Wednesday, May 28

• 🦸 Spirit Day Theme: Superhero Day

• 🕺Dance Party - Auction Prize - Tessa Allen & Class (gym) 12:00 PM
• 📚 Literacy Celebration (Reading Recovery Students): from 9:15–11:00 AM

Thursday, May 29

• 💤 Spirit Day Theme: Pajama Day

Friday, May 30

• 🌺 Spirit Day Theme: Hawaiian Day

• Kindergarten Sneak Peek: 9:30–11:00 AM
  Incoming kindergarteners will be in the building

• Nesting Lessons & Farewell to 5th Grade: 3:00 PM

Monday, June 2

• 🤪 Spirit Day Theme: Silly Hair Day

• 🎉 4th Grade End-of-Year Parties: 3:00 PM

Tuesday, June 3

• 🎊 Field Day in the Afternoon

Wednesday, June 4 – ½ Day (Dismissal at 1:00 PM)

• 🎓 Athens Senior Clap-Out at Costello: 9:45 AM
  

🎉 End-of-Year Parties:

• 1st Grade: 11:00 AM
  
• Kindergarten: 11:30 AM
  

• 🎶 5th Grade Instrumental Music Performance 12:00 PM Location - Gym Grades 2nd, 3rd, 4th

Thursday, June 5 – ½ Day (Dismissal at 1:00 PM)

• 🎉 End-of-Year Parties:

  • Dabrowski & McClure: 11:00 AM

Friday, June 6 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! – ½ Day (Dismissal at 1:00 PM)

• 🎓 5th Grade Celebration:

  • Parents arrive: 9:45 AM

  • Celebration begins: 10:00 AM in Cafeteria

• 🎉 5th Grade Clap-Out: Tentatively at 12:40 PM
  ➤ Whole school will line the halls to honor our outgoing 5th Grade Cardinals
  ➤ Time subject to change depending on celebration timeline

  ❗ Reminder: No lunch served on half days

🎈 HAPPY SUMMER!!!!

• Endless appreciation to all of our staff and families who have worked so hard to make these events so memorable.

I enjoyed a delightful time with Sully, Lennon, Lewis, Mia, Ava and their families! Thanks to Sully’s grandparents for attending the Costello Auction, bidding on this opportunity and sharing this experience with the Auction table-mates!! We read stories, played games and laughed a lot! Thanks for the pizza and cookies!! Our Costello community is THE BEST!!

Ms. Ford and Ms. Kennedy had a packed and exciting schedule last Thursday as our Principals for a Day! They started the morning by leading school-wide announcements, then headed to Central Office for meetings with Employee Services and the superintendent. There, they practiced important soft skills like handshakes, eye contact, and professional conversation.

They represented Costello beautifully and showed great promise as future leaders. Later in the day, they spread kindness by delivering cookies and treats to students and staff, thanking everyone for their hard work this year. A quick stop at Wendy’s for lunch added to the fun!

It was so nice having their help around the building. A heartfelt thank you to the Ford and Kennedy families for your generous auction donation that made this experience possible!

There were two new bosses in the Central Office last week as Costello students Caleb and Trey took over as Superintendents for the Day! They met many new people, dropped in on a bond project meeting, visited Larson and enjoyed lunch. In the afternoon they visited the preschool, attended a principal meeting, checked out the bus garage, and more! Thank you Dr. Machesky and the Richeson & Roenicke Families for supporting our Costello Auction!

Our first-grade music program was an absolute delight, so much after and joy! The students did a fantastic job having fun while showcasing what they’ve been learning about steady beats and musical foundations. They even got families involved, making it an interactive and memorable experience for all.

Thank you to all the families who joined us last week to celebrate their hard work—and a big shoutout to Ms. Scarnecchia for putting together such a joyful and engaging performance. Great job, everyone!

Mr. Myrick needs your help! Select the game that you want to work. Field day starts at 1:30 P.M.

