Reaching New Heights

In a few weeks we will end our second learning quarter, begin our winter break, and begin 2023. We are proud of the growth that many of our students are making and you are a major part of this accomplishment. Our AVID strategy for the month for December and January is the JigSaw. Students are placed in groups and become experts in a topic. This is one of the most highest impact learning strategies that students can have. Please ask your students about what they are doing in class.

We also have several major events happening this month and want to make sure that you are in the loop. Our second and third graders will be going to see the Nutcracker ballet. Please join us as we have our Anti Bullying information session. Please support us as our Congaree Chorus will be performing in the Town of South Congaree Christmas Tree lighting ceremony and our students will carry the banner for the Town of South Congaree Christmas parade and ride a school bus float during the parade. We will also have our annual Christmas sing along. Check the school website calendar, Dojo, and social media for more details.

Parents please come to the school to claim clothing that has been left at school in our Baggage Claim/Lost and Found. The closet has so many jackets, coats, sweaters, and shirts that the closet is now full. We will be donating ALL unclaimed items to a local charity when we dismiss for winter break.

We thank you again for choosing Congaree as the school for your child. If you would like to serve on the Parent Teacher Organization, School Improvement Council, or donate your time, talents, and resources in other ways, please contact the main office. As always, please reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns about Congaree Elementary School. We appreciate all that you do and let's continue "Reaching New Heights" together!

Wishing you happy holidays,

Mr. Dickey

Wednesday, December 14th

Pictures must be purchased at the time of photographing. Order forms are located in the foyer area of the school.

DHEC Recommends that 5th Grade students have Vision and Hearing Screenings done as a School-based Mass Screening.

5th Grade Screenings will start in December and will be done by Nurse Ginny in the Health Room. If you do not want your child to be screened, please send something in writing. You can email Nurse Ginny at gshull@lex2.org or you can send a private message on class dojo.

The following was adapted from SC DHEC School Exclusion List:

https://scdhec.gov/health/child-teen-health/school-exclusion

1. Does your child’s illness keep him/her from comfortably taking part in activities?

2. Does your sick child need more care than the staff can give without affecting the health and safety of other children?

3. Could other children get sick from being near your child?

If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes,” please keep your child out of school or childcare.

Children with a positive COVID-19 test or monitoring symptoms at home should stay home until they have had no fever for 24 hours without use of fever-reducing medication AND improvement of symptoms AND at least 5 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

Diarrhea is defined as 3 or more loose stools in 24 hours. Students in 1st through 5th grades should stay home until diarrhea stops for 24 hours, or until a healthcare provider clears the child to return to school. Your child can return with a parent note. A medically fragile child or child who needs help with using the bathroom may need to be out of school or childcare if the diarrhea makes it hard for his or her caretakers to keep the classroom clean.

Keep your child home for a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher by mouth or 100 degrees or higher if taken under the arm. Flu, Influenza or Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) (ILI is defined as an oral temperature of greater than 100° F with a cough and/or sore throat for which there is no other known cause) A child with the flu will be excluded for a fever of 100 degrees with cough and/or sore throat until he or she is fever free for at least 24 hours without any fever medicines.

Keep children home when vomiting has occurred 2 or more times in a 24-hour period. Children should stay home for any green or bloody vomit. If the child is vomiting and also has not urinated for 8 hours the child should stay home.

If your child is missing any article of clothing, glasses, lunchbox, etc. please stop by the office to check our Lost & Found closet. Any unclaimed items will be donated to Goodwill when we dismiss for Winter Break.

Our next SIC meeting will be on Thursday, December 15th. All parents are invited to attend at 5:00 in the school library.