Lower School News

Service Learning

Thank you so much for your kindness in helping the children participate in the Change Challenge supporting Calvert Animal Welfare League. The lower school raised $1,528 in just one week thanks to the Pencil Pull and Change Challenge at the book fair. Congratulations to Mrs. Keegan’s class for raising the most money! This is over double what was raised last year! Our fifth grade will be visiting C.A.W.L. this week to share the amazing news and drop off all donations.

Many thanks for participating in our Scholastic Book Fair. I hope the children enjoyed their newest additions to their home libraries. Thanks to the book fair success, the library has earned $4,834 in Scholastic Dollars to use for items in the library.

Giving Tuesday

Continuing with our leadership focus of service learning, on Tuesday, December 3 students will participate in grade-level service learning projects. Students experienced the positive ways we can give to those in need in our community. Please take some time at home to speak with your children about their classroom projects and ways they can help at home, in their neighborhood, and in their local community.

• PreK Cougar Cubs – Creating goodie bags for troops.
• Kindergarten – Creating thank you bags for local fire department.
• First Grade – Creating thank you bags for the Calvert County Sherriff’s Office and learning about the work of a police officer with a visit from local Sherriff’s Deputies, Deputy Clas and Ms. Murphy’s brother, Deputy Murphy.
• Second Grade – Creating ornaments for shelter residents at Project Echo in Prince Frederick.
• Third Grade – Making no-sew blankets for residents at Asbury Solomons and delivering them in person along with performing some holiday songs.
• Fourth Grade – Organizing and filling birthday bags for Chesapeake Cares Food Pantry following a visit from the organization to our fourth grade class to share the importance of their support for those in our local community.
• Fifth Grade – Sorting and delivering C.A.W.L. Animal Shelter donations and writing persuasive letters to possible adopters about the animals in the shelter. We are still accepting donations through the morning of December 3.

Join Us This Giving Tuesday!

We invite you to support our school's mission and make a difference in the lives of our students. Your generous contributions during our Giving Tuesday campaign will help fund essential programs, resources, and activities that enrich our educational experience. Together, we can create a brighter future for our community. Every donation counts, no matter the size! Help us unlock challenges along the way thanks to your donations. If 85% of the lower school families donate, students will have the opportunity to cover me in Silly String! It’s all about our students, your children! Click HERE to give!

December and January Lunch Orders

Please remember to complete your December and January order and send in payment by Tuesday, December 3.

December CPA Meeting

The December CPA meeting will take place on Friday, December 6 at 8:15 a.m.

Holiday Shoppe

It is time for our Lil’ Shoppers Holiday Shoppe! Detailed information and forms about the Lil’ Shoppers Holiday Shoppe will be sent home on Monday. As you will see on the information page, students in grades K-5 will have the opportunity to browse the shop on Monday, December 9.

If you choose to have your child participate, please fill in the family members you would like your child to shop for on the Wish List under "Shopping For..." and include a budget for each item or provide a total budget. This is very helpful and a real-life math application when the students browse. Most items are priced $5.00 or less, but there are a few items that can exceed this amount. Please send the Wish List back to school by Friday, December 6. Students will then have the opportunity to shop beginning on Tuesday, December 10. Please note that browsing is difficult for our youngest cougars in PreK because they want to take things with them that day. They do not always understand having to wait to purchase, so to make this easier, we do all browsing and shopping on one day for 3K and 4K students. Please note that the items listed on the Lil’ Shoppers website are not necessarily items that will be sent to us. Please do not use these items to browse with your child at home. Below is the schedule for shopping.

We are in need of parent volunteers to help with this event. If you are able to sign up to assist in shopping and wrapping, we would very much appreciate it. Please use THIS LINK to volunteer.

Tuesday, December 10

• 8:20-10:20 Kindergarten
• 10:20-12:00 Second Grade
• 12:30-2:00 First Grade
• 2:00-2:50 Fifth Grade

Wednesday, December 11

• 8:20-10:00 3K & 4K
• 10:20-12:00 Third Grade
• 12:30-2:30 Fourth Grade

Candy Cane Grams

Students have the opportunity to send out Candy Cane Grams to friends and teachers again this year. The message forms will be sent home on Monday, December 2 in backpacks. For $1.00 per message, students can write a special note, which will be attached to a candy cane and delivered to the recipient on Friday, December 20. Candy Cane Grams can be dropped off with Mrs. Freeburger in the lower school office up until Thursday, December 12. Attached is a copy of the form if you need additional pages to print.

Winter Concert – Elfis and the Elves Get All Shook Up!

The month of December always seems to pass so quickly, so be sure to mark your calendars for the 4K-5th grade winter concert, “Elfis and The Elves Get All Shook UP,” on Thursday, December 19. There will be one performance at 10 a.m. Doors will open at 9:40. We will record (not livestream) the performance and send a link which you are welcome to share with other family members to view over the holidays. Students may dress to impress for this concert in their holiday finest. Following the performance, students will have the opportunity to change into their regular uniforms for the remainder of the school day. If your child has lines to memorize, they were sent home prior to Thanksgiving break. Please have your children practice their lines at home.

DECEMBER 20 - PJ Day, Classroom Celebrations, PreK Program & Noon Dismissal

Students are invited to wear pajamas on the last day before break as a comfy way to head off into the winter break. Thanks to our amazing CPA, students in the lower school will enjoy hot chocolate and cookies on December 20. Our 3K & 4K students will perform their holiday show for their families at 10:00 a.m. in the theater! There will be a noon dismissal with buses departing at 12:35 p.m. There will be no PM extended day.

Prepared for Colder Weather

As the cold weather continues to creep in, please be sure that students have proper jackets, hats, gloves, and scarves available at school. If possible, please label these items to avoid having them end up in the lost and found bin. Recess will continue outside as long as the feels-like temperature is 32 or above. Please take a moment to review the uniform policy, especially information regarding the approved colors of leggings, socks, and shoes. As a reminder, skorts and polo dress are not winter uniform.

Letters for Santa

If your children are looking to mail their letters to Santa, there is a mailbox in Mrs. Merryman’s office that ships all letters directly to the North Pole. If your child would like to drop off their letter in the mailbox, they are more than welcome to do so.

Holiday Break Activities

As we approach the holiday break, teachers will be preparing and offering an optional academic activity for your child to engage in during this time. This activity is designed to reinforce the skills and concepts we've been learning in class while keeping learning fun and enjoyable. Students are not required to complete it, rather we are offering this for students or families interested in working on a little academic fun over the break. We know there are many other opportunities for experiences and learning that happen with families over this break, so no pressure, just know it is an option.

Tidewater Cotillion

Field Trips

12/3 – Fifth Grade to C.A.W.L. (dress uniform)

12/5 – Third Grade to Calvert Nursing Center (dress uniform)

Looking Ahead

12/23-1/3 - Winter Break

1/6 - School Resumes

1/10 - CPA Meeting

1/20 - No School

1/17 - End of Second Quarter 1/13 - Winter Clubs Begin