Centennial Blue Jays

Greetings, Blue Jay Families!

We are excited that students have found lots of ways to have fun and demonstrate their school spirit, whether it's wearing Blue Jay gear or anything blue on Flock Fridays, participating in Spirit Week, or helping Mrs. Quigley do the announcements or sing the school song.

As students continue to settle into their classroom routines, we encourage everyone to please listen to their teachers, focus on their learning, and follow the Blue Jay Way!

This month's character trait is RESPONSIBILITY. Students can show they are responsible every day by following directions, putting effort into their work, and managing the supplies in their learning space. Students who are caught demonstrating responsibility can earn Blue Jay Bucks that they can use at the Student Store. Please chat with your students about what this means and encourage them to take responsibility at home and at school!

We will also continue to encourage all families to PLEASE try to get your students to school on time each day. They can show they are responsible by getting their backpacks ready for school before they go to bed, and helping you by getting dressed and out the door on time.

Remember, this year, we have no school all of Thanksgiving week. Of course we also have parent-teacher conferences scheduled for the days before Thanksgiving, so we hope to see all of our families whether it's in-person or virtual. The scheduling window will open next week, so please watch your email!

Let's have a great November, everyone!

Don Hakala, Principal

Calli Dean, Assistant Principal

Nov. 4: PTO Meeting, 6 p.m.

Nov. 5: Free Vision Screening for All Students

Nov. 7: PTO Bingo Night, 6:30-8 p.m.

Nov. 11: No School, Veterans Day

Nov. 14: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (Note: We're doing an in-school walkabout this year!)

Nov. 14: Early Release, 12:30 p.m.

Nov. 14: OBOB After-School Practice Battle, 12:30 p.m.–2 p.m. (transportation required)

Nov. 19: PTO Papa's Pizza Fundraiser

Nov. 20: Picture Day Retakes

Nov. 21: Book Fair Opens: 3–6 p.m.

Nov. 24: No School, Grading Day

Nov. 25-26: No School, Conferences (Tues, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; Weds, 8 a.m.-12 a.m.)

** Book Fair continues during conference hours

Nov. 27-28: No School, Thanksgiving

**Please note free 4th grade swim lessons will be in December this year through Willamalane!

Congratulations to all of our October Super Students (grades 1-5), acknowledged for their respectful attitudes: Arya K, Georgia, Caiden, Jackson H, Joaquin, Sofia, Oliver R, Charlotte W, Juniper, Diego, Lia, Alayna, Edith, Ariella, Torie, Easton, Evie, Omar, Camila K-M, Jose A G, Carsyn, Landon, Damian, Blake, Kim, Jack F, Sophie, Alex S N, Parker B, Max, Jayden, Charlotte R, and Quinn. Keep up the great work, kids!

This event never disappoints! Key points:

• We had a total of 323 people who ran 4,414 laps (that’s 551.75 miles!!!)
• Mrs. Tunnel’s class had the highest average - 14.65 laps! - and got the bonus recess.
• Over $19,000 was raised for the PTO and our school by our generous families!
• Mrs. Standley’s class raised the most and get the popcorn party!
• 21 people ran 20 laps: Declan B, Carter L-C, Otus, Landon, Tierra, Micah, Jose A G, Sol, Natalie, Wynter, Zayvius, Jack F, Jonah, Declan W, Nathaniel, Max H, Lewis, Achaius, and Cal, plus Mrs. Thomas, Ms. Lefferts and Mr. Lovendahl!

Thank you for all the support for your kiddos and for our fabulous PTO!

Everyone really got involved on Dress-Up Day. Fifth-grade teachers took student advice on costumes!

Such a great event! Many thanks to the trunk providers, candy donors and all the folks who came out and braved the rain drops!

November’s character trait is Be Responsible. Responsible Blue Jays follow expectations and work hard on their classroom tasks. They are accountable for their actions and acknowledge when they've made a mistake. They keep their word and inspire and build trust with fellow students and staff. They pitch in to help before they are asked. They help families get them to school on time by managing their own belongings.

Students are working especially hard to be respectful and responsible in specials (Music, Library, and PE). Classes that earn 5 stars in those areas are entered into a drawing to win 15 minutes of class choice time with their specials teachers!

Any student who asks may have their picture retaken. Families can request another packet to be able to pay on picture day with cash or check, or purchase photos online at mylifetouch.com.

Conferences are once again going to be held during the week of Thanksgiving: Tuesday, Nov. 25, will run 8 to 8, then Wednesday, Nov. 26, 8 to 12.

• We will be sending a link soon to sign up just like last year.

