Dear Cougar Families,
Happy Friday! We have had a great week at CHES! Do you know our counselor, Ms. Schwartz? She does so many cool things in our school and documents them on Instagram. She is an Instagram pro and her stories featuring our students are very cool! Follow her @ches.counselor. You won't regret it!
FYI...the John Blaine Classic Cross Country event at Colonial Hills scheduled for tomorrow at 9:00 am is canceled!
Parent Teacher Conferences, October 14-18
It's our goal to meet with the families of all of our students during conference week. Click here to sign up for a conference with your child's teacher. If there is not a time that works for you, please let your child's teacher know so that we can find a time to meet with you. We look forward to seeing you at conferences!
Book Fair
Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. And fostering a love of independent reading leads to a wide variety of benefits—including academic success and improved mental health.
Here's what you need to know:
Dates: October 14 - 17
Location: Colonial Hills Library
Hours: Students may shop during their Library class and designated Noon Option (1st - 5th Grade), Family shopping is open 2:30 - 4:00.
Want to volunteer? Check out this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084CACAA22A64-51736360-book
There's even more info on our school Fair homepage, which is https://www.scholastic.com/bf/colonialhillselemschool1
While you’re there, set up a Book Fair eWallet, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash. Then share your eWallet link so friends and extended family can add funds. When you fund an eWallet, you’ll have the opportunity to contribute to a giving initiative called Share the Fair™. Your contributions directly support our students who need help buying books from the Fair. Many of us still remember the rush of finding the perfect book at a Scholastic Book Fair. I hope you’ll join your child at our school’s Fair and share a reading experience they’ll remember forever.
Elementary Safety Drill on October 15th
The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community are always our top priorities in Worthington Schools. Research and experience show that when students and staff are well-prepared through knowledge and practice, they can respond effectively to emergency situations. This is why we continuously engage in safety routines, drills, and learning to support the safety of everyone in our schools.
Historically, our schools have participated in several important safety drills:
Fire Drills: These drills teach students and staff how to report fire hazards and safely evacuate the building using multiple exits.
Weather Drills: These drills help everyone stay calm and safe during weather-related events, such as tornadoes, by identifying and using sheltered spaces within the building.
Lock-Down Drills: These drills prepare us for situations where free movement within the school is restricted due to external disturbances or unauthorized visitors. They involve securing the school perimeter, classrooms, and common areas to keep everyone safe.
Rally-Point Drills: These drills focus on safely exiting the building in cases of emergencies like a gas leak or unsafe visitor, and moving to a predetermined safe space away from the school.
In addition to these drills, Ohio law requires public schools to conduct a "Full Scale" Safety Drill every three years. This comprehensive drill combines elements of the previously practiced drills and includes a controlled classroom lockdown, as well as a simulated evacuation to move students away from the building in the event of danger.
Our staff has been trained in the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) emergency response model, which includes additional countermeasures during a lockdown to facilitate a safe evacuation to a Rally Point. In the event of an emergency requiring relocation, students would be transported to a designated "reunification" location, with the Worthington Education Center (WEC) being our primary consideration.
In October, we will provide instructions and practice opportunities for students across our schools to prepare for a Full Scale Safety Drill. By being well-prepared for unplanned interruptions, we aim to build confidence and ensure the ultimate safety of our students. We know that when students feel safe and understand safety protocols, they can better focus on their learning.
Have great weekend!
Sherri Berridge, Principal