Cardinal Connection...

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Saddle up Cardinals - the Costello Ball for Y’all will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026 and TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO BUY TICKETS!!

BUY TICKETS HERE:

https://stage-a-stellar-event-18282.cheddarup.com

This year all ticket orders will be placed online with options to pay with credit card, cash, or check made out to “Costello PTO” at checkout. You will receive e-tickets to your email which can be saved to your Apple or Google wallets!

If your family has not had the opportunity to attend before, it is absolutely one of the best nights for the Costello Community - don't miss out! Check out photos and videos from previous years on the PTO Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/764126304704451/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT

If you have any questions or concerns about the Ball before buying your tickets, please reach out to Amanda Haverty-Harris at ahavertyharris@gmail.com.

You sounded amazing, a terrific performance, well done 5th graders!

I am meeting with buddy classes over this month and next to share the lessons I learned from running my first marathon in November. Ideal way to tie in new year's resolutions and goal setting. Ask your child what he/she learned, remembers from this visit.

- How did Dr. DiPonio use the Cardinal Traits during her training?

- What small steps can you take to achieve your big goals?

- What were some unexpected things that Dr. DiPonio ran into?

- About how many laps around the bus loop is 1 mile? (19)

- If a marathon is 26.2 miles, about how many loops would you need to make around the bus loop to equal a marathon? (138,336)

- Why is it important to tell others what your goal is? How can an accountability partner can help you reach your goal?

- If you stick with your plan and do the small stuff you will be able to accomplish your big goals, what is a goal/new year's resolution do you want to accomplish?

- Share goals with your children that you have set, how you struggled and succeeded and what you learned along the way.

Dear Families,

Over the past few years, the Troy School District has implemented the NWEA MAP growth 6+ Mathematics assessment in our middle schools, and this year we have expanded this math only assessment. While this work remains ongoing, we are encouraged by the valuable insights it provides, helping us better understand how each student is growing academically in mathematics.

Based on this progress, we will expand NWEA MAP growth Math testing to include students from third grade through fifth grade. It’s important to note that MAP growth is not a test of mastery. Rather, it is a personalized, computer-adaptive assessment designed to measure each student’s current level of understanding and track their academic growth over time.

Our first NWEA mathematics assessment will be happening next week either Tuesday the 20th or during the half days in January; the 21st, 22nd and 23rd. This will help us establish a baseline that shows how students are performing in relation to peers across the country. This baseline helps teachers and schools identify strengths and areas for growth, while also giving the district valuable insight into how our math programming is meeting students’ needs. By examining this information alongside classroom assessments and instructional data, we can make informed decisions about curriculum, resources, and support systems to ensure every learner continues to grow.

Elementary level NWEA Mathematics MAP assessments will be administered this winter, as well as this spring. The Math test typically taking 45-60 minutes. This assessment provides teachers and administrators with valuable information about student growth. When combined with unit assessments, checkpoints, and daily classroom interactions, this data helps teachers further target instruction to both extend and support learners, while also guiding district efforts to continually strengthen our math programs.

Unlike the state-mandated M-STEP, which measures achievement once a year, MAP focuses on academic growth, giving us a clearer picture of how students develop throughout the school year and beyond.

Families play an essential role in supporting their children’s success. We encourage discussing math in everyday life, ensuring adequate rest and nutrition before testing, and fostering a positive mindset about the assessments as tools for growth.

For more information, please visit NWEA Parent Toolkit, which includes helpful resources and tips for supporting your child’s learning. Additionally, you can watch this short informational video to learn more about MAP growth.

Link to Video

We remain committed to partnering with families and educators to ensure all learners achieve their individual potential.

🎉 Celebrating 20 Years of Giving Back! 🎉

The 20th Annual Costello Elementary Night Auction is coming up on March 13, 2026, and we’re inviting local businesses to be part of this milestone year.

Our sponsorship packages offer a meaningful way to support our students while gaining visibility with hundreds of local families. From Presenting Sponsor to Friend of Costello, there’s an option for every business to get involved.

✨ Support our students

✨ Support our school

✨ Support our community

Scan the QR code or email jmpomilia@gmail.com to become a sponsor today!

Full Day of School on Tuesday, January 20th

January 21, 22, 23 - Half Days - Dismissal 1:00

Oliver, Eli, Tia, Arjun, Connor, Jodelle

I hope your families had a terrific break and made lots of special memories!

