Centennial Blue Jays

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

Greetings, Blue Jay Families!

Welcome to the new year at Centennial Elementary School. My name is Don Hakala and I have the privilege to serve as your child's new principal this year. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. I started my educational career in 1994 and have held a variety of positions, from teaching, behavioral specialist, elementary assistant principal and principal to high school principal. The majority of my time has been as elementary principal (for 8 years). My greatest joy is my family: my wife Christy (Clemens) Hakala and my three children, Natalie, Ben and Ethan. My wife grew up in the Eugene area and we wanted to have our children grow up in this community as well, so we have lived in Eugene for 19 years. I'm looking forward to meeting you and your children!

Looking forward to a great year!

Don Hakala

Aug 23: Popsicles on the Playground, 6 p.m.

Sep 1: Class lists posted, 4 p.m.

Sep 5: Bring student medications

Sep 5: Meet the Teacher, 4 p.m. (Also, drop off supplies, meet the principal.)

Sep 6: Grades 1-5 and kinders A-L start school

Sep 7: First day for kinders M-Z

Sep 8: No school for kinders only

Sep 8: Kindergarten class lists posted, 4 p.m.

Sep 11: All students arrive

Sep 12: PTO Meet & Greet, 6 p.m.

If you registered your student online and still need to get us paperwork, please either bring it by the office (Ms. Deb would love to chat with you) or take a picture and email it to her at deb.jolda@springfield.k12.or.us. Proof of address is required for every student. If you have special circumstances, just let Ms. Deb know and we can work with you. We also need any custodial paperwork, as well as birth certificates and immunization info for kinders.

You can find this year's school supply list on our website. If you need help with supplies, clothing, or any other resources, please let us know and Mrs. Gifford in the Family Center would be happy to help. Students can either bring in their supplies on the first day, or families can drop them off at our Meet the Teacher event on the 5th.

Families who live a mile or more away from school, OR on the south side of Centennial, are eligible for the bus. You must register to be added to the route. Kinders must be picked up by an authorized adult or authorized sibling in 3rd grade or higher.

The district's academic calendar can be found online. You can filter the view so that you just see your children's schools. Please note there are one or two early release days each month and plan needed day-care accordingly. Early release days are always spirit days, so stay tuned to find out what's coming up.

In addition to a new principal, this year we are welcoming Chiara Ihnat as our new 5th-grade teacher, replacing Mrs. Rankins who has moved out of the area. We also welcome Ilsa Trummer as our new speech teacher, replacing Wayne Burke who has retired.

Also new are our two blended classrooms. As it stands now, due to grade-level numbers, Mrs. Thorpe will be teaching a K/1 blend and Mrs. Tunnell will be teaching a 2/3 blend. Both teachers are highly skilled at providing instruction that is appropriate for each grade level, and a blended classroom allows teachers to accommodate a wide range of instruction.

Please take a moment to check out our spiffy new website. This is still going to be a solid place to look for information such as menus. Facebook is going to be your best bet for quick updates and photos. We also frequently send information via email, so be sure to check your email frequently. Many teachers use the Seesaw app to communicate. Stay tuned for info from your child's teacher about how to connect with them. Your child's teacher should always be your first point of contact with any classroom questions or concerns, but you can always call the office for general questions.

Please keep your child home if they are experiencing symptoms such as fever, cough, upset stomach, or headache. You can find guidelines here. Students must be symptom-free for 24 hours to return to school.

Remember, student medications, whether over-the-counter OR prescription, must be signed in with the health aide. Sept. 5 is a great day to take care of checking in your meds with Mrs. Quigley! Please bring the meds in their original packaging.

Hello Blue Jay families!

Please read through the following updates for important information about our school.

BELL SCHEDULE

8:00 Students may enter for breakfast. All others enter through the front doors to wait in the gym for class to start.

8:25 Students go to classes

8:35 Instruction begins (if you are tardy, you will need to check in at the office)

2:50 Dismissal bell

12:30 Dismissal on early release Fridays

Please do not drop students off prior to 8:00 as we do not have supervision available.

MEALS

• Free breakfast and lunch are available for all students.
• Doors open at 8:00 for school breakfast.
• Let us know if your student has dietary restrictions.

VOLUNTEERS

• Click this link and fill out the online form if you are interested in volunteering. If you already signed up last year, you do NOT need to sign up again! More great news - Covid shots are NOT required any longer. Please check with your child's teacher.

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL

• Kinders leave through the north main door. Grades 2 and 4 exit through the south main door, by the office. Grades 1, 3 and 5 exit on the south side.
  
• Parents and caregivers must remain on the west side of the upper driveway when walking students to school. Please, no dogs.
• Use the right-hand lane of lower driveway for vehicle drop-offs and pick-ups. Remain in your vehicle and pull forward as far as possible. Students will be called down to your vehicle.
• Vehicles may not enter the upper driveway during arrival (8:00-8:45) and dismissal (2:15-3:15).

STUDENT BEHAVIOR

• We expect our students to act safely, respectfully, responsibly and with kindness
• We do not condone inappropriate behavior towards other students or adults, whether on the playground, in the cafeteria, or in the classroom.
• Please help to remind your child of these school behavior expectations.
• Although your child may not see the consequences for another student's inappropriate behavior, this does not mean it isn't happening.

ATTENDANCE

• We take attendance very seriously. It's also important for students to arrive on time each day so as not to miss important instruction. Please try to schedule appointments for no-school days or after school hours. Please call the office if your child will not be in school.

STUDENT PHONES

• Students should not bring cell phones or other personal electronic devices to school
• If you feel your child must have a device with them, it must be kept turned off and stored in their backpack through the school day.
• Students may not have devices out during the day while in class or in other areas such as the playground and cafeteria.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

We'd like to know how we can help support our community. Please click here and take a minute or two to fill out this brief survey and give us your feedback.

Centennial has an outstanding PTO! We really appreciate all they do to support our staff and students at CES! We would love to have you participate with this group. Please check them out! Information page link.

September Kick-Off Meet & Greet

September 12 at 6:00

Families of all current students are asked to do the Annual Student Review in ParentVue each year to update student information. For those who already submitted their annual reviews, thank you! If you didn't upload a current proof of address (such as a current utility bill), it would be fabulous if you could email it to Ms. Deb or bring it by the office. During the school year, just give us a call if you need to update emergency contacts or other important information.

CALL US! We are always happy to help.

Please make sure your students wear appropriate clothes for school. For safety on the playground, and for PE, flip-flops and high heels should be saved for home.