
As our students settle into a new school year, we ask everyone in our community to take a few extra moments to help keep them safe as they travel to and from school.
Whether you’re driving through a neighborhood, approaching a school bus stop, or traveling near a school campus, please stay alert. Slow down, eliminate distractions, and watch carefully for students who may be walking, riding bicycles, or crossing the street.
For drivers:
• Stop for school buses when the stop arm is extended and the red lights are flashing.
• Obey posted school zone speed limits.
• Never pass a stopped school bus unless permitted by law.
• Stay alert for students at bus stops, crosswalks, and near roadways, especially during the busy morning and afternoon hours.
For parents and students:
• Arrive at bus stops a few minutes early and wait a safe distance from the roadway.
• Cross the street only when instructed by the bus driver, and always look left, right, and left again before crossing.
• Use designated crosswalks whenever possible and never cross behind a school bus.
• Stay aware of your surroundings by keeping phones and headphones put away while walking.
The start and end of the school day are some of the busiest times on our roads. A little extra patience and attention can help ensure every student arrives safely at school and returns home safely each day.
Thank you for doing your part to help keep our students safe.
#BElieveinCAMDEN #WeAreCamden

A few friendly reminders to help make afternoon dismissal run as smoothly and safely as possible:
🚗 Please display your car tag clearly. Make sure your car tag is visible to the staff member calling numbers. On sunny days, glare can make the number difficult to see, so it may help to tilt the tag closer to the glass for better visibility.
🚦 Please treat the three car rider lanes like a three-way stop. Lane 1 (the lane furthest to the left) will go first, followed by Lane 2 (middle), and then Lane 3 (right). Please be courteous and kind to one another as we work together to keep dismissal safe and efficient for everyone.
🪪 Forgot your car tag? Please park in the parking lot and come to the front office. You will need to show identification to pick up your child.
Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and kindness as we work together to make dismissal a safe and smooth process for all our students and families! 💙

Show your school spirit and support CRES every month! Mark your calendars for our recurring Friday Spirit Days:
🎩 Hat Day — Every 2nd Friday of the Month
Wear your favorite hat to school! From baseball caps to crazy top hats, show off your style.
💤 Pajama Day — Every Last Friday of the Month
Roll out of bed and head to school in your favorite cozy (and school-appropriate) pajamas!
💰 How It Helps:
Bring $1 on Spirit Days to participate. Every dollar raised goes directly toward supporting school events, student activities, and classroom resources for our kids!
📌 Reminder: Participation is optional, and all outfits/hats must follow the school dress code.
Thank you for supporting CRES and making Friday full of fun! Share a picture of your student showing their spirit in the comments below! 👇
#CRESSpirit #SchoolSpirit #SupportOurSchool #CRESFundraiser

🎨 Get Ready for Kindergarten Color Week at Crooked River Elementary! 🌈
Our newest Dolphins are diving into the world of colors, and we want the entire school to join in the fun! Show your school spirit and help our kindergarteners learn their colors by dressing in the color of the day from August 17–21:
🔴 Monday, Aug 17: Red Day
🟠 Tuesday, Aug 18: Orange Day
🟡 Wednesday, Aug 19: Yellow Day
🟢 Thursday, Aug 20: Green Day
🔵 Friday, Aug 21: Blue Day (or CRES Spirit Wear!)
Let’s make this week bright, colorful, and welcoming for our little learners! Snap a photo of your child's colorful outfit and share it in the comments below! 👇✨
#ColorfulLearning #DolphinPride #KindergartenAdventures #CrookedRiverElementary #CamdenCountySchools

We are so excited to kick off a brand new school year! Join us for our very first PODS (Parents Offering Daily Support) meeting. Come find out how you can get involved, support our teachers, and help make this school year amazing for our students!
📅 Date: Monday, August 10th
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM
📍 Location: Media Center
What we'll be discussing: Overview of what PODS does for CRES Mandatory Volunteer Training / Background Checks: If you want to volunteer at the school this year, a background check and mandated training are required.
A rundown of all the fun upcoming events and activities we have planned for the year.
We hope to see you there—let's make it a great year at "The River!"
🌊💙🐾#Crooked River Elementary #CRESPODS #BElieveinCAMDEN #ParentSupport #WeAreCamden

Attention Dolphin families! We are excited to invite our wonderful grandparents and grandparent figures to make sweet memories over breakfast with their students in the CRES gym.
📅 When to Join Us (Split by Student's Last Name):
Wednesday, September 10: Last Names A – K
Thursday, September 11: Last Names L – Z
⏰ Time: 7:50 AM – 8:25 AM
📍 Location: School Gym (Please enter through the gym side entrance in the side parking lot)
💵 Cost: $3.00 for Adults | CRES Students eat FREE 📌
Important Notes: Students must attend with their grandparent/adult guest.
Please make sure to arrive on time so students can finish eating before morning announcements and classes begin!
We can’t wait to celebrate the love, wisdom, and laughter our grandparents bring to our Dolphin community. See you there! ❤️🐬
#CrookedRiverElementary #DolphinPride #GrandparentsDay #CRESEvents #FuelForSchool