Please check out the sign up genius link below….

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4CA5AC2AA1FC1-49467290-costello

Thank you Kristen Northey for organizing the last skating party of the year, what a terrific turn out. Sorry I had to miss it! Thank you families for putting this fun evening into your busy schedules!

As part of the 5th Grade Celebration on June 6th we want to highlight the AMAZING experiences that our 5th graders have had during their time at Costello. Who better to tell this story than the 5th graders. This group has so much personality, confidence and talent, I can't wait to see what they come up with. Click or copy and paste link below for LENGTHY details. Though some class time may be available to work on this, this is primarily an "at home" project. I will be talking with the students about this project sometime this week.

NOT ALL SUBMISSIONS WILL BE SELECTED

https://secure.smore.com/n/k1myn

This group has so much personality, confidence and talent, I can't wait to see what they come up with. Please encourage your child to participate in submitting an entry for the 5th Grade Challenge.

We are incredibly proud of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders for giving their best effort on the M-STEP test. Their perseverance and determination stood out throughout the testing!

Although we originally planned to celebrate with a rock wall climb, a hydraulic issue meant we had to pivot. Thankfully, we had an exciting mega obstacle course ready to go—and it turned out to be a big hit! Lots of smiles and laughter!

A huge thank you to our parents and teachers for your ongoing support. Your encouragement and high expectations helped our students stay motivated and give their all.

Well done, everyone!

Tuesday, May 27th - Favorite Sports' Team Day

Wednesday, May 28th - Super Hero Day

Thursday, May 29th - PJ Day

Friday, May 30th - Hawaiian Day

Monday, June 2nd - ???

At Monday's PTO meeting we honored some very special people who have given years of service to Costello. Congratulations and thank you to our fifth grade outgoing PTO committee chairs and PTO Board Members. You have made a lasting impact at our school. Thank you Aimee Soosoo,Melanie Lynam Harper, Keri Elliott, Chris Tallman, Katie Michelle, Jenni Brozowski, Suzy Barnes Powell. Each of you paved the way, we will carry on your legacies!

Earlier this week, TSD honored our Support Person of the Year nominees at a reception at Troy High. Each of these exceptional individuals exemplifies what it means to be World Class, consistently going above and beyond for Troy students every single day. Thank you to these nominees, and to all of our incredible support staff!

Please join me in congratulating Costello's nominees, Romi Chakraborty and Jenny Martus. We are so thankful for all that you do to support our students and staff. We are grateful to have you on our team! THANK YOU for your hard work and dedication!

Bond construction at Costello is coming soon. The playground projects are getting started! We are looking forward to the new equipment. Construction is on schedule.

Ms. Scarnecchia and the 1st graders have been working incredibly hard, and their performances this week were outstanding! Thank you, parents, for joining us and “stepping inside” our music classroom—we loved having you participate. It’s hard to choose a favorite song, but Count on Me was definitely mine! (look for pictures in the next Cardinal Connection)

It's a busy month, especially for our 5th graders, check out some of their fun May activities. We will truly miss this amazing group of 5th graders. They are a fun, connected group of leaders with strong friendships. We love their kindness, appreciation, and the way they support one another.

We’re looking forward to celebrating them on June 6th!

As we approach the final days of the school year, our Costello Auction prizes are being joyfully redeemed!

• Mr. Myrick hosted a Costello kids gym night, while the parents had an adult outing! Pretty sure the kids had the most fun!

• Spirit Week - May 27-June 2 - Tessa Allen!
• Dance party and corn hole game for Tessa Allen!
• Sully Gallagher's family enjoyed special seating and early entry to this week’s 1st Grade Informance. I’ll also be joining Sully’s family and friends after school for a special neighborhood visit—what a fun way to celebrate the year!
  
• Audrina Northey and Lilly Kaniarz had a blast visiting the Troy Preschool, and judging by the smiles, the preschoolers absolutely loved the surprise visit from our very own Costello Cardinal.
  
