Cedar School News and Updates 5/4/24

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Each student at Cedar had the opportunity to participate in the Mad Science program last week. The title of the performance was Marvels of Motion, which focused specifically on Newton’s Laws of Motion. Students were impressed as they observed the power of various forces during the show. Thank you to the Cedar PTA for funding this fun, engaging, and unique experience for our students. 

We are excited about recognizing our amazing teachers and faculty next week (May 6^th-10^th) during our Staff Appreciation Week. The Cedar PTA has planned a very special week with a variety of different events and ways to celebrate our remarkable team of educators. Please know that we will start the celebration early with a fun event scheduled on Sunday, May 5^th, called Chalk the Walk. This annual tradition is simple. Arrive at Cedar with sidewalk chalk and share positive or inspirational messages and pictures on the sidewalks for our staff to observe as they return to work on Monday. Please know that there is a large section of the sidewalk that is covered by an overhang. Therefore, students will still have the option of sharing messages even if the weather on Sunday involves light rain. We encourage participants to bring their own chalk as there will be a limited supply of chalk available. A worksheet has been linked below which allows your child to show their appreciation towards a staff member.

There continues to be a great deal of excitement in the building around the One Book, One School event! The start of the week included a whole-school community meeting where staff revealed the book Zoey and Sassafras: Merhorses and Bubbles. There was dancing and several amazing guests who helped us kickoff the event, including Dante Heffron who was a former Cedar student and the Hanover Hawk! We encourage families to follow the schedule that was provided in order to navigate the next few weeks of reading. Please help us continue to get our students excited about reading and the final celebration that will happen on Friday, May 17^th. We have included a few reminders below to help enhance the reading experience with your child(ren). 

• Designate 10 minutes a night to read the story to your child(ren). 
• Create a distraction-free environment in order to enjoy the story together. 
• Make reading fun (use a variety of voices, add sounds, vary your pacing). 
• Ask your child(ren) questions about the book.

Shoutouts

We would like to recognize our School Lunch Hero’s (Food Service Staff) who make the cafeteria and the overall experience at Cedar School so wonderful for our students. The well-being of the students is so important to this team and keeping the students safe and happy is always their top priority. Friday was National Lunch Hero’s Day, and we witnessed students in the building singing to the staff, decorating banners, and creating individual thank you cards. Thank you Ms. Gallinaro, Mrs. Richards, Ms. Bushell, and Ms. Lundin for playing such a critical role in the success of our school. 

Additional Updates and General Reminders

Screenings will take place on Monday, May 6, 2024, and Wednesday, May 8, 2024, for incoming Kindergarten students. A confirmation email was shared with families who have signed their child up for a screening. Please call the Cedar School main office if you still have not scheduled a screening appointment for your incoming Kindergarten student. Students who are currently attending the preschool program will be screened this spring by a designated staff member during the school day. This is not a drop-off event; parent(s)/guardian(s) will be asked to complete a questionnaire while the screening is taking place. 

As a reminder, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, is a 1:00 pm early release for kindergarten and first grade students. Preschool will follow their regular schedule.

We will have a Spirit Day on Friday, May 10, 2024. The theme will be Local Sports Day! We encourage students to wear their favorite Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, or Revolution gear. We hope that our spirit brings luck to the local professional teams as they work toward another finals/championship!

We will have a Kindergarten Informational Night for the parent(s)/guardian(s) of incoming Kindergarten students on Thursday, May 23, 2024, from 5:00-5:45 pm. This will be an opportunity to visit the building and learn about your child’s transition into Kindergarten in the fall. We ask that this be an adult-only event. 

The Cedar PTO will be looking for volunteers for the First Grade “Hooray Day” on June 5, 2024. This is a celebration that will include fun and engaging activities for our oldest students as they celebrate the end of the school year. Please know that parent(s)/guardian(s) do not attend this event. The Cedar PTO will also be looking for volunteers for Field Day. Please anticipate receiving a link to volunteer for both of these events in the next week. 

The month of May brings warmer weather (hopefully) and field trips. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for their upcoming trip, including sneakers. 

Incoming kindergarten students will have the opportunity to meet their classmates and take a ride on the school bus during our Kindergarten Playdate on Thursday, August 22^nd. Please mark your calendars if you have an incoming kindergarten student. 

Links

• Staff Appreciation Certificate
• Super Friend Certificate

Upcoming Dates

May

• May 6, 2024 - Incoming Kindergarten Screening (additional information shared above)
• May 7, 2024 - Early Release Day (1:00 pm) for Kindergarten and First Grade Students 
• May 8, 2024 - Incoming Kindergarten Screening (additional information shared above)
• May 10, 2024 - Cedar School Spirit Day (Sports Theme)
• May 14, 2024 - Kindergarten Field Trip (Driscoll, Bartolotti, Kinasewich, Concannon, Chase, Weimann)
• May 15, 2024 - Kindergarten Field Trip (Nameika, Brown, Chandler)
• May 17, 2024 - One Book, One School Celebration (This event will take place during school hours.)
• May 23, 2024 - Incoming Kindergarten Families Informational Night in the Cafeteria, 5:00-5:45 pm
• May 28, 2024 - First Grade Field Trip (MacNeill, Anderson, Johnson)
• May 29, 2024 - First Grade Field Trip (Pollock, McGinnis, Horton)
• May 30, 2024 - First Grade Field Trip (Sharpe, Caulfield, Downs)

June

• June 3, 2024 - First Grade Students Visit Center School (This will take place during school hours).
• June 4, 2024 - Early Release Day (1:00 pm) for Kindergarten and First Grade Students 
• June 5, 2024 - First Grade Hooray Day! (More information to follow)
• June 7, 2024 - Cedar Spring Concert (Cedar Gymnasium)
  • Kindergarten Start Time 8:45 am; Doors will open at 8:35 am
  • First Grade Start Time 9:45 am; Doors will open at 9:35 am
• June 11, 2024 - Cedar School Field Day (Prekindergarten - Frist Grade)
• June 13, 2024 - Preschool Graduation Ceremony (Information will be shared by classroom teachers.)
• June 14, 2024 - Projected Final Day of School for Preschool Students
• June 17, 2024 - Projected Final Day of School for Kindergarten and First Grade Students 

Summer

• August 22, 2024 - Incoming Kindergarten Playdate (more information to follow)

We truly feel as though we have the best staff in the world, so next week is very important to our school community. Thank you for your continued support of our staff and faculty. 

Best, 

Jesse Craddock
Principal