COLD SPRING ELEMENTARY

PRINCIPAL’S NEWSLETTER

October 29, 2009

IMPORTANT DATES

OCTOBER HIGHLIGHTS

26-30 Red Ribbon Week

Artist in Residence, Grades 3 and 4

30 Halloween Parade/Party, 1:15 Parade; 1:45 – 2:45 Party in Classroom

End of First Grading Period

NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS AMERICAN INDIAN HERITAGE MONTH

1 Daylight Savings Time Ends

2 SCHOOLS CLOSED: Professional Day for Teachers, Report Card Preparation

4 Cultural Arts Assembly, Native American Dance, K-2, 9:15am; 3-5, 10:15am

5 Book-A-Breakfast, K-2, 8:00am, APR

Fourth Grade Field Trip: Living Classroom, Willis/Sydnor

6 Fourth Grade Field Trip: Living Classroom, Cashman/Cohen

Fifth Grade Field Trip: Beall-Dawson, Sindall/McPhaul, 9:30 – 12:00

Final Frontiers, Fifth Grade Students, 1:20 – 3:00pm, APR

10 SGA Assembly, Grades K-5, 1:20 – End of Day

11 Veterans’ Day

Early Release Day, Parent Conferences, 12:35pm Dismissal

Report Card Distribution

12 Early Release Day, Parent Conferences, 12:35pm Dismissal

12 Book-A-Breakfast, Grades 3-5, 8:00am, APR

13 Deadline, Center for the Highly Gifted application

14 Blood Drive, 8:00 – 2:00pm

24 Fifth Grade Field Trip: Politics and Prose, Peterson/Sellitti, 9:30am – 12:30pm

25 Early Release Day, Thanksgiving Holiday, 12:35pm Dismissal

26 – 27 SCHOOLS CLOSED: Thanksgiving Holiday

DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

1 PTA Meeting, @7:15pm, APR, Babysitting Provided

3 PTA Reflections Breakfast, APR

Assembly: Kids on the Block, 11:00 – 11:35, Grades 3 and 4

4 Assembly: Kids on the Block, 11:00 – 11:30, Grades 1 and 2

11 First night of Hanukkah

15 Fourth Grade Field Trip: Smith Center, Cohen/Cashman

16 Fourth Grade Field Trip: Smith Center, Sydnor/Galusha

18 Latin Dance, 1:30, K-5

25 Christmas Day

26 Kwanzaa begins

Jan. 1 New Year’s Day

Dec. 24 – Jan. 3 WINTER BREAK: ALL SCHOOLS CLOSED

PRINCIPAL’S eNEWSLETTER IS HERE

Welcome to the first exclusively “e” edition of the Cold Spring Principal’s Newsletter. From hereon in, the newsletter will only be made available online via the Cold Spring web page. The biweekly newsletter will continue to update parents with time-sensitive dates and events.

HELPING HANDS HOLIDAY CHILDREN

The Cold Spring community, in conjunction with the Salvation Army, will once again participate in the Helping Hands Holiday Children program. This program provides assistance to children in need living in Montgomery County. Each class will be assigned a child in need with a wish list; this will soon be sent home with your child(ren). Please place a new, unwrapped item from the list in the large collection bag in your child’s class. The collection bags will be placed in each classroom in mid November and collected mid December. Then items will be delivered to the Salvation Army for distribution. Exact dates will be forthcoming.

If at all possible, please include your child(ren) in this gift-giving experience. If you have any questions, please contact Terri de Raet at 301-762-4762 or tderaet@comcast.net or Kasia Coulter at 301-610-6390 or mandkcoulter@comcast.net.

HELP THE HOMELESS WALKATHON SUCCESS

On Wednesday, October 14, three hundred twenty-eight (328) Cold Spring students and staff registered for and participated in a walk during the school day to raise money for the Hand-to-Hand program. The collective efforts of staff and students netted $3,806 for this cause. This walk is sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation.

Cold Spring thanks to Mrs. Pyo, Mrs. Reed, Mr. Robison, and the office staff for coordinating this event.

SGA UPDATE

The new SGA season is upon us. Mrs. Peterson has decided to lead and coordinate Cold Spring’s student government this school year. Our campaign season began with an information meeting on Wednesday, October 21^st and all prospective SGA officers have turned in their permission slips. Student election posters will hang in the hallway from November 3-7.

