Cedar School News and Updates 12/11/22

Share Our Story

This section of the message is intended to share our story at Cedar. We invite parents, guardians, and caregivers to share their stories too, by communicating with us and one another. 

As we journey toward the winter break, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff and families for their dedication and commitment to making Cedar a school focused on student growth. Your support of our school and children makes Cedar a wonderful learning environment. We have made a significant amount of progress with our students in the classroom. We are also very proud of the hard work and dedication that they have shown outside of the classroom which leads me to my next topic. 

The Blizzard of Kindness at Cedar was a monumental success. I am still in shock by the level of support and kindness shown by our school community. The school collected a total of $3,400 worth of gift cards! The donated gift cards were shared directly with the Hanover VNA who will distribute the cards to those in need in our community. Please know that these donations will have an immediate impact on families in this area, and we are truly grateful. 

Classroom and office doors at Cedar are being decorated with winter themes and a lot of spirit. The themes of kindness, caring, and sharing are being echoed throughout all classrooms during the month of December. We continue to encourage our Super Friends to try their best each day at Cedar, go out of their way to be safe and kind towards others, and follow the plan while they are both inside and outside of the building. 

There are so many wonderful happenings taking place in the next two weeks. This memo serves as a note of what lies ahead at Cedar.

Important Cedar Information

Cedar Winter Concert

As a friendly reminder, the Cedar Winter Concert is Friday, December 16, 2022. Students have been practicing under Mrs. Thornton for quite some time, and they are excited to share some new songs with you as well as some old favorites. We invite family members to attend this performance, but please know that we are encouraging no more than two adults per family in order to ensure we have sufficient space in the cafeteria. The main entrance doors will open at 8:35 am for visitors for the first-grade performance and 9:35 am for the kindergarten performance. Visitors will need to park on the road leading up to the Cedar complex, in addition to utilizing the parking lots between Cedar and the High School.

Annual Cedar Holiday Express

The PTA has been working hard to prepare for the Annual Cedar Holiday Express. The program allows Kindergarten and First-Grade students to learn about several different holidays and traditions celebrated by people all over the world. It will also include hands-on learning activities for students to enjoy. Students are being asked to bring in an item or photo on Monday, December 19th, that represents a tradition or holiday that they celebrate with their family. This item does not necessarily have to represent a holiday or tradition during the winter season, but can include any tradition during the calendar year. The end of the week will involve a classroom celebration with cookies and hot chocolate. Mrs. Dowling is working closely with families of children with specific dietary needs. 

Preschool Gingerbread House Event

The Preschool staff is excited to share that they will be inviting all parents/guardians/caregivers to their Gingerbread House Event on Monday, December 19^th. Students will be creating Gingerbread Houses in the Cedar cafeteria. Supplies for the event are being donated by the Cedar PTA in addition to parent donations. The morning classes will have their event at 9:00 am, while the afternoon classes will have their event at 1:30 pm. Please contact your classroom teacher if you have any questions. 

Important Links

The Cedar PTA is looking for a few more volunteers for the Cedar Holiday Express. They are looking for support with activities during the week, as well as decorating Kindergarten and First-Grade classrooms on Thursday afternoon. Please click the attached link for more information: Holidays Around The World.

General Reminders

• The cold weather has arrived. Students should be coming to school dressed appropriately for the weather. We continue to prioritize washing hands, covering coughs, and keeping our workplace clean. Students should be arriving at school with a jacket, hat, and gloves for recess and in general. We will continue to take students outside for recess as often as possible. 
• We appreciate the commitment to promoting great attendance at Cedar, including bringing your child to school on time. It truly does make a difference.
• Please remember to bring your driver's license when picking up students, visiting a classroom, or volunteering in any capacity. This is required immediately upon arrival at the main office. 

Shoutouts 

Michelle Hill and Eliza Kennedy continue to set the standard high for all of the amazing work happening at Cedar that is associated with the PTA. It would be a missed opportunity if I did not recognize their efforts. We are fortunate to have these two parents leading our amazing PTA!

Upcoming Dates and Events at Cedar

Best, 

Jesse Craddock
Principal