their kindness posters are hanging up on the bulletin boards outside the library in the intermediate building. Kindergarteners will also learn about kindness and thanksgiving. We will read "The Great Turkey Race", "Bear Says Thanks", "Mean 'Ole Crankfender", " A Turkey for Thanksgiving" and "This is the Turkey". They will talk about ways they can show kindness. They will also draw pictures of what they are thankful for and what they would bring to a feast
Mrs. Austin and the ESOL Team
The ESOL Department went above and beyond to support our district-wide Parent/Teacher Conferences by providing essential translation services. A special shout-out to Mr. Martin and Miss Villegas, who worked hard on Friday to ensure our high school parents felt fully included and understood during these important conversations!
In the spirit of celebration and cultural appreciation, the ESOL Department also hosted its first annual Trunk or Treat event for Halloween and Dia de los Muertos on November 1. Seventh and eighth-grade ESOL students joined in the fun and enjoyed delicious Walking Tacos, making it a memorable day of connection, culture, and community.
Math Camp with Mrs. Stacy
In Kindergarten, we’ve been having a blast learning all about numbers 1-5! The kids have been busy counting to 5, writing numerals, recognizing numbers, and so much more. This month, we’re excited to dive into numbers 6-10! You can help build a strong math foundation by practicing counting and number recognition at home every day.
Our 1st and 2nd graders are making great progress on their addition and subtraction fluency. A solid understanding of these skills is crucial as they prepare to tackle multiplication and division in the upper grades.
Third graders are hard at work mastering their multiplication facts and fluency, while our fourth graders have jumped into long division. Both grades recently completed their math interims, which are practice tests to help get ready for the State Assessments in the spring. Keep up the great work, everyone!
More About CGS
Email: hstapp@colbyeagles.org
Website: https://www.colbyeagles.org/o/colbyes
Location: 210 North Grant Avenue, Colby, KS, USA
Phone: (785) 460-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550694944969
Twitter: @ColbyEagles
