Colonial Park Weekly News
October 13 - October 16
Principal's Note
Dear Colonial Park Families -
I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weekend!
School Picture Day was a huge success, and photos will be uploaded this week. For our students who were absent, or if you decide to have your child retake their photo, Picture Retake Day will be on Friday, November 6. I am attaching the link to the available packages below. If you have any questions, please contact Patrik at patrik@schoolartstudio.com.
Picture Day Information, Thursday, October 8
Translated Picture Day Information, Thursday, October 8
Our kindergarten Beginning of the Year Data Meeting will be tomorrow, and small groups for students will start this week. Early literacy screening letters will be sent home by Friday to the families of any child who scored in the intensive range on the DIBELS mClass assessment. In the fall of kindergarten, it is not uncommon for students’ scores to be lower because these skills have not yet been explicitly taught in our curriculum. We generally see substantial student progress after a few months of instruction.
Our SPS community is excited to host our Second Annual Confetti Festival on Tuesday, October 20, at Spartan Place in Stoneham High School. A number of tables will be set up to celebrate all the wonderful things happening in our schools, including a table all about Colonial Park School. Please come by and say hello between 5:30 and 8:00...we would love to see your family. School Resource Officer Pacini will also be there with Monty, if you would like to meet the cutest little comfort pup ever!
Upcoming dates for the next weeks of October:
- Tuesday, October 20 - Second Annual Confetti Festival
- Thursday, October 22 - Goldie Gathering for all Colonial Park staff and students. All staff and students are encouraged to wear their CP or Stoneham Spiritwear or a favorite blue shirt.
- Thursday, October 22 - PTO sponsored Pumpkin Patch in the library.
- Friday, October 23 - Early Release Day for all SPS students.
- Friday, October 30 - Spirit Day with a Twist (see next section of newsletter for more information)
- Saturday, October 31 - PTO sponsored Trunk or Treat, 10:00 to 12:00.
On Friday, October 23, we will have an Early Release Day for all SPS students. Our preschool students will be dismissed at 11:40 and students in grades K-4 will be dismissed at 12:00.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week!
Best,
Rosa Flynn
Half-A-Million Minutes Reading Challenge - September Excitement!
Colonial Park students had an amazing first month, and our students read 105,575 minutes in September! Every class logged at least 5,000 minutes, with Ms. Leydon’s class earning the Super Reader Class trophy and 3rd grader Michael Bellovada named September’s Super Reader, winning a Nova Malden pass for himself and a friend!
We can't wait to celebrate these accomplishments and recognize the top three readers in each grade at the October 22 Goldie Gathering. We’ll also celebrate reaching 100,000 minutes as a school with a school-wide popsicle party during lunch on October 22. Students who requested Stoneham Public Library cards will receive them by the end of the month.
For October, every student who reads at least 200 minutes will be entered to win an Xtreme Craze pass in Woburn for themselves and 4 friends! When Colonial Park reaches 200,000 total minutes, the whole school earns a Pajama Day!
Remember:
Every minute counts! Our students can enjoy reading a book to themselves, aloud to someone special, listen to an audiobook or on epic or being read to them by a reader. We are celebrating reading in all ways!
Spirit Day with a Twist - Friday, October 30
We will be celebrating October 30 here at Colonial Park with our second annual Spirit Day with a Twist! Our staff and students are encouraged to wear their favorite CP/Stoneham spiritwear (similar to on Goldie Gathering Days), but with a personal twist.
This can be a part of their Halloween costume, such as a cape, a skirt or pants, a hat, jewelry, a crown, or something else they'd like to wear, including a funky hat or socks, a fun hair do, a hula skirt or tutu...anything to add a twist!
No masks or weapons please.
Arabic Spirit Day with a Twist
PTO News
*Next PTO Meeting - Tuesday, October 13th at 7 p.m. Join us in the school library or virtually here: https://meet.google.com/chq-fcuy-mwd
Check out the agenda ahead of time here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Fai-XJH9a5KteFDk4tCFs6fVU1aadOqpeuVpnaZq7m4/edit?tab=t.0
*Charlie's On Main - Wednesday, October 21st Take a break from cooking and support Colonial Park at our first 'dining out' event of the year! Order from local restaurant, Charlie's on Main, mention Colonial Park and the PTO gets a percentage back of your order total! Win win!
*Half-Day Hangout - NOVA (Malden) - Friday, October 23rd 12:30-3:30 p.m. Join us at Malden NOVA anytime between 12:30-3:30pm to jump and play with your school mates. If we have at least 20 jumpers (friends and siblings welcome) the PTO will receive 15% of sales for everyone who mentions Colonial Park PTO at check in. Hope to see you there!
All things Halloween!
*Next Halloween Planning Meeting - Wednesday, October 14th at 7 p.m. - we are off to a spooktacular start with planning the CP Halloween festivities! All are welcome to join us virtually to continue planning. meet.google.com/itc-ztme-jfj
*Pumpkin Patch - October 22nd during school hours
Want to volunteer to help set up the Patch or with your child’s class? Sign up here: Pumpkin Patch Signup
We are still looking for additional sponsors to help offset the cost of the pumpkin patch. If you have a business that is interested in sponsoring this fantastic event, please email colonialparkpto@gmail.com for more details!
*Halloween Trunk or Treat event - Saturday, October 31st, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (rain date 11/1)
Candy Donations Needed! The PTO is asking for help in supplying each trunk with candy for our Trunk or Treat event. If you are able, please send a bag of candy in with your child over the next couple weeks - the ‘Candy Monster’ will be taking donations in the front lobby! Additional details can be found on the flyer going home in backpacks this week.
The Candy Monster will be outside at drop off on Thursday, October 15th for any parents that want to drop off candy donations! Raffle Items Needed! The PTO will be hosting a spooktacular raffle with many fun items at our Trunk or Treat event. Have an item, gift basket or gift card you would like to donate? Or perhaps, you would like to help by reaching out to local businesses for donations? We would love your help! Please email: www.colonialparkpto.com
Trunks Wanted! We are off to a great start with trunk sign ups, but we need more! You can sign up to decorate your car here: Trunk or Treat Signup
Keep watch in next week's PTO Happenings newsletter for volunteer opportunities at our Trunk or Treat event!
Preschool News - Stoneham Early Learning Center at Colonial Park
We are SO EXCITED to welcome Ms. Kelsey back tomorrow to Room 104! Ms. Jess will travel all the way next door to Room 101 on Thursday, and she and Ms. Kelsey will work together to transition the classroom on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is such a win for Colonial Park to have both of these exceptional educators supporting our students.
Below please find the link to this week's Friday Update from Danielle Tucker, SELC Director.