WEEKLY WONDERS

Week of December 2, 2024

Pictured above: On Friday, November 15th, nine of our Charles Ellis Erdkinder Band students participated in the SCCPSS All-City Band event, performing along with students from 12 other middle schools under the baton of Mr. Bryan Agan, Director of Bands at Savannah Arts Academy

Photo by: Ms. Sarah

Important Dates

Nov. 25-29- Thanksgiving Break

November 30- PTA Read-A-Thon Ends

December 3- Band/Chorus Concert

December 6-12- Book Fair

December 7- M.E.S.S. Holiday Party

December 12- Festival of Lights

December 16- JC Lewis Mobile Health Service

December 20- Donation Dress Down Day

December 23-January 5- Winter Break

January 6- Staff Planning Day

View the SCCPSS Academic calendar at this link.

View the SCCPSS Assessment calendar at this link.

PTA Read-A-Thon

The 13th Annual PTA Read-A-Thon ends November 30th. Any student who raised $100 or more will receive a gift certificate to the Scholastic Book Fair, which is scheduled for December 6-12th, in the media center.

The deadline to submit all Read-A-Thon donations is December 1st. If you need help logging the minutes that your student read on the Read-A-Thon website, you can find that information on the Ellis website.

If you don't have a student participating, you can still donate by clicking the "Make a General Donation" button on the Read-A-Thon website: https://bit.ly/2024EllisReadAThon

Contact Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com) with any questions.

Thank you for supporting our school library!

Active Military Survey

If you are an active duty military parent/guardian, we ask that you fill out this survey for the school district.

The deadline to complete the form is December 2nd.

Band/Chorus Concert

Book Fair

The Scholastic Book Fair will be in the media center December 6-12th.

On December 12th, we will be open after school until 5:30pm when the Festival of Lights begins.

You can add money to your student's eWallet at this website: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/charlesellismontessori1

For more information, visit the Ellis website.

Ms. Lisa could still use a couple of volunteers to assist with the book fair. If you are available, sign up to help at this link.

If you have any questions, contact Ms. Lisa (lisa.odonnell@sccpss.com).

School Counseling

Thank you to everyone who is supporting our Angel Tree project! Your support will help 50 students in need this holiday season. Angel Tree gifts are due wrapped and tagged with the Angel Tree number by Friday, December 6.

Please turn these into the front office to the attention of school counselors, Ms. Ava or Ms. Rebecca any time by then.

Ms. Rebecca

912-395-5470 x71201

rebecca.burkhart@sccpss.com

Ms. Ava

912-395-5470 x71243

ava.woodie@sccpss.com

M.E.S.S. Holiday Party

M.E.S.S. is seeking sponsors for their holiday party. They are asking for a $250 donation and you have no other obligation to help! This is a great tax write off if you own a business. All sponsorships go toward throwing the party and supporting our teacher accreditations.

You can become a holiday party sponsor at this link.

They are also accepting raffle items for the event.

Please reach out to Mary Britton with questions: msenseney@gmail.com

JC Lewis Mobile Health Services

The J.C. Lewis mobile health care unit will be at Ellis on Monday, December 16, from 8:15am-11:15am.

Pre-registration is required. Completed forms are due to Nurse Chris (Christine.Oboyle@sccpss.com) no later than December 6th.

You can find more information (including PDF copies of the required paperwork) on the Ellis website.

Staff Appreciation Breakfast

The PTA staff appreciation committee is hosting a potluck breakfast for school staff on Thursday, December 19th, and they are requesting your help.

If you are able to donate food or supplies, please sign up at this link.

Thank you for supporting our staff!

Grace & Courtesy Focus

Throughout the school year, Ellis has a school-wide focus on certain positive character traits. Each teacher may choose to highlight these "Grace & Courtesy" emphases differently, but as a school we follow a general common curriculum.

From November 18th-December 13th, our school-wide Grace & Courtesy emphasis is TRUST/HONESTY.

The language for identifying/naming TRUST/HONESTY from the "Self-Awakened Child" series by Jonathan Wolff:

Trust

When I say to myself, "I know I can learn to do this" -- even if it's something that is very hard for me to do-- I am Trusting myself.
When someone promises me something and I feel sure they will keep their promise, I am Trusting them.
When I do what I promise I will do, I am acting with Trust.

Honesty

When I tell myself the truth about what I think, how I feel or what I did, I am being Honest.
When I tell someone the truth about what I think, how I feel or what I did, I am being Honest.

LOPL PLAY Program

Did you know that your student has access to the Live Oak Public Library print & digital resources with their SCCPSS student ID number?

PINES Library Access for Youth (PLAY)

The PINES Library Access for Youth (PLAY) program gives students free access to public library materials and online resources to help them succeed in school. Live Oak Public Libraries (LOPL) partners with local schools to provide the PLAY program.

Student PLAY program FAQs

How to login:

PLAY account: 3-letter school district (SAV) followed by student number

PLAY password: 6-digit student birth month and year (MMYYYY)

Example:

Account: SAV1234567 (SAV is the district in all caps. 1234567 is the student number. No spaces.)

Password: 042006 (04 is birth month of April. 2006 is birth year. No spaces.)

Students have the option to change their password.

**Please Note: Your student number is available through PowerSchool. Your homeroom teacher should also be able to provide your student number to you.

PTA Membership Drive

Join the Ellis PTA at this link.

Save the Date!

Questions?

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out. You have resources available to you:

Your student's teacher
SCCPSS website
Ellis website
Fellow school community members (via "Charles Ellis Montessori Academy PTA" Facebook group- search for it and join!)