CHILDREN’S AUTHOR VISITS – This past Thursday, Denise Lewis Patrick, a prolific children’s book author once again visited CDS.   With students sitting captivated around her in the school library, she read from some of her books including, The Car Washing Street and Red Dancing Shoes.  Librarian Allison May said, “She explained that her books are autobiographical, yet fiction. This made for interesting and lively conversations with the children!” She also read part of new manuscript on which she is working, as she often seeks student input as a first audience.  Ms. Patrick also volunteers with high school students on improving their writing skills.  CDS middle school students personally experienced one of her writing workshops during the visit.  She introduced the concept of a six-sentence story, and students will continue to refine these works during upcoming library classes. CDS was first introduced to Ms. Patrick through the Global Literacy Project; a New Jersey based non-profit organization fostering literacy in the state and throughout the world.  Since then, she visits CDS to help us celebrate Black History Month.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT HOSTS GSWA – Student Government President Senith Thiruvhelvam proudly announces that Great Swamp Watershed Association will make small group presentations on March 31.  Using the Enviroscape watershed models and topographically exact Great Swamp model, students in grades two through eight will engage in interactive demonstrations of the water cycle and non point source pollution in and around their communities.

TECH TEACHER AWARDED GRANT – Technology Teacher Mrs. Julie Spoerl has been awarded a special grant by the Junior League of Summit to purchase an isafe.org subscription for the school.  Isafe.org is a K-12 and parent Internet safety program designed to teach about safe searching, copyright, proper etiquette, tips for parents, etc. For more information, go to: http://www.isafe.org/

REFERENCE LIBRARIANS TEACH INVALUABLE RESEARCH SKILLS - CDS sixth and seventh grade students visited Madison Public Library to help enhance the skills needed to complete research papers on famous African Americans.  This was a perfect opportunity for our students to discover the invaluable worth of a research librarian and the library.   Beginning at the high school level, Internet sites are no longer acceptable citations for academic papers; however, this does not exclude using computers for research. The students learned how to access numerous databases and they now know how to use them remotely from school or home.  During their visit, they searched encyclopedias and biographical dictionaries using the database Facts on File.  The library also subscribes to the Historical New York Times database on which one student found a front page article announcing President Johnson’s appointment of Thurgood Marshall to the Supreme Court, as she also learned the difference between a primary and secondary source.  CDS Librarian Mrs. Allison May said, “With remote access to these resources, students will continue their research efforts at CDS during integrated language arts, as well as library classes. This interactive experience gives our students a great advantage in developing research skills and in writing non-fiction.”

 LUNCHES ARE GOING GREEN! - Beginning Monday, February 1, the CDS Student Government is challenging students in each lunch period to reduce waste. Garbage receptacles will be weighed at the end of each lunch period during the month of February, the less the better. The lunch group that reduces the most amount of wastewill choose from a selection of environmentally friendly rewards. Best of luck to all participants!

TAKE FIVE! -  Using Stephen Covey’s book, “The Leader in Me,” our Early Childhood Division is collaboratively creating an atmosphere of leadership, communication, respect, and time management by teaching lifelong skills of self-discipline, self-reliance, and self-confidence.  The ECD’s adapted “Take Five” principles teach children in age-appropriate ways to:

For more information about “Take Five” contact Mrs. Kellen Kent, Early Childhood Division Head or your child’s teacher.