Cory Caregivers,
A heartfelt thank you to our PTA Fine Arts Committee for bringing a Polynesian dance group to grades 3–5. We appreciate this rich, diverse opportunity for students to learn about and build connections with another culture.
We’re also excited to share that the Charlie Cart will be visiting every classroom next month. These hands‑on cooking experiences support collaboration, communication, patience, and perspective‑taking — and every student will have the chance to participate.
Special thanks to Skeeter for her planning and grant writing to bring these programs to Cory.
Wishing you a safe and warm weekend!
Joan and Anna
Reminders:
Heelys are not allowed at school! They are not safe at school.
Please do not pull into the parking lot and drop off your child by the fence. You must pull into a parking lot space to drop off your child.
Please pack healthy snacks for the students to eat during the snack break.
On P.E. days, please make sure your child is wearing shoes appropriate for P.E.
Please do not park in the handicap spots unless you have a handicap pass.
Please do not use the small parking lot for pick up or drop off of any students.
Please do not park in the Reserved family spots at any time even after school lets out as families can be picking up students later and have purchased those spots for anytime!
Please do not stop in the middle of the parking lot to drop off kids.
When picking up your student early please give the office a little bit of time to call your student down to leave. We do not pull students before you get here. Please pick up your students by 2:45
Remember to make sure that students come prepared for the weather as we will go outside unless it is too cold or too wet
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan 12th - Jan 27th - ACCESS Testing for MLE Students
Feb 5th - 4th Grade Art Opening at Four Mile Historic Park - 4pm - 6pm
Feb 6th - PTA Meeting @ 8 am
Feb 9th - Symphony Assembly for 1st & 2nd Grade from the PTA Arts Committee
Feb 13th - No School for Students - Work day for Teachers
Feb 16th - No School - Presidents’ Day
Feb 18th - Field Trip 4th & 5th Grade - Museum of Nature and Science
Feb 19th - Literacy Night 4:30 pm - 6 pm
Feb 24th - Field Trip 3rd - 5th to the Symphony from PTA Arts Committee
Feb 27th - No School for Students - Work day for Teachers
Food for Families
We are partnering with the Merrill Middle School food pantry/ backpack program to ensure all families have access to food. If you are in need of food during this time for your family, please read below! If you would like to receive extra groceries one-time per month, please complete this private and anonymous survey, so we can provide the food items that your family likes to eat and match your preferences. Anonymous survey
Food will be anonymously dispersed on: Friday, February 6 / Friday, March 6 / Friday, April 10 / Friday, May 8
Hello Cory Elementary School Families –
Kids Heart Challenge kicks off on 1/23/2026. This year’s event is more than just fun; it’s our school’s service project in partnership with the American Heart Association. Students will learn healthy habits while helping kids with special hearts and supporting families right here in our community through donations to fight heart diseases and stroke.
Click here: http://www2.heart.org/site/TR?fr_id=12402&pg=company&company_id=522168 for our school’s page where you can sign-up for free and see updates all the way through. This is where your family can complete Finn’s Mission, and you can also track our progress toward our goals and the rewards the kids love!
Through this important program our school also earns equipment for PE or Recess and can apply for wellness grants! Thank you for supporting our school and the American Heart Association in building a Nation of Lifesavers!
Share Your Cory Memories!
We’re collecting photos for the 2025–26 Cory Yearbook and need your help! Upload your favorite pictures from school events, classroom fun, and Cory celebrations. It’s easy — just visit https://books.yearbooks.me/ca/3r54megdwut898hesercck5w9xgmswg6p and use the code Pics4Cory! to submit. Let’s fill the yearbook with all the amazing moments that make Cory special!
Mental Health Corner:
What is TSEAL? Transformative Social Emotional Academic Learning
“Transformative SEAL” is a process whereby young people and adults build strong, respectful, and lasting, relationships that facilitate co-learning to critically examine root causes of inequity, and to develop collaborative solutions that lead to personal, community, and societal well-being.
This form of TSEAL is aimed at redistributing power to promote social justice through increased engagement in school and civic life. It emphasizes the development of identity, agency, belonging, curiosity, and collaborative problem solving
It's critically important that school wide TSEAL implementation intentionally nurtures an environment in which educators gain social and emotional competence by learning, collaborating, and modeling their social and emotional skills. Along with these social and emotional skills, schools must also fold in conversations about race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, language and ability so that the conversation about TSEAL takes into account the student’s fullest identities. It is recommended that schools do a deep dive into understanding how educators, students, and community can navigate conversations about race, sex, gender, ableism and other social identities in order to establish systems and supports that strengthen both adult and student Social Emotional Academic Learning.
Come along on our Cory TSEAL journey!
Unit 1: Positive School Culture and Classroom Community - Value of the month is Caring
Unit 1 Part 2: Sportsmanship - Value of the month is Caring
Unit 2: Self-Awareness - Value of the month is Caring
Unit 4: Social Awareness & Gratitude - Value of the month is Inclusion
Unit 5: Relationship Skills and Responsible Decision Making: Bullying Prevention - Value of the Month is Respect
Unit 6: Circles of Control, Lizard Brain Wizard Brain, Size of the Problem - Value of the Month is Respect
Our goal is that students leave Cory not only academically prepared but emotionally literate—able to repair harm, build healthy relationships, and contribute positively to their communities. Education coupled with consistent, supportive measures is what helps students internalize these skills and reduce incidents like bullying.
Below are the resources we shared during the evening:
Presentation - 25-26 Cory Anti-Bullying Parent Presentation
Parent handouts and resources - Cory Parent Anti Bullying Resources
