Important Dates

December 7 - PTA Holiday Craft and Fun Fair, 6-8 pm

December 14 - CET Winter Concert, Parent Performance, 8:45 am

December 24-January 1 - Holiday Recess,  school closed

January 18 -  3rd Grade Concert Parent Performance, 8:45 am

January 21 -  Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,  school closed

January 25 - Report Cards available

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CET Newsletter November 30, 2018

http://www.chufsd.org/schools/carrie_e_tompkins_es

Message from the Principal, Mrs. Kelly Maloney

Dear CET Families,

Our second-grade students performed “Around the World with CET: Africa” for the student body and their families this week! This was our first grade level performance of the school year! They showcased music and dance from five African countries: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Namibia, and South Africa. Students were involved in the selection of the countries that they wanted to study, and they were responsible for doing the research on topics such as food, landmarks, and the arts, and creating a visual display (a large paper doll). Ms. Peters, our music teacher, is continuing the “Around the World” theme as a way to promote a more inclusive, culturally responsive learning environment.  In addition to promoting cultural awareness and empathy, research skills and geography are addressed. Our third graders are currently preparing for their performance which will be in January. Ask your third grader what country they are researching. As always, thank you to the PTA and parent volunteers for their support in our grade level performances. The PTA contributes money towards costumes, props, and decorations, and the parents give their time.

Speaking of the PTA and parent volunteers, there are a few great events coming up that I hope you are able to attend. The first is the Hop Around that is happening tomorrow!  If you can’t attend, be sure to check out the raffles for sale! In an effort to support and raise money for our PTA, faculty members have generously donated their time to do something special with your child(ren). Additionally, next Friday, the PTA is hosting a Holiday Craft and Fun Night. This is a great family event-come have dinner and make some crafts. Free gift wrapping!

At the end of January, your child’s report card will be available in the eSchool Parent Portal. If you have never accessed the portal, you will need your child’s ID number to set up your account. At the start of the school year, this information was sent home to all kindergarten parents. If you need your child’s ID number you can email your contact information to parents@chufsd.org or call Jean Flandreau in our main office at 271-5184 x3215.  The portal also contains your child’s STAR Early Literacy, Reading, and Math results as well as the New York State Grades 3-8 testing results.  

Mrs. Bianchi and I will be hosting a PTA Principal’s Coffee next week on the topic of the CET school day. How do we balance academics, play, exercise, nutrition, enrichment, and more!  We will also give you an update on the extended lunch and recess time that was put into place this year as well as the future of our lunch program.

Looking for something to do?  Check out the Croton Free Library to see what programs and special events are coming up! The Westchester Winter Wonderland at Kensico Dam is a great family outing. Our fourth-grade chorus will be performing there on December 6!  

Enjoy the weekend whatever you do!

Kelly

News from the Assistant Principal, Mrs. Kerri Bianchi 

As we continue to engage our students in the practice of lockdown drills and fire drills, I wanted to take this opportunity to share the safety drills and protocols that we have in place at CET to ensure the safety of the students and staff.  Throughout the district we are trained in responding to 6 basic safety protocols referred to as The Simple Six.  I would like to outline each of those protocols by giving examples of when they may be put into place and what the procedure is.  A Lockout is used when there is a non-imminent threat or hazard outside the building.  We would resume normal activity within the building however there would not be outdoor recess or outdoor Physical Education classes.  As usual, there would be a single point of entry into the building.  In the event of a fire, we would evacuate the building to a designated evacuation area outside the building.  A Lockdown is initiated when there is an imminent threat.  Students move to a safe zone location within their classroom and remain there until they are released by police or school personnel.  Shelter in Place is put into effect if there is a weather related threat, gas leak or medical emergency in the building.  In this case, students and staff return to their classrooms, remain quiet and await further instructions.  The main purpose of this protocol is to keep students secure and hallways clear.  An Evacuation may also be related to a weather threat, gas leak or loss of heat.  Students and staff exit the building to a predetermined area and await further directions.  The final protocol in our Simple Six is a Staff All Call.  This is initiated when additional staff is needed to manage an incident or communicate information to other faculty and staff.  All available staff would report to a designated area to receive specific instructions pertaining to the incident.  Following these basic safety protocols help ensure the safety and security of everyone at CET.  As per New York State regulations, we are mandated to conduct 8 evacuation drills and 4 lockdown drills.  We anticipate having an unannounced Lock Down drill in the next few weeks.  We will communicate to you via a K12 message when we will be having our lockdown drill.  If you have any questions regarding safety procedures and protocols, please feel free to contact us.

