CGE Family News

September 2: No School (Labor Day)

September 3: Assessment days (Sign up link is in the classroom placement letter that was sent on August 15th). Please bring BACKPACK and school supplies to your scheduled assessment time.

September 4: First day of school for K-5

September 16: First Day of Pre-K

September 25: Picture Day

September 28- CGE Fun Run at OMS- More to come as this is the culmination of our Fall Fundraiser

Calendar and Schedule Updates

The latest calendar updates are available at sowashco.org/calendar.

It was great to see so many familiar faces and meet new friends at open house and the first assessment day. We are set for a great first day on September 4th.

Starting the first day of school, we will not be having adults enter with their students in the hallways for safety reasons. Instead, please say your goodbyes and hugs at the door and we will ensure a safe delivery of your child to their classrooms. Students will enter the main doors if they are car riders, and they will enter the playground doors if they are bus riders. Please note that our students are invited into the building at 8:25am and there is no supervision prior to 8:25am. Our Kindergarten teachers will meet their classes inside at the front of the building for the first two weeks of school. First through fifth grade students will go directly to their classroom. We have MANY staff members that are helping the students get to their classroom.

Our staff is committed to ensuring that students feel safe and connected at Cottage Grove Elementary. If there is something that could help your child, please make sure to connect with your child's teacher. Open communication is the key to a successful partnership.

Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

Candy Gram, Principal

Cottage Grove Elementary

In an effort to make our schools more secure, South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) is changing how families pick up their child(ren) early or drop off their child(ren) late at school as well as bringing in forgotten items.

Starting on the first day of school, items that are being dropped off for a student are to be left on the table in the vestibule of the school's main entrance. The items should be labeled with the student's full name and grade. You can push the intercom for the main office to let them know you have left an item. Office staff will collect the item and deliver it to the student.

If a family member is dropping off a child after school has started or picking a child up before the end of the day, they must press the buzzer inside the main entrance vestibule and tell the front office the name of the child they are picking up or dropping off. If you are picking up a student, please have your ID ready for verification. You will wait in the vestibule for your child to leave the building through the main office.

If you have any questions, please contact Candy Gram, building principal at cgram0@sowashco.org or 651-425-5803.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping to keep our students and staff safe.

Cottage Grove Elementary will be able to host limited lunch time visitors this year between October 7–May 2. Based on space and safety requirements, a family member listed in Parent Portal may sign up using our monthly Reservation Link to accompany their child at our guest lunch table. More information regarding the process and reservation link will be included in future newsletters.

PLEASE read below regarding drop off and pick up procedures. Help to keep our students and everyone else safe at drop off and pick up.

• Please pull your vehicle all the way forward (to the end of the parking lot) before stopping to allow your child out or in your vehicle. This means they may have to walk on the sidewalk a little further.
• Adults should remain in your vehicle at all times.
• Students should enter and exit your vehicle from the curb side. Please do not get out of your car and have them come around to the traffic side of your vehicle. This is very unsafe.
• Make sure your child has all of their belongings ready as you pull up the curb (all the way to the end or as close the next car as possible) to ensure a quick drop off or pick up.
• When pulling out or driving in the driving lane, please drive slowly and make sure you are aware of other vehicles in the lane or entering the lane.
• Please stay off of cell phones during drop off and pick up.
• Follow the directions of the adults outside to ensure safety for all.
• ONLY CROSS INTO THE PARKING LOT USING THE CROSSWALK WHERE THERE IS AN ADULT TO HELP STOP TRAFFIC.

If you are unable to follow any of the above procedures, please park your car, get out and wait on the sidewalk for your child(ren).

The 2024-25 School Supply List is linked below and is posted on the Cottage Grove Elementary webpage. Some area stores also have our lists. Families are encouraged to reuse supplies that are in good condition (backpack, gym shoes, scissors, rulers, 3-ring binders, etc.). Families in need of additional supplies can contact Desi Faletti , School Social Worker, at 651-425-5808.

