TRANSITIONS

Bro. Leon Clark, our Technology Teacher, has accepted a full-time position in the technology field and will be leaving us after the winter holiday. While we were saddened to know he will not be a teacher at CCA, we were happy to hear that this is a significant and positive development for one of our CCA family members. We were heartened to learn that Mr. Clark may still be available one day per week to teach classes until we get a qualified teacher and acclimate them to our special CCA needs. Children were informed of this today, at a special meeting in the chapel at 3:00 pm. Mr. Clark plans to meet with individual homerooms to say goodbye and to answer children’s’ questions. Parents please know that CCA will work hard to find and hire someone as outstanding as Bro. Clark has been for us.  If you know of an IT professional or former technology teacher who may be interested in a permanent, part-time position here at CCA, please ask them to call the principal OR to submit their resume and completed application (found on our website www.colonialca.org) via email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

IMPORTANT HEALTH NOTICE, Part 2
Parents, please examine the attached medical form, the “Physician’s Order”. This completed form is required in order for CCA staff to dispense ANY form of medication to your child. Whether prescribed, OTC (over-the-counter), temporary (cough syrup) or permanent (asthma meds, etc.). We cannot administer any medications without this form on file, completed and signed by both parent and physician. This is especially important if you already have medicines in our office. None will be administered after today if the necessary documentation is missing!!! The completed, signed form may be faxed to our office at 410-521-7193. Please know that your CCA office professionals are certified in medicinal administration but may not administer any without the form on file.

PP/KK
Our next grade meetings will be scheduled for Monday, December 3rd at 4:00 pm. This is for grades 2 AND 3 because the issues mentioned to me are common to both grades.  If you are a parent who didn’t respond but would like to come, by all means, please come!
4th Grade Parents, How about Tuesday, December 4th at 4:00 pm?
5th grade parents on Wednesday, December 5th AT 4:00? Again, that’s:

Monday, December 3RD at 4:00 for ……..GRADES 2 AND 3
Tuesday, December 4TH at 4:00 for………GRADE 4, and,   
Wednesday, December 5th at 4:00 for ……GRADE 5

IMPORTANT DATES AHEAD (including one CHANGED date)

FRIDAY, 12/07: 3/30 – 6:00…………Annual Christmas Bazaar
MONDAY, 12/10……………………Progress Reports Issued  
WEDNESDAY, 12/12 ………………”Miracle of Christmas” Sight & Sound Trip
THURSDAY, 12/13  2:00 PM…”HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS” Party
MONDAY, DECEMBER 17TH THROUGH TUESDAY, JANUARY 1ST CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2ND……SCHOOL REOPENS

11-29-07 Update

Tomorrow is Cactus Willies Night.

(and NO HOMEWORK for participating students with a receipt the next day!) REMEMBER, YOU CAN EAT AT CACTUS WILLIES (AT SECURITY MALL LOCATION ONLY) AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY AS LONG AS YOU TELL THE CASHIER TO CREDIT COLONIAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY !

LET’S ALL TURN OUT FOR THE BEST ONE-DAY BENEFIT EVER!

MENTORING BREAKFAST

Many “thanx” to the following dads who have committed to our first mentoring breakfast. So far, Bros. Kenneth Davis, Wayne Garrus, Sr., Kevin Tarver, Derrick Waller and Ken Waller will be there to hear our Guest Speaker, Ms. Jeanette Simon of the Maryland Mentorship Partnership. Want to join us? Don’t worry about finding the signature slip, just call Ms. V (secretary) to add your name.

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IMPORTANT DATES AHEAD

TOMORROW, October 25^th (ALL DAY)………(all together now!) CACTUS WILLIES!

Saturday, October 27^th( 8 AM CCA Fellowship Hall/Rm F6).……………..Mentoring Breakfast

Wednesday, October 31^st. ……Annual Fall Harvest Day

CHILD CARE SURVEY

NEED A CHILD CARE OUTLET FOR THANKSGIVING WEEK AND/OR WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS WEEK?? Our Extended Day Staff will work the following dates if there is enough interest: Tuesday & Wednesday, November 20 & 21 (NOT Monday, 11/19) and Monday through Friday, December 17^th – 21^st (NOT the actual Christmas week) The cost for children already enrolled in Ext. Care will be $30/day and $$40 for non-enrolled children. The fees pay for lunch and snack as well as the additional salary hours involved. We need a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 30 children. Please send in your reply this week—first come, first booked, regardless of current Ext. Care status (contingent on sufficient participation). Again, this is a survey of interest—not a binding commitment. We will ask for that later, based on your responses. We’ll report the results next week.

CAVEATS:

For financial and planning reasons, full-week attendance children must be considered ahead of partial attendees for either week.

Payment for all desired dates of service must accompany registration. Registration will end Friday, November 9^th.

If by the end of registration, there are not enough participants, the service will be cancelled for the specific week and all monies will be refunded.    

