Mill Creek Magic Messages
News and Updates from Mr. Croyle and Mr. Murtha 10/27/2023
From Mr. Croyle and Mr. Murtha
As we head towards Halloween and then into November next week, our last full week in October was an eventful one!
First, our 3rd Grade students were paid a visit by a nationally published and recognized butterfly expert (he has even appeared on Animal Planet!). The 3rd Graders learned lots of interesting information about butterflies. For example... did you know that silk served as one of the first forms of battle armor due to its strength (it is difficult for an arrow to even pierce it)? Or did you know that temperatures of 60 degrees or below cause butterflies to fall asleep? If you have a 3rd Grade student, be sure to ask them about these and other interesting butterfly facts!
Second, we held our October "Magic Show" assembly! 6th Grade student Vishwa B. got the student body started, leading a "Creekers' Code... Let's Go" cheer. Then, we "pulled" another round of Creekers' Codes tickets and handing out "Difference Maker" t-shirts. Our lucky winners were:
- Kindergarten - Romina I.
- 1st Grade - Ryker C.
- 2nd Grade - Claire D.
- 3rd Grade - Aarav B.
- 4th Grade - Danny G.
- 5th Grade - Addison H.
- 6th Grade - Sophia W.
In addition, the following students were individually recognized...
- 3rd Grade student, Ethan W., had his "Magic Ticket" (a very special Creekers' Code ticket) pulled and will be treated to a special lunch from Mr. Croyle!
- 4th Grade student, Myla B., was recognized as our Creekers' Code Character Counts Award winner for R - Respect.
- 6th Grade student, Carter P., received the We Salute You Award for October.
- 4th Grade student, Audrey Z., received our first Portrait of a Graduate Award - Responsible Citizen.
We were thrilled to have Family members of all of the above students join us to be a part of this celebration/recognition!
Additionally, we honored a Community Helper, former Mill Creek Student Services Counselor, Sharon Wodyka, for her assistance with and presentation during our first Parent Positive Panel in early October.
Our assembly closed with a presentation from a cappella singing group Ball in Court, who performed for our students and staff, including educating our students about music and its history, as well spreading their message of positivity through song!
Finally, many of our 6th Grade students submitted some amazing decorated pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns for our 6th Grade Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Voting is still underway as we publish. Winners will be shared in next week's edition!
Thank you for all of your support, and have a wonderful weekend!
Matthew D. Croyle
Principal
John C. Murtha
Assistant Principal
3rd Grade Butterfly Assembly...
October's "Magic Show" Assembly...
6th Grade Pumpkin Decorating Contest Entries...
Information about W.I.N. Time...
Mill Creek Community,
I certainly hope your children are enjoying their classroom experience this school year. New to Mill Creek this year is an instructional model we are implementing which was discussed at Back To School Night and previously communicated via the Magic Messages. The instructional schedule has a component built into it called “W.I.N”. During this time, students are placed in instructional groupings due to specific data and teacher observations.
Each grade level has their own specific time allocated for this “W.I.N” model. Some students are traveling to different teachers/staff members and others stay within their own homerooms, all depending on the skill being addressed. We have implemented this model for math and are currently discussing its implementation for reading.
I wanted to send out this reminder in case your child has mentioned this instructional approach initiated by the school district.
Respectfully,
-Mr. Croyle
Halloween Information...
Please read the following information about the day's events at school on Halloween... Mill Creek's Halloween Celebrations will occur on the 1/2 day morning of Tuesday, October 31.
Our Halloween Parade will occur early in the school day; start time will be 9:30 a.m. The parade takes place in front of the main school entrance in the bus loading/parking area. A roped-off parade path will be set up. Spectators need to be on the outside of the parade path. The Halloween Parade is weather dependent. If inclement weather occurs on the 31st, we will hold classroom celebrations only.
Costumes worn for our Halloween celebrations should be school appropriate. The following should not be a part of a school Halloween costume:
- Hockey sticks, baseball bats, or other items that could be harmful.
- Costumes/objects with violent themes.
- Weapons used as costume props.
Classroom celebrations will occur after the Halloween Parade. Only scheduled classroom volunteers May enter the building after the parade. Food is permitted for these celebrations, but we would ask that, where possible, community food items be individually packaged (students may still bring in their individual, daily snack for personal consumption in school). Please communicate with your child's classroom teacher if you would prefer your child refrain from eating food items that are part of classroom celebrations.
We look forward fun and spooky day on the 31st!
Next Week's Specials Days Will Be...
- Monday - Day 4
- Tuesday - Day 5
- Wednesday - Day 1
- Thursday - Day 2
- Friday - Day 3
Help us Honor our Veterans!