• Looking forward to having Kennedy & Nahla as my Principals for a Day this week!
• Connor Killingbeck and friends will be enjoying game time with me, I can't wait!

Thank you for supporting our school through your auction donations. These experiences help us build meaningful connections and lasting memories in our community!

Huge congratulations to Jill Flaherty, Lindsey Maliepaard, Stefanie Wonsowicz and Ewa Dabrowski on their Teacher of the Year Nomination! Your tireless efforts to inspire and educate your students will make a lasting impact. Thank you for meeting the individual needs of a classroom full of students; supporting academic, social and emotional needs, you are AMAZING !! You each represent the excellence of the Troy School District, well deserved recognition!

Congratulations to our TSD 2024–2025 Teacher of the Year nominees and awardees. These 62 educators were nominated by members of our community for going above and beyond for their students, and we are deeply grateful to each and every one of them. #OneTroy #WorldClass

THANK YOU to Angie Cheek for coordinating and planning this SPECTACULAR week for our AMAZING Staff. A special thank you to all of the families that helped to support this week through volunteering, showering our staff with flowers, gifts or making donations for food. Our staff is the BEST and truly appreciate this thoughtfulness!!

TSD strives for continuous improvement for all staff and students. Investing in our staff is one of our TSD pillars. When we study student work, use data to guide our instruction and learn with other colleagues through job embedded learning, everyone benefits, everyone grows.

Please be patient!!! Hamman Drive congestion is minimized when cars follow the traffic flow, 2 lanes, not 3! We don't want anyone to get a ticket. Let's be safe and patient.

May 12 is the last PTO meeting of the year. We will vote on the proposed budget and celebrate our 5th grade committee and board members as they say goodbye to Costello. We are so grateful for their time and dedication to the Costello Community!

For this meeting we will have both childcare and a virtual option available. Here is the link to the virtual:

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 254 224 959 040

Passcode: 9WX9Ru6Y

Wishing all of you wonderful moms out there a day of pampering and doing exactly what makes you happy! Enjoy!

The 4th Annual Larson Celebration of Learning is back! I was hoping that you could include the following message, graphic and video link (recap from 2024) in your weekly newsletter leading up to our event, May 28th. This is geared toward 5th graders and their families (incoming Larson Class of 2032), but really is open to anyone. Thanks so much for your help sharing (advertising) this with your families as we are excited to share all the great experiences students can be part of at Larson.

As your 5th grader prepares to transition from elementary to middle school, come check out a great event at Larson Middle School, May 28th from 6:00-8pm. The Larson Celebration of Learning event will be taking place where students showcase their learning stories and experiences that they have been part of at Larson. Students from 6th-8th grade are excited to share their experiences with the incoming class of 2032, their families, and the community. This will be an open house format, so attend anytime between 6:00-8:00pm. There will be main presenters, open house learning stories, a fine arts display, music, food and so much more. Mark it down on your calendar and the Larson family is excited to see you! Check out the video link to see an overview of our celebration from 2024.

https://youtu.be/WFJyUpCejOc?si=MoDnyMSRs-ARVsA5

Dear Costello Parents,

Our annual Costello Field Day is coming up on Tuesday June 3rd, and we need your help! This year I will be doing an online registration for field day volunteers. You will be able to select the game that you want to work. Field day starts at 1:30 P.M. on Tuesday, June 3rd.

Please check out the sign up genius link below….

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090D4CA5AC2AA1FC1-49467290-costello

Did you know that you can bid on items like this at the Costello Auction? What a fun way to celebrate!

Who had fun at the Costello Fair on Saturday??!! These memories will last a lifetime! The Costello Fair only happens because of the tremendous teamwork of our Fair Chairs, Melanie Lynam Harper & Jenni Brozowski!! They rallied the volunteers and organized all of the behind the scenes work to make this event happen. CONGRATULATIONS on yet another wonderfully successful Costello Fair. The smiling faces is why they do this!!! On behalf of the students, staff, PTO and parents THANK YOU for all of your hard work!!