We have had a busy and positive start to the year! The kids seemed excited to be back in their Cardinal nest this week! Looking forward to making our second half of the school season the best yet. I am sure the Lions wish they could have done this! As a staff we kicked off by revisiting our vision board.

Thank you families for all you do to positively support our school. Together, we strive to create a strong sense of belonging; balance grace with accountability, and grow a learning community that feels happy, relaxed, and deeply engaged for all.

Your actions, support and volunteerism make a difference. Looking forward to a strong 2026 together!

It has been a wild weather week! The Cardinals LOVE outdoor recess with their friends. Thank you for continuing to send your students to school with the correct weather gear so they can enjoy the fresh air. Don't forget to label EVERYTHING!!

Hosanna entered the Clean Water Calendar contest. Her artwork was chosen and is featured in February. Well done!

Please consider nominating a Costello teacher who has made a significant contribution to your child(ren). For full details on requirements and how to nominate, please visit the nomination form. Nominations must be submitted by January 12, 2026 at 5 p.m. for consideration.

Mrs. Wonsowicz will be moving into a new role as Resource Room teacher starting next week. Mrs. Waak will be moving to the role of Teacher Consultant at Costello and Morse, congratulations to both of you, we are very fortunate to have you both as part of our specialist team!

Welcome Sydney Wallace, Ms. Wallace will be the long-term substitute for Mrs. Wonsowicz kindergarten. This transition week is going very smooth. Also, please welcome Ms. Merchant, she will be student teaching with Mrs. Chojancki. We are thankful to be growing our team to support our Cardinals!

Dear Troy School District Families,

We hope you had a restful winter break! As we begin 2026, we want to share important updates regarding recent Michigan Department of Education (MDE) legislation and how it will shape literacy instruction in our district.

In 2024, Governor Whitmer signed Public Act 146, commonly referred to as the K–12 Literacy and Dyslexia Laws. This legislation is designed to improve literacy rates across Michigan through the Science of Reading and includes requirements for professional learning, assessments, interventions, and curriculum selection.

One immediate component of PA 146 is K–5 reading curriculum selection. On December 18, MDE released its initial list of evidence-based, class-wide elementary reading curricula. The State created the list to indicate curricula which are aligned to the Science of Reading and likely to produce desired literacy outcomes. This list will be evolving with additional opportunities for publishers to submit their curricula for review. Our K-5 reading Units of Study were not submitted for review by the publisher and accordingly are not included on the current MDE-approved list.

While we are proud of our strong academic results—from having the top-scoring cohort of 3rd grade readers on the MSTEP in Oakland County to having many schools recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools—we are also committed to continuous improvement; therefore, the Troy School District will pilot elementary reading curricula from the MDE-approved list during the 2026–2027 school year, with full implementation of the selected resource in 2027–2028. To ensure continuity of learning, our middle schools will follow the same timeline for adopting new reading and writing curricula. We are confident that high-quality literacy instruction will continue throughout the pilot process.

Proposed Timeline for Literacy Adoption:

• Winter 2026 – Collect perception and academic data
• Spring 2026 – Develop literacy vision and evaluation criteria
• Fall 2026 – Preview suggested pilot materials
• Fall 2026 – Winter 2027 – Pilot new materials
• Spring 2027 – Recommend new curricula to school board

We have already begun gathering feedback from our teachers and invite you to share your input as well by completing this optional survey. Your perspective is important as we work together to enhance literacy for all Troy students.

In partnership,

David Recker, Director of Teaching & Learning
Kris Griffor, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Instruction

Christine DiPilato, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Instruction

Dear Families,

Over the past few years, the Troy School District has implemented the NWEA MAP growth 6+ Mathematics assessment in our middle schools, and this year we have expanded this math only assessment. While this work remains ongoing, we are encouraged by the valuable insights it provides, helping us better understand how each student is growing academically in mathematics.

Based on this progress, we will expand NWEA MAP growth Math testing to include students from third grade through fifth grade. It’s important to note that MAP growth is not a test of mastery. Rather, it is a personalized, computer-adaptive assessment designed to measure each student’s current level of understanding and track their academic growth over time.

Our first NWEA mathematics assessment will be during the half days in January; the 21st, 22nd and 23rd. This will help us establish a baseline that shows how students are performing in relation to peers across the country. This baseline helps teachers and schools identify strengths and areas for growth, while also giving the district valuable insight into how our math programming is meeting students’ needs. By examining this information alongside classroom assessments and instructional data, we can make informed decisions about curriculum, resources, and support systems to ensure every learner continues to grow.

