Friday Updates October 2008

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
October 3, 2008

Next Tuesday, we will begin our yearlong training series on Marzano’s High Yield Strategies. Last year we started with an overview of those strategies and some of the research behind these best practices. As we (Me, Ms. Cressman, Mrs. Herrin and Mr. Keener) do our 5 minute Classroom Walkthroughs, these high yield strategies are part of our focus. Over the course of the year, we will provide grade level coaching to help promote the use of these strategies. Thanks for all you do!

**The PTA collected over $5,000 in Fall Festival sales over the last two days. THANK YOU for your work to promote the Fall Festival and for efficiently collecting all of these funds. The deadline for pre-orders was today, but they will still take any orders that come in. Please continue to forward these to the office as soon as possible.**

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou

Monday 10/6 (Day 6) – PBS lesson (Classroom – Safe), Kinder classes – Lewisville Fire Dept.

Tuesday 10/7 (Day 1) – PBS lesson (Classroom – Outstanding), 4th grade to Hiddenite, Principals meeting, High Yield Strategies training (required), Naglieri testing for 3rd grade

Wednesday 10/8 (Day 2) – PBS lesson (Classroom – Accountable), Ms. King’s and Mrs. McGhee’s classes to Dixie Classic Fair, K-2 training, Assistant Principals’ meeting, New Assistant Principal Leadership Academy

Thursday 10/9 (Day 3) – PBS lesson (Classroom - Respectful), Computer workshop-Photostory

Friday 10/10 (Day 4) – PBS review, Fall Festival

Week of 10/13 - 10/17 – PBS lessons Classroom (10/13 Day 5) (10/14 Day 6) 2nd grade to Bethabara, Staff meeting, Colonial Benefits (10/15 Day 1) 2nd grade to Bethabara, Parents on board training (10/16 Day 2) Principals’ meeting, Colonial Benefits 7:15, Skate Haven Night (10/17 Day 3) Vision Screening, 1st grade to Stevens Center (Saturday, October 18th – Clemmons Clean-up Day)

Looking ahead
September 29 & October 27 – Diabetes training available at Central Office
October 7 – Naglieri non-verbal aptitude test for all 3rd graders who are not AG or LD
October 10 – Southwest Fall Festival
October 14 – Flexible benefits meeting @ 3:00
October 16 – Flexible benefits meeting @ 7:15

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Burke, Womble, Letourneau

Bus – Council, Baker, Dease, Beard, Barr, Vance, Burke, Hauhuth

Car riders – Morning – Hancock, Salamanca, Chamra
Afternoon – Caller – Lee, Williams
Inside – Brown, Crutchfield, Armbruster
Outside – Powell, Green, Tsolis, Merritt, Baldwin, Winters
Hall – Everhardt (computer lab), Hauhuth (gym lobby)
Parra (Music Hall), Alexander (Blue Hall), Allen (Auditorium Lobby)

FYI/Reminders
-Congratulations to Maria Vernon who gave birth to Garrett Christopher Vernon on Wednesday, October 1st (after putting in a day of work). Garrett, who was born at 9:03 p.m., weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces. Congratulations!!
-Congratulations to Sally Merrill who added a new grandson to her family this week. Zachary Ryson Benfield was born 9/22/08, is 22 ½” and weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces.
-Please take the time to welcome our new ESL assistant, Sandra Garcia, who started with us last Tuesday .
-Please remember both Becky Drummond and Donna Williams who’s mothers have been ill.

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)
SW staff – Great job during the beginning of PBS – keep earning those eggs! Give egg counts to Kim Cressman
Mr. Keener – Thank you to Mr. Keener who, again, wrote a successful grant for 50 more azaleas for our campus. He will travel to Raleigh this Saturday to pick them up. On Sunday from 2:00-4:00 they will be planted with the help of the PTA campus beautification committee. Feel free to come join the fun.
Noche Hispana Committee – Great job with our first Noche Hispana of the year.
Election Committee – Thank you for your work to prepare for our school’s participation in the November election

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
October 10, 2008

WOW!! Many of us are still recovering from our first annual Southwest PTA Fall Festival. What an awesome event this turned out to be. It took a lot of work from a lot of people, but the benefit was in the many smiles on the faces of our students. The PTA raised well over $20,000 during the Fall Festival in a combination of wrist band/ticket sales, the fun run, the pumpkin auction, the BBQ dinner and sponsorship. THANK YOU for your work to promote and support the Fall Festival and for efficiently collecting all of these funds. We will look for ways to improve the Fall Festival for next year so feel free to email your ideas about what worked well and what we can do better.

