October 12, 2010

ONE WEEK until the Amazing International Night and Parade of Nations.  October 19th is the date, 5:30 is the time for an amazing feast with an sensational parade to follow at 7 pm.  Please make plans to attend this community building event.

Another excellent opportunity to join the spirit of goodwill is through participation in our Rummage Sale.  This Friday, October 15th,  we will set up the gym with the generous donations from our families.  Then, we sell to our families that evening from 6:00-7:30.  The following morning we open the sale to the public at 9:00 am and close shop at 11:00.  Last year we made over $700 for the PTA, and enriched the lives of many families with low cost, used items that will stretch their hard-earned dollars.  You can support this event with your presence or volunteer for a shift during the set-up or sale.

During the week of October 18-22 we will host the Scholastic Book fair in the media center.  Proceeds from book sales go directly into the media coordinators budget and will serve all students with engaging new titles and on-line database subscriptions.  This is a fantastic time to shop with your student and maybe put away some gifts for the holidays.

We had several sightings of WatchDOGS in the building and are thankful for their presence.  Together, we make a difference in the lives of children.   Another way we are impacting our student's and families is through a partner program with The Food Bank and Centenary Church.  The BackPack program provides identified students who receive the federal free lunch program, with  four meals of food for the weekend.  We are one of the first few "urban" schools to pilot this very succesful national program, whose purpose is to eliminate hunger.

Academically we are growing and recently we were recognized at the September 28th School Board meeting for our desigantion as a "School of Distinction."  We are proud of our past, yet keeping expectations high is critical to future success in the classroom. We will measure our current efforts on the WSFCS End of Quarter tests to be administered from October 22nd-28th.  Students will be assesed in Reading and Math and the results will inform teachers of the areas to focus instruction for the second quarter.  "Assesment Drives Instruction!"  This quote was from one of my favorite professors at UNC-G, Dr. Riehl.  She also  taught me to "Eschew Obfuscation,"  which leads me to stop this lengthy blog and begin again, another day.

Thanks for reading and Keep in touch.