December Newsletter

Dec 12 - 14: Winter Showcases, K-5

Dec 18 - 21: Holiday Spirit Week!

Dec 22 - Jan 2: Winter Break, School Closed

Jan 12: PTO Movie Night!

Jan 15: School Closed, Dr. Martin Luther King Day

Jan 22: No School; Staff In-Service

All K-5 students are included in our showcases! Be sure to reserve your tickets now! If you submitted the form more than once, you will only get the tickets for one submission. The Church has limited seating. If you need an additional ticket, please message Mrs. McCollum at CMcCollum@artsacademyecs.org

Each show is held at the Christ Lutheran Church at 1245 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18102. Please pay attention to the specific date and time of your child's grade level performance. Can't wait to see you there!

Winter Showcases, Christ Lutheran Church

• Tuesday, Dec 12: Grade K at 6 pm
• Tuesday, Dec 12: Grade 2 at 6:45 pm
• Wednesday, Dec 13: Grade 1 at 6 pm
• Wednesday, Dec 13: Grade 3 at 6:45 pm
• Thursday, Dec 14: Grades 4 & 5 at 6 pm

If our school closes due to inclement weather, we will implement an FID day, meaning students complete work from home so the day still counts as a school day. Since schools are required to be in-session for 180 days each year, the FID days help ensure days don't need to be added to the end of the school year, or taken away from breaks built into the calendar.

Teachers will begin sending home packets in case the weather catches us by surprise and students do not have their devices at home. Click the link below to learn how an FID will run.

We have been using a feature in SDM that sends parents a text when your child's bus or daycare dismisses from school so you know your child is on their way. SDM is also how we notify parents via email and text if their bus is running late. We encourage all families to sign into SDM to use these helpful features. Search School Dismissal Manager in the Apple or Android stores or visit

https://www.schooldismissalmanager.com/

Already using SDM? Go to Preferences to choose your preferred language and make sure your notifications are ON for email and text.

CONGRATULATIONS to our Best Hallway Overall winners : 3rd Grade!! Thank you to our families for your donations and to our students and staff for your effort!

Congratulations to all category winners!

1. Most Creative Theme: 2nd Grade!
2. Best Team Representation (teachers & students): 1st Grade!
3. Best Craftmanship: Kindergarten!
4. Best Team Color Integration: 4th Grade!
5. Most Unique: 5th Grade!

We are still accepting donations of coats, scarves, mittens, hats or even socks to keep them warm this winter. Items can be sent in at any time!. Thank you to all who have sent in items. We have such a charitable community! 💗

Our PAC reviewed our Title 1 Compact and Family Engagement Policy. They made some changes, such as forming a combined PTO/PAC group due to the many activities our PTO sponsors each year; we committed to sending more instructional strategies for parents to support their child's academics and home; and listing family engagement events and activities that have been started and successful in recent years.

See below for the revised policies. They were also sent out via Jupiter to translate into the parents' language and handed out at our Fall Conferences.

Current guidelines state that schools no longer send notices home for families when a case is identified. If head lice is observed, evidence of lice treatment is required before the student is permitted to return to school. General reminders about sharing of hats/combs, etc would be beneficial.

See below for our Health Services website for more information.

https://sites.google.com/artsacademyecs.org/healthservices/home