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Dear CSD Families,
As we enjoy the beauty of spring and look ahead to the final stretch of the school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on something at the heart of all we do—kindness.
Each day in our schools, we have the opportunity to build a culture where every student feels seen, supported, and valued. Kindness is one of the most powerful tools we have to make that happen. Whether it’s a simple smile, an encouraging word, or including someone who feels left out, small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Ways to Practice Kindness at Home and School
Here are a few ways students and families can help spread kindness every day:
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Lead by Example: Children often learn kindness by watching it. Let them see you helping others, being patient, and showing gratitude.
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Talk About It: Ask your child, “What’s one kind thing you did today?” or “Did you notice someone being kind at school?”
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Practice Empathy: Help your child consider how others might feel in different situations. Encourage them to listen, be patient, and treat others how they’d like to be treated.
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Celebrate Differences: Remind your child that our differences are what make us special—and kindness means appreciating and respecting those differences in others.
April is Autism Awareness Month
April is also Autism Awareness Month, a time to honor the unique perspectives of individuals with autism and build greater understanding, inclusion, and acceptance. It’s a meaningful opportunity to teach students that kindness includes welcoming and valuing everyone for who they are.
Join Us for our 3rd Annual Inclusion Event
Mark your calendars! Our district’s Unity Fest a Carnival for All Abilities is happening on May 1, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at RCMS, and hope to see you there. It’s a celebration of our diverse community, complete with live music, delicious food, fun games, and awesome prizes. Let’s come together in a spirit of unity and joy as we celebrate what makes us strong—each other.
Thank you for being a part of our school community and for helping us make kindness a daily habit. Together, we can continue to create safe, inclusive, and uplifting learning environments for every child.
Take Care,
Michael Chaix, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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THE ONTARIO CENTER SCHOOL
By Principal Narrie Gavares
Mr. Lenaburg’s fifth graders at The Ontario Center School recently embarked on an exciting journey through time, not with a DeLorean, but with Sphero BOLT robots! The class enthusiastically participated in the Sphero Global Challenge, a worldwide competition designed to ignite young minds in the realms of programming, problem-solving, and teamwork. This year’s upper elementary challenge, "Portal Through Time," tasked students with navigating historical "environments" using two BOLT robots and their ingenuity. Working collaboratively, the young learners dove into the world of coding, learning to program their robots to move with precision across the challenge field. They also put their engineering skills to the test by designing and building mechanisms using the Sphero Global Challenge Blueprint Kit. The challenge encouraged them to think creatively, find solutions to programming and engineering hurdles, and even program their robots to gather information and communicate with each other.
While the TOCS team did not advance to the Sphero World Championships this spring, the experience was a resounding success in fostering crucial STEM skills. The students demonstrated impressive abilities in navigating the various time-themed scenarios presented in the challenge, showcasing their growing understanding of robotics and coding principles. More importantly, the "Portal Through Time" challenge provided an invaluable opportunity for the fifth graders to hone their teamwork and communication skills. The students thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on learning experience, proving that the journey of exploration and discovery is just as rewarding as the destination. Our school looks forward to future opportunities to engage students in innovative and challenging programs like the Sphero Global Challenge.
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