From the desk of Principal John Spice …

Following is another excellent article forwarded by one of our teachers. It contains valuable teaching tips that promote success at school.

“Family serves as the foundation for self-esteem. Having a healthy, functioning family does more to build a child's self-esteem than anything, according to Marta, president of Rainbows, which helps kids heal emotionally after suffering a loss. It does not matter if the family is of the single-parent variety or the traditional nuclear family. ‘It just needs to be a healthy place for children to thrive in,’ she says.

Other tips from Marta:

·         Positive Talk – Don't put yourself down. Don't say negative things about your spouse, especially in a separation or divorce situation. That goes right to the heart of a child, ‘The message to the child is if dad is bad or not dependable then I must be too because I'm half mom and half dad,’ contends Marta.

·         Don't be a Parachute Parent – You can't always ‘parachute’ in to solve your child's problems. Empower your child to take care of his or her own business when appropriate. Be available but also teach them how to handle challenges on their own.

·         Disappointment is OK – There is a whole generation of parents who don't ever want their children to feel bad. You see this in things like sports leagues where every kid gets a trophy. This treatment and over-protection makes for unrealistic expectations from life. ‘Our sole job is to prepare (children) for adulthood. And as adults, you don't always get a prize,’ she says.

·         Sincere Praise – Tell them when they do well and when they do poorly tell them so in a loving way. False praise leads to more unrealistic expectations.

·         Monitor Media – Negative messages on television, in movies, across the Internet and beyond erode a child's self-esteem. Monitor what they are viewing and talk with them about it. Review PTA's tip sheets on monitoring media

·         Say No – The word ‘no’ is a love word. Children must learn they cannot have everything they want. This teaches them to be more discerning.

·         Express Love – Tell children daily that you love them. Parents would be surprised how often this does not happen...and how powerful it is when it does.”

Source: pta.org

Mark Your Calendar for Important Dates Coming Up . . .

·         Friday, October 9 – Grandparent’s Day, at Noon

·         Monday, October 12-Friday, October 16 – Fall Break

·         P.E. Physical Fitness Endurance Runs – Thursday, October 8 – 8^th grade girls and Monday, October 19-21 – K-7.  All students will run during their regular P.E. class and must wear tennis shoes.  Watch for details.

·         School Portrait Re-take Day:  School portraits were taken today.  If your child was absent, please mark your calendar for Thursday, October 29, when students will have another opportunity to have their school picture made.

Watch your Email . . .

Basketball registration and lunch order forms will be emailed out later this week.   

Grandparent’s Day Program

CDS cordially invites all grandparents of CDS students to attend our special Grandparent’s Day Program on Friday, October 9, at Noon.  If a student doesn’t have a grandparent that can attend, we invite grandparent “stand-ins” like an aunt, uncle, friend, or even mom or dad.  The event will begin at Noon when grandparents are invited to bring lunch and eat with their grandchild in their classroom, Fellowship Hall, or other designated area.  A program honoring grandparents will follow in the Worship Center.  Parents are welcome to attend the musical program as well.  Please join us for this special day!  Students will return to class after the program.  If they will be leaving, please send a note to the teacher.  Please note:  The pizza pre-ordered for Friday, October 9 will be rescheduled for Tuesday, October 6.  If someone is not attending to bring your child a lunch on Grandparent’s Day, please send a lunch.

Dog Day – Thursday, October 1

This Thursday is Dog Day.  Parent volunteers need to meet in the kitchen (next to the Fellowship Hall) at 10:45 a.m.  Volunteers are vital to the success of this program.  If you would like to help, please call Dana Whitworth at (901) 734-3771.

Kroger Cards

Help our eighth grade students raise money for their end of the year trip to St. Louis at no additional expense to you.  We are asking parents, grandparents, friends, and family school-wide to purchase $5 Kroger Cards.  The card is pre-loaded with $5 (so it is FREE).  Every time a Kroger Card is used to purchase, groceries, prescriptions, or gas CDS receives 5% of the total purchase.  Click here to view an attachment explaining how the Kroger Card works.

Adopt-A-Book

·         Richard and LaNell Green have adopted a book in honor of Caroline Green in celebration of her birthday on November 17.