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_____  YES! I would pay for additional care for my (how many?) _____ child(ren) on the

dates checked below:

THANKSGIVING WEEK (Monday not available—church activity)

             ­                 Tuesday, November 20^th;                     Wednesday, November 21^st.

           ENTIRE WEEK of December 17—21; 

(OR) just specific dates of

 ___ Monday, December 17;    ___ Tuesday, December 18;   ___ Wednesday, December 19;

___ Thursday, December 20;  ___ Friday, December 21^st.

GRANDPARENTS DAY

What a turnout! This week’s Grandparents Day was, I’m told, one of the largest ever. What a blessing to see and listen to the Elder Generation as they watched with pride our youngsters work their way through the day. Thanks to all who made it possible and special thanks to Mrs. Rene Koromah as she worked from planning to the event itself. May God’s special blessing shine on all who contributed and visited. Special thanks as well to our marvelous CCA staff that make these special days a joy to present.

DON’T FORGET!

Remember that tomorrow, Friday, October 12^th is an early dismissal conference day, and  . . .

NO hot lunch is scheduled. If you ordered because there was a menu printed for that day, your money will be credited for a future lunch (such dates are not misprints—our vendor serves multiple clients with as many calendar variations.)

Dismissed children must be picked up between 12:30 – 12:45 unless they are to go to aftercare. If you’re “dropping in” tomorrow, the fee is $20; not $10 (provides for the additional staff hours and an included lunch)

Scheduled extra curricular activities (Golf/Music/Tennis, etc.) are to begin at their regular time—not earlier. Children waiting until such activities begin must pay for the extended care if not already enrolled (or be picked up and returned for that activity).

G/T PROGRAM, Part 2: Just what is this “Focused Staff Development”?

As mentioned in the September 27^th issue of the Update, the G/T (Gifted/Talented) program is being modified extensively this year. Part of the change is something we call “focused” staff development. This simply means that instead of a general or global approach to or review of certain instructional issues, we are targeting very specific areas for growth and renewal. CCA has employed the services of a trusted and experienced staff development consultant and she has already begun the reshaping of the program. An expected (and contractually stipulated) outcome of this activity is that we will answer many of your questions about the level of academic work as well as ongoing communication with parents. We appreciate your patience as we work to improve the quality of your child (ren)s experience at Colonial Christian Academy.

STUDENTS AND CELL PHONES

Since school began, we have had two (2) cases of cellular phones in a student’s possession. We recognize that parents determine when and why they give a child a cell phone and we are careful to not prohibit the possession of cell phones. However, your child will be permitted only to have them stored in their book bags—not on their person—during school time, and they must be turned off during the school day. Please remember that among the promises CCA makes is that there will be a minimum of disruption to instruction. We take every reasonable precaution to provide for the safety of children, including the prompt delivery of parent/guardian messages as the need arises. So please—limit cellular phone access in school!

OCTOBER IS FIRE SAFETY MONTH AND THIS IS FIRE SAFETY WEEK!

As part of our preparation for emergencies, we rehearsed not only evacuating the building, but we marched across the field to the Carriage Hill Village Apartments. The management has again graciously allowed us permission to bring our children and staff there in the event of an evacuation that would require a sustained stay out of the building. Now you know that your children would not be exposed to the elements and there is a location appropriate for an orderly and unhurried pickup of your child should such an emergency arise. I hope a few of you will take a moment to call Carriage Hill’s management (410-922-7400 or 7402) to thank them for their kindness!

SIGHT AND SOUND

All monies for the December 12^th field trip to Sight & Sound to see “The Miracle of Christmas” must be turned no later than October 25^th. Contract obligation prohibit any exceptions!

TODAY!

Thursday, October 11^th (4:00 – 6:00 pm)…Uniform Exchange Program

Friday, October 12^th. ……………………………………………………Conference Day: Early Dismissal ( 12:30)

(Please remember that you’ll need to have pre-scheduled appointment time!)

Tuesday, October 16^th. ………………………………………………………………………………. GRANDPARENTS DAY

Thursday, October 18^th……………………………………………………….Maryland Child Safety Photo ID Day

Saturday, October 20^th……………………………………………..…….Colonial Baptist Church BLOCK PARTY

(We will have more details next week)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

CCA needs a few lunchtime volunteers, most urgently during the first 2 periods, to assist the cafeteria staff. If you can volunteer during one or more weekdays from 11:15 – 12:15; 12:15 – 1:15; or 11:15 – 1:15, please stop in, call, or email me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) to help.

ABOUT THOSE PROGRESS REPORTS . . . A REMINDER

Progress Reports are just that . . . a report on the progress made to date as well as a report on progress that needs to be made to ensure academic success. What is often not mentioned is that it is (or may be) a “Wake-Up Call” for parents and children alike. It is not the Report Card! (That will come Friday, November 16th)