This is our last Cole Miners' Dig of the year! I hope you have enjoyed the weekly updates and reminders. It has been an amazing year! We have reached many goals this year, and we are so proud of our students' work! I am also proud to share that we were able to work together to decrease the number of students considered chronically absent from just over 9% last year to just under 3% this year. That is amazing work, Cole School! Thank you for your support in this area. Have a wonderful summer vacation! Now, we're off to recoup and recharge after we finish up on Monday.
This week has been a whirlwind of activity! Thank you to all the teachers and staff, parents and families, and the students for participating so enthusiastically in all the events! It takes a village, and our village is strong! Here are some of the events that took place this week:
Whales and Dolphins presentation for kindergarten students
Connections - Speak Up, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
Grade 5 Band concert
Grade 4 High Seas play
Grade 2 Field Trip to Norwell Pathways and Clipper Community Complex
Book Challenge Awards for Grades 3, 4, and 5
Grade 5 Field Trip to New England Aquarium
Grade 4 Tent Day
5th Grade Celebration
Grade 4 Geography Game with Neal Nichols
and many other fun activities organized by the classrooms.
I am happy to announce that Mr. Sam Tarr will be joining Cole School as the long term substitute for 3rd grade for the 2024-2025 school year. Mr. Tarr joined us during the pandemic as COVID aide and then he became a building aide working in every classroom and in various roles. During that time, he did a fantastic job covering multiple short term substitute roles in both special education and in a third grade classroom. He holds a teaching license in elementary education. He earned his undergraduate degree in journalism from Emerson College and a graduate degree in English from Bridgewater State University. Welcome aboard, Mr. Tarr!
After months of work, the placement process for the 2024-2025 school year is complete and class lists have been created for next year. Students will travel to their new classrooms on Monday, June 17th to meet their new teacher and see their new classmates for Move Up Day. There will be absolutely no changes to placement at this time. If your child is upset that they didn't get the teacher that they hoped they would get or friends that they had hoped they would be placed with, please use the moment as an opportunity to validate their disappointment and support them in understanding that it is an opportunity to build new friendships and connections with new teachers in the building.
It's the last week for Magnificent Meerkats until next year! We have been able to recognize over 600 students for their stellar behavior, kindness, helpfulness, inclusivity, perseverance, and growth in developing social/emotional skills since we started this at the end of January! It has become a weekly routine that students look forward to and enjoy! Here are a few of the reasons for nominations this week:
- She is the kindest, most loving and compassionate student! She goes above and beyond to show kindness to everyone. She is always helpful and caring.
- He is a very kind friend and is always willing to help anyone in the classroom. He is incredibly inquisitive and has a great vocabulary that he loves to share with his classmates during reading group time. He is always smiling and is up for anything!
Working on kicking, passing, trapping and playing with self control, all grades played a game of soccer. As a reward for their successful completion of the Healthy Snack and Fitness Program, second graders had a fitness field trip that included a walk along the Norwell Pathway and playtime at the CCC at Norwell High School. The goals of the program were to encourage physical activity and to eat healthy fruits and vegetables for snacks at school.
Overdue Books
If your child still has overdue books, please make an effort to return them or pay for them by Monday. Students who do not return/pay for books will still have a charge on their account in September and will not be allowed to check out books until it is resolved. Multiple overdue slips have been given to students. Lost books cost $15 each and can be paid to the Cole PTO; please email Ms. McGarry via email that payment has been made. I appreciate your help! If you have questions, please email Ms. McGarry at michelle.mcgarry@norwellschools.org.
Book Challenge for 2024-25
Calling all incoming 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students! If you want to get a head start on the next Cole School Book Challenge visit https://www.norwellschools.org/Page/7868 over the summer to read the instructions and view the bonus book list. Students may begin entering their books into the "Tracker" starting on July 1st. See below for award recipients for 2024! This year, third grade read the most and Gianna Nigro was our top reader! Congratulations on a great year of reading to all!
Summer Reading Plans
Every student in the school should have completed a summer reading plan, which lists books your child has thought of to read this summer. Plans will be going home today. Hanging the list in a prominent place at home will remind your student to read and to accomplish the two reading goals they set for themselves. Note: 5th grade students have also created a summer reading plan and have selected required reading from the incoming 6th grade reading list; view the list here for more options: https://www.norwellschools.org/Page/8318. Happy summer!
