Smith School Newsletter
November 30, 2018
December 2018 Events
12/3 Chorus 8:15-8:55/Music Room
12/3 Select Band 3:15-4:45/CHS
12/4 Elementary Spelling Bee 9:30/KC
12/4 Boys Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/4 Smith Concert 7:00pm/Gym
12/5 Girls Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/5 Select Chorus 3:15-4:45/CHS
12/6 Boys Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/7 Girls Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/10 Chorus 8:15-8:55/Music Room
12/10 Select Band 3:15-4:45/CHS
12/11 Boys Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/12 Gr. 4 MGR Theater "Keepers Voice" 9:15/Cafe
12/12 Girls Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/12 Select Chorus 3:15-4:45/CHS
12/12 District Band Concert 7:00/CHS
12/13 Boys Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/13 Holiday Craft Night 6:30-7:30pm/Cafe
12/14 Girls Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/17 Chorus 8:15-8:55/Music Room
12/17 Gr. 5 & 6 to Carrier Dome 9:00-2:00
12/18 Boys Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/18 SDM Meeting 3:30-4:30/Lib
12/18 Elementary Select Chorus Concert 7:00pm/CHS
12/19 Girls Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/20 Gr. 5/P visit from Country Inn & Suites 1:15-2:00/Rm 30
12/20 Boys Basketball 3:10-5:00/Gym
12/21 Student Council Holiday Hat Day
12/21 Positivity Project Celebration 8:00-8:20/Gym
12/21 15 min. Emergency Dismissal Drill
12/24-1/1/19 NO SCHOOL - DECEMBER BREAK
Winter Concert Information

Our Winter Concert is Tuesday, Dec. 4 th at 7:00pm. Students in grades 1 and 3, 5 th and 6 th grade chorus, orchestra and band will be performing.
School Emergency Closing Info
The winter season is upon us and it is time to think about possible closures and delays due to weather conditions. Our district’s automated calling system will notify families if school is closed or delayed.  Please be certain that your phone number is current in our data base.

Local news stations will continue to provide weather updates. Stations that carry information about Cortland Schools include: WSYR-9, WTVH-5, WSTM-3, News 10 Now, WBNG, WXHC/101.5, WIII/I-100, AND WNTQ/93Q. We also maintain the latest information on our District web site:  http://www.cortlandschools.org .
In the event of a 2-hour delay, please be advised of the following information:
  • Our school building opens to students at 10:00am. Students should not arrive prior to that time as supervision is not available.
  • Morning bus routes run on a two-hour delay. If the bus typically arrives at your stop at 8:00am, it will arrive at 10:00am.
  • The YWCA Morning Childcare Program also runs on a two-hour delay. Students who regularly participate in this program may be dropped off at 8:45am.

How would a 2-hour delay or a closing affect your family? Please be sure that you have a plan in place. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Give the Gift of Attendance

This holiday season, the best gift you can give your child is a good education. And the best place to get that education is in school. Every day. On time.

Building a habit of good attendance is your child’s ticket to success in school and eventually in the workplace. Every year, absences spike in the weeks before and after winter break. We know it’s tempting to extend your vacation by a few days on either side of the holiday. We recognize that holidays are an important time for reconnecting with families far away. The costs of plane tickets often influence when you want to travel. But keep in mind the costs to your children’s education if they miss too much school. Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. So make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Give your child the gift of attendance – a habit that lasts a lifetime.
Spelling Bee News

The following students participated in the
annual spelling bee on Nov. 20 th:

Ethan Alm
Andrew Brown
Malachi Brown
Casey Camp
Lucas Fetterly
Bryce Jean-Baptiste
Olivia Johnson
Thomas Johnson
Story Pszczolkowski
Kannon Sherman
Tyler Thomas

Congratulations to Lucas Fetterly who will be moving on to the district-level spelling bee on December 4 th.

Congratulations to all and good luck Lucas!
Kudos Korner


1 st Quarter Sixth Grade Honor Roll
(Overall average of 90-100)

Makenzie Burnham
Carter Cranston
Lucas Fetterly
Karleigh Gower
Clehann Howard
Thomas Johnson
Reagan Manning
Joshua Pennock
Melody Sabin
Landon Smith
Kyle Taylor
Tyler Thomas
Carter Urtz
Calliyah VanDee
Quinn Woodard


1 st Quarter Sixth Grade Merit Roll
(Overall average of 85-90)

Ethan Alm
Erika-Linn Burdick
Matthew Casey
Mikalette Frye-Fasani
Logan LaVancha
Christopher Meredith
Adam Peterson
Emilee Wakula
Lucus West    

Congratulations to all of you!
Keep up the great work!
Student Council Happenings

The Student Council collected 225 items for their canned food drive in November. They are donating the collected items to the local Salvation Army food bank. They also collection 123 pairs of socks that will be donated to the homeless shelters.
 
Thank you to all of the families that donated to a good cause!
News From The Nurse

  • School Physicals:   NYS mandates that students in grades K, 1,3,5,7,9,11 and new to the school district have a physical on file with the school. If your child has already had a physical since September 2017, check with the school nurse to make sure the school has a copy. If your child still needs a physical this school year, be sure to make an appointment with your health care provider or let the school nurse know that you want your child to have a school physical. Physicals are done on Fridays.
 
  •  Attendance:  Please call the Nurse’s Office if your child is going to be tardy or absent and remember to send in a written excuse when your child returns.
 
  • Immunizations: Please check with your Health Care Provider to keep your child current with required vaccines.  Plan ahead – students entering 6th grade in Sept. 2019 will need the Tdap vaccine, students entering 7thgrade in Sept. 2019 will need the meningococcal vaccine. Send in proof of the vaccine received.
 
  • Please keep the Nurse informed of any phone number changes (such as: home, cell, work and emergency contacts) and any new health concerns.
 
  • Please wash & return all BORROWED clothing from the Nurse’s office.
 
  • Please check your child’s hair/head daily for any nits/lice. Treatment is necessary for live lice, then continue to comb daily with a nit comb until gone. 
 
  • Please keep your child home: 24 hours after a fever, vomiting/diarrhea, strep throat, pink eye, and impetigo.
                 
Jody Prezioso, RN – School Nurse
F.E. Smith Elementary School
Main Office: 607-758-4180
Health Office: 607-758-4184
FAX: 607-758-4189
Winter Coat and Boot Drive

Our winter coat and boot drive continues through Friday, December 7th. If you are able, please send in new or gently used winter coats and/or boots. We need coats from children's small to adult medium and boots of all sizes.

Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!
Bus Safety Tips
School bus transportation plays a critical role in the education of our nation’s students. More than 25 million children ride the yellow bus every school day. Here are some tips from the  National Association for Pupil Transportation  to keep our children safe at the bus stop as well as on the bus.
Getting Ready for School
  • Have your children put everything they carry in a backpack or school bag so that they won’t drop things along the way.
  • Encourage them to wear bright, contrasting colors so they will be more easily seen by drivers.
  • Make sure children leave home on time so they can arrive at the bus stop before it is due, ideally at least five minutes early. Running after or in front of a bus is dangerous. Read more...
Public Library
Offerings

School
Lunch Menu 
Get Social With Us @CECSD_Smith
  Stay tuned for our newsletter next month!