Dearest CHES Families,

Thank you for your continued support of our school and students! We appreciate everything you do to help our school community thrive. This week we will be focusing on KINDNESS as we celebrate CHES Kindness Week - please see the information below!

A quick reminder: benchmark testing is still taking place this week, so please help your students come to school ready to do their best by being well-rested and prepared.

Also, a change regarding water bottles—unfortunately, we are no longer receiving single-use water bottles. To help us keep things tidy and avoid distractions, we ask that each student bring a reusable water bottle to fill at school. Please write your child’s name on their bottle and aim for a smaller size (around 24-32 ounces is ideal) to make it manageable for everyone.

Thank you for your understanding and support with this change. Wishing you and your family a wonderful week ahead!

Let's make this a GREAT week...

We are CHES and our cougars climb to new heights! 🐾

Now that the 1st marking period is over, we are going to celebrate the success of our scholars that worked so hard! This will be an in-person celebration! Please note the Honor Roll Assembly dates. We will post the dates as events in Class Dojo as well to make it easy to remember.

Teachers will notify parents if they will be receiving an award. Students will be awarded certificates or Principal's Honor Roll (earning all A's and a 4.0 GPA) and Honor Roll (earning a 3.0 - 3.99 GPA). If you have any questions, please contact and connect with your student/students' teachers.

MONDAY

• CHES Kindness Week: Start a Kindness Journal
• Math and Reading Benchmarks Continue (check ClassDojo for testing days)
• Jump Rope Club
• Step Club
• Write A Book Work Session (students who have registered)

TUESDAY

• CHES Kindness Week: Draw a picture for a friend or a school employee
• Math and Reading Benchmarks Continue (check ClassDojo for testing days)
• Science Bowl Team
• Basketball Club
• Write A Book Work Session (students who have registered)

WEDNESDAY

• CHES Kindness Week: Kindness Day Dress Up (see flyer below for options)
• Soccer Club
• Tennis Club

THURSDAY

• CHES Kindness Week: Sit with someone different at lunch or play with someone different at recess
• 5th Grade Field Trip to Baltimore Museum
• Primary (Kindergarten - 2nd Grade) Honor Roll Assembly 2:00pm
• Good News Club
• Science Bowl Team

FRIDAY

• CHES Kindness Week: Take the time to give someone and appreciation letter
• Uniform Free Day
• MESA Club at 9:00am

This week, we're thrilled to celebrate CHES Kindness Week! To spread positivity and encourage kindness throughout our school, we’ve planned a series of small, meaningful activities each day that will help everyone get involved.

World Kindness Day is on Wednesday, but we’re making it a week-long event because kindness matters every day at CHES! Please see the flyer below with the variety of ways for students to show kindness to themselves, their peers, teachers, and community. We encourage our parents and families to join in the fun and support kindness at home too!

Let's make this a week filled with smiles, gratitude, and kind actions—big and small. Together, we can make a difference, one act of kindness at a time!

Families, encourage your students to participate and then discuss the week's activities listed below:

Monday - Start a Kindness Journal

Tuesday - Draw a picture for a friend or a school employee

Wednesday -Kindness Day Dress Up! choose which one you want to do:

• Wear a tie or bow tie - Kindness ties us together
• Wear your unique kindness hat - Hats off to kindness
• Wear clothes with a positive message - Use kind words

Thursday - Sit with someone different at lunch or play with someone different at recess

Friday - Take the time to give someone and appreciation letter

Thank you so much to the 50+ CHES Families that participated in our CHES Parent University Sessions about the TAG Write A Book Project. It seems to have been well received and as promised, we are including the information/resources that parents requested in this newsletter. It is the same information posted in Class DoJo, but we want to make sure you see it and have it!

Many parents of students in the Dual Language Classes have reached out to us to see if non-TAG students can participate....ABSOLUTELY!! We strongly encourage any and all students in Kindergarten through 5th grade to participate! An information packet will be available this week. We will need to revise the packet because this is not be a project for the Dual language students, but an entry into the contest. If you need information immediately, please contact Mrs. Walton, the Write A Book sponsor!

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR A COPY OF THE TAG PROJECT INFORMATION SHEET

CONTACT Mrs. Walton (TAG Coordinator) if you have any questions!

Volunteer at CHES

CHES needs many helping hands for field trips, school programs, class celebrations, and working with teachers on special projects.

Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors- we’re asking YOU to become a PGCPS volunteer!

For our students' safety, you must complete fingerprinting, a background check, and online training modules in order to serve as a PGCPS volunteer. If you have previously been approved as a PGCPS volunteer, you're almost ready to go for the 2024-2025 school year! Each year, you need to complete SafeSchools online training modules to renew your status.

For help navigating the volunteer application process, please email Jen Emmel (CHES Parent) at cougarvolunteersCHES@gmail.com.

The Capitol Heights Elementary School PTSA

As many of you may know, the application window is now open for your students to apply for middle school opportunities. We want to share this invitation to the Open House, scheduled for November 14 at 6:30pm. Families will be able to tour our campus, see student performances, speak with the arts teachers, and get questions answered about the application process.

CHES EVENTS:

November 14, 2024 - Q1 Honor Roll Assembly (Primary)

November 18, 2024 - Scholastic Book Fair Begins

November 19, 2024 UPDATED - Q1 Honor Roll Assembly (Intermediate)

November 22, 2024 - Dental Van visits CHES

November 26, 2024 - Feast of Thanksgiving / Turkey Race

Parent-Teacher Conference Days:

March 5, 2025 (2-Hour Delay)

Systemic Professional Development Days (No School for Students):

February 14, 2025

March 17, 2025

Professional Days (3-Hour Early Dismissal):

December 20, 2024

January 27, 2025

February 28, 2025

April 4, 2025

May 16, 2025