....... CCDS INFORMER
	“Squid dissection, volcano building, and Christmas gift making” this is the description one of our teachers sent to me in regard to some of the activities in her room last week. Toss in Christmas and chapel program practices, gingerbread house making, Polar Express celebrations, a few tests for good measure and you have a glimpse of how busy we all are the last two weeks before vacation. However there was one of those magic moments that happened earlier in week. During chapel on Tuesday, Father Edward asked the children if they were getting excited about Christmas coming, and didn’t’ the cold weather make it feel more like Christmas. Then he said something like “And what about this fog?” Not missing beat, one of the younger children piped up with. “Maybe it’s the Christmas spirit.” That is why being here at the Day School is so great! Dressed as angels, shepherds, wise men and Mary and Joseph, our kindergartners offered Thursday’s presentation at chapel. They read and led us in song and did such a fine job I have asked them to give an encore presentation after the Christmas Luncheon on Thursday. So around 12:30 on that day, if you are here serving or would like come a little early for pick-up please join us in the church for another magic moment. Friday will be closing chapel. You won’t want to miss the chance to experience the true spirit of Christmas if you able to attend. We will be dismissing school for Christmas vacation immediately afterwards at about 8:45. During the service the children, holding candles, will sing an absolutely beautiful rendition of Silent Night. Candle light, beautiful music in the church, and our sixth graders reading combine to make another magic moment you won’t soon forget! I wish you many magic moments, love and peace and the joy of sharing these with your family this Christmas and always. Happy Holidays, Mrs. Roberts   This 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 – children arrive at 5:45, no earlier please. • 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 8:45. You won’t want to miss this service! It is a beautiful tradition at CCDS.

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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 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. BABYSITTING DURING THE HOLIDAY Colleen Burns, daughter of Anne Burns, our third grade teacher, is available from Dec. 20th until Jan. 8th. Her phone number is: (619) 985-1589.

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	MUSICAL NOTES Teachers’ note: Music Program Year 3, week Dec-3. This week we will listen to Christmas carols. 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 Sally Foster gift wrap products as a fundraiser for their east coast trip. They are available online at www.sallyfoster.com. The school account number is 307728. They are selling CCDS T-shirts too. Orders must be turned in to school by Tuesday, December 14th, payable to Anne Rinko. These will be available by Dec. 22nd.

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	COMPUTER - Monday 2:55 - 3:25 pm. BATON - Monday 2:55 - 3:45 pm. CHOIR - NO Choir on Thursday, Dec. 16. We will sing on Christmas Eve at Christ Church's 3:00 pm.service. Meet at 2:00pm and wear appropriate Christmas clothes. MAD SCIENCE CLUB We will have Mad Science beginning January 19 for four weeks.

	........ VIRTUE FOR DECEMBER IS HOPE
	Spiritual Nurture “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” Happy Birthday this week to: Colton Miller (K) 12/15 Sam Brown (5th) 12/16 Happy Birthday during our vacation to: Jakob Weimann (5th) 12/20 Julia Ruiz (K) 12/21 Steven Weeldreyer (K) 12/21 Chase Soricelli (1st) 12/22 Grace McInerney (2nd) 12/25 Jack Rinko (6th) 12/26 Enya MacGabann (2nd) 12/27 Holden Smith (K) 12/27 Kiana Yassini (K) 12/31 Rodrigo Gallardo (3rd) 12/29 Lawson Weeldreyer (JK) 12/29

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