Cottonwood News

We had a great September, settling into our routines and finding our way with new students and some new staff members. We’ve celebrated a couple of rounds of Adler All-Stars and look forward to finding kids who demonstrate Responsibility this month!

October brings us parent-teacher conferences and our fundraiser - the two main priorities this month. Conferences will be Oct.14, 15, and 21. You should receive an email from your child’s teacher about signing up. We look forward to sharing our insights into your child’s education and day here at CES, and hearing from you regarding the child you see at home.

The fundraiser is going well - thank you for being so generous and supportive of our students and teachers at CES. This is our only significant fundraiser of the year, and our goal is to raise $25,000 for the school. We are already so close! This money pays for transportation for field trips, grants for teachers, projects, and larger pieces of equipment for the school. We are hoping to get some new basketball goals this year, and maybe add some shade to the playground, and all of that is possible with your help! The fundraiser will culminate in an, “I like to Move It!!” day on Friday, Oct. 10th. We hope you’ll participate and enjoy the fun along the way as we look to raise funds for CES!

Enjoy the start of this beautiful season, and we’ll look forward to seeing you at parent-teacher conferences, the 3rd/4th music program, the hockey game on the 18th where our singers will perform the National Anthem, at Cheerleader Night at the AHS game on the 3rd, at CES Trojan in Training Night at the game on the 10th, I Like to Move It Day, or somewhere along the way!

With education at heart,

Dr. Michelle Adler
Principal

Teachers will be sending out a letter for parents to sign up. When attending conferences, please be on time and plan not to run over the 15-20 minutes that have been set aside for each parent. If a longer conference is required, please let the teacher know ahead of time.

Conferences:

Tuesday, October 14, 4:00 - 8:00 pm

Wednesday, October 15, 4:00 - 6:00 pm

Tuesday, October 21, 4:00 - 8:00 pm

Dear Cottonwood Families,

Parent-teacher conferences are just around the corner, and we’d love your help showing our teachers how much we appreciate them! These are long, important days, and we want to make sure our staff feels cared for and energized.

We have two opportunities to contribute:

1. Snacks & drinks for the teacher lounge.
We’re stocking the lounge with grab-and-go items to keep teachers fueled throughout the day.
We are asking for:

• Snacks (chips, pretzels, cookies, granola bars, fruit, etc.)

• 2-liter bottles of soda (dark sodas preferred, Diet Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper, etc.)

Items can be sent with your student or dropped off at the school office on or prior to Tuesday, October 14th. Sign-up HERE:

2. Help with the ice-cream sundae party on Oct. 29th.
This Sign-Up Genius will show you some ways you can help!

Thanks for supporting our teachers and students during this busy month!

Sincerely,

Your PTO Officers

This fundraiser, to raise $25,000, is crucial in the support of field trips, teacher grants and purchases, playground equipment, and other items to support the CES school community.

To make registering even easier, here is the link to the registration form so you and your child are ready to go! If you registered last year, it’s the same format and you should be able to log in.

To view your gallery, text your student's private access code to 90738. You should have received an email from Photoday with the access code. If you didn't get it, please email Pete Iseman Photography at wichitaphoto@gmail.com.

You could also go to https://my.photoday.com/s/iseman/cottonwood to view all yearly galleries. Log in using the student first name, last name and student ID.

Fall classroom parties will be held Friday, October 31st.

Regarding costumes, the following is requested:

• Costumes must be brought to school in a sack and students will put them on at their party time.
  
• Students should not wear costumes that are frightening or gruesome.
• Imitation weapons and masks are NOT permitted.
  
• Do not bring makeup and hair spray to school.
  
• Students will return to their street clothes before dismissal.
  
  

More info to come for party times!

The campaign's mission is to encourage children, families and communities to live healthy, happy and drug-free lives. It also serves as a reminder that we are all empowered with shaping the communities around us through positivity, bravery, and strength. We hope the theme encourages everyone to express themselves and their feelings no matter what.

This year's theme is: "Life Is A Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free"

Monday, Oct. 20: Put Drugs To Sleep - Wear your favorite PJs or slippers

Tuesday, Oct. 21: Tussle Drugs - Crazy hair day

Wednesday, Oct. 22: Twinning Is Winning - Dress like your friend

Thursday, Oct. 23: Sock It Up To Drugs - Wear your crazy socks

Friday, Oct. 24: Team up Against Drugs - Wear a Cottonwood shirt or favorite jersey

I am also doing a poster contest for Red Ribbon Week. If your child would like to design a poster for this year's theme (Life Is A Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free), have them turn it in to my office by October 23rd.

Congratulations to the students who were selected for 2025-2026 Student Council!

