Friday Updates December 2008

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
December 5, 2008

This week we started our “Collaborative planning” meetings and met with both Kindergarten and specialists. If we expect to continuously better serve our students, we have to do a few things differently. While we do MANY things well as a school, we CAN improve in a number of areas. Thank you for your continued flexibility and willingness to try some new things on our journey together. Hopefully, after each of you has been through your own collaborative planning session, you will better understand where we are headed.

These last two weeks before Christmas are usually hectic and full of activity (hopefully learning activity). While we always enjoy the spirit of the season, our students will surely test our patience. The administration will increase our egg giving so that our students see more positive reinforcement. You, however, have a better opportunity to use some of the elements of PBS with your students. Reminders of the SOAR expectations, pre-corrects and active supervision will help our students stay in class and out of the office. Thank you for the job that you do every day!

"It is the personal thoughtfulness, the warm human awareness, the reaching out of the self to one's fellow man that makes giving worthy of the Christmas spirit." ~ Isabel Currier.

Monday 12/8 (Day 1) – Collaborative Planning for 1st grade (7:45 – 12:00 Comp. Lab 2), Tutoring (3rd-R, 5th-M)

Tuesday 12/9 (Day 2) – Collaborative Planning for 2nd grade(7:45 – 12:00 Comp. Lab 2), 4th grade writing assessment, Staff meeting

Wednesday 12/10 (Day 3) – Nellie at central office (8-12), Collaborative Planning for 4th grade (7:45 – 12:00 Comp. Lab 2),

Thursday 12/11 (Day 4) – Collaborative Planning for 5th grade (7:45 – 12:00 Comp. Lab 2), Principals’ meeting, Tutoring (3rd-M, 5th-R), Technology workshop (Wiki What, Blog Who – 3:15-4:15 – This is a fun one!)

Friday 12/12 (Day 5) – Christmas treats in the lounge (1st, 4th, Administration), SW night at Jimmy Mac’s Golf Range (4-8)
***Saturday 12/13 – Treats for Troops - Pack care packages for shipping 9:00 am in the Southwest gym***

PBS rewards assemblies for K-2, 3-5 (More details on Monday)

Week of 12/15 - 12/19 – (12/15 Day 6) Collaborative Planning for 3rd grade (7:45 – 12:00 Comp. Lab 2) (12/16 Day 1) Interim Reports, SIT meeting (12/17 Day 2) Christmas music from West band (12/18 Day 3) SW Skate Night at Skate Haven (6-8) (12/19 Day 4) Christmas treats in the lounge (2nd, 3rd, Specialists, Support staff)
December 22 – January 2 – Holiday Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Burke, Biggam, Vernon

Bus – Dosek, Jones, Hipp, Crain, Garlow, Moore, Burke, Hauhuth

Car riders – Morning – Coffield, Overby, Twyman
Afternoon – Caller – Lee, LeCompte
Inside – East, Womble, Roberts
Outside – Drummond, Cullen, Merrill, Currie, Wilson, Moss
Hall – Everhardt (computer lab), Hauhuth (gym lobby)
Parra (Music Hall), Alexander (Blue Hall), Allen (Auditorium Lobby)

FYI/Reminders
-Please email Mike to sign up for a conference if you have not already
-Angel Tree families available
-Can the Principal (canned goods collection for food pantry)
-Treats for troops (care packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan)
-Please remember Dee Brown who recently lost her father

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)
Gloria Allen and helpers – Congratulations on a wonderful Winter Musical
Nellie Broyhill – Thanks for your help to get lunches for our collaborative planning meetings
Ellen Barnes – Thank you for organizing our Christmas treats
Southwest staff – So many daily good deeds take place! Thank you for all you do for our school


Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
December 12, 2008

This morning (Saturday), we had a wonderful turnout for our “Treats for Troops” activity. We packed 107 care packages for our U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hopefully, their duty during the holiday season will be a little brighter because of our efforts. Thank you to everyone who was able to help.

These last two weeks before Christmas are usually hectic and full of activity (hopefully learning activity). While we always enjoy the spirit of the season, our students will surely test our patience. The administration will increase our egg giving so that our students see more positive reinforcement. You, however, have a better opportunity to use some of the elements of PBS with your students. Reminders of the SOAR expectations, pre-corrects and active supervision will help our students stay in class and out of the office. Thank you for the job that you do every day!

A Christmas Blessing
During this Christmas season, May you be blessed
With the spirit of the season - which is peace,The gladness of the season - which is hope,And the heart of the season - which is love

Monday 12/15 (Day 6) – Collaborative Planning for 3rd grade (7:45 – 12:00 Comp. Lab 2), Tutoring (3rd-R, 5th-M)

Tuesday 12/16 (Day 1) – Collaborative Planning for 5th grade(7:45 – 12:00 Comp. Lab 2), Interim Reports, SIT meeting

Wednesday 12/17 (Day 2) –

Thursday 12/18 (Day 3) – Tutoring (3rd-M, 5th-R), SW Skate Night at Skate Haven (6-8)

Friday 12/19 (Day 4) – Christmas treats in the lounge (2nd, 3rd, Specialists, Support staff), Holiday music from the West Forsyth Band in the auditorium at 9:30

December 22 – January 2 – Holiday Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PBS rewards assemblies for K-2, 3-5 (We will recognize our top egg earning classes after the holidays as a PBS kick-off to 2009)

Week of 1/5 - 1/9 – (1/5 Day 5) Tutoring (3rd-R, 5th-M) (1/6 Day 6) Marzano training for all staff (1/7 Day 1) (1/8 Day 4) Technology workshop (Wiki when??) (1/9 Day 5) Southwest Night at Jimmy Mac’s Golf Range (4-8)

Looking ahead

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Burke, Sereika, East

Bus – Dosek, Jones, Hipp, Crain, Garlow, Moore, Burke, Hauhuth

Car riders – Morning – Coffield, Overby, Twyman
Afternoon – Caller – Lee, LeCompte
Inside – East, Womble, Roberts
Outside – Drummond, Cullen, Merrill, Currie, Wilson, Moss
Hall – Everhardt (computer lab), Hauhuth (gym lobby)
Parra (Music Hall), Alexander (Blue Hall), Allen (Auditorium Lobby)

FYI/Reminders
-Please email Mike to sign up for a conference if you have not already
-Can the Principal (canned goods collection for the Clemmons food pantry)
-Please remember Lori Allen who recently lost her grandmother

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)
Treats for Troops helpers – Thank you for your efforts
Mary-Jane Everhardt – Congratulations – 2008-09 Southwest Teacher of the Year
Tutors – Thank you for a good start to after-school tutoring
All duty personnel – Thank you for keeping our students safe
Southwest staff – So many daily good deeds take place! Thank you for all you do for our school