COS COB SCHOOL - WEEK AT A GLANCE OCTOBER 29 – November 2 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Monday, October 29 (DAY E) 7:50 a.m. Advanced Orchestra Rehearsal Tuesday, October 30 (DAY A) 8:00 a.m. Advanced Band Rehearsal Wednesday, October 31 (DAY B) Kindergarten and OG Buses return to Cos Cob School at 1:00 p.m. for Halloween Parade/Festivities Thursday, November 1 (DAY C) 9:30 a.m. Lockdown Drill Friday, November 2 (DAY D) 8:00 a.m. Chorus Rehearsal FROM THE PRINCIPAL: Dear Parents, I couldn’t be prouder of all Cos Cob School students, and the manner in which they have all adjusted to their new everyday routines. Our morning and afternoon arrival and dismissal procedures are working well, and a big thank you to the staff members who come early each morning to check in students for the busses, to the Para Professionals for riding the busses to and from school each day, and for the parents who have supported us along the way. Mike and I continue to be at all three schools and can report that students are excited, fully engaged and on task throughout the day. I also thank our host schools for making the transition so smooth. Halloween is around the corner and I am delighted to share with you that all students will celebrate Halloween here at Cos Cob School. We have made arrangements for K, 1 and 2 students to be bussed back from their respective schools and returned to Cos Cob School at 1:00 for an afternoon of games and crafts followed by a Halloween Parade at 2:30 in the back field. Parents are invited to attend the parade and to take pictures. Because parking is limited, please consider carpooling or walking to school. There is no parking on the school grounds, however, you can park in the municipal lot behind the Cos Cob Library. Thank you to the PTA for organizing this event! We will be conducting a lockdown drill next week on Thursday, November 1st at 9:30 A.M. for our third, fourth, and fifth grade students. Our Kindergarten students participated in the Lock Down Drill at Parkway School on October 23rd, and Grades One and Two students will participate in the Lock Down drill at Old Greenwich School on their scheduled day. As you know each year we are required to conduct ten fire drills and two Lock Down Drills. A Lockdown Drill is a “reverse fire drill” and calls for students to stay in their classrooms, out of sight of the door and windows and remain quiet with their teachers. It is designed to foster confidence in the steps children need to take to stay safe in the event of an emergency. This drill will be overseen by Mr. Tom Bobkowski the Greenwich Public Schools Safety Officer and done in conjunction with the Greenwich Police and Fire Departments. As part of our crisis team planning, we are working with these other agencies to ensure appropriate procedures and protocols are established and executed. Please be aware that there will be no entry into the building from 9:30 to approximately 10:00 A.M. so please plan accordingly. Due to our current situation, the school store will be closed and will reopen once all students have returned to Cos Cob School. Although the weather forecast is not looking too promising for the weekend, I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend. We all can you some relaxing time with family and friends! Gene FROM THE PTA: Thank you to those that headed over to Fairfield Pizza and Gofer Ice Cream in support of Cos Cob School on Friday, October 19. We are appreciative of their support (and yours!) and we hope to partner with more merchants in the future to enjoy the many local flavors and businesses of Cos Cob. Box Tops for Education fall collection has ended and the winner of the ice cream party will be announced in the coming weeks. Please remember to clip for our spring collection! We are excited to announce that we will gather together as a community in the spirit of the fall season for our Halloween Celebration on Wednesday, October 31. K-2nd will return to CCS for a 1pm start to the fun. Students will enjoy games, cookie decorating, raffles and our spooktacular (but not so scary – and, no masks, please) annual Halloween Parade! Festivities will run 1-3pm and students will dress in costume at CCS just prior to the party. If you plan to attend and can spare a few minutes to help out, consider signing up to volunteer: Celebration Sign-up There is still time to get pledges in for the Cos Cob School Fun Run on Friday, November 16. Please visit funrun.com to register or make additional pledges/donations. Everything is done online making it easy and convenient. Thank you in advance for your participation! Interested in helping out, but you aren’t sure where to start? Please reach out to Nicole Kwasniewski at [email protected] or complete the Volunteer interest form via the PTA portal. Now more than ever, your contributions to the PTA Membership Drive are needed. Funds are budgeted year-round for enrichment programming at all grade-levels, including field trips, visiting musicians, books and classroom technology. Your contribution at ANY level is so appreciated and we can’t do it without you. Click on the PTA membership link on our website, create your account and make a donation: PTA membership form Don’t forget that every Friday is Spirit Wear Day. We are revamping our offerings so be on the lookout for exciting new merchandise. You can reach us anytime for questions at [email protected]. Brian Zeller & Dawn Silver, PTA Co-Presidents 2018-2019 PTA UPCOMING EVENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Our spring evening fundraising event, Uptown Hoedown, will be held Saturday, March 9 at The Greenwich Water Club. FROM THE DISTRICT: Parents with incoming K students are invited to Kindergarten Spotlight on Tues, Nov 13 at 6pm in Town Hall. Presentation will include details on curriculum, services, programs, a day in the life of a student, personalizing learning and area magnet program offerings as well as Q&A. FROM THE COMMUNITY: Cos Cob Library hosts many family-friendly events: drop-in for Halloween Celebration & Puppet Show, Fri, Oct 26, 3:30-4:30pm; register for Book Explorers Book Club (2nd and 3rd grades) meeting Tues, Nov 6, 4-5pm to discuss Grace Hopper; K-2nd graders are invited to register for Dinosaurs with the Bruce Museum on Sat, Nov 10, 2:30-3:30pm. The Audubon hosts several events for their Halloween Weekend Celebration, Fri, Oct 26 and Sat, Oct 27. Parkway School invites families to its Fall Festival on Sat, Oct 27, 12-3pm. Tickets available for purchase online at Parkway Fall Festival. Join for the Round Hill Fire Company Open House, Sun, Oct 28, 12-4pm. Free and fun for the family! Katie Greer, specialist in online safety and technology use by children, will speak at Central Middle School on Tues, Oct 30 at 7pm. Come learn about the latest issues parents should be aware of when it comes to internet/social media safety and your children. The Byram Library Book & Media Sale runs Thurs, Nov 1 to Sun, Nov 4. $20 preview fee on Thurs night, free entrance Fri to Sun. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are excited to announce Family Fun Day, Sun, Nov 4 at 3pm ($25/person at Sound Tigers Family Day). Meet Peppa Pig and PJ Masks starting at 1pm followed by ice hockey action. Or, older children might enjoy Wizards & Warlocks Night, Sat, Nov 10 at 7pm ($25/person at Wizards & Warlocks). Meet live owls, wizards, fortune tellers and learn potions! Registration has opened for the Greenwich Alliance for Education Turkey Trot 5K and 1 mile Fun Run on Sat, Nov 24. Advance registration is $30/adult and $15/child 14 years and under. The Greenwich school with the highest participation rate will be awarded $500 for PE equipment. Visit the link for details and registration. CCI (Community Centers, Inc.) Halloween pumpkin carving contest. Bring your fully decorated pumpkin to CCI between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Monday, October 29th or Tuesday October, 30th to enter. Entry Fees: $5 per contestant under 14 and $10 per contestant 15 and over. Pumpkins should weigh between 5-30 lbs. Special judge, Celebrity Gardener Kent Russell! .