Please enjoy the latest issue of Cougars' Tale, Coebourn Elementary School monthly newsletter.
December 2015
Message from Principal Kuminka

The character word of the month is Compassion, which Coebourn students have modeled with the various local and global service projects they have participated with at school.

I would like to thank Mrs. Keefer, Mr. Carboni, and the S tudent Council for demonstrating their compassion to raise $796.15 for Unicef. This money bought two water wells and clean water for children overseas. In addition, Student Council's organization of  Operation Christmas Child was a great success. Coebourn packed and boxed 93 shoe boxes for boys and girls overseas to arrive by Christmas Day. 

Coebourn is running their annual Mitten Tree donations of hats, gloves, and scarves for the Home of the Sparrow organization. These donations benefit mothers and children in need.If you would like to participate, please have your child bring in the donation by 12/18/15 to their homeroom teacher. 

Coebourn is supporting Sun Valley's National Honor Society Neighbors helping Neighbors community donation collection. Please review the flyer at the bottom of this newsletter regarding what items can be donated. If you would like to participate, please have your child bring in the donation by 12/11/15 to their homeroom teacher.

Thank you Coebourn Families for your participation and support!
Congratulations Coebourn Elementary on your Outstanding Achievements


 2015 National School of Character


1 - Mitten Tree Begins
2 - Newspaper Club 8:20  /  Holiday Shop
3 - Picture Retakes  /  Holiday Shop
4 - 1st Grade Field Trip  /  Chorus Assembly  /  Holiday Shop
6 - Brookhaven Borough Tree Lighting  6:00pm
7-  Reading Olympics 8:15  /  Kindergarten Conferences (Regular K Class)
8 - Kindergarten Conferences (No K Class)
9 - Afternoon Conferences / 11:15 Dismissal / No AM  K
10 - Afternoon Conferences / 11:15 Dismissal / No PM K / Evening Conferences 5-8
11 - Student Council 8:15  / 11:15 Dismissal  /  No AM K - PM K Reports 8:50
16 - Newspaper Club 8:20
21 - Reading Olympics 8:15
23 - Full Day Of School
24 thru Jan. 3 -  Winter Break
Jan. 4 - School Resumes
CLASSROOM CONNECTION
Fourth Grade is FANTASTIC

Fourth grade celebrated their annual Idiom Day. We learned and discussed our favorite idioms and their meanings. The students even dressed up as the literal meanings of their favorite idioms and shared the true meaning with the class. The kids "had a ball" with it!
                

The fourth graders also took a field trip to the Franklin Institute. While there, we were able to see exhibits on the heart and brain and learn about the science behind sports. The weather show was fantastic and we learned all about clouds and storms through amazing experiments and demonstrations!


     



Computer Class Begins!          
Meet Mr. Gorniok
Dear Coebourn parents and students,
 I am thrilled to be the new computer technology teacher at Aston and Coebourn Elementary Schools. Some of you may know of me from Pennell Elementary where I taught 5th grade for the past 6 years.    Mrs. Ross will be joining me at Coebourn to teach Ms. Sullivan's class. I am eager to begin this exciting new program!
As a district we have developed a dynamic but well-rounded technology curriculum that will provide students with the necessary skills for middle school and well beyond. A few highlights of our curriculum include our Type To Learn IV program and our unit on coding. Within these units students will develop essential keyboarding skills and also establish a foundation for computer programming.
I look forward to working with you all in this exciting new program and feel privileged to teach in such an outstanding school and district.     
 Sincerely,
 Mr. Gorniok
 


Computer Class Begins!!

Meet Mrs. Ross
Hello Coebourn parents and students,
 I am so excited to be here teaching Computer Technology.  I have taught for 7 years at Parkside Elementary as a 5th grade teacher.  I have always had a love for technology and this position was a dream come true for me.  I get to do two of my very favorite things; work with children to help them learn and use technology as a tool to assist in that learning.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Ross

 
Students of the Month
WAY TO GO!!!!!

Miss Lydon AM - Lily Reed
Miss Lydon PM - Ella Kania
Miss Creighton - Kenny Watson
Mrs. Roe - Chase Jackson
Miss Sullivan - Parker Ward
Mrs. Sciecinski - Aidan Evans
Mrs. Anderson - Charlotte Falcone
Mrs. Politano - Nicole States
Mrs. Nattress -  Chase Roberts

Miss Snyder - Sebastian Graham
Miss Kuhn - Jeremy Heller
Mrs. Dever - Josh Yanonis
Mr. Senatore - Paige Keeley
Mrs. Carroll -  Katelynn Bunch
Mrs. Carey -  Charlotte Grant
Mrs. Wooleyhan - Rachel Bingeman
Mrs. Keefer - Hayden McGinnis
Mrs. Barry - Sean McGarrey

Cougar 200 Club

Congratulations to the following students who were recognized in the month of November for demonstrating one of the 3 R's  Respect, Responsibility, and Ready.

Shaun Colburn
Paige Fedena
Luca Generosi
Joey Kugelman
Gabe Griffin
Cole Palmore
Isabella Sullenberger
Kylie Swainson
Tori Burgess
Logan Coleman
Patick McAndrew
Lilly Maholik
Adrina Poehlmann
Lyla Kelly
Tyonna McCray
Nicole States
Dylan Madison

Jenna Yaworski
Jack Durkin
Elaina Carrow
Giulia Palagruto
Nicole States
Imani Hall
Nick Trasatti
Derrick Foster (2)
Julia DiNicola
Luke Barretta
Adyson McClellan
Elaina Blackstock
Ava Gillies
Riley McClellan
AJ Stone
Cole Thomas
Tyler Swallow


PTL 411
Things have been very busy with PTL. 
Thank you to Heather Karpo and her volunteers for running a successful book fair.  The students always enjoy the book fair.
The students also loved the Holiday Shop.  Thank you to Jennifer Boyer and her volunteers for taking on this fun and festive event. 
Save the date for our first Coebourn swim night at NMS on January 22. More details to come after winter break. 
The Variety Show will be here before we know it.  Kids....keep practicing!!