Officers

President - Parker Lang
Vice President - Paul Serafine
Secretary - Claire Innes
Treasurer - Cheyanne Mallinson

Class Representatives

Mrs. Defebaugh, 5th: Jianna Wright, Max Dedrick

Mrs. Dooley, 5th: William McCully, Brooks Rawleigh
Ms. Puckett, 5th: Bellamy Hayes, Sophie Martin, Adalyn Trickle

Mrs. Espinoza, 4th: Porfirio Olmos Angel, Estelle Wannemacher
Mrs. Highfill, 4th: Brody King, Brynnlee McCombs

Ms. Rust, 4th: Olivia Dedrick, Adelyn Jung

Student Council runs a school store every Tuesday morning, starting at 8:30 am, outside the cafeteria. Students can bring money to purchase a variety of items including erasers, pencils, pens, highlighters, puddy, fidgets, etc. Prices range from $.50 to $2.00. Proceeds from the store help to support our classroom teachers and service projects throughout the year.

November 10-21, 2025

Kind Regards,

Marcie Faust, LCPC/NBCC

Cottonwood Counselor
316-218-4620 ext. 2

faustm@usd385.org

The health office has been busy reviewing health files, and making sure immunizations and health histories are up to date. If you received a letter in the mail about missing documents, and you have a question please call or email me at RebelD@usd385.org. Please make sure to check your student’s take home folder regularly for any messages from the health office.

Vision and hearing screenings have begun in the health office. The health office will only contact parents if there is a concern and a referral letter is being mailed out to parents. If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s vision, please contact the health office.

Now is the time to practice preventative measures to avoid getting sick this season. Please consult your physicians about getting annual flu shots and/or Covid shots/boosters.

One of the best preventive things that you can do is WASH, WASH, WASH those hands and WASH them again! It may sound like something so simple, but the Mayo Clinic reports that “Hand washing, when done properly, is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick.”.

• The key is lathering the soap well and rubbing your hands vigorously for 15-20 seconds and covering all the areas including under fingernails.
• This may be a difficult task to get your children to do but if you can make it fun by using colored or fragrant soap or by using the Happy Birthday or ABC song to time the length of scrubbing and make it fun.
• Teaching proper hand washing, along with proper respiratory etiquette including sneezing and coughing into your sleeve or into a tissue, can provide you and your family with the best defense possible against illness.
• Do not forget, keeping a travel-size hand sanitizer on you, in your car and/or backpack is also a good practice to help keep hands clean when out and about and the sink is not handy.
  
  

The health office is in need of boys underwear sizes 8-10 and 10-14.

Thanks,

Denise Rebel, School Nurse
rebeld@usd385.org

1. If you choose to pick-up (or drop-off) in the front of the school, you MUST park, get out of your car, and walk to the entrance to be matched with your child or drop them off. Dr. Adler will be monitoring this carefully in the upcoming days. We CANNOT have cars driving through the front lanes to pick up or drop off kids; it is too unsafe. If you do not want to exit your vehicle, please use the car rider line in the back.
   
   

2. We will have our car rider students start standing near cones so they can see the cars and match with the correct tag. This will be a shift, but we believe a good one. Cars will pull up to the cones, and your student should be very nearby to get in quickly and get you on your way. This should lessen the congestion we see where students aren’t looking. Teachers will be directing cars to pull up, so please look for them to guide you.

   If your child is a car-rider, please make sure you have a car tag. If you don’t, please drive to the front, park, and walk to the entrance. Dr. Adler or another adult will match you with your child. If you need a car tag, please call the office to request one. (316) 218-4620
   
   

   
   

Our goal is to make pick-up and drop-off not only safe, but efficient. For that to happen we need everyone to follow the procedures. Thank you for partnering with us to keep your children safe as they enter and exit the building.

October 3: Cheerleader Night at the AHS football game
October 6: 5th to Starbase Trip
October 9: 3rd and 4th Music Program
October 10: Trojan in Training Day and CES Move It Day
October 14: Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4 - 8 pm
October 15: Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4 - 6 pm
October 16: 5th to Starbase Trip
October 17: NO SCHOOL - Teacher Flex Day

October 18: CES sings National Anthem at Thunder hockey game
October 20: 5th to Starbase Trip
October 21: Picture Retakes
October 21: Parent/Teacher Conferences, 4 - 8 pm
October 24: Grades Posted
October 27: 5th to Starbase Trip
October 31: Fall Classroom Parties

Cottonwood has several ways in which we try to communicate our news and views to the world.

School website: http://cottonwood.usd385.org/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CottonwoodElementary

PTO Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cottonwoodelementarypto/

Andover Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndoverSchools
Andover Schools Mobile App in either iTunes or Google
PowerSchool School Messenger

Peachjar is an “electronic backpack” system where schools post calendars, activity information from enrichment providers, and school letters. This system is used exclusively for distribution of school-approved fliers. Your email address will not be shared or used for any other purpose.

Email: adlerm@usd385.org
Website: http://cottonwood.usd385.org/
Location: 1747 N Andover Rd, Andover, KS, United States
Phone: 316-218-4620