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HELLO FROM THE LEADERSHIP TEAM
April is a beautiful time of year when we get to celebrate student work and learning through exhibitions. There is a wider movement amongst progressive Project Based Learning schools to share meaningful student learning on a wider scale. This
#shareyourlearning movement and @shareyourlearn (Twitter) are ways for us to join the movement of students immersed in project work. We hope that you join us to be a part of exhibitions -- hearing from students directly about their learning process. I encourage everyone who attends to learn from many students, not just your own, and even venture into a different grade level and hear about the amazing learning happening schoolwide. I assure you it will be time well spent. I always learn so much from the students and am amazed by their ability to articulate their learning process and "why" behind the work.
I'm back from my maternity leave and can't wait to reconnect with our school community. In the coming weeks, I'll be seeking your feedback regarding our focus on at-home reading rather than traditional homework. Be on the lookout for a quick survey on that and the results in the next newsletter. I'm deeply curious about all the ways people experience our school and am happy to connect to hear your stories. Feel free to email, call, or set up a time to meet and share your feedback. ([email protected])
A big thank you to all of the support for our upcoming auction. The community really comes together in so many ways to support meaningful student learning through this event. Thank you for the variety of ways everyone is pitching in to make this a success for our students.
Thank you all for being a part of this community! See you all at our upcoming exhibitions of learning!
Warmly,
Wendy
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Getting Ready for Next Year
Enrollment plans are being finalized for the 2018-2019 school year. Please complete the survey below and submit by April 15. If you have questions, contact Stacy at 895-2650
x 201.
School events will be added at a later date.
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Once again, the Staff vs 8th Basketball Game was well-attended and very entertaining. Over $600 was made which will help fund the 8th grade dinner dance. Thank you to everyone who participated and volunteered. It continues to be a great CCDS tradition!
Pennies for Patients ends on Friday, April 6. So far our students have brought in over $1000! A big thank you to everyone who donated and to the Leadership class and Mr. Davis for making it happen! Bring in your pennies before April 6!
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Original Artworks Fundraiser
The Original Works Fundraiser artwork and order packets were sent home last week. Check your child's backpack! If there is no art in your packet or you prefer to use something other than what has been sent home, you may use your own artwork as long as it is 8 1/2 x 11.
This is a fantastic opportunity to purchase gifts which is sure to become a special keepsake. Mother's Day is right around the corner and orders will arrive in time!
Orders are due Monday, April 9.
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March Eagle Eye Winners
Ryker Dausman
Emmet Young
Olivia Bush
Wyatt Weeks
Karsen Wear
Davis Parent
Levi Bogart
Brayden McGee
Serenity Medaris
Ronan Currie
Abby LeDuc
Daniel LeDuc
Rowan Henderson
Micah Hibdon
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Self-Portraits
Do you see a resemblance?
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Apr. 2 In Lieu Admissions Day-No School
All-School Skate 1-3 p.m.
Apr. 7 Auction for Excellence 5 p.m.
Sierra Nevada Brewery
Apr. 9 Original Works Orders Due
Apr. 10-12 Exhibition 2018
Apr. 13 Minimum Day
Apr. 16-May 15 State Testing
Apr. 20 Middle School Dance
Apr. 25 Staff vs. 8th Grade Volleyball Game
6 p.m., CCDS Gym
May 2 Minimum Day
Kindergarten Round-Up 1 p.m.
May 3 Kindergarten Round-Up 3 p.m.
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Exhibition 2018
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April 10
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Location
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3rd Grade
(Hardesty/Stivers)
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Survival of the Fittest
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Chico Creek Nature Center
5-6 p.m.