Elementary level NWEA Mathematics MAP assessments will be administered this winter, as well as this spring. The Math test typically taking 45-60 minutes. This assessment provides teachers and administrators with valuable information about student growth. When combined with unit assessments, checkpoints, and daily classroom interactions, this data helps teachers further target instruction to both extend and support learners, while also guiding district efforts to continually strengthen our math programs.

Unlike the state-mandated M-STEP, which measures achievement once a year, MAP focuses on academic growth, giving us a clearer picture of how students develop throughout the school year and beyond.

Families play an essential role in supporting their children’s success. We encourage discussing math in everyday life, ensuring adequate rest and nutrition before testing, and fostering a positive mindset about the assessments as tools for growth.

For more information, please visit NWEA Parent Toolkit, which includes helpful resources and tips for supporting your child’s learning. Additionally, you can watch this short informational video to learn more about MAP growth.

Link to Video

We remain committed to partnering with families and educators to ensure all learners achieve their individual potential.

Costello School was selected to participate in the NAEP Test. This is for 4th graders only. Please click the PDF below for more information on this test.

M-STEP Grades 3, 4, 5 students will participate

Testing Window: April 6 – May 15, 2026

Specific dates for Costello will be determined next month.

We hope you can make it to the next Costello PTO meeting this Monday, January 12th at 7:00 in the Media Center. Childcare will be provided, and the link to the virtual option to join is below. We will be discussing upcoming events as well some budget items. We hope to see you all there!

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 266 441 058 492 9

Passcode: R88Jt6zn

Thank you to our district for capturing these terrific photos, enjoy!

Wishing all of our families a winter break filled with tradition and special family time. The holidays are a good time to reflect on all there is to be thankful for. I am grateful for the love and support that surrounds our unique Costello Family. Thank you Costello families, for being such a caring community.

We are so glad that it worked out for the holiday parties to happen yesterday. We can't control the weather, but did not want the students to miss out on creating these special memories. We appreciate you adjusting your schedules and for those who stepped up to help. Thank you to our Room Parent Coordinator, Jamie Kaniarz, for all of your coordinating, what a team!!

Winter Wonderland IS on for today! We are anticipating cold and windy conditions, please be sure your children are dressed for the weather. Upper grade students have a tendency to not dress as warm, please discuss and prepare your children to dress appropriately, thank you!

Our surprise (reindeer) visitors are in route. We keep this part a surprise in case travel impacts their journey to Costello.

We will likely adjust the outdoor activities and move the hot cocoa indoors (students only). Parents are always welcome to the bus loop for this event. THANK YOU, PTO, for making this Costello tradition possible.

Wishing all of our families a winter break filled with tradition and special family time. The holidays are a good time to reflect on all there is to be thankful for. I am grateful for the love and support that surrounds our unique Costello Family. Thank you Costello families, for being such a caring community.

The tragic events at Brown University and in Australia, are weighing heavily. So unsettling, for everyone.

At Costello, we remain committed to being a place where every child and family feels safe, valued, and respected. We continue to emphasize our core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, and perseverance, and we reinforce with students that our school is a caring community.

Please know that our staff is always attentive to students’ emotional needs and ready to provide support. If your child expresses concerns or emotions connected to what they may hear we will reassure students and keep routines in place.

Great role models influence others to do their best, keep up the awesome work Cardinals!

What a beautiful display of appreciation and generosity on Monday's soup and salad lunch for the Costello staff! Thank you to Olive Garden in Rochester Hills for donating salad, soup and breadsticks. Thank you to the following families for preparing food:

Brittany Fike

Sarah DeDona

Lauren Brown

Carolin Connelly

Erica Filipucci

Lyubov Kulyk

Jen Ford

Jamie Kaniarz

Ivonne Perez

Han Le Nguyen

(if I missed you, let me know and I will make sure to update)

And thank you to our whole community for supporting the PTO so we can do things like this. Only a small portion of our budget can be spent on things like this, so we wouldn't be able to do it without community sponsors like Olive Garden and parents who take the time to make and buy food and drinks. We are so thankful to the staff for all they do to support our kids! Thank you Jen Ford, PTO President for coordinating these celebrations.

The Costello Book Fair was a huge success thanks to Mrs. Homrich for organizing and to all of the families who volunteered to help. Happy reading!

