#HungerActionDay is a great reminder to purchase and donate peanut butter at any Bryant school until September 30. Your donation will help feed hungry children in our community. #SpreadHope
Why peanut butter? Because nearly 5,000 kids in Saline County are facing hunger. You can help today by donating peanut butter to any Bryant school through September 30. #SpreadHOPE
Hello from Mrs. Edwards, your Principal at Collegeville!
We have another successful week in the books! I would like you to ask your child, “What is your job at school?” I know he or she will be able to tell you that our job at school is to “Learn and Get an Education.” When we are doing our job, we will be fulfilling one part of our Mission, which is to “Love, Learn, and Grow Together to Achieve Success.” This next week, we will be focusing on the “Love” part of our mission as we begin to implement the characteristics from our Social Contracts. These are student-led guidelines for how we want to be treated, and how we expect to treat others. We emphasize that using respect, kindness, and doing the right thing is the #WildcatWay.
Also this week, we will begin onsite NWEA testing for grades K-2. These state assessments help us focus on the “Grow” part of our mission as we use these assessments to know where each student’s strengths and weaknesses are, and how they can show growth over time when we take these assessments again. Please note that these assessments are diagnostic and help us know how to differentiate instruction for each student. Though we want students to give their best effort, they should not feel any testing anxiety. The Wildcat Way means we just always give our very best effort, even if it’s hard!
Some Word of Wisdom for this week regarding a smooth start to week 3:
When dropping off or picking up students, please pull all the way around the front corner if you are the first in line, and always park your car as close to the car in front of you as possible. We never want students walking between cars, and pulling close helps us load or unload as many vehicles as possible.
Don’t forget to send a full, clean water bottle with your student every day! Our PTO has graciously been providing bottled water for students who occasionally forget theirs, but please send one daily.
District policy due to Covid-19 forbid our office taking ANY deliveries to the office. If your child forgets his or her backpack, lunch box, folder, etc., our office will not be allowed to accept it to deliver it to your child this year. He or she can get a cafeteria tray if lunch has been forgotten. In order to comply with CDC guidelines, we are limiting the exchange of any of those types of items in the office.
You’ve done a fabulous job supporting our mask mandate, and our kids are doing a tremendous job. Thank you for sending your child with a clean mask every day.
I’d like to end on a personal note so I can keep you as informed as possible. My mom lives about 3 hours away and underwent hip replacement surgery last week. My only sister stayed with Mom last week, but it will be necessary for me to help with post-surgery care this next week. I cannot ever remember missing an entire week of school in my 30 year career other than maternity leave, and I won’t lie---the thought of being gone causes me a fair amount of stress and anxiety. I normally wouldn’t subject you to details about my personal life, but due to concerns about Corona, I wanted to share because I know you are accustomed to seeing me at car drop off and dismissal every day. I worried that seeing me gone would create undue and false anxiety that my absence was related to Covid. I have always said that the staff and teachers at Collegeville are so remarkable, all I have to do is show up. I can assure you, they will be able to carry on splendidly with Mrs. McBride in charge. I will be accessible and available remotely with plans to Zoom with each class and continue our Morning Broadcasts. It’s always been my motto that “family comes first” and I’ve reminded staff or parents of that many times, only to find myself having a hard time taking my own advice. Thank you for your understanding in allowing me to tend to my Momma. That said, please know I am also always available this week and will certainly stay connected and involved.
Happy Labor Day tomorrow! Enjoy your extra day off as we prepare for another great week at CES!
Good news, Bryant families! All students (PreK-12) will be able to eat one school breakfast and one school lunch, per day, FREE beginning Tuesday, September 8. More info at bit.ly/FreeStudentMeals.
Who are our COVID heroes? School nurses!
BES nurse Lynn Dreher shares information on preventing the spread of germs and provides details to parents about COVID-19 protocols. #SafeHornets
youtu.be/vcbT_uHqQzk
What is one thing you can do TODAY for a better TOMORROW? Respond to the 2020 Census! Federal funding and grants are based on population numbers, so #BeCounted. Time is running out. #BryantCounts2020
https://my2020census.gov/
Thank you, DESE (Division of Elementary & Secondary Education), for providing each student with the Kids Guide to the Coronavirus. Look for these booklets to come home with your elementary student this week.
bit.ly/2ER5ICH
Saturday's game kicked off the 2020 Salt Bowl Peanut Butter Drive. Each school in the district will collect peanut butter until September 30. #SpreadHOPE by donating today!
Hello my CES Families~
This is your principal, Tami Edwards! I am so utterly happy and grateful to be back at school and appreciate all you’ve done to help make our first week of school go so smoothly! It felt so good to see our kids back, and there was a definite “happy” feeling in our building this week! Our kids wore their masks like champs and continue to work towards social distancing. We want your child to love coming to school and ready to come back each day!
Communication is so important to me, and this year all the more so. Each week on Sunday afternoon, I try to send some helpful “Wildcat Words of Wisdom” that will keep you informed and be prepared for the upcoming week.
Your patience with our car dismissal has been nothing short of sainthood! We knew it would take a bit longer as students are being called out of the classrooms instead of from the porch, but I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to work out the kinks from our Curb Smart app.
Please note that any changes in afternoon transportation home must be done IN WRITING (DoJo, SeeSaw, fax, email, written note), and must be received prior to 1:30 pm. Please make sure you get a response back. Teachers are teaching your child and only have intermittent times when they can check email or apps. I encourage you to include the teacher, myself, Mrs. McBride and both secretaries if you are emailing. Surely one of us will be able to check email even on the craziest day! If you haven't gotten a response by 1:30, you may call the school and ask that those messages be checked. Being consistent with your child's transportation home is always the best way to make sure there are no miscommunication errors. We work very hard to make sure your baby is safe and headed home to the right place!
