Keeping Up with Colden

Where have the first two months of the school year gone?! It’s hard to believe we are already welcoming November.

I would like to take a moment to share just how grateful I am for this school community. October was a wonderful reminder of what makes Colden so special. Our community truly showed up in so many ways!

From supporting our school safety drills and emergency evacuation procedures, to welcoming the Colden Volunteer Fire Department for important fire safety presentations, to having our SRO and counselor spend time with students during Red Ribbon Week teaching them about making healthy choices for their bodies — there was no shortage of people stepping up to support our students. We also have organizations throughout our community reaching out and offering assistance to families who may need a little extra support during the upcoming holiday season. That kind of generosity and commitment does not go unnoticed.

I also believe that the love and pride our community has for Colden is on full display during events like Fall Fest and our Halloween Parade. Seeing our families and community members come out in such large numbers, nearly circling our entire quarter-mile bike path, is something special. Thank you for continuing to show up, supporting our students, and making these experiences so memorable.

November will be a shorter month, and as always, it seems to fly by! We have lots to look forward to, including our school picture retake day, our fifth-grade musical, and our Third Annual Colden Turkey Trot! Our Turkey Trot is another fun opportunity to encourage our students to stay active, make healthy choices, and continue learning the importance of choosing wellness. We are also looking forward to honoring our veterans and active-duty military members. The day before Veterans Day, our Student Council will be inviting veterans and active-duty service members to join us for our Veterans Day Breakfast, where our students will have the opportunity to serve and thank them for their service. What a wonderful way to show our appreciation!

A few important dates to keep in mind:

• Monday, November 2: No school for students – Professional Learning Day.

• Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day – No school.

• Thanksgiving Break: No school November 26th - 27th.

I am looking forward to all that November has in store. Thank you for being such an incredible part of our Colden community. I truly couldn't be more grateful!

Keep Colden a secret! ❤️

Respectfully,

Mrs. Langworthy

Dear Colden Families,

As we head into November, the weather is changing, the holiday season is approaching, and cold and flu season is in full swing! The health office is here to help keep our students healthy, safe, and ready to learn. Here are a few important reminders and health tips for the month.

🍂 Staying Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

With cooler temperatures and more time spent indoors, illnesses can spread easily. Please help us keep our school community healthy by reminding your child to:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow.
• Avoid sharing drinks, food, or personal items.
• Keep hands away from their eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Get plenty of sleep, eat nutritious meals, and drink water.

🤧 When Should My Child Stay Home?

Please keep your child home when they are not feeling well. Students should stay home if they have:

• A fever of 100.4°F or higher.
• Vomiting or diarrhea.
• Symptoms that prevent them from participating comfortably in school activities.
• A contagious illness that requires them to remain home.

Students should be fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to school. Please follow school district illness guidelines for additional return-to-school requirements.

If a student will be absent for any reason, please update in ParentSquare.

🧥 Dress for the Weather!

November mornings can be chilly, while afternoons may still be warm. Please send your child to school dressed in layers, including a jacket or sweater for outdoor recess. Don't forget to label jackets, sweatshirts, and other personal belongings! Please also send an extra set of clothes to keep in their locker.

Wishing all our families a happy, healthy, and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mrs. Preston

School Nurse

Hello, Colden Families!

Wow—October was a whirlwind! We celebrated Safety Week, Picture Day, Homecoming, Spirit Week, and Fall Fest; enjoyed the Book Fair and a Character Education field trip; marked Red Ribbon Week; and wrapped up the month with our Halloween Parade. We even fit in a few fire drills for good measure!

Everyone was so festive, and the school has never looked better. It was wonderful to see how excited the students were about each event.

October’s Character Trait: Commitment

At Springville-Griffith Institute Central School District, we focus on character education as well as academics. Each month, we explore a different character trait. October’s trait was Commitment—making a promise to yourself or someone else, following through, and sticking with it, even when things get tough or you don’t feel like it.

Several Colden students stood out for demonstrating commitment. They were nominated to receive award certificates and enjoyed a trip to Wendel’s Chicken Farm, where they took a hayride with Wanda the Witch and chose a pumpkin to bring home. They had a blast! Congratulations to all of our students who exemplified commitment.

Zones of Regulation

We’re continuing to help students learn about the Zones of Regulation, a way to identify and describe emotions. Sometimes it can be difficult for children—and adults—to put feelings into words. The Zones give students a simple way to share how they’re feeling:

• Green: Happy, calm
• Yellow: Worried, excited
• Blue: Sad, tired
• Red: Angry, upset

As the year progresses, we will continue working on recognizing and regulating emotions. Students will learn tips and strategies to use when they experience big feelings, with the goal of helping them return to the Green Zone.