Also, we are writing letters to veterans and would love it if you would share address and other information of a veteran in your life, so we can include them. Please use the link directly below to provide this information.
Finally, please use the link directly below here if a veteran in your family would like to attend a breakfast and assembly honoring veterans to be held at Mill Creek on 11/10/2023.
Please submit forms no later than 10/31/2023.
Thank you!
Important Information...
Free and Reduced Lunch information. All families must apply every year for the free and reduced lunch program. The program is based on income only. If you were approved last year and are seeing charges on your child’s account, you did not submit a new application for this school year or submitted the wrong application. Here is the application to apply online. www.myschoolapps.com If you need a paper copy, please contact our School Nurse, Kathy Budniewski RN at kbudniewski@cbsd.org
- Please review the "Rules for Using Technology" in school list below with your child(ren). It will help reinforce what we are discussing with students here at school - thank you!
- If you make a technology purchase (e.g. laptop charger) in MyPaymentsPlus, the District asks that you also put in a work ticket for it. This allows school building technicians to be aware of the purchase, so they can best support those students. Thank you!
- Ms. Kralik is in need of paper towel rolls for her QUEST classroom. If you are willing/able to donate, please send them in with your child. Ms. Kralik will have a container outside of her classroom to collect them!
Parent Positive...
Important Dates
- Friday, October 27 - 6th Grade Halloween Howl, 7-9 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 31
Halloween Celebrations
Early Dismissal (No AM Kindergarten; PM attends in the AM) - Wednesday, November 1 - Picture Retake Day
- Tuesday, November 7 - Election Day (no school)
- Wednesday, November 8 - Parent Positive Panel, 6-7 p.m.
- Friday, November 10 - Honor our Veterans by Wearing Red, White, and Blue!
- Monday, November 13-Friday, November 17 - American Education Week (details coming soon!)
- Wednesday, November 22 - Friday, November 24 - Thanksgiving Break (no school)
Home and School Association News and Flyers
- The District is now insistent that adult visitors to school buildings beyond the main office have their Volunteer Clearances. There is an application process, which only takes a bit of time and is fairly simple. The link below will take you to a page with detailed information about obtaining your Volunteer Clearances.
Human Resources / VOLUNTEER Required Paperwork (cbsd.org)
Thank you, and we look forward to an incredible school year!
From the Mill Creek Diversity Committee...
Did you know that Mill Creek has a Diversity Committee? This year, the Diversity Committee is excited to share many events, celebrations, and important topics with Mill Creek students. Our goal throughout the year will be to bring awareness to meaningful subjects, educate students, and celebrate all kinds of diversity.
Instructional Spotlight - Ms Leuthe, Health and PE
SCHOOL/DISTRICT INFORMATION
CB Realignment Input...
In anticipation of the grade level realignment for the 2025-2026 school year, the district extends an open invitation to parents, guardians, students, and community members to provide their questions and feedback here. We greatly value your input as it plays a vital role in our decision-making process, ensuring that our choices are in the best interest of our entire community. To learn more about this initiative, please visit the our website: www.cbsd.org/cbrealign.
For Qualifying Families, Apply for Free and Reduced Lunch - It's Easy!
For any family in need of free and reduced lunch for your children, please use the links below to apply. The process is fairly simple and confidential!
- Direct link to the application website: MySchoolApps - Home Page
- Link to the CBSD page about Free and Reduced Lunch: Food Services / Free & Reduced Lunch Application (cbsd.org)
Student Technology Information...
Need to submit a Technology Help Desk Ticket? Click the link below for a video on how to do it!
Student Laptop Expectations
Additionally, if your child loses or misplaces their laptop case, please reach out to the Mill Creek Main Office.
District Laptop and iPad Care
- Please encourage your children to use their laptop/iPad bags for carrying devices in school, at home, and to and from each location.
- Please encourage your children to report issues/problems with their devices, so they can be properly address and fixed as soon as possible.
- The laptop/iPad payment fee covers accidental damage. Intentional damage may result in a family being billed for the damage.
Schools will be communicating these messages in school as well.
We appreciate your support!
GUIDANCE INFORMATION
SCHOOL AND DISTRICT EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES
Contact Information
Mr. Matthew D. Croyle
Principal
267-893-3600
Mr. John C. Murtha
Assistant Principal
267-893-3600
Mill Creek Elementary School
Email: mcroyle@cbsd.org
Website: http://www.cbsd.org/Domain/19
Location: 638 Bellflower Boulevard, Warrington, PA, United States
Phone: 267-893-3600
Twitter: @CBMillCreek