Penny Wars is always a big hit. So proud of all of the different ways our Costello Community gives back. Anushya Pachathu, we are so glad you volunteered to take over this project, we appreciate the graphing and updates for the totals raised. Families, thank you for helping to raise money to support those in need through our Penny Wars this week. The students are on the edge of their seats waiting to hear the final totals. Stay tuned!!

There are three significant life skills that we want our children to be able to put in place on a regular basis. These skills will help them at every stage of their childhood and beyond. We want them to...

1. be able to be angry, upset or overwhelmed and still make good choices

2. be able to make good choices when others are not okay

3. be able to do things when they don't want to, or it is hard

Which of these struggles do you see your child needing coached on? Try some of the questions below to teach and practice the skill(s) that they need to work on. Consistent practice will help them develop these skills and will create a better parent child relationship.

The goal is to diffuse arguing and help children overcome challenging events such as grocery shopping, doctor appointments, homework, family outings, etc. If we can help prepare kids they will become more confident in managing these situations.

Waking Up

• Will you need 3 minutes or 5 minutes before you get started with your morning routine?
• Do you want me to check back with you in 5 minutes or 10 minutes?
• Do you wan to start with brushing your teeth first or getting dressed first?
• Do you want me to help you with your hair or do you want to do it yourself?

• Do you want cereal or toast?
• Do you want milk or water?
• Do you want to wear your blue shoes or your red shoes?

• Do you need 10 minutes or 15 minutes of downtime before (homework, chores, practicing piano, etc.)
• Do you want to do your homework in the kitchen or in your room?
• Would you like a banana or an apple for a snack?

Prior to Grocery Trip

• Are we going to get things on the list or not on our list?
• Are you going to ask for candy or remember we are only here for groceries on the list?
• Will you say okay or argue if the answer is "no" to something?
• Will you run in the parking lot or walk?

Random Outing

• Will you use manners like please and thank you or will you grab things and be demanding?
• Will you wait patiently or get frustrated if you need to wait?
• If grandma tells you "no" will you argue with her or calmly say "okay"?
• Will you be kind to others and let others choose too or will you be bossy and always want your way?
• If your sister wants to play something different will you say, "no" or "sure, we can take turns picking"?

-These tips and tricks come from our partnership with the Behavior Intervention Support Team (BIST). Our TSD staff development in October focused on putting practices like this into place in our classrooms-

If you give these a try come back and share your feedback below:

We are excited to announce that we are accepting nominations for our 2025-2026 Outstanding Teacher of the Year! Please take the time to nominate the special teacher who makes a difference in the lives of countless students. We look forward to celebrating our wonderful teachers!

TWO IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. Incomplete nomination forms will not be considered. Every question must be answered: an answer of N/A or a single word is not considered complete.

2. Please keep your nominations concise.

The nomination form can be found here: https://forms.gle/4ax4t3CiDJYBohsy5 The deadline to nominate someone is Monday, January 12, 2025, at 5 p.m. Nominations will NOT be accepted after this date and time. If you have any questions, please email me at kmontante@troy.k12.mi.us. This is a wonderful opportunity to nominate someone over the Winter Break!

Thank you so much for your willingness to nominate one of our fabulous teachers!

Sean Connelly is a Costello parent, check out some of his services.

All families are welcome to join us for this outdoor event where students will enjoy holiday music and hot chocolate. (Reminder, dogs are not invited!) Hope you can join us!

Thank you to our families who volunteered to lead the holiday parties. Please see additional details from your child's teacher.

Wishing all of our families celebrating Hanukkah this week a wonderful celebration with family and friends.

Winter Break, PTO meeting dates, half days are all included here...

Great job being good role models for your classmates!

The students have such a great time in the snow and cold weather WHEN they are dressed appropriately. In addition to the basic winter hat, gloves and coat, warm boots and snow pants allow the kids to experience more areas to play. Don't forget to label EVERYTHING!

Shout-out to our teachers, especially in the lower elementary grades! Imagine helping 20+ students navigate snow pants, gloves, scarves, hats, and boots… all while keeping track of which items go in which bag and teaching them to dress themselves independently. When your child comes home with all of their belongings, that is a major accomplishment worth celebrating! Honor their growing responsibility.

And at home… if you find yourself doing all the work for them, remember: they can do it! Consider building more time into getting ready so you can coach instead of dress your child, this make take a bit longer at first, but it pays off and builds their confidence, it truly makes a difference!