News from Robin Woolley, School Counselor  

Holidays are for Hugging (or not!)

My mother was one of 8 children in a big Italian family.  When the holidays rolled around there was always a lot of hugging and kissing and being told “Go kiss your Aunt or Uncle” (even those who I barely knew).  This was often uncomfortable and confusing to me, especially as a young child who didn’t want to hug these “strangers”.  When big family gatherings happen now, I never make my children hug or kiss anyone they don’t feel comfortable with.  I give them alternatives like waving, shaking hands, saying “Hi” or giving a high five so that they are learning how to be polite and respectful without compromising their feeling of safety.  No one should touch them without their permission!

As part of the school counseling/social emotional curriculum and in accordance with the National Sexuality Education Standards, I will be going into classrooms throughout the year and teaching students about personal safety, consent and what to do if someone touches them in a confusing or unsafe way.  I also teach them the same alternatives I teach my own children, as well as to ask someone else if they want a hug before doing so.  As I visit with your child’s grade level, you will receive a letter home about what was taught and ways you can continue the conversation with your own child(ren).

In the meantime, please refer to the following articles to learn more about why you shouldn’t be forcing your children to accept or give physical affection when they are resistant.  

https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/advice/reluctant-hugs-why-you-shouldnt-force-kids-to-show-physical/

https://www.today.com/parents/why-it-s-never-ok-parents-force-kids-hug-adults-t118863

https://www.cnn.com/2012/06/20/living/give-grandma-hug-child/index.html

Have a healthy, happy and safe Holiday Season!

 News from Patricia Lynch, Math Teacher

C.E.T. Loves Math!

How many more days until Hanukkah?”

How many more days until Christmas?”

How many more minutes until we get to Uncle Mike’s house?” 

You may hear your child frequently ask, “ How many more….?” questions.  This is a PERFECT opportunity to talk about the ‘unknown’ or algebraic way to set up a math problem. 

Our daily application problems in all grades at C.E.T. are often presented algebraically.  For example, “ There are 18 children at a party.  Some children left early and now 7 children remain.  How many children left the party?”  (18 - __ = 7) or (18 – x = 7  x = ?). 

Problems set up in this ‘take from the total’ manner shift a child’s thinking from memorization of facts to the relationships among numbers.  There are several ways a child might solve this problem.  Counting up from 7 to 18, counting backward, knowing that 18 is (10+8) and taking the 7 away from the 8 (leaving 10+1) are just a few strategies. 

The critical thinking needed to be successful in mathematical problem solving requires flexible and innovative thinking.  So the next time your child asks, “ How many more minutes until we get to Uncle Mike’s house?”, use this as an opportunity to solve for the algebraic ‘unknown’  in your response of, “Well, it takes 60 minutes to get to his house and we’ve traveled 25 minutes so …..”  Remember, students and teachers at C.E.T. love math and LOVE that this continues at home! 

News from CET PTA

December may well be the most fun month of the year! Come join us tomorrow, December 1st for a fun kickoff to the holiday season. Our first ever Hop Around Town (adults only) will begin at Memphis Mae at 3:30 pm. If you don’t have your tickets yet, you can buy them at the door or here 

https://www.cognitoforms.com/CETPTA1/HolidayHopAroundTownTicketPurchaseForm

If you cannot make it for the whole event, join us for the after-hop at 6:15 pm at the Grand Stand. There will be a band and amazing raffle tickets to buy. First ever teacher experiences on sale! 

Back by popular demand, our Holiday Craft & Fun Fair is sure to be a lot of fun for all. Come join us next week December 7th (6:00 pm - 8:00 pm) and make some beautiful crafts with your child. There will be chili, pizza, and baked goods. So you can even have dinner there. There will also be a complimentary gift wrap station. 

CHANGES IN YOUR CHILD'S DISMISSAL

When emailing your child's teacher regarding a change to your child's dismissal, please include the Welcome Center, Laura Sherry at laura.sherry@chufsd.org.

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Updating You and Your Child’s Information in the K12 Alerts System 

To be sure we have the most up-to-date information for you and your child, you may access K12 Alerts by either logging on to the CET Homepage where you will find “Parent Portal/K12Alerts” or by accessing the Croton-Harmon School District’s Homepage and clicking on “Parent and Resident Portal/K12Alerts”. Once you log in to the K-12 Alert System, you will be able to make any necessary changes to your or your child’s information.

If you have any questions please contact Denise Cuomo, 914-271-4793, ext. 4200.



K12 Alerts
Patented (U.S. Patent No. 8,180,274)
K12 Alerts

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