This Fall, K-5 teachers will be assessing students prior to the start of school. Assessments for students in all grades K-5 will be held on August 29th and September 3rd. When you receive your class placement email, you will also receive a link to sign up online for these assessments. If you have any difficulty signing up for an assessment time, please contact the main office at 651-425-5800.

All school supplies should be brought in on the assessment day/time you choose. Please also bring your backpack so we can attach their BUS ID tag to it in the commons.

This year all students who ride the bus (except students who receive special education transportation) will have a Bus Rider ID. Using a Bus Rider ID is required to get on or off a bus. However, students will NOT be denied access to ride the bus if they forget or have misplaced their Bus Rider ID (replacement IDs can be printed if they are lost).

The goal of the new Bus Rider ID system is to increase the efficiency and safety of our bus routes. Each rider will have their ID attached to their backpack and scan it upon getting on and off the bus. Once the ID has been scanned, the driver will see the student's picture, name, and bus stop on a screen at the front of the bus. The data from the Bus Rider ID system will help track ridership trends and provide our transportation department with safety information such as who is scanned onto a bus.

• Learn how to use your Bus Rider ID
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCeJWNdD_Fs
• Learn more about the Bus Ridership ID program at https://www.sowashco.org/services/transportation#busrideid

We will be asking students to bring their backpacks to Assessment Day so that we can attach the ID's to the right strap of the student's backpack. Specialists and support staff will be in the commons to help you with this process. Click the link below for more information.

Student Bus Rider ID Card Procedure

Families will be able to sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences electronically early this fall. Families that choose not to sign up for electronic conferences will be assigned a conference date and time. The 2024-25 School Conferences will be held on the following dates:

• FALL CONFERENCES: Thursday, Oct. 10 or Monday, Oct. 14 - 3:15-7:15 pm
• SPRING CONFERENCES: Thursday, Feb. 20 or Thursday, Feb. 27 - 3:15-7:15 pm

Free School Meal Program

The Free School Meals Program begins July 1, 2023. South Washington County Schools will participate in the state funded program, which provides free meals to all students. Free School Meals entitles each student to one free breakfast and one free lunch on all in-person academic days. All items outside of the complete meal are considered ala carte purchases. These purchases require funds available in the student’s lunch account.

Qualifying families should continue to complete the Educational Benefits Application, which provides a variety of discounted or free benefits to students for field trips, athletics, instrument rentals, Kids club and more.

Students will be required to use their PIN numbers. See section under Meal Accounts on how to access your student's PIN.

The purpose of the Student Handbook and Annual Notifications are to provide a framework of resources for your experience as a student, whether you are full-time, part-time, online or in-person. This includes information so that you can develop an understanding of the general rules/expectations and guidelines, along with notification of board policy or state statute.

Items noted with an asterisk [*] indicates notice is required by State statute. Items noted with two asterisks [**] indicate notice is required by School Board policy.

Besides the policies that are included and/or referred to in this Handbook, students are expected to be aware of and to abide by all of the District's policies. All of the District's policies can be found on the District's website. Students should pay particular attention to the policies in Section 500 that specifically pertains to students. Questions regarding policies can be directed to your building administrator.

It has been a common practice to provide treats for the class in honor of a child’s birthday; however we are asking that NO EDIBLE TREATS be sent in to celebrate birthdays. We will make your child’s birthday special in the classroom without edible treats.

If you would like to send a little something to honor their day please consider an alternative birthday treat such as pencils or a book donated to the classroom. We ask that no edible treats be sent in due to varying allergy conditions and other issues related to edible treats in the classroom. Thank you for your help with following this new practice of celebrating birthdays in the classroom.

Birthday “parties” are not given in the classroom and dispersing non-edible treats is expected to take minimal time away from classroom instruction. In addition, teachers are not responsible for handing out birthday party invitations or sending email invites/RSVP reminders to the entire class. Thank you for respecting these guidelines.

