Centennial Blue Jays

Greetings, Blue Jay Families!

Testing continues in early May – thank you for helping your kiddos get here on time and ready to go!

As we start thinking about next year, please watch your email for information about the annual review process, where you can use ParentVue to make sure your student's information is up-to-date. And those of you who may have little ones starting school in the fall (kiddos who have turned 5 on or before Sept. 1) are encouraged to register your incoming student at this time. We also hope you will join us for Kindergarten Welcome Night this Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 6:30.

And please join us in celebrating our amazing teachers this week! If you'd like to share a shout out to a teacher, you can do so at https://forms.gle/BHWAQkgosF7Pb9RT8.

Finally, I'm sure many of you are aware that the school district is experiencing budget issues. You can read more information about the district's proposed budget, and budget cuts, here. We will keep you apprised of any impact on our school.

Don Hakala, Principal

Calli Dean, Assistant Principal

Week of May 4: Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5: PTO Meeting (6 p.m., snacks, childcare provided)

May 6: Walk & Roll to School Day

May 8: Early Release (12:30), Flock Friday

May 9: PTO Plant Sale (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

May 22: Early Release (12:30), Flock Friday

May 25: No School, Memorial Day

June 2: PTO Meeting

June 2: Safety Patrol Field Trip

June 9: Fifth Grade Field Trip

June 11: Last Day of School (Early Release 12:30)

Please mark your calendars - with the adoption of the teachers' contract, the last day of school, June 11, is now an early release.

You can download the adopted calendars for next year here. Key dates are:

• First day of school is September 9.
• Winter Break is December 21 - January 1.
• Spring Break is March 22 - 26.
• The last day of school is June 17.

Remember that you can always download the LINQ Connect app to easily see breakfast and lunch menus at any time!

Families, if your kiddo will be turning 5 on or before September 1, they are eligible to enroll in kindergarten! Please join us on May 7 to meet the teachers and hear more about what to expect and how you can help get your kiddo ready for school. We would love to meet you! You will also be able to talk with representatives from our PTO, learn more about Willamalane Kids Club afterschool care, find out about the amazing Kids in Transition to School program, and learn about the Safety Town program! You can also visit www.springfield.k12.or.us/academics/kinder to learn more!

Tell your friends! What a great opportunity to get your garden rolling with low-cost starts, including some hand-sown by our students, and help out our PTO at the same time! We'll have veggies, flowers, herbs, trees and even houseplants.

Exciting times as our fifth-graders get ready to move on to Middle School! Here are some key dates to keep in mind:

• May 8: Hamlin staff visit Centennial
• May 14: A Taste of Hamlin event - 5th grade visits Hamlin
• June 2: Safety Patrol Field Trip
• June 2: 6th Grade Orientation Night (6:00-7:15)
• June 9: 5th Grade Field Trip to Skinner Butte Park/Defy
• June 11: Promotion Ceremony - details TBA.

Congratulations to our April Super Students, who were acknowledged for their INTEGRITY: Stella, Oliver LR, Carter E, Peyton, Zeus, Madison O, Elly, Lee'Andre, Kayden, Leon, Erick, Daniel, Guinevere, Calvin, Sari, Audie, Nathan, Jesus, McKenzie, Hannah, Aislynn, Jackson W, Josh L, Cody, Ella H, Samantha, Quinn, Jayden, and Charlotte R! Keep up the great work, kids!

We had a great month in April working on our INTEGRITY.

Determination means not giving up on achieving your goals even when faced with challenges. It involves staying focused and trying new things. Encouraging determination in children can involve praising effort, helping with solving problems, and showing them examples of perseverance.

Families, you can help us by encouraging your kiddos to show determination at home!

We LOVE volunteers at Centennial! Parents are welcome and encouraged to come and help in their students' class(es) or at special events. Please do check with the teacher about days/times that might be best. There may also be projects you can help with outside of school. Community members are also welcome. We currently have volunteers helping teachers with tasks, helping with reading groups, helping tidy the lost & found, and helping Ms. Hodgin shelve books - a neverending task! It takes a village!

For everyone's safety, all school volunteers need to be registered and undergo a background check. If you're not sure if you're still current, please ask Ms. Deb.

Our website is a solid place to look for information such as menus. Facebook will be your best bet for quick updates and photos. We also frequently send information via email, so be sure to check your email frequently. Many teachers use the SeeSaw app to communicate via phone. Your child's teacher will send you an invitation to join their classroom SeeSaw community, and it's a great way to communicate directly with the teacher. And Ms. Deb is always available for questions!

Centennial has an outstanding PTO! We really appreciate all they do to support our staff and students at CES! We would love to have you participate with this group. Meetings are generally held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Child care is always available, and they offer a light meal. You can visit their new website at www.cespto.org.

How to support our school:

• You can always get blue bags from the school office. This is an easy way to support the PTO through donations of bottles and cans. Just bring the bag to the Springfield Bottle Drop Redemption Center, scan the PTO bar code, and toss your bag.
• Stay tuned for more information on how to purchase Blue Jay gear for the whole family!
• Watch for upcoming fundraisers, and in the meantime, volunteer!

Email: deb.jolda@springfield.k12.or.us
Website: centennial.springfield.k12.or.us
Location: 1315 Aspen Street, Springfield, OR, USA
Phone: 541-744-6383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CentennialBlueJays

CALL US - 541-744-6383. We are always happy to help!