....... CCDS INFORMER
	During the Advent season, we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Christ. The commercial aspect of the season often competes with our spiritual preparations and especially target children. At CCDS we attempt this seasonal balancing act of spiritual reflection and preparation with the many delightful events involving celebrations with friends and family. If we carry the spiritual message of Christmas in our hearts and reflect on it often with our children, it will be easier to stay grounded during this time of excitement filled anticipation. To assist you with this balancing act at home, here is a list of up–coming events with a brief explanation of each one. Details will follow weekly. Please note that because we enjoy the Christmas Luncheon organized by the 5th grade parents, there are no classroom Christmas parties. This week: Families may choose to take an angel gift tag off the angel tree in Hinde Hall, and anonymously give a gift that is wrapped and tagged with the angel tag to brighten Christmas morning for a young child. Gifts go under the angel tree in Hinde Hall, and will be delivered to children less fortunate than our students. You may choose this way to help your child understand the gift of giving and knowing they have helped someone for no other reason than they should share the true meaning of Christmas by helping and loving others. Dec. 1st    • CCDSPA Room rep meeting. 8:00 in Hinde Hall Dec. 1st    • Lighting of the Del – CCDS choir sings and should arrive at –the Del in dress     uniform at 3:45. Parking can be an issue, so allow time for that fact. Dec. 3rdt – Friday     K grade level coffee with Mrs. Roberts at 8:05 grade coffee in Hinde Next Week:    • Progress reports coming home on Thursday    • JK grade coffee in Hinde Hall at 8:05 Last week before vacation:    • Due by the 13th Class Gift exchange presents due – limit of $10.00.    • Classroom gift exchanges will be held this week. So all gifts should be in your      classroom by the 13h. Gifts should be marked for a boy or a girl.    • Dec. 14th Christmas program at 6:00pm    • Dec. 15th Sweaters go home for washing and mending for closing chapel.    • Dec. 16th Christmas Luncheon at 11:30, Dismissal at 1:00    • Dec. 17th Closing Christmas Chapel starts at 8:15 (school starts at 7:55 as usual). Dismissal follows chapel at about 9:00. You won’t want to miss this service! It is a beautiful tradition at CCDS    • Even though the next few weeks are very busy with special activities, the important normal classroom lessons continue. Be sure to check those homework books and classroom calendars nightly to keep your student on track and not playing catch-up the night before a test. That makes everyone grumpy and not nice, and we all know who is watching. Along that academic line of thinking, I wanted to share how well respected our staff is by the Singapore math people. Mr. Dennis has attended extra training over last summer and was asked to present a workshop at this summer’s institute.

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	December is the month we all look forward to the charming, delightful sounds of our students voices presented in the Christmas program. Mrs. Moody is working with our CCDS students to present another wonderful program and closing chapel. The CCDS Choir will also be singing at the Hotel Del Coronado on December 1st. Beyond the music programs in December and the spring, Mrs. Moody brings many years of experience to the music classes on order to teach the music standards to all grades at CCDS. Along with this, students participate in the Brummitt-Taylor music appreciation in their classrooms and attend the symphony during the school year. Lead by Mrs. Moody, the five major music standards are addressed appropriately at each grade level. Through (1) artistic perception children learn processing, analyzing, and responding to sensory information through the language and skills unique to music such as reading, writing and performing rhythmic patterns using the various types of notes and scales. Using (2) creative expression students create, perform and participate in music. Presenting music to students in a (3) historical and cultural context, students build and understanding of historical contributions and the cultural dimension of music. Learning (4) aesthetic valuing, students critically assess and derive meaning from works of music and the performance of musicians according to the elements of music. The last standard concerns (5) connections, relationships and applications. Students apply what they learn in music across subject areas. By the time they graduate, they develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. And I bet you thought they were just learning to sing!

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	HOT LUNCH FOR SEMESTER 1 DATE            SERVERS     MENU December 3       Fourth      Lasagna w/turkey, garlic bread, veggies, fruit December 10     Second    Hamburgers, veggies, fruit January 7           First         Pizza, veggies, fruit January 14         Kinder.     Taco salad or bean burrito, fruit January 21         Jr. K         Potato bar, fruit AFTER SCHOOL CARE MAKES CHRISTMAS CRAFTS On Wednesdays in December, the 1st, 8th and 15th, after school care students are invited to make Christmas crafts from 2:30 - 4:15 pm with Mrs. Burgess and Mrs. Orr. Limited to 10 students each week because of supplies. Please call the school at 435-6393 to sign your child up.

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	MUSICAL NOTES Teachers’ note: Music Program Year 3, week Nov-4. CD 2 TRK 3. Script p. 81. The composer of the week is Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). The feature composition is the third movement from Piano and Wind quintet.   BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION THIRD GRADE is collecting General Mills Box Tops for Education to earn moneyin support of the "Earth's Birthday Project." Send them in to school through the end of April. Thank you for helping the third graders make a difference in our world for our service learning project.   SIXTH GRADE The Sixth Grade class is selling See’s candy for the holidays and also Sally Foster wrapping paper as fundraisers for the Sixth Grade East Coast Trip in the spring. See’s candy orders are due by November 30th. Candy will be delivered December 6th. Sally Foster gift wrap products are available online at www.sallyfoster.com. The school account number is 307728.

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	COMPUTER - Monday 2:55 - 3:25 pm. BATON - Monday 2:55 - 3:45 pm. CHOIR - NO Choir Thursday, Dec. 2 We will sing for the Hotel del Coronado's Christmas Festival on Wednesday, December 1st and we will sing on Christmas Eve at Christ Church at 3:00pm. MAD SCIENCE CLUB We will have Mad Science beginning January 19 for four weeks.

	........ VIRTUE FOR DECEMBER IS HOPE
	Spiritual Nurture “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79. This Thursday’s chapel will be a Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols. Join us for scripture and song as we begin this season of awaiting the coming of Christ.   Happy Birthday this week to: Jonathan Rotherham (K) 11/30 and Happy Birthday last week during Thanksgiving break to: Garrett Zagrodzky (JK) 11/23 Annika Daglish (1st) 11/25 Carson Hollenbeck (5th 11/25 Parker Hollenbeck (5th) 11/25 Luke Redford (3rd) 11/26 Mitchell Shuffett (6th) 11/26 Layla Moore (4th) 11/28

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