Dear Cedar Mountain Families:
I like to begin the new year by asking a sampling of our first-graders a few thoughts on 2021 and the New Year to come…here’s what they said…
From Luke:
What is your favorite memory from 2021?
Playing with my dog Buck that died last year and being a First-Grade Safety
What did you learn in 2021?
How to count
What is your New Year’s resolution?
Being an even kinder person
What advice do you have for grown-ups in 2022?
Be the best teacher to your children
What do you wish for others in 2022?
Be safe!
Luke
From Joey:
What is your favorite memory frm 2021?
Going to Hershey Park
What did you learn in 2021?
I learned how to ride a bike, but I’m still learning
What is your New Year’s resolution?
To play with my Ultimate Hulk Buster and see all the things I can do with it
What do you wish for others in 2022?
To be kind to one another
Joey
From Ethan:
What is your favorite memory from 2021?
Going to Lego Land and earning cotton balls in Mrs. Czergovits’ class
What did you learn in 2021?
I learned how to shoot and bow and arrow
What is your New Year’s resolution?
To get better at playing baseball
What do you wish for others in 2022?
To be kind to each other
Ethan
From Hadley:
What is your favorite memory from 2021?
My first time ice-skating
What did you learn in 2021?
I learned how to sing all of the words to “You’re a Grand Old Flag”
What is your New Year’s resolution?
To become a Student of the Month and learn how to ride my bike
What do you wish for others in 2022?
To give love to each other
Hadley
From Lola:
What is your favorite memory from 2021?
When I walked into my classroom and met my new teacher and all of my new friends
What did you learn in 2021?
I learned how to ride a bike, I learned the alphabet, I learned how to read, and how to count
What is your New Year’s resolution?
Try to be even kinder to everyone to help people be happy
What advice do you have for grown-ups in 2022?
Make sure you wear a mask so you don’t get sick
What do you wish for others in 2022?
I want my brother to have a good time when he goes to kindergarten next year and maybe not have to wear a mask
Lola
From Elias:
What is your favorite memory from 2021?
I learned how to do math
What did you learn in 2021?
I learned how to play basketball
What is your New Year’s resolution?
To do well in school
What advice do you have for grown-ups in 2022?
Help others
What do you wish for others in 2022?
To be nice to all people
Elias
From Michael:
What is your favorite memory from 2021?
My last birthday, I got a dirt bike
What did you learn in 2021?
I learned trick words
What advice do you have for grown-ups in 2022?
I wish all grown-ups can have a good job
What do you wish for others in 2022?
For everyone to be happy
Michael
Reminder: School will be closed on Monday, January 17, 2022, for the observance of Martin Luther King Day.
Congratulations to the January First-Grade Students of the Month!
Monthly our teachers select students that demonstrate the below characteristics. During the Medals Ceremony, each student is called up to hear why they have been selected by their teacher. Congratulations to these school role models!
Gavin
Stephanie
Sophia
Rylee
Hunter
Charlotte
Hunter
Alayna
Salvatore
Cash
Heidi
Elias
Lindsay
Avery
Sussex County Library Cards: Thanks to a partnership with our public library, all VTSD students now have DIGITAL public library cards! This card can be used for school or for leisure. The card numbers follow a basic formula.
Each card begins with 24154, a number that identifies the library, followed by ‘VTSD’, followed by the student ID number.
If a resource requires a pin, it is 2021.
The library’s website is:
www.sussexcountylibrary.org
The digital resources can be found within the ‘Access Your Library’ menu under eLibrary. Click on the image below to enlarge it to read the directions for how to access your digital library card, it’s easy!
It’s Time to Take the Kids Heart Challenge! Beginning at the end of January, our school will take the Kids Heart Challenge. This year, our students will be challenged in a variety of ways… such as to be active, move more AND be kind to your heart and to others. As the principal of Cedar Mountain School, I have accepted the Heart Hero Principal Challenge…and it will soon be our students’ turn to take part, too! When Cedar Mountain students join our school’s Kids Heart Challenge Team they will choose a challenge too! Students can choose to be active, move more, or be kind to their hearts and others. Our kick-off assembly will be held on January 25th, then the week of January 31st, the challenge begins!
Snow Day Homework: Mrs. Waller challenged her students to have fun on their snow day last week and report back some of the things they did as a family. Check out the pictures of her students having fun and learning at home and playing in the snow.
