✅ What CGS Families Need to Know ✅
📅 Upcoming Dates/Events
Tuesday, October 6th:
CGS 1st Annual Walk-a-Thon Wear green & gold
Fall Pictures Are Available via QR Code
PTO Meeting, 6-7PM, CGS Library
Thursday, October 8th: Firehouse Field Trip
Friday, October 9th: NO SCHOOL - Staff Professional Development
Monday, October 12th: NO SCHOOL - October Break
Thursday, October 15th: Brain Break Academy (in-school assembly)
Tuesday, October 20th: Picture Retake Day
Wednesday, October 21st: K-5 Literacy Night, 5:30-7
November 4–6: Fall Conferences – Early dismissal (11:40am) all three days
Coventry Public Schools 26/27 District Calendar
✅ To Dos
Complete the optional PTO Family Directory Google Form. More information.
Complete our CGS Volunteer Guidelines form if you’re planning to join your child’s class for next week’s firehouse field trip!
Visit The Learning Corner section of this update to learn more about what and how your child will be learning in the month of October.
🙋 Volunteer Opportunities
OCTOBER Cafeteria/Lunch Duty Volunteering - Sign-up NOW OPEN!
Be Flippy the Mascot
Parent/family volunteers are an important part of what makes Coventry Grammar School such a special place. Whether you're helping in a classroom or lunch room, supporting a special event, joining us on a field trip, or lending a hand behind the scenes, we are grateful for your partnership!
Annually, all volunteers must review our Volunteer Guidelines and Procedures and complete the electronic acknowledgment form. This only takes a few minutes and helps ensure a safe, positive, and consistent experience for everyone.
In future newsletters, this will be a place where volunteer opportunities are highlighted!
A Note from Mrs. Hammer
District Literacy Night
Join us for a fun-filled family evening dedicated to celebrating reading and supporting your child’s learning journey!
Why We’re Gathering
We believe that when families and educators work together, our students thrive. This evening directly supports our school goal (Priority #2: Strengthening collaborative conversations and shared action between families and staff). Our main focus is equipping you with fun, practical strategies, hands-on activities, and games that support your child’s literacy skills right at home.
Evening Highlights & Fun Activities:
Special Guests: Costume characters will be greeting families and posing for photos from 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM.
Hands-On Literacy Stations: Explore grade-specific activities for Kindergarten through 5th grade focused on fluency, rhyming, sounding out words, and sight words (including Sight Word Bingo and Splat!). You’ll leave each station with free take-home materials and activities.
Cozy Reading & Special Features: Visit our Cozy Corner for family read-alouds, scan QR codes to watch videos of teachers reading aloud, and stop by our popular "Read to a Puppy" stations!
Free Pizza, Books, & Giveaways: Enjoy pizza and water in the cafeteria (5:30 PM – 7:00 PM), pick out free books for your home library at our welcome table, and stop by the Booth & Dimock Library table to sign up for a library card or learn about local pass programs.
Raffles & Sing-A-Long: Everyone will gather in the cafeteria at 6:30 PM for a fun reading sing-a-long and our exciting raffle drawing! Students earn a raffle ticket at each station they participate in.
Be sure to check out the flyer for full details. We can’t wait to partner with you for a wonderful night of reading, community, and fun!
Picture Day Information!!
Your student’s school photos are now ready to view and order! 📸 You should receive an email directly from Ted Morton Photography with instructions for viewing and ordering.
Enjoy free shipping through October 19, with photos shipped directly to your home. Orders placed after October 19 will be subject to a shipping fee.
Please note that class photos are sent separately and may be available at a different time. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out directly to Ted Morton Photography.
When sending an email communication to me, please also include Mrs. Morrison (kmorrison@coventryct.org).
The Learning Corner
To kick off the month, this week’s edition of The Learning Corner features grade-level specific newsletters. These updates break down the primary focus areas, key skills, and learning goals across all content areas for each grade for the month of October. Most importantly, each newsletter includes practical strategies for how you can support key learning at home!
CGS PTO News & Events
Lyman Orchards Pie Fundraiser
The CGS PTO is kicking off their annual Lyman Orchards Pie Fundraiser and we're looking for your support! Check your kiddos' backpack for an order form, or order online. The fundraiser runs through October 14th and includes famous Lyman Orchard Pies, popcorn, cookies, specialty soaps and spices, and other goodies. The pies are delivered frozen to CGS for pick up on November 16th, 4 - 6pm. Just in time for Thanksgiving dinner!
Restaurant Day at Bidwell Tavern
Thursday, October 8th: Any dine‑in or takeout order placed that mentions CGS Fundraiser will send 15% of the sale back to the CGS PTO. Thank you for supporting our school community!
2026-2027 PTO Family Directory
Connect with CGS families through the PTO Family Directory. Parent and caregiver participation is entirely optional, but we welcome anyone who wishes to share their contact details to join in building our connected school community.
Share your contact information here: https://forms.gle/SgQx8aKcwgjRaebb6
Spirit Wear Update
Thank you so much to everyone who ordered Spirit Wear and supported our CGS community. The PTO purchased a few extra green T‑shirts for anyone who may have missed the deadline. We currently have Youth S, Youth M, and Youth L available. Please reach out if you’re interested!
Reach out to the PTO at cgsptoct@gmail.com for any PTO related questions, concerns, or ideas to strengthen our school community!
A Peek Inside Our Week
Check out the photo gallery to step right into the excitement, learning, and connections made this week. The energy in our building is so high, you’ll feel like you were right there with us!
Some highlights include: sugar cookie decorating, student and staff spirit days, and our first “puppy love” visit.
Please also join us in celebrating this week’s High Tide Heroes. These students went ABOVE and BEYOND in exemplifying our expectations of being safe, responsible, and respectful!
We encourage you to take a look together with your child to spark some great conversations about their week.
Meet Our Coventry Grammar School Staff
This week, we’re putting a “spotlight” on:
Mrs. Poulin (Kindergarten teacher & yoggie)
Ms. Wlochowski (Grade 2 teacher & Buffalo Bills fan)
Mrs. St. Peter (paraeducator & CGS mom)
Click the links above to learn more about each staff member personally and professionally, as well as put a face to some of the adults your child(ren) may come home talking about!
Connect with CGS Families: 2026-27 Family Directory
Looking for an easy way to coordinate playdates, send party invitations, or stay in touch with your child’s classmates? The CGS PTO Family Directory for the 2026–2027 school year is officially open!
Because privacy guidelines prevent teachers and school staff from sharing contact information, this PTO-sponsored directory is the go-to resource for connecting outside of the classroom.
Participation is completely optional, and you are welcome to share as much or as little information as you feel comfortable with. Whether you list just an email address or a full phone number, the goal is simple: building a strong, supportive community and fostering friendships between our students and families.
The directory makes it easy to:
Reach out for playdates, homework help, and school activities
Connect directly with classmates and caregivers
Stay in the loop throughout the entire school year
Submit your info or view the directory!
Have questions? Reach out to the CGS PTO!
Open House
Thank you to all the students, parents, caregivers, and extended family members who joined us Wednesday night for Open House! We were thrilled to welcome 90% of our community, topping last year’s attendance rate of 86%.
A special thank you as well to the families who took a few extra minutes to share kind words with our staff—not only about Open House, but about the positive start to the school year your children are having. What a wonderful testament to our partnership!
If you were unable to attend, school and classroom presentations are linked below for your review.