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December 5, 2025

Dear Cottle Families,

December has arrived, and there’s a definite chill in the air.  Our first marking period ended yesterday, and the second marking period starts today.  Holiday excitement is in the air at Cottle!

Forget about Black and Cyber Monday!  Next week, Monday, December 8 through December 12, our students will once again have an opportunity to visit the annual Holiday Boutique presented by our amazing PTA.  The children always enjoy browsing through the Boutique looking for treasures!  They’re pretty savvy shoppers, too!  

Next week is Inclusive Schools Week: December 8–12!

Inclusive Schools Week is officially underway at Cottle! This national celebration recognizes the ongoing work schools do to ensure that every student feels respected, supported, and included. It also encourages us to continue strengthening a community where all learners experience belonging.

Inclusive Schools Week kicked off yesterday with two inspiring assemblies led by motivational speaker David Flood. David is known nationally for his powerful, heart-centered presentations that teach students the importance of kindness, empathy, dignity, and respect. Through relatable stories and humor, he helps children understand how their words and actions can lift others up and create a more inclusive school community. Our students were fully engaged, and his message set a beautiful tone for the week ahead.

A heartfelt thank you to our PTA for generously helping to fund the David Flood assemblies and for their continued partnership in supporting meaningful experiences for our students. We would also like to extend sincere gratitude to WEC teachers Kristen Clokey, Jackie Valentine, Jamie Cronin, Hayley Speisman and Brittany Fritz for their initiative in envisioning David Flood as the perfect kickoff to Inclusive Schools Week, collaborating with the PTA, and creating and coordinating additional activities that enrich this important celebration for all Cottle students. Additionally, we want to thank all of our WEC teachers and staff for their ongoing commitment to inclusion and for all they do each and every day to model kindness, empathy, and belonging for our Cottle Cubs. Their daily actions and dedication truly bring the spirit of Inclusive Schools Week to life all year long.

On Monday morning students will listen to the story, Have You Filled Your Bucket? Throughout the week students will create Compliment Cups filled with kind, positive notes. These affirmations will be sent home at the end of the week as a celebration of kindness and community.

Special area teachers will incorporate short inclusive games and activities into their lessons to reinforce this week’s themes of connection, empathy, and understanding.

In addition, and in partnership with the Middle and High School, Cottle is participating in a districtwide Inclusive Schools Spirit Week to celebrate our students’ diversity and the many ways we come together as one school community (click HERE for details).  Please see the attached flyer for the daily themes.

Finally, students are invited to submit original T-shirt designs inspired by inclusion and kindness. The winning design will be produced and sold as part of a future school fundraiser. See attached for more information!

In keeping with the spirit of the holidays, in the next few weeks we can all look forward to some musical treats from the WEC Band, the WEC String Orchestra, and the WEC Chorus!  The Cottle Chorus performances will be on December 11, and the Band and Strings performances are scheduled for December 18.  Additional information to follow as we get closer to the concert dates.  

Also, on Wednesday, December 17, and Thursday, December 18, we will be holding Parent-Teacher conferences.  If you have any questions about your child’s conference schedule, please contact your child’s teacher.  There will be early dismissal on both conference days.  

The official chartering of the Tuckahoe SEPTA (Special Education PTA) was held this week.  The Tuckahoe District now has a SEPTA unit dedicated to supporting students with special needs, their families, and the educators who work with them.  We look forward to working with you!  Please see attached for additional SEPTA information!

Please click HERE for updates and information from the Tuckahoe Athletic Council!

PTA EVENTS AT A GLANCE 

• 12/8 (Mon), Cottle Holiday Boutique
• 12/8 (Mon), Inclusive Schools Week
• 12/10 (Wed), Cottle After School STEAM Classes Registration Deadline
• 1/23 (Fri), Sweetheart Dance, Save The Date 
• William E Cottle Yearbook ON Sale

PTA EVENT DETAILS 

Cottle Holiday Boutique The Cottle Holiday Boutique will be December 8th - 12th 2025. We’ll have fabulous gifts available for purchase for everyone on your child’s gift list!

We’re in need of volunteers to help our children choose presents for their loved ones! Volunteer here 

Inclusive Schools Week PTA DEI Committee + SEPTA is proud to lead a celebration of Inclusive Schools Week (December 8–12). Our Cottle Cubs are invited to create a personalized piece of artwork that highlights the importance of diversity, acceptance, and belonging within our school community.  Please be sure to check your child's folder in the coming days for a left-hand and right-hand template with decorating inspo! Have your child bring their finished work into school by Tuesday, December 2.

Cottle After School STEAM Classes The Tuckahoe PTA is excited to bring back after school STEAM classes for grades K-5, starting in January! Deadline to sign up is December 10th.The cost for these classes is $225 for the duration of the 8-week time frame. Classes will be run by a company called STEM Alliance and all instruction and materials are provided through them. Register here. 

Sweetheart Dance SAVE THE DATE Sweetheart Dance For 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Students. Join us for music, dancing, fun photo moments, treats, and memories to last a lifetime at the Tuckahoe High School Gym Friday, January 23, 2025 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.  More details & ticket information coming soon Hosted by Tuckahoe PTA.

Pre-order your Cottle Yearbook Pre-order your 25-26 Cottle Yearbook now, for just $35! All UPK-5th Grade students will appear in the yearbook, so all grades are encouraged to purchase one. 5th graders will receive a FREE copy of the yearbook in June.  If you have more than one child, please place a separate order for each student.  Pre-ordering now ensures you will receive a yearbook at the end of the school year.  The price will increase to $45 on February 13, 2026. Purchase here.

Finally, for the past three months as we have travelled the halls and observed the classroom interactions Grades K-5, we have been so impressed with the quality of the many lessons taught by our teachers and with the depth of engagement and effort shown by our students.  Thank you to our faculty, staff, students, and family supporters at home for working together to help create a truly dynamic learning environment. 

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

John Morash   and    Peter Kilgallen,

Principal                    Assistant Principal

Important Dates to Remember

• 12/8 – 12/12 PTA Holiday Boutique
• 12/8 – 12/12 inclusive Schools Week
• 12/11 Cottle Chorus Winter Concerts
• 12/17 Cottle Band and Strings Concerts
• 12/17 and 12/18 Parent-Teacher Conferences – early dismissal
• 12/22 – 1/2/26 Winter Recess

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