The library purchased new book bins for the primary/picture books.

The CES library is currently implementing the first stages of the “facelift” or renovations to the primary/picture book section. Such renovations include new book bins which were built just for the library and a wooden table purchased for the area.

CES Librarian Julie Mast and others spent the summer painting this area to resemble a castle. It is used for short plays.

This is only the beginning of the project as CES Librarian Julie Mast aims to build a tree house area for the fiction section of the library as well. Mast hopes to increase children’s enthusiasm for reading and visiting the library by making it a more inviting and fun-filled environment.

Mast hopes to transform the current fiction section of the library into a tree house.

The library will also see the installation of a smart board in the near future thanks to funds raised by the book drive the past couple of years. The smart board has already been purchased and is awaiting assembly and installation at the moment.

With a short budget to work on and seemingly continuous budget cuts at Smith-Green, it has been a long road for the library to get to where it is now. The library has worked very hard to sustain itself and these projects in various ways.

Fourth grader Brein Gross sold eggs and items in a garage sale and donated the $99 she raised to the library for its renovations.

The CES library also received help from a generous student. Fourth grader Brein Gross, daughter of Luke and Kelly Gross, donated $99 to the library. Gross raised the money selling eggs for $1.25 and also selling items in a garage sale. Much of her money went to purchase the table and book bins for the primary/picture book section.

Many students play games on this table during their time in the library.

When asked what made her want to donate her time and money to the libary, Gross said the libary was rather dull before and it is much easier to make the characters come to life with its new decor, which continues to develop. Brein’s favorite part of the library is the castle.

Students can enjoy watching the birds at the new feeding station in the court yard.

Another fun and educational addition to the library is a feeding station for birds located in the court yard next to the library. The station is visible from the library windows and students can watch the birds and try to identify them with the bird watching books provided for them. When warmer weather appears Mast will place a baby monitor outside at the station and inside so the students can hear the birds as well. The feeding station was paid for by a grant by REMC that Mast applied for.

The castle area is many of the students' favorite place in the library.

The castle helps to liven the mood in the library.

(Ed. note: Okay, let’s get one thing straight right up front – I’m a writer, not a filmmaker. Whew … Although, with each new clip that I work on, and the more I figure out about all of the awesome capacities of my new Mac and IMovie (love ‘em, love ‘em!!), my skills are improving. I think I finally figured out how to center the clips so that the bodies are not headless, a wonderful feat, albeit a little late for my videos to date. Publisher and partner, Chris Tomlinson, is the Superior Royal Highness of all Things Technical and Video. So I bow to him and apologize for any obvious videography errors in my early works – and promise that future clips will be better. Because headless bodies make him crazy.)

Merry Christmas from the staff at Buscovoice.com!

During the last few weeks leading up to Christmas, it’s not hard to find holiday cheer and glad tidings – just walk through the halls of Churubusco Elementary School.

Everywhere one looks, there are children doing good deeds.

Members of the CES Student Council have been busy raising money for Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. Students have sold over 1,000 candy canes, offered a Colts Sports Day where students pledged a quarter for Riley, and also collected and shipped thousands of aluminum pull tabs.

Paper plate snowmen and letters to Santa fill the hallways, and students brought in food items and paper goods to donate to local food pantries so those in need would not go hungry during the holidays.

A paper chain made by CES students  – each child had to write something nice about the person sitting next to him/her on the “link” – was painstakingly pasted together and hangs in the hallway, stretching all the way to the high school.

“This symbolizes teamwork and working together,” said CES guidance counselor, David Shearer. “It also shows appreciation for each other and the display symbolizes how the entire school works together.”

Photos, story by Viv Sade for buscovoice.com

Student Council members, from left, Rebecca Schmidt, 3rd grade, Kailey Eminger, 4th grade, and Max Burch, 2nd grade, spent several hours packing up thousands of aluminum pull tabs to send to Riley Children's Hospital.

Teacher Rob Tomlinson is the CES Student Council advisor. Here, he helps students package candy canes which they will sell to raise money for Riley Children's Hospital.

The students of CES created this paper chain, made up of kind things they said about one another.

Students collected lots of canned goods and other food items for local food pantries.

