Cartersville Elementary School

Happy October! There are lots of exciting things happening in October, so please take a few moments to read through this month's newsletter. Monday is Georgia Reads Day, with opportunities to participate in virtual state-wide events. See the flyer and website below for details! Also remember this month's Drive Through Food Pantry Pick-up is Wednesday October 2nd from 4:30-6:00. See the flyers below for more information.

We appreciate everyone's flexibility during the tropical storm. We will work to reschedule field trips and our PBIS event when we return from Fall Break. Our flu shot form due date is extended to October 7th, when we return from fall break. And our student attendance incentive for the month of October is a class popcorn party for the homeroom with the highest attendance (fewest unexcused absences). So please remember to bring a note if you are absent. We hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable break and we will see our students back on October 7th.

~Mrs. Bryant

Please see the year-at-a-glance calendar below provided at Open House with important dates for this school year. While we anticipate these dates to remain the same, please note changes could occur throughout the school year. Please be sure to reference the CES Monthly Newsletters with the most up-to-date information.

· Our school day is from 7:40-2:40. Doors open at 7:15 each morning.

· Early checkouts are not permitted after 2:10 pm for student safety.

· Please remember to send in a written and signed note for all transportation changes.

· All visitors must come through the main office and bring a photo ID to sign in.

· If your child is absent from school, a note must be turned in within 3 days of the absence. You may e-mail doctor's excuse notes to Sabrina McWhorter at smcwhorter2@cartersvilleschools.org

· All medications requiring administration at school must be brought to the school by a parent or guardian.

· No outside food or drink may be ordered and sent to the school for students; however, parents may bring food with them for a lunch visit with their child in our cafeteria.

· Be sure to check your child's grade frequently on Infinite Campus, once available. Progress reports will go home at 9-weeks, and report cards will be issued each semester.

· We kindly request all families picking their students up in cars, use the car rider line each afternoon. Car tags are available in the front office. This is for the supervision and safety of our students.

Sept 30 - Oct 4 - Fall Break - Enjoy!

October 7th - Flu shot forms due

October 7th - Tech Club
October 7th - Charleston Giftwrap Fundraiser kick-off!

October 8th - Art Club - Group 3

October 8th - Purple Rain Singers rehearsal

October 9th - 4H meeting

October 10th - Art Club - Group 4

October 11th - PTC meeting

October 14th - Board meeting at CES
October 15th - Art Club - Group 1

October 15th - Purple Rain Singers Rehearsal

October 17th - Flu shots (only for those who submitted an approved form)

October 17th - NEHS meeting
October 17th - Art Club - Group 2

October 17th - Progress reports go home (1st 9 weeks)
October 17th - District ESOL night (At CHS)

October 21st - 25th - Book Fair

October 21st - School Governance Council Meeting

October 21st - Tech Club

October 22nd - Art Club - Group 3

October 22nd - Purple Rain Singers rehearsal

October 24th - Art Club - Group 4

October 24th - Spooky Science Night - see flyer below

October 25th - Purple Rain Singers perform National Anthem at CHS football game

Oct 28th - Nov 1st - Red Ribbon Week! (see flyer below for dress-up days)

Oct 28th - Oct 30th - Challenge to Rock Eagle

October 29th - Art Club - Group 1

October 29th - Purple Rain Singers rehearsal

October 31st - Art Club - Group 2

October 31st - Fall parties (students only)

November 4th - Tech Club
November 5th - Purple Rain Singers rehearsal

November 5th - Art Club - Group 3

November 6th - Drive-Thru Food Pantry

November 7th - 4th Grade music field to the Grand Theater

November 7th - Art Club - Group 4

November 8th - PTC meeting

Our Fall Book Fair will run from October 21st-25th! It will also be open during our Spooky Science Night! We will accept the following as payment at our fair: cash, credit cards, eWallet, checks (Payable to the school). Use the link below if you would like to set up an eWallet for your child. The book fair schedule by homeroom is below. Parents are welcome to attend but will need to sign in using the kiosk in our front office. Please plan to arrive a little early and remember to bring your driver's license or ID. And thank you to Shottenkirk Honda for sponsoring our Book Fair!

E-wallet Link

Link to Book Fair Class Schedule

Is your student tech savvy? Are they interested in competing in this year's District Tech Competition on November 13th? If so, please see the competition website below. Feel free to contact our LM/IT Specialist, Mrs. Harris (hharris@cartersvilleschools.org), if you have any questions.

Link to CCS 2024 Tech Competition

Our STEAM team would love your help collecting supplies to add to our STEAM lab! If you can collect some of the items below, like toilet and paper towels rolls, cereal boxes, magazines, etc., we would love to take them off your hands! Or if you have items you're not using and could donate, like twist ties, sponges, ping pong balls etc., we would love those as well! You can send them in with your students or bring them to our STEAM Spooky Science Night!

