Centennial Blue Jays
April 2024 Newsletter
Centennial Information
Email: deb.jolda@springfield.k12.or.us
Website: centennial.springfield.k12.or.us
Location: 1315 Aspen Street, Springfield, OR, USA
Phone: 541-744-6383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentennialBlueJays
Message from Principal Hakala
Greetings, Blue Jay Families!
We hope you all had a fantastic Spring Break! We are looking forward to seeing our students again in our last trimester, well-rested and full of energy for learning!
We packed a lot into March. All month we focused on the Golden Rule – treating others as you would like to be treated. Students made the goal of 750 Golden Bucks and earned a video-watching party and popcorn. We also handed out a number of special Golden Tickets, for students who really went above and beyond.
There was also the Read-A-Thon and Bookmark Contest, led by our amazing PTO. The leading readers and earners got to go to the super fun Glow Party! Check out the results below.
Fifth grade went to the Hult Center, and fourth grade finished up their swim lessons at Willamalane. And the Eugene Jaguars basketball team joined us for a super fun assembly!
We are looking forward to more fun and learning in this last part of the school year!
Thanks for being our partners in your child's education!
Don Hakala, Principal
Important Upcoming Dates
Apr 2: 3rd grade field trip to watch the SHS Jr Orchestra
Apr 2: PTO meeting, 6 pm
Apr 3: 2nd grade field trip to the Eugene Science Center
Apr 4: 4th grade field trip to a tree farm
Apr 9: 1st Grade Concert, 6:30 pm (students arrive at 6:15)
Apr 11: Huerta/Chavez Celebration at Hamlin
Apr 12: NO early release
Apr 18: 2nd grade concert, 6:30 pm
Apr 19: PTO Family Game Night, 6:00 pm
Apr 20: PTO Blue Bag Drop-off and Donuts
Apr 25: Grades 4-5 to the Hult Center for "Into the Canyon"
Apr 25: 3rd grade concert, 6:30 pm
Apr 26: NO early release
Apr 28: PTO Family Swim Day
May 2: 4th/5th Grade Concert, 6:30 pm
Read-A-Thon Summary
Our students came close to meeting their reading goal, with a total of 125,349 minutes in 7 days! Mr. Hakala decided to don the chicken suit anyway. We raised more than $12,000 for the PTO. Overall, we had a 66% participation rate school-wide. Impressive, but we'd like to see EVERYONE participate next year!
Third grade logged the most minutes overall, with more than 28,000. Mrs Drago's class had 100% participation! This was followed closely by Mrs. Tunnell's class, with 88%. Mrs. Thomas's 4th grade class logged the most minutes as a class – and the highest donation! The top readers and earners, 73 students in all, got to participate in the Glow Party.
Top readers by grade were:
- K - Gavin
- 1st - Clark
- 2nd - Anya
- 3rd - Tempe
- 4th - Lewis
- 5th - Brooklyn
Congratulations also to the bookmark contest winners:
- K - Iris
- 1st - Eva
- 2nd - Avani
- 3rd - Angel PP
- 4th - Olivia
- 5th - Noelle
Family Game Night 6:30–8 pm
Bring your own games or try some of ours! Free popcorn and water, food and drinks from home are okay. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Friday, Apr 19, 2024, 06:30 PM
Centennial cafeteria
April Focus: Empathy
This month we are teaching students about empathy. Empathy is making an effort to understand how someone else is feeling, even when you aren't in the same situation. The expression "walking in their shoes" means that you try to see things from the other person's point of view and imagine how you would feel in those circumstances. Empathy is a skill that helps people connect with others and build relationships.
Articles about Empathy:
Videos about Empathy:
“All About Empathy” (for kids)
“Teaching Your Kids about Empathy” (for families)
Books about Empathy:
April Behavior: Grow a Positive Attitude!
The return from spring break is a great time to review school wide expectations. Teachers will be reviewing appropriate behaviors for the classroom, hallways, playground and cafeteria. Centennial students have also been focusing on starting the day strong. Many students’ day at school begins with breakfast. To start strong in the cafeteria, we ask students to enter quietly, sit in an orderly way at the first table available, and then form a calm line to dump their tray. Later in the month, students will receive special Blue Jay Bucks when they demonstrate their positive attitudes!
Stay Tuned: Kindergarten Registration
Families, you'll be hearing more soon about how to register students for school this fall. If you have an incoming kinder, please mark your calendar for our Kinder Welcome Night on May 15, from 6 to 7 p.m., and be sure to tell your friends and neighbors with littles! This will be a great opportunity to meet the teachers and learn more about kindergarten. Children who turn 5 on or before Sept. 1 are eligible to enroll in school.
March Super Students
March Super Students: Congratulations to our March Super Students: Malcolm, Raelynn N-W, Deandre, Roxy, Declan B, Calvin, Genevieve, Anya, Orian, Annalise, Gunner H, Lachlan, Desi, Aidden, Abi, Kolton A, Joshua, Mateo, Matthew, Kyson, Ella V, D'Angelo, Kailani, Mireille, Hendrick, Lorali, Kimberly G S, Hunter K, Kristina, Max L, Myaih and Alex! We are so proud of you!
Opportunities
SPARK Summer Camps: Free camps this summer, July 8 - August 1, at several elementary schools. Register here.
Willamalane Summer Camps: Registration begins April 17. Scholarships are available.
Cub Scouts: Join us to learn more about coed Cub Scouts at Centennial on April 18 at 6 pm!
Learn to Ride: April 19 at Bob Keefer. Learn more here.
KITS registration will begin on May 1. More info here. This is an amazing FREE program for incoming kinders and their families. Your child must be registered for school to be able to attend.
Our Amazing PTO
How to support our school:
- You can always get blue bags from the school office. This is an easy way to support the PTO through donations of bottles and cans. Just bring the bag to the Springfield Bottle Drop Redemption Center, scan the PTO bar code, and toss your bag.
- Watch for upcoming fundraisers, and in the meantime, volunteer!