To Keri Elliott & Kali Schmitz, thank you for taking care of the fair baskets and tickets, so much time and energy!

Keri Elliott, Melanie Lynam Harper, & Jenni Brozowski are all outgoing 5th grade families. Thank you for your dedication to our school over the years! Oh, and let's not forget the family. Keith Harper has done his share of fairs, but today he had to get a crew together to lift up a car that was stuck (you can ask him the rest of the details!!!)

To all of the families, staff and students that stepped up to volunteer, THANK YOU for saying yes! We really have something special at Costello, let's keep these traditions going!! Looking forward to next year, Morgan Bowerman and Kristen Marie Northey are ready for you help next year as they stepped up to co-chair the 2026 Costello Fair!

Check out the terrific photos on the Costello PTO Facebook page!

With the arrival of spring and warmer weather, we often see an increase in unexpected or unsafe behaviors. Our staff continues to do an excellent job reminding students of our Cardinal Traits and the importance of staying safe at school—especially keeping hands and bodies to themselves.

Still, it’s important to remember that adults may not witness everything as it happens. That’s why we’re intentionally teaching students to take ownership of their actions and play an active role in keeping themselves and others safe. Please help us reinforce the following by talking with your children.

Communicate Needs Through Words:

1. Speak Up Assertively

Students are encouraged to use their words in a clear and respectful way when something doesn’t feel right. For example:

“I don’t like it when you ________ (chase me, stand too close, etc.). Stop now or I will go to an adult.”
If the behavior continues, students are expected to walk away and ask for help.

2. Go to an Adult

If the behavior does not stop—or if a student feels unsafe or uncomfortable—they should go directly to the nearest adult for support. Adults are here to listen, help, and ensure every child feels safe.

3. Be a Problem-Solver and a Role Model

We encourage students to model safe, respectful behavior by including others, using kind words and actions, and encouraging peers to follow school expectations.

4. When you See a Problem

Be an Upstander, help encourage your friends to do the right things, OR get help, don't standby, take action, get help!

Let's all help students build confidence, strengthen relationships, and contribute to an environment that’s safe, inclusive, and fun for everyone.

Think First Be Responsible

Impulsive behavior can have lasting effects on everyone involved.
Whether it’s saying something hurtful to fit in or acting out frustrations in an unsafe way, our actions have an impact on others and how we are viewed.

That’s why it’s so important to pause, think carefully, and consider the potential consequences before we act. Consider role playing some of this.

Supporting Growth Through Accountability

When students approach an adult for help, we often ask what steps they tried first to solve the problem. This encourages reflection and empowers students to take ownership in managing peer conflict.

If a behavior continues or becomes more serious, we may use additional strategies to guide student growth. These supports are not punishments—they are teaching tools designed to help students learn from their experiences. Strategies may include:

• Reflection tools such as Think Sheets
• Office Discipline Referrals (ODRs)
• Parent communication or in-person visits
• Restitution, or making things right with others
• Safe Recess Plans
• Practice missing skills (it’s okay to be frustrated, it’s not okay to yell at others, we can take a break instead, let’s practice…” I am frustrated, can I take a walk, step away from my project, etc.?”
• Privilege loss, for safety and learning (tough on adults and kids, but it makes an impact!)
• Structured, high-energy movement or physical resets

Learning Through Mistakes

We fully expect students to make mistakes—this is a natural and important part of growing up. Just as important is helping them reflect, take responsibility, and repair any harm caused.

When we don’t hold students accountable, we risk sending the message that they aren’t capable of solving problems or learning from setbacks. This can lead to increased dependence on adults and missed opportunities for social-emotional growth. However, students who are supported in reflecting, owning their actions, and practicing better choices become more confident, respectful, and independent members of our school community.

