Morford Monthly Memo
March 2025 * * Central Elementary
March is HERE! With that being said, we will have an extra busy month reading as we all work together reading Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo. I have shared the calendar of events below so you know ahead of time some of the activities and events happening. Talk with your eagle about those events. What is something that they enjoyed? What is something that they learned? What is going on in the book that we are all reading?
Help celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss on March 3rd! While his official birthday is on Sunday, March 2nd, we thought it would be fun to keep celebrating....on MONDAY! Dress like your favorite Dr. Seuss character on Monday, March 3rd.
Would you like your Eagle to have a Central Elementary yearbook?
Order deadline is April 17th. Click here to place your order.
Central Elementary will be walking through March celebrating reading together with "One School, One Book." Staff will be reading the book right alongside with the students, working to stay on track as we discuss the book, participate in activities based off the book and just overall ignite the love of reading. This year we will be reading of of Kate DiCamillo's books.
Check in with you Eagle and ask how the book is going. The calendar is below if you would like to join in on the fun!
Here are some ways your student can show off how they SOAR:
Stay Safe - wearing appropriate winter gear during recess, walking to the lunch line
Offer Kindness - offering support to students who are struggling, helping a teacher in the classroom
Act Responsibly - being honest with teachers and friends, watching for your car or bus instead of playing around after school
Remember respect - giving others personal space, treating others the way we would want to be treated
Ask your student… how did you SOAR today at Central?
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Linden Community Schools has launched a Positive School Climate initiative across the district centered around the S.O.A.R acronym: Stay Safe, Offer Kindness, Act Responsibly, and Remember Respect. Here at Central Elementary, each classroom has a positive behavior matrix listing the expectations for students to be successful learners. We also have a schoolwide matrix that sets expectations for behavior in spaces like the playground, the cafeteria, the hallways, and the bathrooms. Daily morning announcements, classroom lessons, and the distribution of SOAR tickets to students who are following these expectations help reinforce these values and create a strong, respectful community in our school.
We are finding that more and more items from home that are not necessary to the learning environment are making the trip here to Central. Please have conversations with your student that stuffed animals, toys, games, etc. need to stay at home.
Of course the only pass on this is if teachers have a scheduled reading day that students might be able to bring a blanket or stuffed animal. Otherwise, all "home" items must stay at home. If your student continues to be warned, we will place a phone call for you to pick up the item in the office.
Thank you for your support with this!
Congrats to Kelly O'Connell who is being recognized as our staff member of the month for February. Her colleagues have this to say about her....our building could not run without her. With the ongoing technology issues, Kelly is always available to jump in and solve the problem making sure that our students and staff have what they need to be successful. Kelly maintains a positive attitude through it all and goes above and beyond. She is patient, knowledgeable, and really lights a spark to get kids excited for reading...particularly those that tend to struggle. She wears many hats and rocks every single one of them, holding this school together when it is needed most. Her door is always open, not just during library times for students and staff, but anytime that someone needs a book or time to take a break and build a puzzle or play a game. Kelly was instrumental in pulling together staff to represent Central for the Faculty Follies this year. She put forth a lot of work to make our library festive for a staff gathering for the holidays. She always makes the library warm and inviting for everyone. Without a doubt she is our February Staff of the Month.
Congrats Kelly!
Have you completed the form for Education Benefits? Although meals are free this year, we still need an Education Benefits Application completed. This information is critical in determining the amount of money that our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs like Title I A, At-risk (31a), Title II A, E-Rate, etc. If you haven't already completed the form please take a moment to do so. Access the form here. You may also click on this link for Frequently Asked Questions.
We just finished the sucker sale. The kids are always so excited to be able send suckers to their friends and teachers. Thank you for your support with this!
We are moving through the year and our next event coming up is the Shamrock Shuffle on March 12th. Be on the look out for the flyer coming home. There will also be volunteer opportunities for this after-school event so be on the look out for the sign up genius as well. You do have to volunteer to be at the event, so please make sure you have an ICHAT on file. Just a reminder it is a 5 school day turn around to ensure the paperwork is complete so please get the iChat info turned in. If you already have one turned in for the school year, you do not need to turn another in.
We are currently working on bringing in some fun but educational assemblies this year, and working on field trip assistance. We are so grateful to all of our Central Families who help make these things possible!
If you need added to the PALS email list for more in depth information please send an email to central.el.pals@gmail.com.