Cedar School News and Updates 1/12/24

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I hope your holiday season was filled with warm, happy, and memorable moments with your family. Cedar School students have had a wonderful transition back into the building following the break. The students returned in the new year with a sense of hope and encouragement, which has been contagious. 

Now that the winter break is behind us, we come to the heart of the school year. When visiting classrooms recently, I observed students getting excited about the learning that is currently happening at Cedar School. I observed students being respectful, resilient, and eager to learn more! The high academic standards that were instilled at the beginning of the school year have continued into the new year. The skilled staff in this building continue to guide and teach our students with kindness and compassion. 

Dr. Stoloski and I continue to meet with kindergarten and first grade students during our monthly community meetings. Yesterday, we focused on reviewing expected behaviors and actions in a variety of different settings and shared important information about upcoming events. You will find these listed at the bottom of this communication. We value this time together with the students. 

Shoutouts

I would like to recognize Michelle Hill and Eliza Kennedy for their effort with the Gingerbread Activity just prior to the winter vacation. The coordination, planning, and communication were nothing short of remarkable. The event was a tremendous success and was enjoyed by both students and adults. 

I would like to thank the group of parents/guardians who took on the responsibility of decorating classrooms with a winter theme. There were a variety of positive reactions when students entered their classrooms on Monday morning - including looks of surprise and joy!

It would be a missed opportunity if I didn’t thank Michael Wildrick and the Information Technology Department for their recent efforts at Cedar School. Over the past several weeks, this team has installed new copier machines, made improvements to the PA system, and developed a plan for acquiring more student devices to further enhance student learning. Thank you!

Important Registration Information 

Registration for kindergarten and preschool for the 2024-2025 school year will open on Monday, January 22, 2024, for both levels. Please mark this date on your calendar. If your child is currently enrolled in the Hanover Public Schools preschool program, you do not need to re-enroll your child if they are transitioning into kindergarten or remaining in the preschool program next year. More information about accessing the new registration platform will be shared out next week. If you are not able to access the online registration on this date, please do not hesitate to contact the Cedar School main office at 781-878-7228.

Preschool Registration

Next year, the preschool model will include four sections of integrated morning sessions as well as four integrated afternoon sessions. Please know that the Community Peer Classroom model will no longer be offered. The integrated classroom educates students both with and without disabilities. If the number of applicants for peers exceeds the number of spaces available in the program, peer candidates will be placed on a wait list. Three and four-year-old children will attend the morning class and four and five-year-old children will attend the afternoon class. Families will need to complete the online preschool registration with supporting documents by February 9, 2024.

Kindergarten Registration

The kindergarten program is open to all Hanover children who will be five years of age before September 1^st of each year. We will continue to offer both the half-day and tuition-based full-day kindergarten programs for the 2024-2025 school year. Families are encouraged to complete the online kindergarten registration with supporting documents by February 9, 2024.

Additional Updates/Reminders

• There is no school on Monday, January 15, 2024, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. For quick reference, I have linked the Hanover Public Schools calendar in the section below.
• A family event will be facilitated by the Cedar School’s PBS Team on Monday, January 29, 2024, focused around play. Please know that this event should include families with their child(ren). A flyer has been attached in the section below.
• Prior to sending your child to the bus stop or dropping them off at school, please take a moment to make sure that the child is dressed appropriately for the weather. We will continue to get the students outside for recess as much as possible.
• Consistent attendance is crucial for optimal learning. Thank you for continuing to make an effort to get your child to school on a consistent basis.
• Cedar School will participate in the second annual "Lexia Llama Challenge" from January 29^th through February 16^th. During this time, students will be encouraged to use LexiaCore5 either at home and during their designated instructional time at school. When a student completes three units, they will earn a ticket that will go toward their overall classroom total. The classroom that collects the most tickets each week will earn a special visit from the Lexia Llama. Lexia usage at home should not exceed more than 10-15 minutes a day. LexiaCore5 Reading is an adaptive computer-based program that accelerates the development of literacy skills. The activities support and build on your child's classroom curriculum and focus on developing reading skills in six areas: phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Please expect to hear more information about this exciting school-wide challenge from your child’s classroom teacher. 

Links

• Hanover Public School Calendar (2023-2024)
• Cedar School PBS Come Play Family Event, January 29, 2024
• Cedar School Art Newsletter, January 2024

Dates

• January 15^th - No School for Students and Staff (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
• January 23^rd - First Grade Field Trip to the Hanover Police/Fire Station (Anderson, Horton, Downs)
• January 25^th - First Grade Field Trip to the Hanover Police/Fire Station (MacNeill, Pollock, Johnson)
• January 26^th - First Grade Field Trip to the Hanover Police/Fire Station (Caulfield, McGinnis, Sharpe)
• January 26^th - Report Cards Available for Preschool Families
• January 29^th - Play Event at Cedar School, Facilitated by Cedar PBS Team, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
• January 29^th - February 16^th - Lexia Llama Student Challenge                                             
• February 27^th - Boosterthon Fundraiser Begins at Cedar School (more information to follow)
• March 7^th - Boosterthon Fun Run! (more information to follow)
  • Please know that this event will take place during the school day for all students. 
• March 14^th - Math Night at Cedar School, 5:00 - 6:00 pm (more information to follow)

Again, thank you for the rich support you bring to our school community. We are proud of our students, teachers, and community strength. Happy new year, and best wishes for a successful and healthy year ahead. 

Best, 

Jesse Craddock
Principal