IMPORTANT DATES :

Nov. 3-7 Poster Hanging

Nov. 10 Election Assembly

Nov. 11 and 12 Voting

Nov. 13 Announcement of officers

Nov. 18 First SGA Meeting

HALLOWEEN HAPPINESS/SAFETY

On Friday, October 30^th , Cold Spring will be celebrating Halloween with the traditional parade and parties in the classrooms. Festivities will begin at 1:15pm, as the costumed children exit the school via the Main Office door. Photo opportunities will be available on the blacktop area of the playground during that time. Classroom parties will follow immediately. Parents and siblings are welcome.

To maximize the fun experience, we urge all students to practice safe behaviors at school and at home.

Thank you in advance for your support in this activity. We hope to see you at these fun-filled events.

WEATHER ALERT

As the summer temperatures finally fade to fall, we are reminding all parents to encourage their child(ren) to dress appropriately. Since all students will be participating in recess, it is recommended that students wear jackets or sweatshirts to school. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter!

SIDEWALK SAFETY

The beautiful September weather has resulted in a large number of students walking or riding bicycles to and from school. Therefore Officer Terese Guilday and her safety enforcers at Cold Spring would like to remind all students and their families to avoid the car entrance crosswalk. For optimal safety, all students approaching the school from Orchard Brook must make use of the sidewalk circling the parking lot to get to the school building. This rule applies to walkers and bicyclists alike. Student patrols will be stationed at regular intervals along the walkway to monitor safe behaviors as students proceed toward the various grade-level entrances.

With the cooperation of all stakeholders in this matter, Cold Spring’s slogan—“Safety Is No Accident at Cold Spring”—will continue to be the order of the day. Thanks for your understanding.

Please remember to always walk nearest to the grassy side of the walkway. In this way, students will be safe from cars pulling into parking spaces.

ABSENCE PROCEDURES

We will be implementing the Connect Ed attendance system at Cold Spring to verify student absences. It is the legal responsibility of each school to accurately report and explain student absences. Please telephone the office to report any student absence to expedite the process. If we have not heard from you by 10:00am, you will receive a computer-generated message requesting that you call school to inform us of the reason for your child’s absence.

MIDDLE SCHOOL MAGNET PROGRAMS
Mrs. Whited, school counselor, has been reviewing all middle school options with all 5^th grade students. All fifth grade students are eligible to apply. She will review the program highlights and hand out application forms to those who want them. Additionally, forms will be available online mid-October at: www.montgomeryschoolmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms .
Below are dates/times for information meetings on all magnet programs.
All application and choice forms are due November 9, 2009.
Mrs. Whited is available to parents for questions or assistance with this process.

Middle School Magnet Consortium Parent Student Information Meeting:
Norwood HS Sept. 30 7:00pm MSMC schools and choice process.

MSMC Open Houses:
Loiederman Magnet Schools for Creative and Performing Arts Oct. 15 7:00pm
Argyle Magnet School for Digital Design and Development Oct. 28 7:00pm
Parkland Magnet School for Aerospace Technology Nov. 5 7:00pm

Information Meetings:
Eastern Middle School (Humanities and Communication Arts) Oct. 19 7:00pm
Takoma Park Middle School (Math, Science, and Computer Science) Oct. 21 7:00pm

Optional Application Workshops:
at Gaithersburg HS Thursday, Oct. 29
at Wheaton HS Monday, Nov. 2

COUNSELOR’S CORNER

RED RIBBON WEEK Oct. 26 - 30

This is a time to renew our commitment to a healthy and drug-free lifestyle and show our dedication to education and prevention efforts in our schools and communities.

Red Ribbon week was established to honor Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a U.S. Drug Enforcement agent who lost his life while investigating a drug gang in Mexico. In 1986, one year after the agent’s death, angry citizens in California responded by wearing red ribbons, showing their support in the war against drugs. Red Ribbon Week quickly spread across America and celebrations take place during the last week of October.

Cold Spring will be celebrating this week as well. I will be doing classroom presentations this month focusing on how to keep us healthy.

DESTINATION IMAGINATION

Ms. Hanley, our staff coordinator for Destination Imagination, spoke with the children earlier this week at lunch time about the program.  She hopes to be able to field several teams to participate in this creative problem-solving program this year.  Each team is made up of 3-7 students guided by a team manager.  Each team also needs an adult to serve as an appraiser to help out during the tournament days.  Please talk this over with your child as soon as possible. The information packets should be coming home today. Please note the sign-up deadline of Oct. 30. 

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Hanley at school or Mrs. Christina Kyong our DI parent support, at 301-770-4026.

