Cole Carnival

The Cole Carnival is coming.on Friday, September 15 from 5:30-8:00. Wristbands will be sold for $8 per person which will allow students to enjoy unlimited games and inflatables. There will be concessions, silent auction, and many opportunities to enjoy the outside and the fun. The Cole Outdoor Education Center will also be open if you would like to walk around and enjoy some quiet.  Volunteers are needed to make this event possible. Please check your emails as many have been shared and if you are on the Konstella App for PTO, this will also allow you access to assist.  Mark your calendar and plan to come. It's always a wonderful time.  Special thank you to Brook and Josh Spenner for their efforts. They have been amazing chairpersons for several years. Without their efforts, this event would not be possible. 

#TSCSTEM

This year all TSC elementary grade levels will be working on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) activities. These activities will include hands-on activities which will stretch your child to think, create, try, fail, and try again.  The Cole PTO supports our teachers as well by providing funding for materials.  You will not see science worksheets come home this year.  Instead, your child will be immersed in activities the Cole Regatta in which fourth graders design boats from cardboard and duct tape and float them on the Cole pond. Ask your child about science and see what they tell you. It's an exciting time with many wonderful learning experiences happening around every corner.

Choir Information

All 4th and 5th grade students at James Cole Elementary School can join the Cole Cubs Choir on Thursdays after school beginning on September 7, 2017 and ending November 3.

*Class will end at 4:25 and students will need to picked up by 4:30 at the front door of the building. All students and parents must sign a permission/behavior expectation paper before joining. All parents and students must read the information before signing the slip. I will take a maximum of 40 students in the choir. I look forward to having a great time singing and learning about music with the students!

Art Information

There is a new art fundraiser called Art to Remember which allows your child to create a picture and have that picture placed on different items such as mugs, key chains, tote bags, etc.  Parents can order online if interested. The informational flyer is linked on the button below which will give you more information. The art projects will be completed in class and parents wil have the opportunity if needed to add their creation to an item for themselves or for a gift.

Try

Try: Three simple letters combine to form such a powerful word. Try. When your child stumbles upon something difficult, don't bale them out. Let them try. Let them fail. Encourage them to try again, try once more, try differently, but keep trying. At Cole this year we are working to highlight successes but we also work to share failures. Because we learn from failures and we also learn that effort and the ability to Try. Try again, and try once more never hurt anyone. Actually, this skillset may be one of the most important your child can acquire as they grow through the years. Write it on your refrigerator. Add it to a Post-it Note in your car. Try. Three simple letters - one powerful concept for our children.

How To Raise An Adult

As parents, it often pains us to see our children get hurt, fail, face disappointment, or not find success the first time. As a parent, do you sit back and watch your child fail or do you place a safety net under him/her each chance they take at something new? What is your reaction/response when your child does fall down, strikes out, or does not achieve in an action? Do you swoop in and make everything all better or do you place the ownership back on your child and say, "What did we learn? How can we do things differently next time? Get back out there and try again?"

We all want our children to be successful and safe. There are going to be scraped knees and disappointments. Your presence as parents and your actions during these times can  be very instrumental in raising an adult who is self-sufficient and resilient.

Family Meals

"Family meals are not about everyone eating the same meal; its about everyone leaving the table satisfied." Pedro Noguera

What priority are you putting on family meals? It's hard, isn't it? Our busy lives right now are filled with soccer and fall baseball practice and chances to go support siblings in events after school. What often happens is that we miss a chance to eat healthy and also miss a chance for real conversations. We have to schedule our lives to get from point A to point B. Why not schedule family meals? At these meals make conversation and sharing a priority and satisfaction will come not just from the nourishment that is provided to our bodies, but to our minds and spirit as well.

#TSCINtegrate is a Tippecanoe School Corporation wellness initiative that is focused on staff and students.  

Cole PTO

The Cole PTO is very active in its support of the students and staff at Cole. Every parent is a member of the Cole PTO. We would love to have you join us for meetings and lend your assistance to the many programs they have in place. Please find some important dates listed below and please, plan to attend our first meeting. 

September 5: Cole PTO Meeting (6:00)

  *Special Guest: Devin Arms, TSC Technology Director

September 8: Cookie Dough/Trash Bag Sale Orders Due

September 15: Cole Carnival (5:30-8:00)

October 6: PTO Movie Night & Cookie Dough Pick-up

November 10: Grandparents Day (1:00-3:00)

Cole Professional Academy

Local business leaders have shared that if a person enters the workforce with the following five skills: Show up to work on time; Show up each day; Be willing to work and learn; Be willing to work with others; Pass a drug screening - not only will these workers have a job, they will rise through the ranks of opportunity very quickly. The soft skills described have motivated the Cole Staff to form a grass-roots initiative called the Cole Professional Academy. The Cole Professional Academy will target fifth graders this year through a variety of topics each month. Students will have a chance to do follow-up work to earn badges that can work toward their Cole Professional Academy Graduation.  The Cole PTO, many parents, and several organizations are working together with the Cole Staff to launch this program. The September focus is on Professional Dress and Hygiene and will feature four speakers who will discuss professional dress (tying ties; shoe polish; jewelry, makeup in professional settings, the definition of a professional, and the need to find non-family member mentors. Stay tuned for more highlights each month. This is a very unique and exciting opportunity for our students. Without the help from the community, it would not be possible.

Big Events - Plan For Them Now

May 1: Grade 4 and 5 Pond Day

May 2: Grade 3 to Fair Oaks Farms

May 3: Grade 5 Chicago Trip

May 10 & 11: Grade 4 to Camp Tecumseh overnight

May 11: Grade 5 to Martell Forest

May 11: First Grade Mother's Day Tea

May 14: Fifth Grade Celebration

May 16: Third Grade Wax Museum

May 18: Kindergarten Celebration

May 22: Field Day

May 23: Awards Day: 1st & 2nd (9:30); 3rd & 4th (10:15)

May 24: Talent Show *Subject to Change

Volunteer Information

As per Tippecanoe School Corporation Policy 8120 – Volunteers, each volunteer who is in direct contact with students will be required to submit a Limited Criminal History Record Check in order to volunteer within the school. Any chaperone who wishes to attend a field trip must also have a completed and approved Limited Criminal History Record Check as well. These forms are available on the TSC website and have been sent home already. Please contact Kelly Kesterson in the Cole Office if you have any questions.

E-Flyers

TSC supports 'green' efforts and as such to help ensure students receive information about community services or events, flyers from non-profit outside organizations are posted online in a section called E-Flyers. All E-Flyers can be accessed from any TSC School Website: www.tscschools.com by clicking the 'students' or 'parents' link in the upper right hand corner of the webpage. E-Flyers will be posted on the 15th and 30th of the month so be sure to check regularly for newly posted information. If your qualifying organization is interested in posting an E-Flyer, go to www.tscschools.com E-Flyers section to submit the information.

Register for TSC Alerts and Notifications
With the launch of the new TSC websites, the TSC and each of its schools will be transitioning away from Pinwheel for SMS (text) alerts and notifications and will instead utilize the communication options available within the new website. Parents/guardians, staff, and students can sign in to the website and register to receive alerts, calendar reminders, athletic updates, and more.