Kids today may seem like experts at using technology, but the digital world requires all kinds of skills and habits that kids don’t just pick up as they go. Digital citizenship helps them learn those skills. Common Sense Media has created lessons that help kids develop healthy media habits and learn how to be safe online. In our Computer Science class, we implement digital citizenship lessons that focus on topics such as being kind online, how to avoid phishing scams, how to safely share information online, and good password choices; however, parents also play a big role in teaching their children how to safely navigate the digital world as well. This month we are providing you with a lesson on media balance and well-being, and we would highly encourage you to complete this short activity as a family. From phones and tablets to streaming movies and YouTube, tech and media are everywhere. Kids love easy access to shows, games, and information. Parents and caregivers love that kids can learn on the go (and stay busy when dinner's cooking). But it's easy to overdo it when the phone never stops pinging and the next episode plays automatically. Families can keep media and tech use in check by following a few simple practices. It is never too early to learn about internet safety!

"Media Balance & Well-Being"

• Family Activity (3rd - 5th Grade) (English | Spanish)

• Family Tips (3rd - 5th Grade) (English | Spanish)

This year we have seen many viruses in school so far. Most of these viruses have been respiratory and gastrointestinal in nature. We have had several cases of flu, strep throat, rhinovirus, COVID-19, rotavirus, and norovirus...just to name a few. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon when school starts and children begin to congregate together. Recently, we have received information that pertussis has become more prevalent in the community. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is spread person to person through coughing and sneezing. It begins with cold-like symptoms including cough and runny nose. The cough gets worse over 1 to 2 weeks and coughing fits may lead to vomiting. The cough may make a “whoop” like sound. The cough often gets worse at night and cough medicines are usually not helpful. Most children are vaccinated against pertussis with the DTaP vaccine; however, immunity starts to decrease over time. If your child starts to develop these symptoms, keep your child home from school and contact your pediatrician. Any time your child develops a fever or vomiting, please do not send them to school to protect the other children in their environment. Talk to your child about the importance of proper handwashing with soap and water before meals and when hands are visibly soiled. As your school nurse, I am always available to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. My job is to keep our children safe, healthy, and ready to learn.

If you have not yet turned in field trip money, we now have an online payment option. You can use the link below to pay for either 4th grade or 5th grade field trips.

https://sfnd.io/448kq

Donate at the link below or print and complete the Adopt-a-Classroom form attached below! Our teachers would LOVE your support!

https://sfnd.io/9ngnx

We would love to have you join our PTC program! There are multiple ways to be involved and support our school, and we'd love for you to be part! Our next PTC meeting will be Friday, October 11th at 8:30 in the CES cafe! We hope to see you there! There are lots of opportunities to help this month with Book Fair, Charleston Giftwrap Fundraiser and our Spooky Science night!

*Our Charleston Giftwrap fundraiser will be October 7th - 21st, following fall break!

*Please reach out to 770-891-2203 if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities!

Information went home with students before break about how every 4th grade student can access a National Park Pass for the year. See the information sent home or the link below for more details about how to take advantage of this opportunity!

Every Kid Outdoors

Cartersville Elementary School is excited to offer multiple afterschool club programs for our students. If you have questions about any of our club/programs, or are interested in sponsoring a club, please reach out to the club sponsor(s) below.

Sports Stacking - Club Contact: Coach Hynes

Technology Club - Club Contacts: Mr. Ruff, Mr. Wilson, and Mrs. Harris

Art Club - Club Contact: Ms. Turem

Student Council: Council Contacts: Ms. Turem and Ms. Gainor

Purple Rain - Club Contact: Mr. Bowman

4H - Club Contact: Mr. Ruff

NEHS - Club Contacts: Mrs. AJ Wilson and Ms. Carr

If you have not completed this step already, please complete the Annual Information Update inside the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. You will not be able to access schedules, grades, or attendance information until this step is complete. See the image below with instructions.

Payments for school nutrition accounts can be set up and accessed at www.myschoolbucks.com. Please remember to check your student's lunch balance and pay or replenish funds as needed. You can also fill out your free/reduced lunch form on MySchoolApps - Home Page. The school nutrition website and additional information can be found at https://www.cartersvilleschools.org/domain/63. If you have any questions about balances or charges or free/reduced meals you may contact Christina Nichols at cnichols@cartersvilleschools.org.

The October lunch menu can be found at: Cartersville Elementary School - MealViewer Schools

Each month we will share the Capturing Kids' Hearts Newsletter for the month. Both August and October will focus on Self-Direct. Attached are the English and Spanish parent newsletters highlighting students having self-direction and ways to support this focus at home.

This month, we’re challenging students to envision future goals and take intentional steps toward who they want to be. We are partnering with you to grow and develop your child’s ability to self-direct. We can model self-direction by celebrating the positive in each day, seeking the good in others, and emphasizing our responsibility to make positive choices.

Please visit the link below to learn how to access this voluntary opportunity.

K-12 Student Accident Insurance (kandkinsurance.com)

Our students use Clever to house most of their academic resources and this portal can be accessed from home! Attached below are instructions for how to access your child’s Clever homepage.

Email: bbryant@cartersvilleschools.org
Website: https://www.cartersvilleschools.org/ces
Location: 340 Old Mill Road, Cartersville, GA, USA
Phone: 770-382-0983