Cole Courier
February 9, 2018 Volume 13 Number 9
NEWSLETTER
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Message from the Principal
Mike Pinto
Greening TSC
The Tippecanoe School Corporation is committed to energy savings and greening initiatives that save money for the tax payers, promote good stewardship for our students as they transition into adult citizens, and save the environment. You see Greening TSC in many places around our schools including with the recycling initiatives that we have in place, the energy conservation that accompanies new lighting and controlled temperature settings, and even effforts to limit food waste in our cafetreias. Our Cole students were recently entertained by the National Theater for Children in their "Kilowatt Kitchen" presentation sponsored by Duke Energy. This presentation had a simple message about unplugging unused devices, using 'smart technologies' to assist energy consumption, and turning off lights. Students were offered information about how families can request simple energy saving kits for the home. For each 100 kits requested associated from a school, the school will receive a $250 check. The check is a bonus, but the efforts to conserve energy, save money at home, and help reinforce smart practices in terms of our daily use are the real winning components. The message to end the presentation was "Save a Watt, Save a lot". Please continue to help us by promoting Greening Practices at home.
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Kindergarten Roundup
The Tippecanoe School Corporation will host Kindergarten Roundup for the 2017-2018 school year Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at all 11 of its elementary schools. Parents/Guardians enrolling an incoming kindergarten student must contact the school before roundup to acquire a username and password for online registration. Also before roundup, parents/guardians are asked to gather all information needed for the child's emergency contact list, as this information will be needed for online registration. Families must also provide the child's immunization record, proof of residency and legal birth certificate (not the certificate presented by the hospital) or passport during roundup. Please contact the school if you have any questions or concerns. Children must be five years of age on or before August 1, 2018 to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten. If you have a child who will be entering kindergarten at Cole next year, please call Cole at 523-2141 and ask for Kelly. We will also be scheduling a time for you to bring your child on April 30.
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Yearbook Information
Yearbooks are on sale now at a cost of $16. Please make checks payable to Lifetouch. Orders are due February 23. Yearbooks will be delivered in early April so students can enjoy them and gather signatures of well-wishes from their friends. This year's cover has been created by Cole fourth grader, Marley Dale. You can also order online by visiting YBPay.lifetouch.com with Yearbook ID Code: 9563718
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Girls on the Run
Mrs. Bredar is once again offering Girls on the Run for young ladies in grades 3-5. The information regarding this after-school program that builds both self-esteem and physical stamina is linked below.
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Safety: Food Allergies
Students come to school with a variety of food allergies that need to be accommodated. Do you know that our school nurse works hand-in-hand with TSC Nutrition Services to provide the best experience for your child? The TSC Website has a wealth of information in terms of menu options for your child with a specific allergy. Please take a moment to look through the website to find information you might need to keep your child safe in terms of dining at school.
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Electronics Days
Student Council will be holding Electronics Days on February 16, 23, and March 9, and March 16. During these days, students may bring an electronic device to school to play during recess for a charge of $1. Devices will be stored on the classroom counters until recess. Proceeds will be applied to Student Council activities.
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Counseling Update
The winter months can be long. Sometimes the shortness of the days and the dreary skies can cause us all to feel a bit down. One thing that helps is to take advantage of the sun when it shines. Find excuses to go outside and simply bask in the rays for a bit. The world is brighter when the sun shines. It also feels brighter for us all when what seems like endless consecutive days of cold, damp, and gray are upon us. Take advantage of our friend, the Sun.
Family STEM Night
February 23 (6:00-7:00)
An exciting evening of family learning is planned for you on February 23 from 6:00-7:00 Cole hosts Family STEM Night. This is a chance for you to come with your child to school and complete interactive and educational activities set up in different classrooms. It is free and open to all Cole families. Movie Night and Trash Bag Pick-up will follow at 7:00. Please see the link below with a list of donations needed to make this event a reality.
