Centennial Newsletter
March 2023
Message from the Principal:
Dear Centennial Families,
Our school is about to take part in a special, community wide shared reading event called One Book One School. For our younger students, reading professionals recommend reading material out loud that is beyond a student's own reading level. We also believe that you can and should continue reading chapter books with your older students, even when they are able to read by themselves. We have selected a title that can be followed and understood and enjoyed by younger students, but will still captivate older students. We will share the title of the book and some additional digital resources with you in an email that will be sent out on Sunday, April 9th, 2023. Until then, the title remains top secret!
On Monday, April 10th, we will hold a special assembly introducing the book. This will also be a school wide pajama day. After the assembly, each student will receive their own copy of the book to read and keep. These books were purchased by the Student Council using funds raised during the October Pumpkin Fund Run. Thank you for your generous donations.
In school, your student will participate in a number of activities in all of the school settings during these three weeks. Generally, you will be asked to read about 15 minutes each night beginning on Monday April 10, and ending on April 26. We will also be partnering with our Booster Club during this time as they host a Read-A-Thon. More information to come on that!
Thank you in advance for taking some time at home to participate in this special reading event. We are so excited to get reading!
Mrs. Ritter and the entire Centennial Staff
From the Library: Battle of the Books
Our Third, Fourth and Fifth grade students have been participating in a reading competition called Battle of the Books (aka BoB). This reading competition encourages students to read genres that they might not select on their own, increases reading comprehension and provides a great opportunity for them to work as a team.
Students have spent the month of February completing practice rounds, and then moved onto the playoffs and semi-finals. Finals are on Friday, March 3rd in the big gym. Parents are welcome to attend.
• 3rd grade – 8:30 – 9:15
• 4th & 5th grades – 9:25 – 10:10
All participants will receive a ribbon for participating in the competition. I am so proud of how hard students have worked on reading, and it’s been exciting to watch them grow as a team!
The Scholastic Book Fair is Coming!
The Scholastic Spring Book Fair will be at Centennial during Conference Week (March 27-31).
The proceeds from this fair will purchase many new books for our school library. Teachers will sign up for a time slot to give students an opportunity to shop at the book fair during the school day. Book fair flyers will be sent home the week before the fair with additional information and book fair hours.
The Book Fair is a great way to support your Centennial Library!
Conference Week 3/27 – 3/31
Online Parent-Teacher Conference sign up will begin for families with multiple students on March 3, then those with one student on the 6th, and will close on March 22nd. Sign-ups are done via Skyward Family Access. If at any time you need help scheduling, please call the front office and we can help sign you up. Conferences will take place starting Monday, March 27 - 31. School hours during conference week will be 8:00 a.m.-11:05 a.m.
Grab n’ Go lunches will be served. No lunch is eaten at school.
Spirit Week!
Our Student Council thought it would be fun to have a spirit week!
3/20 – Favorite Hat
3/21 – Silly Hair
3/22 – Pajamas
3/23 – Silly Footwear (shoes/socks)
3/24 – ULTIMATE CES Spirit Day
Spring Break
No school the week of April 3-7
Kindergarten Registration for Fall 2023
Beginning on Monday, March 6 families can begin registering their students for the next school year.
Online Registration is available via the OSD website OR you can sign into Skyward Family Access and use the “New Student Enrollment” tab. (ONLY for students new to OSD). OR
Pick up a packet from the front office during the normal school day between 8:30-3:00. Paper registration can be returned to the office during regular school hours for kindergarten and any child that is new who will be entering Centennial in grades 1-5 in the fall.
Taste of Kindergarten and Screening will be held on June 7. Parents can sign up for their choice of orientation times when they return the registration packet to the school office or we get notification that the online registration is done and we have all necessary documents uploaded.
Fifth to Sixth Grade Information
It’s getting close to that time! Look for information from Washington Middle School to come out during Conference Week. WMS will send out a link to a video about their school, which will go over all the necessary information in regards to transitioning over.
Walk ‘n’ Roll
Hey Centennial Stars, it’s time to Walk N Roll to School! Intercity Transit’s Walk N Roll program invites all students and families to join Centennial in celebrating the start of spring with a morning walk or roll on March 8th!
Remember to look left, right and left again before crossing the street, making eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to make sure they see you!
Students who walk or roll to school get a prize!
Centennial is Walking ‘n’ Rolling to school all year long! Save the dates:
March 8
April 12
May 10 National Bike to School Day
June 14
Olympia Schools Supportive Education Council (OSSEC)
Do you have a student receiving support through an IEP or 504 plan? Please join the Olympia Schools Supportive Education Council (OSSEC) on the third Wednesday of the month throughout the school year for resources, community building, and a welcoming space to share ideas!
OSSEC is similar to a PTA/PTO for families, students, and staff supporting OSD students with disabilities from birth through post-high school, but without any fundraising or volunteering requirements usually associated with a PTO. We have planned a mix of social events and informative meetings!
Our next event is a sensory-friendly showing of The Land Before Time on March 15th 6-7:30pm at Olympia Regional Learning Academy (ORLA). Snacks and alternative activities will be provided. All ages welcome, including siblings! Parents/caregivers MUST remain for the duration of the event; separate childcare will not be provided! Please email [email protected] with any questions, follow us on Facebook, and join our email list here to get monthly meeting reminders and zoom links.
Mark your calendars for future events:
April 19th - Zoom presentation on transitions from Birth-3 through post-high school
May 17th - Community resource panel at ORLA (childcare provided)
June 7th (1st Wednesday) - Parent coaching session with Emily McMason
Upcoming Dates
3/2 Orchestra Concerts @ WMS 4th grade @ 6PM / 5th grade @ 7PM
3/3 BOB Finals
3/4 Countdown to Kindergarten @ Capital High School from 10 - 12
3/6 Kinder registration for the 2023/24 school year is open (paper or online)
3/8 Walk ‘n’ Roll to school
3/22 Conference sign ups close online
3/24 Friday Sing @ 8:30
3/27 – 3/31 Spring Conferences – Half Day Dismissal at 11:05 a.m.
4/3 – 4/7 Spring Break
4/10 One Book One School begins