As the winter months approach, it is hard to believe that a third 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 the Pledge on the Lawn in honor of Constitution Day, the kick-off assembly for our Bucket Filling theme for the year, the ‘Spooktacular’ Halloween Parade and Party, the adorable Kindergarten Hoedown and of course, the amazing Cantiague 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, 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 January for students in grades 3 – 5, the Mathematics Assessments in March for students in grades 3 – 5 and the Science Assessment in May 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, has permeated 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 Four – 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 we are changing the world one bucket at a time!

On a personal note, I want to thank everyone for making my transition to the Cantiague School an amazing one! 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,
vvvvAntony Sinanis