March 24, 2023

 

COLCHESTER BOARD OF EDUCATION UPDATE 03/20/23

The Board of Education (BoE/Board) thanks the community of Colchester for their

questions and support in the 2023-24 budget process. It’s been a busy month for the

BoE. Your seven volunteer Board members have come together to listen to the

needs of students while balancing that with the needs of the rest of the community.

Previous community feedback has led us to approach this budget presentation in a

more user-friendly manner. Letter to the Community

LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT DAN SULLIVAN ON QUESTIONS POSED ABOUT BUDGET
This week I had the privilege of attending the PTO meeting at Jack Jackter and the Board of Directors meeting at Castle. At both meetings, I received quite a few questions about the budget, the budget process, and statements of concern. The letter to staff, students, and families shares questions and clarifies the answers.

COLCHESTER SCHOOLS NIGHT AT DUNKIN’ PARK - HARTFORD YARD GOATS

CPS Night @ Dunkin’ Park is happening Saturday, May 6, 2023! Game time is 6:10 p.m., and the gates open at 4:30 p.m. Spend the evening at the ballpark with friends and family with post-game fireworks. Ticket Order Deadline: April 21, 2023.


CLAIM LOST & FOUND ITEMS

Attention parents! Come and claim lost and found items by April 6, 2023. All items in the lost and found area will be donated after that date.

BUBBLEMANIA

On Friday, April 28, 2023, the Kindergarten classes will have the opportunity to see a presentation from Bubblemania. This presentation by Casey Carle combines Science, Art, and Comedy into a show for all to enjoy. All kindergarten classes will be able to see one of the two shows during the school day. We are grateful for the support of the CES PTO for helping to fund this special event. 


CES INCOMING KINDERGARTEN STORY TIME

Colchester Elementary School will host the “Kindergarten Story Time” Program for 4 and 5-year-old Colchester children who will be entering kindergarten during the 2023-2024 school year. In each of the three sessions, children will listen to books read by kindergarten teachers, while parents learn about the registration process, the kindergarten curriculum, readiness expectations, the school day, school policies, and transportation. A question and answer period will be available at each session. The children’s program will be held each month from 11:10-11:40 a.m. in the CES Media Center. Parents and children are invited to attend multiple story times. Topics for parent information change each month. No pre-registration is required. The “Kindergarten Story Time” schedule is as follows: April 4th, April 25th, and May 9th. We look forward to meeting each of you and having your children join us at CES.


JJIS PARENT PLACEMENT REQUEST FORM: 2023 - 24 SCHOOL YEAR

Although it is hard to believe, we are already thinking of and preparing for the upcoming school year! JJIS accepts parent feedback regarding any special consideration that should be made concerning placement or perceptions of a beneficial learning environment for your child. Parent Placement Request Forms are due no later than April 21, 2023.


CES CLASS PLACEMENT PARENT INPUT FORM: 2023 - 24 SCHOOL YEAR

Student placement for the upcoming school year will be a team decision based on student academic performance and needs, behavior, teacher style, service needs, and classroom designs. At CES, we welcome parent input regarding their child’s learning environment. We do not accept requests for specific teachers. Your request will be given serious consideration, however, completion of this form does not guarantee a specific class placement. CES Class Placement Parent Input Forms are due no later than May 5, 2023.


SQUARE 1 ART

It’s time to order Square 1 Art keepsakes with your child’s artwork! Use the code that came home with your child or search your child’s name on the website. All orders ship directly to you! Orders are due by April 3rd. Reach out to Kaelea Tewksbury at PTO Chairperson with any questions!

 

 

RALLY AGAINST CANCER
Colchester Public Schools is participating in the 2023 Rally Against Cancer program with the help of Bacon Academy’s Matt Parsons, to help strike out cancer for patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and provide essential research for new treatments. 

All money raised during this event goes directly to patient care and research that benefits all New England hospitals. Read the impact article!

The goal for the district is to raise at least $5000, which will go a long way to help those families in need. All donations are welcome and the more we raise as a district, we may be eligible for items such as Red Sox merchandise, player visits, and game tickets.
We will also have wonderful raffle prizes to give away for those that donate that include tickets to the Yard Goats and Norwich Sea Unicorns. 

Please check the website for more information and details on those raffle prizes.

Let’s come together as a community, celebrate the sports teams we all love, and do some good for those around us.

You can join our team to help us fundraise or make a donation to help us reach our goal. Donate $50 or more to our team and you'll receive a Red Sox Jimmy Fund hat!

LEGACY PHOTOS INFORMATION

Class photo orders were shipped directly to home addresses via USPS on February 24, 2023. The USPS window for delivery is between 10 - 14 days respectively. Please email Annette at CES at [email protected] to inquire if you do not receive your class photo or wish to confirm that you indeed ordered.

Legacy has received several requests through their Customer Care Department from parents looking for their access codes to view their student's portraits. Linked here is a graphic that can direct parents on how to access Underclassmen portraits. 

If you need more assistance you may reach Customer Care Manager, Kathy Esposito, at [email protected], or call (716) 512-6336.

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Our CPS Kindergarten Program is open to all children that turn 5 before January 1st of the year they are to attend school. There are no fees, as we are a public school. Registration will open sometime in February or March. Please check the local newspaper or see www.colchesterct.org, select the For Families tab, and the Digital Backpack page. For information on registration, select the Registration and Residency tab. Also found under the For Families tab is the school year calendar for your convenience.

FREE MEALS STARTING MARCH 1, 2023

Colchester Public Schools is pleased to announce that breakfast and lunch for all students will be free starting March 1, 2023, for the remainder of the 2022-23 school year. Each student can receive one breakfast and one lunch free each school day!  There will still be a cost for snacks, milk (separate from a meal), à la carte items, and second meals. Please note, any charges accrued on your child(ren)s’ meal account(s) will still need to be paid and cleared.

STORYTELLER VISITS CES IN APRIL

As part of Read Across CES, Storyteller Len Cabrel will be coming on April 18, 2023, for all of us to enjoy! 

GERTRUDE HAWK CHOCOLATES PICK-UP FIRST WEEK OF APRIL

Gertrude Hawk paper order forms were due March 1, the last day for online orders to qualify for free shipping to the school. Delivery: the first week of April! 

Orders placed after March 1 through March 26, 20223 will be shipped to your home (shipping fees apply). Fundraising.gertrudehawkchocolates.com, Organization #710293. Lost your form? Not sure how to create an online account? Contact Tiffany Moroch at [email protected]

MEET UP AT CRAGIN - MOMMY MIXER AND MORE

Here's your opportunity to meet with other parents at Cragin library on the second Saturday of each month through May of 2023!

A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE TEAM

When your child is absent or will be late please call the absence line at 860 537 0717 with:  

  • your child’s full name   
  • your child’s homeroom teacher   
  • the reason for the absence   

To follow up, we require written communications to excuse tardiness and absences within (10) days.

If you need to change your child's after-school transportation or wish to pick them up early, please send  A Note to the CES Office. A note is always needed and children must always be signed out through the office. In the case of an emergency change, please call the office.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

Please visit the Volunteers page @ www.colchesterct.org for more information about the application process for Colchester Public Schools.

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION

The CES PTO wants your Box Tops! Scan using the Box Top App. See the Box Tops information.