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Summer Rec Registration
Lauramie Summer Rec Baseball and Softball registration is currently open. There will be Summer Rec represenatives at school on February 23 at STEM Night and March 2 at Movie Night. Registration closes on March 2. All registration is completed online. Please see your link below.
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Digital Citizenship
Does your child know how to create a secure password? Does he/she know that email should have a higher level of security and never use the same passwords as other sites? Beginning conversations now may help save your child a lot of hardship and headaches later.
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From the Health Office
Our first line of treatment for a cough is always water. Water is better at taming a cough and soothing a sore throat than cough drops. At times we may be out of cough drops, but please remember that cough drops are more a placebo for comfort than a treatment for illness. Cough drops do not cure sore throats or coughs, nor will they prevent the progression of symptoms. If a sore throat is severe and a student does not have a fever then sore throat spray is likely the better choice. Cough drops are a bonus to have on hand, not a medical necessity. Please also remember that, by law, cough drops are considered a medication and therefore can only be given out in the health office. Kathy Hudgins, Cole Nurse
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Your Own Olympics
The Winter Olympics are upon us. The Wii Fitness is maybe something you have around your house which is an interactive video game. How about having a Wii Olympics with your family? There are all sorts of games including some that will go right along with the Winter Olympics. Movement of any sort is good. Find ways to move that also translate into real world experiences that students may see on television is even more so. Look for ways as a family to get yourself moving.
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Cole PTO
The Cole PTO has elected new officers for the 2018-2019 school year. These officers are:
President: Jasmine Reed
Vice-President: Crysta Kas
Secretary: Paula Holmes
Treasurer: Emily Flynn
Thank you to the current officers: Julie Cummings (President), Jasmine Reed (Vice-President), Kelly Todd (Secretary), and Brian Eaton (Treasurer) for their service.
The final PTO Meeting of the year will be held on Tuesday, April 3 at 6:00 in the Kelley Library.
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Cole Professional Academy
We are in the home stretch for the inaugural year of the Cole Professional Academy. What a year it has been. Our teachers deserve a ton of credit for serving as in-school mentors for our Cole Professionals. Fifth grade parents, please check your child's progress toward their badges. We want all who want to be Cole Professionals to have a chance to earn that right.
February 23: Personal Integrity
(Job applications, plagiarism, sportsmanship)
March 2: Success at Home (Money/Time Management)
April 24: Cole Professional Academy Graduation
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Big Events - Plan For Them Now
April 24: Cole Professional Academy Graduation
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: Grade 4 RAD Kids Graduation Ceremonies
May 25: Talent Show
Book Mobile
The Book Mobile runs twice a week to Stockwell and Clarks Hill. Teach visit the Book Mobile stops at 9510 Pearl Street in Clarks Hill (The Church) from 6:30-7:00 and 6931 Church Street in Stockwell (The Church) from 7:15-7:45
Dates:
February 19
March 5 and 19
April 2, 16, and 30
May 14
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Sometimes we need to take a moment to step back and appreciate what we have. Just take a look at this gym floor. Isn't it gorgeous? It's bright. It's colorful. It's simple, but clean. It's also wood. Facilities are something that we often take for granted, but sometimes we need to stop and take a new, appreciative eye. Our Summer Rec fields have gotten upgraded over the past five years with new fencing backstops, and concession area. Our Outdoor Education Center and Cafeteria are also the beneficiaries of recent upgrades. The Kelley Library is in the midst of change. The Cole PTO has helped spruce up the overall experience for our students while reinforcing our C.L.A.S.S. roots by offering newer Life Skill signage in the hallways. And what about our beautiful lobby? Isn't it just a beautiful focal point? Take a moment the next time you are at Cole to take stock in our facilities. They really are quite gorgeous.
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February - 2018
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JAMES COLE ELEMENTARY
6418 E. 900 S. • Lafayette, IN 47909 • (765) 523-2141