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April 11
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1st Grade
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My Country 'Tis of Thee
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Gym
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3rd Grade
(Miller)
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Adaptions/Animal
Survival
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Classroom (31)
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5th Grade
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Pop-Up Preamble Project
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Classroom (25 & 26)
MONCA on April 18, 6-8 pm
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7th Grade
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Conflict to Reawakening
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MS Common Area
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April 12
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Kindergarten
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School Yard Chickens
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Classrooms 19, 20 and 21
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| 2nd Grade |
A Night at the Museum
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Gym |
| 4th Grade |
Energy for Life
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Classrooms 27 and 28 |
| 6th Grade |
Dream Destination
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Classrooms 4, 5, 11 & 12 |
| 8th Grade |
Project Abandoned
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MS Common Area |
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Library Book Return
Believe it or not, it's heading toward the end of the school year. It's time to start making sure that CCDS library books
 are returned to the library before the end of the school year. Students will still be checking out books until the end of May, but just a reminder to keep looking around bedrooms and bookshelves to return any books that have been checked out. Thank you!
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Elementary Leadership Conference
Recently several 4th and 5th grade students attended the Elementary Leadership Conference (ELC) which was organized by leadership students from Chico Unified. Interested students completed an application and teachers then selected the students from those applications.
A few future leaders pose with their cool shirts!
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8th Grade Families
Important Information
Mark Your Calendars
May 9-10 and 16-17 Angel Island Field Trip
May 30-31 Ashland Field Trip
June 1 8th Grade Dinner Dance
Grace Community Church
June 7 Graduation 3 p.m.*
CCDS Gym
*(Graduation time has been moved up a hour due to a conflict with high school graduations)
8th Grade Graduation Photos
Prices:
8 wallets: $20
4x6: $15
5x7: $20
8x10: $25
11x14: $45
Full Resolution Digital File - $40
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STAFF VS. 8TH GRADE BASKETBALL GAME
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The Countdown Begins!
The wait is almost over! The Auction for Excellence is this
Saturday, April 7 at 5 pm.
We are coming down to the wire, but it is not too late to make a contribution to this event. We still need wine for the Wine Pull and would appreciate any bottle of wine valued at $25 or more. If you intend on donating any item, including wine, or if you need to deliver a classroom project, please do so by THIS WEDNESDAY.
Parking Space Raffle
The parking space raffle is going on now! We will be at both elementary school entry
gates before and after school
on Tuesday, Wednesday,
and
Thursday
. Tickets are $10 each. Anyone can participate, and you can purchase as many tickets as you'd like. This is your chance to snag a reserved parking space for a steal.
Help Needed
Lastly, we would appreciate your support at the auction as a runner/spotter during the live portion of the event. This is perfect if you are attending but know you won't be doing any bidding during the live portion. It's easy too: Just pick a spot to stand and help us identify paddle raisers and high bidders. Get in touch with
Irene Henkens if you can help in this or any other area.
Online Auction: April 12-16
The online auction will once again be hosted by
BiddingOwl.com. This is another opportunity to bid on some great items that were not included in the live event, including grade level buy-it-now parties. This is perfect for those who couldn't attend the auction, and a great way to get a deal on some amazing offerings. Stay tuned for more details.
Thank you to everyone for your support for this event and our school. We couldn't do it without you!
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STATE TESTING
Each spring, students in California participate in the statewide testing program, which is the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System. The tests were developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and are computer adaptive tests, which means no two students take the same test! The system bases the upcoming questions on the accuracy of the previous questions. The tests in the CAASPP System provide information to teachers, parents/guardians, and students about students' progress and readiness for college and career. In grades three through eight, students take the Smarter Balanced online tests for English language arts/literacy and mathematics. In grades five and eight, students are also tested in science.
Our testing window runs from
April 16 through May 15 during which your third through eighth grader will have a two-week window for testing. A notice will be sent home with your child explaining the specific two-week period your student will test. You can help your child perform their best by getting optimal sleep, nutrition and relaxation during this period. In addition, be sure your child is at school and on time during their testing weeks.
From the State:
CalEITC4Me is a campaign to spread awareness of the state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to benefit eligible families, increase use of the federal EITC, increase the availability of free tax preparation services, and ensure that the credit winds up in the hands of those who worked hard to earn it. The goal is to foster economic opportunity and financial security for California's working families and individuals.
