Cartersville Elementary School

Happy New Year! We trust everyone had a safe and restful holiday season. We've got quite a few things coming up this month to keep our students active and engaged in their learning and school involvement. Our Career Week begins next week, and our annual Boosterthon fundraiser kicks off at the end of the month. Be sure to check out the rest of the newsletter for additional information!

As a reminder, as we return to school on Tuesday, January 7th, if your student was absent for any reason during the last week of first semester, please remember to send in a parent note. Please also remember, as the weather is changing, to send your child with a jacket/coat each day. When the temperature approaches 40 degrees during a recess block, we do our best to get our students outside to play, as play is an important part of the developmental process. It is helpful to make sure the student's name is clearly marked inside the jacket, so we can easily return it to its owner should it wander off on the playground.

We can't wait to see our students again and are looking forward to a wonderful 2nd semester!

~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.

January 7th - Students return to school for 2nd semester

January 7th - NO Purple Rain Singers rehearsal

January 7th - Art Club - Group 1

January 9th - Report Cards go home

January 9th - Math Fest practice

January 9th - Art Club - Group 2

January 13th-17th - Career Week (see below for details!)

January 13th - 5th Grade Career presentations

January 13th - Tech Club

January 13th - Board meeting

January 14th - Dress as your future career!

January 14th - NO Purple Rain Singers rehearsal

January 14th - Art Club - Group 3

January 15th - 4th Grade Career Presentations

January 15th - Community Food Pantry Drive Thru

January 16th - Dress in your future college gear!

January 16th - NEHS meeting

January 16th - Art Club - Group 4

January 17th - PTC meeting in cafeteria

January 17th - Job Shadow Day (must have completed permission form)

January 20th - MLK Day (no school)

January 21st - Art Club - Group 1

January 21st - Purple Rain Singers rehearsal

January 23rd - Math Fest practice

January 23rd - Art Club - Group 2

January 27th - School Governance Council meeting

January 27th - Tech Club

January 28th - Art Club - Group 3

January 28th - Purple Rain Singers rehearsal

January 30th - Art Club - Group 4

February 3rd - Boosterthon kick-off

Staying Healthy and Safe This Winter

The holiday season is an excellent time for celebration and relaxation, but as we move into the new year, it's important to keep health and safety in mind. Here are a few tips to help our students and families stay safe and healthy this winter:

Bicycle Safety

Riding a bike is a great way to stay active and have fun. However, safety always comes first. Here are some essential bicycle safety tips:

• Wear a Helmet: Make sure your child always wears a properly fitted helmet. Helmets can significantly reduce the risk of head injuries.
• Check Equipment: Regularly inspect the bike to ensure brakes, tires, and chains are in good working condition.
• Be Visible: Equip the bike with reflectors and lights, especially if riding in low-light conditions. Bright or reflective clothing is also a good idea.
• Follow Traffic Rules: Teach your child to obey traffic signs and signals and to ride on the right side of the road, going in the same direction as traffic.

Limiting Screen Time

After the excitement of receiving new gadgets, video games, or streaming subscriptions during the holidays, it’s easy for screen time to spiral out of control. Too much screen time can impact sleep, physical activity, and overall health. Here are some tips to help set healthy boundaries:

• Set Time Limits: Establish clear rules about how much screen time is allowed each day. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 1-2 hours of recreational screen time per day for school-aged children.
• Encourage Other Activities: Promote hobbies like reading, arts and crafts, or playing outside to reduce reliance on screens for entertainment.
• Create Screen-Free Zones: Keep screens out of bedrooms and dining areas to promote healthier habits.

Dressing for Cold Weather

Winter temperatures can be challenging, especially during outdoor recess or activities. Dressing appropriately for the cold is crucial:

• Layer Up: Use layers to trap heat. A good combination includes a base layer (like thermal underwear), an insulating layer (like a fleece or sweater), and a waterproof outer layer.
• Cover Extremities: Don’t forget hats, gloves or mittens, and warm socks to protect fingers, toes, and ears from the cold.
• Wear Proper Footwear: Choose insulated, waterproof boots to keep feet dry and warm.
• Check the Fit: Make sure clothing isn’t too tight, which can restrict circulation and make kids feel colder.

Preventing Colds and Illnesses

Winter is also cold and flu season. Here are some tips to keep germs at bay:

• Wash Hands Often: Encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after coughing or sneezing.
• Stay Hydrated: Even in colder weather, drinking plenty of water helps the body stay healthy.
• Boost Immunity: Offer a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and ensure children get enough sleep each night.
• Stay Home if Sick: If your child has a fever, cough, or other signs of illness, keep them home to rest and recover, and to avoid spreading germs to others.

By following these tips, we can ensure that students stay healthy, safe, and ready to learn in the new year.

I hope you all have a happy and healthy winter season!

Marcie Garrett, RN, BSN

Cartersville Elementary School Nurse

CES Families,

Please be on the lookout for an opportunity to complete the annual Georgia School Climate/Health Survey on behalf of Cartersville Elementary School. Students and staff will have an opportunity to complete this survey, as well. This survey takes just a few minutes and provides information to guide our continual school improvement process.

In the coming months, there will be several opportunities to donate to our school and/or our community! Please participate when and where you can. Our school and community appreciate your support!

Boosterthon - Begins February 3rd and will run through February 13th - culminating in a fun dance/DJ experience! This is sponsored by PTC and supports our students and staff including: playground purchases, inflatables at our field days, PBIS student events, STEAM purchases, DARE graduation, staff appreciation opportunities, and more!

Dancing with the Stars - Local opportunities in both January and February for events, raffles, and more that support our local homeless shelter as well as our Backpack Buddies program.

Bartow Advocates Fundraiser - This is our March fundraiser, sponsored by our National Elementary Honor Society, and supports our local Bartow Advocates for Children. It's truly kids helping kids and offers opportunities for both leadership our students to give back to their community.

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 at any time, as our students will be consistently using this space.

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 is January 17th! There will be lots of opportunities to help with our upcoming Boosterthon fundraiser! Please check the GroupMe and sign up to volunteer when you can!

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

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

Each month we will share the Capturing Kids' Hearts Newsletter for the month. Attached are the English and Spanish parent newsletters highlighting Respect - our focus for January.

This month, we’re focusing on respect, which comes in many forms: respect for life, for property, for parents, for elders, for nature, and for the beliefs and rights of others. Respect implies a certain appreciation, which makes us more aware of other people’s needs and feelings.

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