AM Announcements

AM Announcements
September 08, 2008

1. Today is Day 10.

2. It is the mission of Speas elementary School to provide its students with the tools necessary to successfully meet the challenges they will face in a diverse world.

3. Calendar items for this week:

Monday: September 08
Ms. Powell Off Campus - 7:30-4:00
Interim Progress Reports go home
Third Grade EOG - Pre-Test Begins
APT Testing continues
Cub Scout Representative visits classrooms - Grades 1-5 1:00-2:00 PM


Tuesday: September 09
Ms. Powell Off Campus - 7:30-4:00
Third Grade Pre-EOG continues
APT Testing continues
Picture Day - 8:10 in the gym
Staff Meeting - 2:45-4:00 PM
Cub Scout Registration Event 7:00-8:00 PM - Cafeteria
A's and Bees Tutoring - 6:00-8:00 PM

Wednesday: September 10
Ms. Powell Off Campus
Third Grade Pre-EOG continues
APT Testing continues

Thursday: September 11
Dr. Reichert - Out of Town
Ms. Powell Off campus - Elementary Principals' meeting - 7:30-12:00 PM
Third Grade Pre-EOG continues
APT testing continues
Annual Title-1 Meeting - 7:00-8:00 PM

Friday: September 12
Third Grade Pre-EOG continues
APT testing continues
Dr. Reichert - Out of Town

4. Starbucks is offering all our employees a tall cup of Pike Place Roast free of charge every Monday through 09/28/08. Just show them your badge and pick-up your free coffee.

5. I will be out of town Thursday 9/11 through Tuesday 9/16. Ms. Powell will be in charge. My wife and I will be in Las Vegas visiting our daughter.

6. Please turn in a list of all students who have PEP's to Ms. Summey. Indicate which have been signed. Update this with her each Monday. Please let her assist you with any hard to reach parents. All PEP's are to be signed by the end of September.

7. A representative of the Cub Scouts will stop by your classroom(Grade 1-5) today between 1:00 and 2:00 PM. He will be there less than 5:00 Min. and will invite your boys to the Cub Scout registration night here on Tuesday 9/9 at 7:00 PM.

8. Really talk up A's and Bees tutoring with your students. This is especially important for students with PEP's in grades 2-5. Students may work on homework. They should come ready to work for about an hour. They can come anytime between 6:00 and 8:00 PM

9. Tomorrow is Picture Day. We will have two photographers. They are going to set up early and will be ready to begin at 8:10. Teachers may go and have their pictures taken before classes begin or with their class, whichever is more convenient. Please follow the schedule prepared by Ms. Powell. All staff members are to have their pictures made as these go on the Safety CD.

10. All staff member IGP/PDP's are due on Wednesday of this week. They should be given to Ms. Powell for her review and signature. The forms are available on-line at the HR screen on the WS/FCS website.

11. Just a reminder that we had another visit from the Title-1 staff today. That makes the third visit this year. Expect to see them in the building with great frequency. We also had a visit from instructional services today. Mr. Dennis Walker was here visiting classrooms with an eye toward providing assistance in mathematics. Instructional services is working with us on a consultative basis.

12. A September 11 Remembrance will be telecast on Cable 2 Thursday at the following times:
9:00; 9:30; 11:00; and 12:00. Please take a moment to put this in context for your students before viewing.

13. Dr. Martin reiterated in our last Joint Principals' Meeting the importance of continually updating your web pages. Information should be current. He has asked us to monitor this on a regular basis to ensure that these are changed and provide current information for parents. I have reviewed all our web pages and contacted teachers whose pages need completing or updating. Please take care of updating your page by Tuesday.

14. Monday, October 6, is the date that students will no longer be able to eat lunch on last year's status. They will have to file a new application prior to that date and have it approved. Only one application is needed per family. Voucher meals will be provided to students who do not have money and have not been approved for free/reduced lunch according to board policy. If a child has received a lunch and it is discovered that they do not qualify for free/reduced lunch, they will be allowed to keep the meal. It will not be taken away from them. Parents will be responsible to pay for the meal. Charging is not allowed for students or staff.

15. I will be available in room #3 to pass out and receive testing materials Monday through Wednesday.

16. A copy of our August financial statement has been posted on the bulletin board in the mail room. It shows all receipts and disbursements along with the balance in every account. If you have questions, please feel free to ask for an explanation. This is being posted to increase transparency and provide all staff members current information on our finances and budget.

17. The Health Department inspected the entire building for mold on Friday afternoon and found possible areas in rooms 18 and 22. They are asking us to clear the the tops of the cabinets under the HVAC units in order to improve circulation in the rooms and bring down the humidity. We are also having all the units serviced by maintenance.

18. PTA Membership information is going out to parents. If you did not receive a PTA packet please come by Room #3 and pick one up. PTA Membership Drive will end on Friday, September 19, 2008. The goal is to have 100% staff participation.

19. The PTA Car Wash and Yard Sale is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 2008 here at the school. Come out and support the Student Council and PTA. If you would like a table see Shanta before Thursday. The cost of the table is $25.00.

14. I don't deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either.
Jack Benny (1894 - 1974)

You can pretend to be serious; you can't pretend to be witty.
Sacha Guitry (1885 - 1957)

I can't understand it. I can't even understand the people who can understand it.
Queen Juliana (1909 - 2004), of the Netherlands

When a person can no longer laugh at himself, it is time for others to laugh at him.
Thomas Szasz, "The Second Sin"