As we kick off 2012, it is hard to believe that almost half of the school year has already come and gone! I cannot help but smile as I reflect back on the opening of school, which went extremely well and set the tone for an incredibly positive year for everyone!
The children entered the building filled with excitement, anticipation and a thirst for knowledge that is continually being quenched! The staff worked diligently to prepare their classrooms and programs to best meet the needs of the students and provide meaningful and fun curricular experiences. The year kicked off with various significant activities, which included our celebration of Constitution Day, the PARP Week experience which featured our first ever Parent As Reading Buddies experience and Squeaky Clean; there was also the adorable Kindergarten Gym and Me event, the First Grade performance in connection with their social studies unit; then there was the Author’s in Residence Program in grades 1, 4 and 5 featuring Joi Nobisso, David Ezra Stein and Phil Bildner; then we had our visit with Kathryn Otoshi who spoke with all our children; and of course, our annual Fall Carnival! It is clear to me that the success of the children at the Cantiague School is rooted in the deep home/school connection. All of our community members are working together towards a common goal, which is to do what is best for children!

As the year has unfolded, I have been most impressed by the level of dedication and enthusiasm the entire Cantiague community shows on a daily basis. From the students to the staff to the parents to the incredibly active PTA, there are consistent efforts to go above and beyond and everyone does it with a smile on their faces! During the coming months our efforts must only increase as our students will participate in various state assessments including the English Language Arts Assessments in April for students in grades 3 – 5, the Mathematics Assessments in April for students in grades 3 – 5 and the Science Assessment in May and June for students in grade 4. Cantiague Elementary has always performed extremely well on these assessments and it has a lot to do with the high expectations and standards we have in place for our children!

We must also all continue to work hard in reminding the entire community about the importance of being Bucket Fillers on a daily basis! The concept of Bucket Filling, which stresses the importance of being positive in one’s interactions with others, continues to permeate the building and has served as an excellent way to teach our children about the importance of good character. The students have also been exposed to the Big Five – Be Kind, Be Responsible, Be Respectful, Be Safe and Be Positive – and these are the pillars at the core of the Bucket Filling philosophy and support our children in their daily quests to be Bucket Fillers because at Cantiague Elementary School we are the home of the best bucket fillers in the whole world!

On a personal note, I want to thank everyone for making my fourth year at the Cantiague Elementary School even more amazing than our last three! Your support and encouragement have been critical to the success of the school year! It is an honor to be a part of such an incredible community and I look forward to creating more memories together as the year unfolds!

Sincerely,
Antony Sinanis