Paw Prints - Jan , 2020    
In This Issue
News from Principal Foster
Dear Cottage Grove Families:
 
We welcome in 2020 with high hopes for some more snow and warm winter days! Cottage Grove School has a great sledding hill and we are excited to use it. Please make sure students are "Winter Ready" with a jacket, snow pants, boots, hat, and gloves. 

Wisconsin School Crossing Guard Week is January 13-17. Crossing Guards help make sure our students get to school safely and on time. Give them an appreciative thumbs up when you drive by or have your child make a thank you card if she/he crosses with a Crossing Guard.

We ask that all parents sign in at the office when visiting the building, including parents dropping off a child to a classroom. 
Also, thank you for honoring our car drop off and pick up protocol, as safety is one of our biggest priorities.
 
Happy New Year!
Two Important Reminders
1. Please remind students not to bring personal items to school, like technology, toys, trading cards, or similar items.  The concern is the distraction it might cause and the worry of items being misplaced or broken. CGS might have special days students can bring personal items, but that will be clearly communicated for those days.
 

2. Please review the bus expectations with your children to ensure a safe, respectful and responsible bus ride.  The bus is an extension of the school day and SAFETY is the primary focus of CGS. Everyone deserves to ride comfortably on the bus and CGS students need to do their part!  

Notes from the Office
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Reminder:
The first morning bell is at 7:40am and the second bell at 7:45.  Students should be in their classroom and ready to start the day at 7:45.  Students may arrive at school at 7:20, when supervisors are outside.      


If your child will be absent or has an appointment, please call the office before 8:00 a.m.  We will be sure your child's teacher knows.

Pre-Arranged Extended Absence Forms:
Please remember to fill out a form if your child will miss more than 2 days in a row.  They are available online under MG Family Information, Forms For Families.

Infinite Campus:
PLEASE keep your information on Infinite Campus up to date.
Be sure to check your phone number(s) and emergency contacts.

2019-2020 Student Calendar
The 2019-2020 Student School Year Calendar is now available by clicking  here.
Save the Date!  Math Night!
Cottage Grove School and Taylor Prairie School will be hosting a combined Family Math Night at Taylor Prairie on:
 
Tuesday January 14th
 5:30 - 7:00pm
 
More details will follow soon.  We hope to see you there!
  Early Learning Fair
EARLY LEARNING FAIR - 
Monday, February 3rd, 2020

On Monday, February 3rd, 2020, the Monona Grove School District will hold its annual Early Learning Fair and Together 4 Kids Registration at Nichols School (MG District Office) in Monona. This event is a free service to families of pre-school children. Parents will have the opportunity to meet with a professional to share information about their child's development and to register for the 2020-2021 T4K program. Registration information will be sent to families in mid December.  Parents will need to schedule an appointment upon receipt of registration materials.  If you have any new neighbors with young children aged birth to 4 ½, please have them call Gina in the Early Education Office at 839-2113.

School Fee Reminder
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Just a reminder that school fees for the 2019-2020 school year ($50.00) were due September 3rd. If you need to pay fees, please do so via the IC Parent Portal, or you may bring cash/check to the CGS Office.  
 
Safety First!
Please plan for your students 
safe arrival at school!

Remember that supervision starts at 
7:20 am.  and crossing guards are not at the cross walks until 7:15 am.
 
Volunteer Background Checks

If you are planning to help in the classroom or accompany your child on a field trip, you MUST complete the on-line form here.
PTO News

January 13 Meeting

@ Taylor Prairie in the IMC at 6:30 p.m.



Scrip is one of PTO's most successful fundraising programs.  Scrip is just another way to pay for everyday purchases using gift cards in place of cash, checks and credit cards.  Scrip fundraising allows you to raise money for our school without selling anything - and it doesn't cost you a dime!  Click here for order form.
Indoor Recess
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The Lunchroom/Playground Supervisors need your help!  During the course of the school year, the students are kept indoors for recess due to the weather.  If you have any games that are appropriate for second, third, and fourth graders that you are no longer using, please consider donating them to the school to be used during those "indoor days." The games can be dropped off at the office.  Thank you so much for your consideration!
 
