Cottonwood News

(Early dismissal Friday, December 19, 1:45 pm.)

Welcome to December! I hope your Thanksgiving break was relaxing and your Thanksgiving day spent with all of your favorite people!

Now we have a fast three weeks before Christmas break! We already have programs scheduled, singers coming, crafts ordered, and lots of fun planned. I encourage you to keep an eye on our Facebook page and webpage (and this newsletter!) so you know what’s happening here at CES!

We finished up November celebrating teachers with amazing grants funded by your generosity with the fundraiser. Twenty-plus teachers received grants totaling over $15,000! We continue to be grateful for our amazing PTO, which makes sure our teachers have what they need so your students get the best education possible.

A couple of reminders with car lines and drop-offs. When you drop-off in the morning, if you want to stay in your car and do a quick drop-off, please use the back (north) doors. If you’d rather walk your child up to the drive, please use the front (south) entrance. Front and back doors do not open for students to enter the building until 8:35 am, regardless of the weather.

In the afternoon, you MUST have your car number showing when you come to pick up your child in the car rider line. If you don’t have your number, please come to the front, park your car, and meet your child at the entrance. In the car line, please follow the directions of the teachers out there. We have made changes with stalls and numbers; their guidance and your follow through will make the line move more quickly and efficiently.

A couple of things to think through with Christmas presents. Phones are not allowed to be out at the elementary level; this is district policy. All phones stay in backpacks during the school day. This policy also applies to smart-watches. If your child has a smart-watch, they are expected to use it as a watch only if they wear it. They should not be texting or utilizing apps during school hours. If we see this is a problem for your child, we’ll ask that the watch stay in the backpack, just like we would a phone. We also ask that toys stay at home. Things that could be used on the playground (such as basketballs) can be brought but only used during outside recess, and the school is not responsible for those personal items.

We’ve had a great semester here at CES. Thank you for trusting us with your child’s education, and trusting me in this position. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!

Christmas blessings,

Dr. Michelle Adler

Principal

Our in-house skating program begins Tuesday, January 6, 2026. A permission slip came home with your child before Thanksgiving break and it must be turned in for your child to participate. Please return permission slips by December 8th.

The fee for the skating unit is $9 per student and includes skates and wrist guards. Students may bring helmets, elbow pads, and/or kneepads for extra safety precautions. Due to insurance purposes, we will use Skatetime skates exclusively. Please do not bring in personal skates.

Several Cottonwood Elementary 4th and 5th grade students competed in the Fall America Answers Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl Contest on Friday, November 14th. The team members included (left to right): Parker L., Audrey U., Makenna J., Neichen E., Ronan G., Callan C., Paul S., Rylee B., Ava S. and Alice H.

Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl is a broad-based academic competition where teams work together to answer 100 multiple-choice questions based on 5th and 6th grade curriculum — all online! Teamwork, cooperation, and smart test-taking strategies are key to success. Questions come from a wide variety of subjects, including: English & Literature, History & Geography, Science & Math, Art, Music, Sports, Pop Culture, and more! Points are awarded for both speed and accuracy!

The Cottonwood students scored a total of 1088 points with 90% accuracy! They earned 4th in the Andover School District and 24th place out of 54 other 5th grade teams across the nation.

Congratulations to the team for all their hard work!

The true meaning of generosity is the unselfish, willing giving of one's resources - such as time, money, or kindness - to others with no expectation of return. Generosity is not just about the act of giving, but a broader spirit of giving freely and from the heart. Please open a discussion with your child about what generosity means to them.

We are also working on our Safer, Smarter Kids Unit.

K - Establishing a Trusted Triangle, and Think, Feel and Act

1 - Safety Stop Sign, I Mean Business and Guiding Voice, and Think, Feel and Act
2 - Being aware of your surroundings, and Making a P.L.A.N.

3 - Body Boundaries and Personal Space

4 - Respecting Boundaries

5 - Privacy

School Supplies:
If your child is running out of school supplies and you need assistance, please contact me.

Parenting Tips for the Holiday Season:
Share stories of your childhood to teach them your holiday traditions, or ask them if there are any holiday traditions they would like your family to start.

During the holidays, remember all the things that you have to be thankful for:

• Be thankful when you don't know... it gives you the opportunity to learn.
• Be thankful for the difficult times... during those times you grow.
• Be thankful for limitations... they give opportunities for improvement.
• Be thankful for a new challenge... it will build strength and character.
• Be thankful for mistakes... they teach valuable lessons.

StuCo is gathering gifts for the Sunlight Child Advocacy Center. If you'd like to donate, please bring your gifts (new, for ages 0 to 18, unwrapped) to CES by Wednesday, December 17th.

Please reach out if your family is in need of help for the holidays. I know it can be a difficult time.

Also, if your child is struggling, I'm happy to help in any way that I can.

Have a safe and happy Holiday Season!!!

Marcie Faust, LCPC/NBCC

Cottonwood Counselor
316-218-4620 ext. 2

faustm@usd385.org

We all need fresh air and the chance to run around. With much cooler weather approaching, we will monitor wind chills and the temperature before going outside. Please send your child to school dressed for the cold weather and outdoor recess.

If you're needing assistance with warm gear, please reach out to our CES Counselor Mrs. Faust. faustm@usd385.org

Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we continue into the cold weather season, please make sure your students are dressed for outdoor recess: hats, gloves and winter jackets. The school tries to get students outdoors for fresh air as often as possible.

It is not too late to think about getting flu/COVID-19 vaccinations.

Please contact the health office for any positive test results for influenza, strep throat, COVID-19 or pink eye.

The health office is needing the following clothing item donations (new or gently used):

Boys underwear, sizes 8-12

Boys pants, sizes 7-12

Girls tops, size 4-6
Girls pants, 7-12

Hope your Thanksgiving Break was happy and healthy!

Denise Rebel
School Nurse
rebeld@usd385.org

December 5: Explorations (3/4)
December 12: Explorations (4/4)
December 16: Orchestra/Band Concert, 12:45 pm

December 19: End of 2nd Semester, 1:45 pm Dismissal

December 22-Jan 5: Winter Break

January 1: HAPPY 2026!

January 6: Students return to school
January 16: Dental Check Day
January 21: CES Spelling Bee

Cottonwood has several ways in which we try to communicate our news and views to the world. You can download the Andover Schools Mobile App in either iTunes or Google. We use School Messenger to share upcoming activities through phone calls and emails.

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

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

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

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