We have completed our first term of school. Every year I am amazed at how quickly the time flies by. Students will be bringing home this week, their report cards. New this year, our elementary report cards include Graduate of Granite (formerly citizenship) standards and grading. All families received a pamphlet at the beginning of the year at our Meet Your Teacher event and a rubric that explains the grading at SEP conferences a few weeks ago. A copy of that rubric is included in this newsletter. Please reach out to your child’s individual teacher should you have any questions.
I want to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to our AMAZING TEACHERS and STUDENTS! Earlier this month, the Utah State Board of Education announced school grades for all schools in the state of Utah. Cottonwood Elementary School earned an A grade that is based on how well a school is performing across all accountability indicators. It is based on the Achievement, Growth, English Learner Progress, and Postsecondary Readiness metrics. We received Exemplary status and couldn’t be more pleased! If you are interested, here is the link where you can see the results of all schools in the state https://utahschoolgrades.schools.utah.gov/
This is such a wonderful time of the year. I love celebrating holidays and seeing the excitement and energy in our students. Our Halloween parade was so much fun! A big thank-you goes out to our office, teachers, staff, PTA, and many parent volunteers who worked hard to help provide a fun parade & classroom parties!
It’s hard to imagine that we are close to our winter season. Already our days are shorter and the colder weather is thinking about settling in. I want to remind all families to dress for the weather. Warm hats, mittens/gloves, coats, snow pants and footwear are needed when we go outdoors for recess. Students will be allowed to come in to the building and head to class in the mornings if the weather is extremely stormy or the “Real Feel” temperature is 20* or below.
We have a lot to be grateful for here at Cottonwood Elementary. We have a wonderful, caring staff from our custodian, to our paraprofessionals, our office, and all of our fantastic teachers. I know I am grateful every day for the opportunity to work with all of them and I know your children are in good hands.
We have a supportive community with wonderful and giving parents, to which we all say thank you for all that you do! Finally, we have incredible students, who challenge themselves every day to learn and be engaged. They are why we are here every day!
You make my role as the principal a joy through your commitment to your children and our school. I wish you a wonderful month of November and a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Cooper
