The Weekly Owl

October 29, 2025

IMPORTANT DATES & REMINDERS:

October 29: Character Parade (9:30 a.m.)

October 30: Trunk or Treat
Building 1 9:30 -10:30 a.m.
Building 2 10:30 -11:30 a.m.

October 31: Mad Scientist Day for Upper Elementary Students

November 11: Veterans Day - School Closed

November 17: Veterans Day Event (9:00 a.m.)

November 20: Balloon & Float Parade - Building 1 Event (9:30 a.m.)

November 20: Native American Showcase/Feast (Primary Prep through 1st Grade - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.)

November 21: Native American Showcase/Feast (2nd through 5th Grade - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.)

Thanksgiving School Closures:
Early Learning: November 27 & 28 (3:00 p.m. release on November 26)
Preschool: November 27 & 28 (Optional Care available on November 24 & 25; 3:00 p.m. release on November 26)
Elementary: November 24-28

LOWER SCHOOL

Toddler Trick-or-Treating:

Tips for a Fun & Safe Halloween

Halloween is almost here, and excitement is in the air! But between spooky decorations, busy sidewalks, and buckets of candy, this holiday can bring big emotions for toddlers — especially if it’s their first time trick-or-treating.

To help you enjoy a smooth, fun, and safe evening, here are some practical tips to make this Halloween one to remember!

Try on the costume early. Make sure your toddler’s costume fits comfortably (with room for layers) and feels good to wear. If they love it now, they’ll love it even more on Halloween night!
Do a practice run. Take a short walk or knock on a few doors at home to help your toddler understand what to expect on Halloween night.
Role play with toys. Use dolls or stuffed animals to practice saying “trick or treat,” “thank you,” and taking just one piece of candy. It’s a fun and gentle way to teach manners!
Explain Halloween in a toddler-friendly way. Talk about how Halloween can be both silly and spooky — but it’s all pretend! Decorating together helps make it feel friendly and fun.
Skip the scares. Avoid frightening houses or scary masks. For little ones, a happy Halloween is much better than a spooky one!
Go before dark. Head out while it’s still light so your toddler feels comfortable and it’s easier to keep track of everyone.
Keep them visible. Add reflective tape, glow sticks, or light-up bracelets to your child’s costume so they can be seen easily.
Eat dinner first. Serve a healthy meal before heading out to help balance the candy excitement and prevent tummy aches later.
Don’t demonize candy. Set limits that work for your family, but remember — it’s just one night!
Check the candy. Inspect all treats before your toddler digs in. Remove any unwrapped or unsafe items.

UPPER SCHOOL

Falling into November:

New PBL & Honoring Local Heroes

Studying the Past

November is already here and our PBL guiding question is "Why is it important to study the past?" In this American History unit, students will be learning about the historical and current Native American tribes of North America. Each class will be assigned a Native American tribe to research throughout the month, and we will cap off our unit with our annual Native American showcase!

While at the showcase, families are also invited to join us for a Thanksgiving-style feast. Meals will be served in the pavilion or parents are welcome to bring a blanket to enjoy a picnic-style lunch. We welcome families to join us starting at 12:30. Please follow the schedule below:

Primary Prep through 1st grade families will celebrate on November 21.
2nd through 5th grades will celebrate on November 22.

If you haven't received an order form for the Thanksgiving feast, please contact your child's teacher or Nora Chambers.

Veterans Day Celebration Reminder

If you have a Veteran in your family, we would like to honor them at our Veterans Day Celebration on November 17 at 9:00 a.m. To register a Veteran for this event, please email Mrs. Danielle, Mrs. Kris, or Ms. Nora by Friday, October 31. Veterans will be invited to join us for our flag ceremony, where students and teachers will recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the National Anthem. Each Veteran will also be recognized by rank, name, and branch of service, and students will present a special token of appreciation to their families' Veteran.

Honoring a Breast Cancer Survivor

Mrs. Shari is Collage's wonderful Primary Prep teacher and a breast cancer survivor—celebrating 19 years cancer-free! We wanted to take a moment to feature her this week and honor her incredible journey of courage, positivity, and perseverance.

Mrs. Shari is an inspiration to our school community, reminding us all of the power of hope and the importance of regular health checkups and awareness. Her compassion and joyful spirit shine through in everything she does, from caring for her students to supporting others in their own challenges. We are so proud to have her as part of our school family!

WELLNESS CORNER

Mental Health Moment of the Week: The Importance of Our Words

Finding the right words isn’t always easy for kids. Big feelings can make it even harder to express what’s going on inside.

Take time this week to slow down together, take a few deep breaths, pause, and let the words come. Talk as a family about how your words can bring comfort, understanding, and connection to one another.

Note from Nurse Chelsea

The Power of Deep Breathing

Why it matters: Stress weakens immunity. Simple breathing games can calm kids’ nervous systems and support resilience.

Tips for parents:

Bubble breaths - Pretend to blow bubbles slowly through the mouth.
Balloon belly - Hands on tummy, inhale to “blow up the balloon,” exhale to shrink it.
Smell the flower or blow out the candle - A fun way to guide slow inhales and exhales.
Bedtime calm - 3–5 deep breaths together before lights out improves rest.

Eat the Rainbow: Keep Calm and Radish On!

Lower school students continue learning through Collage's Eat the Rainbow program. Students are exploring foods by color each month. This month's color is red.

Learn more about Radishes:

Nutrient Spotlight: Radishes are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, plus natural compounds that help keep our bodies healthy.

Health Benefits: They support strong immune systems, help digestion, and keep the body hydrated thanks to their high water content.

Kid-Friendly Tip: Slice thin and add radishes to salads or sandwiches for a gentle crunch, roast with a little olive oil to bring out sweetness, or serve with dip for a fun, colorful snack.

We encourage families to join in at home. Let's all make healthy eating fun and colorful!

PARENT COMMUNITY ALLIANCE (PCA) NEWS

Looking for a simple way to support Collage? Join our PCA Volunteer List!

Volunteering is a great way to get involved, meet other families, and make an impact. From fun nights to fundraisers, we rely on our amazing volunteers.

Whether it’s helping with set-up, check-ins, clean-up, or behind-the-scenes tasks, there are plenty of ways to lend a hand. When an event is scheduled, we’ll send out a sign-up form outlining the roles needed—just choose what works best for you!

📌Click here to learn more.

Stay connected: Follow us on Facebook at CDS Parent Community Alliance.https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567861563027.

Bridget L. Van Landingham

President, CDS Parent Community Alliance (PCA)