Crescent Cougar News

We are thrilled to bring back student council to Crescent Elementary this upcoming year. Student Council is an excellent opportunity for students to become leaders amongst their peers and promote a positive school culture. Students council promotes the following:

• Leadership Skills: It provides our Cougars with the opportunity to develop leadership skills by taking on roles and responsibilities. They learn how to plan, organize, and execute events and initiatives.
• Voice and Empowerment: It gives our Cougars a platform to voice their opinions and concerns, helping them feel more engaged and invested in their school community.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Working with peers on the council helps students learn to collaborate, negotiate, and resolve conflicts. These are essential skills for both academic and social success.
• School Spirit and Community: The student council will lead activities that build school spirit and a sense of community, such as fundraisers, spirit days, student stores, event promotion (flyers and announcement), playground monitor leaders, and social events.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Students involved in the council often work on solving real problems or addressing needs within our school, which enhances their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

Student Council Roles

• President (6th Grade)
• Vice President (5th-6th Grade)
• Secretary (4th-6th Grade)
• Treasurer: (4th-6th Grade)
• Class Representative (3rd-6th Grade)

Application

If your child is interested in applying for student council please complete the attached application. Applications will be made available in the classroom/front office as well:

Application Link

Timeline

Applications Due: September 6, 2024

Application Review: September 9-13th

Student posters can go up September 16-27. Only posters are allowed for candidate promotion. No prizes or giveaways are allowed.

Digital voting: September 27

First Student Council meeting will be the first week of October.

Our school is an AVID School!

AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, helps schools and teachers make learning more meaningful and engaging. Research tells us that the most powerful influence on academic achievement is a caring teacher. When students care and connect to both their learning and their teacher, they will succeed!

AVID for Elementary Schools

Putting future leaders on an early path to success in school.

AVID Elementary engages young learners and provides them with the critical skills to become confident, independent thinkers who have a thirst for learning. Teachers use AVID strategies to provide students with:

• Proven ways to succeed in school
• Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR®)
• Note-taking and time management skills
• Best ways to work together inside and outside of the classroom

Crescent Elementary’s Specific AVID Site Goal Focus

Focus on Writing

Identified Goal: Students will be supported in the pre-writing and drafting portions of the writing process by transferring critical thinking into writing.

Focus on College and Career Presence

The strong college/career-going culture on an AVID Elementary campus encourages students to think about their college and career plans. Schools cover their walls with college/career pennants and banners, and educators speak about their college experiences. Students are encouraged to wear their College gear every Wednesday!

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Ready to be a Cougar volunteer?

Each year all volunteers must complete the volunteer process through the following link: https://bit.ly/ousdvolunteer . Volunteer applications do not roll over!

We will not accept lunches if students have forgotten them at home. If a student needs a lunch, we will provide them with a school lunch.

Please be advised that the front office will no longer accept homework submissions. All students must turn in their assignments directly to their teachers in class. This policy ensures that all work is correctly accounted for and received by the teacher and instills responsibility for our students.

To help us keep track of personal items, please ensure that all lunches, lunch boxes, and sweaters are clearly labeled with your child’s name. This will significantly assist us in returning any lost items to their rightful owners and ensuring that everyone has what they need throughout the school day.

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Each month, our school conducts emergency drills. The purpose of conducting emergency drills at school is to prepare students, staff, and faculty for potential emergencies, ensuring that everyone knows how to respond quickly and safely. These drills help to:

1. Enhance Safety: Drills ensure that everyone understands the proper procedures during various emergencies like fires, earthquakes, lockdowns, or other situations that could pose a threat.

2. Reduce Panic: Familiarity with the steps to take during an emergency can reduce fear and panic, leading to a more orderly and calm response.

3. Improve Response Time: Regular drills help to streamline the process of evacuating or securing the building, improving the overall response time during an actual emergency.

4. Identify and Address Issues: Drills can highlight potential problems in the emergency plan, such as unclear instructions, inadequate exit routes, or other logistical issues, allowing us to make necessary adjustments.

5. Build Confidence: Repeated practice helps students and staff feel more confident in their ability to handle an emergency, which can be crucial in a real-life situation.

Please take a few minute to review the following drills with your child:

Each year, PTA Reflections hosts an art recognition program centered around a specific theme. Our Cougars have made significant contributions to the program with drawings and paintings, photography, video, music, dance, and storytelling. This coming year's theme for PTA Reflections is "Accepting Imperfection."

The deadline for submission to the program is Sept 26th. Encourage your Cougars to start thinking about how they can express "Accepting Imperfection" in their art!

For more information, please review the flyer that will be sent home. We can't wait to see the amazing art our Cougars create and submit!

"Accepting Imperfections is a reminder to myself that mistakes are welcome because they are a part of being human. Our flaws are as much a part of us as our strengths, so being imperfect should be perfect enough for us." - Paige Opaska, 2024 Reflections Theme Creator

For more information check the following links:

https://capta.org/programs-events/reflections/reflections-art-program-resources/

https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections

Entry forms will be sent home as well as available in the office.

All entries are due by September 26th. If you have any questions, please contact Sammie Zare at

crescent.ah.reflections@gmail.com or 951-463-2512.

Welcome Back Cougars! Now that school has officially started, why not take a break from cooking and head to Island's this Tuesday (8/27) or Wednesday (8/28) for lunch or dinner! Stop by anytime between 11am to close and 20% of your purchase will come back to Crescent! Dine-In or Take-Out applies, just mention that you are supporting Crescent Elementary! See you there!"

"Stop by the PTA table this Thursday at Back to School Night for your chance to win some really great raffle prizes! Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. See attached flyer for more details and just a few of the prizes available to win! All proceeds go toward PTA funded programs. (Cash, Venmo or Zelle accepted)"

"Ready, Set, Ninja! Have your kids get their inner ninja on while also supporting the school! On Friday, September 20th from 6-8pm for only $30, they get to have a blast while also trying out Ninja obstacles just like on the TV show! All ages welcome. Based on age and ability there is a space for our smaller ninjas. Use the links below to reserve your space now and get the waiver taken care of ahead of time."

https://ecom.roller.app/ultimateninjasanaheimhills/checkout/en-us/products?date=2024-09-20&product=1018619

https://waiver2.roller.app/UltimateNinjasAnaheimHills/home

Want Spirit Gear?

You can purchase your Crescent gear at American Casual: Click here

or at Two Giraffes Designs: twogiraffesdesigns.myshopify.com

Listed below are important announcements from previous newsletters:

• Parent and Student Handbook : Click Here
  
• Follow us on Instagram @ crescentcougars
• Volunteer Process: Please take a few minutes to complete the application using this link: https://bit.ly/ousdvolunteer
• School supply list through link tree: https://tr.ee/HCTqQlEp7k
• 6th Grade Science Camp: The cost for the week for each child is $540.00. To make it easier for parents, we split the total donation into 3 payments. The first installment of $180 was due in May, 2024. The second installment of $180 is due by Friday, September 6, 2024. The final donation balance of $180 is due no later than Friday, September 27, 2024.
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