Columbia Kindergarten Registration Fall 2013
Please click here for the Kindergarten Waiver Request Form (age requirement) for the 2013-2014 School Year. *Please note: According to the new state law, children must be 5 years of age by November 1, 2013 to begin kindergarten.

NEW! Columbia Elementary School Young Fives Program
The Columbia Elementary Young 5’s program is a program designed to meet the educational and developmental needs of children who will turn five years old by November 1st of a given calendar year, but who are not yet ready for a traditional Kindergarten Program.

The program is being developed in response to a perceived need in the community for a program that bridges the gap between preschool and an ever more demanding Kindergarten curriculum, especially for those children on the younger end of the five year old spectrum. The introduction of the all-day, every day Kindergarten program may also contribute to the need for such a program.

The program is child-centered and provides additional time for emotional, social, intellectual, and physical growth through activities that foster development in these areas:

• Creative Expression: art, music, literature, and natural world

• Social Development: interacting with others, helping, sharing, taking turns, playing cooperatively, culture, and citizenship

• Intellectual Development: thinking, planning, problem solving, comparing, reasoning, drawing conclusions, numbers, symbols, and science

• Physical Development: small and large muscle development, nutrition, and safety

The curriculum and learning environment support the developmental needs of each student, and prepares each child for success in Kindergarten the following school year. Please click here to view flyer.  

Welcome letter from Principal Deb Powell
I am excited to welcome back our students, families and staff for the 2012-2013 school year. Over the summer months, the custodians, Columbia volunteers and teachers have been cleaning, painting and preparing our school for the fall opening. In addition, we will also open our new CES Garden of Reading and Learning located at the west end of the building. Nancy Backus has been instrumental in pulling volunteers together over the summer months to complete this project just in time for our students to enjoy the first day of school. I want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone for all of your hard work and making it all possible. The building looks awesome!

This will be a year filled with learning and excitement! The staff and I are very excited that you have entrusted your child’s education to us. We will make every effort to help your child achieve academically and socially this year. It is our goal to create an enriching learning environment that engages each and every student. Of course, as the first teachers in your child’s life we need your support. Columbia Elementary has an excellent teaching staff with a wealth of knowledge. We also have an excellent support staff that work in different capacities to support your child’s learning.

Research indicates that parent involvement is the key to student success. This year, I invite you to become active at Columbia Elementary. Why not join the CES PTO, become an adult mentor in Brooklyn Buddies or volunteer in your child’s classroom? I welcome every parent to become involved and make a difference at CES!

Finally, last year the CES staff worked very hard toward CES becoming a School-Wide Title I building this fall. This means every child in our school is eligible for additional academic support. Therefore, if at any time you have a concern about your child’s progress, please don’t hesitate to contact their teacher or me. It is our mission to support your child in whatever way we can. Columbia Elementary is fortunate to have an excellent staff and resources to support students and their families. Remember, “Working together makes a difference in the lives of our students."

Welcome to Columbia Elementary and to a great school year!

Columbia Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)
The officers can be reached by calling Columbia Elementary School at (517) 592-6632.

Columbia Chatter Newsletters
(Courtesy of the PTO Committee)
• April 2013
• February 2013
• January 2013
• December 2012