AE Weekly Newsletter

As we welcome the month of November, it’s a wonderful time to pause, reflect, and give thanks for the people who make our school community so special.

I am incredibly grateful for our students, who come through our doors each day ready to learn, grow, and give their best. I am thankful for our families, who partner with us, support our school, and embrace the many opportunities and initiatives that help make AE a great place to learn. And I am especially grateful for our staff, who show up each day with dedication, compassion, and a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of our students.

A strong school community is built through the collective efforts of many, and I am fortunate to be surrounded by people who care so deeply about our students and our school. Thank you for the part you play in making AE a special place.

As we move through November, may we all take a little extra time to recognize the good around us and remember that there is always something to be thankful for.

We would like to encourage all families to sign up for and attend a conference with their child's teacher using the link below.

• If your child is in 5th or 6th grade, please sign up to see their homeroom teacher only. Information about all classes will be shared by this teacher.
• If your child receives special education supports, you may sign up for an additional conference with their case manager to receive updates on their progress.
• If you child receives reading or math intervention, you may sign up for a conference with Mrs. Leisey (reading) or Mrs. Iacavone (math) to learn about their growth.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or Mrs. Hoover!

Conference Sign-Up Link

All Veterans in the Annville-Cleona School District community are invited to attend a breakfast and special recognition to honor those who have served or are currently serving our country. Students who have parents or grandparents attending the breakfast are also invited to attend. Join us to say “thank you” to the Veterans for serving our country.

Please RSVP by going to this link or by contacting the Secondary School Office at 717-867-7700 by November 6, 2026.

Date of Recognition: Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Location: Annville-Cleona MS/HS Cafeteria

Time: Doors open at 7:45 am; breakfast & recognition begin at 8:00 am

Parking - will be available in front of the Secondary School in the lot.

Angel Tree is an opportunity to receive gift assistance for Christmas. Angel Tree is open to Annville-Cleona School District students and other preschool aged children who reside in their homes. Families must complete the Google Form by Friday November 6th, 2026.

Gifts will be available for pick up at the Annville-Cleona District Office on Wednesday December 16th and Thursday December 17th between 9 am and 3 pm.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Social Work Department: kscott@acschools.org or smerrill@acschools.org. Thank you!

Google Form: https://forms.gle/7cPk53wKdntoi7Ay5

Ensuring that our students feel safe and comfortable traveling to and from school is one of our top priorities. In a recent student survey, 52% of students reported experiencing moments when they did not feel safe on the bus. Students shared concerns including standing while the bus is moving, blocked aisles, excessive noise, inappropriate language, and items that are not permitted on the bus. We take this feedback seriously and are working together with our bus drivers and students to make every ride as safe and positive as possible.

Reinforcing Safe Choices

To support our drivers and reinforce expectations, building leaders will periodically review bus video footage to help identify concerns, recognize positive behavior, and address safety issues. Students who demonstrate safe and respectful riding habits will earn Dutchman Champion Tickets. When unsafe or inappropriate behavior occurs, students will receive a bus discipline referral in accordance with school expectations and procedures.

Introducing the Golden Bus Award!

We are excited to launch our monthly Golden Bus Award! Each month, we will recognize the bus that demonstrates a strong commitment to safety, respect, and responsibility. Buses with zero discipline referrals and exemplary student behavior will earn the Golden Bus title for that month. Students riding the winning bus will receive a pass for a special treat from the cafeteria. Every student has a role in helping their bus succeed, and each new month brings another opportunity to work toward this recognition!

Partnering with Families

Families play an important role in helping students develop safe and respectful bus habits. Brief, positive conversations with your child after school can reinforce expectations and help students reflect on how their choices affect the driver and fellow passengers.

As a reminder, students are expected to:

• Remain seated with their backs against the seat and their bottoms on the seat while the bus is moving.

• Keep the center aisle clear at all times.

• Use a conversational voice level so the driver can focus on driving safely.

• Keep food, drinks, toys, and electronic devices stored in their backpacks unless an item is specifically permitted.

Here are a few questions you can ask your child to encourage reflection and reinforce these expectations at home:

• Did you stay seated and keep the aisle clear during your bus ride today?

• Did you use a voice level that allowed the driver to concentrate and everyone to ride comfortably?

• Did you keep your belongings stored safely in your backpack?

• How did you show respect to your bus driver and the other students riding with you?

• What is one safe or respectful choice you made today? How did it help make the ride better for everyone?

Thank you for partnering with us to make safe, respectful bus rides a priority. By working together, we can help every student feel more comfortable on the bus and make the ride a positive part of each school day!

Picture retake is coming up on November 6th! If you would like your child to retake their photo from the start of the year, please have them pick up a flyer from the main office.

Volunteers are needed to help the day run successfully! Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D48AEAD2FA6FD0-66869005-pottery#/

Our Butter Braids & Cake Rolls Fundraiser is BACK! This is our THIRD year hosting this fundraiser, and it’s always a crowd favorite! Whether you’re stocking up for the holidays or grabbing a treat for the family, we appreciate every order supporting AC PTO! ❤️

📅 IMPORTANT DATES:

* Order Forms Due: Friday, November 13th
* Order Pickup: Monday, November 23rd
* Pickup Time: 4–6 PM
* Pickup Location: Cleona Elementary School

🎉 NEW THIS YEAR! ONLINE SHIPPING!

Friends and family near and far can now support our fundraiser without having to coordinate pickup!

By creating an online store, you can share your personal fundraising link and allow friends and family to purchase select NON-FROZEN items (including Granola Bites, Popcorn, and Dog Treats) that will ship directly to their homes!

🚨 A quick reminder: Shipping is ONLY available for non-frozen items. Butter Braids and Cake Rolls must still be picked up at Cleona Elementary School and hand-delivered by the student/parent.

🛒 Ready to start shopping?
https://store.myfundraisingplace.com/77b46879-c2b3-4809-8b08-6d78f14e7c4c

Questions? Reach out to us at annvillepto@gmail.com.

Thank you for continuing to support our schools, students, and AC PTO! Your support makes a difference! 🫶

Turn everyday patterns into a math adventure! Encourage your child to look for patterns, make predictions, and explain the rules they notice.

Pattern Detective: Find a pattern at home—in floor tiles, a fence, clothing, or objects on a shelf. Ask your child to describe the pattern and predict what comes next.

Build a Number Pattern: Start with a number and create a sequence by adding, subtracting, or multiplying the same amount each time. For example: 4, 8, 12, 16… What comes next? Can your child create a pattern for you to solve?

Which One Doesn’t Belong? Say four numbers, such as 12, 18, 24, and 31. Ask your child which number doesn’t belong and why. There may be more than one reasonable answer, so encourage your child to explain their thinking.

• 11/5/26 - AE Centennial Celebration
• 11/6/26 - Picture Re-Take Day
• 11/11/26 - A-C Veteran's Day Breakfast
• 11/11/26 - PTO Meeting
• 11/23/26 - No School for Students/Parent-Teacher Conferences 1:00-8:00
• 11/24/26 - No School for Students/Parent-Teacher Conferences 8:00-3:00
• 11/25/26-11/27/26 - No School/Thanksgiving Break

Directing questions and/or concerns to the appropriate person(s) encourages greater collaboration and streamlines the process of answering questions, alleviating concerns, and ensuring that we are all “on the same page”. Please use the document, linked here, to help identify your first contact (and additional points of contact if necessary).

Don't forget to check out the Community Bulletin Page on the District Website for the many events happening in our A-C Community linked here!

Follow Us on X (formally Twitter): @AnnvilleElem

Annville Elementary Website