December 2013 CUB COURIER Cecilton Elementary School 251 West Main Street P. O. Box 27 Cecilton, MD 21913 Volume 4 Issue 11 Veterans’ Day Almost 100 Veterans and guests attended our annual th Veterans’ Day Program on November 11 . Our Veterans Day Program is always an important event. This year’s theme was “A Star-Spangled Salute to Veterans.” A Message from the Administration On behalf of the students and staff at Cecilton Elementary School we continue to graciously thank each of you for your support. November was a busy month! Families and community members joined us for parent-teacher conferences, Mrs. Klopp and several teachers and staff hosted an Intervention Night for specially invited families, our Veteran’s Day Celebration, P.T.O. sponsored Neon Nights, and the first marking period awards assemblies. Our students partnered with our PTO to collect food for those in need and our school participated in the Coats for Kids Campaign. During our first marking period awards ceremony we were presented with a plaque to display in our school and a financial donation from the George Biddle/Cecilton Schools Alumni Association, The sense of community partnership and servitude that exists at Cecilton Elementary School is amazing. Our veterans were most appreciative of the program and the reception! We would like to thank everyone who donated cookies for the reception that followed the program. The Cecilton Lions Club sponsors an adopted troop each year and the left-over cookies were packaged and sent to them. Below, please find an excerpt from a thank you letter sent to our school: “Please accept my most sincere appreciation for the outstanding Veterans Day Program that you, your staff and especially the children provide on November 11, 2013. The enthusiasm, pride, excitement, and respect demonstrated by all participants were delightful, entertaining and even emotionally moving for me and my wife.” It was obvious that this performance involved tremendous thought, time, and energy and will be a moment that I shall always treasure.” You will see pictures which will document some of the memories that were made in November and a thank you note from a community member who attended our Veteran’s Day program throughout this newsletter. We appreciate that our school family and community is willing to express concerns in order to problem solve as well as give us positive feedback when things are going well! Thank you for your continued support of Cecilton Elementary School! We hope that you take the time this month to make memories with your school, families, and friends. Happy Holidays! Mrs. Webster Mrs. Boulden Mrs. Webster Mrs. Boulden Principal Assistant Principal Our Pre-Kindergarten students salute our Veterans. Have a Safe and Happy Holiday! Cecilton Alumni Association Present Plaque and Donation at MP 1 Awards Assembly 1 Upper Bay Ruritans’ Annual Spaghetti Dinner Thank You, Thank You! On behalf of the Upper Bay Ruritan Club, we want to thank the members of our school family who supported their spaghetti dinner on th November 8 by making a delicious baked item and/or attending the dinner. The Ruritans donate $1,800 annually to our school for the Maryland Ag Lab! Yearbook News – Mrs. West The students have experienced many memorable events this school year, such as an awards assembly, school dance, Veterans Day Program, Ag Lab, and several field trips. We need your help making sure all our kids are represented in the school yearbook, so please submit pictures you have taken. Penguin Party Please join us for our annual “Penguin Party,” on th Saturday, December 7 , from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Each child will be able to make several holiday crafts, visit the face painting booth, get a holiday tattoo, make holiday cards for our soldiers, and enjoy light refreshments (powered donuts, juice, and milk). The cost for the Penguin Party is $5 per family. Do not send in any money now, please pay at the cafeteria door. We would also like pictures of the kids participating in sports outside of school (baseball, football, soccer, etc). Send them via email to cesyearbook@rocketmail.com. Copy them onto a disc marked yearbook and send it to school (put your name on the disc and it will be returned to you). Important Reminder about Birthday Treats If you will be sending in treats such as cupcakes for your student’s class, please make sure that they are store bought and have the list of ingredients on the container. Children can also participate in three estimation jar activities (free) by guessing the number of M & M’s, Hershey Kisses, and chocolate candies. Winners will receive the jars and contents. Due to several food allergies within the school, we have to closely monitor all foods that are brought in from home. Please consider alternative treats for the children such as pencils or other party favors instead of food items. Our hallway will be decorated with 14 gingerbread houses created by each homeroom. You can vote on your favorite penguin 25 cents = 1 vote. The P.T.O. Holiday Shop will also be open in the Media Center during the Penguin Party. Children can purchase their own special gifts for family and friends. If you ordered poinsettias, you can also pick them up in the Media Center. Reminder: On-line payments for Student Meals and School Fees (field trips, t-shirts, etc.) For safety and efficiency reasons, we want to reduce the amount of cash and checks coming into our schools. While the children are making their crafts or making purchases at the Holiday Shop, parents can visit the raffle table and a baked goods table for additional shopping opportunities. To register: Step 1: go to this website: http://ccps.schoolcashonline.com Step 2: Register by selecting “Get Started Now” and following the steps. Step 3: After you receive the confirmation e-mail, please select the “click here” option, sign in and add each of your students to your household account. You will need your student’s ID number which can be found on their report card. Thank you! The Penguin Party is a family planned activity and an adult must accompany all children. We hope you can join us! We hope that everyone has a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable holiday! News from our Counselor, Mrs. Price December’s character trait continues to be CARING & COMPASSION! Teachers and families should encourage children to do kind things for others and think of other people’s feelings. th For those of you who receive new cell phones for Christmas, please remember to donate your old cell phones to our school. Thanks! (We also collect, eye glasses and ink jet cartridges.) Helping the Troops!: The Lions Club and a few 5 grade students will be packing boxes for the military rd troops overseas this month on Tuesday, December 3 . If you have any non- perishable food or snack donations, please send them in with your child or place them in the box in the lobby by this day. This month, as a special treat for the troops we are also asking for homemade cookies. Thank you for your continued support for our dedicated men and women. 2