"A student needs to be loved the most when he deserves to be loved the least." - Author Unknown

Monday 10/13 (Day 5) – PBS lesson (Assembly – Safe),

Tuesday 10/14 (Day 6) – PBS lesson (Assembly – Outstanding), 2nd grade to Bethabara, Staff meeting, Colonial Benefits (all staff required

Wednesday 10/15 (Day 1) – PBS lesson (Assembly – Accountable), 2nd grade to Bethabara, Parents on board training

Thursday 10/16 (Day 2) – PBS lesson (Assembly - Respectful), Principals’ meeting, Colonial Benefits 7:15, Skate Haven Night

Friday 10/17 (Day 3) – PBS review, Vision Screening, 1st grade to Stevens Center

Saturday 10/18 – Clemmons Clean-up Day

Week of 10/20 - 10/24 – PBS lessons (10/20 Day 4) Musical practice (10/21 Day 5) Musical practice, 2nd gr. to Bethabara, 3rd gr. to Corn Maze, Jump Rope for Heart [K,1], SIT meeting (10/22 Day 6) Musical practice, 2nd gr. to Bethabara, 3rd gr. to Corn Maze, Jump Rope for Heart [2,3], Parents on Board training, Curriculum Coordinator mtg. (10/23 Day 1) Musical practice, Jump Rope for Heart [4,5], Tech Facilitator mtg. (10/24 Day 2) Musical practice, W-S String Symphony [4th & 5th @ 9:00], Picture make-ups

Looking ahead
October 27 – Diabetes training available at Central Office
October 14 – Flexible benefits meeting @ 3:00 (All staff required to attend either the Oct. 14 or Oct. 16 session)
October 16 – Flexible benefits meeting @ 7:15 (Intended for part-time staff and staff who missed the Oct. staff meeting)

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Burke, Biggam

Bus – Council, Baker, Dease, Beard, Barr, Vance, Burke, Hauhuth

Car riders – Morning – Hancock, Salamanca, Chamra
Afternoon – Caller – Lee, Williams
Inside – Brown, Crutchfield, Armbruster
Outside – Powell, Green, Tsolis, Merritt, Baldwin, Winters
Hall – Everhardt (computer lab), Hauhuth (gym lobby)
Parra (Music Hall), Alexander (Blue Hall), Allen (Auditorium Lobby)

FYI/Reminders
-Congratulations to Maria Vernon who gave birth to Garrett Christopher Vernon on Wednesday, October 1st (after putting in a day of work). Garrett, who was born at 9:03 p.m., weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces. Congratulations!!
-Congratulations to Sally Merrill who added a new grandson to her family this week. Zachary Ryson Benfield was born 9/22/08, is 22 ½” and weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces.
-Please send hospitality dues to Nellie ($20) as soon as possible
-United Way forms should be turned in to Sarah Baldwin by October 29 (All fair share givers will be entered into a drawing for “free” (You have to buy gas and food) lodging at Mr. Hayes’ mother’s house in North Myrtle Beach).

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)
SW staff – Great job during the preparation for our 1st annual Southwest PTA Fall Festival
Mrs. McGhee and Ms. King – Thank you for providing your students with fun and interesting opportunities to learn.
Election Committee – Thank you for your work to prepare for our school’s participation in the November elections

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
October 20, 2008

It is time again for our quick, “10 minute” conferences. These give us a chance to discuss how things are going, but it also gives me the chance to get to know you all better. The more comfortable you feel sharing concerns and praises, the better our school will be. I always appreciate the thoughtful and professional conversations as well as the more informal chats. If you have not done so already, please sign up outside my door.

"I touch the future. I teach." - Christa Mcauliffe

Monday 10/20 (Day 4) – Musical practice, Kindergarten fire truck visit

Tuesday 10/21 (Day 5) – Musical practice, 2nd gr. to Bethabara, 3rd gr. to Corn Maze, Jump Rope for Heart [K,1], Progress Reports, SIT meeting

Wednesday 10/22 (Day 6) – Musical practice, 2nd gr. to Bethabara, 3rd gr. to Corn Maze, Jump Rope for Heart [2,3], Parents on Board training, Curriculum Coordinator mtg.

Thursday 10/23 (Day 1) – Musical practice, Jump Rope for Heart [4,5], Tech Facilitator mtg., Donuts with Dads (last names A-L) Please park behind school, Museum of Anthropology workshop 3:15-4:45, Quarter testing 3rd, 4th, 5th

Friday 10/24 (Day 2) – Musical practice, W-S String Symphony [4th & 5th @ 9:00], Picture make-ups, Donuts with Dads (last names M-Z) Please park behind school, Quarter testing 3rd, 4th, 5th


Week of 10/27 - 10/31 – (10/27 Day 3) Reflections entries due, Musical practice, Quarter testing 3rd, 4th, 5th (10/28 Day 4) Musical practice, Dental screening for K, 3, 5, PBS committee meeting, Quarter testing 3rd, 4th, 5th (10/29 Day 5) Musical practice, end of 1st quarter , Quarter testing 3rd, 4th, 5th (10/30 Day 6) RS day, no school (10/31 Day 1) RS day, no school

Looking ahead
October 27 – Diabetes training available at Central Office
November 12 – Report cards (specials grades to teachers by October 28th)

