| Dates to Remember |
Friday, June 6
Last Day of Schoo
Morning
PIZZA DAY – FREE
Outdoor Fun and Water
(wear swimsuit under clothers and bring a twoel and a water bottle)
EARLY DISMISSAL
Friday, June 6
Riverfront Park
Year-End Pot Luck Picnic
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM |
| Tax Credit Form |
Download a copy of our Tax Credit Form.
CLICK HERE
Complete it and bring it with your donation to the School Office.
Your Donations are
Greatly Appreciated. |
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| Center for Creative Education |
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A Montessori Education Charter School Program
Mary Ann Green, Director
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Celebrating the Lives of Ross and Melyssa
 A dual celebration of life ceremony honoring Ross Alan Bluestone and Melyssa Ann (Bluestone) Griffin will be held at the Center for Creative Education on July 26, 2008.
Ross and Melyssa lived in Old Town Cottonwood for the last several years and worked and enriched the Center for Creative Education at 215 South Main Street in Cottonwood.
Melyssa Ann Griffin was born in Amarillo, Texas on January 9, 1980. She passed away on Tuesday, April 15 at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, in Phoenix.
Ross Alan Bluestone was born in Cincinnati on March 17, 1974 and grew up in New Jersey across the river from New York, New York. Ross passed away on Saturday, June 7 at the hospice connected with Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, in Phoenix. Both Melyssa and Ross had been struggling with repercussions from treatments they received for Lymphoma and Leukemia several years ago. In fact, Ross and Melyssa met at the Banner Hospital’s City of Hope Oncology Unit.
Melyssa was a much loved and valued staff member of the Center for Creative Education, a Montessori charter school in Cottonwood. She worked in the office, with the Pre-School and Kindergarten, with reading studies and tutoring. Melyssa graduated from Arizona State University with honors and was a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. In spite of her life challenges, Melyssa had the energy, drive and willpower to spend a year studying abroad in Germany and later continued her education by receiving her CERTA certificate qualifying her to teach English internationally. Her loss is deeply felt by the students and staff of the school.
Ross was also a valued staff member of the Center for Creative Education where he served as Media Director and Computer Specialist. Ross received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Towson University in Baltimore, with a major in Communications and a concentration in Film and Photography. He worked in the field of commercial art and independent film-making for several years. After moving to Arizona several years ago, Ross blended his own unique style and experience to create a unique mentoring relationship with CCE students incorporating film, photography, graphic design and more as Media Director. His sense of humor and his unique relationship with the older students was a delight to behold.
Melyssa is survived by her mother Phyllis Beyer, her sister, Natalie Griffin, and many more friends and family. Ross is survived by his mother, MaryAnn Green, his sister Michelle Bluestone of Virginia, and their cats, Derringer and Grisman. Ross was predeceased by his father, Gordon Bluestone, of Dallas, Texas.
Through the rigors of battling cancer and its treatments, both Melyssa and Ross faced life enthusiastically, meeting challenges and enjoying a close and magical relationship with each other.
Both families request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Melyssa Griffin and Ross Bluestone Memorial fund at the Center for Creative Education, Post Office Box 2678, Cottonwood, AZ 86326.
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Students working together to prepare the school's garden.
Parent Volunteers Needed
We welcome parent volunteers to help with activities and supervision on the morning of Friday, June 6 at the school and at the Pot Luck Picnic that evening.
We also welcome cut-up slabs of watermelon and small bottles of water for Friday morning activities.
Once again we have rented a couple of amusements for the picnic from AZ Jolly Jumps. With use of the water slide unavailable, we will provide a misting slide and a jungle gym. We need volunteers to watch and maintain safety and order in half-hour segments. Please expect your children to get damp!!
A Sincere and Heartfelt Thank You!
Ms MaryAnn is still in Phoenix at Banner Hospital with Mr. Ross, who has been diagnosed with pneumonia and an unknown virus. As you know
Mr. Ross had leukemia some years ago and his immune system is severely challenged. With Ms Melyssa’s death in April and this health problem, Ms MaryAnn needs to be with him.
We all are grateful for your understanding and kindness. Please be confident that we will schedule the cancelled Parent/Teacher conferences as soon as practical and to fit your schedules.
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Science Exhibition Success
Thanks to all the parents and others who supported our elementary students by attending this first-of-its-kind function at CCE. Please see several photographs in this newsletter.
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Pot Luck Sign-Up
Please talk with the staff at drop-off and pick-up to let us know what you’ll be bringing to this fun end-of-the year party for CCE families. If you haven’t been here in earlier years, this is a great time to meet other parents whose children you’ve heard about and to arrange for summer playdates and activities.
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Pre-School and Kindergarten Update
From learning about kookaburas to koalas, we have found Australia to be full of fascinating people, places and animals. Talking about the Great Barrier Reef has made us aware of one of our responsibilities – to keep the oceans clean.
Thanks to Rick Saggio, Asa’s dad, we were treated to Australian music on his didgeridoo. We all enjoyed his music and his conversation and it fitted nicely with our study of Australia. Thanks, Rick!
There is much excitement in the classroom as we look forward to summer. We have had a wonderful year together. We wish you all a great summer!
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Lower Elementary Class Update
Our class participation in the second mural creation was a great learning experience as well as being fun. We were disappointed that the City of Cottonwood refused their approval to paint the mural on the front of the building, but we adapted our design to the space that was approved.
The Science Exhibition challenged our class to create and explain their individual projects to other students and to their parents. It’s the start of a new tradition.
We’re busy finishing projects in the classroom and working together in a spirit of fun and cooperation.
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Upper Elementary Update
The Science Exhibition was a good classroom exercise and the students enjoyed visits from parents and from all the other classes.
May ended with lessons on a potter’s wheel. It was great to see such enjoyment and the obvious sense of accomplishment.
For the summer months, students will receive a checklist to journal their observations of living creatures in the Arizona environment. Their assignment will be to record sightings all summer long.
The newest mural on the administration and pre-school building was the concerted effort of our class and the lower elementary class with Carol Hildebrand, our artist consultant. Please check it out if you haven’t already.
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