Keep Hands and Body to Yourself

This basic school expectation is taught and reinforced from kindergarten through 5th grade—yet it remains one of the most common challenges during recess and unstructured time.

Physical aggression and verbal disrespect are serious behaviors that will not be taken lightly. Repeated incidents will be addressed in accordance with the Troy School District Code of Conduct.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for reinforcing these skills at home and helping us finish the year strong!

Our students are working incredibly hard and staying focused as they strive toward their goals on the M-STEP test. Thank you for all the ways you support them at home - by encouraging a positive mindset, making sure they're well-rested, providing a protein-rich breakfast, and sending them with charged iPads. The teachers and I are so proud; it's clear they’re putting in their best efforts!

We are preparing to celebrate the wonderful staff at Costello and need your help.

Please use the sign up genius link to donate items or gift cards is below. Most items need to be dropped off by the end of this week, May 2nd.

Please click on the sign-up genius link below for details. If you prefer to donate cash, drop it off in the main office this week with your name and “ Contribution to Staff Appreciation Week” written on the envelope.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040545ADAD2AA2F85-56285282-staff

Thank you for supporting our AMAZING staff!

Our Costello Kitchen Staff genuinely cares about our students by ensuring no child goes hungry!

M-STEP Testing Reminders!

As we begin M-STEP testing this week, here are a few important ways you can help your child feel prepared and confident each day:

🛌Get a Good Night’s Sleep – A well-rested brain is a ready brain!
🍳Eat a Healthy Breakfast – Include some protein like eggs, yogurt, or nut butter to fuel their focus.
🔌 Charge iPads Every Night – Make sure devices are fully charged and ready to go in the morning.
⏰ Arrive On Time – Being on time helps your child start the day calmly and without added stress.

Thank you for supporting your student’s success—we’ve got this! 💪📚✏️

Ask you child to tell you:

• What is your goal for crushing the M-STEP?
• If it is not specific help them come up with a specific strategy (re-read, stay focused, read all of the answers first, etc.)
• What did you learn in the assembly?
• How they can earn the rock wall?

The following students' art work was selected and will be on display this week at the Troy Community Center. Be sure to stop by to see all of the TSD student artwork that is featured.

5th Grade:

Audrina Northey-Eldridge

Anay Sahini-Kitchen

Zoe Cornish-Eldridge

Jackson Cheek-McKinney

Tristan Lorez-Eldridge

Edurne Hernandez-Chaparro-Kitchen

4th Grade:

Grant Peeples-Oliver

Adela Sutton-Oliver

3rd Grade:

Madeline Guzowski-Tessoff

Sophia Filimon-Dabrowska

Mila Basher-Tessoff

Tirth Sojitra-Tessoff

2nd Grade:

Riley Connelly-Busa

Ishanpranav Hariharasudhan-Maliepaard

Lucy Lu-Atkinson

1st Grade:

Dylan Jeong-Contesti

Hannah Cragg-Pustover

Kindergarten:

Charanvee Kemburu-Wonsowicz

A little twist on “Principal Story Hour,” instead the Gornick family invited their neighbors and we all enjoyed some games and pizza together. It was a wonderful way to enjoy the beautiful evening! Thank you for your support.

Olivia Evans and Kate Harper, had the privilege to serve as Costello's Principals for a Day today! It was a morning full of meetings and school visits. Ms. Evans and Ms. Harper started the day announcing the Cardinal Power ticket winners! Next a visit to the TSD Central Offices! While at Central Office, they met with a variety of people, including Superintendent Rich Machesky and Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives, Kendra Montante! They previewed an assembly at Troy Union and determined that we should bring the same assembly to Costello. After visiting Martell, Costello's twin school they had lunch at Athens Terrace Cafe. What a fun day! (Check out the fun shirts! Thank you Mrs. Waak for making these!)

Thank you to Olivia's family for bidding on the Principal for a Day at the Costello Auction! We appreciate your generous donations to support our school.