🎉 Crooked River Elementary Spirit Wear is HERE! 🎉
Show your Dolphin pride! Our School Spirit Store is officially OPEN, and it's time to gear up for an amazing school year! 🐬💙
From t-shirts and hoodies to fun accessories, we’ve got spirit gear for students, parents, and teachers. Don't miss out—grab your favorite items before the store closes!
👉 Shop online now: https://cmdgifts.com/collections/crooked-river-elementary-school?scrlybrkr=6a2e5d3d
Thank you for supporting our school and showing your Crooked River Spirit!
#CrookedRiverElementary #DolphinPride #SchoolSpirit #SpiritWear #CREDolphins

Congratulations to Crooked River Elementary School for taking home the Cafeteria Award of Excellence from the Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Division! 🥗🥛
Thank you to this incredible team for serving up healthy meals, top-tier safety, and positivity to our students every single day.
#BElieveinCAMDEN #WeAreCamden

There is nothing quite like the first day of kindergarten, but Ms. Allen and Mrs. Farmer’s classes are officially officially jitter-free!
To help chase away those brand-new-school-year nerves, we started our morning by reading the wonderful book First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg. After seeing how the main character felt (and realizing everyone gets a little nervous sometimes!), the kids mixed up a special batch of our very own Jitter Juice! 🥤✨
Judging by all the smiles, giggles, and high-energy fun we had today, the juice worked like magic!
Thank you to all our amazing families for sharing your little ones with us. We are already looking forward to an incredible school year ahead! 💛📚
#FirstDayOfSchool #KindergartenJitters #JitterJuice #MrsAllensClass #MrsFarmersClass #SchoolFamily #FirstDayOfKindergarten






As we kick off another great school year, the safety of our students is our top priority! Whether your child walks, rides the bus, or gets dropped off, please take a moment to review these quick safety rules with them:
🚸 For Our Pedestrians & Walkers:
Use Crosswalks: Always cross at designated crosswalks and obey crossing guards.
Heads Up, Phones Down: Stay alert, avoid distractions, and look both ways (left, right, and left again) before crossing.
Stay Visible: Walk on sidewalks whenever available and make eye contact with drivers before stepping into the street.
🚌 For Our Bus Riders:
Arrive Early: Be at the bus stop 5 minutes before your scheduled pickup time.
Safe Distance: Stand at least 10 feet (3 big steps) away from the curb while waiting.
Wait for the Signal: Never cross in front of the bus until the driver signals that it’s safe to do so.
🚗 A Quick Reminder for Drivers:
Please slow down in school zones, stay off mobile devices, and NEVER pass a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
Thank you for helping us keep Crooked River Elementary safe every single day! ❤️
#CRESSafety #CrookedRiverElementary #BusSafety #PedestrianSafety #BElieveinCAMDEN #SafetyFirst

As we kick off a fantastic new school year, we want to share an important update regarding the new Distraction-Free Education Act.
🎯 Goal of the Law
This policy minimizes classroom interruptions to boost focus, support student well-being, and encourage face-to-face friendships during the school day. Personal electronic devices (cell phones, smartwatches, tablets) must be powered off/silenced and kept in backpacks from arrival to dismissal.
💬 How You Can Help
Please take a few minutes this week to sit down with your child and review our guidelines:
Review Expectations: Remind your Dolphin that devices need to stay turned off and tucked away inside their backpack during school hours.
Discuss Consequences: Explain that using a device during the day results in our standard school warning/confiscation steps.
Need to Reach Your Child? If you have an urgent message during the school day, please call our front office directly and we’ll be happy to assist!
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school focused and engaging! Let’s make it a great year, CRES! 💙

