What CGS Families Need to Know ✅
📅 Upcoming Dates/Events
Saturday, October 24th: Sensory Garden Family Build Day #1, 8AM-12PM (more information below)
October 26th - 30th: Schoolwide (Staff & Student) Spirit Week (See flyer for the theme of each day!)
November 3rd: PTO Meeting (6pm)
November 4th, 5th, & 6th: Fall Conferences – Early dismissal (11:40AM) ***all three days***
Wednesday, November 11th: Veterans Day - Wear red, white, and blue
Monday, November 16th: PTO Lyman Pie Pick-Up
Wednesday, November 25th: Early Dismissal (11:40AM)
November 26th & 27th: NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
Coventry Public Schools 26/27 District Calendar
✅ To Dos
Help your child prepare their outfits for next week’s schoolwide, fall themed spirit week. The flyer with each day’s theme is linked above!
Schedule a November conference with your child’s classroom teacher, interventionist (if applicable), special education teacher (if applicable), or related service provider (if applicable).
Visit The Learning Corner section of this update to learn the common language that supports SAFE behavior skills at home and school.
🙋 Volunteer Opportunities
NOVEMBER Cafeteria/Lunch Duty Volunteering - Sign-up NOW OPEN!
CGS Sensory Garden Family Build Day
We’re looking for family members willing to help us build Phase #1 of our CGS Sensory Garden/outdoor learning & regulation space. Consider joining us TOMORROW from 8AM-12PM. RSVP!
Be Flippy the Mascot Flippy Sign-Up Genius
Parent/family volunteers are an important part of what makes Coventry Grammar School such a special place. Whether you're helping in a classroom or lunch room, supporting a special event, joining us on a field trip, or lending a hand behind the scenes, we are grateful for your partnership!
Annually, all volunteers must review our Volunteer Guidelines and Procedures and complete the electronic acknowledgment form. This only takes a few minutes and helps ensure a safe, positive, and consistent experience for everyone.
In future newsletters, this will be a place where volunteer opportunities are highlighted!
A Note from Mrs. Hammer
High Tide Heroes: Celebrating Student Excellence at CGS
At CGS, a phone call home from the principal can be a moment of celebration! As a cornerstone of our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework and our ongoing commitment to a positive school climate, High Tide Heroes recognizes students who consistently go above and beyond in their behavior, effort, work ethic, and kindness.
Through this program, any staff member can nominate a student for demonstrating outstanding character. Nominees are invited to Mrs. Hammer’s office to celebrate their achievement and make a personal, celebratory phone call home to a family member of their choice. Recognized students are also showcased with a special shout out on our Morning Announcements and featured on our school display monitors with a special slide, and in our weekly newsletter so the entire CGS community can honor their hard work.
Building on this tradition, we are expanding the High Tide Heroes experience this year with a special monthly addition: The High Tide Hero Breakfast. Each month, recognized students are invited to a celebratory morning breakfast at school, where they are invited to bring a special grown-up to join in the honor and celebrate alongside them.
Encourage your child to share what being a High Tide Hero means to them. You never know when your phone might ring with great news!
When sending an email communication to me, please also include Mrs. Morrison (kmorrison@coventryct.org).
The Learning Corner
PBIS: SAFE Behavior
Just like learning to read or do math, positive behavior is made up of specific skills that must be explicitly taught, practiced, and retaught. When a student struggles with behavior at school, our staff pauses to ask: What skill is missing, and how can we teach it?
Below are the core SAFE skills we practice every day. You can support this learning at home by using the same "I can" phrases with your child:
Body Awareness: “I can keep my body under control.”
Spatial Awareness: “I can keep my body in my own space.”
Calm Body Control: “I can move calmly and safely.”
Safe Touch: “I can use a gentle and safe touch.”
Problem-Solving: “I can use my words or a strategy when I feel big emotions or have a problem.”
Following Directions & Routines: “I can listen to adults the first time to keep myself and others safe.”
Using Tools & Equipment Safely: “I can use tools and equipment the right way.”
Try It at Home
Talk with your child about these skills and ask which ones feel easy and which ones feel a bit tricky. Choose one skill together to focus on this week, and celebrate when you catch them practicing it! Using shared language between home and school builds strong habits, self-awareness, and confidence.
Thank you for partnering with us to teach the skills that help our students thrive. For more information on our positive behavior approach, check out our PBIS Parent Brochure.
CGS PTO News & Events
Next PTO Meeting
The next PTO meeting is 11/3 at 6pm in the CGS Library. Child care will be available.
October’s Restaurant Day
A huge thank you to everyone who came out to Bidwell for our October Restaurant Day! We truly appreciate everyone who took the time to come out, enjoy a meal, and support the CGS PTO. A special thank you to Bidwell for hosting us! Thanks to all of you, $450 was raised!
November’s Restaurant Day
Save the date for our next CGS PTO Restaurant Fundraiser at Coyote Flaco on November 4th! Simply mention the CGS Fundraiser when placing your dine-in or takeout order, and 15% of your purchase will be donated to the CGS PTO. We appreciate your continued support of our school community!
November Conference Luncheon
Parent-Teacher Conferences are just around the corner, and the CGS PTO is excited to provide lunches during conference week. While the PTO will be providing the main meals, we’d love some help from our CGS families with drinks, desserts, snacks, and other extras to make the luncheon extra special! If you’re able to contribute, please sign up for an item below. Every donation, big or small, is greatly appreciated! 𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙧𝙤𝙥 𝙤𝙛𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙂𝙎 𝙗𝙮 𝙊𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙧 𝟑𝟎𝙩𝙝. Thank you for your continued support!
Reach out to the PTO at cgsptoct@gmail.com for any PTO related questions, concerns, or ideas to strengthen our school community!
A Peek Inside Our Week
Check out the photo gallery to step right into the excitement, learning, and connections made this week. The energy in our building is so high, you’ll feel like you were right there with us!
Some highlights include: the PTO sponsored Brain Break assembly, K-5 Literacy Night, and other learning moments from the week!
Please also join us in celebrating this week’s High Tide Heroes. These students went ABOVE and BEYOND in exemplifying our expectations of being safe, responsible, and respectful!
We encourage you to take a look together with your child to spark some great conversations about their week.
Meet Our Coventry Grammar School Staff
This week, we’re putting a “spotlight” on:
Mrs. Alejandro (Main Office Secretary & PM Pickup Queen)
Mrs. Toolan (Certified Occupational Therapy Asst. & Sensory Break Facilitator)
Ms. Abbott (Registered Behavior Technician & Friend of FINS)
Learn more about each staff member personally and professionally, as well as put a face to some of the adults your child(ren) may come home talking about!