Thanks to an ongoing bottle drive and Venmo donations, some of our Cardinal families cleaned, painted repaired, and updated the Costello Staff Lounge!

Countertops were replaced, new wood shelving, and providing better lighting for our teachers. In order to achieve these goals we need your help - PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO OUR BOTTLE DRIVE (drop returnables off at 1906 Stoney Cove) AND/OR DONATING FUNDS THROUGH VENMO (to Kali Schmitz at @Kali-Schmitz ) - all donations will be greatly appreciated!

A huge thank you to Jason Harris, Amanda Harris, Jason Cornish, Mark Schmitz, Kali Schmitz, Arben Billusha, Jean-Louis Gerard, Don Northey, Jen Ford, Kiah Ford, and Steve Gornick for all of your efforts this weekend! The entire staff appreciates you taking this on!! Our staff uses this space daily! The staff lounge is used by all for lunch breaks and hitting reset throughout the day. Creating a place that is relaxing and functional makes such a difference in our day!! What a team!!!

Checkout the CostelloPTO Facebook page for a video that captured the process!

This Wednesday, April 23rd, we will be celebrating our administrative assistants, Jenny and Jillian! We are grateful for all you do and thankful to have you on our team. Your support helps everyone at Costello. Thank you for your dedication and hard work!

Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing long weekend! If you celebrate Easter, may it be filled with joy, love, and special moments with your loved ones. See everyone on Monday!

Costello's 2nd and 3rd graders, part of the Math Pentathlon Club, participated in the NATIONAL MP tournament, competing against students all across Michigan and Ohio! The kids had amazing results, and it was a very successful first season!

Results: A total of 13 students participated, with 10 of those students winning medals, and Alex Cheng (3rd grade), who won the Hall of Fame award, winning all 5 games! I'm hoping that more students will join the club in the upcoming school year for the 2025-2026 season.

I've also attached some pictures to share with the Costello school community! Also, I will return the Costello banner and leave it in the main office Thursday evening.

Thank you to Ahyoung Song for facilitating this opportunity for our students.

We will do our best to have the Central Office update on the virtual broadcast, in person is the best guarantee.

• Stay up to date on events
• Get to know other parents AND...
• Check out the phase 1 updates in our Staff Lounge. A huge shout out to our parent volunteers for your time and energy to renew our space, we are loving it!!

The district will soon begin planning for the 2025/2026 school year. Your input is needed.

Please complete your “Are you Returning” survey by next Thur., April 10. Directions below & attached.

To complete the survey, log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal: 25-26-Are-U-Returning.docx

https://ps.troy.k12.mi.us

Click “Forms” on the left side

Click “Are you Returning for the 2025-26 School Year”

Fill out form, Click "Submit" Repeat for EACH OF YOUR CHILDREN attending an elementary school.

For help e-mail: pssupport@troy.k12.mi.us.

We’re Ready to CRUSH the M-STEP! 💪📚

Our amazing 5th-grade leaders (Jack, Ryan - stepped in for Beckett F.-, A.J., Zachary, Audrina, CeCi, Kate & Olivia) kicked off an inspiring assembly for our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders! They reminded everyone to:

• Try their best

• Persevere through challenges

• Get a good night’s sleep

• Fuel up with protein (so their focus isn’t interrupted by a growling stomach!)

We also heard powerful words from Ms. McClure, Mr. Rondot, and Mr. McKinney about how to face challenges head-on with courage and determination.

Our goal? For every student to give their absolute best effort.

We wrapped up the assembly with a blast of music and a special M-STEP-themed rewrite of “YMCA”—you won’t want to miss it! (Thank you to Ms. Scarnecchia for putting the song together!)

👉 Ask your child:

• What did you learn from the assembly?

• What’s your goal for the M-STEP?

• What happens after the test if you give it your best?

Check out the PowerPoint together to spark conversation and help your test-taker feel confident and motivated!

