Centennial Blue Jays

Email: deb.jolda@springfield.k12.or.us
Website: https://www.springfield.k12.or.us/Centennial
Location: 1315 Aspen Street, Springfield, OR, USA
Phone: 541 744-6383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentennialBlueJays

The weather is getting chillier and our students, and staff, are looking forward to the winter break. We always enjoy checking in with so many of you during conferences and appreciate the opportunity to connect with you. Please take time to review your student's progress report and encourage them as they continue to learn and grow.

The most important way for our students to get the most out of their school experience is to make sure they are at school, on time, every day. Much of the learning at school is the result of direct teaching and guided practice which is difficult to replicate as make-up work. Of course, if your child is ill, they do need to stay home and our wonderful teachers will provide alternative learning opportunities for them via Seesaw.

During the month of December, we will focus on the positive character traits of Gentleness and Compassion. Asking your student about these character traits would make great conversations!

Empathy is making an effort to understand how someone else is feeling, even when you aren't in the same situation. The expression "walking in their shoes" means that you try to see things from the other person's point of view, and imagine how you would feel in those circumstances. Here are some simple ideas for teaching your child empathy.

December 1 Grading Day - no school

December 2-3 Conferences - no school

December 10 Early Release (Pajama Day)

December 20-January 3 Winter Break

January 4 Students return

Thanks to Mrs. Phillips, our wonderful library aide, CES has been awarded a Reading is Fundamental grant! This grant will enable us to provide books for children to have their own books to take home.

You can support our school district by applying for an open position!

SPS has openings for:

• educational assistants
• bus drivers
• custodians
• substitute teachers

You can find these, and more, open positions on the district website by clicking on this link and then scrolling down to the bottom of the page where you will find a number of different options.

Please screen your child for any symptoms of illness every day. If your student has any of these symptoms, please keep them at home and let the office know. Students who exhibit any of these symptoms while at school will be removed from class and will need to be picked up. Students may return to school ONLY when they have been fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication. If a student, or close family member, tests positive for COVID-19, you will be given specific quarantining instructions by Lane County Health Authority regarding a return date.

Thank you for helping to keep all of us as safe and healthy as possible!

The Springfield Public Library is once again holding their bookmark contest. Entries are due by 7:00 on January 3. Please see the details below:

1. Bookmark designs should fit our 2022 Summer Reading Theme, “Read Beyond the Beaten Path”, or be about books, reading, and/or libraries.

2. Your design must fit inside the box.

3. Use ONLY colored pencils or markers. Please do not use crayons or other media.

4. Your design must be your own, original work.

5. Bookmarks may be submitted in any SPL book drop or to SPL staff while the library is open. (wheremindsgrow.org for hours of operation)

6. One entry per person in grades K-12.

Please include your:

1. name

2. phone number

3. teacher

4. grade

5. school

Winners will receive an oversized print of their bookmark in addition to a stack of their bookmarks to share.

Turn in to:

SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC LIBRARY

225 5th Street, Suite 301 Springfield, OR 97477 541-726-3766/wheremindsgrow.org

Primary Contact: Taylor Worley, Youth Librarian

tworley@springfield-or.gov/541-726-2243

Happy Holidays to each member of our Centennial family! We are so fortunate to have a community that blends so many traditions and cultures and brings different perspectives to our days. Although our celebrations may differ, we find commonality in loving and supporting our students and our efforts to give them rich and meaningful experiences at school and home.

During December, most of you will have the opportunity to meet with your student's teacher and hear about your student's progress and learning goals for the next trimester. We appreciate your work with our classroom teachers and specialists to support those goals and growth!

As 2021 winds down, I find myself feeling so much gratitude for our CES staff, students, and community! This is truly a special place and I am grateful to share in the education of our students. I wish you all the best as you celebrate the season and look forward to a happy 2022!

Sincerely,

Principal Williams