BOLO Cares Program

We’re once again participating in the Bread of Life Outreach Center’s BOLO Cares Program. This program provides children with nutritious, easy-to-prepare food to take home on weekends and school vacations—completely free of charge.

Each Friday, participating students receive a bag of nutritious, nonperishable food to enjoy over the weekend. Children whose families use the Bread of Life Food Pantry or receive Social Security Disability, SNAP, and/or WIC benefits automatically qualify.

To enroll, please contact our school counselor, Mr. Veneziano, for an enrollment form:

Phone: 716-592-3217, ext. 3277

Email: fveneziano@springvillegi.org

October was amazing, and November is coming fast! We’re looking forward to holidays, the Turkey Trot, and another character trait to celebrate. Let’s do our best, celebrate, and have fun—and… Go Bills! Go Sabres!

November is the month to be thankful. The Colden Elementary PTA extends our thanks to the Colden Elementary community, dedicated staff and volunteers! We celebrated an amazing Fall Festival on October 23rd. Thank you to our students and staff who did a fabulous job decorating the inside of the school. Thank you to our 8-year PTA member, Lilly Kellner for sprinkling her magic of decorating the outside of the school. Additionally, we extend our thanks to all our PTA members, volunteers, school staff, local businesses and families for their generosity via donations and purchasing chicken dinners, basket raffle tickets and book fair items. We had over 100 donations for basket/gift raffle and dozens of families that donated candy and non-candy items for the trail of treats.

Our Colden Elementary students continue to be blessed with these amazing fundraising events. These events assist with monetary donations towards Field Trips, Veteran’s Day activities, PARP, STEAM night, Staff Appreciation Week and the end of the year Field Day.

November will be focused on sourcing donations of small items for our ‘Colden Holiday Shop’ in December for our students. Students will be shopping for family members. We are asking for new or gently used donations as you are getting things out for the holiday season. Please think of small items; coffee mugs, key chains, jewelry, holiday decorations, candles, etc. We cannot store large items. We are trying to collect enough for each student to shop for their families before the holidays. All items will be marked between $1 and $3. Please spread the word to your family and friends as they may have items to donate. It is a great way to clean out the closets and bins, recycle goods, and help a great cause at the same time.

Our next PTA meeting is Wednesday, November 18th at 3:30 pm in the school library. All interested in the success of our students and their families are welcome to attend.

This month, the student council set up and ran the Creepy Coin Toss. We will put this money toward the Buffalo Bisons field trip in May. Next month, we are sponsoring the Veterans Day breakfast for service members in our community.

Isaac Roberts

Vice president

Gabe’s on the Hill Thrift Shoppe is right in your own backyard, and we’re ready to help you check off your holiday shopping list! When you walk through our famous purple door, you’ll step into a world of hidden treasures.

Our One Step Up area is packed with beautiful home decor and housewares perfect for the season. Plus, we have an amazing, budget-friendly selection of new and gently used clothing, shoes, linens, jewelry, purses, and accessories—all at thrift store prices!

The best part? Gabe’s is open to the public, and every single purchase you make directly supports our Food Pantry operations. You can find incredible holiday deals while giving back to our community at the same time.

Come on in and get your Christmas shopping started!

Find us at the corner of Heath and Supervisor: 8745 Supervisor Avenue

• Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday: 10 AM – 4 PM
• Thursday: 2 PM – 7 PM
• Saturday: 9 AM – 2 PM

No school for students on Monday, November 2nd for a Professional Learning Day.

No school on Wednesday, November 11th for Veterans Day.

Try one each night—or let everyone choose a favorite!

1. What made you smile today?
2. What’s something you’re thankful for that you use every day?
3. If you could invent a new holiday, what would it celebrate?
4. What was the kindest thing someone did for you recently?
5. If you could have any animal as a helpful sidekick, what would you choose?
6. What’s something new you learned this week?
7. What’s your favorite smell, and what does it remind you of?
8. If you could plan a perfect family day, what would we do?
9. What’s one thing you’re proud of?
10. What would you put in a care package for someone who needs cheering up?
11. If you could make a new flavor of ice cream, what would it be?
12. What’s something you appreciate about the person sitting next to you?
13. What would you do with a whole afternoon and no plans?
14. What’s a small thing that can make a big difference in someone’s day?
15. If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go?
16. What’s your favorite thing to do on a chilly day?
17. What’s a helpful job you like doing at home or school?
18. If you could create a new playground, what would it have?
19. What’s a book, movie, or story you think everyone should enjoy?
20. What’s something you’d like to learn how to do?

If your family could use a little extra support or assistance over the holidays, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mr. Veneziano, our school counselor. He is happy to help connect families with available resources and support.

You can reach him by email, fveneziano@springvillegi.org, or leave a message at 716-592-3277. Please know that we are here for you and your family!

Email: blangworthy@springvillegi.org
Website: Colden Elementary
Phone: (716) 592-3217