Friday Update 10-23-09

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update October 23rd, 2009

As we get near the end of the first quarter, your students’ progress (or lack thereof) should come more closely into focus. I personally believe that meeting the needs of ALL your students is the toughest job for teachers today. Our responsibility is to nuture and challenge each child - the one below grade level, above grade level and every place in between. Knowing how to consistently do that well is difficult for even the most experienced teacher. Differentiating your lessons to meet all of those needs takes time, effort and good planning. Tiered lessons are a great way to keep every student engaged and challenged. Varied work products such as student projects (both large and small) give those above grade level the opportunity to work more independently. This frees the teacher up to provide more focus and attention to those children at or below grade level who require the most attention. Assignments that stress quality over quantity and critical thinking over memorization can also be effective in ensuring that each child is growing. Adjusting our approach to instruction takes effort, but pays dividends in increased learning for all students. Thank you for leading your students every day!

"If we succeed in giving the love of learning, the learning itself is sure to follow." ~John Lubbock

**This is the last week of our Southwest United Way campaign. So far we have 28 pledges for a total of $1,900. This is 42% of our goal. Remember our school spirit days (Mon 10/26-Hat Day, Tue 10/27-Pajama Day, Wed 10/28-Tacky Day)****

ALSO - Southwest staff may pay $1 to wear jeans to support the United Way

Next week
Monday 10/26 –3rd grade PLC mtg. @ 12:10, Watch Dog – David Seibert, Book Fair, SAT, Admin. Team mtg.

Tues day 10/27 – Kindergarten PLC mtg. @ 8:50, Specialist PLC mtg. @ 9:30, PBS committee mtg., Sagebrush Night, Board of Education Mtg., Book Fair

Wednesday 10/28 – 1st grade PLC mtg. @ 10:20, EC PLC mtg. @ 12:00, 4th grade PLC mtg. @ 12:55, Book Fair, TAC mtg., End of 1 st Quarter, Quarter tests due, NC Wise gradebook help session

Thursday 10/29 – RC, Year Long Tech Mtg.

Friday 10/30 –RSVWeek of 11/2 – 11/6

Mon (11/2) 3rd grade PLC mtg. @ 12:10, Book Fair, SAT, Jump Rope For Heart Kickoff

Tue (11/3) Kindergarten PLC mtg. @ 8:50, Specialist PLC mtg. @ 9:30, Donato’s night, Book Fair, Focused Staff mtg., Joint Principals Mtg., Picture Retake Day

Wed (11/4) 1st grade PLC mtg. @ 10:20, EC PLC mtg. @ 12:00, 4th grade PLC mtg. @ 12:55, Book Fair Ends, 2nd Grade Testing COG AT, Woodwind Ensemble for grades 4 &5

Thu (11/5) 2 nd grade PLC @11:05, 5th grade PLC @1:40, 2 nd Grade Testing and select 5th graders COG AT, Jr. League puppet show in auditorium for 3 rd graders

Fri (11/6) Principal Assoc. Mtg., 2nd grade testing COG AT, Eye Screeners Training

Looking ahead
1st Qtr
2nd Qtr
3rd Qtr
4th Qtr
Progress Report 9/8/09
Progress Report 11/17/09
Progress Report 2/9/09
Progress Report 4/20/09
Interim Report 9/22/09
Interim Report 12/8/09
Interim Report 3/2/09
Interim Report 5/4/09
Progress Report 10/13/09
Progress Report 1/12/09
Progress Report 3/16/09
Progress Report 5/18/09
Report Card 11/10/09
Report Card 2/2/09
Report Card 4/13/09
Report Card 6/15/09

Duty Schedule
Breakfast –East, Aikins, Letourneau, Sereika
Bus – Moore, Baker, Dease, Zimmerman, Wilson, Freshwater, Sunderman, Wilheit, Hauhuth
Car riders – Morning – Hancock, Salamanca, Chamra Afternoon – Caller – Lee, Tilley Inside – Brown, Crutchfield, Armbruster, Williams Outside – Powell, Green, Tsolis, Merritt, Baldwin, Winters
Hall – Everhardt (computer lab), Hauhuth (gym lobby) Parra (Music Hall), Allen (Auditorium Lobby)

FYI/Reminders *****- Please remember that all computers and monitors must be turned off daily *******
- The Biggest Losers would like to congratulate ????? for losing the most weight this week. Keep up the good work!
- If you borrowed KiKi Hutcheson’s Outburst Jr. game last year, please return it to her. - Please remember staff members who are still dealing with the loss or illness of a loved one. Georgia Kennedy’s sister and father are both dealing with serious health issues. Please keep Geogia and her family in your thoughts and prayers.
- If you have not paid hospitality dues, please pay your $20 to Nellie. - Be aware that we will be utilizing more electronic parent communication (email YO packet, WSFCS Parent Portal) stay tuned- Please e-mail ideas for the Southwest Exploratory Science Lab to Kim Cressman

**This year the “Can-Do man” will give every student either a dog tag or a bracelet when they reach the 500 can mark. Please encourage each student to keep an individual record of their can donations.
***I need your help in identifying all of the great things that you all do EVERY DAY. Beginning Monday, October 5 th , I will take email nominations for the “Staff Stars” section of our Friday Update. If you see a staff member doing a good deed or an outstanding job, please take time to send me an email to let me know. Thanks for your help.

***** Staff Stars ( There are too many good deeds to list them all. Over the course of the year, I would like to recognize as many as possible)
Rosario Salamanca – Thank you for your help serving as a translator for our Hispanic families in need of our Thanksgiving/Christmas Outreach Program
Sarah Baldwin – Thanks for leading our United Way campaign
Katrina Sutcliffe – Thank you for doing such an awesome job with your “different” students. You embrace their quirks and help them to perform at their best.
Southwest Staff – Thank you for your patience, participation and support for the Fall Festival. The weather was great and it was a tremendous success. We will soon see some of the benefits from the result of the work and distraction from learning.

Mike Hayes, Principal
Southwest Elementary School
1631 Southwest School Road
Clemmons, NC 27012
Phone - 336.712.4422
Fax - 336.712.4425