The SHARK Alert

Dear CES families and friends,

As we head into the weekend, we know the weather forecast isn't looking particularly friendly—stay warm and stay dry out there as we weather this Nor'easter together! It is hard to believe that we are already stepping into the final week of September.

As the month comes to a close, so do our initial Beginning-of-Year (BOY) assessments. This week, our dedicated teachers and service providers will gather for our Data Days. During these collaborative sessions, our team will carefully review each and every student's early assessment results to build the best possible plan for their individual success.

One of our greatest sources of pride at CES is our team's unwavering attention to the unique needs of each SHARK. We truly live and breathe our core belief: Every Student, Every Day.

Thank you so much for your ongoing partnership and support. We wish you all a safe weekend and a wonderful week ahead!

Warm wishes,

Dr. Kelly

Digital invitations to schedule Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences were sent last week. We look forward to partnering with you to support your student's progress this school year!

• Invitation Date: Digital invitations will be emailed directly from your student's teacher on Monday, September 21st, in the afternoon.

• Conference Dates: Tuesday, October 27th and Thursday, October 29th.

• Duration: Each conference will be 15 minutes in length.

• Format Options: Families are encouraged to attend in person at CES, but a virtual option is readily available for those unable to make it to the building.

The infographic below provides a step-by-step preview of how to respond to the invitation. We look forward to connecting with you!

As noted in our School Handbooks, Monomoy Regional School District is committed to developing a comprehensive program that provides support and services that address the five core competencies of social and emotional learning (SEL). This goal has been developed and supported by members of the school community in alignment with the district's strategic plan. The five core competencies of SEL are: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. In order to gain a better understanding of the needs of our students, assessment tools are used to obtain baseline data regarding the social and emotional competencies of the students in grades 3-12, including the SELIS and SSIS. These questionnaires are administered a few times a school year to collect data and identify trends. Data from student responses are collected and analyzed to assist in developing a strategy for implementing SEL throughout the curriculum as well as analyzing trends throughout the student body and school year. If you would like to opt your child out of participating in these questionnaires, please email Melissa Maguire at mmaguire@monomoy.edu by October 1, or within 30 days of enrollment.

At CES, we take immense pride in our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework, centered around our SHARKS values: Safe, Honest, Accepting, Respectful, Kind, and Successful.

One of the many ways we celebrate students who embody these expectations is through our SHARK ticket system. Whenever staff members observe students demonstrating SHARKS expectations, they award them a raffle ticket. Students write their name on the back and deposit it into their homeroom ticket box.

This tradition relies on the outstanding effort of our 4th Grade Ticket Counters, who showcase the core competencies of our Portrait of a Graduate as effective Communicators and Leaders. Every Friday, these dedicated student leaders voluntarily give up their recess to collect ticket boxes from every homeroom across the building, pull a lucky raffle winner from each class, and count each class's tickets.

Their hard work sets up an exciting start to the school week! On Monday mornings, class winners are celebrated during the morning announcements and invited to Dr. Kelly's office to select a special SHARK prize from the school treasure chest.

Taking our celebration one step further, at the end of every month, all tickets earned by each class are tallied together. Community partners Officer Charlie and Officer Joe treat the winning class to a pizza party as a celebration of their collective efforts! The monthly pizza party winners are officially announced to the entire school during our monthly SHARK Assembly.

We are deeply grateful to our 4th-grade students for giving up their recess in service of their fellow peers, and we are incredibly proud of how many tickets our students earn through their positive choices each day!

Being active is one of the best ways children can support their growing bodies and minds. For elementary aged children, physical activity isn't just about building strength and endurance but it can also help them feel happier, sleep better, concentrate in school, and develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

Children can get moving by riding a bike, dancing to their favorite music, playing tag, jumping rope, walking the dog, climbing at the playground, helping in the garden, or simply playing outside with friends and family.

Why movement matters

Regular physical activity can help children:

• Build strong bodies: Movement helps develop strong muscles and bones and supports healthy growth.

• Support learning: Active children may find it easier to focus, pay attention, and be ready to learn.

• Boost mood: Physical activity can help children manage stress and support positive mental well-being.

• Sleep better: Regular movement can contribute to healthy sleep habits.

• Support heart health: Being active helps keep the heart and cardiovascular system healthy.

• Develop important skills: Running, jumping, balancing, throwing, and climbing help children develop coordination and confidence.

• Build lifelong habits: When children learn that movement can be fun, they are more likely to carry an active lifestyle into the future.

Make movement part of everyday life

Rather than focusing on how many minutes a child exercises, try focusing on finding more opportunities to move throughout the day. Make it a family activity! Take a walk after dinner, have a dance party in the living room, choose the playground instead of the couch, or let your child help with active household tasks.

Most importantly, keep it fun and positive. Children don't need to be the fastest runner or the best athlete. Every child can benefit from moving their body, discovering activities they enjoy, and feeling proud of what their bodies can do.

This year, let's encourage our children to move, play, explore, and have fun! Small bursts of activity throughout the day can add up to big benefits for growing bodies and minds.

Did you know that every CES parent/guardian is automatically a member of our PTO? There are countless ways to support our school community throughout the year. Our first PTO meeting is coming up soon, and we would love to see you there!

Join us in the CES Library from 6:00–7:00 PM. For families who cannot attend in person, we will also provide virtual access so everyone can participate. Mark your calendars—we look forward to connecting with you!

PTO Meeting Dates:

• October 13
• November 10
• December 8
• January 12
• February 9
• March 9
• April 13
• June 8

Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 13th

The Town of Chatham wants to hear from all year-round and seasonal residents to better inform the work of staff and to provide feedback to the Select Board on the community's priorities!

The Survey will remain open until Sunday, November 15th but why wait! Take the survey today at https://tinyurl.com/vp924ubd.

We want to hear from you! We know that Monomoy is filled with great people - here's your chance to help highlight them! Our Staff Shoutouts recognize a member of our team each month, and nominations are now open. While it's still early in the school year, we're sure there are Sharks who have gone above and beyond - go to www.monomoy.edu/staffshoutout and tell us about them.

• Wednesday, October 7th - Early Release Day
• Monday, October 12th - No School - Indigenous Peoples/Columbus Day
• Tuesday, October 13th - CES PTO Meeting
• Wednesday, October 14th - SHARK Assembly
• Wednesday October 21st - Early Release Day

SHORE Food Pantry Begins September 10!
The SHORE Food Pantry at MRHS will begin serving all Monomoy families Thursday, September 10! The weekly pantry is open to everyone, and no sign-up is required. Families can simply drive up, fill their bags with the items they need, and take them home.

When & Where
Date: Every Thursday, beginning September 10
Time: 9:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Location: Monomoy Regional High School, Outside of Building B, Door 4
Families are welcome to stop by during the pantry hours and take what they need ... no registration or appointment necessary.

If you have any questions, contact Shana Grogan at sgrogan@monomoy.edu. In partnership with Stop & Shop, we look forward to supporting our families through the SHORE Food Pantry!

Email: jakelly@monomoy.edu
Website: http://ces.monomoy.edu/
Location: 147 Depot Road, Chatham, MA, USA
Phone: 508-945-5135
Facebook: facebook.com/ChathamElementarySchoolPto

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuaO-WElYPYfj1kU9LfhSzw
Instagram: ChathamElemMRSD