March 21, 2013

Next week on Tuesday, March 26^th and Wednesday, March 27^th our third grade students will be taking the MCAS test. I want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to the PTA for sponsoring a healthy breakfast for our students on the mornings of the testing. Please make certain your child has a good night sleep to be well rested for the test.

We are looking forward to our LEGO Showcase night on Friday, April 5^th. This is looking to be a very exciting evening! There are very few schools in the country who were awarded this grant, so it is truly an accomplishment. Dr. Czajkowski and I are going to be a part of this night evaluating students’ designs. There will be a sign-up for this event coming home in the next week so PLEASE mark the date and plan on joining us!

I want to remind families that school attendance is a priority. Please refer to the school handbook for the attendance policy. If your child has missed more than six days in a six month period of school, it is a concern. It impacts our ability to deliver the curriculum to your child and hurts the continuity of their educational progress. Please try to keep family vacations to a time when school is not in session, so that if your child is ill his or her attendance is not as impacted.  As always, please remember to contact the school nurse if your child is going to be absent so that we can document the reason for his or her absence. 

We have conducted our kindergarten registration with great success! If you have not registered your child for kindergarten, or if you know of someone who has not yet done so, please contact Mrs. Carlon in our main office. We are trying to make staffing decisions for next year and we need accurate numbers to accomplish this task successfully. Your help is appreciated.

The preschool is in need of 3 year old peers for next year. Our 3 year old peers come to school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings from 9-11:30. We will be conducting a peer screening on April 10^th from 9:30-11:30. This is a great opportunity to have your child come to school and be taught by certified teachers in a classroom environment. The preschool fees are on a sliding scale making it an affordable option for families. We are looking for students who have strong language skills and are able to model appropriate behaviors. If your child is three years old by September 1^st , please come to school to be screened. 

Finally, please remember that Friday, March 29^th is Good Friday and there is no school.

Mr. Scheufele

February 13, 2013

Dear Centerville Families,

It appears that the groundhog was a little off in his assessment of the climate. I hope you all weathered the storm without much inconvenience. It is nice to be back in school! 

I want to make you aware of a new routine at the front office. When you use the buzzer to enter the building, we will be asking for your name and the reason you are here. Please do not be offended, as this is to increase our security at the school to keep our students safe. This practice is being implemented throughout the district, and we thank you for understanding.

I also want to take a moment to let our school community know about some important events in the next month. Kindergarten registration will be held from 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM on Monday, March 4^th. If you know of anyone in the neighborhood who has a kindergarten aged child, please pass the word along.

Our preschool program will be having peer screenings for next year’s preschool from 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM on Wednesday, March 13^th. There will be no preschool on March 13^th so we can conduct the screenings. I wanted to make sure you had plenty of notice to make preparations for this day. 

The PTA, through the efforts of Nicole McFarland, has secured a LEGO Showcase grant. We will be having a LEGO night on Friday, April 5^th as a result of this grant, as well as an after school program for our students. We are one of one hundred schools in the nation to receive this grant.  It is something to be proud of! Please look for more information to come on this event. Thank you to Mrs. McFarland for taking the time to apply for this grant on our behalf. It looks to be a very successful night!

We are moving towards our first round of MCAS testing. The test will be administered on March 25^th and 26^th to our third grade students. Parents, we have found that our students perform best when they are taking the test at the same time as their peers. Please make sure you mark these dates on your calendar, so that you can schedule any appointments your child may have around these dates.

Finally, please remember to take some time to read with your child. Have them read to you and you also read to them. Ask your child questions about the passage that you have read together. Not only is this quality time with your child, it is investing in their reading and their comprehension.

I hope you have a great time with your children over vacation.

Mr. Scheufele

January 9, 2012

Happy New Year! I want to take a moment to welcome you back from vacation. It is the perfect week to remind families that we do like to have outdoor recess as much as possible. This means we do send students outside in the snow, so please have your children dress appropriately for the weather. They will need hats, gloves and boots. Right now the temperature has been too low but if it gets a little warmer we are planning on sending them outside.

I have a gentle reminder to parents that if you are dropping off after 9:00 AM, you are to accompany your child in to the school and sign them in as tardy. A great rule of thumb is that if you do not see the staff member in the crosswalk, your child is tardy. 

Our PTA is planning on a Family Game Night on Friday, January 25th at 6:00 PM. What a great opportunity to bring your new/old board games and play with other friends and family! In addition, the PTA is planning some fun family competition in the GYM.

Barnstable Schools in partnership with ARAMARK Food Services is currently hiring for substitutes, part-time, and potential full time workers. If interested, applications can be picked up at the school lunch office located on 744 West Main Street in Hyannis. Please go behind the high school and enter the gray trailer marked “School Lunch Office” across from the tennis courts. Please arrived prepared by bringing references, resumes and proper identification. Background checks and drug tests will be required if considered for hiring. If you have any questions, please call 508-778-0563.

If you are the parent of an incoming kindergarten student for this coming September, I would like to invite you to our first Kick off to Kindergarten Event at Barnstable Intermediate School on Tuesday, January 15th at 6:00. There will be pizza served at 6:00. Please RSVP to Carol Cahoon at 508-862-4976 if you are planning on attending. There is childcare provided for children over three years old.

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2013!