The Churubusco Chimers from Churubusco Elementary School are featured on the Sounds of the Season music special on local television channels, WPTA/ABC and WISE/NBC. The premier performance will be Thanksgiving morning at 9 a.m. on WPTA/ABC. A complete schedule of airings is shown below:

The Churubusco Elementary School Chimers - 2008 buscovoice.com file photo

The Chimers (buscovoice.com file photo 2008)

INC SOUNDS OF THE SEASON 09.xls

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. – A special community meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria regarding a proposed change to the Smith-Green elementary/middle school configuration.

One proposal has called for the sixth grade students to become part of the elementary school instead of the middle school, where they are currently housed. Currently the elementary school includes grades K-5. The seventh and eighth grades would combine for Churubusco Jr./Sr. High School.

According to Superintendent Steven Darnell, this meeting will seek input from parents regarding options for the proposed school configuration.

Some rumors and erroneous reports that the proposal is a done deal are not true, according to school officials. The school board has not made a decision and has called for the meeting to gather public input for the purpose of making an informed decision. A vote on the issue may take place at the Dec. 7 school board meeting.

At the meeting, administrators will provide parents with an update, including a tentative schedule for next year, Darnell said.

Churubusco firefighters kicked off the 2009 Fire Prevention Week Friday visiting and educating kids on the dangers of fire.

In years past the department has brought in equipment to show the kids and talk about fire safety. This year they added a new feature – a safety house borrowed from Noble county fire departments.

Children attending the classes were instructed on how to crawl low to the ground when smoke was in a room, how and when to dial 9-1-1, electrical hazards and how to be safe in the kitchen when parents are using the stove.

Firefighters Justin Snyder (left), Chris Tomlinson (right) & Jim Horne (inset)

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. – The kindergarten registration for the 2009-10 school year at Churubusco Elementary School will be Thursday, March 26, from 3:30-6 p.m. in the cafeteria.

Parents of soon-to-be students should bring their child’s birth certificate, as well as proof of residency – something such as a utility bill or other document that shows current address.

To be eligible for kindergarten this fall, the child must be five (5) years old on or before August 1.

CES personnel invites parents and their children to take the time to view a video of a typical day in kindergarten. In the film, Churubusco kindergarten students are shown doing math and literacy activities.

Kindergarten teachers will be available for questions during the registration.

For more information call the school at 693-2188.

The high school gymnasium was filled to overflowing when students in grades 1-3, along with the Chimers and Soundmasters, presented the annual Churubusco Elementary School Winter Musical program Thursday, Nov. 11.

The students presented a Christmas play, “The Share Bears,” while the Chimers and Soundmasters performed Christmas songs.

The students are under the direction of CES music director Sue Lough, who was assisted by Liz Schemm, Mindy Weigold, and Mary turner. Art teacher Jill Bontrager designed props and costumes while Cindy Zollinger and Janet Thomas supervised the choirs.

Watch this Web site for soon-to-be-posted video coverage of the Soundmasters and Chimers performing this holiday season.

Nearly 30 minutes before the program, the gymnasium was already filled with proud parents and relatives.

The Chimers perform "What Child is This" at the annual Christmas musical program at Churubusco Elementary School Thursday night.

The annual Soundmasters Christmas Tour will be Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Wal-Mart at the corner of Dupont and Lima roads, Fort Wayne, at 11:45 a.m.

Watch buscovoice.com in the next few days for video coverage of the Chimers and Soundmasters.

Students in grades 1-3 perform Merry Christmas Bells.

Elementary students wait anxiously for their turn to perform in the annual winter musical program.

Churubusco Elementary School music director Sue Lough directs the Soundmasters.

This year the Churubusco PTO is trying something different – a “Trunk or Treat” night. This event will replace the Safe Trick or Treat held in years past.

The Halloween event will be held Thursday, Oct. 23, from 6-8 p.m. in the school’s parking lot.

Volunteers are needed and PTO members are encouraging parents to line up their vehicles along the sidewalk in front of the school, dress in costume and pass out treats from their trunks.

The event was held in the hallways of the school in years past, and PTO members said they would like to try something different this year.

Churubusco students will be released Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 22 and 23 at 11 a.m. and all day Friday, Oct. 24 for Fall Break.

Churubusco Elementary School classroom fall parties will be held Friday, Oct. 31.