HONORS CHORUS AUDITIONS

All 5^th grade students in Montgomery County schools are eligible to audition for membership in the 2010 Elementary Honors Chorus. The Honors Chorus was formed in 1982 to bring together talented children of various backgrounds to study and perform choral music representing a wide variety of historical eras and cultures and to achieve the following objectives:

• To provide a challenging performance opportunity for elementary students in grade 5 with outstanding singing ability
• To help students develop and refine choral singing skills and enhance their ability to read music
• To reinforce the Curriculum Framework objectives for the elementary schools by providing opportunities for teachers to observe exemplary choral teaching techniques

Each general music/choral teacher will administer the audition to all interested students at his/her school during the school day. The audition measures each student’s ability to match pitch, sing in the treble range, maintain a harmony part, and sing a melody from notation. Students receive a numerical score for each task based on a rubric, and the students with the five highest scores will represent Cold Spring in the Honors Chorus.

Rehearsals will be held on Wednesday evenings from 7:15 to 8:45 pm at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Germantown, beginning February 3, 2010. The final concert will be held on May 5, 2010 at Wootton High School. Attendance at all rehearsals is expected. Participants are responsible for providing their own transportation

Students who would like to audition for Honors Chorus will need to have their parents sign and return a permission slip to Mrs. Minier no later than October 16. Permission forms are available in the music room.

PTA REFLECTIONS 2009 - ENTRY PACKETS DUE
The deadline for this year's Reflections Program is Friday, November 6th.  This year’s theme is “Beauty is…”.  Students may enter one or more works of art in any of six arts areas: visual arts, literature, photography, musical composition, dance choreography, and film/video production.

For additional information, contact the Reflections Chair, Jennifer Capparella, at capparella-winig@comcast.net or (301) 424-4211.

CHILDREN’S CHORUS OF WASHINGTON AUDITIONS

The Children’s Chorus of Washington (CCW) is currently holding auditions for young singers. The chorus is open to girls and to boys with unchanged voices, who are between the ages of 9 and 16.

The Children’s Chorus of Washington (CCW) is now in its 12^th year of providing children from the greater Washington area with an excellent music education program. Under the direction of Joan Gregoryk, this outstanding choral ensemble is recognized nationally and internationally for its program and artistic excellence. The chorus has performed with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall, with the Baltimore Symphony, and with many adult choral organizations in the area. The chorus has toured overseas, visiting Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, London, Wales, and South America.

This is a wonderful opportunity available to interested and talented students. Furthermore, many Cold Spring students—both present and past—are members of the chorus. If you are interested in more information about the CCW program and the auditions, please ask your child to pick p a brochure from Mrs. Minier.

FLES CLASSES BEGIN

Depending on enrolment, the following FLES language classes are slated to be offered before and after school.

Second to Fifth Graders

Spanish Level I – Wednesdays, 7:45 – 8:45am

Spanish Level II – Thursdays, 7:45 – 8:45am

Spanish Level III – Tuesdays, 7:45 – 8:45am

Spanish Level III(adv.) – Tuesdays, 7:45 – 8:45am

French Level I – Wednesdays, 3:10 – 4:10pm

French Level II – Thursdays, 7:45 – 8:45am

Kindergartners and First Graders

Spanish Intro – Tuesdays, 3:10 – 4:10pm

French Intro – Wednesdays, 3:10 – 4:10pm

Registration is currently taking place. Please do so by following the link below by simply clickig on it or cutting and pasting it into the web address:

https://www.registrationheadquarters.com/events/?a6dd88e861b6400e88496b2ff3886a

For further information, please contact Cold Spring’s coordinator—Mr. Marlon Bernal.

SCHOOL INFORMATION

FIRST GRADING PERIOD ENDS Oct.30
Please note that the first marking period ends on Friday, October 30^th . Report cards will be distributed to all students in grades 1-5 on November 11^th.

BOOK-A-BREAKFAST: K-2 GRADES Nov. 5
The Cold Spring PTA will sponsor its first Book-A-Breakfast on Thursday, November 5^th in the All- Purpose Room. The breakfast will be held from 8 – 8:45am. We hope to see all our K-2 students there!!

BOOK-A-BREAKFAST: 3-5 GRADES Nov. 12
The Cold Spring PTA will sponsor its second Book-A-Breakfast on Thursday, November12^th in the All- Purpose Room. The breakfast will be held from 8 – 8:45am. We hope to see all our 3, 4, and 5 students there!!