Thank you to everyone who helps make PTL a success.
Renee & Brandi
New Electronic Community Bulletin Board

Beginning Thursday, October 1, community flyers will go paperless for Penn-Delco.
In our continuing efforts to go paperless, improve efficiency, and extend our outreach to the Aston, Brookhaven, and Parkside communities, Penn-Delco has created an electronic Community Bulletin Board on the district website located under the "Community" tab.
 
The bulletin board will replace the distribution of hard copy flyers in the schools and is intended for use by our community public and non-profit organizations to provide families with information about upcoming events and opportunities in the community. Penn-Delco School District will not post information from for-profit organizations on its website.
 
This webpage will be accessible to the public at large via links on each school's webpage as well as the district's main webpage.
 
Requests for flyer distribution will still be submitted to the Asst. Superintendent's office for approval.

The  Guidelines for Submitting Postings to the Penn-Delco Website Community Bulletin Board are posted on the district website under the Community tab.
 
Questions? Contact the Assistant Superintendent's office at 610-497-6300, extension 1314.

CALLING All
COEBOURN READERS
 
Coebourn once again is participating in Scholastic Reading Counts! The goal of Reading Counts is to create lifelong readers by surrounding students with a wide variety of leveled literature and nonfiction texts in the classroom, in the school library, and at home. Students in 2nd grade have a goal of 20,000 words read per month, while students in grades 3-5 are set to reach 30,000 words. Every student who reaches this goal, will receive a special collectible charm from Principal Kuminka.
Students may choose an independent book and when finished,  take a ten question computerized quiz on the book. Seven out of the ten questions must be answered correctly in order for the students to pass the quiz. The total number of words for the books read will be tracked throughout the year. If the book is not a Reading Counts quiz, students may write a summary of the book to receive credit. Any student who reaches 1,000,000 words will be recognized both at school and Brookhaven Borough Council!   Stay tuned......More to come next month about READING COUNTS!! 
 
Million Word Readers 2015/2016 School Year!!!!
Kayley Sycz                                                  Julia DiNicola

Skylar Park                                                    Tyler Troutman

Benjamin Dipasquale

  




"Check Out" These Books
Recommended by
Mrs. Franscisco
Grades K- 2

Who's That Knocking On Christmas Eve
by Jan Brett
Grade 3 - 5
Shelter Dogs:
Amazing Stories of
Adopted Strays
by Peg Kehret

School Closing Information
  In the event there is a need to announce the late opening, early dismissal or school closing throughout the District,
the following resources are available to our community:
 1. Visit the District website at www.pdsd.org
 2. Watch the Penn-Delco Channel, Ch. 11 for Comcast Ch. 40 for Verizon FiOS  
 3. Call the District at (610) 497-6300 for a recorded message .
4. Listen to or view any of the following Philadelphia sources: Penn Delco closing number is 456
a. KYW News Radio or www.kyw1060.com ,
b. 6ABC or www.6abc.com
c. NBC 10 or www.nbc10.com
d. Fox 29 or www.myfoxphilly.com
e CBS3
Attention Kindergarten Parents
When school has a2 hour delay due to inclement weather, kindergarten students will follow the schedule below
A.M. Kindergarten 10:50am - 12:40 pm  /  P.M. Kindergarten   1:30pm - 3:20 pm
Thank you for your attention to this important modified schedule.
 
By Danielle Murray & Christopher Mazzino, Curriculum Supervisors
21st century learning focuses on the use of technology as a pathway into teaching and learning.
Social media and technology has changed the way educators teach, how students learn, and the way teachers and students communicate. Reading and writing, the current definition of literacy also includes the ability to learn, comprehend, and interact with technology in a meaningful way. Penn-Delco School District recognizes the importance of technology in the classroom. Sun Valley High School is well into its second full year of the 1:1 initiative providing all students with laptops. Our elementary schools are about to begin an exciting program that teaches students the foundational skills of technology.

Students in grades one through five in each of our elementary schools beginning on December 7th will be enrolled in a weekly Elementary Technology class. This class will be a part of each student's related arts cycle. The Elementary Technology class will teach foundational skills, digital citizenship, keyboarding and word processing, Excel, PowerPoint, internet browsing and queries and coding. Mrs. Mindy Ross and Mr. Christopher Gorniok, the teachers of the Elementary Technology courses, will offer students hands-on experiences with technology that will later assist them as they move through their education. Technology in the classroom can help students become capable users, information seekers, problem solvers and decision-makers.

Technology should enhance learning. Penn-Delco teachers are successfully bringing technology into the classroom by assigning online course content, using adaptive software for students with special needs, and utilizing online student assessments and other digital tools. With a click of a mouse, any student anywhere has the opportunity to learn. Technology promotes individual student instruction to meet the needs of each student and is connecting parents to teachers.
 
Notes From The Nurse

Stopping the Spread of Germs at Home, Work & School
(Information from CDC website)
  •  Get Vaccinated: The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.
  • Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
  • Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
  • Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. (Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.)
  • Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches a surface or object that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Stop the Spread of Germs.Healthy habits can protect everyone from getting germs or spreading germs at home, work, or school.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu can help slow the spread of influenza.
 FYI: Coebourn Health Screenings are scheduled for January 7th and 8th, 2015


Coebourn Elementary School
1 Coebourn Boulevard
Brookhaven, PA 19015
610-497-6300