October 2025
Hello Cougar Families!
🧡 October is National Bullying Prevention Month
Every October, schools across the country take part in National Bullying Prevention Month, a movement started in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center to bring attention to the impact of bullying and to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Throughout the month, students learn how to stand up for themselves and others, use kind words, and help create a community where everyone feels safe and valued.
One special highlight is Unity Day, when we wear orange to show that we stand together for kindness, inclusion, and acceptance for all students. It’s a powerful reminder that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
At Charles Reed, we take caring for one another seriously. It’s important that our students, staff, and families share a common understanding of what bullying really means — and what it does not mean.
Bullying is:
Repeated, unwanted behavior that targets a specific student.
Intentional harm — meant to hurt, embarrass, or exclude someone.
A power imbalance — the person bullying may have more social influence, physical strength, or support from peers.
Bullying can be verbal (name-calling, threats), physical (pushing, hitting), or social (spreading rumors, leaving someone out on purpose).
Bullying is not:
A one-time disagreement or argument.
A misunderstanding or accidental hurt feelings.
Conflict between friends who are upset with each other.
While not every unkind act is bullying, all hurtful behavior is taken seriously. We teach students how to communicate, problem solve, and stand up for themselves and others in positive ways.
Together — home and school — we can help students build empathy, kindness, and confidence to make our school a safe and caring place for everyone. 💙
🗣️ A Message About Language and Respect
Families, we need your help. Recently, we’ve noticed an increase in students using inappropriate language at school. As a place of learning, we work hard to address these moments as opportunities to teach and guide students toward better choices.
Often, students repeat words or phrases they have heard elsewhere, not fully understanding their meaning or inappropriateness. When this happens, staff take time to talk with students, explain why the language is not acceptable, and help them learn from the experience. However, when the same behavior continues, consequences follow in accordance with our student handbook.
We understand that what’s considered appropriate language can vary across different settings. At Charles Reed, our expectation is clear: we are safe with our bodies and our words.
Please take a few minutes to talk with your child about using respectful language and positive communication. Together, we can ensure Charles Reed remains a safe, caring place for all students to learn and grow. 💙
Changing Weather
Please see the cold weather guidelines listed below. Our weather will continue to change for the next couple of months. Please label your children’s coats and belongings our lost and found does fill up fast during weather changing months.
Cold Weather Guidelines
Students will go outside for recess when the wind chill temperature is 20 degrees or above. Please have your child dress appropriately, including such items as hats, boots, gloves, and snow pants.
Precautionary Measures:
Schools should exercise the following precautionary measures if holding recess outdoors:
Precipitation: snow and icy conditions should be evaluated for student safety and attire
Student preparedness: Parents/guardians and principals should ensure that students are properly dressed for outdoor recess during all seasons. During the winter months, students should be reminded to wear coats, gloves (without strings), hats, and boots. (If students wear the Fab 5: jacket, gloves, hat, boots, and snowpants, they will be permitted to play (no throwing) in the snow).
Playground safety: the playground equipment and surface (i.e., icy conditions) should be evaluated to determine whether students can safely play outdoors
***"With or without wind chill" means how cold it feels, whether it is caused by wind chill or not. For example, if the straight temperature reading is 10 degrees or if it's 20 degrees with a wind chill of 10 degrees, recess should be held indoors.
E-Learning Plan
The Board of Education has approved the new E-Learning Plans. They are posted to our website under the parents tab. E-Learning days are used when all students in the district are in a remote learning setting because of an emergency (Snow Day/ Emergency Weather Closure Day). We will be having a “practice day” in school so the students know what Elearning will look like and how to access the Google Classroom and additional resources.
October Assessment Windows:
Kids Survey (kindergarten only) 10/3-10/31
Panorama Survey (3rd-5th) 10/6-10/31
OLSAT (5th and new 3rd & 4th graders) 10/14-10/24
Class Parties
Mark your calendars! Charles Reed hosts three classroom parties each year. The parties are themed after the seasons and are a great time for students to play games and enjoy the annual celebrations.
Fall Party is on October 31st. There is a dress up parade with this party. More information to come.
Winter Party is on December 18th.
Spring Party is on March 27th.
Parent Teacher Conferences
November 6th Teacher Institute: No student attendance 9:00am - 1:30pm
November 6th 3:00pm - 8:00pm
November 7th 8:00am - 1:00pm
Please use this link to sign up for your conferences today!
https://ptcfast.com/schools/Charles_Reed_Elementary_School
Upcoming Dates:
October
24th: PTA Boo Bash 5:00-7:00pm
24th: Popcorn Friday
27th: SIP Day- No Student Attendance
28th: Picture Re-Take Day
29th-31st- Fall Book Fair (Set up/Preview Days)
31st: Fall Party w/ Parade
November
3rd-7th- Fall Book Fair (Shopping Days)
6th: Institute No Student Attendance (9:00am - 1:30pm)
6th: PT Conferences (3:00pm - 8:00pm)
7th: PT Conferences (8:00am - 1:00pm)
11th: Veteran’s Day Performance 6:00pm
12th: PTA 6:00PM
14th: PTA Ruby Bridges “Walk to School Day”
21st: Popcorn Friday
24th-28th: Thanksgiving Break
**Our Boosterthon fundraiser has been postponed until April.