We are excited to welcome the class of 2038 in the fall! Kindergarten Round Up was a great success. Thanks to our awesome staff for putting together a fun and informative night for our incoming Cardinals.

**this video is from last year (too cute not to share again!) some activities may be different this year**

April 14 - PTO Meeting 7:00

April 16 - District Writing Curriculum Meeting 6:30-8:00 Services Building

April 18 - No School - Good Friday

April 21 - M-STEP Begins

April 22 - Earth Day

April 23 - Administrative Assistants' Day

April 24 - Take Your Child to Work Day

April 26 - Costello Fair 11:00-3:00!

After a solid day of rain we were left with a soggy playground, but everyone enjoyed the warm weather yesterday; thankful to get outside and run in the bus loop.

The survey will open on Monday, April 7th, to complete the survey, please log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal:

https://ps.troy.k12.mi.us

Once you log in, click on the Forms navigation link on the left side:

Click on Are you Returning for the 2024-25 School Year.

Fill out the form and click Submit. Repeat this for EACH OF YOUR CHILDREN who will be attending an elementary school.

Please submit the survey no later than Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

If you do not have a login for PowerSchool, or you need assistance with logging in, please send an email to pssupport@troy.k12.mi.us.

Dear Families,

Please take a few minutes to provide feedback to the district about our writing curriculum. You can use the QR code or the link below.

WRITING SURVEY FEEDBACK LINK (same as QR code below)

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=HFsE7ftO7kaKrQXH05cAyzKYW7IKOyhCukyiTOVHiKFUOFcyN1o2WlQ4Sk1BWlZXSzQxRUtMUDUyTC4u&origin=QRCode

Also, please consider joining us on April 16th at the district services building to hear more about our writing program in TSD. We value your participation and input.

Danger, disappointment, distress, and discomfort—these are all part of life that our kids will eventually face. By shielding them from these challenges, we risk raising fragile, overly sensitive children who struggle when things get tough. Age-appropriate encounters with these "4 Ds" help prepare kids for the bigger, more complex versions they’ll face as young adults. Kids are incredibly resilient, and we need to trust them to figure things out and learn from their experiences with these challenges.

When you hear things like this from your child how are you most likely to respond?

• "I didn’t get invited to __________."

• "I wanted the other teacher."

• "I forgot my permission slip."

• (Midway through a session) "I don’t want to do __________ anymore, I’m not as good as my friends."

It’s easy to want to step in and solve the problem, but if we continuously rescue we are teaching them they can't handle hard stuff. There is a tendency to over-supervise normal childhood experiences while under-supervising their use of electronic devices. Teaching kids to navigate danger, disappointment, distress, and discomfort builds resilience, confidence, and prepares them for life’s bigger challenges.

Remember, anxious adults create anxious kids—they absorb and reflect our emotions.

Mrs. Erff and Mrs. Harrison did an autism acceptance lesson for each of the grade levels on Tuesday. Ask your child what they learned and what they did for their fingerprint project.

April 9 - Kindergarten Round Up - 6:30 - 7:30 at Costello - Bring your kindergartner!

April 14 - PTO Meeting 7:00

April 16 - District Writing Curriculum Meeting 6:30-8:00 Services Building

April 18 - No School - Good Friday

April 21 - M-STEP Begins

April 22 - Earth Day

April 23 - Administrative Assistants' Day

April 24 - Take Your Child to Work Day

April 26 - Costello Fair!

April 1 - No fooling, school resumes!

April 9 - Kindergarten Round Up - 6:30 - 7:30 at Costello - Bring your kindergartner!

April 14 - PTO Meeting 7:00

April 18 - No School - Good Friday

April 21 - M-STEP Begins

April 22 - Earth Day

April 23 - Administrative Assistants' Day

April 24 - Take Your Child to Work Day

April 26 - Costello Fair!