Thanks to the generous donations to the Fun Run our PTO was able to purchase this game for our students. One way we use this incentive is during lunch, our noon aides pull names of Cardinal Ticket winners and students get to play during lunch.

TSD provides ongoing learning for our teachers from experts in the field. Staff developers lead the work with the students and our teachers. What a great way to build capacity and support our curriculum!

Thank you to Kristen Northey for planning another fun Skate World for our Cardinals and their families.

• It's more than just winning a pizza party...talk about what charity means.

• What do you know about the Penny War charities?
• What charity would you pick if it were up to you?
• What coins do you want in your grade level container, why?
• What coins do you want to put in other grade levels, why?
• Truly, everyone wins by helping others...discuss gratefulness.

• https://troyk12mi-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/tdiponio_troy_k12_mi_us/IQBkjJ9JQ7V2QJfv0yKxLmzSAVc7mNK0CnoJPSuFR3S3ijo?e=f31INW

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Our children mirror our emotions. When we model—through our actions—what we want to see in our children; such as staying calm, showing perseverance, maintaining focused attention, and offering unconditional love and patience, they are far more likely to act this way too. One simple way to reinforce this is to name and notice the behaviors you’re using so your child can understand and follow your lead.

For example: “When Mommy helped you with your homework, she didn’t have her phone out because she didn’t want to be distracted. Just like that, you need to put your iPad away when it’s time to do your math work or reading.”

Book Fair Purchasing will ALSO be during your Media times the week of 12/8- 12/12.

Late night Thursday 12/11 4-6 pm.

Don’t forget! Create a Book Fair eWallet for your child NOW so they can shop cash-free, worry-free, and independently! It’s easy to set up and easy for others to contribute funds! Start here: Book Fair Homepage

Ewallet funds DO carry over to the next year.

Cash IS accepted at the fair!

Credit cards, cash, and apple pay are available during our late night on Thursday, 12-11-25

Huge shout out to Mrs. Homrich for coordinating the book fair and to our volunteers for taking the time to help.

HAPPY READING!!

This special outdoor event will take place in the bus loop. Thank you to our PTO for making events like this possible. Families, you are welcome to join us. Keep in mind only party volunteers can enter the building. We love dogs, but please do not bring your furry friend to the Winter Wonderland! Thank you!

Monday, November 17th Winners - Scarlette, Regan, Rebecca, Tyler, Arthur, Lucas! Way to go Cardinals!

Friday, November 21st winners - Samuel, Nino, Nahla, Whitney, Oliver, well done!!! Keep up the great work!

WISHING EVERYONE A WONDERFUL & RELAXING THANKSGIVING!

There is SO much to be thankful for in our Costello community, but here are my top three:

• I am grateful for the countless ways our families come together to create unforgettable experiences for our students. Our energetic PTO Board and PTO Volunteers are simply THE best!!

Elementary school goes by in a flash, and while every stage of growing up is special, nothing compares to the wonder and excitement of these early years. From field trips and the Ball for All, to the Fun Run, Field Day, and so much more, you help make these joyful moments possible. Thank you for volunteering, showing up, and being involved.

• I am grateful for our passionate team of teachers and staff who pour into their own learning so they can be their very best for your children.

Our staff lifts one another up, problem-solves together, and models the same perseverance and collaboration we hope to inspire in our students. Their commitment is at the heart of everything we do.

• And lastly, I am grateful for our students—the reason we do all of this.

Their curiosity, kindness, humor, and determination remind us each day why the work matters. Watching them grow, learn, and show their Cardinal Traits is the greatest gift. They bring energy to our halls, pride to our community, and hope for the future.

As we head into the holiday break, I hope your homes are filled with rest, laughter, and time with the people who matter most.

Happy Thanksgiving, Costello. So thankful for YOU!

Tammy DiPonio

Book Fair Preview will be during your normal Media times the week of 12/1-12/5.

Book Fair Purchasing will ALSO be during your Media times the week of 12/8- 12/12.

Late night Thursday 12/11 4-6 pm.

Don’t forget! Create a Book Fair eWallet for your child NOW so they can shop cash-free, worry-free, and independently! It’s easy to set up and easy for others to contribute funds! Start here: Book Fair Homepage

Ewallet funds DO carry over to the next year.

Cash IS accepted at the fair!

Credit cards, cash, and apple pay are available during our late night on Thursday, 12-11-25

Huge shout out to Mrs. Homrich for coordinating the book fair and to our volunteers for taking the time to help.