·         Evyn Graham has adopted a book in memory of Carla Phipps Graham.

For a donation you can “adopt” a book for the shelves of the CDS library.  In our library we have a stock of new books, from which you may choose one to adopt, or our librarian will pick one for you.  The book may be in honor or memory of someone.  For a student’s birthday, parents may adopt a book to be presented to the school library at chapel in the student’s name.  Please make arrangements two weeks in advance for a birthday book.  You may “adopt” a hard cover book for $15 or a paperback book for $7.  If you would like to Adopt-A-Book, please click here.

New Staff

Tricia Davis will be coming on board to assist Lisa Ashmore in kindergarten.  Tricia is the mom of Annie (5B), Wood (3B) and Libby (JrK).  She has been very active in our PTF and other school activities.  Tricia has three years of preschool teaching experience and most recently has been a sub for PDO.  Please give her a friendly welcome and keep her in your prayers as she begins this new position. Mrs. Ashmore’s assistant of five years, Mrs. Fran Brown, has left CDS to begin a new job.  We will miss her and pray God’s blessings for her.

Cross Country and Volleyball T-shirts

Cross Country and Volleyball players who have purchased a t-shirt may wear them on game/meet days.  This is not an out-of-uniform day.  T-shirts must be tucked in and worn with uniform pants and belts.  You may not wear a long sleeve shirt under the t-shirt. 

Thunder News …

The 5/6 Grade Volleyball Team won their recent games against St. Francis #1.  Come out and cheer them on at their next home games Friday, October 2, at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The 7/8 Grade Volleyball Team won their game Friday night against St. Francis #1.  Come out and cheer them on at their next home games Friday, October 2, at 7:00 p.m.

The Cross Country Team had a meet last Thursday.  Congratulations to the 5th/6th grade boys for placing 1st place with a team score of 48 points.  Michael Swift (6:03) finished in 1st place and Benjamin Smith (6:29) finished in 3rd place.  Come out and support the CDS team after school on Thursday at Shelby Farms.

Way to go, Thunder!

Learn to Speak Chinese

CDS mom, Siyan Hamsley, is offering a Chinese class designed for children who do not speak Chinese. Your children are at the best age when they can be bilingual so easily. They can speak a foreign language without an American accent!  Classes will be taught in her home in Collierville.  Class is open to all ages, limited to six students, and will meet on Saturdays.  For more information, please call Mrs. Hamsley at 901.412.0966 or email her at elvisham2@yahoo.com 

Morning Drop-Off Reminder

For the safety of the children, please utilize the morning carline and do not drop off students in the front circular driveway.  This driveway is reserved for the preschool. 

Upcoming lunches:

Wednesday, September 30:  Chick-Fil-A, Chips, and Cookies

Thursday, October 1:  Hot Dog, Chips, and Cookies

Friday, October 2: CiCi’s CHEESE Pizza

Monday, October 5:  McDonald’s Hamburger, French Fries, and Cookies

Lunches do not include a drink, please send a drink for your child.  Chick-Fil-A sauces, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise are available for the student.

A Rock ‘n’ Roll Weekend

Meet Me At the River, the annual fifth and sixth grade retreat led by the Children’s Ministries of Central Church, will take place on October 23 – 25. It costs $35 per person. The group will be staying in cabins at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park near Millington. The retreat will focus on Jesus being our solid rock, our rock of refuge, and our rock of salvation. The deadline for sign-ups is October 21. Registration is available online (click here) or pick-up a brochure at school. 

Central Church’s Wednesday Night at Central Church

• Shockwave is the epicenter of fun for Kindergarten – 4^th grade, rumbling in room 252.
• Live Wire is the reactor of energy with electrifying excitement for 5^th and 6^th graders, sparking up in room 112. 
• For the younger ones, under Kindergarten, Wiggles and Giggles is available. All of these classes incorporate Bible learning with energetic and kid-friendly activities.  

They meet in the Children’s Building from 6:30 – 8:30.

• Jr. High (7^th and 8^th grade) “Extreme Caution” meets in Room 1250 (Worship Center side) from 7:00-8:30 p.m.  A fun upbeat atmosphere with teaching time geared toward topical subjects that are relevant to teenagers.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11