What an incredible first day back at CRES! Our hallways were filled with bright smiles, excited chatter, and amazing Dolphin energy from the moment the first bell rang.
Our stars spent today mastering the ropes and getting back into the groove:
🍱 Cafeteria Routines: Practicing lunch line procedures, finding seats, and enjoying meals with friends.
🚶♂️ Walking in Lines: Perfecting our quiet, single-file Dolphin hallway walks.
🎨 Specials: Kicking off the year in AgArt, Spanish, PE, and Tech with big creativity and high energy.
🚌 Dismissal Success: A massive shoutout to our teachers, staff, and families for helping our car riders, bus riders, and walkers get home safely and smoothly!
We are so proud of how quickly our students learned our school rules and procedures today. Thank you, parents and guardians, for your support in making Day 1 such a success. Rest up tonight, Dolphins—we can't wait to see you back tomorrow for Day 2!
💙 Drop a photo or tell us your child’s favorite part of Day 1 in the comments below! 👇
#CRESDolphins #FirstDayOfSchool #DolphinPride #BackToSchool2026 #SchoolFamily #CRESIsTheBest PlaceToBe
We are so glad to meet our new students, visit with our former teachers, and welcome all the new faces joining our school family this year. Thank you so much to everyone who came out for our Open House—your energy and big smiles made it a splash!
Drop a photo of your Dolphin enjoying Open House in the comments below! 👇
#CrookedRiverElementary #CRE #DolphinPride #OpenHouse #BackToSchool #DolphinFamily
Our newest and youngest learners had a fantastic time at Pre-K Preview on July 31st! 🎒📚
Our future Pre-K students got to explore their classrooms, meet their amazing teachers, tour Crooked River Elementary, and get a hands-on sneak peek at all the fun and learning ahead this school year! 🏫💙
We are so excited to welcome these bright new faces and their families to our CRES community. It’s going to be an incredible year! ✏️🎨
👇 Check out some photos from preview day below! Drop a message in the comments to welcome our new Pre-K families! 👇
#CrookedRiverElementary #CRES #PreKPreview #DolphinPride #BackToSchool #CamdenCountySchools
We had a wonderful and successful Open House!
Thank you for coming.
We know you are excited for the first day of school.
In an effort to establish routines and ensure safety we need your help.
On the first day you are welcome to escort your child to their classroom.
After the first day, our typical drop off procedure is as follows:
• Car rider drop off is behind the school. Please pull all the way forward to avoid congestion in the line.
• Biker/walker students will come through the base gate. The gate is locked promptly at 8:30.
• Children cannot be dropped off in the front of the school building without an adult. If you are coming inside you will enter through the front office.
We look forward to a successful first day and year together!
Thank you,
The River Admin Team

Help us kick off the new school year with color, creativity, and positivity! Join us for Chalk the Walk and help fill our campus sidewalks with uplifting words, cheerful doodles, and motivational messages to surprise our Dolphins on their first day back! 🐬✨
🗓️ Date: Tuesday, August 4
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
📍 Where: Crooked River Elementary School
🖍️ Chalk will be provided at: the front of the school.
Swing on by whenever you can between 3:00 and 7:00 PM, grab a piece of chalk, and help us cover our campus in encouragement—one sidewalk square at a time! 💬💛
Let's start the school year on the right foot! See you there! 👟✨
#CrookedRiverElementary #ChalkTheWalk #CRESDolphins #BackToSchool #SpreadPositivity #SchoolCommunity

Classrooms are coming together, bulletin boards are bright, supplies are organized, and every detail is being prepared with our students in mind. Our amazing teachers are excited to meet each of you and kick off an incredible school year filled with learning, laughter, and new adventures.
We look forward to seeing everyone at Open House! Get ready for a fantastic year at CRES—it's going to be the best one yet! 💙📚✏️
#CrookedRiverElementary #DolphinPride #BackToSchool #OpenHouse #ReadyToLearn










📢 Attention Crooked River Elementary Families! 🏫✨
Mark your calendars! We are so excited to welcome you back for our Annual Open House! Come explore the school, see your classroom, and get ready for a fantastic school year!
📅 Date: Friday, July 31st
⏰ Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 Location: Crooked River Elementary School
🌟 What to Expect:
👩🏫 Meet Your Teacher: Drop in, say hello, and check out your new classroom!
📋 Important Information: Pick up your start-of-year paperwork, including lunch forms and essential school updates.
🚗 Transportation & Traffic: Remember to key details regarding car pickup lines, bus routes, and parking instructions.
🚚 Dinner is Handled!
Don't worry about cooking after Open House! We are thrilled to have San Marco Chz Fry Co. on-site serving up delicious food for our CRES families to purchase. 🧀🍟
We can't wait to see all of our returning and new families. Let’s make it a great evening! 🎉
👇 Have questions? Leave them in the comments below or contact the front office!
#CrookedRiverElementary #OpenHouse #BackToSchool #CRES #SchoolCommunity




Over the course of camp, our kiddos were hard at work building both fine motor and gross motor skills through hands-on fun! They practiced:
✂️ Precision cutting & gluing
✏️ Letter tracing & staying inside the lines
🧱 Learning with tactile manipulatives
🏃 Movement games & active gross motor play
Watching their confidence grow each day was the best part. They are so ready to tackle Kindergarten! Thank you to all our families for a wonderful week. ❤️🎒



We spent an amazing week squeezing in tons of hands-on learning:
• Fine Motor Power: Tracing letters, coloring, cutting, and mastering the glue stick! 🎨✂️
• Gross Motor Magic: Big movements, coordination games, and active play! 🏃♂️
• Tactile Learning: Counting, stacking, and exploring with fun manipulatives! 🧩
These future kindergarteners are officially ready for the big leagues! So proud of everyone’s hard work! 🌟