HAPPY READING!!

If you are picking up at 5:00 for after school programs, please be sure not to block the north parking lot entrance and exits. Our CARE parents need to enter the north lot to pick up their students in the cafeteria. Thank you for leaving a space open for cars to enter AND exit. We appreciate your help!

Dear Costello Families,

International Night was truly magical seeing all 25 countries come to life! It was our biggest turnout yet, we even ran out of passports just after 7 PM, something that has never happened before! Your energy, creativity, and pride in sharing your cultures made the night unforgettable.

International Night simply wouldn’t have been possible without each and every one of you. Thank you for your beautiful decorations, your incredible performances, your delicious food, and most of all: your heart. You made this event meaningful for our entire community, and we cannot wait to do it again next year!

And a special congratulation to our table winner this year: India 🥇

We also want to extend special recognitions to a few countries whose outstanding contributions truly stood out:

Burundi & Congo — For the extraordinary effort of representing two countries and delivering a wonderful cultural performance.

Mexico — For participating in International Night for seven years in a row, showing unmatched dedication and spirit.

Wales & France — For their spectacular table designs, including a 9-foot castle and a beautifully recreated Ratatouille-style restaurant that transported everyone straight to Europe.

Thank you again for making this celebration so special.

Best regards,

Maria, Lilian and Wendi

Costello PTO - International Night Committee

Please see below the list of countries and the families who hosted a table for each of the 42 countries represented. AMAZING!!

In Case You Missed It...

Monday, December 8, Costello’s PTO will treat the staff with a holiday lunch of homemade soups, salad, desserts, and drinks. The PTO Board, along with Olive Garden, will provide the salad and breadsticks. We are relying on parent volunteers to sign-up to provide soup, drinks and desserts. We did this last year and the staff loved it 😊 Use the link to sign-up. Both homemade and store-bought items are appreciated.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4CACAD2FA3FD0-60725234-december

Plans are already in place for the Costello Auction. If you have not had an opportunity to volunteer or donate yet, please consider helping with the auction. Mark your calendar and reserve your babysitters in advance for this fun parent only event on March, 13th.

Cameron, Noah, Mary, Kennedy, Joshua, Irene, we are so proud of you. Keep showing your Cardinal Traits and being positive leaders for others. Way to go!

A special shout-out goes to all of our families and community members who are currently serving or who have previously served in the military. Our teachers honored Veteran’s Day this week by sharing grade-level lessons on the importance of our veterans and the sacrifices they have made.

At Monday’s PTO meeting, we discussed new prize incentives for our Cardinal Power Ticket winners. As announced, we also talked about how to use the additional funds raised from our Fun Run. The PTO discussed an idea, suggested by some of our 4th graders after the Cardboard Challenge, to purchase new games that students can enjoy when their Cardinal Power Ticket is drawn for demonstrating the Cardinal Power Traits.

There is also some consideration and research in the works on adding turf to the hills on our new playground. At our next PTO meeting in January, we should have more information from the district about the feasibility of turf and whether PTO support would be an option.

We are so grateful to be able to offer our students with many rewarding experiences because of your generosity! Every dollar goes directly back into enhancing our students’ educational experience in many meaningful ways.

Thank you all again!

Just some fun ideas to consider this month...

International Night hosted by Costello PTO and families, oh what a night! Costello, you did it again, another event that brought our entire community together! Wendimarie Abdel-Hameed Lillian Stier Carmiña EC your leadership and commitment to this special night is tremendous, we appreciate all of your ideas and thoughtful planning, wow! To all of the families who hosted a table, prepared food, shared your music, dancing and customs with us, THANK YOU! The creativity was mind blowing. So much time and thought went into this. We appreciate all of your efforts. So great to see many new families stepping in to

Costello was even more OUT OF THIS WORLD this week! The planetarium assembly was a big hit and had a strong connection to our curriculum. Thank you to our families for supporting our PTO Fun Run so that we can have these extra experiences!

OUT OF THIS WORLD AMAZING!! Glow art was so much fun! Thank you Mrs. Peeples and Mrs. Myre for making this possible, everyone loved it!!

Three music classes + three different music teachers = magical collaboration! Great job 3rd graders! Well done, Mrs. Downer, Mrs. Spurlin and Ms. McMahon!