REPORT CARD PREPARATION/PARENT CONFERENCES

MCPS has designated November 2 as a report card preparation date. Therefore, all MCPS schools will be closed for students in grades K- 12 on that date.

In addition, MCPS has set aside the afternoons of November 11 and 12 as parent conference times. Your child(ren)’s teacher will be sending home reminders to you as to the date and time of your individual conference. The parent conference will be held in lieu of written first quarter report card comments.

Please note these important dates and plan accordingly.

CENTER FOR THE HIGHLY GIFTED APPLICATION Nov. 13

The Montgomery Public School system offers seven centers for the highly gifted for students entering Grade 4. These centers are designed for students whose academic needs for advanced instruction may not easily be met in their local school. Cold Spring houses one such center. For more information about the centers and the application and testing process, please contact the school, visit www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/enriched or call 301-592-2040.

If you are interested in having your child considered for the Center for the Highly Gifted, please complete the application and return it by November 13, 2009. If you have not received an application and would like for your child to apply to the program, please access the application from the web site at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/specialprograms/.

Parents of present third graders who would like to have their child screened/tested for the Center for the Highly Gifted should follow the timeline below:

September 25- October 2, 2009 Highly Gifted Center applications/information mailed home to all Grade 3 students

November 13, 2009 Deadline for parents to submit completed applications to the school

December 14, 2009 Deadline for schools to submit completed applications to the

Department of Accelerated & Enriched Instruction

January 6, 2010 Testing occurs at the local elementary school

BLOOD DRIVE Nov. 14

As the winter holidays are rapidly approaching, let’s all do something to give back to our community.  Cold Spring Elementary will hold its annual Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, November 14th.  Donations may be made from 9:00am until 1:00pm and appointments are strongly recommended, however, walk-ins are welcome.  You must be at least 17 years old (16 with written parental consent) and 110lbs. to donate.   Ninety-five percent of the population will need a blood transfusion within their lifetime.  Only 5% of the eligible public actually donates.  Your donation will help up to 3 people.   To make an appointment please contact Deborah Altman at altman.deborah@gmail.com.  For more information on blood donation, contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

PTA MEETING SCHEDULED Dec. 1
Cold Spring’s next PTA meeting for the 2009– 2010 school year will be held on Tuesday, December 1. The meeting will begin at 7:15pm sharp. Babysitting services will be provided.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

Box Tops for Education is a school fundraising program supported by General Mills that has helped America’s schools raise over $200 million. The Box Tops for Education program offers schools an easy way to earn cash through everyday activities like buying groceries or shopping online. Schools can raise a total of up to $60,000 each year.

Clip Box Tops from participating Box Tops products and drop them in your class box at Cold Spring so they can be collected and redeemed. Each Box Top is worth 10 cents to Cold Spring! For a complete list of the hundreds of participating products, visit www.boxtops4education.com.

RECYCLE YOUR CARTRIDGES AND CELL PHONES

Your used printer cartridges and cell phones can make a difference. Cold Spring just started a new recycling program through Funding Factory by collecting used inkjet and laser printer cartridges and cell phones. To contribute to the recycling effort, please deliver your items to one of the bins located in the hallway outside of the teachers’ lounge.

GIANT BONUS $$$$

Giant A+ Bonusbucks program is running again this year. The program begins October 9, 2009 and runs through March 25, 2010.Giant customers can help our school earn cash each time they shop using their BonusCard. All you need to do is designate Cold Spring Elementary School as the recipient school. This can be done on-line by visiting the Giant website http://www.giantfood.com/aplus or by calling 1-877-366-2668. Our school ID is 00749. Please note that you need to re-designate Cold Spring even if you had designated us last year.

SAFEWAY ESCRIP PROGRAM

Safeway’s “escrip” program is once again up and running. Operating in much the same manner as the Giant Bonus Bucks program, Safeway’s program requires you to sign up online at www.escrip.com . Our school ID is 6489882.

TARGET

Use your Target Visa or REDcard when you shop at Target and support Cold Spring. Cold Spring ID: 58117.

Just visit www.target.com/tcoe, or call 1-800-316-6142 to designate our school.

HARRIS TEETER TOGETHER IN EDUCATION

If you purchase your groceries at Harris Teeter, they will contribute a portion of their earnings to Cold Spring. The Cold Spring ID is: 7901. Register at http://www.harristeeter.com/community/together_in_education/link_to_your-school.aspx.

Sincerely,

Martin J. Barnett,

Principal