A Note from Mrs. Hammer
As we move into the week of Thanksgiving, I find myself feeling deeply grateful for you, our CGS families. Over the past week, your notes of gratitude and appreciation for our staff have been incredibly heartwarming. You have celebrated the big and small ways our adults care for your children each day, and your words have meant so much to our team.
Thank YOU for the many ways you partner with us in your child’s learning journey. Your open and reciprocal communication, your willingness to work together to celebrate success and support any challenges that arise, and your engagement in our special projects, events, and everyday routines all help make Coventry Grammar School the thriving community it is. Our Season of Giving initiative feels especially meaningful because it reflects who you already are as a community that gives generously of time, talent, and kindness.
As you head into the holiday with your families, please know how thankful I am to serve as principal of CGS. It is a privilege to lead such a caring, engaged school community, and I am so proud of the school we are building together for our children.
There will be NO newsletter next week due to the Thanksgiving holiday!
And a quick request…In order to ensure the most timely response from the Main Office, when sending an email communication to me, please also include Mrs. Morrison: (kmorrison@coventryct.org).
CGS PTO News & Events
**Thank you to all our families who came to our Brain Break Academy Free Family Event on November 17th! We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did!
**Thank you to all for coming out and picking up your Lyman Pie Orders and a HUGE thank you to all the volunteers who helped us. We had a great turnout this year which made it run smoothly!
**Original Artworks: This is the LAST CALL for orders! All orders are due by the 24th! Please contact the PTO if you need help placing your order: cgsptoct@gmail.com.
**Our next PTO Meeting is on December 2nd at 6pm!
**The Annual Craft Fair is coming up on December 6th! Please consider volunteering for this event that supports all four schools! Sign up to bake or volunteer here:
A Peek Inside Our Week
Click to see photos of some of the special moments we shared this week.
Highlights include: our Brain Break Academy Assembly, lots of Wit & Wisdom instruction, and some of our disguised turkeys.
And be sure to check out our High Tide Heroes of November. We had the privilege of recognizing a lot of role model students this week!
Photo ID Reminder - Afternoon Pickup
As we welcome a change in our Main Office team, I want to remind families that photo identification is required at pick up. Our newer staff members, or those who may be “subbing” in the role, may not automatically recognize every parent, guardian, or family member who is authorized to pick up a child, and taking a moment to check identification helps us make sure each student is safely released to the correct adult. This expectation is not meant to cause any frustration. It is simply one of the ways we work together to keep every child safe.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership.
A Message from the Nurse
It’s hard to believe we are quickly approaching WINTER! That means it is time to be prepared for chillier temperatures. There are a lot of fun things to do outside in winter, and our students love spending both recess and PE outdoors when they can. It is important that appropriate winter wear is sent in with your student(s) every day (warm jackets, hats, gloves, or mittens). Please also pack snow clothes on days when there is snow on the ground (add snow pants and boots to their warm weather gear!).
Some common winter troubles:
Cold and Flu Season: As we approach flu season, please make sure to wash your hands often, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and of course please cover your coughs and sneezes.
**If your child develops a fever, please ensure that they are 24 hours fever free (without any fever reducing medication) before returning to school.
Nosebleeds: If your child suffers from winter nosebleeds it may be from the dry air. Try using a cold air humidifier in the child’s room at night. Saline nose drops or petroleum jelly may help too. If severe, consult your pediatrician.
Stomach Bugs: The stomach “bug” or “flu” is highly contagious and typically travels around the schools this time of year.
** We ask that students remain home for a minimum of 24 hours after their last episode of vomiting. They should also be able to tolerate normal meals prior to returning to school.
Spare Clothing: As we move through the school year, I kindly ask that you keep a set of seasonally appropriate spare clothes in your child’s backpack, cubby, or locker. Having their own clothing available ensures that , in the event of an accident or spill, your child has something comfortable and familiar to change into for the rest of the day and to wear home.
I would like to send out a big thank you to the CGS PTO for their generous donation to the health office. The PTO’s support allowed us to restock our spare clothing supply with 10 pairs of pants, 4 shirts and100 pairs of underwear. These items make a tremendous difference for our students when unexpected situations arise, and I truly appreciate their kindness and commitment to our students’ well-being.
Extra Info
CCMC Pajama Day for the Kids
This year marks the 15th anniversary of PJ Day for the Kids, a fundraiser that began right here in Coventry — in a 2nd grade classroom at Coventry Grammar School! What started as a small act of kindness has grown into a statewide tradition supporting the amazing care provided by the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC).
On PJ Day (Friday, December 12th), students and staff across Connecticut wear their coziest pajamas and donate to help kids fighting cancer and other serious illnesses. It’s a wonderful way for our young learners to see how kindness, empathy, and community spirit can make a big difference.
Check out the flyer linked below, scan the QR code to donate or share with family and friends, and don’t miss the short promotional video that tells the inspiring story of how PJ Day began — right here at CGS!
**NEW** Volunteer Opportunity
CGS would love to welcome parents, grandparents, and family members who are interested in spending time in our building and supporting our students during one of the busiest and happiest parts of the day…LUNCH!
With three very full lunch waves, your presence truly helps everything run smoothly. Extra hands and caring adults create a calm, safe space where students can enjoy lunch, get the support they need, and transition successfully to recess.
If you are interested in volunteering in this role, for more information to sign-up for a December time! The Sign-up Genius will be updated on a monthly basis.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CA4AB2EA4F8C16-60686602-lunchtime#/
Ask Me About…
Below you’ll find 2-3 questions from your child’s grade-level team and specials’ teachers that connect directly to what they’ve been learning; both in academics, related arts, and in social-emotional learning lessons. These are great conversation starters to help your child share, reflect on their day/week, and celebrate their learning with you.
Ask your KINDERGARTNER…
- Can you tell a word that rhymes with: frog, hill, fish?
- What was your favorite part of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom? Who were the characters?
- In Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, should the letters go back up the tree with letter a after they fall out? Why or why not?
Ask your 1st GRADER…
- Can you write two addition sentences and two subtraction sentences for a number bond?
- What are the unexpected letters in the trick words HAVE and FROM?
- Why does the moon change?
Ask your 2nd GRADER…
- What are you thankful for and why?
- Mark the base word and suffix in “thankful” and tell someone another word with a base word and a suffix.
Mark Your Calendars!
Thanksgiving Break: November 26th - 30th
PTO Meeting: Tuesday, December 2nd
Early Release - Professional Development: Friday, December 5th
PTO Craft Fair/Bake Sale: Saturday, December 6th
CCMC PJ Day for the Kids: Friday, December 12th
Early Release - Winter Break: Tuesday, December 23rd
Events in the Larger Community
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