This month we are focused on helping students understand that courage is not a magical remedy for fear. Instead, courage is a choice to push through fear, self-doubt, and anxiety to do things that feel hard or frightening. We are partnering with you this month to grow your child’s courage. This month’s activities will help your child understand that courage can equip them to make a positive impact at home, in school, and in the community.

Discuss having the courage to do the right thing. As a family, role-play situations with your child where they might have to demonstrate courage. For example, role-play what it would look like if they saw a friend being rude to someone else at school. What would they do? How can courage help them stand up for what is right?

Create a list of household chores. Assign the various chores to each family member. Discuss any additional tools or support needed to accomplish each job. Have a weekly family check-in to celebrate success in completing each job by taking turns giving each family member an affirmation. Rotate chores and ask what additional support is needed.

Ask each family member to share something positive they want to do but have been afraid to try. Discuss what fears are getting in the way and steps to overcome those fears. Encourage everyone to try something new this month. Don’t forget to celebrate each family member when they do!

• Think of a friend at school you consider to be courageous. What are some ways they show courage?
• Describe a time when you were fearful at school, but you were able to overcome it because of your courage. What helped you to be courageous?
• Think of a recent failure at school. What was a lesson you learned from this experience?

Visit this link for more information about this recognition:

Visit our website to stay up to date about upcoming events, lunch and breakfast menus and other important information.

At Cottonwood Elementary, we prioritize focused learning and student safety. To support this, all smart devices, including phones and smartwatches, must be powered off and kept in student backpacks throughout the school day, including during dismissal while students wait to be picked up.

This policy is in effect to minimize distractions, promote safety and encourage social interactions.

If you need to communicate with your child during the school day, please contact the front office, and we will ensure they receive your message promptly.

Thank you for helping us maintain a productive and safe environment for all students

Cottonwood has two committees that depend on the support and involvement of families. We encourage you to consider joining one of these teams. If you're interested, please reach out to the front office.

This committee is dedicated to organizing enjoyable activities, such as family and student events, fundraising efforts, and staff appreciation initiatives

This committee plays a key role in reviewing budget decisions, school-wide academic and behavior data, and setting goals for the year. It’s a great opportunity to gain insight into the decision-making process and understand how and why we implement various strategies at Cottonwood.

Cottonwood families and community,
We want to hear from you! Please let us know what we are doing well, where we can improve and if you have any safety concerns that need to be addressed. I would love to follow up with you about your input! Please include your contact information if you would like to hear from me.