Next SCA Meeting: Monday, February 7, 2022, at 8:00 pm via Zoom. We thank the SCA for all the wonderful programs they bring to the students of Cedar Mountain. We appreciate your dedication to our school and students; your countless hours of volunteer time do not go unnoticed! There are many upcoming SCA activities this winter. Please join us for Family Movie Night on Friday, January 21 (snow date January 28). This is a free event! We will be showing “Ron’s Gone Wrong”. You can purchase a water and popcorn for $2.00. HERE IS THE FLYER YOU NEED TO COMPLETE TO ATTEND THIS PROGRAM. This form has also been sent home with your child.
Our Mr. Cupcake Fundraiser will begin on January 18 and conclude on February 1, 2022. A flyer will be sent home shortly for you to select from dozens of delicious cupcake flavors. Pick up for the cupcakes will take place on Thursday, February 17, 2022, just in time for Valentine’s season! The SCA will also be holding a “Smencils” fundraiser enabling you to purchase a “smelly pencil” of your choice for your child that they will receive for Valentine’s Day.
Baseline Assessment System (BAS)- During the second and third week of January, kindergarten students will be administered the Baseline Assessment System (BAS). The BAS is a reading benchmark system that helps teachers pinpoint a child’s ability to read and understand text. Once each class is assessed, teachers will begin working with their students in guided reading groups and develop leveled centers to strengthen literacy skills. Guided reading is an instructional method where students work in small groups as they read texts at their instructional reading level that review or enhance the skills and strategies taught during Reading Workshop. First graders will also be receiving their second BAS benchmark this month as well. First-grade teachers will be looking closely at the growth their students have made since September. Both kindergarten and first-graders will receive an ending benchmark in late May 2022. As always, please reach out to your child’s teacher to discuss how you can support your child at home with the reading process or if you would like to know more about the level your child is reading at this time.
Virtual Author Visit: Our students will be meeting monthly via Zoom with author, songwriter, and yoga instructor, Kira Willey, from January through April. Kira Willey will be using her books to teach us mindfulness and self-regulation skills that will complement our Social and Emotional (SEL) instruction used every day at school. Our first Virtual Author Visit will take place on January 13th. We would like to thank our SCA for funding this program!
Kira will read and demonstrate simple, fun mindfulness exercises–specifically designed to help children calm themselves, focus their energy, and let go of stress–from her six children’s mindfulness books, including the #1 bestseller Breathe Like a Bear. She’ll also perform her original songs, and lead simple, fun rhythm games and chair-based movement. Kira’s visits will complement the training we have received from our Trauma-Informed team that focuses on The Circle of Courage. The Circle of Courage is a model of positive youth development based on the universal principle that to be emotionally healthy all youth need a sense of belonging, mastery, independence and generosity.
VTHS Key Club Winter Wonderland: The HS Key Club will be hosting a Winter Wonderland at Cedar Mountain on Saturday, February 5 (snow date February 19) from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. There will be games and activities that will be led by the HS students. Come out for a morning of fun. Tickets are $5.00 for an “arm’s length”.
Think Spring and Kindergarten Registration! Do you know of a family member, friend, or neighbor whose child will be turning five by October 1, 2022? If so, please share that Kindergarten Registration will take place the week of March 7, 2022. Please see the Cedar Mountain calendar for specific times each day. Upon registering, you will also arrange a time for the entering kindergarten student to be screened using the DIAL4. You must register online to begin the process. You can do this at home on any device or you can log on at Cedar Mountain to complete this step of the process. Details will be posted on the Cedar Mountain website this winter. You can always call for assistance, or if you would like to come in for a tour! We love visitors!
In closing, as you are aware, our district will continue to follow a mask mandate. Thank you for packing extra masks in your child’s backpack so they have a spare and have one that is comfortable for your child. We also have children’s size masks if your child ever needs one. We continue to encourage students to wash their hands and sanitize their hands in the classroom after eating, playing outdoors, or when transitioning back into the classroom. Thank you for working with us during these challenging winter months. As a reminder, I would encourage you to ensure that your child’s health is in good condition each day before sending your child to school. If your child is not feeling well your child should stay home. As has always been our school’s policy, if your child has a fever, he or she can return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours. While this can be frustrating for families, we appreciate your understanding and cooperation. I thank you for staying in touch with our nurse, Mrs. Forrest, regarding your child’s health. Mrs. Forrest is always available to speak with you.
Sincerely,
Rosemary Gebhardt
Principal