Geo Bee


Congratulations to CGS winner!
Lucas Jordan 

 

CGS Geo Bee Finalists


MG Hockey Youth Night
Th MG Boys Hockey team would like to invite all staff and students to Youth Night on Saturday, January 4 at Hartmeyer Ice Arena.  MV Plays at 5:30 pm and Varsity will face off against Oregon at 7:30 pm.  Come to the rink and support your MG Boys Hockey Team!
 
Classroom Counseling

Here's what's coming up next in classroom counseling lessons!

GEM
Attention parents of Girls-
 
GEM (Growing Early Minds) classes are designed to challenge and engage advanced learners finishing grades 1 through 4. Students will be exposed to advanced concepts and themes that feed their curious minds. Social and emotional curriculum components focus on fostering autonomy, encouraging development of growth mindset, and developing effective collaboration skills.  Please go here for more information.
Geo-Bee and Spelling Bee

4th grade students will get a chance to participate in the Spelling Bee in January. 
 
Please go here for the Spelling Bee.

BE BRAVE Blood Drive
BE BRAVE Blood Drive - Monday, January 20, 2020
St Patrick Catholic Church Basement (elevator on premises)
434 N. Main St.
                            11:30 AM - 05:30 PM
Someone somewhere needs your help.  
* In 2019, it is estimated that 15,780 children and adolescents ages 0 to 19 will be diagnosed with cancer and 1,190 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2019 in the United States.     
* It is estimated that there will be 1,762,450 new cancer cases (adult and child) diagnosed and 606,880 cancer deaths in the United States.
* Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed EVERY DAY in the U.S.
* Nearly 7,000 units of platelets and 10,000 units of plasma are needed DAILY in the U.S.
* The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
** For an appointment click here shorturl.at/pAEOY or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
 
** Not able to give blood, but want to help out? We are always in need of volunteers to help run the blood drive! Be Brave Volunteer Signup  https://goo.gl/QufNAS


 
Bookmobile 
Bookmobile stops in Cottage Grove on Wednesdays at the following times: 

Dublin Park - 2:00-4:00pm
Piggly Wiggly -
5:00-8:00pm
**** Want to pickup a specific Bookmobile item you found in LINKcatWe have a large collection and can't fit it all onboard at once. Please call us in advance to ensure we have your item onboard when you visit!   (608) 266-9297 ****
Area Library News
MONONA PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES



 

Storytimes. Read with a Dog, Construction Zone (LEGO), STEAM Saturdays, Nature Explorers, and more! Sign up to receive a monthly eNewsletter: Check the Events Calendaron the website or call 608-222-6127. Follow Monona Public Library on Facebook and @mononalibrary on Instagram.

Pinney Library is NOW OPEN in our INTERIM location at 211 Cottage Grove Road. For more information or updates on the progress of the new library being built at Royster Corners, visit   http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/pinney .
Visit  https://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/kids  for more information.

 
The Sun Prairie Public Library is open to everyone!  We have programs for all ages -- from babies through teens (adults, too!) and we're open 7 days a week.  Don't have a library card?  No problem!  Just bring a photo ID and we can issue you one today.  From Storytime to Legos to Gaming and more...there's always something happening at the library and you never know what you might find next!  Check our website for current program days and times: www.sunlib.org
SPPL hours: Monday through Thursday 9am-9pm; Friday 9am-6pm; Saturday 9am-5pm; Sunday 1-5pm

CGS Calendar

Keep updated on school events by clicking here
 
School Day Schedule for 2019 - 2020

First bell; students may
enter building
7:35 a.m.
Classes begin
7:45 a.m.
2nd Grade Recess
9:20 - 9:35 a.m. 
4th   Grade Recess
9:35 - 9:50 a.m.
3rd Grade Lunch and Recess
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
4th Grade Lunch and Recess
11:35 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
2nd Grade Lunch and Recess
12:25 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.
3rd Grade Recess
1:10 p.m. - 1:25 p.m.
Dismissal
  2:35 p.m.

CGS Parking Lot
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Drop Off and Pick Up:  Please use the lot closest to the building for Drop Off and Pick Up for the safety of everyone.  The far lot is busy with the buses coming in and out.

Supervision begins at 7:20am.  For the safety of your child please do not drop off before that.