Duty Schedule
Breakfast – Burke, Weiss, Aikins

Bus – Council, Baker, Dease, Beard, Barr, Vance, Burke, Hauhuth

Car riders – Morning – Hancock, Salamanca, Chamra
Afternoon – Caller – Lee, Williams
Inside – Brown, Crutchfield, Armbruster
Outside – Powell, Green, Tsolis, Merritt, Baldwin, Winters
Hall – Everhardt (computer lab), Hauhuth (gym lobby)
Parra (Music Hall), Alexander (Blue Hall), Allen (Auditorium Lobby)

FYI/Reminders
-Congratulations to Maria Vernon who gave birth to Garrett Christopher Vernon on Wednesday, October 1st (after putting in a day of work). Garrett, who was born at 9:03 p.m., weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces. Congratulations!!
-Congratulations to Sally Merrill who added a new grandson to her family this week. Zachary Ryson Benfield was born 9/22/08, is 22 ½” and weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces.
-Congratulations to Robin King who recently added a new grandchild to her family
-Please send hospitality dues to Nellie ($20) as soon as possible
-United Way forms should be turned in to Sarah Baldwin by October 29 (All fair share givers will be entered into a drawing for “free” (You have to buy gas and food) lodging at Mr. Hayes’ mother’s house in North Myrtle Beach).
-Please remember to sign up for a conference (sheet is outside Mike’s office door)

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)
SW staff – Great job during the preparation for our 1st annual Southwest PTA Fall Festival
Mrs. Chamra, Mrs. Hauhuth and Mrs. Lowe – Great job with Jump Rope for Heart.
Election Committee – Thank you for your work to prepare for our school’s participation in the November elec

Southwest Elementary School
Friday Update
October 24, 2008

It is time again for our quick, “10 minute” conferences. These give us a chance to discuss how things are going, but it also gives me the chance to get to know you all better. The more comfortable you feel sharing concerns and praises, the better our school will be. I always appreciate the thoughtful and professional conversations as well as the more informal chats. If you have not done so already, please sign up outside my door.
For our conferences, please think about a couple of questions: What is going well in our school and in your part of the school? What could we improve in our school and in your part of the school?

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." - William Arthur Ward

Monday 11/3 (Day 0) – Reflections entries due, Musical practice, Quarter testing 3rd, 4th, 5th

Tuesday 11/4 (Day 0) – Musical practice, Dental screening for K, 3, 5, Reception for Fontaine Kirk-Graham, PBS committee meeting, Quarter testing 3rd, 4th, 5th Specialists grades to teachers

Wednesday 10/29 (Day 5) – United Way deadline, Musical practice, end of 1st quarter , Quarter testing 3rd, 4th, 5th

Thursday 10/30 (Day 0) – RS workday – no school

Friday 10/31 (Day 0) – RS workday – no school

Week of 11/3 - 11/7 – (11/3 Day 0) RS workday – no school, SAT team training (11/4 Day 0) Election Day, RS workday – no school (11/5 Day 6) 2nd grade to Reynolds Auditorium, New Duty Roster begins, Principals’ meeting, Puppet shows for 3rd grade (11/6 Day 1) Donuts with Mom A-L, Blue Diamond training for 3rd, 4th, 5th teachers, Skate Haven Night (11/7 Day 2) Donuts with Mom M-Z, Principals’ meeting

Looking ahead
October 27 – Diabetes training available at Central Office
November 12 – Report cards (specials grades to teachers by October 28th)

Duty Schedule ***New Duty Roster Next Week****
Breakfast – Burke, Sereika, East

Bus – Council, Baker, Dease, Beard, Barr, Vance, Burke, Hauhuth

Car riders – Morning – Hancock, Salamanca, Chamra
Afternoon – Caller – Lee, Williams
Inside – Brown, Crutchfield, Armbruster
Outside – Powell, Green, Tsolis, Merritt, Baldwin, Winters
Hall – Everhardt (computer lab), Hauhuth (gym lobby)
Parra (Music Hall), Alexander (Blue Hall), Allen (Auditorium Lobby)

FYI/Reminders
-Congratulations to Maria Vernon who gave birth to Garrett Christopher Vernon on Wednesday, October 1st (after putting in a day of work). Garrett, who was born at 9:03 p.m., weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces. Congratulations!!
-Congratulations to Sally Merrill who added a new grandson to her family this week. Zachary Ryson Benfield was born 9/22/08, is 22 ½” and weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces.
-Congratulations to Robin King who recently added a new grandchild to her family
-Please send hospitality dues to Nellie ($20) as soon as possible
-United Way forms should be turned in to Sarah Baldwin by October 29 (All fair share givers will be entered into a drawing for “free” (You have to buy gas and food) lodging at Mr. Hayes’ mother’s house in North Myrtle Beach).
-Please remember to sign up for a conference (sheet is outside Mike’s office door)

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)
SW staff – Great job during the preparation for our 1st annual Southwest PTA Fall Festival
Mrs. Chamra, Mrs. Hauhuth and Mrs. Lowe – Great job with Jump Rope for Heart (over $15,000 raised).
Mrs. Parra, Mrs. Salamanca, Mrs. Trinkle – Thank you for your work to prepare for our school’s Thanksgiving/Christmas outreach.
Mrs. Everhardt – Thank you for keeping us up with technology and for posting our first PODCAST.