News from the California Department of Education:
California now has a website designed to help communities across the state access important information about K-12 districts and schools. Called the
California School Dashboard
, the site features easy-to-read reports on multiple measures of school success, including test scores, graduation rates, English learner progress and suspension rates. The Dashboard is part of California's school accountability system based on the Local Control Funding Formula.
What's different?
In the past, accountability systems for districts and schools relied solely on test scores. But one test taken on one particular day doesn't provide a complete picture of all the ways schools are helping students succeed.
Think of it this way: You can't drive a car by only watching the speedometer. You also keep your eye on the road, check the mirrors, monitor the gas tank and pay attention if the engine light comes on. Similarly, the Dashboard provides information on different aspects of student performance, which will give a more complete picture of a school's progress. The Dashboard also reports on growth to show a school's trajectory over time.
CDE Dashboard Web page
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8th Trip to Washington D.C.
Here's a glimpse of what many of our 7th and 8th graders experienced over Spring Break!
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Thank you Chico Voters!
Th
ank you to Chico voters for passing Measure K, a local school bond. CCDS' first allocation brought some amazing improvements, including flexible classroom furniture, science equipment in middle school, and the Imagination Playground, pictured below. The students are having a great time imagining with this equipment! CCDS also has a solar installation project in the works!
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April is Autism Awareness Month!
April is World Autism Awareness Month! At CCDS we are going to
"wear blue" on Thursdays to support Autism Awareness. Please join us!
Did you know the prevalence of autism has risen to 1 in every 68 births in the U.S.?
Autism is "spectrum condition" meaning that it affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Often you can't tell by looking that someone has autism.
Autism is a complex developmental disability that impacts a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. It may impact language development, eye contact, conversation skills, executive functioning (planning/reasoning), motor skills and sensory skills.
To learn more about autism please visit:
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What is Curiosity?
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Seeking to understand
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A desire to know
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An inquisitive interest
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Searching for answers
Curiosity is a desire to investigate and seek to understand one's world. Curiosity is the springboard of learning and the engine for creativity. We often wonder about how things work, why they work, what others are thinking or feeling, and what will happen if...
Why practice Curiosity?
Curiosity can lead us to the answers we need about our world physically and socially. It pushes us to investigate and invent. It pushes us to prove, disprove and improve! When we stop asking questions, we all lose out on the ideas, creations and designs that make our world a unique and special place. At Chico Country Day, we want to encourage your child's sense of curiosity and wonder but giving them lots of opportunities to practice through inquiry, observation, analyzing, questioning, designing/redesigning, researching and challenging ideas.
Ways to engage in Curiosity at home:
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Read books! Biographies, far-away places, cultural books, and non-fiction books can spark a curiosity to know more!
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Go to museums, performances, community events and art shows
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Join organizations, clubs, and sports to become involved
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Design at home: using household items, recyclables, legos, and other building toys! Build a fort! Build a tower! Build a bridge!
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Spend time in nature exploring your backyard, a park, the creek, a lake, just about anywhere and you will find new and curious things.
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Create: music, paintings, videos, photos, drawings and sculptures
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Most importantly, encourage asking questions and DON'T tell your child the answer but help them to seek the answer.
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Middle School Prepares for Exhibition Night
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8th Grade vs Staff Volleyball Game
When -
April 25, 6-7 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.)
Where - Eagle's Nest (CCDS Nest)
Buy-It-Brick Campaign 1996-2016
In honor of our 20th anniversary last year, we are continuing our Buy-a-Brick campaign. These beautifully crafted, laser-engraved bricks are a way to celebrate your family's time on campus. This will be an on-going campaign that will not only add beauty to our campus, but will also serve as a visual history of our school and families.
There are flyers in the office, along with a sample brick. The bricks will be delivered in batches to be installed in several locations around campus. Support CCDS and honor your memories!
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We LOVE Wonder Wednesdays!
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Chico
 Country Day School
Chico, CA, 95928 
(530)895-2650
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