December is coming fast!! Our class parties and Winter Wonderland will be held on Friday, December 19th. Families are welcome to join us for the outdoor Winter Wonderland portion of this day. Dress for the weather. This will be a 25-30 minute outdoor experience. Class parties will also be on this day, More details with times to follow in December.

Plans are already in place for the Costello Auction. If you have not had an opportunity to volunteer or donate yet, please consider helping with the auction. Mark your calendar and reserve your babysitters in advance for this fun parent only event on March, 13th.

Be sure to check the calendar for dates when school is not in session and for upcoming Costello events. This link can also be found on the Costello website.

No School - November 26, 27, 28!

What a fun day!! THANK YOU, Costello Families, for volunteering your time and planning such amazing party activities. Each room was filled with laughter and fun. These memories will be cherished, thanks for giving your time to our Cardinals.

Keep up the great work Shriyan, Carter, Valentino, Shreya, Sabiha, Ishan

Our kindergartners celebrated the end of their unit with a parade to show off their "old favorite" reads. It was so fun to see the older students sharing this moment with them.

Students will enjoy Glow in the Dark Music Class from November 3rd-5th during their Music special! It's going to be an unforgettable time! Let's light up the room with good music and great energy!

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Thank you families for your generosity!!

Winners of classroom popsicle party!! Most students in school raised at least $75!

Highest Funds Raised by One Classroom...

Kindergarten - Mrs. Chojancki's Class

1st Grade - Ms. Frazier's Class

2nd Grade - Mrs. Maliepaard's Class

3rd Grade - Ms. McClure's Class

4th Grade - Mrs. Oliver's Class

5th Grade TOP CLASS - MRS. KITCHEN'S CLASS, WINNERS OF THE FUN RUN TROPHY!!

Thank you Costello Families for making a difference, your tremendous support for our school is greatly appreciated!!

Cardinal Students & Staff 😀

Dear Costello Staff,

Thank you for allowing us to glimpse the incredible learning happening in your building. From the warm greetings from students, to the engaging tabletop math challenges, and the hallways lined with piece after piece of student writing, it was clear that your curriculum is not just present, but thriving in your daily instruction.

We were especially impressed by the writing on display. The cut-outs, rewrites, and thoughtful revisions all reflected a deep commitment to deep learning and elaboration…wow! The work was truly stunning and a powerful testament to the impact of your teaching. I also loved the red “DRAFT” stamp on some of the pieces😊

Your hard work and dedication are both evident and inspiring. Thank you for all that you do for our Costello students!

Sincerely,

Kris Griffor

Assistant Superintendent Troy School District

If you attended Trunk or Treat tonight at Costello, we know you had a scary good time! Huge shout out to Lindsey Miller for chairing Trunk or Treat! Thank you for your thoughtful planning, energy and time that you put into this to give all of our families such a fun experience! Thank you Carolin Connelly doing the "gently used" book give away, what a fantastic idea!! We had so many creative trunks this year, thank you families for decorating and making this such a memorable evening. We are so fortunate to have a community that comes together and can pull off such successful experiences for our Cardinals, AMAZING!! More pictures on the Costello PTO Facebook page.

The Troy Public Library

Bookmobile is a library

on wheels!

Visitors of the Bookmobile can:

• Hop on board to browse

a collection of 1000+ books

and other materials for

all ages

• Register for a library card

The Bookmobile will be visiting:

• Place holds, renew items, and

• Attend off-campus programs

for families and patrons of

all ages!

Wheelchair and walker accessible!

This is a friendly reminder that the window for families to purchase the Optional Annual iPad Insurance closes October 31st (Halloween!)

Here is a link to our website that contains instructions on how to purchase insurance, a description of coverage, as well as damage/lost iPad fees for those who choose not to participate. This also contains a note about students who qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch and how they will have the iPad participation fee waived, as long as they opt-in to qualify for this benefit.

Feel free to include this information in your parent communications.

https://www.troy.k12.mi.us/departments/tech-data-services/ipad-insurance-information

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TRULY AMAZING!!! Thank you families for generously giving to make the Fun Run such a huge success. WOW, what an outstanding community!!!

The entire school will celebrate with a planetarium assembly and glow-in-the dark music and art classes. There are many top earners and prizes left to award also. Watch your emails for more info.

From Ingrid Peeples, AKA Fun Run Queen, "Raising over $150,000 for Costello has been one of the most fulfilling things I have done in my lifetime. Thank you for partnering with me these past 5 years to provide so much to our students and staff XOXO."