School starts at 7:50 am. If you arrive after 7:55 am in the morning for drop off, or after 3:45 pm for pick up, you must park and walk into the office for sign in or sign out. All car riders must be picked up by 3:45 pm as teachers are off duty at that time.
Tips to help car drop off go more quickly:
Your child needs to be able to unbuckle and buckle him or herself in and out of their car seat. We know these are your babies, but trust me when I say, we’ve been doing this a lonnnng time and even our littlest littles can be taught how to do this. The car drop off and pick up process is already long enough without having to wait for parents to buckle or unbuckle children in and out. It just takes practice, Mom and Dad. Please start teaching your child how to get in and out of the car seat FAST.
If your car is in the left hand lane that exits to Hwy 5, please make sure your child enters the car drop off in the CENTER walking lane. We are extremely cautious about watching for children and do not allow any cars to move forward until ALL students are safely on the sidewalk. However, it is difficult to see students if they exit towards the parking lot instead of the center lane.
Remember that NO cars are allowed to enter our campus from Hwy. 5 during drop off or pick up times. You must take the service road from the Reynolds Road exit, past Dave’s Burgers, then just past the gray Shingles Building and a mobile home park until you see our blue Drop off and pick up sign to turn right and enter our access road.
Let’s talk LUNCH for a minute. During normal times, we are always willing to help students open packages they bring for lunch. What seems so easy and convenient, such as pre-packaged items, are often difficult for students to open by themselves. Those fruit cups, go-gurt tubes, lunchables, Capri Sun drinks, even bags of chips or goldfish (the list is LONG, lol) are items that many of our students need assistance opening. With obvious concerns of not touching students’ food, we have noticed this week how important it is for students to be able to open their own food packages. We are ever mindful of sanitizing our hands between students, but we ask that you please send items your child can open by him or herself? Again, practicing this skill at home can make all the difference, or transferring it to a container or ziploc bag your child can open will alleviate the chance for germs to be exchanged.
Thank you again for being supportive and allowing us to give your child the best education possible in a safe and loving environment! We know you are entrusting us with your most valuable asset and we don’t take it lightly. Thank you for giving us a chance to love and teach your child. Looking forward to another great week at CES! I am always available if you have questions or concerns. Have a great week!
~Mrs. Edwards, Principal
tKedwards@bryantschools.org.
Parents, no decisions have been made at this time regarding school on Friday. Please continue to check email, social media, our app, or website for updates.
Take this opportunity to download the Bryant Public Schools app for notifications directly to your phone.
Tomorrow is a BIG day for our LITTLE Hornets. To help you and your child have a great start, all kindergarten students will begin school at 9am on Thursday.
To my Virtual Parents,
WOW! What a day! Let me start with an apology that today's first virtual encounter was so unsuccessful. Though these issues were district-wide, I know you are frustrated. I appreciate your patience as we work through these challenges so we can provide your child with the best education we can via a virtual platform. I told my teachers that tomorrow HAD to be better! LOL.
One thing we've already learned that will help is having your student log in to Zoom via their student school email. Teachers will be pushing out their Zoom links to student emails. This is helpful because Teachers can see student names instead of parent names. Since we don't "know" all our students yet, if your child is logged on under your name, please make sure you include who your child is when you are messaging or emailing.
Thank you again for your patience as we try a Take 2 tomorrow. We are always here to answer any questions and help in any way we can.
~Mrs. Edwards, CES Principal
Flashing Red Lights means students are getting on or off the bus. It is illegal to pass a bus from ANY direction when the red lights are flashing. Make safety a top priority. #FlashingRedKidsAhead
We can't wait to see ALL our students on Monday, August 24th!
On-site students: Since parents will not be allowed in our building, please help us get your child to class and home safely on the first day of school, by sending your child with a name tag stuck or pinned to his or her shirt, OR a note in your child's backpack labeling the following information:
1. Student's first and last name
2. Student's grade and teacher
3. How your child will go home on Day 1.
School starts at 7:50 am and the tardy bell rings at 7:55 am. You can find out Car drop-off procedures on our Facebook page and in our Virtual Open House Tour. Dismissal is at 3:20 pm but we will start a bit early the first week of school. All students must be picked up by 3:45 pm.
New safety measures are in place for our bus riders and drivers. We are #LearningReady for Monday!
youtu.be/0tpCrIjrkNc
School meals will be available for virtual students. A student's normal meal pricing is in effect (including Free and Reduced). For pickup locations and times, visit http://bit.ly/SchoolMeals_Virtual.
VIRTUAL Students: If you did not pick up your virtual packets/chromebooks yesterday, please plan to drive through today from 12-3 pm TODAY so your child is ready to start school on Monday.
Students and staff will be wearing masks this school year to help keep our Hornets safe. Mask Up! #LearningReady
Watch Here: youtu.be/-QNQGM20Shs
Welcome to Collegeville! We are delighted to share our Virtual Open House with you! You will find links at the top of our Site that will guide you through every part of our school. Whether your child will be on-site or learning virtually, we are so happy for you to be part of our family!
https://sites.google.com/bryantschools.org/collegevilleopenhouse/home
Face coverings protect the people around you when you can't safely distance. #WearItLikeaHornet
