Dear Families,
Reminder: There is no school on Thursday and Friday.
This was a short but great week! And when we return on Monday, December 1 we will have a very full week. Our entire school community will participate in the World AIDS Day Walk on Monday, December 1 in and around the school at 9am. Families are welcome to join us for this meaningful event.
Kindergarten through fifth grade classes will be visiting Barnes & Noble in Union Square for the book fair, look out for more information from your child’s teacher(s). There will also be a code sent home on December 1 for anyone who wishes to participate in store or online by buying books from Barnes and Noble from December 1-7 using code 12918090 at checkout; the PTA receives a portion of the proceeds using this code.
The following week on December 12 the PTA will host the Holiday Bazaar & All Day Cafe where you will be able to buy special items from local merchants – more information to come in the PTA and Dorothy’s updates.
Please see the letter I’ve included below my text here from Jean regarding the new Wellness in the Schools program for students in first through fifth grade.
It’s getting cold out! Our students will still go outside to run and play in the cold, so please ensure your student dresses in layers and wears a warm coat when needed. Please label their coats, sweaters, hats, and gloves with their names! If you’re in need of winter items, please let your teacher, Dorothy, Joyce, or me know.
School pictures are available for viewing and purchase. If you have not yet received an email with your login code, please visit the Stomping Ground Photo website for instructions on how to get your code and access your photos. Sibling and retake day will be February 10, 2026.
Upcoming Dates:
Wishing you a restful holiday break.
Warmly,
Maria
###
From Jean:
Dear CWS Families grades 1-5,
We are adding a new level of encouraging healthy eating choices and nutritional awareness with in school experiences. Our new partners are a well established organization called Wellness in the Schools (WITS). This will be our first year. We are integrating cooking and nutrition lessons into our hydroponic lessons and schedule.
WITS is excited to be part of your school community in the 2025-26 school year. WITS is committed to teaching healthy habits that help students learn, live, and thrive through nutritious food and joyful wellness experiences. We are looking forward to working closely with Jean in the hydroponics lab and the ongoing healthy eating curriculum. Chef Victoria will be our on site chef/teacher. She is in her 15th year with WITS. She is passionate about food, fitness and nutrition. She is a Brooklyn based New Yorker and mom of two adult daughters who are products of WITS in their own public elementary school.
This year, CWS students in grades 1-5 will participate in three hands-on WITS Learning Labs and a series of WITS Bits. These programs aim to inspire students to try new foods, build confidence in the kitchen, and develop a lifelong love of healthy eating. In each WITS Lab, students prepare simple, healthy recipes, explore fresh ingredients, and build skills they can bring home to their families.
This year’s Labs include: Simple Tomato Sauce Lab (December), Vegetarian Chili Lab (January), and Greens & Salad Dressings Lab (March).
WITS Bits are 20-minute mini nutrition lessons that introduce basic concepts of nutrition and eating well. Together with the WITS Labs, these lessons work in tandem to create a solid foundation and understanding of whole food and nutrition. As the year progresses, we will share a monthly community letter and photos. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to Jean with any questions or ideas. You can also explore resources and recipes through Wellness in the Schools.
-Jean Finnerty
