February 2021 Events
2/1 Staff Work Day- No School
2/1-2/9 Kiwanis Peanut Butter and Jelly Collection
2/1-2/15 Scholastic Book Fair
2/3 Interim Report Cards
2/8 Spirit Week Begins - Purple and White Day
2/9 BOE Meeting 6:30 p.m.
2/9 Spirit Week - Winter White Out Day
2/10 Spirit Week - Sports Day
2/11 Spirit Week -College & Career Day
2/11 PTO Meeting 7-8 p.m.
2/12 Spirit Week - Show Your Love Day
2/12 Valentines Day Classroom Parties, Afternoon
2/15 - 2/19 NO SCHOOL - February Break
2/23 BOE Meeting 6:30 p.m.
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Scholastic Book Fair
Feb. 1-14
All book orders will be mailed directly home to the students and all payments will be taken electronically through the Scholastic website.
Every purchase benefits our school- help us raise money for books and school resources.
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Student Council PBJ Drive
Student Council is holding a PBJ Drive to support the Cortland Kiwanis Club’s effort to supply the local food pantries with this basic supply. We will be collecting jars of peanut butter and jelly from now until February 10. Thank you!
FACT: In 1901, the first peanut butter and jelly sandwich recipe appeared in the Boston Cooking School Magazine of Culinary Science and Domestic Economics written by Julia Davis Chandler. She said to use currant or crab-apple jelly and called the combination delicious and as far as she knew, original.
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SchoolStore- Help Raise Funds for Essential Tools
Hello Parents,
This year we are partnering with SchoolStore.com to raise funds for essential tools our students and teachers need to succeed. SchoolStore's program is 100% online so there is no selling or handling of money or products. Your participation is easy with no more than 12 minutes of your time required, and there is a nice prize program available to make this a fun experience.
Here is all you need to do for our program to succeed.
- Go to www.schoolstore.net and sign up using our school ID: 5022
- Send form emails inviting family, friends, and co-workers to support your student.
Here are three ways your family, friends, and co-workers can help our school.
- Make a 100% tax-deductible donation to your child's classroom with the purchase of a CaringForClassrooms.org gift card for your child's teacher to use for classroom supplies and equipment.
- Renew or purchase magazine subscriptions, DVD's, cookbooks and more. We earn up to 50% of their purchase.
- Shop online with over 400 major merchants like Walmart, Kohl's, Best Buy, Disney, and more. We earn a small percentage of their purchase.
With a few minutes of your time, SchoolStore is the easiest and safest way for our teachers and school to earn money for materials to enhance your child's education.
Thank you so very much for your participation.
F.E. Smith Elementary School PTO
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Interim Report Cards
It is time for your child’s 2nd interim report card to go home.
Please take time to review the report with your child. Talk about areas of strength and areas in need of improvement. Let your child know that you support his/her efforts. Set goals with your child for the next 8 weeks. What does he/she hope to accomplish? What is the specific plan to get there and how will you track progress?
If you have questions or concerns, or just would like some more ideas about how to help your child, please contact us. We want to work with you to help your child succeed.
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Library News
4th grade students are learning how to conduct research in library class this month. We have talked about using inquiry questions to focus our search and how to use various Internet sources to locate credible information.
3rd grade students have been working on using the five-finger rule to find “Just Right” books that will challenge them when they read. If students can find a book and read the first few sentences with only 2-3 words that they do not know, then this is a good book for them to try out! The next time a student picks up a new book, try to use the rule to see if the book is going to be a challenging one to read.
Make sure that you are doing your best to take care of your Chromebooks while they are home and remember to bring them back to school! They are important tools that we will need to help us learn and we should do our best to take care of them!
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Music News
We’ve Got Rhythm!
Third and fourth graders have been focusing on rhythm since coming back to school in 2021. Students are reading, counting, playing, bouncing, and composing rhythms! We spent some time playing on small percussion instruments, but lately have been using basketballs as a fun way to learn by bouncing the rhythms that they are learning about. Third graders wrote some New Year Rhythm Resolutions, and the Fourth graders will soon be composing “Turtle Rhythms” which will be tied to some of the learning they are currently doing in Library Class.
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Chorus
A new, COVID friendly version of Fourth Grade Chorus is now taking place. Students that were interested in joining, now meet with Ms. Shelley during their lunch or recess period about twice a month to practice and are learning to sing some new songs, as well as learning about some other musical concepts that go along with their music. Students are grouped in small groups of approximately 15 students and are spaced out by 12 feet and wear masks when they sing. Third graders are now being screened for interest, and will also soon have the option to participate in a Third Grade Chorus group.
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Arrival and Dismissal Reminders
Doors open at 8:30 a.m. Students should not arrive prior to that time, as supervision is not available. Students arriving after 9 a.m. are tardy. Please send in a note or come to the office with your child.
Walkers are dismissed at 3 p.m. All walkers should go directly home.
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School Notes...
Winter is here…
Please be sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather. Unless it is extremely cold, we go outside daily for recess. On warmer days, boots are still a good idea as the playground tends to get muddy.
E-mailing Your Child’s Teacher...
Parents, please keep in mind that our teachers are very busy during the day with your children. They may not have a chance to check their email until the end of the day.
**If you have a message that they will need prior to the end of the day, please call our main office 758-4180.
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News From The Nurse
Physicals: NYS Mandate
All 3rd graders and new 4th graders are required to have a physical exam, a well-child visit. This mandate applies to all students remote and in-person. Currently, I need physicals for the third grade remote students. If your child had a well-child visit within the year, please have a copy faxed to me, or make an appointment to get a physical. School physicals are available every Tuesday morning, call for an appointment.
Reminders:
- Email the nurse if your child is absent or tardy.
- Email the nurse of new phone numbers or health concerns.
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Pack a change of clothes for unexpected spills or accidents.
- Practice social distancing and stay 6 feet apart.
- Wear a mask – wash your mask – wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes.
- Stay home if you are sick!
- All students sent home with signs of Covid-19 will require written proof of a negative test or an alternative diagnosis prior to their return to school.
Symptoms of Covid-19 Include:
fever -- chills -- cough -- sore throat -- congestion or runny nose -- headache -- muscle or body aches -- nausea -- vomiting -- diarrhea -- shortness of breath -- difficulty breathing -- fatigue -- new loss of taste or smell
Jody Prezioso, RN – School Nurse
Health Office: 607-758-4184
FAX: 607-758-4189
E-mail: jprezioso@cortlandschools.org
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Graph-Tex Apparel Orders
Apparel orders are in and can be picked up at the store on Court Street. Thank you!
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Lunch and Breakfast are Provided for
ALL Students!
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Get Social With Us @CECSD_Smith |
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Stay tuned for our newsletter next month!
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