If you are dropping off or picking up your student(s) without coming into the building yourself, please join the line of cars next to the curb in the lot closest to the building.  There will be supervisors along the sidewalk to help the students and direct traffic.

If you are planning to come into the building, please park your car (not along the curb) and use the crosswalk.  We ask that you escort your student(s) to and from the sidewalk.
  
We have noticed that some of our visitors have been parking in the "far" parking lot.  We, CGS Staff, park in the far lot so our visitors have closer access to the building. That is also the lot the buses use.  We welcome all visitors to park in the lot closest to the building.
School Supplies


If you need help getting school supplies for your student, please contact Kendra Atkinson.  608-839-8721
 
Student Handbook
The student handbook is located on the Cottage Grove website.  Please take some time to go over the Cottage Grove and District policies and procedures.  If you would like a printed copy, please contact the office.  You can read the handbook here.
 
Communication
CGS Website:  Click here

Monona Grove Website:  You will find all District news and information at www,mononagrove.org

CGS Monthly newsletter:  "PawPrints" is the CGS monthly newsletter put out the first week of the month.  You will receive an IC message that it is available.  Please keep your Parent updated, you will also receive other important messages via IC.

Teacher newsletters:  Teachers will send newsletters out for specific classroom news and events.
School Nutrition

You will find menus for both Breakfast in the Classroom (BIC) and Lunch on the website.
Click here
 
Notes from the Health Room

If your child has a temp, is vomiting, has diarrhea, has a rash you do not know the cause of, or has a communicable disease (such as pink eye) do not send them to school -  keep them home.

Due to latex allergies among students, staff and visitors of Monona Grove Schools, latex balloons are NOT allowed. Latex Balloons have the biggest health risk for latex allergic people because of the latex particles that become airborne and can lead to respiratory distress if breathed in. 
Please do not bring Latex balloons into school buildings and grounds. School health office/first aid supplies include non-latex gloves and band aids/tape. For more information click  
here
Lost & Found
 
"I don't know where it is"...the words every parent hates hearing! The Lost and Found has
become the dark abyss of single gloves and lonely hats (not to mention lunch bags and shoes).
 
At CGS, our collection grows quickly, and all found objects were thrown into a heap that no one would have the time to sort. This was not a helpful system for anyone. Good news, we have a new system that should be easier for students and parents to find what is missing.
 
A continual sweep will be done to gather all the left behind articles and put in the lost and found area. The Lost and Found area is now more organized. All things will be on a hanger
or in one of the blue baskets. Reminder announcements will be made for students to look in the area. The last week of the month, the carts and baskets will be wheeled into the rotunda
area to be more visible.  At the beginning of the new month, all unclaimed articles will be put in a large bin and held for one month. This bin is in the lost and found area and is labeled  for easy access. When the month is over, the unclaimed articles from the bin will be bagged and donated and the bin will be filled with the new unclaimed articles.
 
Please feel free to come in and look, or if you are unable to come during school hours call the office and we can check for you!

TIP:  MARK ALL JACKETS, SNOWPANTS, BACKPACKS AND LUNCH BOXES - ANYTHING YOU FEEL IS VALUABLE. 

 

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REMEMBER THAT EVERY WEDNESDAY IS WOLF/SPIRIT WEAR DAY!
  

January

02   Classes Resume

14   CGS/TP 
       Math Night
       5:30pm-7:00pm

15   4th Grade 
       Strings Concert
       7:00pm

20   No School

24   No School
       Inservice

28   Spelling Bee


February

04   4th Grade
       Kindness Retreat

10   Bridging Brighter
       Smiles Visit

18   3rd Grade to
       Overture Center

21   No School

24   No School
       Inservice


March

06   No School
       Inservice

12   Parent/Teacher
       Conferences
       4:00-8:00

16   District Strings   
       Festival @ MGHS
       7:00pm

17   2nd Grade
       Field Trip to
       Overture Center

19   Parent/Teacher
       Conferences
       4:00-8:00

26   Spring Music
       Concert  7:00pm

27   No School 
       Inservice

30-5   Spring Break 
 

April

06   Classes Resume

10   No School


May

13   Arts Night 
      5:00pm-7:00pm

22   No School
       Inservice

25   No School
       Memorial Day 


June

11  Last Student Day







      



       
   






















       

 
 
 
  






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