MRS. OLIVER'S CLASS WON "CHOOSE THE SPIRIT DAY" !!

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We value your input, please share your feedback.

The total raised by the 19th Costello Auction is around $15,000!! What an incredible effort on behalf of the Costello community and auction committee. Thank you for your generosity. Check the minutes from our PTO agenda to stay informed on the most up to date totals.

Publicity: shadow 25/26 and take over 26/27 NEED

Trunk or Treat: shadow 25/26 and take over 26/27 NEED

Treasurer nomination has been changed from Carolin Connelly to Krystle Dennison.

Auction: Rachel Misretta has offered to chair next year. Brittany Fike, Jessica Fahr, Jenna DeCarolis are interested committee members

Spirit Wear: Bidisha (1st grader next year)

Room parent chair: Erica Fiipucci and Brittany Dwyer shadow next year and take over 26/27

Thank you parents for your participation in conferences. This communication and ongoing support will help your children be the best they can be. Our staff is grateful for your partnership. Also, a huge thank you to our staff for their hard work and efforts during conferences. We have the best staff!!

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On Monday, students in 2nd through 5th grade enjoyed a great concert performed by the Larson Middle School students; former Costello students. It's amazing to see how much they've grown in just a few years. Their musical progress shows their passion and hard work."

returned to Costello to partner with our Kindergarten through 3rd grade students for March is Reading Month! The students had such a meaningful visit and it was so special to see how the elementary students responded to the middle school students.

We’re wrapping up March is Reading Month with a whole school reading celebration tomorrow. As part of the fun, students will get a small Goldfish snack after our school-wide reading time. If your child cannot have Goldfish or you’d prefer to send an alternative snack, please send it with them on Friday.

Thank you for supporting our love of reading!

Dear Parents,

As we reflect on the year, it's inspiring to see the growth and progress our students have made. They’ve been working on a wide range of skills, including math, reading, writing, fitness, mindset, self-regulation, problem-solving, stamina in writing, social interactions, communication, organization, routines, self-advocacy, and so much more. With spring upon us, this is the perfect time to pause and celebrate the strides your child has taken. Think back to the fall—look at how far they’ve come! It’s important to take a moment to recognize and celebrate their hard work, and don’t forget to acknowledge your role in their success.

One of the greatest joys of my job is working alongside families. I truly value hearing how you guide and teach your children the essential life lessons that will carry them through life.

While academic learning is essential, it’s just as important to teach life skills, problem-solving, values, and social interactions. If a child struggles with a math problem or reading, we step in to teach them. Similarly, when a child needs support in their behavior or social skills, we should approach that with the same dedication—teaching them explicitly and holding them accountable.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership. We couldn’t do the important work of nurturing and educating future generations without your care and support. Together, we’re helping our children thrive in all aspects of life.

I hope you have a wonderful spring break and can enjoy some special family time together!

The kick off assemblies this week filled the gym with excitement. The teacher and students showed off their basketball skills. Just like basketball, reading takes practice too. Thanks to our committee for planning all of the fun activities to promote reading. Be sure to check your calendars daily and participate.

Our cardinal made a special visit to the TSD preschool to read to the future cardinals this week!

#1 - Mon., March. 10: PTO Meeting @ 7:00 PM at Costello PTO Board Volunteer Opportunities: 25-March-PTO Vol Needs.docx 3/10/25 Agenda: 25-March-10-Agenda.docx Feb Mtg Minutes: 25-March10-Feb Mtg Min.docx

#2 - Conferences Wed. & Thur., March 12 & 13 Every Costello Parent needs to conference with their student’s teacher. Sign-up: http://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Costello_Elementary

#3 - Half Days: Wed. & Thur. March 12 & 13 Costello students dismissed at 12:59

#4 - All students that will be 5-yrs old on, or before, September 1 need to enroll to attend kindergarten. Please e-mail jcavellier@troy.k12.mi.us with your student’s name, date of birth, address and phone number.