May Newsletter

• April 29-May 2 - Fine Arts Week

• May 1 - SMS Jazz band and choir performance at SMS at 1:45

• May 1 - FCS/SMS Choir Concert 7:00

• May 2 - OES Band Concert 7:00

• May 3 - 5th grade - Neato Mosquito

• May 3 - Warrior Games at Wallace

• May 6 - FCS Recruitment Concert

• May 6 - May 17- Spring MAP window

• May 13 - Life Skills Field Trip

• May 13 - 6th grade trip to the Lock and Dam (Thrush, Rollings, Jordan)

• May 14 - 6th grade trip to the Lock and Dam (Scutt, Mezel, Damyen)

• May 14 - Dayton Bluffs (AM - 5H1)

• May 15 - T3 Reward trip to Kane County Cougars

• May 16 - 6th grade trip to the Lock and Dam (Lambert, Lehr, Quick)

• May 16 - Dayton Bluffs (5H2 - AM and PM)

• May 17 - 11:30 student dismissal

• May 21 - Project Unify Day

• May 22 - Project Unify Day

• May 23 - DARE Celebration

• May 24 - Presidential Academic Award Breakfast

• May 24 - Track Meet

• May 27 - No School - Memorial Day Parade

• May 30 - iPad collection

• May 30 - 6th Grade Orientation at SMS

• May 31 - Last Day of Student Attendance - 11:30 dismissal

Online registration for the 2024-2025 school year began on March 4. Families can access online registration through TeacherEase. In addition to registering online, each child was sent home with a paper packet of information that will need to be completed and returned to their child’s school as soon as possible. Failure to complete the registration process will result in your child not being placed in a class for next school year. If you have questions about registration, please contact the school office.

April and May's Champions of the Charter were recently chosen by the staff at Central School. This month, these students went above and beyond to practice and help others to feel POSITIVE, SAFE and CALM here at Central School. The champions will have a special lunch in May, and be recognized at the board meeting on May 21. We are very proud of the great example they set for their fellow students.

Congratulations to April's Champions:

Nolan B., Arely E., Liam F., Joslyn H., Quinn H., Imogen H., Anya I., Kyle J., Maleigha L., Audrey M., Wren M., Gemma O., Alicia P., Carleigh S., Nolan W., and Jalissa Z.

Congratulations to May's Champions:

Journey B., Hunter B., Brooklyn C., LJ C., Heaven-Lee F., Aleigha F., Braden F., Maddison J., Aubree K., Jonathan M., Lilly N., Cayden W., Gavin W., Emma W., and Mason W.

Each year, students are eligible to participate in the Young Authors competition by submitting an original piece of writing. Our committee had tough decisions to make in choosing this year’s winners from a plethora of great stories and poems! Winners were invited to attend the celebration at Grand Bear Lodge on April 25th, at which time they got to meet a published author and received a signed book.

Congratulations to this year’s winners: Aleena B., Brooklynn G., Millyana H., Ainsley R., Audry R., Sophia S., Bella Z., Emersen B., Mady G., Hadley K., Kennedee N., Ashlyn O., Sebastian S., Ella W., and Carsen W.

Mr. Garner's and Mrs. Ganiere's classes participated in a program called Lemonade Day My Way. Students learned what it takes to start up a business and become entrepreneurs. They had to come up with a product or service and give their business a name. Then they had to determine what materials they needed and how they would obtain those materials. Each business had to market and advertise their products/services by creating posters (digital and physical), iMovie commercials, and display boards. On sale day, they had the opportunity to sell their products/services to students, staff, and community members. Throughout the program, students learned and practiced a variety of topics, including economics, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, marketing, and communication. There were real-world challenges that all businesses face that they had to overcome. A huge thank you goes out to Bill Zens from the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce, Annette Barr, and Financial Plus Credit Union for their help and support with this project! We are extremely proud of all the hard work our students and staff put into this program!

Mrs. Hodgson and Carter J. recently visited the Ottawa Moose Lodge to give an update on the recycling program. The Moose has been collecting plastic for the Next Trex program for Mrs. Hodgson’s class. They are still collecting plastic wrapping and grocery bags that are clear of any organic materials. Currently, they have approximately 150 pounds collected towards their goal of 1,000!

In fifth grade music, students recently learned how to play a I V vi IV (C G am F) chord progression on the keyboard in Garageband, recorded themselves playing it, and added different loops to create their own track.

In sixth grade music, students recently used Song Maker on Chrome Music Lab to compose a melody using the pentatonic scale. Sixth graders also wrapped up their final review of the four different instrument families.

Students in Beginning and Cyclone Band are hard at work preparing for their spring band concert on Thursday, May 2nd at 7pm in the Central cafetorium. Registration is open for OES Summer Band - click this link for more information.

Steven B. made an awesome model of our school! His hard work took quite a bit of time. Thanks for sharing it with us, Steven!

CIS families are invited to walk in the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 27. We will meet at the corner of Columbus and Madison Streets at 9:30 AM. In reverence of Memorial Day, there will not be any candy distributed. Rather, this is an opportunity for students and their families to honor the military men and women who lost their lives in service to their country.

The parade will continue north on Columbus Street to Washington Park. There will be a ceremony at Washington Park, starting at approximately 10:15am and will last 30-45 minutes. There will be a free public luncheon at the American Legion immediately following the ceremony.