• If you're going to be out of town that week, please contact your kiddo's teacher to try to reschedule.
• While most people prefer in-person conferences, you will be able to request a virtual conference if that's more convenient for you.
• You will be able to access available slots for each of your student's teachers so you can try to book them back to back for your convenience.

• The sign-up app is pretty straightforward, but don't let glitches get in the way of signing up. You can always contact Ms. Deb to help!
• Be aware that the evening appointments do fill up fast, so schedule early!

Conference etiquette: Do unto others - please try to come on time for your appointment, as you'd like others to do for you! If you can't make it, please let the office know as soon as possible so you can reschedule.

We can't wait to see all of you!

Our Oregon Battle of the Books season, affectionately known at OBOB (oh-Bob), is in full swing! OBOB is a statewide program where students in grades 3–5 form teams to read 16 books selected by the state committee and compete to answer questions. Teams will start battling one another in January, and the winning team from Centennial will go on to the district competition, and then on to state.

This year, we’re proud to have 63 students participating across 15 teams. Right now, teams are busy reading, discussing, and preparing for their upcoming battles. Each team forms a strategy for tackling the 16 books.

After-School Practice

This year, Ms. Hodgin is offering two optional after-school practice battles to give teams a chance to test their knowledge.

Teams should please remember to return the permission slip by November 13, before the first practice on November 14, so we know how your student will be getting home afterward. (The next after-school practices will be on Dec 12 and Jan. 21.)

Learn More

If you have questions about OBOB or are interested in being a coach for one of the teams, please connect with Ms. Hodgin for some tips! Read more about OBOB at www.oregonbattleofthebooks.org

With all the uncertainty in the air right now, this seems like an important time to introduce newer families to our Family Resource Center, staffed by Julie Gifford. Every familiy needs a little extra support from time to time, and Mrs. Gifford works hard to fill in gaps for those students. Whether it's borrowed shoes to participate in PE, a warm jacket if they forget theirs, a backpack if theirs breaks, an extra snack during the day, or school supplies if a family can't quite get the whole list, Mrs. Gifford is a busy lady!

If your family could use a boost for whatever reason, please reach out to Mrs. Gifford! If the request goes beyond what Room 1 can support, she can put you in touch with community resources that can help. With the holiday season, please let her know if you're interested in food support. Texting works best: 541-321-0394.

With this fall's wacky weather, our lost & found is already teeming. Please encourage your kiddo to check the Lost & Found often for any missing items! Putting their name in the clothing helps. The best time for families to come and look is after school. Conference time will also be a perfect time to check out the book fair as well as look through the lost & found. You can also click the picture or the button to view a video slide show. Remaining items will be donated at the end of the trimester, which is the end of this month.

We take school attendance very seriously and we pack a lot into every minute of the day. Please try to be sure your student arrives at school before 8:35. Students who arrive late will miss out on valuable learning time and may disrupt the class. Please also try to schedule appointments outside of school hours.

If your student will be absent, please let us know by calling the office or emailing Ms. Deb before 9 a.m. if possible. We will again be making phone calls to check up on students who we haven't heard from.

Please let us know if we can help you with tips on how to get your kids to school on time!

We LOVE volunteers at Centennial! Parents are welcome and encouraged to come and help in their students' class(es) or at special events. Please do check with the teacher about days/times that might be best. There may also be projects you can help with outside of school. Community members are also welcome. We currently have volunteers helping teachers with tasks, helping with reading groups, helping tidy the lost & found, and helping Ms. Hodgin shelve books - a neverending task! It takes a village!

For everyone's safety, all school volunteers need to be registered and undergo a background check.

Our website is a solid place to look for information such as menus. Facebook will be your best bet for quick updates and photos. We also frequently send information via email, so be sure to check your email frequently. Many teachers use the SeeSaw app to communicate via phone. Your child's teacher will send you an invitation to join their classroom SeeSaw community, and it's a great way to communicate directly with the teacher. And Ms. Deb is always available for questions!

Centennial has an outstanding PTO! We really appreciate all they do to support our staff and students at CES! We would love to have you participate with this group. Meetings are generally held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Child care is always available, and they offer a light meal. You can visit their new website at www.cespto.org.

How to support our school:

• You can always get blue bags from the school office. This is an easy way to support the PTO through donations of bottles and cans. Just bring the bag to the Springfield Bottle Drop Redemption Center, scan the PTO bar code, and toss your bag.
• Stay tuned for more information on how to purchase Blue Jay gear for the whole family!
• Watch for upcoming fundraisers, and in the meantime, volunteer!

Email: deb.jolda@springfield.k12.or.us
Website: centennial.springfield.k12.or.us
Location: 1315 Aspen Street, Springfield, OR, USA
Phone: 541-744-6383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentennialBlueJays

CALL US - 541-744-6383. We are always happy to help!