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The Weekly Owl
December 4, 2025
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IMPORTANT DATES & REMINDERS:
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December 1-5: Snowman Decorating Contest
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December 5: Parents' Night Out (Ages 4-12)
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December 8: Holiday Concert (Spotted - Fifth Grade)
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December 15-19: Scholastic Book Fair
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December 18: Elementary Science Fair and Art Show (6:00-8:00 p.m.)
- December Closure Dates & Early Dismissals:
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Early Learning: Out December 22-26; 3:00 p.m. dismissal on December 31; closed on January 1
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Preschool: Out December 22-26; optional care available on December 29 & 30; 3:00 p.m. dismissal on December 31; closed January 1; optional care available on January 2
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Elementary: Out December 22-January 5 (Return on January 6)
| | Family Engagement with Holiday Goodies | | |
This a great time to come together and participate in activities as a family...such as making holiday goodies! Including children in making cookies is beneficial in a multitude of ways. Measuring ingredients provides opportunities to practice reading numbers, counting, and practicing early fraction skills.
Decorating cookies helps practice fine motor skills like hand-eye coordination and dexterity. It also allows for creative expression and teamwork, along with patience and focus. In addition to the educational benefits, making cookies together also provides opportunities for quality time and making memories. This holiday season, take the opportunity to bake together as a family!
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Use your favorite family recipes for sugar cookies and icing. Here are some helpful tips:
- Invite children to help pour and mix ingredients, allowing them to measure each ingredient.
- Encourage children to practice math skills at their level (choose the right measuring tool, fill ingredients to proper amount, etc.).
- When baking cookies, give children responsibilities such as allowing them to set the timer or help clean up.
- Use cookie cutters relevant to celebrated holidays (Christmas, New Years, Hanukkah, winter, etc.). As children cut cookies out, ask questions about what they are doing, what shapes they are making, etc.
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Have children help to make the icing for decorating. As children decorate cookies, ask questions about their choices for colors and praise how they choose to decorate them.
| | | Holiday Concert Reminders and a Visit From Santa | | |
We are thrilled to invite all families to our upcoming Holiday Concert on Monday, December 8! Students should be dropped off by 5:30 p.m., and the show will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m.
Our students have been practicing with excitement, and this year’s performance will include a special Spanish song, along with a mix of festive favorites that celebrate the joy of the season. Families can look forward to a fun and heartwarming evening filled with music, community, and cheer.
We can’t wait to see you there and kick off the holiday spirit together!
| | | Thank you, Santa, for visiting our students this week. Your stop brought so much excitement and joy to our school. We appreciate you bringing the holiday cheer! | | | First Week Fun and Important Reminders | | |
We've had an amazing first week back at Collage! Students have loved utilizing the ropes course area and caring for Branch, our new class pet rabbit.
This month, we are focusing on physical science and students will be testing chemical reactions. Stay tuned for updates about these experiments!
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Carline
As we transition to Collage, please help us make carline run as smoothly as possible by arriving between 7:45-8:00 a.m. for drop-off and 2:30-2:45 p.m. for pick-up.
Carline will be held at the front of building 2, separate from the K-5 car line. We will have the front spots of building 2 blocked off so parents can drop off students. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to support you or your child with the transition to Collage.
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Mental Health Moment of the Week: The Importance of Coping Skills
Coping strategies or skills have become a common buzzword. They include any positive behaviors that help regulate emotions or make sense of how we feel. Take a moment to reflect on the coping skills you model as a parent on difficult days. Many children naturally develop a few of their own, such as spending time outside, reading, or having a snack. Over your next mealtime, consider discussing coping skills with your child.
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Note from Nurse Chelsea
Hydration Boost
Why it matters: Staying hydrated keeps mucous membranes moist—our body’s first defense against germs.
Tips for parents:
- Fun cups - Special straws or colorful bottles encourage drinking.
- Infused water - Add lemon, orange, or berries for flavor.
- Warm drinks - Enjoy herbal teas or warm water with honey in cooler weather.
- Hydrate early - Encourage water before school instead of juice.
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Eat the Rainbow: Golden Raisins
Lower school students continue learning through Collage's Eat the Rainbow program. Students are exploring foods by color each month. This month's color is yellow.
Learn more about Golden Raisins:
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Nutrient Spotlight: Golden raisins provide natural energy, potassium, and antioxidants that help keep cells healthy.
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Health Benefits: They support digestion, boost energy for active play, and help maintain strong bones.
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Kid-Friendly Tip: Mix them into cereal or trail mix, sprinkle on yogurt, or add to muffins for a touch of natural sweetness.
| | We encourage families to join in at home. Let's all make healthy eating fun and colorful! | | PARENT COMMUNITY ALLIANCE (PCA) NEWS | | |
Looking for a simple way to support Collage? Join our PCA Volunteer List!
Volunteering is a great way to get involved, meet other families, and make an impact. From fun nights to fundraisers, we rely on our amazing volunteers.
Whether it’s helping with set-up, check-ins, clean-up, or behind-the-scenes tasks, there are plenty of ways to lend a hand. When an event is scheduled, we’ll send out a sign-up form outlining the roles needed—just choose what works best for you!
📌Click here to learn more.
Stay connected: Follow us on Facebook at CDS Parent Community Alliance.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567861563027.
Bridget L. Van Landingham
President, CDS Parent Community Alliance (PCA)
| | THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS: | | | | |