PTO Meeting Calendar:

All start at 4:30 pm in the Media Center at CGE

Tuesday, Sept 10th -Tuesday, Oct 8th -Tuesday, Nov 12th - Tuesday, Dec 10th - Tuesday, Jan 14th -Tuesday, Feb 11th - Tuesday, Mar 11th - Tuesday, Apr 15th - Tuesday, May 13th

Fundraising Nights:

• Sep 10 – Noodles & Chipotle fundraiser
• Oct 1 – Culver's
• Nov 5 – Culver’s
• Dec 3 – Culver’s
• Jan 7 – Culver’s
• Feb 4 – Culver’s
• Mar 4 – Culver’s
• Apr 1 – Culver’s
• May 6 – Culver’s

Art Sparks is a once a month volunteer based art presentation and creation program. Designed to offer students more access to the arts and parents/caregivers/special people more opportunities to get in the classroom!

Sign-up online to facilitate a one-a-month art project and presentation in your child(rens) classroom. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4ca4ab2ca4fa7-classroom

To learn more about Art Sparks: https://cgeartsparks.wixsite.com/wolfpups/home

Any questions, please contact Andrea Cloutier cgeartsparks@gmail.com

South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) offers activities and classes for youth through SoWashCo Community Education. Activities and classes are conveniently offered at your child's school, partner locations within our community and online.

The latest activities and classes can be found on our website under Get Involved > Youth Activities.

Register Today for Fall Classes!

Fill your fall with SoWashCo Community Education classes and activities!

View Catalog

Register

Discover Activities Happening at Your School

Find your school's flyer at sowashco.org/flyers or on your school's website under Get Involved > Community Flyer Distribution.

Featured Course

Chess Club

Join Chess Club to play weekly, learn rules and strategies and meet other players. Chess Club is offered after school beginning the week of Sept. 16 through the week of Dec 16

• Mondays at Middleton Elementary and Nuevas Fronteras Spanish Immersion elementary schools for grades 1-5 and Newport Elementary for grades 3-5
• Tuesdays at Cottage Grove, Pine Hill and Woodbury elementary schools for grades 1-5
• Wednesdays at Armstrong and Liberty Ridge elementary schools for grades 1-5
• Thursdays at Bailey and Royal Oaks elementary schools for grades 1-5
• Fridays at Hillside Elementary for grades 1-5

Find More Classes and Activities

Resource for Families: Fall Adult Education Courses are Available

Great Rivers Adult Education Consortium offers free classes for adults age 17+:

• Learn English
• Finish your High School Diploma
• Prepare for the GED
• Take an Official GED Test
• and more

Learn More and Register at commed.sowashco.org/greatrivers

7:30 am - School office opens

8:25 am - School opens to students

8:40 am - School day begins

3:10 pm - School day ends

3:30 pm - School office closes

NOTE: The earliest students can arrive at school in the morning is 8:25 am. All students must be picked up at 3:10 pm if not riding the bus home.

Candy Gram, Principal: cgram0@sowashco.org / 651.425.5803

Pam Olson, Office Coordinator: polson@sowashco.org / 651.425.5801

Desi Faletti, School Social Worker: dfaletti@sowashco.org / 651.425.5808

Marci Patchett, School Psychologist: mpatchet@sowashco.org / 651.425.5824

School Website: https://cges.sowashco.org/

District Website: www.sowashco.org

CGES Office: 651-425-5800

CGES Attendance Line: 651-425-5806

CGES Health Office: 651-425-5802

CGES Fax Number: 651-425-5815

SoWashCo Student Information: 651-425-6218

SoWashCoTransportation: 651-425-5303

Email: cgram0@sowashco.org
Website: https://cges.sowashco.org/
Location: 7447 65th Street South, Cottage Grove, MN, USA
Phone: 651-425-5800